The Golf Ball Showdown: Which One Should You Swing With?
If you’re serious about improving your golf game, let’s talk about something crucial: the golf ball you choose can seriously affect your score. I recently checked out MyGolfSpy’s 2025 Golf Ball Test, brought to you by UNRL, and the results were eye-opening. The distance differences between various models can really make or break your game.
The main takeaway? Soft balls might feel nice, but they often don’t travel as far. On the flip side, just because a ball feels “firm” doesn’t mean it’s going to be the longest. Factors like trajectory, spin, and aerodynamics are game-changers at different swing speeds—and they can really shake up the leaderboard. So, if you want the specifics, I’ve got a handy distance chart to guide you on which balls work best for your swing speed.
How We Did the Testing
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how we conducted the 2025 test. Every single ball was bought from retail and swung by a robot (because, let’s face it, robots don’t get tired) against a Titleist Pro V1 that served as our control. We tested at three swing speeds: high (115 mph), mid (100 mph), and low (85 mph). Everything was set under the same launch and spin conditions to nail those relative differences.
The goal wasn’t just to find out which ball goes the farthest overall, but to see how each one stacks up against the others when everything else is held constant. The results? A clear line was drawn between different constructions, compressions, and cover types.
High Swing Speed (115 mph Driver)
Now, if you’re cranking it up to that high swing speed, you’ll want to know about the high-compression tour balls. The Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond came out on top with an impressive 328 yards, closely followed by the PXG Xtreme Tour and Bridgestone TOUR B X.
These bad boys combine fast cores with flatter trajectories, providing that much-needed distance. Even some mid-compression contenders like the TaylorMade Tour Response and Titleist Tour Soft put up a solid fight. Oh, and the Pro V1x Left Dash is still in the game but now faces some real competition.
The least impressive performer at this speed was the TaylorMade TP5, which maxed out at 310 yards due to its high spin and steep descent.
Top 10 Longest for High Swing Speed
- Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond – 328.05 yards
- PXG Xtreme Tour – 325.49 yards
- Bridgestone TOUR B X – 324.84 yards
- TaylorMade Tour Response – 324.34 yards
- Titleist Tour Soft – 324.27 yards
- Srixon Z-STAR XV – 324.10 yards
- Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash – 323.16 yards
- Kirkland Performance+ v3.5 – 322.55 yards
- Srixon Z-STAR DIAMOND – 322.40 yards
- Wilson Staff Model – 322.15 yards
Insight: At this high swing speed, mastering your spin control is key. The top performers achieved ball speeds with a driver spin around 2,500 rpm, hitting that sweet spot for flight and roll.
Mid Swing Speed (100 mph Driver)
If you swing at a cool 100 mph, you’ll want to pay attention to firmer urethane models. The Maxfli Tour X took the lead here, hitting 289 yards. It was followed closely by the Srixon Z-STAR XV and the Callaway Chrome Tour X.
These balls perform well thanks to a mix of aerodynamics and spin balance rather than just compression alone. The PXG Xtreme Tour X and Pro V1x even offered nearly identical distances, though they felt a little different.
The Srixon Z-STAR DIVIDE didn’t fare so well, landing the shortest with just 275 yards. Higher spin led to a ballooning trajectory that negated any distance gains.
Top 10 Longest for Mid Swing Speed
- Maxfli Tour X – 289.39 yards
- Srixon Z-STAR XV – 287.44 yards
- Callaway Chrome Tour X – 287.17 yards
- Srixon Z-STAR DIAMOND – 286.94 yards
- PXG Xtreme Tour X – 286.86 yards
- Titleist Pro V1x – 286.76 yards
- Mizuno Pro X – 286.66 yards
- Wilson Staff Model X – 286.60 yards
- Callaway ERC Soft – 286.08 yards
- Bridgestone TOUR B RX – 286.05 yards
Insight: Despite only a four-yard difference between the top ten, consistent spin and height stability made all the difference. A balanced mid-flight ball can give you more real-world distance than an excessively low-spin option.
Low Swing Speed (85 mph Driver)
This is where things get interesting. The Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond—the firmer tour-level ball—actually came out on top for slower swingers, reaching 224 yards! Its low spin and aerodynamics helped it soar ahead of softer competitors.
Right behind it were the Srixon Q-STAR Ultispeed and the Callaway Supersoft. Both are solid picks if you’re looking for moderate spin paired with ease of launch.
Unfortunately, the TaylorMade TP5 landed at the bottom with just 212 yards, highlighting how tour-level spin can seriously hurt slower drivers.
Top 10 Longest for Low Swing Speed
- Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond – 224.22 yards
- Srixon Q-STAR ULTISPEED – 223.92 yards
- Callaway Supersoft – 223.90 yards
- Titleist TruFeel – 223.41 yards
- PXG Xtreme Tour X – 223.15 yards
- Maxfli Tour S – 222.57 yards
- Titleist AVX – 222.47 yards
- Titleist Pro V1 – 222.34 yards
- Titleist Velocity – 222.11 yards
- Wilson Staff Model X – 222.03 yards
Insight: Just because you’re swinging slower doesn’t mean you can pick any ball. Even low-speed golfers should avoid balls that spin over 3,000 rpm while still achieving a decent height without ballooning.
Final Thoughts
What have we learned from the 2025 data? Simply put, not all golf balls are created equal. A mere few hundred rpm of spin or a slight peak-height difference can lead to a whopping 10 yards—or more—in your overall distance. Whether you swing at 85 mph or 115 mph, you can definitely score some extra yardage by selecting the ball that complements your swing mechanics and trajectory best.
So, the next time you’re gearing up for a round, take a moment to consider your choice of golf ball—it might just make all the difference between a good round and a great one!
