The best Noodle golf balls are the Taylormade Noodle Long & Soft. The balls add consistency to the long game for those with moderate swing speeds to slightly slower than average swing speeds. They’re a great value, but our tests indicate they won’t add distance as they claim.
Below, you’ll learn more about the balls and my experience using them so that you don’t waste money or time on the wrong ball.
When I first heard of the Noodle golf balls, I thought it was a strange name. As I have researched it, I have realized how good these balls are for consistency and their price.
Want to see how the Noodle golf balls compare with all the other top balls? Check out the updated golf ball compression chart.
Contents
How We Reviewed These Products
We bought the Noodle Long and Soft in November 2024, and Brendon, a Class A PGA professional, tested them at the golf course near his house in Orlando, Florida, to get his impressions.
Then, I researched the specs compared to other budget balls and how most golfers feel about the ball. Finally, I considered the following criteria: cost, compression, control, distance, spin, and durability.
Best Overall – TaylorMade Noodle Long & Soft Golf Balls
Pros
- Affordable offering excellent value for money
- Durable Iothane cover
- Soft 34 compression rating
- Adds consistency to the long game
Cons
- Not suited to golfers with a fast swing
- Cannot compete with premium golf balls on and around the green
Key features
- Creates straighter ball flight
- Very soft feel
- Low spin rate from the tee for extra distance
TaylorMade Noodle Long and Soft golf balls patented 342 aerodynamic dimples help support a straighter ball flight but won’t help much with distance.
The ultra-soft core of the ball is aimed at releasing energy with greater force and higher ball speed. The durability of this ball comes from the anti-sheer cover.
Although the spin rate off the tee is kept low, I found that the Noodle Long and Soft golf balls don’t sacrifice spin and feel around the green.
I believe that it may not compare to premium golf balls like the Titleist Pro V1 but is comparable in feel to any other golf ball in the value category like the Bridgestone e12 Contact.
Overall, the Long and Soft provides ample versatility to golfers who swing the driver a little slower than average to average golfers.
Our Experience Testing The Noodle Long & Soft
In reviewing the Noodle Long & Soft, I hit shots on the wedge range and around our short game practice area. Then, I played a few holes to get a feel for various shots with different clubs. The TaylorMade Noodle Long and Soft is in the same category as the Callaway Supersoft and any other soft and inexpensive ball on the market.
As with many cheaper balls, the price point sells them, and the name tries to get you to think it will help your game. This ball is soft(ish) and good off the driver in reducing sidespin, but I lost noticeable distance with this ball.
Generally, the differences in golf balls regarding distance are slight, but not in this case. The Noodles may be somewhat soft, but they are certainly not long. The spin around the greens was not the best either, unfortunately. This ball is basically good for the golfer who is focused on price and cares little about performance. I give the TaylorMade Noodle Long and Soft a 5.5 on a 10 scale.
–Brendon Elliott, Class A PGA Professional
Read more: If you want a budget-friendly distance ball, you’re better off trying the Top Flite Bomb, our budget pick for best golf balls for distance.
TaylorMade Noodle Easy Distance Golf Ball
Pros
- Extremely affordable, considering it comes from the TaylorMade stable
- Ideal for juniors, seniors, and slow swing speed
- Anti-scuff ionomer cover adds to the durability
Cons
- Not suitable for fast swing speeds and experienced golfers
Key features
- Soft feel
- Lots of spin around the green
- Anti-scuff cover makes it durable
TaylorMade Noodle Easy Distance Golf Ball is ideal for young golfers, senior golfers, or the average golfer with a driver swing speed below 85 mph.
This is because a softer compression rating of 50 points to the ball makes it easier to hit for high handicappers. They also provide a nice feel.
Advanced golfers are more likely to prefer a harder golf ball with a higher compression rating to get the benefits of more side spin and so they can do more with their swing.
I appreciated the high-energy, resilient, low-compression core that allows slower swingers to hit the ball farther. Covering the core is a durable ionomer cover that produces a soft feel on and around the green with plentiful spin to stop it quickly.
The USGA and the R&A will change the equipment testing in the future, so balls like the TaylorMade Distance+ and the Top Flite Bomb don’t go as far. The ball distance is expected to decrease by five yards or less for non-tour pro golfers.
This comes into effect for tour and elite golfers in 2028 and recreational golfers in seven years.
Read more: The Best Golf Balls This Year
Who Are Noodle Golf Balls For?
The Noodle ball range is aimed at golfers with a swing speed from 70 to 95 mph. They are typically beginner or intermediate golfers. I wouldn’t call this a great choice for those better golfers with a faster golf swing because the ball will swing faster and make it harder to control.
The Noodle golf balls offer low compression to golfers, and they compress more readily on the clubface, which adds to the distance.
Looking at this golf ball in terms of forgiveness, I would recommend this for a golfer with a high handicap since it performs incredibly well. The spin depends on your choice of ball. For example, the Noodle Long and Soft Golf Balls keep the spin rate low off the tee. TaylorMade did this intentionally to increase the distance.
Overall, we would say that the spin on these balls is pretty decent.
If you wondered, ‘are Noodle golf balls good’? We would certainly say so, especially for those with average swing speeds.
Read More: The Best Golf Balls for Low Handicappers
Does Noodle Still Make Golf Balls?
Even today, Noodle continues to make golf balls at its facility in Korea. Back in 2008, Noodle sold Maxfli to TaylorMade and Dick's Sporting Goods, but they have continued to manufacture the balls where they were previously.
What Brand of Golf Ball Is Noodle?
TaylorMade makes Noodle golf balls when in the past they were made by Maxfli. The TaylorMade facility is in Korea.
Are Noodle Golf Balls Good for High Handicappers?
Noodle golf balls especially make sense for high handicappers since they have a high forgiveness on them. In fact, some have said that they make for some of the best golf balls for high handicap golfers.
Are Noodle Golf Balls Good for Seniors?
Because they work well at slower swing speeds, Noodle golf balls make sense for seniors. As you get older, you start to swing more slowly. You can still see some great distance with this golf ball even if you have a slower golf swing because of its lower compression rate.
Final Thoughts
The distance golf ball market is always expanding with various branded golf balls from yesteryear having found a niche market.
Premium brands want to retain their exclusivity without losing out in probably the biggest market in golf balls, as beginners and high-handicap golfers tend to lose more golf balls.
TaylorMade quality and engineering make the Noodle brand a golf ball to reckon with. High-quality Noodle golf balls are here to stay and will make your round extremely enjoyable without having to worry too much about the budget.
Have you played with a Noodle golf ball recently? Your experience and thoughts will be appreciated in the comments section below.
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Jack was inspired by his Grandad Ron’s golfing and grew up playing this great game. Jack has a handicap index in the 30s and plays with the PING K15 driver and irons. Jack has written more than 40 articles on GolfSpan since 2022. Jack is always looking for ways to find the edge on the course to share with readers and played monthly at High Legh Golf Club near his home in Warrington, Cheshire. You can connect with Jack on X and LinkedIn.
- Best score: 94
- Favorite club: PING K15 driver
- Favorite putter: Wilson ProStaff OD+ putter
- Favorite food at the turn: Always a banana
