Playing the correct type of golf ball can make a big difference to your game. Here we highlight the best golf balls 2019 has to offer to help you make your selection.
Best Golf Balls 2019
It’s a pretty simple premise that using the same golf ball in practice as you do in competitions will help heighten your feel for a more reliable short game.
But as our selection of the best golf balls 2019 below showcases, despite their similar appearances on the outside, different brands’ designs and philosophies are growing apart.
The new year has seen some drastic re-designs and innovative new technology introduced to each brands premium lines of golf balls, so we have put together this guide on the best balls you can buy on the market.
What do you need to consider?
Soft or firm?
Golf balls come in alternative versions that spin slightly less for players who prefer a firmer feel or more control off the tee. Try both types from a range of distances to find your preference.
Cover material
Urethane covers offer the best spin control and feel but do cost more. Experiment to see if you notice enough of a difference to validate the extra cost.
Long game or short game?
With conflicting fitting messages from different brands, consider if your game will benefit most from extra yards off the tee or better feel and control around the greens.
Here are what we think are the best golf balls 2019 has to offer…
Best Golf Balls 2019
Titleist Pro V1 & Pro V1x
2019 sees a rather significant design overhaul on the number one ball in golf, the Pro V1 and Pro V1x. The major focus this year has been to increase long-game performance without disrupting the excellent short-game control and feel that so many players trust. This has been achieved in a number of ways – the casing layer underneath the cover has been made 14 per cent thicker on Pro V1 and 11 per cent thicker on Pro V1x. Additionally the cast urethane elastomer cover has been made 17 per cent thinner and the 2019 versions also have reformulated 2.0 ZG Process cores. All of this is said to produce greater ball speed, long-game spin for more distance, and yet also maintaining the soft feel and control around the green.
WATCH: 2019 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x Review
The Pro V1 flies slightly lower than its counterpart with a more penetrating trajectory, whereas the Pro V1x feels slightly firmer and spins more, especially with the irons. Both white models are available now while a new high optic yellow version (pictured above) will be on sale from March 15th.
Srixon Z-Star & Z-Star XV
The first and only golf ball to use the macromolecule material Slide-Ring (SeRM) in the cover, which has ‘moveable cross-linking’ in the network construction to ensure the balls are more proficient in shape restoration, damage and impact resistance, and finally vibration absorption.
In essence, this SeRM has been designed to not only create more distance in the Z-Star, but also greater spin which is particularly useful around the greens. In the Z-Star XV this new technology is there to increase short-game spin without losing distance off the tee. Available in white and yellow, the balls are especially resistant to scratches and wear and tear picked up during the round.
TaylorMade TP5 & TP5x Golf Balls
Put into play by many of the world’s best, the 2019 TP5 and TP5x ball from TaylorMade has a new ‘high-flex’ material weaved into the five-layer design. The new Tri-Fast core consists of an extra-large inner core and then is wrapped in increasingly stiffer materials which are designed to create more speed without having any negative effect on spin.
The TP5 has a softer feel, launches lower on iron shots and spins more in comparison to the TP5x.
Callaway Chrome Soft & Chrome Soft X Golf Balls
Released in 2018, the Callaway Chrome Soft ball had a new Graphene Dual SoftFast Core. This material is stronger than diamond and its use has made a thinner outer core possible, therefore allowing a larger inner core. As a result, Callaway has been able to enhance the ball’s speed and reduce long game spin for more distance, while retaining the soft feel benefits of the original models.
Meanwhile, the Callaway Chrome Soft X has undergone the bigger transformation. It has a reduced spin profile through the bag, so you will now find a firmer feel overall. Callaway says those with a swing speed of roughly 105mph and above (considered in the higher range) should be more suited to the X.
Callaway also released a Truvis version of the Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X balls. These patterns have been designed to help you see your golf ball better while in flight.
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Titleist AVX
WATCH: Titleist AVX Ball Review
The Titleist AVX is a new, high-performance golf ball providing distance and a soft feel through proprietary core, cover and aerodynamic technologies. It sits alongside Pro V1 and Pro V1x in terms of offering all-round performance from tee to green, but will offer the lowest spin and launch of the three as well as the softest feel. A high speed, low compression core and a new high flex casing layer enhances speed and controls spin to promote even greater distance, while a unique catenary aerodynamic design delivers a piercing, low trajectory while providing a consistent ball flight on all shots.
Mizuno RB Tour Golf Balls
Mizuno has introduced two new premium balls to its line-up in 2019, the RB Tour and RB Tour X. Both feature the new drag-reducing Cone Profile Dimple (C-Dimple) which create more trigger points to keep fast-flowing air close to the ball’s surface. They also have a high-traction urethane cover for green side performance.
The RB Tour offers low driver spin for downward attack angles while the RB Tour X offers mid/low driver spin for flat to upward attack angles.
Bridgestone Tour B X Golf Balls
The Tour B X Golf ball is used by some of the finest players in the world in Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau. Thanks to their SlipRes technology, the ball has a softer cover which enhances feel and also produces less side spin due to its gradation core compression technology. This also creates greater speed and reduced the amount of spin the hitting the driver.
The brand also produced a special Tiger Woods edition of the Tour B X called the Tour BXS – TW Edition. These balls have identical specifications to the ball Woods puts into competition and as you can see from the picture above, come with Tiger’s name imprinted on the ball. Additionally for each sale a portion of the profits goes to the TGR Foudation.
“After extensive testing I have chosen the best ball for my game. This ball is reacting identical with how I want to play.” – Tiger Woods
Volvik S4 Golf Balls
You may have noticed Bubba Watson using a pink golf ball and it’s the Volvik S4. This soft feeling premium ball suits Bubba because it has been designed for fast swinging golfers, while offering tour-level control around the greens. Its urethane cover offers optimum spin rates for greenside touch shots, while the core provides longer distance off the tee. Furthermore, white, pink and green versions are all available – if that’s your thing.
Vice Golf Pro & Pro Plus Golf Balls
German ball manufacturer Vice believes that high-performing balls don’t need to have such a sizeable price tag – which sounds appealing, right? For example, if you purchase 60 Vice Golf Pro balls through its website you’ll get them for just £1.79 per ball (£21.49 per dozen).
The Vice Golf Pro is designed for golfers with moderate-to-high clubhead speeds and features a cast urethane cover and the manufacturer’s ‘Stick To The Green’ (S2TG) technology that assists greenside spin. The Pro Plus then offers lower spin and launch for faster swinging players.
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