Expert Review: Wilson 2022 Triad Golf Balls
All photos courtesy of Michael Schmitz
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the golf balls, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2023.
My take
Since Manolo likes Wilson Triad Golf Balls and I like Manolo, I figured it was time to try them. My take is that there isn’t a better three-piece golf ball on the market for the price. I love how long these fly, yet how much control they provide on shorter shots around the green. They are the perfect combination of those two critical components.
About the golf ball I own
- Model: 2023 Wilson Triad Golf Balls
- Color: White
About me
- Average score: 79
- Handicap: 9
- Experience: 25+ years of golf
- Right/Left-handed: Right-Handed
- Typical shot shape: Draw
- Typical trajectory: Medium
- Club swing speed: 93mph
Test conditions
- When I bought this: February 2023
- Days tested: 25
- Where I’ve used it: On the golf course and on the practice greens
- Weather and wind conditions: Florida weather—80s and humid
- Turf conditions: Bermuda grass, tight-cut fairways
- Green speeds: 9-11 on the stimpmeter
How it performs
What I was looking for
I’m always searching for a great performing ball in an affordable price range in three key areas (distance, spin, and feel).
Why I chose this golf ball
I tested on the Wilson D7 and D9 irons and fell in love with them, which led me to give their golf balls a trial run. I have always used Callaway or Titleist balls, so I decided to see what else was out there that I might like. Plus, I like that Wilson offers three-piece balls in the $40 range.
What I love about it
- Distance: If someone is looking for pure distance, this is the ball for them. The Wilson Triad is built for maximum distance, thanks in part to their three-piece design that focuses on ball stability that others don’t provide.
- Feel: For a three-piece ball built for distance, the feel is good here, meaning it’s hard enough to get a nice sound at impact on full shots yet with a soft enough cover to really get feedback on chips and putts. That’s thanks to the thin urethane cover they put on these.
- Green Spin: I am surprised at how nice the spin is on these, which especially came in handy on longer par 3s where the ball may approach the green at a lower flight pattern. That, again, is mostly because of its super thin urethane cover.
- Durability: The durability is on par with most premium golf balls. Some people worry that with a thinner cover, it’s going to get “cut” easier. That is not true with these. They are as durable as any other ball I’ve ever played. It’s on par with other balls in this price category here. I do think that they use a more premium quality urethane versus other less expensive balls.
- Color: If someone wants flashy colors, they’ll need to look elsewhere. These are classic white all the way, meaning it’s not super bright white glossy but doesn’t have a matte finish either.
- Other: The Triad ball has a patented Tri-Balanced™ construction process that Wilson perfected that basically has moved the weight from the core of the ball out to all three layers to help take away the possibility of manufacturer defects. In addition, it creates great accuracy in constructing these balls. They are the most accurately made (and weighted) balls out there.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Other: This isn’t an “issue” for me but worth noting. While the thin urethane cover helps with feel, there is no way to make a three-layer ball feel as good as a five-layer ball. However, in the three-layer ball market, one won’t find a much better feel than this.
Best shot with this golf ball
I have played hundreds of rounds at the famous King & Bear golf course in St. Augustine, Florida, and there is a strategically placed bunker on the left side of the first fairway that seems like a magnet to me sometimes. It sits approximately 250 yards off the tee, and I had never been able to fly it until I tried the Triad. On my first round of trying this ball out, I flew right past it, leaving me with a pitching wedge into the green instead of the typical 6 or 7 iron I usually have. I was sold at that point.
Value for the money vs. other options
The Triads are a mid-price-point ball that almost feels like a steal versus some premium golf balls. However, don’t be fooled by the low price point because these play like premium golf balls. Of course, there is always the option of grabbing $25 balls, such as the Titleist Velocity, or going with something premium like a ProV1, but as for three-piece balls, the Triads are priced fairly.
Final verdict
The Wilson Triad is now my favorite mid-price-point three-layer ball on the market. The classic look, exceptional distance, solid spin, and pretty decent feel are as good as one could ask for in its price range.
Wilson Triad Golf Balls
- We price match
- Returnable