Matt Cradock
A golf ball is arguably the most important aspect of your game; it's the only point of contact with the club face. You may think that it is a white, round ball with dimples, but the golf ball is so much more than that, with there being a multitude of different options for your game.
It can be difficult to narrow down which one will suit you but, if you want a golf ball that is used by the very best, then a premium golf ball is the way to go. Obviously, these won't suit all individuals, with those starting out perhaps being better suited to the best golf balls for beginners.
From there, you will probably look to progress on to the best mid price golf balls, before finally stepping up to the golf ball world’s top table. The thing is, there are a number of models available, and golfers will usually want to play with the best golf balls regardless of where their game is at.
The best premium models though tend to offer the very highest levels of all-round performance in the key areas of distance, spin, feel and control. There is one drawback though, which often puts people off - they’re pretty expensive! However, if you want the best from your golf game, they are the best option if you want to see your scores tumble down.
If premium isn't for you though, and you are looking for a particular type of golf ball, then why not check out our guides on the best value golf balls, best golf balls for high swing speeds and slow swing speeds, or even our best distance golf balls.
The Quick List
The new and improved 2025 Pro V1 is the gold standard of premium golf balls, providing a strong, consistent ball flight and consistency throughout the golf bag.
The TP5 is a fantastic golf ball and, if you are a player who favors copious amounts of greenside spin and a very soft feel, it is a must try.
A beautifully soft feeling golf ball that will appeal to high speed and high spin players. This ball is extremely consistent in its delivery of spin and stability of flight.
The Z-Star Diamond is fast and low spinning with the driver, controlled with irons and provides extreme spin with wedges as well as a soft yet responsive feel through the bag.
With very competitive driver distance coupled with high levels of iron shot stopping power and short game spin, this is a genuine all rounder with seemingly no weakness. For £40 a dozen, it provides genuine value.
The Xtreme Tour is a very impressive offering from PXG and a significant upgrade on the previous iteration. Slightly lower spinning than it's sibling the Xtreme Tour X, it is a strong option in windy conditions.
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The 2025 Pro V1x spins more than the standard model, allowing for ample short game control. It too boasts a strong, consistent ball flight that will please golfers of all abilities.
An excellent premium ball. Spinnier, more workable and firmer feeling than the Chrome Tour, this ball will suit players looking for maximum spin and those who love to shape the ball.
There are genuine, tangible improvements in this ball from the previous iteration, with the speed and a softer feel somehow being produced alongside excellent spin numbers.
Best Premium Golf Balls
Titleist Pro V1
First we have to start a premium golf ball guide with the Titleist Pro V1, with the 2025 version cementing its spot at the top of the game. This latest version is a case of refinement, instead of wholesale changes from the previous model, including a more filled in sidestamp, and then enhancements to the core material of the ball. Specifically they have been reformulated to increase ball speed, give lower spin with the driver, and more with the irons and shorter clubs.
Ultimately my testing revealed this ball delivered a soft, responsive feel whilst providing a little extra distance from the tee that will be well received by regular users. I liked the stable and consistent ball flight off the tee and it was particularly good in the wind as well.
The Pro V1 really excelled with the irons on approach shots as well. I felt in control of the golf ball no matter the distance and well hit shots had consistent carry numbers. This is a ball that shines with approach shots but performs brilliantly throughout the bag - it will be hard to find a better performing golf ball in 2025.
- Read our full Titleist Pro V1 2025 Golf Ball Review
TaylorMade 2024 TP5 Golf Ball
Used by the likes of Rory McIlroy, Nelly Korda and Collin Morikawa, the TP5 has been with us for some time now. Back in 2024, TaylorMade gave it some upgrades in the form of the material around the core, with the brand altering the material so that it produces a lower density acoustic, as well as a softer feel.
The softer feel allows TaylorMade to make it harder and faster to boost speed without losing out on feel or acoustics and, consequently, the TP5 performed consistently and solidly across. I must note that it was a few miles per hour slower than the TP5x, but the added spin helps get the ball airborne.
In testing, I found that the real standout was around the greens, with the TP5 producing a marshmallow soft feel that meant the ball stayed on the wedge for a long time. Because of this, it produced impressive levels of grab on the green and that makes it one of the best TaylorMade golf balls on the market.
- Read our full TaylorMade 2024 TP5 Golf Ball Review
Callaway Chrome Tour Golf Ball
Another model used on the professional circuit, the Callaway Chrome Tour range features the standard Chrome Tour and Tour X, both of which take the top spot as Callaway's premium ball offering. Callaway themselves claim it's the 'gold standard Tour ball for better players who want the best in distance and feel'.
The Chrome Tour is designed to be the softer feeling but slightly lower spinning ball and, in my testing, that was certainly the case as it produced lower spin numbers than the X, but with slightly less ball speed. Importantly, in very blustery conditions, the stability and consistency of flight was genuinely impressive!
How did it stay so stable, you may ask? Well, Callaway have implemented a new Hyperfast Soft core that has been designed to give as much speed as possible, as well as an innovative new dimple design of hexagonal and spherical dimples. This is where the stability comes in the performance.
- Read our full Callaway Chrome Tour Golf Ball Review
Srixon 2025 Z-Star Diamond Golf Ball
Perhaps one of the most underrated brands when it comes to Tour level golf balls is Srixon. Used by players like Brooks Koepka and Shane Lowry, the Z-Star Diamond in particular offers, from my testing, the best performance when compared to the other Z-Star and XV models. Why? Well despite Srixon saying the XV is the longest ball in the range the Diamond more than kept up with it, and the latter also produced a lower trajectory and spin, which will be ideal for those players who play in windy conditions regularly, or want a lower ball flight.
But where the Diamond stands out even further is when hitting irons and approach shots. Distance with a 7-iron was comparable with the other models while offering a touch more spin. On a full sand wedge shot, the Z-Star Diamond was spinning over 1000rpm more than the Z-Star and 700rpm more than the Z-Star XV. So in short I got long game performance and low spin, but more spin with the clubs being used around the greens. I should also say it also finds a lovely middle ground between the soft feel of the Z-Star and the firm, almost harsh feel of the XV.
Long off the tee whilst also providing loads of spin for those shorter iron and wedge shots, the Diamond is a worthy inclusion on this guide.
- Read our full Srixon Z-Star Diamond Golf Ball Review
Mizuno Pro X Golf Ball
When we say Mizuno your mind may go right away to irons and not golf balls but this shouldn't be the case anymore because the Pro X simply blew me away in testing. Despite coming with a slightly lower price point than the ultra-premium models in this guide, I had to include this ball because the performance is so good. It matched up well with any other premium golf ball I've tested.
The Pro X features a new three-piece construction, including a 12 percent thinner urethane cover and a thicker mantle layer as well, all in the name of providing ball speed and yet remaining nice and soft in terms of feel. Well in my testing it produced driver ball speed of 156.2mph, which was comparable to the recently launched Z-Star Diamond ball we really liked, but because it launched considerably higher with low spin it flew four yards further. So the ball speed and distance performance is a huge tick here.
Then in the short game the spin was solid, not market-leading by any means, but more than enough to get the ball to check up quickly by the hole when well struck. I also really liked the feel of the ball, firm but not excessively so, whilst the ball felt responsive with the putter as well. It’s very comparable to the Pro V1x if truth be told, which is certainly no bad thing, especially as it's a fair bit cheaper.
- Read our full Mizuno Pro X Golf Ball Review
PXG Xtreme Tour Golf Ball
Much like the Mizuno model above, your mind may not think of golf balls when thinking pf PXG but the Xtreme Tour is a model I recommend considering if you want a premium model. It has a three-piece construction - including a core, a firm ionomer mantle layer looking to enhance ball speed and distance off the tee, and then finally a urethane cover for spin and control. But how did it test?
Well the first thing I noticed were the visuals of the ball. They are incredibly white which is thanks to the glossy, shiny finish to them, which looked great in my opinion. I also liked the alignment aid on the side too.
Then when it came to hitting, the ball speed and distance output was excellent, for example I picked up around 2 miles per hour on my usual gamer, the TP5x below, but the spin was very similar. From a feel perspective, it was far from firm, just audibly a little higher pitched particularly with short wedge shots and chips. Spin was ample around the greens and I was also impressed with the durability, despite a few long sessions with the ball, it barely marked up, even from wedge sessions.
- Read our full PXG Xtreme Tour Golf Ball Review
Titleist Pro V1x
Along with the new version of the Pro V1 above, the Pro V1x got refined by Titleist in this latest model as well. Boasting a four-layer construction, the Pro V1x performed excellently when compared against the previous iteration. Off the tee with the driver, the spin dropped by around 150rpm and on a similar trajectory my carry distance increased by three yards, four yards in total. It also flies as strong as anything on the market, performing well in holding its line in the wind and crosswinds. I actually noticed that I seemed to carrying traps and targets on the course that would usually only require perfect strikes which was pleasing to see.
I found short game feel remained exceptional as well. I enjoyed the lovely audible 'click' sound when hitting shots with a wedge and the ball would come out a little lower and stop to attention on the 2nd/3rd bounce. Admittedly the X is noticeably firmer feeling than the standard Pro V1 but this will suit a lot of players. In terms of which model is best for you, I recommend getting a golf ball fitting to determine whether the regular Pro V1 or the Pro V1x are suited to your game because they are two fantastic options to add to your setup.
- Read our full Titleist Pro V1x 2025 Golf Ball Review
Callaway Chrome Tour X Golf Ball
The Chrome Tour X shares much of the same technology as the Chrome Tour above, with the same hexagonal and spherical dimple pattern on show. You may wonder then, what are the main differences? Well, the X is slightly firmer than the standard Chrome Tour, with the speed also fractionally up.
In testing, the spin levels were consistent throughout and where I would expect the best premium golf balls to be and, along with the spin, the new rubber system of the Hyperfast Soft core really helps create optimal compressions to produce maximum speeds.
Overall, Callaway have done an excellent job of creating two models that will appeal to the wide range of fast swing speeds. If I was to put this ball into a certain category, we think it will suit those that like to shape the ball.
- Read our full Callaway Chrome Tour X Golf Ball Review
TaylorMade 2024 TP5x Golf Ball
It's tough to know where to start with the TP5x, which I think is one of the best golf balls available right now! Performance-wise, there was a slight increase in speed over the standard TP5, but the spin levels were almost identical through the bag.
Aesthetically, TaylorMade have worked hard on the looks of the TP5x, which is very clean and features a handy alignment aid on the side. There are various versions of the model available, with TaylorMade adding never before seen customization options to its Pix models.
TaylorMade have thought long and hard about the new TP5x and, with a new ‘Speed Wrapped Core’ producing a soft feel and lower acoustics, it really gave us the confidence to swing hard and fast at the ball. To put it simply, I struggled to find any weakness in what is one of the best premium golf balls that money can buy.
- Read our full TaylorMade 2024 TP5x 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.
With golf balls, our procedure revolves around indoor and outdoor testing conducted by our team of reviewers. Starting with indoor testing to get some controlled statistics, we always get golf ball data using launch monitors like SkyTrak or Foresight Sports GCQuad. Often we hit new models alongside previous generations, or competing models to see how the performance differs as well.
We then take the balls outside which revolves around hitting with a launch monitor again, and then putting the balls to the test out on the course to get some real data and feedback as well. This way we can see how the ball performs playing a variety of different shots and in different conditions.
The final point worth mentioning is that no manufacturer can buy a good review because our testing team tells it how it is.
How to choose golf balls
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 would recommend trying both from various distances to find your preference.
Cover material - Urethane-covered balls offer the best spin control and feel but do cost more. Experiment to see if you notice enough of a difference to justify the extra cost.
Long game or short game? - Which aspect of the game is most important to you? Do you want to get as much distance as possible out of your golf ball or would you prefer a model that allows your short game to flourish thanks to improved feel?
Well we have created guides for both. If you value the former then check out our guide on the best distance golf balls. Or, if you put a real premium on feel, perhaps our best soft feel golf balls guide might be a good next step.
We should say that most of the premium models above are built more on feel and control, rather than distance so bear that in mind when reading.
Price - No buying guide would be complete without at least mentioning the price factor. Even in the premium sector there are models which are cheaper than others. So we would recommend trying out some models first, and then seeing how much you are willing to spend on a dozen golf balls.
FAQs
What are the most premium golf balls?
This is a difficult question to answer because every big brand in golf makes a Tour-level golf ball that can best be described as 'premium'. Titleist has the Pro V1 range, Srixon the Z-Star, Callaway the Chrome Soft or Tour balls and TaylorMade the TP5 range, all of which are at the premium end of the golf ball spectrum.
Do premium golf balls make a difference?
Premium golf balls are called as such because they tend to offer class-leading performance not just in terms of spin, but also control and feel. This explains why the best players in the world use premium golf balls. Whether it will make a difference to your game will depend on what level you are.
If you are just beginning your golfing journey, then no premium golf balls will not be worth it whereas if you are a single figure player who has previously used value or mid price golf balls, then chances are you will see an uptick in performance after switching to a premium model.
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