I’ve been playing competitive golf since I was seven years old, and was lucky enough to work with great coaches like Rudy Duran (Tiger’s childhood coach) and Dan Martin (Director of Instruction for California Junior Golf). They guided me to some great competitive successes, which eventually landed me a spot on Notre Dame’s golf team. One of my major focuses in training, and what I believe became a major advantage for me, was spin control. Spin is a critical factor in golf, which is why as a golf instructor, I always encourage students to also play sports like ping pong, pickleball, or tennis, which help showcase how clubface and swing path influence spin. So if you've never tried any of these sports, give one a shot, along with some of the golf balls in this article!

Why a Low-Spin Golf Ball?

Ultimately, golfers are conflicted: they’re looking for high-launching, low-spinning tee shots, while also wanting a soft feel and backspin around the greens. Manufacturers have done an incredible job over the years creating that duality—the golf ball has advanced more than any other product in golf. That’s why it’s worth investing in a ball that fits you, and in this article, I’ll review my favorite low-spinning golf balls to help you find a match.

I like seeing players with higher-launching/lower-spinning drives for a few reasons. For one, the ball flies straighter, giving you more control off the tee, because sidespin makes the ball curve. A low-spinning shot also releases more when it lands, giving you extra rollout yardage. So go ahead and compare the golf ball you play today with some of the balls below, and see if you notice the difference of less curve and more distance on your drives.

Note: These golf balls are intended for players with medium-to-high swing speeds, so at least 80 mph with a driver. If you're unsure of your swing speed, visit a golf store with a simulator for assistance. While there, consider also getting your ball speed, spin rate, and angle of attack averages. Armed with these numbers, Curated’s Golf Experts can help you refine your golf ball selection. If you have slower swing speed or hooks with minimal carry, you might benefit from adding some spin to the ball, to enhance distance and accuracy. In such cases, I recommend the Srixon Q Star, a low-compression ball designed for slower swing speeds.

Low-Spin on a Budget (Less Than $35/Dozen)

I always direct people to budget-friendly options, unless they’re a high-level junior, collegiate, or professionally-competitive player. For most, the loss in performance is negligible, but definitely worth the savings when we ultimately lose our golf balls! If you’re a mid-to-high handicap player, I recommend you start with these.

Budget Winner: Srixon Z Star - $34.99/Dozen

I work as a tournament director for California Junior Golf, and this is the ball we give players in their tournament package. We aren’t sponsored by Srixon, but we chose this ball because it's from a reputable company at a great price. This urethane, three-piece construction golf ball has a compression of 92, which is great for mid-to-high swing speeds. Our juniors swing from 80 to over 115 mph, but this ball is one of the best for all swing speeds. It delivers on low-spin off the tee, and has better better spin and a softer feel compared to other budget-friendly options. If you’re looking for the best ball under $35 for a dozen, this would be it.

My one complaint with this ball is that it has a thermoplastic urethane cover with a micronic layer of specialized urethane, which ultimately makes it look like a cheaper golf ball. While Srixon says this provides more spin and control, I’m not fully convinced. The added length off the tee helps me forget about it, though!

Pros

• Best performing golf ball under $35
• Solid durability from thermoplastic urethane cover
• Fantastic low-spinning long drives
• Great for most swing speeds

Cons

• Thermoplastic urethane cover looks cheap
• Swings above 110 mph may begin to lose distance

First Runner-Up: Kirkland Signature - $34.99/Two Dozen

This ball made waves when it came out because of its similarities to the Titleist Pro V1. In 2017, Titleist actually sued Costco for this, showing the golf world that these products are comparable. At under $18 a dozen (versus $55 for the Pro V1), I understand Titleist’s lawsuit, but what’s bad for them is great for the consumer, who can get a high-quality ball with low-spin and a soft feel for an unbelievable price. If you’re a beginner and play a lot on tough courses where you’re prone to lose balls, this is the ball I’d recommend.

Pros

• Lower cost
• Quality urethane cover looks and feels like a top brand
• Solid performance on all metrics of distance, spin, control, and feel

Cons

• If you have a high swing speed (above 110 mph), you’ll begin to lose some distance
• Quality control on a ball-to-ball basis may not be as good as top golf companies

Second Runner-Up: Snell MTB Prime X - $32.99/Dozen

My dad actually got me onto this ball way back in 2015 when Dean Snell, who previously designed balls for TaylorMade and Titleist, created the direct-to-consumer premium golf brand. At $32.99 a dozen, this golf ball is a great value, and you can even get it for $29.99 a dozen if you buy five. The MTB Prime X is a modern, three-piece urethane golf ball that delivers on low-spin off the tee, giving you close to the distance that any top ball would give.

Pros

• Low-cost, plus bundle-pricing offers
• Quality urethane cover with a great-looking logo and alignment aid
• Solid performance for distance, spin, control, and feel metrics

Cons

• 85-90 range compression rating may not suit slower swing speeds
• The medium-to-firm feel isn’t ideal for short game shots

Premium Low-Spin Golf Balls

As someone who competes in big amateur events and has a faster swing speed, I’ll shell out the cash for premium golf balls because they’re worth every penny in performance for me. While I play the Srixon Z Star when I’m with friends, if it's a tournament of any kind, I’ll play the Callaway Chrome Soft X LS or Titleist Pro V1, for added distance off the tee and control around the greens. If you want the best and don’t care about cost, play one of these great low-spin balls. They have a higher compression rating, while still being soft and giving you that greenside spin.

Premium Winner: Titleist Pro V1 - $54.99/Dozen

Every product segment in golf has a winner, and when it comes to the best golf ball, it isn’t even close—the Titleist Pro V1 line revolutionized the game. It’s why the vast majority of PGA Tour pros use this ball even when they aren’t sponsored by Titleist. If you simply want the best ball that’s low-spinning for the long game and maintains higher-spin on wedge shots, look no further than the Pro V1. Its three-piece construction ball and soft-cast urethane cover deliver higher ball speeds and lower-spin than other premium golf balls. Most importantly, it does this with the most consistent spin rates and trajectories of any ball. It’s also just my favorite ball around the greens: no other spins better on those short chips and pitches, or feels better off the putter.

Pros

• Most played by tour pros
• Known for highest quality control
• Soft, buttery feel off the putter
• Long off the tee, and actually soft and spin-y with wedges around the greens

Cons

• One of the most expensive golf balls
• Premium cover actually scuffs easily

Premium Runner-Up: Callaway Chrome Soft X LS Triple Track - $49.99/Dozen

This is Callaway’s newest model, and it might be the longest low-spin ball on the market. It’s personally given me less spin off the tee (under 2000 rpm!) than any other ball. Add in its Triple Track alignment tool, and it becomes my go-to when playing long courses. It shocks me that some other companies really haven’t invested in the science of alignment, given that most (if not all) pros line up their putts one way or another. Callaway doubled down for the Chrome Soft X LS’ newest iteration and went with a 360° trio of lines around the ball. This ball has a four-piece construction, with a soft urethane cover and hexagonal dimples for fast ball speeds, low-spin off the tee, and greenside control. Callaway describes this ball as “especially suited for better players who want to ‘bomb it’ off the tee,” and I couldn't agree more.

Pros

• Soft urethane cover with 360° Triple Track technology
• High ball speed, high-launch, and low-spin for optimal ball flight—bombs away!
• Faster swingers may really benefit from this ball

Cons

• Spin and control around the green somewhat sacrificed for distance off the tee

Next Steps for Finding the Right Low-Spin Ball

I hope this information helps you find your perfect low-spin golf ball. In summary, I’d recommend one of the budget-friendly balls for fun rounds of golf, and I’d invest in a premium ball for that scramble or city championship you end up playing in. If you’d like more help deciding on a ball or determining what’s your best fit, feel free to reach out to a Curated Golf Expert! Don’t forget to get yourself playing a paddle sport to help further understand the spin game!