Best ball under $40

[Jay McFarland]

I’ll go old school on y’all. Still one of the best balls I’ve ever played is the old Precept Extra Spin.

[Amrish777]

I have a rather large supply of FG Tour cosmetic blems that I've been playing for years. Probably around 4-5 dozen left and they cost me 120bucks a dozen - which translated into US is around 7-8 dollars. Will figure out what to do in a couple years when i run out 

[Tim A]

On 1/12/2022 at 9:57 PM, Deepred said:

I actually believe in buying the cheapest ball that does what I need it to do. Titleist TruFeel and Tour Soft do everything I need. If the new Maxfli ball came in yellow I’d give it a try. 
The Wilson Duo Pro is an exceptional ball and is on sale now. If it came in a non matte color I’d load up on those.

I find higher spinning urethane balls require more practice and consistency than I have time for. 

The Maxfli tour comes in yellow 2021 ball all I play 2 fix for $60 in store or online 

[Keith Lawrence]

MAXFLI CB Tour X has been amazing coming from Z Star XV. Better distance and the same green side spin.

[TMAC]

20 hours ago, Jay McFarland said:

I’ll go old school on y’all. Still one of the best balls I’ve ever played is the old Precept Extra Spin.

I always liked that ball too.  I also like the Precept Laddie and will use them in the winter months when I can find them.  Otherwise I will use a Noodle, Wilson Duo, or Callaway Super Soft in the winters.  All under $40 (som,e way under).
Summertime I switch to either a ProV or a Bridgestone RX.  I'll hit a TP5 once in awhile too.

[Billy MacGregor]

I've had a bit of an epiphany about golf balls over the last year and have come to the conclusion that there is a very tiny percentage of golfers who will benefit from playing a "premium" ball...including the high swing speed guys.   In my opinion, only golfers who can consistently (and intentionally) work the ball left and right...and have the ability to precisely control spin on the green have any business playing pro level balls.  I've been a weekend golfer for about 35 years and can think of maybe one person that I've met who fits this description.  My driver SS averages 110mph.  I've always been long, and I've always been erratic off the tee.  AND I've always gravitated toward the higher compression premium balls because that's what is recommended for my swing speed.  Last summer I switched to a lower compression ball and the results were immediate and astounding.  I started hitting my driver straighter.  I DID NOT NOTICE ANY DECREASE IN DISTANCE OFF THE TEE.  Where I did notice a difference is that I was about one club longer with my irons.  I could also tell a difference in spin around the green.  My chips tended to roll out more than I was accustomed to but that's an easy adjustment to make.

Just my observations but maybe I can help save some people some money and also reduce the stigma of not playing a Pro V1.  

[Billy MacGregor]

1 hour ago, Riverboat said:

You're singing my song. So many players, and MGS for that matter, claim "premium" balls are best for every player. In my experience, it's simply not the case. Virtually everyone I've gotten to try lower compression 2 piece balls has either benefitted or seen no drop off. I'm not sure if there's actually a stigma switching, but there's certainly a snob appeal to spending a ridiculous amount of money on something that's not helping you. 

Yep...I got a couple of my playing buddies to switch also and they saw the same improvement I did.  In hindsight, I probably should have kept my mouth shut....:)

[KCEE]

I'm a fan of the Maxfli Tour X as well.  Used to be 2 dozen for $50 and then you always had a $10 DSG credit.  I bought 4 dozen for just over $100 recently so they have gone up, but so has everything else.  I like the Tour B X , Snell MTBX and other similar balls, but I score about the same with pretty much all the "X" balls.  

[theophilusxii]

I really like the Volvik Vibe.  Nice feel, checks up nice and seems to be consistent across many sleeves.

[MattL]

For the money, I like the Oncore Elixr and the Maxfli Tour CG, they have a similar feel, but think the Oncore ball is a little more resistant to scuffing. Both balls are made by the same company Foremost, so it makes sense they feel similar. I haven’t had enough experience so far with Snell and others to make a comparison comment on them though.

[dabigkahuna]

I generally play balls I've found as opposed to shelling out for "soon to be baptized new balls".  Several that I know sell for less than $40 a dozen include Pinnacle Soft, Slazenger $ Money, Noodle,Top Flite Hammer Distance, and TF Hammer Control.  I've played each of these, and was satisfied with their performance.   I have all the top brands in my bag including Pro V1's, TP5's, but my favorite these days is the Bridgestone E6.  I cannot believe how long and straight the ball goes, not to mention the confidence they instill when standing on a Par 3 hole with a carry over water.  

[Middler]

6 minutes ago, dabigkahuna said:

I generally play balls I've found as opposed to shelling out for "soon to be baptized new balls".  Several that I know sell for less than $40 a dozen include Pinnacle Soft, Slazenger $ Money, Noodle,Top Flite Hammer Distance, and TF Hammer Control.  I've played each of these, and was satisfied with their performance.   I have all the top brands in my bag including Pro V1's, TP5's, but my favorite these days is the Bridgestone E6.  I cannot believe how long and straight the ball goes, not to mention the confidence they instill when standing on a Par 3 hole with a carry over water.  

The OP asked for the best ball under $40, not satisfactory balls! None of those are “best.” We can all find new golf balls at any price point from $12 to $50/dozen, and we all have the choice to use found balls.  I’d never buy Kirkland’s, but they’re better than any of the above.

[dabigkahuna]

1 hour ago, Middler said:

The OP asked for the best ball under $40, not satisfactory balls! None of those are “best.” We can all find new golf balls at any price point from $12 to $50/dozen, and we all have the choice to use found balls.  I’d never buy Kirkland’s, but they’re better than any of the above.

Wow, hate much?  Your response should be retitled......"When Golf Snobs Attack!"  I know a few very good golfers who use Kirkland balls and like them alot.  As far as my reply went, alerting other golfers to the existence of underrated quality performers will allow them to sample and make their own decisions down the road. It will be up to them to determine what qualifies as their "best ball".   Pompous and effette responses like yours are a good reason why there is a widespread perception that golfers as a whole are elitists and stuffed shirts. 

[GregGarner]

1 hour ago, dabigkahuna said:

Pompous and effette responses like yours are a good reason why there is a widespread perception that golfers as a whole are elitists and stuffed shirts. 

I don't have a dog in the fight, I just want share my 'lol' at using "pompous and effete" while calling someone else elitist 

(FWIW, I think everyone should just take a breath. If we're debating the quality of a Top Flite or a Slazenger, it's a tough hill to climb to argue that we're really concerned about performance and ultimately, this is a discussion about how to enjoy a game as affordably as possible.)

[Middler]

2 hours ago, dabigkahuna said:

Wow, hate much?  Your response should be retitled......"When Golf Snobs Attack!"  I know a few very good golfers who use Kirkland balls and like them alot.  As far as my reply went, alerting other golfers to the existence of underrated quality performers will allow them to sample and make their own decisions down the road. It will be up to them to determine what qualifies as their "best ball".   Pompous and effette responses like yours are a good reason why there is a widespread perception that golfers as a whole are elitists and stuffed shirts. 

Hate, because I have a different view? Lighten up Francis. Maybe we can just agree to disagree, the world won't spin off it's axis. Since you want to make this personal, uneducated responses "like yours are a good reason there is a widespread perception that golfers as a whole are" clueless lemmings who don't know much about golf or golf equipment and fall for every marketing gimmick. There's no one here who isn't aware of cheap two piece ionomer balls - WADR, that's not what the OP asked.

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

2 hours ago, dabigkahuna said:

Wow, hate much?  Your response should be retitled......"When Golf Snobs Attack!"  I know a few very good golfers who use Kirkland balls and like them alot.  As far as my reply went, alerting other golfers to the existence of underrated quality performers will allow them to sample and make their own decisions down the road. It will be up to them to determine what qualifies as their "best ball".   Pompous and effette responses like yours are a good reason why there is a widespread perception that golfers as a whole are elitists and stuffed shirts. 

Offended much. @Middlerdidn’t attack you or your response. He clarified and explained the ops ask. It wasn’t what’s best for the op under $40 but the best under $40.

 

[Middler]

8 minutes ago, Riverboat said:

It's not your different point of view, it's the amount of snark you level at people in expressing it. You make it personal, then express surprise when people take it personally. And just to clarify, you mean like the "clueless lemmings" who automatically assume anyone not playing a premium ball is somehow beneath them in intelligence and golf acumen?

If you're alleging I said that, please show me where I said that. Some people agreed with my post, some agreed with the other POV - nothing wrong with that.

[Middler]

1 hour ago, Riverboat said:

I guess I have to explain.  You see, I cleverly turned around your insult in calling people clueless lemmings, and applied it instead to people like you, who believe that urethane balls are inherently better for all players all the time. 

You jumped Carlh earlier, asking him if he had "tried them all" when he simply expressed his opinion like most have on the thread, and now the attack on dabigkahuna because you didn't like his take on the question. How about sharing your own opinion in civil terms without putting anyone else's down like virtually every other poster on these forums? Maybe reread before you post and check for snark before hitting submit? Not counting on it, though, there are trolls on every forum. 

I wonder why there are NO ionomer/surlyn tour balls? You're welcome to your opinion, and high regard for same, I'll leave it at that. Back to the topic at hand - "BEST ball under $40."

[RickyBobby_PR]

2 hours ago, Riverboat said:

It's not your different point of view, it's the amount of snark you level at people in expressing it. You make it personal, then express surprise when people take it personally. And just to clarify, you mean like the "clueless lemmings" who automatically assume anyone not playing a premium ball is somehow beneath them in intelligence and golf acumen?

Pot calling the kettle black in this one 

[Stuka44]

Ok I see things are getting a little sporty. 

For anyone who mentioned cost, which is why I am using middle of the road balls, I am going to add to my rationale on page 2. Just as a statement for thought. This is a little weird, but bear with me.

Every time you add something new that is primarily, or soley used for golf adds to the cost per round.  We just don't think of our equipment, clubs, shoes, clothing, in this regard. 

I am using  new mavrik Pro Irons, purchased Jan of 19( A retirement gift to myself, didn't really expect they would make me play better), but I bought them all the same, could have just kept my old ones from 2012.  About 150 rounds of using them over the last 3 years they are still adding $12.00 to each round I play at this point.

If you buy a new $400.00 driver, if you play 40 rounds that year its added $10.00 per round you play that first year. After the 2nd 40 rounds with it, now its $5.00 a round.

New $200.00 putter, $5.00 a round for 40 rounds.

So why do we place the cost of Premium Balls, on an Island all by itself when we look at the cost of golf, and why we think losing 2 Srixon Z-Stars  a round is what makes golf expensive, but two Q-Stars does not?

Losing 120 balls in 40 rounds using premium balls is $2.50 a round more.  The two new $50 a piece golf shirts I got for Christmas, are going to add $2.50 a round for the 40 rounds next year, and I won't even wear them for every round.

So if I don't have track man numbers and spin numbers, and don't really know for certain that  a cheaper ball  scientifically is actually better for my game, then with all the other expenses I'm  actually shelling out for each round of golf, why am not using a ball that at the very least probably isn't going to hurt my game, and just might help it to save $1.67 a round in my case?

 

 

 

 

 

[Tyler86]

12 hours ago, Middler said:

The OP asked for the best ball under $40, not satisfactory balls! None of those are “best.” We can all find new golf balls at any price point from $12 to $50/dozen, and we all have the choice to use found balls.  I’d never buy Kirkland’s, but they’re better than any of the above.

This was my thought exactly.

 

Not to be a jerk, play what ya like.

Edited January 21, 2022 by Tyler86

[Tyler86]

Interestingly enough, I can only find USED slazanger money balls. Also, they are all GOLD. I bet those are easy to find. Guess im not gonna be trying those….

[pineneedlespro]

On 8/2/2021 at 12:47 PM, tschott said:

I've been playing the OnCore Elixir for the last year and a half. Very good ball and you can usually buy at 2 for $50. I play to a 7.2 and it does everything I need it to and you don't feel so bad when you lose one

Yes I agree that the OnCore Elixir is an excellent choice for all around golf ball.

 

[sg419]

Snell Black or X