Buying advice for Golf Balls
Shop for Golf Balls
Dial in your distance, control and feel with the right golf ball. From tour‑level urethane to soft‑feel distance options, plus lake and practice balls, use the guide below to match cover, compression and construction to your swing and playing conditions.
How to choose the right golf ball
The ideal ball balances speed, spin and feel for your swing. Use these checkpoints to narrow your shortlist.
Construction & cover
- Urethane cover (typically 3–5 piece): maximises greenside control and spin for precise wedge play; popular with better ball‑strikers.
- Ionomer/Surlyn cover (often 2–3 piece): durable, lower spin off the tee and a straighter flight for many golfers.
Compression & swing speed
- Lower compression: easier to compress for smoother feel and launch at moderate swing speeds.
- Mid compression: balanced distance and spin for a wide range of players.
- Higher compression: suits faster swings seeking a more penetrating flight and stability.
Spin, feel & trajectory
- Distance focus: lower spin off the driver to reduce curvature and add rollout.
- Control focus: higher short‑game spin and a softer feel for stopping power around the greens.
- Flight tuning: dimples and mantle layers influence launch and stability in wind.
Colour & visibility
White remains the classic, while yellow and high‑visibility finishes can aid tracking in low light or winter conditions.
Pack size & value
Choose from sleeves for testing up to larger value packs for regular play. Lake and prior‑generation options can offer strong value while keeping performance characteristics close to the originals.
Lake balls grading explained
- Pearl/AAAA: premium appearance with minimal markings; closest to new in look and performance.
- AAA: very good overall condition with light cosmetic marks that typically don’t affect playability.
- AA/A: more visible wear and marks; ideal for practice or casual rounds.
Used and lake balls are widely enjoyed for casual play and many competitions when the model itself conforms to the Rules of Golf. If unsure, confirm with your club or committee.
Practice balls for home and range
Foam, airflow and limited‑flight options help refine contact in smaller spaces. See our dedicated category for a variety of practice‑friendly designs.
Brands to explore
Popular models golfers consider
Shoppers often compare models such as Titleist Velocity, Srixon Z‑Star XV (including Tour Yellow), TaylorMade TP5/TP5x, Callaway Supersoft, Bridgestone Tour B XS and Wilson Ultra Distance to balance speed, feel and short‑game control.
High Handicap Balls - What to look For:
There is no such thing as a ‘High Handicap Golf Ball.’ You could argue that golfers with a Higher Handicap may lose more balls, so when buying golf balls the price, understandably, may be the top priority.
From a performance point of view, ability/handicap shouldn’t come into the selection process. All golf balls are designed to go a long way, as no one would buy a golf ball that doesn’t go very far. But the more money you spend on a golf ball, the more you are paying for short game spin.
Let’s explain that in more depth. Every golfer creates backspin on all shots, regardless of their ability or handicap. Softer covered, higher spin (i.e. more expensive) golf balls will give you more spin when hitting the shorter, scoring shots. Multi-layered (3 piece or more - typically more expensive) golf balls are cleverly designed to give you high spin in the shorter shots and low spin in the longer shots, so you don’t sacrifice distance. Hook or slice spin is not exaggerated when using ‘high spin’ golf balls. And side spin is influenced by the player and the club, not the golf ball.
‘Low spin’ golf balls give you less spin when hitting shorter shots with your scoring clubs, as well as low spin from the tee and are therefore more one-dimensional.
At the end of the day, your golf ball selection should be based on your preferences (i.e. the colour options, the side stamp/alignment aid, price etc) as well as your performance preferences (i.e. flight, spin and feel).
Buying advice for Golf Balls
There is no golf game without your golf ball. Whether you're looking to hit the links hard or just get some practice in the garden, you will need golf balls. GolfOnline is proud to be one of Europe's largest stockists of golf balls, from entry level golf balls to high performance golf balls, such as the Titleist Pro V1 and ProV1x, you’ll find it here. We even specialise in personalised balls to help you stand out on the course or for you to give as the perfect gift.
But the real question for many of our customers is, why does golf have so many types of ball?
Well, every golf ball performs differently and every golfer has different preferences. From a performance point of view, it’s important to match up your golf ball with your game, while keeping in mind your preference for things like the feel of the golf ball, the colour options, the side stamp/alignment aid, etc. But perhaps most importantly, your selection might be based around how much you want to spend.
Golf balls are arguably the most important piece of equipment in your golf bag. You use them for every shot you take and rely on them to get you through both your long and short game. Without them you wouldn’t be able to even begin a round but do you know the ball that best fits your style of play?
When you really catch the golfing bug, you may begin to ask yourself questions like “What’s best for me, a 2-piece golf ball or a multi-layered golf ball?” or “Do I need more short game spin?” or “Do I hit it too high, or too low?” At GolfOnline we are here to answer all those questions and more, ensuring you pick the perfect sleeve of balls needed to bring your game to its highest level.
From the new TaylorMade TP5 and TP5X to the leading Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x, we stock a wide variety of options certain to match your needs. Our expert team members are always on hand to help you choose the right golf ball. Get in touch today and take advantage of incredible multibuy savings offered throughout the year.
