My go-to golf ball is the Titleist Pro V1x and I’ve recently spent time experimenting with the Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond. Still, I’m not opposed to dropping into the sub-$40 category. There are a few golf balls that have surprised me enough that I could switch them out for the premium and not be disappointed.
Based on the 2025 MyGolfSpy Golf Ball Test, here are three golf balls under $40 that I would (and do) play with—and two I’m not putting in the bag. Every pick is grounded in robot data: ball speed, trajectory, spin and short-game performance.
Three golf balls under $40 I play with
1. Maxfli Tour
The Maxfli Tour earned Best Mid-Priced Ball in the 2025 guide and performed like a true all-around option. It produced solid ball speed, predictable trajectory and enough greenside spin to function as a legitimate tour-caliber urethane ball at a mid-tier price. Across swing speeds, it showed no real weaknesses, something that can’t be said for many balls in this category.
Who Should Play It: Golfers who want a balanced, tour-style ball without paying a premium price.
2. Kirkland Signature Performance+ v3.5
The 2025 model took one of our best value spots in 2025 testing. Driver spin is under control, trajectory is playable and the urethane cover gives you more greenside capability than any ionomer ball at this price.
Wedge spin is still lower than tour balls but the value-to-performance ratio is nearly unmatched. I could absolutely play this ball without feeling like my game suffers.
Who Should Play It: Value-focused golfers who want real urethane performance at warehouse pricing.
3. Vice Pro (or Pro Plus)
The Vice Pro was a runner-up in our Best Mid-Priced category. It offers reliable mid-flight, mid-spin, performance and strong iron results at mid-swing speed. The Pro Plus showed up in the high-speed, low-spin category, making it a firmer, lower-spin alternative for players who generate speed.
Vice’s pricing drops meaningfully when you buy in bulk, often bringing these balls into the low-$30 range.
Who Should Play It: Golfers who want a direct-to-consumer urethane ball with strong all-around performance.
Two golf balls I won’t play
1. Titleist Velocity
Velocity launches high and produces the expected distance-first flight typical of low-spin ionomer balls. But in the 35-yard wedge test, it produced the lowest greenside spin of any ball evaluated. If you depend on hop-and-stop control, this is a dealbreaker.
For golfers who just want height and distance without worrying about spin, Velocity makes sense. For me, it doesn’t have enough value with other great options out there.
2. Mizuno Pro S
Mizuno Pro S is a urethane ball but in the 2025 test it produced some of the lowest greenside spin of the urethane group and showed up on the shorter side in the iron testing. It also flies flatter, which suits a specific type of player, but doesn’t offer the balanced spin and stopping power I’m looking for in a sub-$40 urethane ball.
Who Should Play It: Golfers who want a firmer, lower-flight urethane ball and don’t rely much on wedge spin.
Final thoughts
For a complete look at the best golf balls of 2025, take a look here: Best Golf Balls 2025.
Tom Griffin
6 months ago
How do you know you have a Performance 3.5 version of a Kirkland ball? I can’t find anything on your Amazon link that says anything about that.