i understand Non-urethane golf balls are easier to justify. They cost less, sting the wallet a little less when one ends up in a pond or tree, and, in some cases, can even look surprisingly good on a launch monitor. This breakdown is not about telling you that balls are “bad”. It’s about making sure that if you choose a lower-priced, non-urethane option, you understand exactly what you’re giving up in performance. After that, the decision is yours.
After digging through MyGolfSpy 2025 Ball Test data, you can clearly see that the decision to play urethane versus non-urethane comes down to fit and trade-offs.
We’ll start with driver and iron performance across swing speeds and then move onto the green. Until we get to the wedge, the story probably won’t surprise you.
High swing speed data
At high swing speeds, urethane balls can carry the full distance. In the 2025 test, models like the Titleist Velocity and Tour Soft pulled ahead 320 meters lowering the spin and relying on the layout.
The main difference appears with the irons. Urethane balls consistently produced higher spin and steeper descent angles, giving high-velocity players more control on the green. Balls like the Srixon Z-STAR Diamond (7,151 rpm), Callaway Chrome Tour X (7,118) and Wilson Staff Model X (7,090) generated significantly more spin than most urethane options while maintaining similar carry distances.
At high speeds, urethane can give distance. Urethane gives distance without giving up control.
Means for high-speed acquisition of swing
- Non-urethane balls can be too far from the driver, often reducing spin and relying on spin
- Urethane dominates longer balanced driver performances
- Iron spin and descent angle consistently favor high speed urethane
- The tradeoffs with urethane are flatter landings and less predictable stopping power
Average swing speed
In the 2025 test, total driver distance stacked up solidly in the low-to-mid 280-yard range on most models. Urethane balls like the Titleist Pro V1x, TaylorMade TP5x and Vice Pro, along with non-urethane options like the Titleist Velocity, Tour Soft and ERC Soft, produced similar total distance in these conditions.
The separation becomes clearer with irons. Urethane balls consistently generated higher spin and steeper descent angles, improving control on the green. Srixon Z-STAR Diamond (6,735 rpm), Wilson Staff Model X (6,644) and Callaway Chrome Tour X (6,634) were among the top mid-speed iron performers. Many urethane models stack lower with iron spin values typically falling between 5400 and 5900 rpm, producing flatter landing angles and more forward release after landing.
At average swing speeds, urethane golf balls do not consistently travel farther with the irons. The Pinnacle Rush and Callaway Supersoft were among the longest urethane options, but urethane balls like the Vice Pro and TaylorMade TP5 matched or exceeded their total distance in the same conditions.
Means of medium swing speed
- Driver distance is closely grouped into urethane and non-urethane balls
- Some urethane models match or exceed mid-speed non-urethane distance
- Iron rotation and descent angle favor urethane constructions
- Non-urethane balls usually gain distance by sacrificing some approach control
Slow swing speed
Total driver distance clustered between about 218 and 223 yards, regardless of putt type. Several non-urethane balls including the Callaway Supersoft (223.66), Titleist TruFeel (223.16) and Srixon Q-STAR Ultispeed (223.68) sat at the top for total distance.
With cuffs, a similar pattern appears. Some urethane balls are slightly longer, again by a yard or two, but urethane balls are separated through higher tip height and steeper descent angles. Models like the Vice Pro, Maxfli Tour S, PXG Xtreme Tour and Titleist AVX consistently produced descent angles above 41–42 degrees, helping players with slower swing speeds stop the ball more reliably on approach shots.
The distance advantage over non-urethane golf balls is slight, while the control advantage of urethane is more consistent from the tee to the green.
Slow swing speed tools
- The distance of the driver is closely grouped in all types of covers
- Some non-urethane balls are among the longest off the tee
- The biggest payoff is keeping the green, not the raw yard
Wedge performance
If you’ve been paying attention, the spin story didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s been dragging on the whole time.
We saw it first in driver data where the lower spin helped some urethane balls hold their own in total distance. It showed up again in the iron data, where some models gained a bit more movement but started to lose consistency with downforce and stopping power.
At 35 yards with a sand wedge, the differences are clear.
Urethane balls consistently produce higher spin and steeper descent angles, giving players more control over where the ball lands and how quickly it stops. Urethane balls spin about a few hundred rpm less on these short strokes.
This is not to say that urethane balls are “bad” around the green. Some still produce usable results, especially for golfers who prefer to land the ball short and let it roll. Here’s the point where any spin you gave up earlier to gain distance or save money is fully exposed.
Wedge tools
- The spin gap that started with drivers and irons becomes undeniable at wedge distances.
- Urethane balls are tightly packed in the top for roll angle and descent consistency.
- Non-urethane balls can work, but they require more planning and margin.
- This is the clearest example of what you give up when you choose price over performance.
Final thoughts
At high swing speeds, we saw some of the shortest balls off the top coming from the non-urethane models, while the urethane options provided a more balanced profile across the bag. As swing speed drops, that tee shot penalty becomes less noticeable, but problems with iron descent angles, approach control and wedge spin are still there. If you value stopping power and predictability on the greens, you’ll need urethane. If you’re happy to give up control to save money or gain a little more mileage, this choice might make sense, too.
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