We kick of our new series of golf ball core rankings with our “best golf balls for the average golfer 2021-2022” reviews. This takes over from where last year’s review left off but introduces a new methodology and basis for our rankings.
In our testing and data collection we have now added standard deviations to the analysis of our key metrics. We have used a similar process with this year’s golf bag reviews and found it extremely useful. It removes any personal biases we may have, now we just let the numbers do the talking. It also is a clear indicator of how well the ball is performing in relation to the others.
Manufacturers are now able to making balls that perform differently under very specific conditions. Since most of us are not so precise that we can replicate our swing speeds every time we pick up a club, it is also important to understand how it will perform when those conditions are not met. We have also seen through our analysis that typically the actual difference in performance tends to be very small.
This is why standard deviations are so helpful. Do you want to pay for a ball that is in the 99th percentile in cost and the 60th in performance? It also makes the results less misleading since performance within the standard deviation are given the same percentile score.
Our best golf balls for the average golfer 2021-2022 does differ from last year’s rankings in that we stick with our new rankings format and top 3 lists. All of our top picks still can be found on our 2021-2022 master golf ball ranking list should they fall from our top 3. What hasn’t changed is our definition of the “average golfer” with the help of stats provided by the National Golf Foundation, Golf Monthly and the US Census Bureau. Just in case you did not catch it, here it is:
- 54-year-old Male
- 14.5 handicap
- 93 mph swing speed
- Plays 18.2 rounds a year
- Loses 1.3 balls a round
- Household income of more than 100k
Based on our interpretations of the data we implemented the following filters to short list the best ball options for the average golfer:
- Since the average swing speed falls in between our testing speeds, we used both driver testing results at 100 and 85 mph and averaged the results.
- We lonely considered balls with better than average ball speeds
- His 14.5 handicap suggests the need for playable ball so Urethane cover we prioritized.
- We prioritized total distance over carry distance
- We looked for a ball with better than average launch to address challenges of average golfers.
- Only balls with lower-than-average driver spin were considered.
Once filtered our current data of approximately 60 balls was reduced to only 5 options. We then included some of our other metrics in our analysis to come up with our top 3 options. Here they are…..
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)
- 90th 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.
- Exceptional Distance
- Penetrating Flight on Long Game Shots
- Precise Scoring Control
- Soft Feel
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 5th 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)
- 93rd percentile peak height (mid irons)
- 70th 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)
- 3 piece cast urethane cover
- Low compression for extra-soft and responsive feel
- Extremely durable 336 dimple design
- Improved visibility during ball flight thanks to matte neon lime finish
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.
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.
- Longer Distance
- Increased Greenside Spin and Control
- Softer Feel
- Very Low Long Game and Iron Spin
