The 9 Longest Golf Balls to Buy (Best Golf Balls for Distance)

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One of the most important aspects of the game is the distance you can get off the tee. While any golf instructor will happily tell you that proper body mechanics, clubs, and a committed stroke will add the most yards to your drive, an often overlooked solution is simply the golf ball sitting on the tee right in front of you.

In this guide, we show you the absolute longest golf balls to try out today.

Specifically, we’ll go over:

  • Which golf balls you should buy to increase distance off of the tee
  • Key features that make each golf ball go further
  • How to buy the longest golf balls and deliver them right to your doorstep

The top golf ball producers of the world are in constant fierce competition to provide the longest golf balls on the market. Top engineers and physicists spend long hours in rooms obsessing over things like golf ball polymer mantle materials, dimple patterns, and spherical hard coats.

They do this with patriotic-like passion to allow you to add precious extra yards to your long game and help you win this week’s game of Bingo Bango Bongo.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned expert, it’s always fun to explore and see what they can provide to add yards to your drive and subtract from your score.

Let’s dive in.

The Longest Golf Balls Available Today

  • Titleist Velocity 2022 (Best Overall) – “Designed as a ball for long distances, yet versatile enough to be able to be used for short distances, the Titleist Velocity Golf Ball comes with great usability. Like all Titleist products, the Velocity has a premium feel to it, but is still very affordable.”
  • TaylorMade Distance+ (Best Rated Long Distance Golf Ball)
  • Callaway Chrome Soft X LS (Consistent Callaway Longest Golf Ball)
  • Bridgestone e12 CONTACT (Long Distance Dimples)
  • Callaway Warbird (Best on a Budget) – “With a patented dimple pattern for affordable distance.”
  • Titleist Pro V1 (Upgrade Pick) – “A legend of a golf ball, which you will find on many lists for top picks.”
  • Bridgestone E12 (Best for Beginners)
  • Srixon Soft Feel (Longest Golf Ball for a Slow Swing Speed)
  • Vice Pro Plus (Best Distance for Higher Swing Speeds)

Best Long Distance Golf Balls

Titleist Velocity

Best Overall

Titleist Velocity

BUY IT NOW

KEY FEATURES

  • Optimized for distance w/ LSX solid core
  • Low drag

KEY DRAWBACK

  • Need to get used to short game (applies for all distance balls)

SUMMARY

Our top choice comes from a brand known for their ingenuity in golf ball design. We are talking about the Titleist Velocity, today’s longest golf ball on our list.

And with the Velocity, Titleist managed to bring a ball to market that is arguably the longest flying golf ball Titleist has made to date.

The Titleist Velocity features patented technology called LSX, which they claim is “the fastest solid core” of any golf ball on the market.

With this core, initial velocity is increased allowing for better distance, while keeping short-game playable. Regardless of what club you use, tests have shown that you might notice up to a 10% increase in distance, which is great for shaving strokes off your game.

Not only that, you can also reach great speeds with this ball, which help to drive your ball even further. This is done with the help of the NaZ+ ionomer cover upgrade. There is a new octahedral pattern with 350 dimples, which helps to reduce the balls drag while in the air, allowing high flight and long carry. Claimed to have “the fastest solid core” of any golf ball, this 2-layer ball allows great speed which results in an increased distance.

The only issue with the Velocity golf ball is the spin was very low. This is great for total distance, but not so great on approach shots and the short game. Less spin means less control on chips around the green and less spin on approach shots.

The price is still very reasonable given the sheer distance you can get with it. Before you know it, the Titleist Velocity will have you beating out the competition, allowing you to reach the green quicker than ever before. Therefore, it is our choice as the best golf ball for distance.

TaylorMade Distance+

Best Rated Distance Golf Ball

BUY IT NOW

KEY FEATURES

  • 342 aerodynamic dimples that reduces drag and straightens ball flight
  • Large react speedcore

SUMMARY

With a high-energy react speed-core, you can be sure the ball will be flying off the tee when you use the Taylormade Distance+ golf ball. These balls have a two-layer construction and a thin but soft ionomer cover which will ensure consistency in the ball flight and distance.

Each ball has 342 aerodynamic dimples which will help lower the drag and keep the ball straight while also not sacrificing distance. These golf balls are great for slow to mid swing speeds, but probably not great for those players with a high swing speed. High swing speeds would be more interested in a more premium golf ball.

The golf balls have a vivid gloss type finish with both white and yellow colors available. The Taylormade Distance+ balls are also great value for the money and for those reasons it is our choice for the best rated golf ball for distance and the longest golf ball.

Callaway Chrome Soft X LS

Consistent Callaway Longest Golf Ball

KEY FEATURES

  • A key focus on long distance and straight ball flight.
  • Low spin
  • Hex tour aero design for maximum consistency

KEY DRAWBACK

  • Made for higher speed swingers

SUMMARY

The Callaway Chrome is a new 2022 golf ball packed with the latest technology designed to get you more distance off the tee. The Chrome X LS golf ball is our choice for the longest golf ball. It ha a higher launch and lower spin compared to other Chrome balls in the lineup.

Precision Technoloy in the golf ball creates a real tight dispersion, which promotes fast ball speed and performance. Callaway is known for its high quality control and consistency in ball reaction.

The core of this ball has an elastic feel, which gives players good speed, spin, and control. The Chrome X LS is made for golfers with higher swing speeds up over 100 miles per hour. If you are in that range, you should check this ball out today.

One of the other perks about this golf ball is that it is a great long golf ball for cold weather. I believe this is due to the tight dispersion in the ball’s core.

Bridgestone e12 CONTACT

Long Distance Dimples

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KEY FEATURES

  • Unique Contact Force dimples which promote less drag and a straighter flight
  • A new mantle layer called Active Acceleration which transfers power into the core
  • Delta Wing Dimple pattern which gives high launch and speed off of the tee

KEY DRAWBACK

  • Hard to add spin to your shots

SUMMARY

The Bridgestone e12 CONTACT golf ball is a three-piece golf ball that features a lot of modern technology. Special focus has been placed into the dimple design, which Bridgestone is calling REACTIV. The REACTIV outer shell has a dimple design that is meant to transfer more energy into the core for better distance in the ball. The dimples have optimized aerodynamics to cut down slice and hook spin and allow you to hit straighter shots with the ball.

Overall, 38% more of your club head makes contact with the ball over a traditional dimple design.

The e12 CONTACT is being marketed towards comfortable everyday golfers who don’t mind spending a little bit more cash in order to get a quality golf ball. The ball is designed for golfers with moderate to high swing speeds of around 100 MPH.

This is the reason why we like the e12 as one of the longest golf balls over one of the Bridgestone Tour balls: The e12 is marketed more for regular golfers and an average swing speed.

Bridgestone is a trending golf ball brand ever since Tiger Woods and Bryson Dechambeau partnered with them. The e12 is a great golf ball for players to introduce yourself to the brand with.

Callaway Warbird

Best on a Budget

Callaway Warbird

BUY IT NOW:

KEY FEATURES

  • Great value for money
  • Revolutionary Warbird dimple pattern

KEY DRAWBACK

  • Harder mantle needs some getting used to

SUMMARY

If you want a reliable brand name at a lower price point than our previous entry, then Callaway may have just the thing for you.

With the Warbird, Callaway gives golfers a golf ball that is not only very affordable, but flies further than most others.

This is due in part to the Callaway’s specialty “Warbird Core”, which is surprising larger compared to others, and much softer.

This results in huge speeds, ultimately resulting in farther distances, meaning you get a golf ball that both hits easy and performs great.

Callaway’s dimple pattern on the Warbird also provides more distance off your shots, as it results in reduced drag, increasing speeds for larger distances. Average golfers have seen significant increases in distance with these, making this ball one of the best performing balls in this price range.

Much like the Titleist Velocity, due to the ball’s spin, some beginner golfers may have issues with their short game. Also, while the core of the ball is soft, the outside shell is hard, which may not provide the right feel for some golfers.

For the money, Callaway is a reliable source to provide great benefits without having to take out a second mortgage to buy them. This is the case with the Callaway Warbird, which will be a golf ball that will help improve your distance game at a price that will make you smile.

Titleist Pro V1

Upgrade Pick

Titleist Pro V1 Golf Ball

BUY IT NOW

KEY FEATURES

  • Legendary performance
  • Softer Feel

KEY DRAWBACK

  • Price

SUMMARY

The Titleist PRO V1 is one of the most preferred balls currently on the market, and has been for a number of years. And with features that many golfers of all skill ranges will love, it’s easy to see why.

This ball leans toward a softer feel, allowing the golfer to have increased control. Best of all, it can reach great distances due to the penetrating trajectory.

Currently, there are two different versions: the original PRO V1 and the PRO V1x. With the latest edition of the PRO V1x, rather than the traditional Surlyn cover, they use a Thermoset Urethane cover which allows the cover to be thinner, reducing necessary trade-offs between distance and controllability.

While soft may be great for some, this does hinder the its durability. This means that you may be headed to the store more often than you like to buy new one, which can be bad when saving up for green’s fees or some high-end golf gadgets. However, at the same time you get one of the longest golf balls off the tee, without making too many sacrifices.

Considering the amount of distance, and even spin that the Titleist can give, this may be a mute point. If you want an all around great ball for accuracy, deep distance, and performance, then the Titleist PRO V1 series is the way to go, while still remaining one of the longest hitting golf balls.

Bridgestone E12 Soft (2019 Version)

Best for Beginners

Bridgestone E12 golf ball

BUY IT NOW

KEY FEATURES

  • Forgiving
  • Innovative dimple pattern

KEY DRAWBACK

  • Too soft for some

SUMMARY

Although Bridgestone is predominantly known as a tire company, the company has also been established themselves as producers of great golf products. With the Bridgestone E12, golfers from beginners to pros will get a reliable ball that has both accessibility and distance as its main focus. This ball was released in 2019 and has been replaced by the E12 CONTACT (see above).

The E12 is a low-spin ball, which will allow beginners to get a much straighter, and therefore, longer drive off the tee, ideally landing right at its intended destination. And with a soft and light design, even golfers with lower swing speeds will get a strong benefit from the E12.

This three piece ball also uses the traditional Surlyn hard coat, with a soft core. This allows for a great feel, along with increased accuracy and distance, making this ball exceptionally good for beginners and veterans alike.

While softness may be good for some, it may not be for everyone. The Bridgestone E12 can come off as softer then the majority of long distance balls, and may take some getting used to for many golfers looking for a particularly long ball.

Another great feature of the E12 is the increased dimple count, it features smaller dimples, within the larger dimples. I know, it sounds crazy, and looks weird – however, it reduces drag when travelling through the air. This will allow you to get much higher speeds, all resulting in a much larger drive distance.

This is another great product from Bridgestone that shows that they can play in the same league with the established golf brands. Superior range and a forgiving, low-spin ball should make the E12 a mainstay in many of the best golf bags.

Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls

Longest Golf Ball for Slow Swing Speeds

srixon-soft-feel-golf-ball

KEY FEATURES

  • 338 Speed Dimple pattern that provides increased lift
  • Soft, thin cover that provides spin and soft feel around the green
  • Urethane Cover System
  • FastLayer core 

KEY DRAWBACK

  • Not good for low handicap players

The new Srixon Soft Feel golf balls definitely live up to the name. The soft thin cover gives the ball a great soft feel, but the FastLayer core provides superior distance off the tee. The ball has a 338 speed dimple pattern that reduces drag at launch and increases the ball flight significantly.

With the soft feel, you don’t sacrifice spin on approach shots and chips around the green. This is the best of both worlds for intermediate players who would like some distance off the tee, but would also like some feel on shorter shots.

This ball is a great long golf ball for slow to mid swing speeds that are intermediate players. You also get great value for the money on these Srixon Soft Feel balls. I would recommend this long golf ball for seniors as well.

If you have a high swing speed or are a more advanced player we probably wouldn’t recommend this golf ball.

Vice Pro Plus

Best Distance for Higher Swing Speeds

vice pro plus longest golf ball

KEY FEATURES

  • A firm ball with an extra layer for a lower driver launch
  • Longer distance
  • High spin on short shots and low spin on long shots
  • Provides more control over the ball

KEY DRAWBACK

  • The low-compression rating means that you should put more energy into shots

SUMMARY

For golfers who are looking for better performance on long-distance shots, the Vice Pro Plus is a great choice. The 4 piece ball construction comes with a cast urethane cover to boost the distance. It is the best Vice golf ball for distance, especially for amateur golfers with high swing speeds.

It has an extra DuPont HPF layer for a lower driver launch in a short game spin compared to the Vice Pro. The additional layer is an outer casing that reduces spin for long-distance play but reduces spin for short distance play. Nevertheless, the material is thinner than what you can find on other long-distance balls. 

Thanks to the dual casting and 336 dimples, you’ll have a lot of control. This will provide you with a high spin on short shots and a much lower spin on the longer ones. The ball has 336 dimples indented in it, and it features a dual casing which enables it to cover more distance than the usual golf ball. Also, this means a lower ball flight, so it’s able to travel even farther thanks to the decreased arch of the shot.

Compared to more expensive tour golf balls, the Vice Pro Plus is a good ball for amateurs who don’t want to spend as much.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which Brand Of Golf Ball Goes The Farthest?

Generally, it’s not about the brand, but about the type of ball that determines which you’ll be able to hit the furthest. However, Titleist convinced us with their golf balls and we put their products in #1 & #2 of our ranking after our research and tests to find the longest golf ball.

Which Golf Ball Goes The Farthest In 2022?

When optimizing a golf ball for one quality, it automatically comes with compromises in other fields. There is a good case to be made, though, that optimizing for length and distance is a good approach for various use cases, particularly for beginner golfers or high handicappers. As described in more detail in our review, our analysis lead us to the conclusion, that the #1 Distance Golf Ball is the Titleist Velocity.

What Is The Longest Legal Golf Ball?

All of the longest golf balls our list are legal & tour rated. We highly recommend going that route, because it is not a good idea to get used to a golf ball which many would consider cheating.
Here is a list of all USGA approved golf balls, which gets updated monthly. It also shows the construction features of all listed golf balls: number of layers, number of cores, number of dimples, as well as the spin rating. The list contains around ~1,200 golf balls. (This includes optical variations like in color as separate approved.)

Which Type Of Golf Ball Goes The Farthest?

Soft golf balls go slightly further for golfers with slower swing speeds. Ball compression is usually measured between 40 and 200, with the lower the rating the softer the ball and vice versa. The only time a hard golf ball will fly further than a soft ball is for golfers with very high swing speeds, making it the longest type of golf balls for this particular group of golfers.

More important than compression is the construction technique used for the golf ball. For example, 2-layer golf balls go the furthest, while multi-layer balls are slightly compromising on distance, but bring a lot of other qualities with them. Finally, the ball surface affects ball distance, with Surlyn covers outperforming Urethane surfaces in testing.

What Are The Best Golf Balls For High Handicappers?

The best golf ball for high handicappers is the Callaway Warbird. Follow this link to find the best golf balls for high handicappers and beginners.

What is the Longest Golf Ball in Cold Weather?

I think the best golf ball for cold weather is the Callaway Chrome Soft X LS. Callaway makes a great golf ball with high quality materials, which means that it is not as effected by changes in weather. Also, it is a soft but durable ball that gets great compression in colder weather.

Bonus: What Is The Longest Illegal Golf Ball In 2021?

We researched and found the Bandit Maximum Distance golf ball to be the longest illegal golf ball you can currently get. Learn more about it here.

Testing Criteria Used For Evaluation

Below we broke out the six biggest buying factors for the longest golf balls with a focus on distance. We look in more detail at types of ball, spin, compression, feel, cost, and durability.

# Of Layers

There are three different types of golf balls that are designed with distance in mind: One, two, and three-piece.

One-piece golf balls are great choices for courses that may have a lot of hazards around. This is due to the cheap cost which makes them great not only for golfing on a budget, but also good for the clumsy golfer that tends to lose balls frequently.

While generally not as good for distance as the two and three piece balls, you usually get more than what you pay for, allowing great distance without breaking the bank.

In contrast to the one-piece ball, two-piece golf balls have a more solid core, usually manufactured from resin, they are then coated in an extremely hard material, such as Surlyn. This design, in combination with a higher compression rating, make the ball slice through the air effortlessly, providing a longer range.

For example, the Titleist Velocity, our top pick for today’s article, is a 2-piece golf ball.

However, due to the high compression, they tend to be harder to control than one-piece balls, meaning that these are more suited to avid golfers over newbies. The two-piece’s harder design does lend itself to the ball’s durability, though, so you will be able to use these longer as a result.

A third type, which is not as popular, is three-piece balls. While not as popular as the previous two types, the three-piece that have a rubber core, coated with harder rubber, and then coated in Surlyn. These ball are much softer than the others, and provide a huge amount of spin and control.

The extra control makes them great for rookies, but the added spin is something that is not only great for both rookies and veterans alike, but can give your ball much needed extra distance on the fairway.

Believe it or not, four and even five-piece also exist. Four-piece golf balls feature a rubber core, with a variety of different layers depending on the manufacturer, all coated in Surlyn as with the other. Five-piece are similar to four-piece with a rubber core and various other layers coated in Surlyn.

Spin

As mentioned above, this can be an important factor when buying your long distance balls, especially as it pertains to accuracy and yardage.

Low spin balls glide through the air in a straight line, which gives you great distance off of a well-hit drive. The lack of added spin, however, will mean your ball will likely stop on the ground, without much additional distance gain after initial impact.

In contrast to this, the balls are also more accurate, with the ball usually ending exactly where you want it to on the ground. This makes these balls great for approaches, as the ball will be less likely to roll away from the target.

Mid-spin balls fall in between high and low, and are a great choice for many golfers. Due to the balance between spin and accuracy, these are highly recommended for golfers who want extra length off their shots, but may not be used to some of the more advanced, high spin balls.

High spin balls are designed to release backspin once they are hit into the air, making them great for both distance and when close to the green. They are fairly easy to control on the greens, and can travel a huge distance with the perfect swing. However, for those not used to these kinds, accuracy can become an issue.

Compression

The compression of a golf ball varies hugely, and can be a major factor when distance is concerned. It is a measure of deflection that occurs when a golf ball is hit, and usually has a value ranging from 40 and 200.

Balls rated at 200 do not deflect at all, whereas those that were rated at 40 will deflect around 7mm. The lower the compression of the ball, the lower the pressure, which not only makes the ball softer, but can help it to fly through the air.

However, lower compression also tends to make the ball lighter. This means that these balls can sometimes suffer in performance during high winds and rain.

For distance, lower compression is generally better. When buying a ball, try to find the one that have a compression of around 50, even though lower compression balls are available.

Feel

The feel of the ball is incredibly important to how well you will play. Hard feel balls will hit hard with the driver but will travel a much larger distance than soft feel balls.

These kind are usually used by professionals, as they have much more control than hard balls; it is much easier to add backspin to your swing, however the distance will be greatly decreased compared to a hard feel ball.

Price

The price of your golf ball is also hugely important, especially if you tend to lose balls. If you are new to golf, losing it is incredibly frustrating, and will soon burn a hole in your pocket.

However, all is not lost – you can actually buy “lake” balls that are fairly cheap. They are not as good as a brand new ball, but are much cheaper. These are golf balls that have been recovered from from lakes and ponds around golf clubs.

You will be very unlikely to find a set of lake balls that are exactly the same; you will usually get a box full of various balls, all with different specifications and manufacturers. On the plus side, this is also a cheap way to find the right type of ball for you.

Once you know what it is you may want out of a golf ball, you should start comparing prices. With various brands out there, chances are you will find long distance balls at different price points that provide the same benefits.

To this effect, you will want to get the ball that fits best in your price range. While well-known brand names may seem tempting to the uninitiated, you can likely find balls that are just as good at a cheaper price, so keep an eye out.

Durability

Durability is extremely important, as you will want it to be able to last a long time.

While a softer ball is generally better for beginners, a harder golf ball is usually more durable. For this reason, you may want to buy harder golf balls. The only issue with this is chances are these balls will be more expensive, making them hard to suggest if you are on a budget.

However, for distance and durability – a hard ball is recommended. These are much more durable and less likely to be damaged.

Hard balls are also a worthwhile investment, due to the longer lifespan. This means you can use them for much longer, decreasing the overall cost you spend.

Which  golf ball is best for me?

If you are a …

Beginner: The best golf ball for beginners is highly debated, with many veteran golfers suggesting to start with soft feel balls, due to the increased control. However, I believe budget or lake balls are a smarter option. If you prefer to buy brand new golf balls, hard balls are recommended as these will last a much longer time compared to soft balls. In terms of spin, a low spin ball is best for beginners – this allows you to practice your accuracy, and hit straight. However, in my opinion, many beginner golfers have lower swing speeds that will benefit if it travels greater distance. Thus, for beginners, I again suggest the hard/distance balls, which may provide more spin, but also fly further.

Sunday Golfer: Are you a Sunday golfer? Not exactly a professional, but much better than a beginner? If so, you should be losing a lot less balls than when you started, this means you can start purchasing mid-range balls, from brands such as Titleist, Callaway, Bridgestone, or TaylorMade. In terms of spin, mid-spin balls are recommended, these are as easy to control, except they allow you to add backspin with much more ease.

Veteran Golfer: For veteran golfers, you should already be able to control balls quite well, and are likely making accurate shots quite frequently. For you, high spin golf balls are the way to go. This is because not only will it give you the most distance, but it will also give you the most benefit with the additional spin it provides, making them great on the fairway or the green.

Conclusion

NAMEEDITOR'S CATEGORYPRODUCT
Titleist VelocityBest OverallTitleist Velocity
Callaway WarbirdBest on a BudgetCallaway Warbird
Titleist Pro V12nd Best OverallTitleist Pro V1
Bridgestone E12Best for BeginnersBridgestone E12 golf ball
Vice Pro PlusBest for Intermediate GolfersVice Pro Plus

So, what’s the final verdict of our longest golf ball test? The five choices we recommend, which are currently on the market, and which we reviewed above are all great, and will all provide a satisfying feel, along with huge distances. However, they aren’t without their weaknesses and compromises. Each of these long-distance golf balls is designed for this one specific purpose, and will potentially lack in other areas.

But that is why we made this list, to help you decide which one best suits your needs. For professionals, go for a Titleist Velocity ball – there is a reason they are the #1 golf ball manufacturer in the industry. For beginners, try out a few cheap golf balls before deciding which one is perfect for you or go with our recommended Budget option as your longest golf ball.

We hope that we were able to help you on your journey for more distance on the course.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next time!

Denny Putsh
Denny Putsh

With over 25 years experience in the world of golf, I've dedicated a significant portion of my life to appreciating this sport. From my early days swinging a club at 12 years old to now, my passion has only grown. While I avidly follow the PGA Tour, what truly captivates me is the evolution of golf equipment and technology. Over the years, I've familiarized myself with the latest gadgets, training aids, and golf accessories that enhance the golfing experience. My mission is to share this knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow golf aficionados, ensuring they have access to the best insights and recommendations. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, I'm here to guide you through the dynamic world of golf innovation.

Last update on 2024-12-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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