Best Wilson Golf Balls
Wilson has been producing excellent golf balls and clubs for possibly the longest time of any major golf brand. In recent years they have fallen out of favour on Tour and become less popular with amateurs. In my opinion, they are currently an incredibly underrated brand. This includes their golf balls, which offer exceptional value for money and great performance for every type of golfer. There are options that will suit elite players, through to a total beginner.
Finding the perfect golf ball to play can be one of the most difficult equipment decisions facing an amateur golfer. There are so many options on the market and they all offer a variety of different traits for particular standards of golfers. It is important to get this decision correct, because your golf ball is going to be the most used piece of equipment you own.
In this article we will take a look at the best Wilson golf balls available on the market. Then we will explain some of the important factors you need to consider when selecting what golf ball you want to play with next.
Table of Contents
1. Wilson Staff Model
Distance: 90 | Feel: 95 | Control: 95 | Durability: 85
Best golf ball for low handicappers (option 1)
Wilson Staff Model golf balls are designed to be Tour quality and compete against the premium golf balls on the market. The Staff Model is a four-piece golf ball aimed at the faster swing speeds of low handicap and elite standard golfers. Higher spin rates create improved workability on long shots and more predictable spin control on short game shots.
Wilson’s new V-COR core composition is designed for maximum velocity, to improve ball speed off the club face and offer impressive distance. The Staff Model ball also comes with a 3SIX2 seamless urethane cover, named for its 362 dimples. The dimples aim to promote smooth airflow and produce a lower penetrating ball flight for more distance. Whilst, the urethane cover achieves a soft feel on and around the greens. This is a golf ball that should be considered by any decent golfer and it will definitely compete among the better known golf ball brands.
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2. Wilson Staff Model R
Distance: 90 | Feel: 95 | Control: 95 | Durability: 85
Best golf ball for low handicappers (option 2)
Wilson Staff Model R uses identical technology and design to the Wilson Staff Model reviewed above, but with one exception - paint. That might sound strange, but Wilson has designed these golf balls with an unpainted ‘raw’ urethane cover. The idea is that an unpainted golf ball will leave a perfectly even surface, which promotes a truer ball flight and increased spin control.
With the rest of the golf ball exactly the same, overall performance between the standard Staff Model and Staff Model R are going to be relatively similar. However, golfers that want to try something a little different should give the Staff Model R a go.
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3. Wilson Staff Duo Soft+
Distance: 90 | Feel: 95 | Control: 80 | Durability: 85
Best soft feel golf ball
Wilson Staff’s Duo range has been popular among golfers for many years and the Duo Soft+ is marketed as ‘the world's softest and longest two-piece golf ball’. Incorporating new VelocitiCor technology designed to extract the most power even from slower swing speeds. The ultra-low compression rating of 35 means that these golf balls are incredibly soft when hitting full shots. This low compression rating also gives these balls a high launch angle and low spin rates for further distance.
The Duo Soft+ is not going to spin as much as a Tour level ball, or be quite as long as harder distance balls, but if you are after a soft feel golf ball that offers good all-around playability then it is a great option. It will compete against all the best soft feel golf balls on the market and you will struggle to find better value. The Duo Soft+ is also available as a women’s golf ball, which comes with an aqua Wilson Staff logo, but uses the same technology.
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4. Outdoor Research Lightstorm Bucket Hat
Distance: 90 | Feel: 90 | Control: 90 | Durability: 90
Best overall Wilson golf ball
Another entry into the Wilson Staff Duo range, the Duo Professional is a three-piece golf ball that offers Tour standard performance. A low compression rating of 60, combined with an ultra thin urethane cover creates a soft feel golf ball that will appeal to a wide variety of golfers.
The lower compression rate means amateurs without the fastest swing speeds should still consider the Duo Professional, but low handicappers will benefit from excellent spin control and feel around the greens. A seamless 362 dimple pattern also improves aerodynamics, meaning the Duo Professional offers good distance when compared with similar three-piece golf balls on the market.
The Duo Professional golf balls come in yellow, green and orange matte finishes as well as the standard white gloss. Overall this golf ball offers the best of both worlds for most amateur golfers by combining playability with spin control and distance. All at a price more affordable than the premium Tour golf balls on the market as well.
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5. Wilson Staff Duo Optix
Distance: 90 | Feel: 85 | Control: 80 | Durability: 90
Best for finding your golf ball
The final golf ball to review in Wilson Staff’s Duo range is the Duo Optix. It has now been upgraded to be more visible and longer than before. A new smaller polybutadiene core is designed to maximise distance, whilst providing improved feel and a straighter ball flight. These balls will be perfect for mid-to-high handicappers that want something that offers a bit more playability than an out-and-out distance golf ball.
Higher handicappers are also likely to benefit when it comes to finding their ball in the long grass. To make these golf balls as visible as possible Wilson has given the Duo Optix a semi-translucent cover with a matte finish paint for reduced glare. The balls come in five bright colours; orange, yellow, green, red and pink.
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6. Wilson Tour Velocity
Distance: 100 | Feel: 75 | Control: 70 | Durability: 100
Best low budget golf ball
Wilson’s Tour Velocity range offers perfect budget golf balls players looking to prioritise distance. This two-piece golf ball has a hard cover to optimise ball trajectory and increase roll. Also, an enhanced aerodynamic dimple pattern improves ball speeds for a further distance boost.
A mid compression core means that these balls are definitely not rocks when hitting full shots. However, all the added distance does mean you are sacrificing feel and spin control on approach and short game shots. The upside is lower spin will help reduce the impact of wayward tee shots to keep the ball nearer the fairway.
Perfect for mid to high high handicap golfers prioritising hitting it straighter and longer off the tee. There are four different models of Tour Velocity to choose from: Distance, Feel, Accuracy and Women, but all use the same technology and perform pretty similarly.
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7. Wilson Chaos
Distance: 95 | Feel: 80 | Control: 75 | Durability: 95
Best distance golf ball
Chaos is a surprising name for an object that should travel straight, but trust me, they perform much better than their name. Wilson Chaos golf balls have a two-piece construction, with a high energy core and high velocity ionomer cover for maximising distance off the tee. A mid compression core and a 400 dimple design also helps promote a high launch angle that does not feel too hard when hitting longer shots.
For a distance golf ball the Chaos will perform reasonably well around the greens as well. Not to the standard of a Tour quality Wilson Staff Model, but mid-to-high handicappers should find the Chaos soft enough for their short game. These golf balls are available to purchase in white or multi-colour, which come as four separate colours orange, yellow, green and blue.
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Wilson Golf Balls Buying Guide
Construction
The construction of a golf ball refers to the number of layers and material that is used when making a golf ball. It is one of the most important factors in determining the characteristics of how a golf ball performs. Manufacturers will often refer to golf balls as ‘x’-piece, referring to how many layers the golf ball has. For example, a three-piece golf ball has three layers. Golf balls can range from one-piece all the way up to six-piece.
One-Piece
Usually only found on driving ranges and mini golf courses, one-piece golf balls do not have much use on the golf course. These are bought in bulk to be cost effective for golfing businesses that need cheap golf balls. However, even the most budget conscious golfers should stay clear of these balls. The lack of compression means these balls travel shorter distances and offer very little control. These balls are typically made from a solid surlyn material.
Two-Piece
Two layered golf balls usually feature a large solid core and a thin surlyn outer layer. A popular choice for mid or high handicappers and beginners, these golf balls are renowned for their low spin and long distances. There are hard and soft feel options depending on the materials and compression (see below). Wilson is one of the best brands available for golfers looking at low compression two-piece golf balls.
Multi-Layer (Three to Six-Piece)
The preferred golf balls on Professional Tours, multi-layered balls offer improved spin control and workability. They typically have a rubber or liquid core and a urethane cover, but middle layers will differ. Also, they are normally designed with high compression targeting the faster swing speeds of better golfers.
Cover
The cover is the final layer of the golf ball and typically comes in two different materials, surlyn or urethane. The difference in cover will have the biggest impact on feel and spin during the short game and putting.
Surlyn, or commonly Ionomer (a type of surlyn), is mostly used on two-piece golf balls. Although, occasionally it is found on some three-piece one too. Surlyn is known for its durability distance. The material transfers energy better than urethane to produce higher ball speeds when struck. This is especially helpful for golfers that lack natural clubhead speed. The downside is that they will generally feel harder when putting and lack spin control on short shots.
Urethane is used on the majority of multi-layered golf balls. A softer material, it is therefore less durable and more prone to scuffing. It is preferred on Tour quality golf balls because of its improved short game qualities. It provides much more feel and spin control when compared with a surlyn golf ball.
Compression
Compression, explained in its simplest form, refers to how much the golf ball deforms upon impact. The lower the compression, the more the golf ball squash when struck. For this reason, compression has the biggest influence on longer shots where the golf ball is hit with the most power.
Low compression is more commonly found in two-piece golf balls that are targeting slower swing speeds. Their ability to squash at a slower impact, means these balls often create a spring-like effect and have a softer feel. Also, characteristics typically include a higher launch angle and lower spin rates, both traits suited to the mid to high handicap range.
High compression is more commonly found in multi-layered Tour golf balls. They target better golfers that will stereotypically have faster swing speeds. This means they are already able to massively squash the golf ball without the need for reducing the compression. By compressing all the layers players will still produce good distances but will have higher spin to enable more workability and control of the ball.
Many manufacturers no longer publicise the compression rating of their golf balls. Compression can often be misunderstood by the golf consumer and manufacturers probably felt it was easier to remove it altogether. Another reason is that compression can sometimes be misleading in newer golf balls because of the continuous developments in technology. Whilst still a useful guide, it is not always as simple as high compression balls are only for the best golfers.
That being said, Wilson is one of the brands generally still publishing the compression ratings of most of their golf balls. They are one of the leading brands offering low compression technology in two-piece golf balls, as well as offering higher compression alternatives.
Overall, compression is still a useful guide for golfers and it is helpful to know when selecting what ball you want to try out. The majority of golf ball compression ratings can be found on a list compiled here by Golf Info Guides.
What golf ball should I get?
It is not easy trying to select your perfect golf ball. The decision can be down to a personal feeling, just as much as the specific golf ball traits. Overall, you should try to narrow down your search based on your own golfing characteristics. Your handicap, swing speed and what areas of your game are the strongest or weakest all play a role in finding the right ball.
Generally, higher handicappers will prefer two-piece golf balls that have a lower compression. This is based on the average high handicappers having a below average swing speed. Therefore, they are prioritising distance and straighter ball flight and not as concerned about the downsides of a low spinning ball.
The opposite is true of low handicappers, who prioritise feel and spin control. They will prefer a multi-layer golf ball with a urethane cover and a higher compression.
Both these generalisations can help narrow your search for the right golf ball. However, new technology has allowed manufacturers to push the boundaries and develop golf balls with qualities suitable to any golfer.
A key factor when looking for what golf ball to buy will inevitably be your budget. Beginners and high handicappers will usually lose more golf balls, so it makes sense to head for a budget golf ball that you won’t mind too much if you hit it into the nearest bush. Better golfers can sometimes use one sleeve of golf balls for several rounds, so won’t mind splashing out on a more premium option. Everyone is different when it comes to their budget, so you will have to search for a golf ball that fits within yours.
It is worth noting though that when it comes to golf balls, a more expensive option is not always better. Whilst the more premium options such as the Titleist ProV1 or TaylorMade TP5 are widely played by all the Tour Professionals, it does not mean it will improve your game. The technology and construction of the premium balls is more costly, but cheaper two-piece balls may have qualities more favourable to you. For example, if you are a mid-to-high handicap golfer with a slower swing speed you will see more benefit from a golf ball such as the Wilson Staff Duo Soft+ or Wilson Tour Velocity than a Titleist ProV1.
Conclusion
In this article we have reviewed all the best Wilson golf balls available on the market. I am confident that among them there should be a ball suitable for every golfer. With everything ranging from the Tour quality Staff Model to the recreational players budget friendly Tour Velocity.
The golf ball market is incredibly crowded with good options, so you will have to search around a bit to find one for you. Manufacturers will now release one model of golf ball, with several different varieties. Wilson’s Duo range, for example, are all excellent golf balls that mid handicappers could use as their competitive choice. Yet, each different model of Duo ball is unique and offers different characteristics. Depending on your personal preferences you could love one variety of a model and hate another.
Hopefully our buyer’s guide has helped shed some light on what type of golf ball you think will suit your game the most. However, I do recommend trying out a variety of options before settling with one. You just might be surprised at what you like.
