Deciding on the worst golf balls ever made is rather a subjective matter.
It depends on what caliber of golfer is asked the question.
For the Scratch golfer, his requirements will be totally different from that of the monthly social hacker.
The ball the better player puts into play could be used by the hacker, but the reverse is not true.
List of the Worst Golf Balls
Slazenger Raw Distance
Pinnacle Gold
Top-Flight XL 2000-3000
Callaway Warbird
Volvik
Slazenger Raw Distance
A 2-piece ball with high compression.
Slazenger promotes the ball as the “distance” ball to buy.
It has a hard feel off the club.
Very little spin can be generated for those delicate around the green chip-shots.
Not a great sound at contact.
Pinnacle Gold
A 2-piece ball with high compression.
In years gone by, this was the distance ball to buy.
It still plays long off the tee box.
The new version offers a yellow ball as an option.
A touch of softness has been added to the feel and sound off the club.
Limited side-spin is a plus factor, reducing hooks and slices.
Top-Fight XL 2000-3000
A 2-piece ball with high compression.
Always been long off the tee box.
Hard feel off the club-face.
Not a great sound at contact.
Price point good.
Callaway Warbird
A 2-piece ball with high compression.
Designed for distance.
Hex aerodynamic pattern reduces drag.
A very little spin on approach shots.
Flies and rolls out on the fairway.
A hard feel off the clubface.
Not a great sound at contact.
Volvik
The first to introduce the “matt” finish ball.
Multi-color options.
Long off the tee box.
Not a great sound at contact.
Hard feel off the clubface.
Very little spin control.
Not good on the eye at address.
Having listed the 5 worst golf balls it is worth mentioning that most golf ball manufacturers develop balls for the entire spectrum of golfers.
Another point worth noting is the number of professional golfers putting the above mentioned balls into play on the tour!—–ZERO!
So having selected the worst 5 golf balls, it is also fair to understand that these balls have a place in the golf industry.
The Question Should Be Asked Who Would Play These Golf Balls?
The weekend hacker or social golfer.
Distance off the tee box is the only thing that matters.
The high handicap golfer or older player that wants the ball to move far whether on the ground or in the air.
The beginner starting with a limited budget.
The “bragger” who wants to smash it off the tee to claim the longest drive of the day in the friendly fourball.
The guy who sprays his tee shots to all parts of the course.
Golfers playing a tight layout with water and bush to navigate.
A golfer who hits the ball in the “teeth” or tops it often.
There Are Positives To The Golf Balls Mentioned In The Article
They do not cut easily.
The ball surface does not “scuff” easily.
Players who play at a home course where the wind is a constant challenge.
The balls will suit links-style courses where keeping the ball low or on the ground is an advantage.
They allow the golfer to play rolling approach shots to the green.
All of the balls roll out on the fairways adding distance.
Final Thoughts
As each golfer develops his or her playing skills they will understand that distance without control will ruin the scorecard.
Finesse around the greens allows the player to recover from a bad tee shot.
Putting is more than 50% of the strokes played in 18 holes.
Feel on the putter will reduce the number of 3-putts.
We all started at this game and learned the finer arts from other good players.
Playing the correct ball for your swing speed improves the scorecard.
TIP: Have a swing speed test with your professional or at a retail store to determine the right ball for your game.
Related Articles
- Where Is The Best Place to Buy Used Golf Balls?
- 8 of The Best Golf Balls For The Average Golfer
- Low Compression Golf Balls – And The Pros & Cons of Using Them
Nick Lomas is the founder of GolfSpan, an avid golfer, not quite a pro but has over 15-years of experience playing and coaching golfers from all over the world. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience then it comes to choosing the right golf gear, and finding the right set up for your game.
