Best Winter Golf Ball 2024

The temperature has a big say in golf ball performance. Playing in colder temperatures means the ball will not fly as far as it would in summer, for example. Even the best golf balls on the market will fluctuate in performance levels when the temperature dips down, a feature worth noting for all players regardless of skill level. If the golf ball itself gets cold it can lead to less velocity and distance off the clubface, too.

Picking the best ball for winter golf is not an easy task as there are differing views as to what characteristics suit golf at this time of the year. Some believe softer compression helps players hit it further in cold conditions whilst others will argue a harder golf ball will mean players can get more yardage off the tee and provide more distance when the fairways are soft and wet as they often are in the winter months.

We've picked some of our favourite options to help you choose your best winter golf ball in this guide. Some of these balls are also listed on our guides to the best value balls, the best distance balls and the best soft-feel balls. We take into account a variety of factors, one of which being visibility. For example, some balls will be easier to track and find in gloomier weather or when there’s frost on the ground than others.

We also take into account greenside performance - control and feel on those tricky chips around the putting surface. Firmer, more distance orientated golf balls typically have less control than more premium options which is worth keeping in mind. Having so many good options to choose from is a great problem to have!

The Quick List

Best Winter Golf Ball

Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball

The brand promised improvements in distance and overall durability of the ball and have delivered that promise in the new Supersoft. It's a low-compression ball suited to players with average swing speeds and can be handy in the winter months when the temperatures are on the low side.

Using their new Paraloid Impact Modifier cover, we saw distance gains in testing while the ball remained durability through multiple rounds of golf. It feels really good around the greens as well with the soft compression core giving us nice feel on chip and pitch shots while also giving us nice, high launch with the driver and fairway woods.

The alignment feature on the side is also a nice feature and can help players of all abilities line up their putts to gain a new edge on the putting surface. You also have five additional colors to choose from other than the traditional white. These are yellow, matte orange, green, pink, and red.

• Read our full Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball Review

Titleist 2024 Tour Soft Golf Ball

First impressions are important, right? Some golfers won't care too much about the packaging, but we were really impressed with premium looking of the Tour Soft's packaging - it looks and feels like you're unboxing a top-of-the-line golf ball. Once out of the box and in use, we were impressed by the spin on offer through the Fusablend cover which has specifically designed for short game control. It also gives the balls a nice, bright white finish.

Like the Callaway Supersoft, Titleist provide an alignment feature on the side of the ball which can help you pick your line on the green with confidence. As the name suggests, this is a soft-feeling golf ball with nice feedback at impact - it feels both powerful and easy to control.

Admittedly, it's not as long off the tee as the best premium golf balls, but round the greens, the spin on offer was plentiful, with the overall launch of these golf balls slightly higher. One last point is that the Tour Soft ball proved to be somewhat durable with one ball lasting multiple wedge shots and various holes out on the golf course.

• Read our full Titleist 2024 Tour Soft Golf Ball Review

TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink Golf Ball

The design on the golf ball might not be to everyone's taste, but we credit Taylormade for being bold in the making of the SpeedSoft Ink. Flashy, more flair-orientated players will fall in love with this option which is aimed at higher handicap players or those with slower swing speeds. If you fall into this category, you should check out our guide for the best golf balls for slow swing speeds.

We found the SpeedSoft to be higher launching than any golf ball on the market during our testing process whilst also providing impressive but not mind-blowing distance. The soft feel and feedback provided also impressed us - it feels spring-like with longer clubs but easy to control for shorter shots which will be very appealing to golfers of all abilities.

The eye-catching design is also available in a range of different colors.

• Read our full TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink Golf Ball Review

Bridgestone e12 Contact Golf Ball

The e12 uses a unique, distinctive Contact Force dimple which has a raised area within the middle of each dimple. This means that impact between clubface and ball is increased by 38% when compared to more traditional dimple pattern.

What does this result in, you ask? Improved distance and speed - two nice attributes for a golf ball being played in cold conditions. The dimples also provide an improvement in both grip and spin which we loved when testing this ball around the greens.

Available in white, matte green, matte red, and matte yellow, it may not offer any major top level performance compared to some of the other best Bridgestone golf balls, but it isn't too far behind as it still provides a great value options with decent overall performance. 

• Read our full Bridgestone e12 Contact Golf Ball Review

Firmer cover balls

For TaylorMade's Distance+ ball, speed and distance is the main selling point making it a must for this list. These goals are achieved through its REACT Speed Core and the aerodynamics of the 342-dimple pattern. This pattern delivers low drag but with high velocity when travelling through the air. 

If you are looking for distance gains then this is certainly one of the best golf low spin golf balls. The lonomer Core feels soft and provides nice feel for the price point of this ball and the alignment tool on the side of the ball is helpful for short and longer putts.

• Read our full TaylorMade Distance+ Golf Ball Review

Pinnacle Rush Golf Ball

Likely available in your local high street sports store, the Pinnacle Rush is a great golf ball for players who are new to the game. Typically provided in boxes of 15, it's a great value golf ball that outperforms it's price point.

The high-energy core is the main driving point behind it's performance, allowing players to gain distance through higher ball speeds. Cheaper golf balls can feel a little clicky off the face, but we didn't have this feeling with the Rush during testing - another positive.

The Pinnacle Rush uses an Icosahedral dimple pattern that is comprised of 332 dimples. This is all on a durable Ionomer cover that creates a more consistent ball flight that feels powerful but also has a bit of feel to it around the greens. Given it is distance orientated, it's not the softest ball available today, but a ball at such a price is expected to have some drawbacks.

• Read our full Pinnacle Rush Golf Ball Review 

Titleist Velocity 2022 Golf Ball

Titleist are one of the best manufacturers for golf balls and the Velocity is an impressive option that fits in about midway up the price scale. 

The core of this ball has been made a bit firmer in a bid to generate greater speeds on shots, with the NaZ+ Ionomer cover also receiving some work, as a new formula of enhanced feel and Octahedral design aids a higher ball flight and increases consistency. 

As a result, you can gain distance no matter the time of year you are playing. When we compared this ball to the older Velocity, we noticed a five yard gain in distance off the tee and with iron in hand from the fairway. Spin levels remain low which aided distance but we lost some feel around the greens as a result - a common drawback for more distance based golf balls. We did like the various color options too, suited for those who want to breakaway from the traditional white golf ball.

• Read our full Titleist Velocity 2022 Golf Ball Review

Srixon Distance Golf Ball

There's no denying that the Srixon Distance is probably one of the more popular balls from the brands range of premium quality golf balls. Even now, with this newer iteration, Srixon are making little tweaks and updates to the ball to maximize what you are getting. 

We noticed a softer feel with this version of the ball compared to previous models we have tested. A softer compression meant we got a distance gain thanks to a higher launch angle, while the dimple count (reduced to 108) results in less drag and more lift which will help players playing in cold, windy winter conditions.

Our testers said they saw a good increase to their overall distance and the penetration of the ball in the air when it got windy. Importantly, despite the lower cost, the Distance provides excellent durability, increasing the value for money further.

• Read our full Srixon Distance Golf Ball Review

Wilson Velocity Distance Golf Ball

The Velocity Distance is a low-compression ball and Wilson has promised that it will have extreme distance gains. How, you may ask? Well, this is done by using a hard Ionomer cover that optimises the trajectory thus increasing maximum yardage and roll out. 

The Velocity Distance lived up to these promises during our testing process. The aerodynamics have been improved through the dimple design, adding distance through a powerful feel. We were impressed with the durability as well having tested individual balls through multiple rounds of golf.

This ball is right up there as one of the best value golf balls you can get, especially because you often get 15 balls not 12 in a pack. Overall, we found this to be the perfect ball to help the less experienced golfers reach a higher distance off the tee.

• Read our full Wilson Tour Velocity Tour Distance Golf Ball Review

How we test golf balls

Here at Golf Monthly, our highly experienced team of testers play a lot of golf in different conditions throughout the year. While our gear writers Sam De'Ath and Joe Ferguson head up golf ball reviews on our site, most of the Golf Monthly team have been working in the golf industry for more years than they care to remember, so have a wealth of experience to offer. Through our rigorous testing procedures, our collective goal is to test every golf ball model on the market as soon as it becomes available to us, putting in the hours in all weathers out on the golf course, the practice ground, the short-game area, the practice bunker and the putting green. 

We pride ourselves in our reviews at Golf Monthly because they are made by golfers, for golfers. We've reviewed thousands of products over the years, meaning we've seen all there is to see in the golf equipment market. Ultimately, our testing process has been honed through decades of experience with the same goal in mind - to give you, the golfer, a fair honest review to help you find the right equipment for your game.

No brand gets better treatment than another, nor can a manufacturer 'buy' a good review - we simply call it how we see it!

How to choose golf balls

Choosing a golf ball that is best suited to your game can be a difficult task given the multitude of different options - it's also one of the most important decisions to make when kitting yourself out. Given the lower temperatures in the winter, it could be wise to make a golf ball change when the weather gets cold. Here are some things to consider before making that choice:

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 from various distances to find your preferred feel. Particularly when it comes to wet weather golf, you may want to consider how the feel of the golf ball might change in colder conditions. 

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. Again, as the temperature can have an impact on the ball, it's best to test each type of ball that you want to use to see how that golf ball responds when you play it. 

3. Long game or short game? 

If you don't want to pay the premium price tag for high-end golf balls, you'll likely have to make a bit of a sacrifice when it comes to golf club performance. This raises the question of what do you value more - distance off the tee and fairway or control around the greens?

If you value the former then check out our guide to the best distance golf balls; 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

It's important to get a golf ball that is pleasing to your eyes. The traditional golfer will like the original white golf ball, but a growing number of players like to spice things up with the increasing number of balls with neat designs or different colors. Have a look at them all before deciding what you like.

5. Budget

If you lose three or four golf balls a round or are new to the game, it might not be the wisest decision to buy premium golf balls given the price. At the same time, if you're a single figure handicap, buying that Pro V1 and TP5 golf ball could be a wise investment to do justice to your skill level. Thankfully, given the number of options out there, there is a very wise range of golf balls across all different price points.

Whether you're looking for the best soft feel golf balls, the best golf balls for slow swing speeds or even the best glow in the dark golf balls, we've got you covered with our extensive product guides. 

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