Snell is one of the foremost names in the world of golf ball development and his name is on the patents for 40 golf balls. During his time with Titleist he co-designed the ProV1, which is just about the best thing any golf ball designer can have on his resumé.

The type of ball you play is important but the brand you buy is far less so. The compression of the ball you use can make a difference, as can the quality of the cover or the softness of the feel. The name on it? Not really.Any golf ball manufacturer claiming their ball is significantly better than their competition is, let's be kind and say having delusions of grandeur. In some cases, these companies have either been founded by or they have hired individuals who spent years working for the likes of Titleist and TaylorMade and this is reflected in the quality of product. You aren’t sacrificing anything by choosing DTC golf balls but you are making a considerable saving on cost. The ELIXR has a premium cast urethane cover which delivers soft, pure feel off the club face and great control around the greens, while a unique polybutadiene core ensures maximum velocity and distance. In 2022 the ELIXR was upgraded with a firmer cover and increased dimple pattern for higher ball speed and even more carry and roll. Without boring you with the specifics, the dimples are set up in a way that allows the ball to straighten itself in the air. The ball has to be aligned a certain way for it to function correctly, which is of course easy to do from the tee but not really possible on the fairway unless you are playing lift and place winter rules. Whether it be DTC companies or the game's major players, however, they all seem to be following a fairly standard format these days in what they are producing.I have used the latest version of the ProV1 (not the ProV1X), and it actually feels pretty soft as opposed to firm, at least in my opinion. No, it’s not a “Noodle”, but it is soft compared to a lot of balls. TaylorMade updated the Tour Response golf ball in 2022 and we noticed several improvements when comparing it to the previous model. For example, the new ball was faster off the face by 3 mph versus the previous generation, with a fraction less spin being. In total, this created six extra yards of carry and, what's more, we noticed it spun a little less with the irons and wedges as well but yet there was no loss of control or feel. Very soft, fast low compression core to help keep the driver spin low and ball speed high for longer driver shots Each ball was subjected to Launch Monitor testing as well as on course play by our testers. Our testers were also asked to hit multiple chips and pitches with high lofted clubs to verify durability using the same ball in each instance.

Usually you'll have a premium, urethane cover, multi layered ball aimed at the more skilled player with a faster swing. There's generally a lower spinning version of that. Think ProV1 and ProV1x or TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x. The only downside to Polara golf balls (other than them being illegal for competition play!) is that you will lose distance on the more wayward shots that need to self correct too much, as the spin can cause it to nose dive. That’s a small price to pay to get rid of that slice though, surely? Long game or short game? -Which aspect of the game is most important to you? Do you want to get as much distance as possible out of your golf ball or would you prefer a model that allows your short game to flourish thanks to improved feel? Given the changes in shopping habits, especially since Covid19, you can expect to see DTC companies become even more of a big time player in the golf world. These days golfers spend less money in their local club shop or their nearest American Golf outlet because they are buying online, and that increases the chances of them stumbling upon Vice or Snell or similar DTC products. Cover material -Urethane-covered balls offer the best spin control and feel but do cost more. Experiment to see if you notice enough of a difference to justify the extra cost.

However, it was around the greens where the Get Sum was slightly let down. When hitting a full shot, it had some receptiveness and grab, but, when chipping or pitching, it would not really react, rolling out once it made impact with the turf. That is why we have taken a look at the best mid-price golf balls that are currently available, with there being loads of choice in this sector because every brand makes one or two golf balls at this price point. Also, rather importantly, we have found these golf balls to offer performance that is as close to the top premium models as ever before.

Below that you'll have a lower compression offering, often referred to as 'pro' or 'soft' and then finally there'll be a budget priced, 2-piece ball marketed as giving 'extra distance'. Virtually all of the golf ball manufacturers do this and in truth, there isn't much difference in the quality from one brand to another.

The Balls

In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he has also presented many Golf Monthly videos looking at all areas of the game from Tour player interviews to the rules of golf. Spoiler alert: there is. It’s called the Polara ball and it flies straight no matter how much side spin you put on it.

Overall, the long game performance, in particular, has been taken up a notch. For a relatively low-compression ball, we were impressed by the strength of the flight and the overall distance and, when you couple that with the spin control offered by the cast urethane-cover, you have a solid all rounder that provides regular golfers with a good value for money alternative. Last but by no means least, they aren’t handing over millions in endorsements to leading tour professionals in exchange for them using their equipment. Players wouldn't use that gear if it was no good, but it's the endorsement contracts that usually make one brand stand out ahead of others for tour pros. So while Titleist have to factor all of that into their pricing of a box of ProV1 balls, DTC companies can produce a golf ball of the same (or very similar) quality but come in at a significantly lower price point, sometimes at as little as half the cost of the ‘name’ brand. Direct to Consumer (DTC) golf balls are becoming increasingly popular because they offer a high quality, significantly cheaper alternative to the established golf brands.Some of the mid-price models above also try to give the best of both of those worlds' so it is an important factor to be aware of. We are pleased to be able to offer these recycled Snell MTB balls at amazingly low prices. Their makers claim that they offer tour caliber golf balls to the everyday player at an affordable price. So why not give them a try and see how they can improve your game? Imagine the fun you can have with a box of these bad boys three unsuspecting golf pals completely in the dark about it. Even with the ugliest of swings you're hitting fairway after fairway, much to their surprise and annoyance, while you try to downplay it by muttering things like "I've really got it going today" or "I wish I could play like this every week".