Whether you’ve been golfing your entire life or you’re new to hitting the links, there’s one thing that can significantly impact your game: the type of golf balls you use.
Although golf balls often appear the same on the outside, inside they can have drastically different constructions that make them react differently when you hit them.
For instance, some golf balls are built to fly farther, while others are designed to let you put the precise amount of spin you want on them so they land exactly where you aimed.
Furthermore, the number of layers and materials used directly impact the price of the ball, making some better fit for serious players and others a smarter choice for more casual golfers.
We consulted with golfers and golf gear experts to understand how golf balls differ from one another and give you some expert-recommended options for which balls to buy. The advice below comes from Jeff Herman, who runs the golf gear review site Modrn Golf and has been golfing for over 30 years, and Tony Covey, Editorial Director of MyGolfSpy, a review site with its own lab designed specifically for testing golf balls.
Check out our full golf ball guide below to learn how these golf balls can improve your game.
Unlike golf clubs, which tend to fall into standard definitions such as drivers, putters and wedges, there is not one consistent system for categorizing golf balls. Different golf gear websites will have their own categories, and the experts we consulted all had slightly different ways of distinguishing golf balls.
However, to make your shopping easier, the expert-provided guidelines we’re using here were prioritized because they match up nicely with the categories that many online golf supplies stores such as Golf Galaxy use. Major retailers such as Amazon also use a version of these categories, so wherever you shop, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for.
According to Herman, there are four main types of golf balls:
Distance golf balls are intended, as their name suggests, to let you hit them long distances. Their trade-off is that they’re less agile if you need to hit a ball on a curved path or if you’re playing on a golf course with shorter holes — under 100 yards.
“These are usually the least expensive,” Herman said, and you can get a dozen for $10 to $20. “These are geared to keep the golfer hitting straighter shots. The focus is straight shots, and as far as they can go. [They] help new golfers with the game by keeping shots straighter and in bounds.”
If you’re looking at golf balls based on their construction, distance balls are usually made with one or two layers. Golf balls can also be categorized by their number of layers, which range from a solid, one-piece design up to four or five layers.
“Two-piece balls generally spin less than performance offerings,” Covey said (more on performance golf balls below). “While that can have negative greenside implications, the lower spin contributes to straight flight, particularly with longer clubs.”
“These are a step above the pricing for a distance ball but have better technology for shots within 100 yards,” Herman said, adding that soft feel golf balls are usually two- or three-layer style balls.
Herman called these “softer feeling ball[s]” because when you hit them with a driver or iron, they don’t sound as loud as other types of golf balls. “[The] distance is normally as good or a bit better than distance ball[s],” Herman said. “These also help keep the balls on the course and [help with] hitting straight shots.”
According to Covey, golf balls made with two or three layers don’t offer the same amount of control as those with more layers. “With fewer layers to work with…it’s simply not possible to dial in flight and spin properties to the same extent, especially on shorter shots closer to the green,” he said.
You can expect to spend $20 to $35 for a dozen.
According to Herman, tour value golf balls are a step up from soft feel balls and offer “better distance, increased feel and better ability to…have the ball perform within 100 yards.”
Herman said these “still keep the ball straight” and can also be sold as a low-spin variety to further reduce the amount the ball will spin and curve in the air. “[These] will help keep shots within 100 yards stay on the green,” Herman said.
You can expect to spend $30 to $45 for a dozen.
Herman called these “the top balls you can purchase” because they have “the best technology of all balls.” They usually have three or four layers (and sometimes five), and they’re designed to be able to travel the farthest off of any type of club. That means your distance won’t be seriously reduced when you’re in the middle of the hole and have to shoot with an iron or a wedge instead of your driver.
Covey added that the greater number of layers on tour performance golf balls help you better control their path and spin. “They’ll also provide greater stopping power off the irons without relying on high flight and steeper landing angles,” he said.
“Tour balls have an incredible feel around the green and have the ability to spin and stop shots where the other category balls fall short,” Herman said, adding that these offer the “best total distance” and “best feel.”
Herman also mentioned that these products can be made with visual aids to help you align your shots. He called these additions “the hottest thing for golf balls in 2023 and 2024.”
You can expect to spend $35 and more for a dozen.
Both Herman and Covey recommended that beginner golfers prioritize the price of their golf balls over other properties. “Beginners typically lose a lot of golf balls, so cost can’t be overlooked,” Covey said. “A low spinning two-piece ball may be a better choice for someone just looking to keep the ball in play.”
Herman said distance golf balls are a good choice for beginners, while tour performance golf balls are well-suited to a more advanced golfer’s skills and abilities. “However, an average golfer would benefit from using tour value and above due to the technology used within 100-yard shots and putting,” Herman added.
“The sweet spot for all golfers is the tour value ball,” Herman said. “Great distance, good feel and good within 100 yards.”
As long as you’re buying name-brand golf balls from a trusted retailer, the main thing to keep in mind while shopping is what you want out of your new golf balls. To that extent, Covey and Herman both advised asking yourself which areas in your game need improvement, then identifying which types of golf balls can help.
“For example, are you slicing the ball out of bounds? Then a distance ball would be better,” Herman said. “Or are you hitting the green but it skips by because you are playing a distance ball and you need something to grab the green and stick?”
If you want to work on your putting or your tee shots — two common areas that golfers of all skill levels can improve upon — Herman recommended trying golf balls with visual alignment aids. “They can make a bad putter better, and help with…aligning your tee shots,” he said.
“Outside of someone losing them while playing, balls should last two years as long as they are kept in a dry, cool space,” Herman said. “Keeping them in your trunk will greatly reduce their life.”
However, even if you’re able to go multiple rounds playing with the same golf ball, both Herman and Covey recommended replacing it after a few rounds, as repeated use can impair its ability to perform. “Any time there is noticeable damage to the cover, the ball should be replaced,” Covey said. “Moderate to severe cuts and scrapes can significantly impact the aerodynamic performance of the ball.”
Shop Herman’s top picks for golf balls in all four categories:
Harmon called this an “incredible value golf ball for all skill levels.”
“[It] won’t break the bank and has some incredible performance, and is readily available at all Costcos or online,” he said. “Amazing for newer to advanced players.”
Harmon called this “the best golf ball under $25.00, by far.”
“The soft feeling and tour-like distance make [a] great combination,” he said, adding that golfers at all levels can enjoy this option. “I’ve personally played this ball for years and it never ceases to amaze me.”
“I have personally had the best rounds of my life using this ball,” Harmon said. “To make it even better, Srixon puts on a promotion every year where you buy two dozen and get one [dozen] free.”
Harmon said this is “the number one ball on tour for a reason.”
“Longest ball and the best action within 100 yards that any ball will give you,” he said. “Any middle to low handicap player will enjoy and appreciate everything this ball offers. [The] only stumbling block is the price.”
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