One of the first things I do when I test out a new golf ball is take it to the putting green. If something feels good on the greens, I’m off to a great start.
So when beginner golfers ask me how to tell the difference from one ball to the next, I often say do the same and head to the putting green to give them a try. I’ll show you 8 of my favorite golf balls for putting and which ones could be worth keeping in your golf bag this season.
And for golfers that just need a quick recommendation, here a side-by-side comparison of my top 3 choices:
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Top Pick
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Best for Alignment
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Value Pick
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Pros:
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- Great combination of distance and feel
- Tour level spin around the greens
- Triple Track alignment aid
- Built for higher swing speeds
- Pricing is for a premium golf ball
- Urethane cover
- Has many characteristics of a Penta in a more affordable ball
- Lower compression core for extra distance
- Softer outer layer
- Greenside spin is not as high as more premium golf balls
- Not quite as impressive speed wise as the TP5
- Very low compression
- Soft feel
- Straight distance technology
- Affordable
- Not great with greenside spin
- Won't be the longest golf ball for faster swing speed players
Why listen to us? Our team has tested and reviewed dozens and dozens of the top balls on the market (you can see those here). We keep detailed notes and findings about each one to come up with our recommendations for you.
Callaway Chrome Soft (Best Overall)
Faster, larger Graphene-infused Dual Soft Fast Core is designed for increased distance. Larger inner core creates higher launch and lower spin. The thinner, firmer outer core is reinforced with Graphene for better durability
Construction: 3-piece
Compression Rating: 72
Pros:
- Great combination of distance and feel
- Tour level spin around the greens
- Triple Track alignment aid
Cons:
- Built for higher swing speeds
- Pricing is for a premium golf ball
The Callaway Chrome Soft is one of my favorite golf balls on the market. I love this ball from the tee to the green, but I first started to like it because of the performance on the green.
With the Chrome Soft, the golf ball comes off the clubface fast; it has an outstanding feel and holds its line really well.
If you ever have struggled with alignment on the green, the Triple Track design gives you a perfect line towards your hole. In addition, the way the Triple Track line sets up is very helpful for golfers with a straight back and straight through putting style.
TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe (Best for Alignment)
Ultra low 40 compression core (total ball compression of 70). Speedmantle with HFMq. Crosslinking chemical reaction creates an irreversible link for better shear resistance.
Construction: 3-piece
Compression Rating: 70
Pros:
- Urethane cover
- Has many characteristics of a Penta in a more affordable ball
- Lower compression core for extra distance
- Softer outer layer
Cons:
- Greenside spin is not as high as more premium golf balls
- Not quite as impressive speed wise as the TP5
Golf ball manufacturers have had the concept of an alignment line on the ball for quite some time, but TaylorMade took it to the next level with the Tour Response Stripe.
The Tour Response Stripe is an impressive ball for putting with a large center alignment section, so I like this for amateur golfers that struggle to keep the ball on track. In addition, the soft feel and Urethane cover of the Tour Response gives it a great feel on the greens.
I recommend the TaylorMade Tour Response often for golfers looking for a middle of the road priced ball with the top of the line performance.
Callaway Supersoft (Best Value)
Supersoft has been one of the most popular golf balls for years. The new Hybrid Cover features a multi-material construction allows for an incredible combination of fast ball speeds from high launch and low spin, soft feel, and excellent greenside control.
Construction: 2-piece
Compression Rating: 38
Pros:
- Very low compression
- Soft feel
- Straight distance technology
- Fair pricing
Cons:
- Not great with greenside spin
- Won’t be the longest golf ball for faster swing speed players
The Callaway Supersoft is a golf ball that golfers love to recommend to each other.
Why is that the case?
With the pricing of the Callaway Supersoft, it’s easy to consider it a great option for a name brand ball and a fair price. However, the Supersoft is best suited for golfers with slightly slower swing speeds and those that like a soft feel on the putting green.
A Callaway Supersoft golf ball is only two pieces, so you can’t expect to get the same greenside performance with this ball that you get with others on this list. However, the new Hyperelastic Softfast Core is helping players get a softer feel from their irons and a little more spin around the greens.
I like the Supersoft for beginners looking to get a feel and understanding the importance of distance control when putting.
Titleist Pro V1 (Best Premium Option)
The V1's provide longer distance with consistent flight. Boast very low long game spin and penetrating trajectory. Increased drop-and-stop short game control.
Construction: 3-piece
Compression Rating: 90
Pros:
- Low long game spin
- Consistent ball flight
- Cast urethane cover
- Tons of speed around the greens
Cons:
- High priced golf ball
- Can lack some distance on iron shots
The Titleist Pro V1 is the best premium golf ball for putting. If you have the money to spend, you can really get a lot of performance out of the Pro V1. I find the Pro V1 is best for golfers that are swinging a steel regular or a stiff shaft in their golf clubs; it takes a little speed to really benefit from this ball.
On the putting greens, the Pro V1 is the ball that all other balls are based off of. It has an impressive feel and comes off the putter face with a solid and strong roll.
If you have felt like the lower-priced golf balls on the market had a softer or almost mushy feel, the Titleist Pro V1 is a great option to consider. This is the golf ball I play with, and I have difficulty finding anything that feels like it (although the AVX can be very similar).
Srixon Soft Feel Bright Orange (Best for Visibility)
With a soft center that gradually transitions to a firm outer edge, the FastLayer Core gives these balls incredible softness and great distance off the tee.
Construction: 2-piece
Compression Rating: 60
Pros:
- Soft feel
- Brite orange color for better visibility
- Matte coloring
- FastLayer Core for a combination of distance and speed
Cons:
- A thin cover can split easier for faster swing speed players
The Srixon Soft Feel Bright Green golf ball is a great option when it comes to visibility. Many amateur players are surprised to find out how much vision plays into putting. You have to be able to see what you are doing and make a square and stable stroke to make more putts.
With a Srixon Soft Feel golf ball in this Bright Orange finish, it’s so easy to see the contrast of the ball on the green.
I like the Soft Feel when it comes to greenside performance. It doesn’t spin much on the shorter chip shots, but you still feel control. In addition, the longer iron shots to the green spin quite well with the Srixon.
Vice Pro Soft (Best for Softer Feel)
3 piece cast urethane cover. Low compression for extra-soft and responsive feel.
Construction: 3-piece
Compression Rating: 70
Pros:
- Urethane golf ball
- Plenty of greenside spin
- Several colors available
- Responsive feel with the putter
Cons:
- Lacks in distance when compared to other golf balls
- Cover can cut kind of easily
The Vice Pro Soft is sold directly to consumers, so you can often get a great price on these golf balls. I recently tested the Vice compared to many of the top models on the market, and they did a really good job competing in almost all categories.
On the putting green, the Vice Pro Soft was my favorite of the Vice series. It is a softer-feeling golf ball but allows you to feel like you can control the ball on the putting green.
In addition, there are options for colors like Blue Light and Living Coral that can help if you want more contrast. In addition, all Vice golf balls have an alignment line to help you keep the ball on track.
If you are reluctant to move away from the top names in golf ball construction, at least consider the Vice. I was impressed with what it could do both on the green and around it.
Srixon Z Star Divide (Best for Fast Swing Speeds)
Features a newly formulated FastLayer DG Core for exceptional feel and spin. New Spin Skin+ coating offers enhanced control, and a 338 Speed Dimple Pattern for less drag, more lift, and straighter flight, even in windy conditions.
Construction: 3-piece
Compression Rating: 102
Pros:
- High compression great for faster swing speeds
- Durable outer cover
- 338 Speed Dimple pattern for straighter flight
- Unique coloring to help see the ball roll on the greens
Cons:
- Very high compression
- Need high swing speed to see the results
The Srixon Z Star Divide is a newer golf ball that has a ton of benefits for the golfers with faster swing speeds. If you have a lot of speed and compress the ball a lot, the Z-Star Divide could help with performance.
However, the reason I put this golf ball on this list is the coloring. The ball is divided on a center line, so half is white, and half is yellow.
When you make a solid putt, you should be able to see the ball roll end over end. When I was younger, I used to do this to a golf ball with a marker to use it as a training tool on the green. I love the idea that this can now be done with the Z-Star Divide in play.
Work on the practice green to get the ball rolling correctly and then bring that concept and visualization to the course.
Titleist Tour Soft XL Align (Honorable Mention)
High optic yellow cover offers maximum visibility, a thin cover means reliable short game control, and a soft responsive feel for long distance. Its efficient aerodynamics and optimized ball flight contribute to longer distances.
Construction: 2-piece
Compression Rating: 67
Pros:
- Very easy to see
- New longer alignment line
- Long distance from the tee
- Soft feel
Cons:
- Only a two-piece ball
- Not nearly as responsive as a Pro V1
The Titleist Tour, Soft XL Align, is a golf ball that I had high hopes for. I wanted to see if it had any relation to the Pro V1 from a performance standpoint on the putting green. I found that the overall feel is quite good (softer than the Pro V1), but the alignment line was a nice feature.
Overall the Tour Soft XL Align has a responsive soft feel and does a great job with shorter chips and feeling like you can control them. In addition, there is a High Optic Yellow version of the ball for golfers that need help with visibility.
I can’t tell you that the Tour Soft XL is a replacement or an alternative for the Pro V1 or the Callaway Chrome Soft. Instead, think of this like a high quality two piece ball with a soft feel and some really good distance from the tee.
If you are playing with something like a Top Flite or Pinnacle that feels too hard, think about experimenting with a golf ball like eh Titleist Tour Soft. Throwing in that extra alignment line makes this a smart choice for those struggling to line up on the green.
What Makes Certain Golf Balls Ideal for Putting?
The feel of a golf ball is what will stand out the most on the putting green. Here are a few things to pay attention to when looking for golf balls that are great for putting.
Cover Material
Typically speaking, a Urethane cover ends up being a great feel on the putting green. There are other Surlyn options, but they can often have a bit of a mushy feel or even a feel that is too hard. The only problem with Urethane cover golf balls is that they are often more expensive than the other types.
Alignment Lines
Some golf balls have a built-in alignment aid on the ball. If you want to use your golf ball to help you line up your putt, look for something with this alignment line.
I personally like to choose a ball that has an alignment line I can use but also has enough white space for me to just look at all white if I would like to.
Color
In recent years as more colored golf balls have come out, the option to get something that stands out on the putting green has become a reality. The lime green or yellow color stands out quite well and can help some golfers focus better on the ball.
Some players have trouble seeing blue, purple, and red, so avoid that if you struggle with visibility or glare.
Compression
It’s hard to tell the exact compression of a golf ball while on the putting green. This is because you aren’t compressing the ball with a putter the way you would be with an iron or wedge shot.
However, you’ll notice that many lower compression golf balls, like a Callaway Supersoft, will have a much softer feel on the greens than something like a Callaway Chrome Soft.
For some players who struggle a bit with control, the lower compression balls can help improve their overall feel on the greens. For others, sticking with a firmer golf ball that rolls properly toward the hole is better.
Brittany Olizarowicz
Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1
