Matte vs. regular golf ball – which one is better for you? Do matte golf balls get more yards, or are regular balls easier to see? If you are new to the game, I bet you will have so many things to ask about these kinds of balls.
There are many ways to classify golf balls, and using two kinds of finish coats is one of them. In general, we have matte and regular balls. Each kind has its own benefits and disadvantages. And for somebody, the matte ball is better and vice versa.
If you want to compare matte vs. regular golf balls, you need to prepare a large font of knowledge and experiences. Don’t worry. I am here to help. After many years of playing golf, I will explain to you both the pros and cons you need to know below.
>> See also: Recycled vs Refurbished Golf Balls: Which One Is Better?
Table of Contents
Matte and Regular Golf Balls Overview
In general, matte and regular golf balls have only two differences – the coat finish outside each kind of ball, and the color choices. The technology, the mantle inside, and maybe the constructions are the same.
Golf balls have matte paint to be identically seen on and off the green. Then they can improve the visibility of players. Matte facilities have many colors. They usually appear in neon tones like lime, red, and pink. Some can have pastel tones that look so fashionable and high-visible.
Except for the matte balls, others can be called regular ones. In general, I assume all of them have standard glossy finishes. They can be your normal white company or appear in red, yellow, green, orange, etc.
Golf manufacturers usually produce two kinds of cover finish for one ball range. If you read my article about the best Titleist golf balls, you can see that the famous Velocity balls have both gloss and matte finishes.
Another interesting fact is that most white balls are regular. In some cases, white ones are matte, but not many golf brands prefer producing this color.
Matte vs Regular Golf Balls
After understanding some general knowledge about matte and regular golf balls, let’s dive in to compare each other. I will show you the pros and cons of these two using my friends, and my experiences in reality.
If you are in a hurry, you can take a look at my comparison table below to know the general differences, similarities, pros and cons of matte and regular balls.
| Matte golf balls | Regular golf balls | |
| Similarities | Constructions; Material; Compression. | |
| Differences | Coat finish; Color choices. | |
| Pros | – Anti-UV/ glare resistance. – Easy to follow and spot on the courses. – Many color choices. | – More options in brand selection. – Classic style. |
| Cons | – Some matte balls are too dark for some players. | – Glaring sunlight. – Hard to distinguish from others on the green. |
1. Matte Golf Balls
In the beginning, all the balls are made with a gloss finish. Then in 2016, Volvik claimed to be the world’s first matte finish golf ball with their famous Vivid range. Now, there are many brands that produce this kind of ball, and the color chart varies from pastel to neon tones.
Pros:
- Anti-UV or glare resistance: the first and foremost benefit of matte balls is preventing glaring when playing in the sunlight.
- Easy to follow and spot on courses: the matte color is easy to recognize on the green, even in the sky or the green.
- Many color options to choose from: Unlike regular balls with some boring colors, matte balls offer many colors. They can satisfy you even if you are a woman or a man.
Cons:
- Some matte balls are made too dark for some players: it sounds preposterous, but it happens in reality. The color tone of red or blue matte balls sometimes is too deep. Therefore these ones can not do the visibility-enhancing job that they were made to be.
2. Regular Balls
Regular balls can bring both advantages and disadvantages to matte balls. There are many players and tournaments that choose them to be the official facilities.
Pros:
- More options in brand selection: Almost all golf brands offer regular white or yellow balls. Meanwhile, not many brands produce all kinds of colors in matte tones for their facilities.
- Classic style: Some players don’t like the make-over trend in golf ball color. You can be happier with these classic gloss balls if you are one of them.
Cons:
- Glaring sunlight: Many players, especially the seniors and those who have problems with visibility, complain that regular balls are so hard to track in the sky. The gloss outer glaring sunlight makes the golfers dazzle for a while.
- Hard to distinguish from others on the green: Many players use white or yellow balls, so if you find it hard to follow your balls in the sky, you may find it is even harder to know which one was yours on the green among all those balls look like your company.
Top 5 Best Matte Golf Balls
After comparing the matte and regular balls, if you like to try the high-visibility ones to know if they can improve your games or not, you can refer to my top five best matte ones below.
1. Wilson Duo Optix
Among many anti-UV golf balls on the market, Wilson Duo Optix received compliments from my friends and other players. The low compression and three choices of colors make these balls easy to play and control, even if players are newbies or seniors.
Key Features:
- Low compression: 40
- Two-piece construction
- Surlyn cover
- 302 dimple patterns
- Three choices of color (all mattes)
- Twelve balls a pack
Pros:
- Easy to track on the sky
- Good value and price
- Good distance off the tee
Cons:
- Surlyn cover is hard to control for some players
2. Titleist Velocity
Titleist is a high-end golf brand, and almost all balls from it are expensive, and not every golfer can afford to buy them. However, Velocity is an exception. This ball can deliver you the benefits you need and satisfy you with a wallet-friendly price.
Key Features:
- Low compression: 65
- Two-piece construction
- NAZ + Surlyn cover
- Spherically-Tiled 350 Octahedral Dimples
- Four choices of color (one gloss, three mattes)
Pros:
- Low long game spin
- Long distance off the tee
- Soft feel and easier to control
Cons:
- Blue is hard to find in the sky for some players
3. TaylorMade Soft Response
In 2022, TaylorMade redesigned and launched a new version of Soft Response balls. The compression is lower, and there is one more color choice for players to choose. If you like to play high-end matte balls, I assume this ball can meet your goal.
See more great TaylorMade golf balls in 2023 here.
Key Features:
- Ultra-low compression core: 30
- Low compression total: 50
- Three-piece construction
- Three choices of color
- Soft ionomer cover
- 322 dimples
- Twelve balls a pack
Pros:
- Super soft-core makes it easier to control
- High ball speed and long distance
- Soft feeling off the tee
Cons:
- The cover is easily marked up
4. Callaway Supersoft
My favorite matte ball is Callaway Supersoft. It provides many color choices with an ultra-low compression total. If you are a lady or a senior, choosing these Supersoft can be your proper decision.
See also: 12 Best Callaway Golf Balls in 2023
Key Features:
- Ultra-low compression: 38
- Hybrid cover with Paraloid impact modifier
- Two pieces
- Six choices of colors (two glosses, four mattes)
- 322 hexagon dimples
- Twelve balls a pack
Pros:
- Super soft feeling off the tee
- High launch, low spin
- Easy to spot on the green
Cons:
- Red matte balls are too dark for some players
5. Bridgestone e12 Contact
The name of this ball speaks for itself. The essential benefit that the Bridgestone e12 Contact can bring is improving players’ visibility. If you want a game-changer that average players can afford, I suggest you choose this ball.
Check out the 8 Best Bridgestone Golf Balls in 2023 here.
Key Features:
- Three-piece structure
- Thin ionomer cover
- Large softcore
- Low compression (50)
- 372 contact force dimples
- Four colors (one gloss, three mattes)
- Twelve balls a pack
Pros:
- Great feel and spin around the green
- Good distance off the tee
- Easy to see on courses
- Durable and high-quality construction
Cons:
- Red matte balls sometimes are hard to track in the sky
For more information, you can see the video below to know what the Bridgestone e12 balls can bring when comparing them to the Pro V1x:
FAQs
After reading my comparison between matte and regular golf balls, I bet you have many things that need to be explained. Therefore, I choose the most frequently asked questions and answer them below. I hope you can find what you need down there.
Do Matte Golf Balls Roll Slower?
In my opinion, the velocity of a golf ball depends on your swing speed and other factors like compression and dimple design of it. Even if you use the high-end matte ball, if you can not swing faster or the compression of this ball can not match you, your ball velocity is not stable.
Who Makes Matte White Golf Balls?
Wilson, Maxfli, Volvik, Vice, etc., make matte white golf balls. You can refer to the Volvik Vivid or Maxfli Softli if you like to try this kind of ball.
What Is the Easiest Golf Ball to See?
According to golf.com, the easiest color golf ball to see is yellow. If you want an anti-UV cover to avoid sunlight glaring, you can try the matte yellow to improve your visibility.
Conclusion
You may not want to miss my article if you want to compare matte vs. regular golf balls. I use all my knowledge and experiences to provide you with a detailed answer about these two kinds of balls. I hope you can decide which one is better for you after all.
Do you agree or disagree with me? If you have any idea about the matte vs. regular golf balls, don’t be afraid to send me your thoughts via the comments below. I am willing to hear anything from you, and please don’t forget to share my article to discuss with your buddies.
Thanks for reading!
