You have worked hard to join the top percentage of golfers that have a 10 handicap or lower. Now you want to take the next step and join the elite few that achieve the lower single-digit handicap numbers.
Finding ways to join the elite cub of single-digit handicap golfers require an analysis of your equipment in your bag. One of the ways to join the top 1 percent is to look at the best golf balls for under 10 handicap golfers.
Areas where you want the most improvement is a few yards off the tee and controlling your spin around the green. Feel off the putter face will complete the picture and enable you to hole those critical putts that may turn you into a single-digit golfer.
At a glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Best Golf Balls for Low Handicap
Will a Better Golf Ball Help?
Putting the right golf ball in your bag will almost surely enable you to produce more consistent shots, chips, and putts.
You have long ago realized that you have to play with one type of ball to produce consistency. Now you want to move to increased feel and control and are looking for the ball to take you there.
Premium golf balls are expensive but offer you the opportunity to lower your scores. However, it is not necessary to blow your budget as there are alternatives available that offer similar quality.
The great thing is that at this level you are not likely to lose too many balls so the investment can be justified if you wish to look at premium options.
Selecting the new ball in your bag is not a quick and one-off process. The duration of the process could be shortened by doing a ball fitting at your nearest professional fitter.
If you want to find the ball without the help of a professional fitter you will have to do some research, set up a shortlist of candidates, and then play a few rounds with the different options before making a final decision.
Here are the main features to consider in your quest to find the best ball to achieve your dream of becoming a one-percenter:
Your Game
Every golfer has a unique combination of swing components making up the complete swing. This is why there are so many types of balls, there is no one size fits all.
To select the best-suited ball, you have to understand your swing and your game. The ball you put in your bag must be aligned with your goals and game irrespective of the ball that your golf buddies use.
Durability
Golf balls that offer more spin and greater feel off the clubface generally have a softer cover. This makes them more prone to damage. Since they are more expensive you want them to last for a while and not fall apart after a single round.
It’s true to say that you cannot expect these balls to last indefinitely without losing performance.
Several of the pretenders to the crown do lack the durability of some of the top golf balls. That is one of the major reasons why you should do some research and try a variety of golf balls before finalizing your decision.
Ball Control
When getting close to a single-digit handicap you have already learned how to control the trajectory and flight of the ball. You can shape it into a draw or fade at will. You want a golf ball that enhances this skill.
Spin
Spin adds to your ability to stop the ball on the green and even to get backspin. However, the control of the spin imparted on the ball becomes critical. So much so that premium brands offer you a selection of their premium balls often differentiated with an X added to the name for example the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x.
Feel
The feel off the clubface provided by the cover enables premium golf balls to provide quality feedback.
This is especially important on the green where line and distance are critical parts of holing the ball.
Furthermore, feels plays a significant role in hitting your wedges close.
Should You Change?
That is a question that can only be answered by you. If you are happy with the ball you currently use and you have tried a range of different balls, you will probably retain the ball. If not, it is recommended that you experiment before making the final decision.
If you are still uncertain after experimenting, a ball fitting is highly recommended.
Golf Ball Reviews
Here are our top picks for the best golf ball for under 10 handicap golfers
Quick Overview: Our Top Picks for The Best Golf Balls for Low Handicap
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
OUR RATING: 4.9/5 | Titleist Pro V1 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
OUR RATING: 4.9/5 | TaylorMade TP5 |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
OUR RATING: 4.8/5 | Callaway Chrome Soft |
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OUR RATING: 4.8/5 | Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls with Truvis |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
OUR RATING: 4.7/5 | Snell MTB |
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OUR RATING: 4.7/5 | Bridgestone E6 Soft |
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OUR RATING: 4.7/5 | Srixon Z-Star |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
1. Titleist Pro V1
Pros
- Extraordinary distance with consistent dispersion
- Penetrating trajectory
- Drop-and-Stop technology
- Soft Urethane cover
- Consistent flight with their 352 tetrahedral dimple design
- Exceptional all-around performance.
- It offers great durability.
Cons
- Expensive
- Not ideal for mid to high handicap golfers
Titleist’s Pro V1 range is one of the most frequently used golf balls on all of the professional golf tours and claimed by Titleist to be the number 1 ball in golf. As with most premium brands, there are two options, the Pro V1 and the Pro V1x.
Pro V1 was a revolutionary golf ball released late in the year offering a combination of long and straight driving by combining the toughness of a 2-piece ball with the soft feel and complete control around the greens.
Pro V1x was launched in 2003 after Titleist experienced much success with the Pro V1. The V1x design offers a higher ball trajectory that reaches its apex farther in the ball flight.
Designed for professional and single-digit handicap golfers this range produces low spin in the long game combined with Drop-and-Stop™ performance on the green.
The 2.0 ZG process core designed with a three-piece multicomponent technology offers increased distance by lowering the spin while increasing the ball speed.
Covering the core is Titleist’s patented cast thermoset urethane elastomer cover that is 17 percent thinner than its predecessor with 352 tetrahedral spherical tile dimples. This creates a softer but durable surface offering an increased spin on approach shots and a softer feel on your short game.
Titleist’s painting technology enhances durability and brightness.
The design components assist with increased distances, steady ball flight, and the most distance and direction.
Pro V1 produces a softer feel, generates a lower penetrating ball trajectory with less spin than the Pro V1x.
Although one of the most expensive golf balls on the market, they are extremely durable with improved abrasion resistance.
2. TaylorMade TP5
Pros
- An extremely fast ball with good distance
- Easy to see in low light
Cons
- Somewhat expensive
TaylorMade TP5 range golf balls were originally released in 2016 and have become increasingly popular since and are currently used by professional golfers from around the globe such as Dustin Johnson, Ricky Fowler, and others.
Although the TP5 and TP5x are identical in appearance, they differ under the cover.
5-Layer Construction
Not many brands have released 5-layered golf balls to the market.
The core consists of three core layers forming the Tri-fast Core for an increased launch angle.
Covering the cores are two Dual-Spin layers benefitting your long game by reducing the spin while increasing spin in your short game thus providing enhanced control.
Tri-Fast Core
The low compression inner core progressively stiffens towards the outer core and mantle. TP5 starts at sixteen and progresses up to eighty-seven in the outer core while the TP5x starts at twenty-five and progresses up to 97 in the outer core.
Spin is controlled by the low inner core compression while it provides increased speed for enhanced distance off your longer clubs.
Dual-Spin Urethane Cover
The outer urethane cover contains 322 dimple design for additional distance.
The dual-spin cover varies in stiffness and thickness between the two models producing significant differences in ball flight and spin rate.
A soft 040″ cast urethane cover on the TP5 and a slightly stiffer .020″ cast urethane on the TP5X.
High Flex Modulus Material
The fourth layer, the first covering the tri-fast core, was stiffened by 30% in 2019 using High Flex Modulus (HFM) material that offers maximum speed at impact. It absorbs energy like a tightly wound spring and returns at contact for enhanced speed and distance.
The firmer cast urethane cover generates more speed, a piercing ball flight, and a high trajectory in the TP5x making it the longest in the arrangement.
Speed-Layer System
The Speed layer system consists of the Tri-fast core and HFM fourth layer released in the 2019 TP5 range. This makes the ball easier to play in windy conditions while it offers more spin and control with your short game.
3. Callaway Chrome Soft
Callaway is another premium brand that offers one of the most popular golf balls on professional tours.
Callaway Chrome Soft was released in 2018 and the first golf ball to use graphene on the outer core and a thinner outer layer. The core is 34 percent larger than most competitors creating a higher launch and lower spin.
Graphene materials are used to create a thinner, firmer outer core for enhanced durability and more wedge spin.
Covering the core is a thin urethane cover that promotes increased ball speed while reducing spin on full shots without affecting the high spin required for a soft feel around the green.
There is an option available to play the firmer Chrome Soft x in line with most other premium brands.
A new alignment system produced by- Callaway is the triple track alignment system that stands out in a crowd of alignment tools.
Although it may lose some distance compared to some of its competitors, it has a tight dispersion circle.
The price makes it extremely competitive in the premium golf ball market.
4. Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls with Truvis
Pros
- Ultra-Soft feel
- An abundance of design options—triple track, Truvis.
- Tour-proven performance
- Various color options
- Optimal ball flight
Cons
- Soft feel may not be to everyone’s taste
Another golf ball in the Chrome Soft range with a visually different outer cover is the Truvis option. A soccer ball pattern may not be to the liking of everyone, but it makes it easier to see in lower light and observe the amount of spin.
5. Snell MTB
Pros
- Durable Urethane cover
- Excellent spin on approaches and chip shots
- Competitive with most premium balls
- High-quality tour balls
- Good spin and control on the green
Cons
- Can be a tad short off the tee
Snell Golf was launched in 2015 by Dean Snell who was a member of the team that developed the original, and highly popular, Titleist Pro V1 ball.
They released the competitor into the premium golf ball market at a more cost-effective price through their direct-to-consumer model. The lack of investment in advertising hype and marketing allows the company to keep prices down.
Snell’s tour-level MTB (My Tour Ball) ball range now consists of the Red and Black options. The MTB Black is a 3-piece ball with a 360 dimple urethane cover while MTB Red is a 4-piece ball designed for more spin on short irons.
6. Bridgestone E6 Soft
Pros
- Longer and straighter
- Prioritized for distance and direction
Cons
- Scuffs easily
Bridgestone is a major player in the golf industry and in the bag of many of the top professional golfers around the globe with the E6 Soft being the most prescribed golf ball at Bridgestone golf ball fittings.
It is a low spin, mid compression 3-piece golf ball with a surlyn cover competing with the Titleist ProV1 range.
Bridgestone Ball Fitting data claims the ball is at least 9 yards longer and 31% straighter than the competition aided by the Advanced Mantle Layer with Delta Dimples design.
Backspin off the driver is countered by the mantle retaining its shape under compression resulting in longer drives. Spin is offset by the design resulting in straighter shots. Higher ball flight and more controlled spin offer enhanced control and stopping power on the green.
On and around the greens the performance is comparable to the best golf balls.
7. Srixon Z-Star
Pros
- Tour level performance
- Speed Dimples for long penetrating distance
- Good green control with spin
Cons
- Costly
Srixon is a popular premium brand offering 2 golf balls in the premium range and my preferred option.
The Z-Star and the Z-Star x technology start from the core and work to the outer layers.
Srixon Z Star is designed for swing speeds more than 90 mph with a 90 compression rate while the Z Star x is designed for swing speeds over 100 mph with a compression rate of 102.
FastLayer core consists of multiple layers starting from a soft inner core that progressively firms up as the core’s diameter increases. This offers enhanced distance while retaining the soft touch and feel.
Fourth-generation Spin Skin with SeRM coating on the 338 speed dimple patterned urethane cover used on both options forces the ball deeper into the grooves while offering more durability.
There are five sizes of dimples on the 338 speed dimple pattern reducing the drag while increasing lift.
Final Thoughts
The right golf ball is sure to move your scores in the right direction and make you part of the top 1 percent of the golfers and a single handicap.
Competition is stiff and there are many options available by all of the brands.
Although Titleist Pro V1 was an early leader the competition has become stronger over the last decade.
I use the Srixon Z-Star (not the Z-Star x). It may be slightly shorter off the tee, but the extremely soft feel off the face around the green and putter face makes up for the slight loss in distance. You need to find the best ball for your game.
Enjoy your journey to low handicap golf.
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- Guide On Low Compression Golf Balls
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
