I sometimes ask myself, who makes the best golf balls, is it Titleist, is it TaylorMade, is it Callaway, is it Srixon, is it Bridgestone, or is it any other brand, but the answer is not that simple. I have personally tried only a few different golf balls, being fairly new to golf, and I’m still looking for my favorite ball.
A whole study could be made around trying to answer who makes the best golf balls. I will try to scratch the surface of the topic by covering some areas based on the golf ball market and the professional players’ choices, as well as golf ball history and facts.
Who Makes the Best Golf Balls? – The Winner Is…
Every year there are lists made on the subject of the best golf ball, and numerous tests and reviews are done, but is there a clear winner? If we have a look at the tests and review results, the golf balls’ performance is similar across all the tested areas, from distance and ball speed to spin rate and feel.
If we have a look at the professional players’ preferences, we can see Titleist golf balls are the choice of a lot of players, followed by TaylorMade, Callaway, Bridgestone, and Srixon. Does that mean Titleist makes the best golf balls? Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. The golf balls’ playfield seems to be more level than ever. At the end of the day, I believe it is more a matter of personal preference, and whichever ball works the best for you is going to be the best-made one.
The Evolution of Golf Balls
According to available data, golf balls date to the 15th century when the game of golf originated in Scotland. There are theories that wooden balls were used at the very beginning of the golf era. However, different sources tell different stories. By the end of the century, feathery balls came into use. Those were round leather pouches stuffed with goose or chicken feathers, hand-sewn and coated with paint.
You can only imagine how it was to hit a wooden or feathery ball with a wooden stick. It wasn’t pleasant for sure.
Next, this ball dates to the middle of the 19th century. Those were made from dried sap of the Malaysian sapodilla tree. These balls were called gutties, and were cheaper and faster to make.
The end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century saw a breakthrough in golf ball technology. The wound golf ball was born.
According to sources it consisted of a liquid-filler or solid round core that was wound with a layer of rubber thread into a larger round inner core and then covered with a thin outer shell made of balata sap. Manufacturers introduced dimples into the ball design during the same period.
Due to the danger of the liquids used in manufacturing, in the 1920s manufacturers stopped using liquid cores. Finally, in the 1960s solid-core golf balls became standard.
The New Era
Today the manufacturers keep the material composition used to make golf balls a secret. The only thing we know is there are single-piece, two-piece, three-piece, four-piece, and five-piece golf balls. Beginners and amateur golfers mostly use two-piece balls. While more skilled players and professional golfers use multi-layered balls. One-piece golf balls are a rarity, only used on driving ranges. All the golf ball manufacturers claim their golf balls are the best, but who does make the best golf balls?
The Big Names
There are numerous companies making golf balls, these are the 3 big ones that hold the majority of the market:
Titleist
Founded in 1932, the company focuses on golf balls and clubs. Usually the top-selling golf ball brand, they established themselves as the industry leader. It is the most used gold ball among top professional golfers and certainly used among numerous amateur golfers. They offer a wide range of golf balls from premium to recreational, and their flagship balls are the Titleist Pro V1 and the Titleist Pro V 1x.
Some pro golfers using Titleist golf balls:
- Titleist Pro V1 – Billy Horschel, Cameron Smith, Daniel Berger, Harris English, Kevin Kisner, Lanto Griffin, Mackenzie Hughes, Patrick Reed, Scottie Sheffler, Sebastian Munoz, Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Webb Simpson
- Titleist Pro V1x – Abraham Ancer, Brendon Todd, Im Sung-jae, Joaquin Niemann, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Kevin Na, Ryan Palmer, Tyrrell Hatton
- Other balls in the Titleist family: Titleist AVX, Titleist Tour Speed (full review here), Titleist Tour Soft, Titleist Velocity (full review here), and Titleist TruFeel (full review here).
TaylorMade
Founded in 1979, the company focuses on golf balls, clubs, and clothing. One of the top sellers, they also have a wide range of golf balls. Their flagship balls are the TaylorMade TP5 and TaylorMade TP5x.
Some pro golfers using TaylorMade golf balls:
- TaylorMade TP5 – Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy
- TaylorMade TP5x – Dustin Johnson
- Other balls in the TaylorMade family: TaylorMade TP5 pix, TaylorMade Distance+ (full review here), TaylorMade Tour Response (full review here), TaylorMade Soft Response (full review here), and TaylorMade Kalea.
Callaway
Founded in 1982, the company focuses on golf balls, clubs, and clothing. The youngest of the top 3 companies offers a wide range of golf balls. Their flagship golf balls are the Callaway Chrome Soft and Callaway Chrome Soft X.
Some pro golfers using Callaway golf balls:
- Callaway Chrome Soft X – Marc Leishman, Phil Mickelson, Xander Schauffele
- Other balls in the Callaway family: Callaway Chrome Soft Truvis, Callaway E.R.C Soft, Callaway Supersoft (full review here), Callaway Supersoft Max (full review here), and Callaway Warbird.
The Contenders
Besides the biggest 3 companies that make golf balls, several contenders are getting better and better every year. Being in a very competitive market, they have to work hard to keep up with the industry leaders. Some of these brands are at least in the same category as the biggest ones when it comes to golf ball quality. The ones standing out are Bridgestone and Srixon.
Bridgestone
Founded in 1931, the company focuses on golf balls and clubs. It has a long history of making golf balls, and it started making clubs just in the 1970s’. The flagship golf balls are the Bridgestone Tour B X, Bridgestone Tour B XS, Bridgestone Tour B RX, Bridgestone Tour B RXS, and Bridgestone Tour B XS – TW Edition.
Some pro golfers using Bridgestone golf balls:
- Bridgestone Tour B X – Bryson DeChambeau
- Bridgestone Tour B XS – Tiger Woods
- Other balls in the Bridgestone family: Bridgestone e12 CONTACT (full review here), Bridgestone e6 (full review here), Bridgestone e9 Long Drive (full review here), Bridgestone e6 LADY, Bridgestone Collegiate e12 CONTACT.
Srixon
Founded in 1996 as a subsidiary of SRI (founded in 1909), the company focuses on golf balls and clubs. The flagship golf balls are the Srixon Z-STAR, and Srixon Z-STAR XV.
Some pro golfers using Srixon golf balls:
- Srixon Z-STAR XV – Cameron Champ, Hideki Matsuyama
- Other balls in the Srixon family: Srixon Q-STAR (full review here), Srixon Q-STAR TOUR (full review here), Srixon SOFT FEEL (full review here), Srixon SOFT FEEL LADY.
The Best of the Rest
Honma
Founded in 1959, the company focuses on golf equipment.
Honma balls family: Honma TW-G1, Honma TW-G1X.
Mizuno
Founded in 1906, the company focuses on sports equipment and sportswear. The flagship golf balls are Mizuno RB Tour, and Mizuno RB Tour X.
Other balls in the Mizuno family: Mizuno RB 566, and Mizuno RB 566 V.
Pinnacle
It is a subsidiary of Acushnet Company (founded in 1910), the owner of Titleist, Footjoy, Scotty Cameron, and Vokey Design.
Pinnacle balls family: Pinnacle RUSH, Pinnacle SOFT, and Pinnacle Women’s SOFT.
Snell
Founded in 2015, the company focuses on golf balls, accessories, and apparel.
Snell balls family: Snell MTB BLACK, Snell MTB-X, and Snell GET SUM.
Vice
Founded in 2013, the company focuses on golf balls, accessories, and apparel.
Vice balls family: Vice PRO PLUS, Vice PRO, Vice PRO SOFT, Vice TOUR (full review here), and Vice Drive (full review here).
Volvik
Founded in 1980, the company focuses on golf balls and equipment. The flagship golf balls are Volvik S3 and Volvik S4.
Other balls in the Volvik family: Volvik Vivid (full review here), Volvik Vivid Soft, Volvik XT AMT, Volvik XT Soft, Volvik Solice, Volvik Crystal, Volvik Magma, Volvik Power Soft, Volvik VIMAX Soft.
Wilson
Founded in 1913, the company focuses on sports equipment. The flagship golf balls are the Wilson Staff Model and Wilson Staff Model R.
Other balls in the Wilson family: Wilson Staff Duo Professional, Wilson Duo Optix, Wilson Staff Duo Soft (full review here), Wilson Staff Fifty Elite, Wilson Staff Zip, Wilson Smart Core, Wilson Ultra 500, Wilson Titanium, Wilson Staff Triad (full review here), Wilson Profile V-Max.
What Makes the Golf Ball Good?
Is it the feel? Distance? Spin? Marketing? Is it the combination of all together? It is not an easy question to answer. There certainly are different categories of golf balls, and all the characteristics define the quality of a golf ball.
Firstly, golf balls are built differently. Premium golf balls are made of 3, 4, or 5 pieces. They have a softer feel, they are durable, and they usually have a high spin rate, but can also go long distances when hit with a driver. Skilled players and professionals can benefit from these balls. Premium golf balls offer the best performance, and for that reason, they are the most expensive ones.
There are two more categories. One is the two-piece which covers a huge range of golfers. The other one is non-tour three-piece golf balls. Both can be softer or harder, they are usually durable due to the harder outer cover construction. They are made for distance or feel, have a lower spin rate, and in most cases are used by average players or beginners. Thus, they tend to be more affordable, and there are a lot of these types of balls on the market. Most companies that make golf balls offer all three categories. Therefore, there are plenty of balls to choose from on the market.
Which is your favorite golf ball brand? Share below!
Hello, your insightful exploration of golf ball evolution and the prominent brands in the market offers a comprehensive overview for both beginners and enthusiasts. The historical journey from wooden and feathery balls to modern, multi-layered compositions is well-documented. Your guide effectively introduces major players like Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway, providing details on their flagship products and professional endorsements. The inclusion of rising contenders like Bridgestone and Srixon adds depth to the analysis.You wisely emphasize the subjective nature of determining the “best” golf ball, highlighting personal preference as the ultimate decider. Overall, a well-researched and engaging read for those navigating the diverse world of golf balls. Well done.
Hi Ela,
Thank you for your comment. I believe it is good to know where golf balls come from to have a better understanding of the modern ones. There is always going to be a personal preference at the end of the day. However, from a technical point and an overall preference, Titleist is number one.
Hi Dan,
“Who makes the best golf balls” is a nuanced and highly subjective discussion that touches on various aspects such as technology, brand heritage, and player preference. Exploring this topic, considering factors like the evolution of golf balls, the secretive material compositions used by manufacturers, and the endorsements from professional players, opens up a broader conversation about how personal and technical preferences influence our choices in sports equipment. It’s fascinating to see how brands like Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway are highlighted alongside contenders like Bridgestone and Srixon, illustrating the competitive yet diverse nature of the market. This discussion underscores the quest for the “best” golf ball and the importance of finding the right ball that suits an individual’s play style and needs.
Hi Sara,
Thank you for your comment. Golf balls never stopped evolving, since the very beginning. Even now we are on the verge of another evolution. With the new regulations implied by the governing bodies there is going to be a rollback on how far the balls are allowed to go. This gives a chance to all the brands to catch up with Titleist, who is by far the most popular golf ball brand. Nevertheless, I believe it is going to remain a personal preference to choose who makes the best golf balls.