Best golf balls 2021-2022

It’s good to get back doing some writing and we will kick it off with our best golf balls 2021-2022 master rankings list. After spending the last weeks doing a lot of ball testing and data analysis, we are ready to roll out this year’s 2021-2022 category specific ball rankings.

We believe we have taken a jump forward this year in our approach to our ball rankings. By incorporating standard deviations into our statistical analysis, we have enhanced our methodology to be able to weight and compare more tangible relative differences between the various balls. We used a similar approach in our golf bag rankings this year and had a lot of success. Since it makes a very clear percentile measure for the various points of measure and have found it to be a very helpful to also remove any biases we might have while making our rankings. 

For each of the following 6 metrics of our analysis have calculated the averages and standards deviations.  

• Ball Speed
• Spin
• Peak Height
• Descent
• Carry Yards 
• Total Yards

Then depending on the specific category rankings, we may introduce other factors such as price, feel etc as additional points of comparison.

As mentioned, this is the master rankings list for our 2021-2022 golf ball reviews. This will work in the same was as our other master rankings list where we will keep track of all the balls we review here. All of our other core golf ball rankings are limited to the top 3 entries. Our core golf ball category lists that we intend to maintain this year and going forward include:

Best golf balls for the average golfer 2021-2022

Based on our template of what an average golfer performs like we have come up with our ball recommendations

Best golf balls for high handicappers 2021-2022

It might not make sense for a high handicapper to look to spend a lot of money on their golf balls there are some other ball characteristics that are worth looking for

Best golf balls for low swing speeds 2021-2022

With the highly specialized construction of golf balls today not every ball is meant to handle those with big swings. Here are our ideas for those balls with optimal performance at a slower pace.

Best golf balls for high swing speeds 2021-2022

Then there are those gold balls set up to go boom. So, for those of you that look to muscle balls off the tee here is some options for you.

Best low spin golf balls 2021-2022

A lot has been made about spin and its importance for managing the golf balls flight. We will look at our best options for you here.

Best golf balls to play into the green 2021-2022

With the multiple layers and materials golf ball manufacturers have been able to enhance the playability of gold balls with respect to the short game. If this is where you look to excel your game the these are the balls for you.

Best golf balls for the money 2021-2022*

Premium gold balls are not to be had for pennies. For those golfers who look to save some money without significant drop offs in performance we have taken a look at the best options for you.

* We will activate the ranking list as soon as we review a product that we feel deserves inclusion.

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Bridgestone Tour B XS

Bridgestone’s Tour B XS is a premium golf ball that has been getting a lot of love from both amateur and professional golfer’s. With names like Woods and DeChambeau fronting the message it is not hard to imagine the popularity. The B XS shows very solid results in its distance numbers but absolutely excels when we start looking at its performance into the green. If you’re a player who looks to get a little more bite on your approach it is a great option for you. It is marketed for high swing speeds and we did hit our apex in many statistics between 105-110 mph but it really did surprise us that even at slower swing speeds it held its own against many other golf balls. 

Our results and remarks:

• 85th percentile mid iron and wedge spin
• 79th percentile decent (mid iron)
• 50^th percentile decent (wedge)
• 70^th percentile total yards (avg all tested swing speeds)
• 73^rd percentile ball speeds (mid irons)
• Higher than average launch (driver)
• High spin and decent create maximum stopping power

Manufacturers remarks:

• The NEW TOUR B with REACTIV iQ is THE SMARTER TOUR BALL
• Proprietary NEW REACTIV iQ is a SMART cover technology that reacts to the force of impact
• MORE DISTANCE: REACTIV iQ rebounds quickly on tee shots, delivering explosive velocity and increased distance
• MORE CONTROL: REACTIV iQ stays on the face longer on approach shots, providing more spin and soft feel around the green
• Dual Dimple technology provides efficient trajectory and reduced drag through enhanced aerodynamics
• The TOUR B XS with REACTIV iQ delivers increased ball speed for MAXIMUM DISTANCE off the tee and a SOFT FEEL and INCREASED SPIN for CONTROL on approach shots
• Bridgestone Golf is the #1 BALL FITTER IN GOLF:  The TOUR B XS is ideal for players with swing speeds OVER 105 MPH who want additional spin
• TIGER WOODS assisted in the development of the NEW TOUR B XS and he plays it in professional competition

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Titleist AVX

Titleist new version of the AVX is not a total departure from its previous iteration. It still is a great ball for those golfers looking for a softer feeling ball without giving up distance. Also, its lower ball trajectory is appealing for those golfers looking for piercing ball flight. We found the biggest talking points for the new version is slightly softer feel around the green with additional spin. It also lost 4 dimples (348) along the way 🙂

Our results and remarks:

• 94th percentile ball speed (driver)
• 23rd percentile spin (driver)
• 43rd percentile spin (mid iron)
• 31st percentile peak height (driver)
• 83rd percentile total yards
• Results quite consistent across range of swing speeds
• Despite low driving trajectory better than average peak heights results on middle irons upwards.

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Manufacturers remarks:

Inside the Engine

The reformulated core and high flex casing layer generate high speed and low long game spin.

New Aerodynamics

A new spherically-tiled 348 catenary dimple design delivers a more consistent flight and longer distance.

Spin and Control

The softer cast urethane elastomer cover system increases greenside spin and provides even more precise control on shots into the green.

Incredibly Soft Feel

The core, casing layer and cover work in concert to deliver an incredibly soft and responsive feel for every shot throughout the bag.

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Titleist Tour Speed

It seemed to make sense that the first review for a ball suitable for average golfers was a ball specifically designed for just that. Titleist’s Tour Speed was not made with tour level players in mind but rather those golfers who may seek to find a ball that gives them a little extra from the tee but still does not forget about green side spin.

Our results and remarks:

• 69th percentile ball speed driver
• 93rd percentile launch (driver)
• 16th percentile spin (driver)
• 50th percentile spin (mid iron)
• 90^th percentile total yards
• Consistent results across upper and lower limits of target swing speeds
• Short game stopping promoted by steep decent 

Manufacturers remarks:

Speed

Technology driven core design delivers maximum speed on full swing shots.

More Speed

Fast Ionomer casing layer contributes to increased speed and low long game spin.

Control

Proprietary TPU cover generates greenside spin for short game scoring control.

Flight

346 quadrilateral dipyramid dimple design provides penetrating flight for long distance with tight dispersion.    

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Vice Pro Soft

Vice has been extremely successful in getting their balls to market in the last years. If you need proof, you can check our Off Pist ball rankings where you can see that they ranked very close to 5^th in balls found during the course of our play last season. Vice’s Pro Soft is ideally set up for golfers reaching average swing speeds and looking for that soft touch. Its low driver spin rates make it well suited for those golfers prone to not square the club face generating excessive spin rates. The 30% savings vs premium tour balls also does not hurt.

Our results and remarks:

• 50th percentile ball speed (driver)
• 70th percentile launch (driver)
• 16th percentile spin (driver)
• 8th percentile spin (mid iron)
• 93^rd percentile peak height (mid irons)
• 70^th percentile total yards
• Ball showed higher and better comparative results on low range of average swing speeds 
• Short game stopping power boosted by steep decent more than ball spin

Manufacturers remarks:

Construction

• 3-Piece construction with cast urethane cover
• High Energy Speed Core (HESC) for higher ball speed and distance off the tee
• Extra-thin cast urethane cover for maximum feel and short-game spin
• New 318 large dimple design for stable trajectory

Characteristics

• Outstanding distance paired with extra-soft feel and feedback off the clubface
• Excellent short-game spin thanks to stick to the green (S2TG) technology
• New glossy, shiny finish
• Newly designed KIL line with sharp edges for optimal alignment

Player Profile

• Advanced players with medium to low swing speeds (< 95 mph driver swing speed)

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Maxfli Tour CG

When you get a ball that performs as well as Maxfli’s Tour CG and saves you better than 30% less than the premium balls on the market it is worth taking notice. The Tour balances respectable distance numbers with top end green side spin, decent and feel. We actually finally made our final decision on the Tour vs Tour X based on the softer feel that will be preferable to many golfers when wedges come out of their bag. Its cast urethane cover provides a little more resilience than many of the other options out there and its center-of-gravity (CG) alignment and marking are if nothing else theoretically interesting. 

Our results and remarks:

• 85th percentile mid iron and wedge spin
• 90th percentile decent (mid iron)
• 70^th percentile total yards (avg all tested swing speeds)
• 73^rd percentile ball speeds (mid irons)
• Consistently above average ball speeds across all swing speeds (driver)
• High spin and decent create maximum stopping power
• On the lower side of decent with wedge most likely due to lower launch angles.

Manufacturers remarks:

• 3-piece urethane construction
• Reformulated 1.52” core designed for faster ball speeds
• High modulus Ionomer casing layer increases COR for longer distance
• Softer cast Urethane cover for added greenside spin and feel
• Center of gravity balanced for better performance
• Enhanced alignment aid

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OnCore Elixr

OnCore’s ELIXR is another example of just how far the performance of non-traditional golf ball manufacturers have come. The GAP in performance has been drastically reduced over the last years but the difference in prices still remain. There really is a solid argument for casual golfers to drop the thought that they need to spend more to realize better scores.

The ELIXR is a soft feel mid-compression ball. We found in our testing that its optimal results were achieved with swing speeds of around the 85mph mark. There was a significant relative drop off for high swing speeds. But if you are not a big swinger then don’t let that scare you off since it performed top notch for those it was designed for. It hit well above average results in ball speed, peak height and great decent and spin numbers with the mid iron to wedge game.

Our results and remarks:

• Results based on 85 mph driver speed with relative iron and wedge speeds
• 70th percentile spin (mid iron)
• 84th percentile spin (wedge)
• 84th percentile peak height (mid iron)
• 84th percentile decent (mid iron)
• Better than average distance numbers
• 40% saving potential vs premium priced brands
• Not for high swing speeds
• Optimal into green play

Manufacturers remarks:

Driver

• Low spin and low launch makes the ELIXR great off the Driver.

Feel

• Responsive feel, softer off the driver but not too soft, and great grip around the greens.

In the wind

• One of the best balls in the wind, it is less affected, thanks to high MOI design.

Iron

• Mid-launch point with great spin into the green.

Distance

• Long off the tee with penetrating ball flight.

Putting

• Soft pure feel off the putter.

Accuracy

• Stable in crosswinds and on miss-hits due to perimeter weighted design and high MOI.

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