Best Golf Balls UK (2026)
A golf ball's real test is measured spin, speed and distance, then how it behaves on a real course. This guide compares balls tested by Golf Monthly's Sam De'Ath, a professional with over a decade in the industry, who hit 20 shots each with a sand wedge, 7-iron and driver on a Foresight launch monitor in their Performance Lab, played a round with each ball, and ran a five-shot driver dispersion test against the leading ball. The page lists nine balls; the seven shown in full are covered here.
We have not hands-on tested these products. Our picks are based on published independent tests and reviews, listed at the bottom of this page. How we pick.
Our top pick
Titleist Pro V1 (2025)
Top pick
Golf Monthly's top pick for total performance, with a soft, responsive feel and a little extra distance off the tee, particularly with mid irons. In testing it flew consistently and stably, cutting through the wind with no major distance drop-off into headwinds and little effect from crosswinds, while excelling on approach shots. Lower-spin players may get better performance from the Pro V1x.
- Complete tee-to-green performance
- Improved distance, particularly with mid irons
- Strong, stable ball flight in the wind
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titleist Pro V1 (2025) | Top pick | Three-piece, cast urethane elastomer cover, 388 tetrahedral dimple design | Check price |
| Mizuno Pro X | Best value | Three-piece, also available as REVA for women, noticeably cheaper than premium rivals | Check price |
| Callaway Chrome Tour (2026) | Best soft feel | Four-piece, Tour Fast Mantle, Advanced Seamless Tour Aero dimples, low long-game spin | Check price |
| TaylorMade TP5 (2026) | Best in the wind | Five-piece, Tour Flight dimple pattern, cast urethane cover, ball speeds close to 168mph in testing | Check price |
| Srixon Z-Star Diamond (2025) | Most underrated | Three-piece, lower trajectory and spin than the Z-Star XV, played on Tour by Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry | Check price |
| Titleist Pro V1x (2025) | Tour favourite | Four-piece, faster off the tee and lower spinning than the previous version, favoured by professionals | Check price |
| TaylorMade TP5x (2026) | Best ball speed | Five-piece, TaylorMade's lowest-spinning, fastest five-layer tour ball, micro-coated dimples | Check price |
Our picks in detail
Top pick
Titleist Pro V1 (2025)
Golf Monthly's top pick for total performance, with a soft, responsive feel and a little extra distance off the tee, particularly with mid irons. In testing it flew consistently and stably, cutting through the wind with no major distance drop-off into headwinds and little effect from crosswinds, while excelling on approach shots. Lower-spin players may get better performance from the Pro V1x.
- Construction
- Three-piece
- Cover
- Cast urethane elastomer
- Colours
- White and yellow
Pros
- Complete tee-to-green performance
- Improved distance, particularly with mid irons
- Strong, stable ball flight in the wind
Cons
- Low-spin players may get better performance from the Pro V1x
Best value
Mizuno Pro X
Golf Monthly's tester was 'blown away': the Pro X flew further than the Srixon Z-Star XV and seven yards longer than the previous-generation Titleist Pro V1x in testing. Iron flight was high but controlled and consistent, with a responsive feel on wedges and a soft touch on the green, at a noticeably lower price than the best premium balls. The only real downside is that Mizuno isn't a brand golfers associate with premium balls.
- Construction
- Three-piece
- Colours
- Yellow and white (REVA version for women)
- Compared with rivals
- Seven yards longer than previous Pro V1x in testing
Pros
- Exceptional value given ball speed and carry distance
- High, controlled flight with irons
- Responsive wedge feel and control
Cons
- Not a brand many golfers associate with premium balls
Best soft feel
Callaway Chrome Tour (2026)
Golf Monthly found this delivers low long-game spin and a lower iron spin profile, prioritising speed and flight stability, yet still reaches a high peak height, letting skilled players flight shots without losing distance. It felt soft without compromising distance and around the greens gave impressive 'drop-and-stop' spin for delicate wedge shots, though it may not suit golfers with slower swing speeds.
- Construction
- Four-piece
- Colours
- Nine white and yellow variations
- Key tech
- Tour Fast Mantle
Pros
- Soft feel without sacrificing distance
- Solid spin with chip and pitch shots
- Ideal for those wanting a lower iron flight
Cons
- May not suit golfers with slower swing speeds
Best in the wind
TaylorMade TP5 (2026)
Golf Monthly found the new Tour Flight pattern stops the ballooning criticised on the previous model, with exceptional stability in the wind. Driver ball speeds reached close to 168mph, taking the tester over 300 yards, while it still felt softer than ever, and around the green the cast urethane cover gave high spin and confident chipping. High launch may not suit everyone.
- Construction
- Five-piece
- Colours
- White and yellow (Pix design also available)
- Ball speed measured
- Close to 168mph with driver
Pros
- Exceptional stability in the wind
- Exceptional distance
- Strong short game spin
Cons
- High launch may not suit everyone
Most underrated
Srixon Z-Star Diamond (2025)
Golf Monthly found the Diamond kept up with the longer Z-Star XV off the tee while producing a lower trajectory and spin, good for windy conditions. It stands out with irons, spinning over 1,000rpm more than the Z-Star and 700rpm more than the Z-Star XV on a full sand wedge, and finds a middle ground between the soft Z-Star and the firmer XV. It perhaps lacks a premium look to match the performance.
- Construction
- Three-piece
- Colours
- White and yellow
- Wedge spin measured
- Over 1,000rpm more than Z-Star, 700rpm more than Z-Star XV
Pros
- Competitive distance output
- High approach shot spin
- Soft feel, but not excessive
Cons
- Perhaps doesn't have the premium look to match the performance
Tour favourite
Titleist Pro V1x (2025)
Golf Monthly saw a 0.5mph ball speed increase over the 2023 model, with carry up three yards and total distance up four, and could carry trees and hazards that previously needed a top strike. It flies as strongly as anything on the market with good stopping power into greens and strong wind performance, though it feels noticeably firmer than the regular Pro V1, which some will not prefer.
- Construction
- Four-piece
- Colours
- White and yellow
- Vs 2023 model
- +0.5mph ball speed, +3 yards carry, +4 total
Pros
- Favoured by professionals
- Strong performance in the wind
- Excellent distance
- Good stopping power on greens
Cons
- Some may prefer the softer feel of the Pro V1
Best ball speed
TaylorMade TP5x (2026)
Golf Monthly saw ball speed gains over the previous model in their Performance Lab, combined with low spin for a penetrating, consistent flight and good rollout outdoors. The low-spin theme continues with irons, giving a shallower descent that suits soft greens more than very firm ones, and the distance comes with a firmer feel and less check when chipping than the TP5.
- Construction
- Five-piece
- Colours
- White and yellow (Pix design also available)
- Feel
- Firm
Pros
- Exceptionally fast ball speed
- Firm feel offers ample feedback
- Piercing ball flight
Cons
- May spin a little low for slower swing speeds
- Slightly firm and less check when chipping and pitching
Buying guide
Which is the number one golf ball?
Statistically the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the most used balls on Tour, but top professionals also play the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x, Callaway Chrome Tour and Srixon Z-Star models. Golf Monthly's point is that no single ball dominates, so the best ball depends on your own game, not a universal ranking.
Do golf balls really make a difference?
Yes: spin, launch and feel all change how the ball responds to your strike, and the same ball performs differently for a tour player and a 15-handicapper. Most brands make several models, so it's worth testing a couple to find your match.
Soft or firm feel?
Top-tier ranges often offer a softer standard model and a firmer, lower-spinning companion for more driver control, such as the Pro V1 and Pro V1x or the TP5 and TP5x here. Golf Monthly advises trying both from various distances to establish your own preference.
Is a premium urethane ball worth the extra money?
Urethane covers give better spin control and feel but cost substantially more. Golf Monthly suggests experimenting to see whether the performance gain justifies the price for your skill level, or whether a good mid-price ball, or a lower-priced option like the Mizuno Pro X here, gives enough performance for the money.
Sources
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