Which type of golf ball is right for you?

By: Kieran Clark | Edited: Tue 18 Nov 2025

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Are you using the right golf ball? Golfers typically have a brand that they favour, but not every model produced by the manufacturers is best suited for your game.

Golf ball technology has advanced to such an extent that products have been crafted to align with different standards of golfer who may require something extra.

If you're someone who is serious about making those marginal gains on the course, having the most suitable golf ball to hand is a factor that shouldn't be ignored.

Which Type of Golf Ball is Right For You?

TaylorMade Golf Balls

But where would you start and what do you need to consider? Golfshake's Equipment Expert, Ryan Rastall, has delved into this subject, using the extensive golf ball range from TaylorMade as the template to help you uncover the right model in terms of distance, ball speed and performance.

Comparing the TaylorMade Distance, Speed Soft, Tour Response and TP5, Ryan describes who each golf ball has been engineered for and provides insight into how they perform in a variety of test conditions.

Gathering data from Trackman at his Indoor Performance Centre at Howley Hall Golf Club in Leeds, Ryan starts with hitting 50-yard lob wedge shots before moving into hitting a 7 iron at three swing speeds: 65 mph to encompass senior or slower swing golfers, 75 mph to cover the average swing speed, and then his normal, faster swing. He then moves into driver testing at 85 mph, 95 mph and 115 mph to analyse across a range of speeds and handicap categories.

Looking at each ball, Ryan studies how they differ in terms of ball speed, spin, trajectory and distance, and he attempts to answer the question of which golf ball might give you the most yardage and control for your game and your budget.

You can see how much your choice of golf ball can impact your distance and speed by watching our comprehensive new video below or directly on YouTube, as Ryan tries to solve the equation of which TaylorMade golf ball could be the best fit for your game.

Are You Using The Right Golf Balls?

About the author

Kieran Clark is the Digital Editor of Golfshake. He oversees editorial content, community engagement, forums, and social media channels. A lifelong golfer from the Isle of Bute in Scotland who has now lived in St Andrews for a decade, he began playing at the age of five and maintains a passion for exploring courses, with a particular affection for historic layouts. Kieran regularly contributes in-depth opinion pieces and features, drawing on his enthusiasm for the game and its culture.