There are so many golf balls to choose from so it is important to think about which golf ball you should play that will benefit your game the most to help improve your score. Depending on whether you're looking for greater distance, accuracy, feel or spin, there are tons of golf balls out there that'll help you improve as a player. A golf ball is made of a core and a cover, but can consist of several layers, hence why they are referred to as one-piece, two-piece, three-piece balls and so on.
Typically, the balls labelled women’s are lower-compression, softer feeling two-piece (core and cover) balls that launch higher and have less overall spin, so will fly straighter. But there is absolutely no reason why these golf balls are only suited to women, in fact most women’s balls are a brilliant choice for seniors and juniors.
That's not to say that women should only play women's golf balls, but they exist to cater for a general cross-spectrum. The average female golfer swings slower than the average man (by about 20% according to Titleist TrackMan estimates), but all equipment purchases should start with the individual, and all women are definitely not alike.
Some of the best golf balls on the market come in a range of colors that will catch the eye of any player around. Depending on your preferences, you can find a wide variety of colors on the market, from blue golf balls all the way to some of the best glow in the dark golf balls.
At Golf Monthly our contributors test a whole range of women's golf balls and in this guide, we'll be walking you through some of the best options on the market for female players. And if you're in the market for any other equipment, you'll also find some excellent products on our guides to the best women's golf shoes post. If you need a new bag, take a look at our guide on the best women's golf bags guide. Whatever you need, we've got you covered.
Alison Root has over 25 years experience working in media, predominantly dedicated to women's golf. She is a respected voice across all areas of the game and has tested plenty of women's golf equipment.
The Quick List
Titleist Velocity offers some outstanding distance and a nice firm feel. Low spin helps gain distance.
Thanks to a larger profile, the Reva ball will help women, especially beginners, to play better and ultimately boost their confidence.
This is a great value golf ball for players with a slow to moderate swing speed and we love the different colors on offer as well.
This ball offers a super soft feel and decent spin control without compromising distance.
Against
An impressive all rounder that offers good distance with impressive greenside spin and a soft feel.
Best Golf Balls For Women
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Best for distance
The Titleist Velocity golf ball features a firmer higher-speed LSX core that boosts ball speed on all full shots while keeping the spin down for optimum distance. As with many of the best Titleist golf balls, the cover has been improved to create a better feel on the face of the club and the aerodynamics have also been updated to provide a higher trajectory and more favourable ball flight off the deck and from the tee.
It is this combination of ball speed, low spin and high flight that makes the Velocity ball the longest in the Titleist range which will help many women get the ball out there a little further. Additionally, we loved the color options too as the ball is available in white or matte pink, green and orange. Overall we think the Velocity is not just one of the best distance golf balls out there, but also one of the best golf balls for high handicappers too.
- Read our full Titleist Velocity 2022 Golf Ball Review
Best for confidence
This ball complements the latest Big Bertha Reva family of clubs and is designed for beginners or players with slow to moderate swing speeds for increased distance, higher launch angles and straighter shots. Was that the case in our testing? Well, the first thing to notice is the size. Conforming to the Rules of Golf, the overall construction of the Reva ball, which comes in white or pink with a subtle sparkle finish, is actually 9% larger than a standard ball. Don't worry though they are legal!
The larger diameter, 1.73 inches as opposed to 1.68 inches (the smallest a golf ball can legally be), meaning that the center of gravity is higher to help launch the ball more easily with greater forgiveness on mishits. Carry and distance off the tee was generous too and the technology Callaway have built into this golf ball makes it one of the best in the brand's entire range. It boasts a low compression with an ionomer cover that is designed to reduce spin. That allowed our shots to fly a lot straighter and further. We also enjoyed the performance on offer around the greens as well, and on them with the feel off the putter being good as well.
- Read our full Callaway Reva Golf Ball Review
Best colors
The Kalea is essentially designed for ladies who, on average, won't swing the club as fast as men. Its performance attributes could work for anyone towards the slower end of the swing spectrum, meaning these are also one of the best golf balls for seniors or junior players. And if you fall into this category, it might also be worth looking at our best golf balls for slow swing speeds.
The slower you swing a golf club, the more compression you need in the ball, so that's where the Kalea's low 60 compression really helps it stand out from the pack. It helps it to generate more lift for more yards, with the High-Energy REACT core maximizing driving distance.
TaylorMade have also inserted a soft ionomer cover to the ball which provides a soft feel into the greens along with excellent greenside spin. While we tested several cool colorways of this golf ball, it also comes in a white offering for the traditional players.
That ionomer cover does also help you feel in control of short game shots, and on the putting greens it also delivered a satisfying sound and roll off the putter head. It's also worth noting that these golf balls come in at an excellent price, akin to many of the best value golf balls on the market.
- Read our full TaylorMade Kalea Golf Ball Review
Best soft feel
The key to the Srixon Soft Feel Lady ball's performance is its softness and very low compression of just 58. The softness starts with an Energetic Gradient Growth Core that's softer near the centre and firmer around the perimeter, for a blend of softness with maximum ball speed. This design helps to bring added distance to ladies, whose average swing speeds are typically slower than men's, along with a higher launch for more carry.
Some of the best Srixon golf balls are designed to deliver optimal aerodynamic flights and this is no different. It features a Speed Dimple pattern that also reduces drag at launch and increases lift during descent, which is particularly useful in windy conditions. In testing, we loved the responsive feel off the face, especially on the greens, where the ball felt particularly soft off the clubface. Its design elements seemed to help our distance as well off the tee, which is a massive bonus. The dazzling pink packaging gives the Soft Feel real shelf appeal and most importantly makes it easy for ladies to spot. The ball itself just has a very simple Fuchsia pink alignment line to help you aim your putter precisely.
- Read our full Srixon Soft Feel Lady Golf Ball Review
Best three-piece
Sitting just below the TP5 and TP5x models is the new Tour Response golf ball, that boasts bags of quality and performance for any player looking to improve their game. We noticed several improvements when compared to the previous model. For example, the new ball was faster off the face by about 3 mph versus the previous generation with a fraction less spin. This created six extra carry yards and seven additional yards in total. We noticed it spun a little less with the irons and wedges as well and yet there was no loss of control or feel.
We also thoroughly enjoyed the feel off the putter as well because it gave a lovely soft touch even when we were putting with the best blade putters. Overall the long game performance in particular has been taken up a notch. For a relatively low-compression ball, we were impressed by the strength of the flight and the overall distance. When you couple that with the spin control offered by the cast urethane cover, you have a solid all-rounder that provides many golfers with an excellent value-for-money alternative.
- Read our full TaylorMade Tour Response 2022 Golf Ball Review
How we test golf balls
The quality of Golf Monthly's reviews and buyers guides is built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team that has a sterling reputation in the industry, known for delivering the key points you want to know in a concise, easy-to-digest manner.
When it comes to testing golf balls, we use each product both inside and out to obtain controlled data about spin, carry distances and smash factor, before taking the ball outdoors to see how it performs on the course. That way we can get a complete picture and greater feedback on its performance to pass that back on to you. We think golf balls have to be tested over a number of rounds because that is how you can test for things like distance, feel, durability, spin and so on. Additionally, we should make it clear that no manufacturer can buy a good review because we tell it how it is.
How to choose golf balls
The most technical piece of equipment in golf is the golf ball. Brands are innovating all the time to see how they can make their golf balls carry further, spin more and help the modern-day golfer shoot lower cards. For that reason, there is an awful lot of technology crammed into your average ball, whether that's in terms of the ball's dimpled casing or its construction. That means there are a lot of things to consider when purchasing your next box of golf balls and that can sometimes be quite overwhelming for players who are relatively new to the game. To help you purchase the best golf ball for your game, we've set out a few points below that you should bear in mind when you head down to your local golf shop.
1. Soft or firm?
The best premium golf balls come in alternative versions that spin slightly less for players who prefer a firmer feel or more control off the tee. We recommend you try both kinds of feel from various distances to find your preferred feel.
2. Cover material
Urethane-covered balls offer the best spin control and feel but do cost more. Experiment with each to see if you notice enough of a difference to justify the extra cost, or whether the best mid-price golf balls might be an option.
3. Long game or short game?
Which aspect of the game is most important to you? Are you looking for maximum distance or something that allows your short game to shine around the greens? If you put a real premium on feel, perhaps our best soft feel golf balls guide might be a good next step.
4. Color/visuals
Are you very much a classic white ball player, or someone open to playing something a little different as the golf ball world evolves? There's more choice than ever in this regard and if you're planning on outdriving the course, there's a strong chance that you will want your golf ball to have a bit of color on it, to help you see where it falls on the course.
5. Price
No buying guide would be complete without at least mentioning price. Thankfully most brands make models at different price points and you can rest assured there is decent performance on offer across the price spectrum. It is also worth considering that personalized balls cost a little more money.
For more advice on buying golf balls, we have a ton of information on our website that will help you make the right choice for you. For example, why not take a look at some of the bealls available on our guides to the best low spin golf balls and the best golf balls for high handicappers.
FAQs
What's the difference between mens golf balls and women's balls??
There isn't a great deal of difference between men's and women's golf balls. Perhaps the clearest signifier of a women's golf ball these days is color because models like the TaylorMade Kalea come in pink and purple colors and those colors are more normally associated with women. One thing we've noticed about women's golf balls is that they often have a lower compression than standard golf balls. The reason is that women generally tend to have lower swing speeds than men and therefore require a little more compression in their golf balls to help them get the ball up and into the air. On the other hand, there are a lot of women who can quite easily use premium models or ones that are designed to cover a variety of abilities. So for that reason when picking a golf ball always see which is the best option for you before buying one.
Do women's golf balls make a difference?
That depends on your swing. If you have a slower swing speed, then yes they will make a difference. Ladies golf balls tend to be designed with a lower compression core than most other golf balls that enabling the player to strike the ball longer and harder despite having a slower swing speed.
What golf ball does Nelly Korda use?
Olympic gold medallist Nelly Korda uses a TaylorMade TP5 Golf Ball.
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