5 Golf Balls You May Regret Buying

The golf ball isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our golf ball testing keeps proving that the ball you choose matters more than most golfers think. Speed, flight and spin change from model to model and those differences show up in scoring. A ball that shines for one player can be a miss for another.

This list of the five golf balls you may regret buying isn’t about calling products bad. It’s about mismatch.

If you understand what a ball really does, you can avoid a purchase you’ll regret and find something that fits how you swing and how you score.

1) Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club)

You might regret the Member’s Mark ball if you expect complete performance for a bargain price. In this test group, the warehouse club house ball lagged in the areas that matter around the green. It has a urethane cover, very low greenside spin and limited stopping power. Chips will run out and partial wedges don’t check.

When you weigh it against similarly priced options that tested stronger across categories, the value case falls apart.

Who it does fit: Newer golfers who mainly want a rock-bottom cost per ball and don’t rely on greenside spin.

Consider instead: Kirkland Performance+ v3.5 for a budget pick that graded out far better overall or Maxfli Tour/Tour X if you want affordable urethane with more balanced performance.

2) Callaway Supersoft

You might regret buying the Callaway Supersoft if you expect spin and stopping power.

The 2025 test reinforced that “soft is slow.” Supersoft was long off irons at mid speed but that came from low spin and bounce, not carry. It showed exceptionally low spin rates across the bag which means you’ll struggle to hold greens or get chips to check. For golfers who buy it thinking it’s a “complete” ball, the flat trajectory and lack of spin can be disappointing.

Who it does fit: Players who prioritize softer feel and minimizing sidespin off the tee over greenside control.

Consider instead: Titleist Tour Soft (surprisingly strong speed and flight in the test), Bridgestone TOUR B RX or TaylorMade Tour Response if you want a softer feel but with more usable spin.

3) TaylorMade TP5

You might regret the TaylorMade TP5 if you want a consistent ball flight. TaylorMade made progress with this generation but the TP5 is still prone to wandering in the air. In our data, it showed very high flight at mid and low speeds which can be a blessing or a curse.

Add in occasional stability issues and golfers who fight dispersion may find themselves second-guessing the choice.

Who it does fit: Players who want very high flight and big greenside spin. TP5 was one of the highest-spinning balls in our 35-yard wedge test.

Consider instead: Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1x, Callaway Chrome Tour X or PXG Xtreme Tour X for more stable tour-level trajectories.

4) Mizuno Pro S

You might regret the Mizuno Pro S if you need height and spin. Mizuno’s Pro S came up short in parts of the test especially when wedge spin was measured. It consistently showed less greenside bite than other urethane balls and its flatter trajectory makes it a tough fit for golfers who don’t generate spin naturally. If you buy it expecting “tour performance,” you may feel like something is missing.

Who it does fit: Golfers who already flight it high and spin it plenty but want to knock those numbers down.

Consider instead: Vice Pro Air, Bridgestone TOUR B XS or Srixon Z-STAR DIAMOND if you want height and control with similar firmness.

5) Titleist Velocity

Velocity produced some of the lowest wedge spin numbers in the entire test—roughly one-third of TP5. It can be plenty long but on chips and pitches it runs out with no chance to stop. That makes it a frustrating option for golfers who expect the Titleist logo to mean premium greenside performance.

Who it does fit: Distance-first players who don’t care about greenside spin and just want a fast, low-spin ball.

Consider instead: Kirkland Performance+ v3.5, PXG Xtreme Tour or Maxfli Tour X for stronger all-around value with better stopping power.

Final thoughts

Regret doesn’t always come from buying a “bad” ball. It comes from buying the wrong ball for your game. The best way to avoid that is to understand how each model performs and match it to your needs. Our 2025 Golf Ball Test has all the data (speed, spin, flight and more) so you can find the ball that truly fits your swing.

See the full 2025 Golf Ball Test results here: 2025 Golf Ball Test.