I tested the best golf balls for distance and found the Callaway Chrome Soft is the best choice on the market.
Distance is key to lower your handicap. Playing a ball designed to get you closer to the hole after your tee shot is a sure way to score lower and have more fun on the golf course!
The Callaway Chrome Soft combines a soft cover with an explosive core. You can shape shots as expected but get that extra bit of distance out of it.
We’ve included a variety of golf balls in our review that offer something for big and small budgets. If you’re a beginner and are tired of playing lost balls, we have something in here for you as well.
Keep reading
Top Picks
Pro V1 golf balls are probably the most sought-after golf balls on the planet. If you find one in the rough, you hold on to it so you can put it in the drink only on special occasions.
The Callaway Chrome Soft offers you the most bang (literally) for your buck. It’s soft enough to shape it but explosive enough to increase your distance!
The Nitro Maximum Distance performs similarly to its more expensive counterparts. Our budget picks if you’re getting started or tend to donate a couple of balls to the golf gods living in the lake every round.
What To Look For In Golf Balls For Distance
If you want golf balls that go further, you need to know what to look for. The factors to increase the distance are mainly its compression and spin, but we believe other factors are also important when choosing.
Here what to consider.
Distance
Naturally, you want distance when picking the best golf ball for distance (duh). But don’t blindly choose the ball that travels the furthest.
You want a ball that suits your preferences and allows you to actually play better on the golf course. If you have trouble putting spin on your ball, go for a higher spin rate, etc.
Keep in mind that there isn’t a magic golf ball that will increase your distance over night. Your distance will depend on your swing speed, and how well you hit the ball.
Feel
The feel of any ball depends on how hard/soft it is. Golf balls that are designed for distance often are harder.
Harder golf balls can feel a bit clunky off the face, and many players prefer a soft feeling ball. But it all comes down to preference.
To shed some light on the smart marketing campaigns of golf ball manufacturers, here what you need to know about layers in golf balls.
1 Layer
Single-layered golf balls, as the name suggests, are made up of one single material. This has the benefit of being cost-effective. Single layered golf balls are often the cheapest kind.
On the negative, having the same material for the whole ball diminishes performance and can feel clunky off the clubface. It’s harder to compress a single-piece ball and generate spin & distance.
Less compression and spin won’t allow you to fight the ball or create backspin when approaching greens, so the ball stops quickly after impact.
2 Layers
Two piece golf balls refers to using different materials for the core and the cover. While most golf balls have a rubber core, the cover material can differ from type to type.
This kind of golf ball offers the most distance but the least control. This can be beneficial for beginners and slower swing speeds, as they produce less spin, and you’ll slice/hook it less.
3 – 4 Layers and more
Most modern golf balls will have between 3 & 4 layers. Mostly they consist of a softcover, 1-2 mantles, and a core. Cores are often rubber but can also be liquid.
The higher spin rate makes them easy to control for better players. More spin lets you shape shots and allows you to stop the ball quickly after impact. This is great for when you approach greens on the golf course.
We find no significant difference with golf balls having more than 4 layers.
Dimples
Yes, the number of dimples and the dimple design matter!
The dimple pattern is what creates a layer of air around the ball when it launches. It cuts down drag, and it would be basically impossible to play a golf ball without any dimples.
Most golf balls have between 300-400. The number isn’t the most important factor; the dimple pattern impacts the ball flight.
Durability
As a rule of thumb, a typical golf ball lasts around 7 full rounds of golf.
Urethane covers are softer and might be more susceptible to scratches than their harder Ionomer-covered golf balls.
Chances are, you’ll lose them before they wear out. But if you see any major scratches on your ball, it’s time to replace it.
Spin
Spin is what shapes the ball flight and decides how quickly a ball will stop after impact.
For example, with your driver, you want less spin, so the ball rolls on for a long time after hitting the (hopefully) fairway.
For approach shots, you want more spin, so the ball stops near the place of impact. Sometimes, you want the ball to roll, and sometimes you want it to stop.
To create spin, you need to consider:
- Golf ball cover material (Soft tends to spin more)
- Lie (How clean can your club face make contact with the ball? Any water or mud on the ball/club?)
- Loft (Higher lofted clubs create more spin)
- Speed (You need clubhead speed to generate spin)
It’s not all about the golf ball, but different materials will have different spin characteristics.
The best golf ball for distance will give you the least amount of spin off the tee box while still creating enough spin on your approach shots.
Compression
Compression refers to how much the golf ball gets squished against the clubface when you make a golf swing. Compression is what propellers the golf ball forward when it leaves your clubface.
Here’s the truth though, golf balls don’t compress more if you swing fast. This is a common misconception, and there is no measurable difference in performance whether you have a high swing speed or not.
Price
Golf balls can be expensive! And depending on your skill level, you might lose a couple every round.
The truth is that the ball won’t impact your game much if you’re a beginner. You’ll be perfectly fine playing second-hand balls or the cheapest you can find.
Once you get better, you benefit from playing better balls as they are easier to control and shape.
One consideration for amateurs that struggle with hitting it long try distance golf balls and see how they affect your game.
Longest Golf Balls – Reviews
We have reviewed the longest golf balls you can play if you’re looking distance! Here are our top picks. Note that we haven’t included any non-conforming golf balls. All of our products are tournament legal.
Callaway Chrome Soft
Our Top Pick! Callaway has long produced some of the best golf balls, and the chrome soft is a great choice if you’re looking for affordable distance golf balls that perform like more expensive ones.
Features
- Spin: High
- Dimple: 332 HEX Aerodynamics
- Compression: Mid
- Construction: 4-Piece/Layers
- Cover: Thermoplastic Urethane
- Core: Dual SoftFast Core
The Chrome Soft is a dual-core design. A soft inner core is surrounded by a coating of firmer and more rigid material.
This makes the golf ball more elastic for better compression and ball speed. The rigid outer core increases the durability and makes it harder to damage this ball.
While the outer core is made from a sturdier material, it still feels great off the clubface, and advanced players won’t have any problem shaping the golf ball however they want.
There are a total of four layers to this golf ball. The dual-core is surrounded by a thin layer of ionomer, which further increases distance.
The ultra-soft urethane cover gives the ball its grip and shot-shaping ability. Grip increases the spin you can create when your clubface interacts with the golf ball. Perfect for a golfer that likes to hit draws or fades into the green.
The Callaway Chrome Soft gives you the best value for money when you’re looking for a golf ball for distance. It doesn’t break the bank and competes with staples of the industry without breaking a sweat.
Exactly what we’re looking for in the best distance golf balls!
If distance isn’t your main problem, check out the Chrome Soft X, for a softer feel golf ball.
Titleist Pro V1
You can’t write a golf ball review without including the #1 ball in golf. Titleist Velocity golf balls, in fact, are so,e of the best balls ever designed and also in the distance category, our top premium choice.
Features:
- Spin: High
- Dimple: 352
- Compression: Mid
- Construction: 3-Piece/Layers
- Cover: Urethane Elastomer
- Core: Polybutadiene
The Titleist Pro V1 (and Pro V1X) are not only the best golf balls but also the best golf ball for distance if you have the budget.
We still recommend the Callaway Chrome Soft for most golfers as it comes dangerously close to the Pro V1’s performance.
While this is a high-spin golf ball, modern technology allows it to stay relatively low-spin for your tee shots. You’ll be able to launch it far, without too much backspin, and still control the ball perfectly fine around the green.
Thanks to the Urethane cover, Pro V1’s have a particular feel to them. You might be able to distinguish them blindly, just by hearing that “swoosh” and “click” they produce.
It’s the Pros choice for a reason. The cover grips well on Iron shots, and you won’t have a problem holding the green if you catch it flush.
Even with a 5-Iron, you can produce enough backspin and ball speed, so the golf ball checks and stops quickly after impact.
Pro V1 and Pro V1X golf balls are probably the most sought-after golf balls on the planet. If you find one in the rough, you hold on to it so you can put it in the drink only on special occasions.
You’ll have to pay for it. But for serious players that look for distance and controllability, its hard to find a better pick than Titleist Velocity golf balls.
Nitro Maximum Distance
Our budget pick! A great choice if you’re just getting started and look for a distance golf ball you won’t mourne about if you’re hitting it in the lake.
The performance is up-to-par with more expensive counterparts but maybe not the right choice if you’re looking to shape your shots extensively. For this price, there isn’t much you can complain about though.
Features
- Spin: Low
- Dimple: 432
- Compression: High
- Construction: 2-Piece/Layers
- Cover: Lithium Surlyn
- Core: Titanium
A lot of beginner golfers like to pick the Nitro Maximum Distance golf ball because of its price! We agree and believe it is a great choice for golfers that want increased carry distance for an affordable price.
The Titanium Core promises efficient compression and transfers the energy of your club for higher ball speeds.
The Surlyn (Ionomer) Cover does not feel as soft as other premium brands, but it feels surprisingly good off the face. It offers decent shapeability, which might be an advantage if you struggle with slices or hooks.
Golf balls that grip less also straighten out your ball flight, making it less likely to slice and hook. It is also quite sturdy and won’t scratch that easily.
The dimple design is optimized for a higher ball flight with less spin. That is helpful because the low-spin qualities of golf balls can make it harder to produce enough backspin to launch the ball high.
The Nitro Maximum Distance performs similarly to its more expensive counterparts. Our budget picks if you’re getting started or tend to donate a couple of balls to the golf gods living in the lake every round.
TaylorMade Distance Plus
The name says it all. This ball is designed ti increase carry distance, and TaylorMade didn’t disappoint! The TaylorMade Distance Plus (or spelled +) is a great ball if you want a low-spin distance ball that goes far!
Features:
- Spin: Low
- Dimple: 342
- Compression: Low
- Construction: 2-piece/layer
- Cover: Iothane
- Core: Teact core
This ball is long off the tee! The React core and aerodynamic dimple design make for a low-spin high-velocity golf ball.
Especially off the tee, having a low spin ball is great! It decreases the backspin but, more importantly, the side-spin. If you are struggling with a slice or a hook, this might help!
On the downside, less spin also means that it’s harder to shape your shots with this ball. This is also due to the Iothane cover, which grips less than a softer Urethane cover.
Distance-wise, this ball compares perfectly well with premium options, and you won’t notice a difference.
While the Iothane cover is less grippy, it’s more durable than his softer counterparts. Chances are you put it in the drink before you wear this ball down.
TaylorMade designed this ball to increase your carry distance and did well. We can’t find any measurable difference to other, more expensive balls and would highly recommend it.
Wilson Tour Velocity Distance
Wilson is often overlooked but actually produces great value for money golf equipment. The tour velocity is designed for distance and a good choice for beginner golfers with slower swing speeds, that look for something on the cheaper end.
Features
- Spin: Low
- Dimple: 302
- Compression: Low
- Construction: 2-piece/layer
- Cover: Ionomer
- Core: N/A
Beginner golfers looking for a better distance golf ball that doesn’t break the bank are well served by Wilson.
The two piece golf ball design has medium compression, which allows the ball to release from the clubface with more ball speed.
We’re not sure what the core is made of, but it is definitely a ball built for distance. The dimple pattern is also designed to increase carry distance by optimizing the aerodynamics and decreasing drag.
The Ionomer cover does not feel as smooth as some more expensive options, but it’s still smooth enough to be enjoyable. Ionomer covers don’t offer the most grip, though. Keep that in mind if you really need a ball that you can shape easily.
What the cover doesn’t offer in softness, it makes good in durability! The ball doesn’t easily scratch or deteriorate, even after blading it 200 yards over green with your sand wedge.
The Wilson your distance is a solid choice if you’re looking for affordable distance balls that helps you hit it further. If you’re a golfer that likes to shape his/her shots extensively, we might recommend a more premium golf ball.
Conclusion
The Callaway Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X offer you the most bang (literally) for your buck. It’s soft enough to shape it but explosive enough to increase your distance!
It’s hard to beat Titleist No.1 product, but the Callaway Chrome Soft is the overall best choice if you search for a golf ball that increases your distances out on the golf course.
