Best Colored Golf Balls In 2023

The introduction of colored golf balls has been great for the game of golf. The colored balls bring a bit of a “cool” factor to the game. This rings especially true for the young kids just starting out.

Besides being cool, the vibrantly colored balls are easier to track in flight and easier to find when in the rough or woods. I started using colored golf balls a few years ago, and see no reason to go back to the boring white alternative. It turns out I’m actually saving money too, as I find way more of my wayward shots, which would surely be lost if it wasn’t for the bright red color.

So with that being said, with so many options to choose from, which colored ball should you play? I have you covered. Keep reading to find out what I think are the best colored golf balls on the market.

Please note the most expensive ball on my list is right at $36 for a dozen. For my level of golf, this type of golf ball is perfectly fine. Being a 12 handicap, I still lose my fair share of balls so I like to save money where I can. I swing my driver at around 110 and these balls perform quite well for me. I would still be a 12 handicap if I used Pro V1’s.

1. Vice Pro Plus

Coming in at number 1, we have the Vice Pro Plus, in all its greatness. If I recall correctly, playing this ball was the first time I ever went for a color other than white. I went with neon red and have been playing some sort of red golf ball ever since.

The Vice Pro Plus is, without a doubt, one of the best balls on the market. It’s marketed towards those with high driver swing speeds but I’ve seen guys with average swing speeds use it, and it performed admirably. I can say confidently that I hit my longest drives of 2022 using this ball.

Put to the test against the mighty Pro V1, the results were almost a wash. Hitting my 58 degree and 7 iron, the stats were basically the same. Almost identical stats for ball speed, backspin and carry distance. There was a little separation when it came to the driver. The ball speed came in at 1.5 mph faster for the Pro V1 and the backspin rate about 200 RPMs lower for the Pro V1 which led to about 3 yards of additional carry. So while a difference exists with the driver, it’s minuscule.

When factoring in the Pro V1 cost of $50 per dozen versus at most $35 per dozen for the Vice Pro Plus, the decision is a no-brainer. There is absolutely no comparable to the Vice Pro Plus at this price point.

Specifications

2. Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide

At number 2, it’s the Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide. The first of two Srixon balls to make the Top 5. From a looks perspective, it’s my favorite on the list due to the split colorway. If you’re playing in a foursome, no need to check each ball in the fairway to determine which one is yours. The Q-Star Tour Divide definitely stands out from the rest.

I played this ball for about three months this year. I shot my normal mid to high 80 scores. The reason I stopped playing it after three months was I simply preferred the feel of a softer golf ball. It had nothing to due with performance as it was solid.

When I decided to test it against one of Srixon’s flagship balls, the Z-Star, the results were good. Hitting the 58 degree, the Z-Star averaged about 500 RPMs more in backspin. They were both between 8000-9000 RPM so both performed well. Using a 7 iron, the average carry distances were within 2 yards of each other with the Z-Star coming out on top. The backspin rate for both was right around 5000 RPM with the Z-Star having a tighter dispersion rate. The Z-Star was also better with the driver but not by much. A couple MPH on the ballspeed and maybe 5 yards better on the carry distance.

So while the Z-Star outperformed the Q-Star Tour Divide ball, the margins were small. Definitely not big enough for me to justify spending the extra $10 per dozen. The Q-Star Tour Divide is a tour-like ball at only $35.

Specifications

3. Titleist TruFeel

Next up, we have the Titleist TruFeel. Titleist is known for quality and this golf ball doesn’t disappoint. I previously played the Titleist Tour Soft ball and really enjoyed it. The TruFeel is basically an enhanced version of it. The TruFeel preserves the soft feel of the Tour Soft but with a more firm core to provide a bit more distance off the tee and with the long irons/hybrids.

When put to the test against the holy grail of golf balls, the Pro V1, the TruFeel ball performed well, for a ball at its price point. The carry distances for all clubs tested were similar between the two balls. The main difference was the backspin rate. With the irons (58 degree and 7 iron) I tested, the Pro V1 averaged about 1000 RPMs more than the TruFeel. For a player of my ability, that is a negligible difference. With the driver, the TruFeel spun about 300 RPMs less than the Pro V1. The low backspin rate is actually a benefit for us with the driver as it normally leads to a tighter dispersion which should lead to us losing less balls!

On the course, the TruFeel held the greens just fine from 170 yards with the 7 iron and checked up nicely from 80 yards with the 58 degree. I have absolutely no concerns there.

From a chipping and pitching perspective, I didn’t see much difference. I tend to hit spinny chip shots so factor that in. But they both performed adequately. On the greens, the only difference I could tell between the two, was the sound and feel. The TruFeel is a softer sound and feel when compared to the Pro V1. Both rolled about the same.

While the Pro V1 is definitely the better ball overall, most golfers won’t see a noticeable difference playing the TruFeel. And it’s $20 cheaper than the Pro V1. A fact that can’t be understated.

Specifications

4. Callaway Supersoft

Number 4 on the list, and also my current golf ball, is the Callaway Supersoft. I absolutely love this ball. The first time I played this ball was when I bought a few used ones from a kid selling balls at my local golf course. I put it in play the that day and have been playing it since. I was actually surprised by the price of $25 per dozen when I went to the store to buy a box. I assumed they would be at minimum, $35 per dozen.

When compared to the $45 Callaway Chrome Soft golf ball, the major difference was the backspin rate. Similar to when we compared the TruFeel to the Pro V1. Hitting the 58 degree full, the Chrome Soft averaged about 1100 RPMs more in backspin than the Supersoft. Same story when hitting the 7 iron. The Chromesoft averaged 1300 RPMs more in backspin than the Supersoft. Carry numbers were similar for both balls when hitting the 58 degree and 7 iron. Off the tee, this is where the low spinning Supersoft held its own. The Supersoft averaged about 650 RPMs less in backspin than the Chromesoft, which wasn’t a surprise. However, it carried just as far plus it will run for days upon landing.

On course, I have no issues with the lower spin rates when hitting my irons. The ball might not have 6 feet of backspin when it hits the green but that’s OK. It still lands soft and checks up nicely. That’s enough for me.

Specifications

5. Srixon Soft Feel

Rounding out the Top 5 list of best colored golf balls is, the most inexpensive ball on the list, the Srixon Soft Feel. As the name implies, it’s a soft golf ball. As with most soft golf balls, this ball spins less when compared to something like the Q-Star Tour Divide. It compares favorably to the Callaway Supersoft in terms of playability. I prefer the Supersoft but that’s a personal preference.

In testing against the Q-Star Tour Divide, the Srixon Soft Feel was not as consistent. Hitting the 58 degree full, the Q-Star Tour Divide averaged between 8000-9000 RPMs of backspin while the Soft Feel had a looser dispersion rate averaging between 5000-8500 RPMs. With the 7 iron, the Q-Star Tour Divide carried about 4 yards further than the Soft Feel with about 1000 less RPMs. Finally, with driver, the Q-Star Tour Divide averaged about 2 MPH more in ball speed which led to about 4 yards extra in carry distance. To be honest, the testing went as expected. The Q-Star Tour Divide, priced at $35 a dozen, should outperform the $23 Soft Feel.

The Srixon Soft Feel, while not as good as some of the higher priced balls on this list, certainly performs well enough to put in play. If you like playing a soft golf ball or want to try one out, the price point of $23 is tough to beat.

Specifications

Easiest Golf Ball Color To See

According to Sciencing.com, green is the easiest color to see from a distance. Unfortunately, for us golfers, there aren’t a lot of darker green golf balls being made. The popular green golf balls I come across are of the bright, neon variety. In my opinion, the neon green balls are some of the harder balls to track while in the air, especially when contrasted against a light blue sky.

Through my playing experience, the red colored golf balls are the easiest to see from a distance. I’ve played the red Vice Pro Plus and the red Callaway Supersoft recently and have had no issues following my ball in flight. Another advantage of the red golf balls are they are much easier to find when searching in the rough or the woods. Some of the other colored balls, like the yellow or even the orange, can be harder to find, especially during the fall months. Those colors tend to blend in with the fallen leaves, etc. With the bright red balls, I never have to worry about that.

At the end of the day, every individual has their own pair of eyes and will need to choose the golf ball color that suits them. My recommendation is to try them all out! I probably buy balls at least once a month out of necessity. I assume many of you are the same. Switch up the colors/brands and find the right combination that works for you!

Are Colored Golf Balls Frowned Upon?

The short answer is no. Maybe 30 years ago, some golf purists would’ve had a problem with colored golf balls but I don’t see any evidence of it today. With all the talk I hear about wanting to grow the game of golf, it would be foolish to single out colored golf balls as taboo. Whether the colored golf balls are adding a “cool” factor to the game for the younger generation or assisting the older generation or people with vision problems with actually tracking their golf balls while playing, the colored golfs are certainly a value add.

If there was anywhere I would guess a colored golf ball would be frowned upon, it would be the home of the Master’s tournament, Augusta National Golf Club. While they have been notorious in the past for banning or suspending someone due to rules infractions, even they don’t have any rules in place about using colored golf balls. Bubba Watson can attest to that.

Do Any Pros Use Colored Golf Balls?

Speaking of Bubba Watson, he is the only PGA Tour player I have ever seen use a colored golf ball in competition. He deployed a pink golf ball for one season when he signed a deal with Volvik back in 2016. On the LPGA side, four golfers are currently sponsored by Volvik. The list includes Pornanong Phatlum, Youngin Chun, Mi Hyang Lee, and the most popular, Chella Choi. And let’s not forget about the 10-time winner, Paula Cramer, who is nicknamed “The Pink Panther” and fittingly plays a pink golf ball.

I’m actually surprised more pro golfers haven’t switched over considering that the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the most popular balls on tour and now come in a yellow version. Many of the golfers are likely creatures of habit and don’t want to make any drastic changes to their game, such as changing the ball color. If I made it to the highest level of golf using a white golf ball, I may not rock the boat either.

Final Thoughts

You can’t go wrong with any of the five golf ball choices I’ve discussed. They’ve all been thoroughly tested by me, a 12 handicap golfer with modest capabilities, and yielded solid results. While some are better than others, the overall differences amongst them won’t be noticed by the weekend golfer. Plus, none of them will break the bank either!