For so many years we watched golfers look for the highest spinning golf balls on the market. High spin golf balls were giving players the spin they wanted to stop the ball on the greens, but there are some issues with this high spin technology.
Players can spin the ball too much and that can become a negative. More spin equals more spin in all directions, meaning bigger hooks or slices. More spin also creates a higher ball flight and more drag through the air, both of which can hinder distance and your ability to score. Finally, too much spin on approach shots into soft, quick greens can create too much backspin.
If this sounds like you, then low spin golf balls can be the solution to your problems. The golf balls below are likely to reduce your spin rates by 10-15% compared to the average ball on the market, the exact value is dependent on your clubhead speed and impact dynamics.
If you want to learn more about spin and golfing performance before looking at our top picks, jump to our FAQ section.
Best Low spin golf balls
- TaylorMade Tour Response – Best low spin for slow swing speeds
- Vice Pro Plus – Best low spin for higher swing speeds
- Titleist Tour Speed – Best low spin around the green
- Titleist AVX – Best low spin with great feel
TaylorMade Tour Response
The TaylorMade Tour Response golf balls are like the junior version of the TaylorMade TP5 golf balls. With the Tour, Response golfers can expect impressive distance, three-piece technology, and plenty of durability. In addition, the spin, especially from the tee, is very low.
Distance
If you are a slower swing speed player, the compression of the TaylorMade Tour Response can help increase the overall distance you hit the ball. When we tried this ball, we found that it was just as long as some of the leading distance balls on the market, with a slightly softer feel coming off the clubface.
Spin
The TaylorMade Tour Response is a low spin golf ball, especially from the tee. Around the greens, we could get the Tour Response to grab, but the stopping power is nothing like a Pro V1x or TP5. From the tee, the ball has low spin and drag through the air and a ton of roll which will add yardage to your tee shots.
Feel
As we mentioned, the Tour Response is similar to the TP5, but it is not nearly as soft. The urethane cover helps improve some of the feel, but it is a bit harsher feeling than a premium golf ball. It is one of the best feeling golf balls within its price point.
Longevity
Overall we had no trouble with the Tour Response breaking down after a few poor swings. Remember, this is a ball better suited for a slow swinging player. Faster swing speeds may cut the three-piece lower compression ball a little easier, but after testing many, many golf balls there are no faults we can pick out when it comes to longevity.
Value
The TaylorMade Tour response is offered at a great price. Low spin golf balls are increasing in demand, as a response we’re starting to see low spin balls crop up at varying prices – this is certainly on the lower end and offers great performance for the price.
Golf Insider verdict
The TaylorMade Tour Response is great for a slower swing speed player looking for an affordable golf ball that maximises distance off the tee and won’t zip back for approach shots into the green. To top it off the TaylorMade Tour Responses feel great to strike with your driver and irons.
Vice Pro Plus
Higher swing speed players naturally create more spin (rpm) in their golf shots. This is not always a positive; there is an optimum spin window when launching driver (1750 – 2500rpm for 100+ mph swing speed). If you above this value you will start to lose valuable yardage off the tee. Furthermore, hook and slice spin will also match your increase/decrease in spin rates. The Vice Pro Plus does what it can to reduce your spin rates, in a much cheaper way than buying a new driver!
Distance
The Vice Pro Plus is just as long as other premium golf balls on the market. As long as you had a mid to high swing speed switching to the Vice could help you gain a few yards of carry through the air and roll on your drives.
Spin
The spin from Vice Pro Plus is low from the tee, but with a mid to high swing speeds there is still good reaction and traction around the greens. As much as many premium golf balls claim to be low spin off the tee and high around the greens, lower spinning options off the tee will always lose a little bite. The Vice Pro Plus is no different, but still offers performance around the green that elite amateurs and pros will be happy with.
Feel
The feel of the Vice Pro Plus is considerably harder than the Vice Pro Soft. You will notice a more firm feel at impact, but the firmness certainly translates back into a feeling of control and power. In this sense, they are what the Pro Vx feels like compared to a Pro V1.
Longevity
The Vice Pro Plus is sturdy enough for a high swing speed player to use the golf ball for a few rounds of golf. The four-piece design really holds up well even to the fastest swinging players.
Value
Vice has some of the best-priced golf balls on the market. The four-piece golf ball is expensive to manufacture, but really delivers with its level of performance – these offer great overall value.
Golf Insider verdict
The Vice Golf balls continue to impress us. For players that are just not ready to spend $50 on a dozen but still want some of this same impressive technology, the Vice Golf balls are a smart choice.
Titleist Tour Speed
Most golfers want more spin around the greens. However, wet boggy conditions, and tropical humid conditions can result in times where less spin is ideal. The Titleist Tour Speed gives a good balance of low spin off the tee and controlled spin around the greens.
Distance
The Titleist Tour Speed is a distance ball. When hit well, the Tour Speed will carry further than the Pro V1 for mid to low swing speeds and around the same for higher swing speeds. However, for all golfers you’ll enjoy an extra few yards of roll too – distance is a strong point for the Tour Speed.
Spin
There is a simple notion with golf balls, despite all their fancy layering – low spin off the tee results in low spin across all shots. 3 and 4 piece balls can increase spin a little nearer the green, but this relationship still holds true.
Spin from the tee with the Tour Speed is extremely low and the Tour Speed dimple pattern aims to further reduce drag meaning this ball will carry long and far. This trend continues with iron shots, meaning mid irons will stop and drop on soft greens and wedges won’t spin back as much compared to a Pro V1 or Pro Vx.
Overall the spin around the green is also relatively low; however, you will still feel like you have control.
Feel
The Tour Speed is soft around the greens, not comparable to a urethane cover golf ball, but far more enjoyable than a budget golf ball. If you want low spin, and a medium to firm feel this ball will be a firm favourite (sorry for the pun).
Longevity
Titleist golf balls are Titleist golf balls; aside from a few faster swing speed players cutting the Pro V1x from time to time, most Titleist golf balls hold up well. These will outlast most golf balls on the market.
Value
The Titleist Tour Speed golf balls are very fairly priced considering the performance. For those that are not into the pricing on the Pro V1 and Pro V1x being so high, the Tour Speed is a good compromise of performance and pricing.
Golf Insider verdict
Similar to how the TaylorMade Tour Response feels like a junior version of the TP5, the Titleist Tour Speed can feel like a junior version of the Pro V1 or Pro V1x. If you like the Titleist brand but you want less spin around the greens and a firmer feel, give Tour Speed a try.
Titleist AVX
The Titleist AVX is the best low spin golf ball for feel. Titliest noticed a gap in the market where some golfers wanted the feel of a Pro V1, but the performance of a lower spin ball – the AVX is that – it was built to be low spin, low launch, and great feeling.
Distance
The Titleist AVX is long; in fact, for the mid swing speed golfer, this could be the longest one on the list. It’s not just the ball flight you get; it’s the extra roll and continued yardage once the ball hits the ground. The great performance carries on in your iron play, where the Titliest AVX results in a high ball speed off the face and low spin.
Spin
From the tee box, the Titleist AVX is the lowest spinning of the Titleist lineup. Around the greens, the spin is still relatively low, but this ball to stop and grab enough for most players. Let’s be clear the AVX won’t spin like a Pro V1 or Pro V1x.
Feel
The Titleist AVX has our favorite feel of all the low spin golf balls. The ball feels firm when struck with driver and irons, but the Urethane cover really does kick in when chipping and putting. A premium Titleist golf ball in this price range with a Urethane cover will pretty much always have good feel.
Longevity
The AVX that we tested was in play for several rounds with no visible damage or markings on the cover of the ball. You won’t have to worry about cutting this ball, even if your swing speed is a little faster.
Value
When the Titleist AVX first came out at the same price point as the Pro V1 and Pro V1x, we were afraid it was set a little too high. However, after assessing its performance it makes a bit more sense. Consider this a Pro V1 alternative with much lower levels of spin across your game. Overall the Titleist AVX is a good value premium low spin ball.
Golf Insider verdict
Even though the AVX is the most expensive of the best low spin golf balls on our list, it was our favorite for overall performance. The technology, feel, and overall quality of the AVX golf ball really has it stand out from others on the market. If you have been reluctant to try the AVX, we’d say it is worth a try.
Are low spin golf balls the right choice for you?
Low spin golf balls are ideal for players that generate spin rates that are too high. It is a far cheaper option that swinging equipment and far simpler than working on your technique. Many amateur golfers think that spin is a positive. Although, there are times that too much spin is a problem. Players need to realize that there is an optimum level of spin that their shots should fit into, based on their swing speed, impact condions and course conditons.
What are the benefits of low spin?
Low spin helps golfers increase carry distance, due to the reduce drag. Total driving distance can also be positively impacted due to increased roll. Furthermore, lower spin rates can bring trajectory down to a more penetrating ball flight and decrease some of the side spin that causes unwanted left and right golf shots. Many higher swing speed players generate too much spin and need a lower spin golf club or lower spin golf ball to optimize their performance.
What are the benefits of higher spin?
Higher spin can help golf shots rise up in the air and increase overall carry distance for slower swing speed golfers. In addition, a higher spin will make a golf ball stop on the green. When you are trying to minimise roll out distance, higher spin golf ball are essential. Such golf balls are a great choice when the green you play on are firm and quick.
Should I use a low spin or high spin golf ball?
To find out if you should use low or high spin golf balls you should ideally get fitted. Knowing your spin rates with driver and irons is one half of the equation, the other half is understanding how you want to play golf, and your preferences for performance and feel.
As a back up solution, you can consider your current ball flight and how you want to see it change. If you are a golfer that hits the ball too high off the tee, or you have a low-rising ball flight with driver, you’re likely losing 2-6 yards due to your spin levels.
If you struggle with wedge shots spinning ball back off of a green then a low spin golf ball is a better choice and can really help your scoring! A high spin golf ball is the best choice for golfers who struggle to get a high ball flight and have a hard time stopping a golf ball on the green.
Do low spin golf balls go straighter?
A low spin golf ball will go slightly straighter if you struggle with hook or slice spin, but not if you hit a pull or push. To understand this concept it is important to know that when you strike a ball with your club face open or closed to your swing path you do not impart separate side and backspin, rather a spin vector onto the golf ball (see below).
A higher spinning golf ball will increase the rate of spin regardless of the impact and angle of the spin vector. More spin, means more curvature through the air for any given spin vector. Low spin golf balls will reduce lateral error by a small amount 1-2 yards on a 20-yard slice, but this may be significant for some golfers.
If you take a low spin and a high spin golf ball and hit them both with a perfect shot, they will go straight. However, the higher spinning ball will have more backspin, causing it to rise and reach a higher apex in its flight.
Do soft golf balls spin less?
How soft a golf ball feels is a result of its finished compression, the cover of the golf ball and the type of golf shot you are hitting. For this reason there is no simple relationship between soft vs hard golf balls and spin.
Most soft golf balls spin less. However, some soft golf balls are soft because of their compression and makeup, and others just have a soft feeling cover.
Do matte golf balls make a difference to spin?
Matte golf balls will make a difference to visibility and sometimes focus, but they should not have an impact on overall spin rates. Some players may feel matte golf balls spin less/more, but this is likely due to a ball’s specific performance working well with their impact conditions, and far less with the matte cover directly affecting spin.
What is Vice’s lowest spinning ball?
The Vice Pro Plus is the lowest spinning golf ball. The Vice Pro Plus is a four-piece ball with impressive overall feel and distance technology; this is an excellent option for the better player.
What is Titleist’s lowest spinning ball?
The Titleist AVX is the lowest spinning ball from Titleist. When the AVX was first produced, it was created to help fill a gap in the Titleist lineup for a low spin golf ball with a great feel and excellent ball flight control.
Does Pro V1 or Pro V1x spin more?
The Pro V1x will spin more than the Pro V1. The Pro V1x is slightly firmer than the Pro V1, and this helps generate just a bit more spin around the greens and on approach shots. If you are a slower swing speed player, you may not see this spin as you must have a higher swing speed to benefit from the higher spin rates.
What is a good spin rate for a driver?
The optimal spin rate for a driver will vary depending on your clubhead/ball speed and your launch angle. As a rough guide 1750 – 2300rpm is ideal for 105+mph swing speed. For 95 – 104mph swing speeds 2000 – 2500rpm with driver will optimize carry. As swing speed continues to drop optimal spin rates move closer towards 3000rpm.
What is a good spin rate for a 7-iron?
A quick rule of thumb to help you find out your ideal spin rate for an iron shot is to multiply the number on the club head by 1000. Based on this an optimal spin rate for a 7 iron would be 7000rpm, however elite players vary from 5,500rpm to almost 8,000rpm, showing there is a wide window depending on swing speed and spin loft at impact.
More golf ball guides
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- Best golf balls for beginners
- Best low compression golf balls
- Best value golf balls
- Best golf balls for mid-handicappers
- Best high handicap golf balls
Summary – Best low spin golf balls
We hope you now know more about ball spin and feel a bit more confident about the best golf balls for low spin. Most importantly, spin isn’t good or bad, you just need to understand the impact of low spin for your golf game.
For some players, low spin golf balls are a cheap and simple solution to get another 2-3% performance out of their golf game. Find the golf ball that helps optimise your spin rate, but also one you love playing with.
Happy Golfing – Britt @ Golf Insider UK
