We tested premium balls against cheap golf balls to see if there’s any difference in performance.
What does an expensive golf ball give you that a cheaper model doesn’t? We tested 24 golf balls on a launch monitor to find out…
We’ve all heard the saying “You get what you pay for” but does it ring true when trying to find the best golf balls?
The best premium golf balls promise unrivaled performance, feel, consistency, and durability, but they don’t come cheap. A dozen Callaway Chrome Tour or Chrome Tour X golf balls, for instance, comes at an RRP of £55/$55, which is £4.58/$4.58 per ball. If you go through three balls per week, you’re looking at an annual spend of £714.48/$714.48.
The best cheap golf balls are half that price or less. But what are you giving up if you opt for a budget golf ball instead of a premium model?
The recent Today’s Golfer Robot Golf Ball Test used a £100,000 robot to test 24 golf balls across every conceivable performance metric. Those golf balls ranged in price from premium models like the Callaway Chrome Tour and Titleist Pro V1 to budget options like the Kirkland Signature V3 and Srixon Distance. Let’s dive into the data and look at the difference between golf balls at different price points when it comes to driver, 7-iron, and pitching wedge performance.
Driver distance
The data shows that if you want absolute maximum distance, you have to pay for it.
We tested at three different driver swing speeds – 85mph, 100mph, 115mph – and premium models delivered the most driver distance at all three.
If you want maximum driver distance from your golf ball, the Wilson Staff Model (or Model X) or Callaway Chrome Tour (or Chrome Tour X) are the way to go.
But you’re looking at £52/$54.99 for the Wilson and £55/$55 for the Callaway, so how much yardage are you giving up if you opt for a cheaper alternative?
Plumping for mid-price balls like the Seed-02 or Vice Pro Plus would save you a considerable amount of money and cost you no more than a few yards in driver carry distance.
At 85mph, the Vice Pro Plus was actually the second longest of all the balls we tested and just 1.2 yards behind the Wilson Staff Model, which generated the longest carry distance at 193.6 yards.
85mph driverBall Speed (MPH)Launch Angle (DEG)Backspin (RPM)Height (YDS)Descent Angle (DEG)Carry Distance (YDS)Shot Area (SQ YDS)Wilson Staff Model124.6 (1)13.426573929.4193.6 (1)21Vice Pro Plus124.2 (T3)13.3267038.729.1192.4 (2)15.9Callaway Chrome Tour X124.2 (T3)132838 (Highest)3929.6192.1 (3)15.4Wilson Staff Model X124.5 (2)12.8272238.728.6191.817.9Seed SD 02124.2 (T3)13.3261538.528.7191.810.8 (3)Seed SD 01123.913.5258338.428.9191.79.2 (1)Titleist Pro V1123.813.525133828.4191.213.6TaylorMade TP5123.913.3263738.428.7191.114.3TaylorMade TP5x124.113.3256538.228.3190.917.8Callaway Chrome Tour123.913.2263338.328.6190.810 (2)Vice Tour123.913.6242837.828.1190.319.4Titleist Pro V1x123.513.3264638.228.519015.5Vice Pro123.413.3254837.828.2189.422.4Snell Prime 3.0123.213.2264437.928.5189.236.6 (Largest)Vice Pro Air12313.7247737.628.3189.230.8Srixon Q-Star Tour123.413.6244237.62818926.6Callaway Chrome Soft123.313.2262337.928.318929.3Seed SD X1123.312.927073828.3188.916.7Srixon Distance123.113.6235237.127.5187.629.1Snell Prime 4.0122.913.3247637.227.6187.430.1Snell Prime 2.0122.313.2267137.428.3186.912Kirkland Signature V3122.312.9282237.728.8186.912.6TaylorMade SpeedSoft12313.62236 (Lowest)36.526.7185.714.8Srixon AD333122.713.2239836.626.818530.9AVERAGE123.513.3257937.928.3189.719.7
At 100mph, the Vice Pro Plus and Seed SD-02 were both within 2.7 yards of the longest ball.
100mph driverBall Speed (MPH)Launch Angle (DEG)Backspin (RPM)Height (YDS)Descent Angle (DEG)Carry Distance (YDS)Shot Area (SQ YDS)Wilson Staff Model X145.7 (1)13.1265251.334.5245.4 (1)33.3Callaway Chrome Tour X145.4 (2)132832 (Highest)51.735.6245.1 (2)31.3Callaway Chrome Tour145.1 (T3)13.6256750.934.6244.8 (3)41.3TaylorMade TP5144.913.3270351.135.1244.317.9 (1)Wilson Staff Model144.813.6258550.834.6244.320.3TaylorMade TP5x145.1 (T3)13.5250650.63424427.4Vice Pro Plus144.313.5260850.534.4242.830.7Seed SD 02144.313.6253650.334.1242.744.1Vice Pro144.313.6250150.333.9242.529.7Seed SD 01143.813.6259750.334.4241.924.4Snell Prime 4.014413.724735033.8241.818.9 (3)Seed SD X1144.113.1267550.534.1241.718.1 (2)Vice Tour144.113.7236549.633241.156.9Titleist Pro V1x145.1 (T3)12.425395032.1240.623.7Snell Prime 3.0143.413.8246249.633.7240.459.2Callaway Chrome Soft143.713.3251449.833.4240.331Titleist Pro V1144.812.4251949.831.9239.826.7Vice Pro Air142.813.7253049.534239.329.8Kirkland Signature V3142.713.228065034.9238.934.6Srixon Q-Star Tour142.913.6245749.233.3238.760.3Snell Prime 2.0141.913.5263849.334.2237.530.8Srixon Distance143.712.7238348.831.3236.828.5Srixon AD333142.613240048.331.623581.3 (Largest)TaylorMade SpeedSoft142.113.62267 (Lowest)47.931.6234.831.9AVERAGE14413.325465033.724134.7
At 115mph, they ranked fifth and sixth of the 24 balls tested and again gave up less than three yards on the longest ball.
115mph driverBall Speed (MPH)Launch Angle (DEG)Backspin (RPM)Height (YDS)Descent Angle (DEG)Carry Distance (YDS)Shot Area (SQ YDS)Callaway Chrome Tour X166.611.6215559.7 (Highest)32.8283.2 (1)31.2 (3)Wilson Staff Model167.1 (2)11.4207959.331.9282 (2)50.5Wilson Staff Model X167.2 (1)11.3208459.331.7281.7 (3)38.6Callaway Chrome Tour166.511.3214059.231.928154.2Seed SD 02165.811.421375932.1280.460.3Vice Pro Plus166.311.5206458.831.7280.335.4TaylorMade TP5x167 (3)11.120735931.2280.233.1Vice Pro165.811.4210358.731.8279.540Seed SD 01165.411.5212558.832.1279.530 (2)Vice Tour165.511.5207258.431.8278.952.4TaylorMade TP5164.811.7208058.332.1278.386Titleist Pro V1165.911.2206658.331.1278.129.5 (1)Titleist Pro V1x166.711.1204858.330.1277.974.6Snell Prime 4.0165.311.3211158.331.4277.863.4Snell Prime 3.0165.411.5202458.131.3277.5111.3Seed SD X1164.711.3212458.131.527741.1Kirkland Signature V3164.810.52296 (Highest)58.631.3276.645.1Callaway Chrome Soft163.911.8207957.731.9276174.8 (Largest)Snell Prime 2.0163.511.322265832275.7130.5Vice Pro Air163.611.6208257.531.6275.260.3Srixon Q-Star Tour163.611.7207757.531.6275.169.4Srixon Distance164.711.4200057.330.7274.864.5Srixon AD333162.711.4204756.530.6270.985.1TaylorMade SpeedSoft161.711.71984 (Lowest)55.830.5269.133.3AVERAGE165.211.4209558.331.5277.862.3
If you go to the budget end of the market, you will be giving up more yardage. The Kirkland Signature, Srixon Distance, and TaylorMade SpeedSoft are all cheap golf balls but ranked towards the bottom for driver distance at all three swing speeds. That said, at slower swing speeds you’re only giving up 7-9 yards, which you might feel is worth it for such a significant saving, considering you can often pick up these models for around 1/3 of the price of a premium golf ball.
7-iron performance
Driver performance is a key factor when picking the best golf ball for your game, but it’s not everything. It’s no good having a ball that flies miles off the tee if you can’t generate enough height and spin to make approach shots stop with some level of control.
Key metrics to consider for iron control are backspin and descent angle, as these determine how quickly your approach shots stop upon landing.
The Seed SD-01 and SD-02, as well as the Vice Pro, Vice Pro Plus, and Vice Tour, are reasonably priced golf balls that perform well in this area.
7-ironBall Speed (MPH)Launch Angle (DEG)Backspin (RPM)Height (YDS)Descent Angle (DEG)Carry Distance (YDS)Shot Area (SQ YDS)Srixon Q-Star Tour108.121.349853244.8156.5 (T1)7.2 (1)Vice Pro Air107.621.54788 (Lowest)31.844.6156.5 (T1)15.1Wilson Staff Model108.7 (1)21.1525632.145.2156.4 (3)13.3Vice Tour107.921.4496731.944.9156.317.2Seed SD 01108.5 (2)21531431.945.1155.89.5Seed SD 02108.2 (T3)21.1518831.945155.837.1Vice Pro107.721.1510331.744.7155.28.4Vice Pro Plus108.2 (T3)21537931.745.1154.99.9Snell Prime 4.0107.221.1497331.644.3154.810.5TaylorMade TP5x10820.7546831.644.8154.213.4Callaway Chrome Soft107.221.2517331.444.7154.118.5TaylorMade SpeedSoft107.221.2518531.544.7154.141.4 (Largest)Callaway Chrome Tour107.720.8538431.544.715410Snell Prime 3.0106.921514531.344.4153.524.6Srixon Distance10721530631.344.6153.138.7Srixon AD333106.921.1527631.344.7153.129TaylorMade TP5107.720.7567231.445152.916.6Titleist Pro V1107.520.7559431.244.81528.2 (3)Wilson Staff Model X108.120.3608431.345.2151.87.8 (2)Snell Prime 2.0106.520.754613144.4151.48.7Seed SD X1107.120.4577131.144.7151.315.8Titleist Pro V1x107.120.458353144.71518.3Callaway Chrome Tour X107.620.16193 (Highest)3144.9150.516.2Kirkland Signature V310619.7610930.443.9147.817.2AVERAGE107.520.9540031.444.7153.616.8
The Kirkland Signature V3 deserves a mention as it’s incredibly cheap ($34.99 for two dozen) and generated the second-highest backspin with a 7-iron of all the balls tested. It was, however, noticeably shorter than other balls, averaging 147.8 yards with a 7-iron. That makes it 5.8 yards shorter than the test average and 8.7 yards shorter than the longest. Distance isn’t as big a factor with irons as it is with driver, but it’s still something to consider.
Pitching wedge performance
As with irons, spin and descent angle are key to wedge control. Premium balls in the Callaway Chrome Tour X and Titleist Pro V1x topped the charts for backspin but were closely followed by the bargain Kirkland Signature V3. The Kirkland again gave up a bit of yardage, but losing a couple of yards with a wedge won’t be a dealbreaker for most golfers.
Pitching wedgeBall Speed (MPH)Launch Angle (DEG)Backspin (RPM)Descent Angle (DEG)Carry Distance (YDS)L – R Dispersion (YDS)Shot Area (SQ YDS)Callaway Chrome Tour X84.828.18080 (1)47.5104.91.32 (1)Titleist Pro V1x84.327.98046 (2)47.2104.324.7Kirkland Signature V383.827.78043 (3)46.8103.41.84.1Wilson Staff Model X85.128.5798247.9105.41.93 (T2)Vice Tour84.728.4792647.7104.91.63.1 Seed SD X184.628.7769247.8105.21.64.6Titleist Pro V18428.7769147.61042.610.1Srixon Distance83.628.7763647.5103.63.911.7TaylorMade TP584.929761748.3105.71.86Snell Prime 2.08428.3761747.3104.32.612 (Largest)TaylorMade TP5x84.928.9760648.1105.738.1Callaway Chrome Tour84.928.8748147.91061.86.4TaylorMade Speedsoft84.229.2742048.1104.81.96Wilson Staff Model84.829.4732948.4105.81.73.7Srixon AD3338429.3730948104.52.810.5Seed SD 018529.4727548.5106.32.14.2Vice Pro Plus84.729.4725848.3105.82.25Seed SD 0284.829.5717548.4106.13.98.2Vice Pro84.729.3715948.3106.12.64.7Callaway Chrome Soft84.629.6704048.4106.11.93.5Snell Prime 3.083.929.4694748105.1311.7Srixon Q-Star Tour84.730681048.7106.51.13 (T2)Snell Prime 4.084.129.8668548.3105.92.47.9Vice Pro Air8430.2661448.7106.41.63.1AVERAGE84.529743548105.32.26.1
The competitively priced Srixon Distance was also a surprise performer here, ranking 8th of all 24 balls tested for wedge spin. Its 7,636rpm was 201rpm higher than the test average and saw it spin more than premium balls like the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x, Callaway Chrome Soft and Chrome Tour, and the Wilson Staff Model. It had the shortest pitching wedge carry distance of any ball on test, but it was only 1.7 yards shorter than the test average, and this isn’t an area of the game where maximizing yardage is particularly important.
Are premium golf balls worth the money?
As we’ve seen, you can buy a super cheap golf ball that generates heaps of spin. You can buy cheap golf balls that deliver as much distance as premium golf balls – or at least be so close you won’t notice the difference out on the course. You can buy cheap golf balls that will match the flight and control you get with a premium ball on approach shots. You can get cheap golf balls that feel great. You can get cheap golf balls with all the alignment aids you might want.
So why would you pay premium prices for premium golf balls?
Because you have to if you want the best of everything with no real weaknesses.
The cheap golf ball that spins more than a premium ball doesn’t match that premium ball for driver distance. The cheap ball that delivers great distance surrenders a bit of iron or wedge spin. There’s no one golf ball that tops the charts in every single category – regardless of price – but premium balls offer the strongest blend of all-round performance.
But remember, in most cases, the margins are fairly small. A few yards here, a few hundred RPM of spin there. If you want optimal performance regardless of cost, premium golf balls are the way to go. But if you want to save some money and don’t mind small sacrifices in performance, there are plenty of mid-range and budget golf balls out there that do a great job.
I prefer to play a premium golf ball to reassure me that I’m getting as much help as possible, but I’m also budget-conscious. For many years I played the Nike RZN Platinum because it was a premium ball that had been discontinued, meaning I could pick it up for under £20 per dozen, less than half its original price. When stocks of that ran out, I switched to the Bridgestone Tour B XS. Alongside the Tour B X, it’s Bridgestone’s tour-level golf ball and I’ve found it just as good as any other premium golf ball, but can be bought for a little over £30 per dozen if you shop around.
Pros & Cons
Pros Long and straight in the long gameIncredible feel off the faceExceptionally soft and responsive on approach shots and around the greenLovely feedback off the putter face Cons Doesn’t perform as well for slower swing speeds
I’d happily swap to any other premium golf ball if I found them cheaper than the Bridgestone, although I wouldn’t recommend chopping and changing too often, as it’s better to get used to a ball and stick with it if you want to be consistent.
About the author
Contributing Editor (mainly contributing unwanted sarcasm and iffy golf takes, to be honest)
He’s played golf with tour pros and celebrities including Greg Norman, Charley Hull, Matt Wallace, Long Driver World Champion Joe Miller, and Rob Brydon, watched The Open with Gary Player, and had a pull-up contest with Rory McIlroy. He’s interviewed countless tour pros and will always have a soft spot for Tommy Fleetwood.