When it comes to golf balls, saving a few dollars usually requires you to sacrifice some aspect of performance, whether it's distance, spin or feel. The higher your price range, however, the more likely you are to get the best of all worlds, but beware — if you are a high handicapper or if your swing is off one day, using premium balls can substantially increase the price of your round. Certain balls are worth it, though, because they offer spectacular performance and can improve your game.
Titleist Pro V1
The Titleist Pro V1 makes the top of most golf ball lists. The urethane cover provides more spin, while the firmer, lighter mantle transfers energy to the core more efficiently without weighing down the ball. The V1 has a solid core for better flight, but the company also makes a V1X with a dual core and a soft center to increase spin and improve your short game. Both balls launch low, and rank high for both performance and feel. The Titleist Pro V1 and V1X cost about $46 per dozen as of January 2011.
Callaway Tour i/(s) / i/(z)
The Callaway Tour i/(s) and i/(z) possess multilayer cores that react differently to different swings. The outer core is harder, reacting more to a harder swing to give you distance on your drive. The inner core is softer, reacting with shorter swings to spin well during chip shots. The urethane cover is durable, but it's the hexagonal dimple pattern that reduces drag more than traditional round dimples. The i/(s) was designed for the short game while the i/(z) was designed for drive distance. Both sell for about $43 per dozen as of January 2011.
Bridgestone B330
Considered the main competitor of the Titleist Pro V1, the B330 offers tremendous distance as well as good control on the green. Named for the 330-dimple pattern that reduces drag, these balls feature a solid core and a dual mantle for optimum performance throughout the game. A faster swing launches the ball mid-height from the tee, but the ball is rated high for spin on the green. Bridgestone makes the B330 RX as its standard model, but also produces the B330 RXS — a softer ball with enhanced spin for slower swings. Both balls retail for about $43 per dozen as of January 2011.
Srixon Z-Star/Z-URC
The Srixon Z-Star is unique in that it has a solid core that gets progressively softer as you move toward the center of the ball. The result is a low-launching, high-spin ball that performs well with every club. The Z-URC is the exact opposite, with a high launch and no spin for maximum distance for low- to mid-handicappers. Srixon holds more than 700 ball patents, according to "GolfDigest," including the coating on the ball cover that is designed to increase the friction for the short game. Srixon balls sell for about $40 per dozen as of January 2011.
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