A recent ruling from The R&A and the USGA showed how important the golf ball is. Their decision to make a change requiring elite players to use a specially adapted golf ball at the Open and US Open from 2026 shows the impact that the golf ball has on the game. Introducing a ball that will travel about 15 yards less to reduce the distance tells us that the golf ball definitely travels further than ever.
Fortunately, this rule doesn’t apply to the vast majority of us, so we don’t have to worry. We just need to think about the qualities we expect from our little white (or yellow) friend. Do we want to find the extra last yard of distance to get to the fairway? Or are we confident or brave enough to reach for the ball to generate maximum spin on the green and help our approach shots?
Here at AMERICAN GOLF, we’ve chosen what we think are the best golf balls of 2023. So read on and see which ones caught our attention.
Top 10 golf balls 2023
Titleist Pro V1 (pack of 12 balls £47.99):
Colours: white, yellow
Titleist has been proclaimed the number one ball in golf for years and with good reason. Nobody ever doubts the quality of Titleist golf balls. Show it to our partners and they will never be surprised because Titleist is a premium brand. And Pro VI customers are unanimous in their love of this golf ball.
With the £4 per ball rule, we don’t want to throw it out of bounds or into the water on the first shot, but if we avoid these disasters we should have a ball that has spin, speed and feel. This 388-hole ball has a high pitched core to give us more distance, while Titleist’s softest cover to date should give even better feel and even more spin on the green if we manage to get the ball on the court!
Titleist Pro V1x (pack of 12 balls £47.99):
Colours: white, yellow
Compared to the Pro V1, the Titleist Pro V1x has ONLY 348 holes, but don’t worry, it’s still one of the best golf balls of 2023. There is a faster layer of casing with lower spin that should help us get a higher trajectory on our shots, which in turn can then be combined with the soft cover to give us more spin on the greens. Simple, right? But if we are confident enough to use the ball where we can check it close to the hole, this can be a great option.
Choosing between these two Titleist golf balls is really a matter of taste. Take a look at the pros who still use Titleist balls in huge numbers. Scottie Scheffler plays the Pro V1 while great mates Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth use the Pro V1x.
Callaway Golf Warbird 2.0 (pack of 12 balls £17.99):
Colours: white
Callaway makes no secret of its intentions with the latest edition of the Warbird golf ball. This is one of the best balls of 2023 because distance matters. The hexagonal dimples are designed to be more aerodynamic and provide exceptional carrying distance for our shots, while the core of the ball is compressed to give it a softer feel and more ball speed.
With all this focus on distance and trying to get as much extra yardage as possible, it’s not that good at generating rotation around greens. But one great thing about the ball is that it’s a bit tougher than some of the other balls on the list, it’s harder to damage or get dirty, and therefore we can get better use out of it before we have to take out a new bag.
Taylor Made TP5 (pack of 12 balls £41.99):#
Colours: white, yellow
The most striking thing about this golf ball is obvious as soon as it comes out of the package. Each ball is white and has 12 orange and black triangles on the cover, which are primarily to help us position ourselves on the green, because they can be used to direct our ball to the right line. The markings are also useful for the driver when trying to hit one from the center with a large stick. And the basic thing is that with so much orange on the ball, it makes it stand out more when it bumps into uneven ground, and therefore easier to spot and harder to lose.
The ball is probably better suited to low handicap players who can generate enough clubhead speed to increase distance, while responding well to irons and wedges for more hitting power on greens. Use these alignment marks the right way and we can save countless shots per round (fingers crossed)!
Callaway Supersoft (pack of 15 balls £26.99):
Colors: white, yellow, green, red, pink, orange
First of all, the Callaway Supersoft ball is excellent value for money before we even get to its specs, and that’s something we shouldn’t underestimate.
The Supersoft has been one of the most popular balls in recent years and the latest version stands out as one of the best golf balls in 2023 as it provides more distance from the tee and added control around the greens. The technology used includes soft compression that gives a higher launch and lower spin to our longer clubs, while the Hex dimples allow for higher ball flight and improved wear – factors that make this a very attractive golf ball for older players.
TaylorMade Tour Response (pack of 12 balls £34.99):
Colours: white
The Tour Response stands out as one of the best golf balls to have in your bag for players with moderate to fast swings who don’t necessarily want to throw at high end balls.
The TaylorMade mantra for the Tour Response is Tour-level performance, but for less money. The ball has a 100% molded urethane cover, just like those used by the world’s best players, giving it great feel and better spin around the greens. Thanks to the technology used, it can also deliver advanced ball speed and effortless distance, meaning this golf ball is sure to stand out among the best golf balls of 2023.
Bridgestone Tour B XS (pack of 12 balls £39.99):
White color
Bridgestone played their aces with these golf balls, which were developed in collaboration with Tiger Woods. Tiger uses it in competition, and with a face all over the package, the Japanese company should be sure these golf balls fly off the shelf.
The advantage of the XS ball is that it has good workability as the ball can be hit both ways with both draw and fade, and it has excellent spin on the green side. Players enjoy the feel of these golf balls and being slightly less expensive than Titleist golf balls, they can be an excellent option although they are recommended for players with a higher swing speed.
Srixon soft touch (pack of 12 balls £22.99):
Colours: white, yellow
The name Srixon may not carry the same meaning as some of the other brands on this list, but that doesn’t mean they should be discarded. For many golfers, these are the perfect golf balls as they are more suitable for players with slower swings who can get more distance from this ball than others.
Manufacturers emphasize a solid and comfortable hit with every shot, and this is something that people with high handicaps especially require from their golf balls. The softness is good around the greens, although it does make a little noise from the putter. However, the side punch is a great advantage as it allows players to position their discs or putts in the correct position to give them the best chance of hitting the sweet spot.
Srixon Z star (pack of 12 balls £39.99):
Colours: white
The Z Star XV is a golf ball that can hit the jackpot for those of us with a faster swing speed. Srixon has used a special three-piece design to develop a ball that has improved distance performance with our screwdriver and irons and fits the bill as one of the best golf balls on the market.
The golf ball has a soft core that hardens towards the outer edges, making it softer to the touch to generate more ball speed. Spin Skin+ is a durable coating that interacts favorably with the grooves on our irons and wedges to maximize our spin control. And with 338 dimples, the pattern reduces drag and gives you extra distance, even in windy weather, making it a very good option for golfing by the sea!
Callaway Chrome Soft (pack of 12 balls £47.99):
Colours: white
This high-quality ball from Callaway is designed for golfers of all levels as the engineers used special Precision technology to produce this golf ball.
The Hyper Elastic SoftFast ball core is designed to increase ball speed and distance from each club in our bag, but at the same time provide softness with a level of spin and greenside control. The extra distance is great, but for a short-game player like me, the idea of stroking the ball with gentle wedge-and-flop strokes is very appealing. With the speed and control this ball offers, it’s easy to see why it’s popular with Callaway’s team of professionals.
