If there is one thing that catches the attention of a golfer is the type of ball they choose to play. Finding the right golf ball is not easy. There are many different manufacturers claiming they have the best ball for you, and that confusion and doubt can fog your wallet and your mind.

Let's look at the top 6 golf ball brands and if they’d be right for your game. These were selected because they make up the vast majority of the off-course market share for 2019-2022, according to Curated's Category Analyst Report.

Bridgestone

Bridgestone was founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi. Over the years, they have been a world leader in rubber and related industries. Ishibashi took his passion for golf and began making golf balls in 1935.

The golf world took notice when Tiger Woods switched to a Bridgestone ball, because, hey, they must be doing something right.

They've been doing something right for years as the inventors of the first urethane cover seamless golf ball, the Precept Tour Premium LS, which had a special dimple pattern and design. They then moved onward to the Bridgestone e5 and e6 golf balls which were designed for beginner and average golfers.

Then as one of the top five golf ball manufacturers, they took on all the popular golf ball brands with their Bridgestone Ball Fitting Challenge. You would have golf ball fitters take whichever ball you were playing and compare the specs and play up against a Bridgestone ball that was right for your game.

The latest golf balls they’ve released include their premium two-piece and three-piece golf balls, the Bridgestone Tour B RXS and the softer e12.

Callaway

Callaway began as a golf company in the 1980s. In the 1990s, Callaway produced metal woods and irons. They got noticed with the release of the ever-popular Big Bertha Driver in 1995, where Tour players and amateurs alike had it in their golf bags.

Callaway came out with its first golf ball in 2000, called the Rule 35. In 2002, the first HX golf balls were introduced, which led to the Tour ball version in 2008. The durability, mantle layers, and greenside spin of the Callaway Chrome Soft X is one example of today's ball with all the technology.

Phil Mickelson, with his faster swing speeds, and Annika Sorenstam, with her short-game spin shots, have used Callaway golf balls for years.

Srixon

One of the biggest golf companies you have probably never heard of has been around for many years. Srixon is owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) which has been in the golf business since 1930. It started out as the tire company Dunlop which started producing tires in Japan in 1909. They have owned the likes of Dunlop and Maxfli, and are the largest manufacturer of golf balls in Japan. They also hold more patents for golf ball construction than any other brand.

Srixon owns Cleveland Golf and XXIO. Cleveland Golf has created some of the best-performing wedges in golf, while Srixon was one of the first to produce low-compression golf balls when they created the Srixon Soft Feel. The softer feel Q-Star is a performance ball for the recreational player, which has proved to be popular.

The cream of the crop is the Z-Star golf ball with its speed dimple pattern. Used by Vijay Singh, this premium ball delivers a more penetrating flight, lower spin off the driver, and a preferred ball flight with outstanding ball speeds.

SRI has guided Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and XXIO to success in the golf industry. Whether you're looking for a high launch, low spin, optimal trajectory, or aerodynamics in your golf equipment, SRI is there to help.

Look for them to keep contributing to the golf world for many years.

TaylorMade

TaylorMade Golf is well known for its woods and irons. The company ventured into the golf ball sphere in 1999 with the InerGel Pro ball, which didn't do well in the market. A change came in 2002 when TaylorMade found and added the "soft and long" Maxfli Noodle to their line, which was a good option for golfers with slower swing speeds.

Tour players like Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day, and Rory McIlroy have used TaylorMade's top-of-the-line balls, TP5 and TP5x, with five layers of materials and a cast urethane cover. The TP5 and TP5x are the only golf ball made with five layers.

They are widely used across all levels of golf and compete well with other premium brands. Other popular balls include the TaylorMade Tour Response, designed with lower iron spin and high spin with wedges.

Titleist

Titleist has roots that go back to 1910 when Acushnet was started by Phillip W. Young. He thought he could make a golf ball go straighter, so he invented the machine that made the ball more uniform and straight.

There were the years of the balata ball, which just wasn’t durable enough, and then the Titleist Professional was created, which achieved some success, but little did golfers know of what was coming.

Titleist changed the golf world in 2000 with the introduction of the ProV1 golf ball. Every year since its splash into the market, the Titleist ProV1 brand has been “the #1 ball in golf.” The ProV1 and ProV1x sell over 50% of all golf balls. It is a fantastic combination of a soft cover and feel unlike any other ball. It is at its best around the greens for chipping and scoring.

Players like Jordan Spieth, Nelly Korda, Justin Thomas, and Bubba Watson have all used the Titleist ProV1 or ProV1x. Among all the worldwide tours, over 70% of Tour players use the Titleist ProV1 or ProV1x.

Wilson

Wilson has been a sporting goods company in the Chicago area since 1914. The Wilson Staff golf ball was created in 1954. The ball was marketed for power and speed. The ball became a favorite on Tour and had a strong following.

Today, there is a Staff model and Staff R model, both of which have four layers. The Staff model offers a soft feel and high spins for the irons while the Staff R offers something interesting in that it has a non-painted cover revealing a perfectly smooth surface to help the ball fly straight.

Wilson offers another popular line with the Duo models. Including the Duo Soft+ and the Duo Optix models. The Soft+ is designed to be easy to hit with its very low compression and fly-straight technology. The Duo Optix is offered in five bright and easy-to-see colors.

Tour players such as Gary Woodland, Rickey Barnes, Kevin Streelman, and Padraig Harrington have played with Wilson golf balls and equipment for years.

Final Word

With so many golf ball options in the market, how does a golfer choose? A lot comes from trial and error. Find a ball that you like, fits the budget, and does what you want it to do. Do you like how it feels when you’re putting, chipping, and also with the longer clubs? If so, I think you have a winner.

If you have questions, chat with me or one of my fellow Golf Experts here on Curated to see what would be best for your game. Smile, have fun, and hit 'em straight as they say!