Hit It Long & Straight: Best Straightest Golf Balls In 2023
- Last Updated on
Contents
Tiger Woods once said that hitting a straight shot is the hardest shot to hit in golf.
Would you agree?
Tiger is known for hitting the 9-shot grid where you try to hit three cuts, three straight shots, and three draws. He hits each shot with a high, low, and normal trajectory for a total of nine shots. Essentially, if you can do this drill, you can hit any shot that you need on the golf course.
But as golf balls and equipment have changed, the hardest shot in golf might not be as hard as it was in the past. That’s right, simply switching golf balls can help you hit it straighter (and longer) with every club in the bag.
Keep reading to learn more about the straightest golf ball and a few tips to master one of the hardest shots in golf.
Straightest Golf Ball Explained
If you’re like most golfers you want to hit it straighter because let’s face it, a straight shot is awesome. When the ball comes off the face straight, you don’t have to worry if it’s finding the fairway or ducking behind a tree. You watch it for a split second, pick up the tee, and start thinking about the next shot as you beam with confidence.
With approach shots, hitting it straight is also rewarding because you know you can take dead aim at the flagstick. It makes aiming easier and it has a huge impact on your confidence too.
We’ll get into a few tips on technique to achieve this coveted shot but first, let’s focus on the golf balls that help make this shot easier.
1. Titleist Velocity
Alignment Arrows
Titleist Velocity
- Longer distance
- Extremely low long game spin
- Greater iron stoppability
- High flight on all shots
Titleist seems to have cracked the code when it comes to creating a great golf ball. While the Titleist Pro V1 series is the most popular ball in golf, the Velocity might be a better fit for some players. The Pro V1 and Pro V1X are great but designed for better and more consistent players with faster swing speeds.
However, the Velocity is better if your goal is better accuracy and straighter golf shots. According to Titleist, these balls are “Engineered for high speed, high launch and low long game spin for explosive distance.”
The reason this ball is so great for a straighter shot is the low long game spin. The lower the spin, the easier it is to hit it straight.
This is why Tiger is known to play softer golf balls as he wants more spin to work the golf ball both ways. He’s an old-school type player that enjoys shaping shots left or right based on the fairway and pin location. While the majority of modern players prefer to hit it as hard and straight as possible.
The Velocity is not only straight but it’s long too. Additionally, the high flight and soft feel around the greens make this great for the everyday golfer.
Not to mention, it’s a fraction of the price of the Pro V1 so you’ll save money and hit it straighter. It’s also available in white, matte orange, matte green, and matte blue as well.
Also read: The Best Titleist Golf Balls
2. Callaway Supersoft
Top Pick For High Handicaps
Callaway Supersoft
- Supersoft has been one of the most popular golf balls for years
- Hybrid cover features an innovative paraloid impact modifier
- The high speed soft compression core maximizes energy transfer to increase ball speeds
- Hex aerodynamics is optimized to reduce drag and enhance lift for increased carry and higher flight
Another great ball for hitting it straighter is the Callaway Supersoft. These balls have a soft compression core that helps increase speed while minimizing spin. The result is long, straight balls that make it easier to score on any golf course.
It has a new hybrid cover that is versatile, durable, and provides plenty of greenside control too. Paired with the aerodynamics, it creates a higher flight and extra carry with every club in the bag.
Plus, it’s a bargain at only $25 per dozen. Not to mention, you get to choose from six colors too.
3. Bridgestone e12 Contact
Straight Flight
Bridgestone e12 Contact
- Alignment aid printed half way around the ball
- Durable print won't rub off
- Achieve the perfect roll to the cup
- Designed for straight flight and long distance
- Contact force dimples deliver 38% more contact at impact for increased ball speed and distance
While Bridgestone makes a ton of golf balls, including the one Tiger Woods uses, the e12 Contact is best for your accuracy goal. According to Bridgestone, “New CONTACT Force dimple, which features a unique structure with a raised area in the center and an outer portion that slows horizontal rotation during flight.”
The raised area allows for more contact than traditional dimples, which means better energy transfer from club to the ball. Which leads to more ball speed, straight distance, and better golf shots. Like the others on this list, it’s a great deal and available in multiple color choices.
4. TaylorMade TP5
Highly Rated
TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls
- New larger more reactive core and dual-spin cover
- 5 layer construction, seamless tour flight dimple patter
- Fastest ball speed, higher launch
- High spin, and soft feel
The fourth option on our list for the straightest golf ball is the TaylorMade TP5. This is TaylorMade’s equivalent to the Titleist Pro V1 ball and available in the TP5 or TP5X.
If you’re a more consistent golfer with faster speed but still want to put an emphasis on accuracy, the TP5 is a great choice. The new Tour Flight dimple pattern will help you maximize distance and create a better launch angle, especially with longer clubs. It’s a big upgrade from the 2019 version and provides plenty of feel from short range too.
5. Maxfli Straightfli
Great Value
Maxfli StraightFli Golf Balls
- Maxflis straightest golf ball promotes more accurate ball flight for improved overall performance
- Laboratory and robot testing proves straightfli travels 20% straighter than previous maxfli golf balls
- Dimple pattern utilizes 374 large and small dimples in stacked and packed patterns
- 2-piece construction provides an optimal blend of distance and accuracy
Rounding out our list is the Maxfli Straighfli golf ball. These affordable balls have lower compression for a softer feel and longer distance.
The 374 large and small dimple pattern optimizes launch for more carry and a straight ball with every club in the bag. It also has a great alignment aid to help you get your ball started on the right line on the green.
Alternate: Polara Ultimate Straight
The Polara golf balls are known as “self-correcting” and designed to hit it as straight as possible.
There’s only one problem… they’re not USGA approved as they’re self-correcting. While you can use them in recreational play, they are not allowed for competitive events.
According to the company, “Our golf balls are designed to correct hooks and slices which means, if you slice a golf ball 100 feet, the exact same swing with our anti-slice golf ball would slice about 25 ft., leaving you in the fairway instead of the rough.”
It’s a bold claim but even if it’s half true it can help your game overnight. Thanks to the 2-piece construction and aerodynamic lift features, it will reduce your hook and slice drastically.
If you’re an everyday, casual golfer without the time to work on your swing, these are a great option.
How to Hit a Straight Golf Shot
Now that you know the golf balls that will help you hit it straighter, let’s get into a few swing fundamentals. While a golf ball can help, it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically hit it straighter as technique plays a big role.
The biggest thing to remember is that you need a square face to hit a straight shot at impact. If the face is open, you will hit a cut shot and if the face is closed, you will draw the golf ball.
Your swing path then affects your start line; if you swing left due to an over the top downswing, you will pull the ball. If your face is open, then you’ll hit a pull-cut.
Conversely, if your path is right of the target, you will hit a push. If the face is closed, you can hit a push draw that comes back toward the target.
To hit a dead straight shot, you need a square face and square path. Here are some ways to set yourself up for straighter shots with any club in the bag.
1. Neutral-Strong Grip
The overwhelming majority of golfers struggle with a cut or slice, especially off the tee. The main culprit usually has nothing to do with your swing but instead, your grip. Most golfers have a grip that is too weak and makes hitting a cut shot (or slice) inevitable.
The first step to hitting straight shots is building a better grip. Ideally, you want a neutral grip so you can hit all nine of Tiger’s shots but a stronger grip might help out. It will make it easier to hit a draw and likely add some extra distance to your game too.
2. Improve Your Path
Once you have a good grip on the club, the next thing to work on is your path. Remember, you need a neutral path to start the ball straight at the target.
Similar to a grip, most golfers make one common mistake on their backswing that messes up their path – an inside takeaway. When you drag the club too far inside on the backswing, it leads to an out to in swing. The result is typically a pulled shot and might curve left or right based on the path.
To hit a straight golf ball, you need a more neutral path to create lag on the downswing. This will lead to a more powerful impact position that leads to better accuracy and longer distance.
The easiest way to do this is to have a more outside takeaway. A good checkpoint to see the path of your backswing is when the club is parallel to the ground.
Ideally, you want the head of the club outside of your hands with the club angle matching the alignment of your spine. This will make it easier to shallow the club in the downswing and hit the ball with a square face at impact. Check this position frequently in practice to make sure your takeaway is in a solid position.
3. Setup for Straight
The final piece of the puzzle is making sure your setup is helping you hit a straight shot. Too many golfers have poor alignment which impacts path and clubface in their swing.
Make sure your feet, hips, and shoulders are square to the target. You might even try an open stance to see how it helps you clear your left side and add a few extra yards too.
These three tips paired with one of the golf balls above will help you hit one of the hardest shots in golf!
Top Questions
Still have questions about hitting the golf ball as straight as possible? Keep reading our top questions and answers to straighter shots.
Do premium golf balls go straighter?
Not necessarily and depends on the golf ball compression, player swing speed, technique, and other factors. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking a more expensive golf ball leads to straighter and longer shots.
While it will if you have the right swing and mechanics, it’s not an overnight fix to hitting it straight. Make sure your golf ball matches your unique swing!
Which golf ball has the least side spin?
A golf ball with more compression generally has less side spin but again, depends on a player’s swing speed. Click here to learn more about golf ball compression now.
Are soft golf balls straighter?
Soft golf balls are ideal for players with slower swing speeds. If you have a less than average swing speed, a softer ball can make it easier to compress the ball and hit it straighter.
But if you have an average to faster swing speed, a soft ball will hurt your accuracy. That’s why it’s so important to play the right ball based on your swing speed. Make sure to test out several balls to find the right one that helps your game from tee to green.
Is Titleist Velocity a straight ball?
Yes, in our experience, the Velocity is the straightest golf ball we found for the everyday golfer. It has low long game spin which makes it easier to hit straight and is much cheaper than the Pro V1. More recreational players should make the switch for a more consistent ball flight and overall performance from tee to green.
Can an average golfer use a Pro V1?
The average golf can use a Pro V1 but it’s not the best idea. Not only are they expensive, they’re probably not right for your game and are actually hurting performance. Due to the high compression, this ball is best for players with faster swing speeds.
Related: How to Increase Swing Speed
Wrapping Up
Using one of these straightest golf balls will help your accuracy and hopefully your score. Don’t forget while choosing the right ball can help, it won’t fix a crooked swing overnight.
To hit it straight (or straighter), you need a square face at impact above all else. Paired with a neutral swing path, you can hit one of the hardest shots in golf a lot more often.
Have you found that a certain golf ball goes straighter than other golf balls?
Let us know in the comments below.
Michael Leonard
Michael Leonard is a full-time writer, author, creator of Wicked Smart Golf and +1 handicap amateur golfer. He left his corporate career in 2017 to pursue entrepreneurship and professional golf; since then, he’s competed in 160+ tournament days and went to Q-school in 2019.
You May Also Like
