10 Best Illegal Golf Balls in 2023

The best illegal golf balls, which feature some special characteristics in design and structure, will give golfers excellent support, allowing them to quickly improve their games by offering a great amount of added distance with self-correcting tech to enhance ball flights.

While illegal golf balls, also called non-conforming golf balls, are allowed to perform in tournaments, these magic balls are still the preferred options of recreational golfers who would love to enjoy the appealing sense of achievement to hit the ball like a talented golfer.

Needless to say more, now let’s flick through my article, which is carefully completed through my personal experience as well as lots of online research for further detailed information of each product. I hope some of them will meet your personal preferences and demands.

My Top Picks

First of all, let’s take a quick look at my shortlist of the ten best non-conforming golf balls that are mostly preferred and highly recommended by amateur golfers worldwide. Importantly, don’t miss my brief take of their main features and functions.

• Best Overall: Polara Ultimate Straight
  “For recreational golfers, offer two self-correcting options: 50% and 75%, two-piece construction, minimize hooks and slices to boost distance, less aerodynamic lift for straighter flights.”
• Best Budget: Foo-King-Long
  “First illegal golf ball produced for added distance, two-piece construction with the 432-dimple pattern, mystical compression core with optimized spin to exceed distance.”
• Best for Distance: Bandit Maximum Distance
  “Feature the DuPont Lithium Surlyn cover with a super-reactive core, allowing maximum transfer from the clubhead to the ball, resulting in the optimum distance.”
• Goes the Furthest: Bandit Non Conforming
  “Constructed of an extremely durable DuPont Lithium Surlyn cover and a super reactive proprietary core, combined with the aerodynamic dimple design for ultimate distance.”
• Best for High Handicappers: Polara XD
  “Utilize the self-correcting tech to eliminate 50% hooks and slices to give a straighter shot, 2-piece constructed of ionomer cover and Polybutadiene outer cover.”
• Best for Seniors: MG Senior Longest
  “For those who drives are less than 250 yards, offer a hotter feel off the face, give 1-1.5 clubs more distance, the best choice for senior golfers.”
• Goes the Straightest: Polara XDS
  “Three-piece constructed design, two options of self-correcting to reduce hooks and fix slices, allowing enhanced distance and added spin, control around the green for straightest flights.”
• Best Premium: Bandit SB
  “Feature the high C.O.R energy-charged oversized core, which is responsible for maximum ball velocity and improved feel as well as enhanced spin control around the green.”
• Best Rated: Kaede Fly Distance
  “Offer the 270-dimple Japanese aerodynamics design for effectively reducing air resistance and 18% boosting distance, oversized core for increased absorbency and extraordinary distance.”
• Best Value for the Money: Volvik 2020 Magma
  “Larger core for drag reduction, increased distance and roll, 432-dimple pattern aerodynamics design allowing excellent lifts, three-piece construction with a compression rating of 90, optimized for a high trajectory.”

Comparison Chart

Next, a very helpful table below will give you a quick scan of the technical difference between the 10 best illegal golf balls I’ve listed above.

Don’t miss it because it will surely help you to narrow down your choice ranges to the products which are close to your preferences the most.

The 10 Best Illegal Golf Balls Reviews

Now when you’ve already got a general knowledge of the 10 best illegal golf balls on my reviews, let’s jump into the most important part – the detailed reviews of each product to get a full understanding of them.

1. Polara Ultimate Straight

(Best Overall – Editor’s Choice)

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Recreational golfers shouldn’t miss the Polara Ultimate Straight Golf Balls. They would be your wonderful company on your course, yet for professional tournament play. So what makes these balls special?

Polara Self-Correcting balls’ most interesting thing is their asymmetrical dimple pattern, which makes them look ridiculous but also very intriguing, totally different from other golf balls.

Do not underestimate this special design. It is said to be a technological breakthrough in golf ball construction, allowing them to excellently eliminate hooks and slices off the tee, minimize aerodynamic lift while excellently self-correcting the ball trajectory up to 75%.

See Also: 8 Best Golf Ball for Slice in 2023

Besides, this unique tech of the dimple design combines well with the 2-piece construction of a central core and ionomer-made outer cover to allow the balls to fly with not only an ultimate straight line but also with explosive distance.

Your game will be dramatically improved with added fun and excitement.

See Also: 12 Best Practice Golf Balls of 2022 You Do Not Want to Miss

Key Features:

• The two-piece construction of a central cover and an ionomer cover
• Asymmetrical dimple pattern
• Offer two self-correcting options: 50% and 75%
• Offer a lower-than-normal ball flight
• Sidespin is converted into backspin
• The core is harder than any other regular golf balls

Product Specifications:

The video below will give you a detailed look on the usual dimple pattern as well as the super hard and solid core of the Polara Self-Correcting golf balls.

2. Foo-King-Long

(Best Budget)

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If you’re looking for a golf ball that offers you impressive distance but does not require you to sacrifice the playability around the greens, the Foo-King-Long should be your priority to consider, I bet. Not to mention that they come at a very reasonable price for a dozen.

See Also: 12 Best Cheap Golf Balls in 2023

There’s even a story behind Foo-King-Long, which is about a ninja named Foo-King-Long and his long journey to create a ball with optimized spin control and extraordinary distance that drastically exceeds any distance limit.

That’s why the Foo-King-Long is claimed to be the first illegal golf balls which are designed with unparalleled distance.

So, what’re special things about these golf balls? First, these golf balls are regarded as illegal in professional rounds due to their special solid cores, which are engineered from mystical powders, allowing them to travel an illegal distance.

Second, they are two-piece constructed, also engineered with a 432-dimple pattern so that the mystical compression, combined with the low spin generated, will offer you the longest drives ever.

See Also: 10 Best Low Spin Golf Balls in 2023

Key Features:

• Two-piece construction
• 432-dimple pattern
• The core is made of mystical ninja powders
• Generate low spin
• Available in a dozen pack

Product Specifications:

3. Bandit Maximum Distance

(Best for Distance)

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What makes the Bandit Maximum Distance Golf Balls being listed as illegal for professional rounds is the incredible distance they’re able to offer golfers. It is thanks to their perfect construction of the amazing DuPont Lithium Surlyn cover and the super reactive core.

The energy source lies exactly in the ball core.

The core itself is a special blend of polybutadiene synthetic rubber and high energy transfer metals, which is responsible for allowing more energy transferred from the clubhead to the balls, hence exceeding the ball’s distance and velocity.

Besides, the revolutionary aerodynamic design also adds additional support to your shots, allowing your balls to fly further in the air while generating the balls’ smooth control.

That’s why the exceeding distance the Bandit balls produce makes them non-conforming to serious games.

See Also: 12 Best Taylormade Golf Balls in 2023

Key Features:

• Two-piece construction
• Covered with DuPont Lithium Surlyn material
• The core is engineered from polybutadiene synthetic rubber, blended with high energy transfer metals
• Feature the aerodynamic dimple design
• Offer multi-color option
• Available in a dozen pack

Product Specifications:

The video below will bring you to the course and give you an on-course review of the Bandit Maximum Distance – the longest illegal balls ever.

4. Bandit Non Conforming

(Goes the Furthest)

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If you’re looking for a golf ball that can travel the furthest distance off the tee, I highly recommend you the Bandit Non-Conforming Illegal Golf Balls.

It’s not a random choice because I can assure you that these balls will make the fairways shorter than you might think while still giving you great playability around the greens.

Being said as having one of the hardest cores in the golf ball market, these balls are truly very impressive, thanks to the super reactive proprietary cores. Having these cores as the source of energy, the balls will be able to fly with explosive distance and velocity.

Besides, to produce more carry, more roll and more distance to your every shot, these Bandit Non-conforming balls also feature the revolutionary aerodynamic dimple design.

Therefore, thanks to the perfect combination of exclusive, high-energy core and technologically advanced patented dimple design, the balls will deliver you incredible performance as well as good playability around the greens.

See Also: 7 Best Golf Balls for Cold Weather in 2023

Key Features:

• Two-piece construction
• High-energy propriety core
• Lithium surlyn cover
• Revolutionary aerodynamic dimple design
• Offer multi-color option

Product Specifications:

5. Polara XD

(Best for High Handicappers)

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The Polara Ultimate Straight golf balls are specially designed to effectively self-correct the ball trajectory up to 75% but resulting in a sacrifice of playability and a loss of distance.

Meanwhile, the Polara XD seems to be a more balanced choice, which not only 50% eliminates hooks and slices but also maximizes the carry distance itself.

If you’re a fresher with a high handicap, slow swing speed, and poor control of the ball, the Polara XD will fit your demands the most.

See Also: 10 Best Golf Ball for 70 Mph Swing Speed in 2023

Your shots will fly straighter on their line thanks to the self-correcting advanced tech and the unique two-piece construction. As hooks and slices off the tee are excellently reduced, while sidespin is converted into backspin due to the magic aerodynamic dimple design.

As being stated, if you slice 100ft with a regular golf ball, when using the Polara XD, your slices will be less than 25ft. Therefore, your shots will be greatly improved. Enjoy having perfect golf swings with these balls.

See Also: 12 Best Golf Balls for Mid Handicappers in 2023

Key Features:

• Two-piece construction
• Polybutadiene central core
• Ionomer outer cover
• 50% self-correcting tech
• Sidespin is converted into backspin
• Asymmetrical dimple pattern
• Best balls for high-handicap golfers

Product Specifications:

6. MG Senior Longest

(Best for Seniors)

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The MG Senior Longest Golf Balls target senior golfers whose drives are less than 250 yards.

Senior golfers just take up golfing for fun and leisure on weekends, but their swing speeds are too slow, preventing them from enjoying awesome shots with impressive distance.

That’s why the MG Senior golf balls are born to release their stress, ready to assist them on the course to give them the ideal carry distance they expect to see, making the fairway shorter than it actually is.

Besides, these balls are claimed to provide golfers with 1.5 clubs more distance off the tee.

Also, they are available in two color options, especially the impressive bright yellow. If you find yourself in trouble with poor visibility, let’s go for this vibrant yellow color, which is really useful to help you better keep track of the balls around the greens.

See Also: 8 Best Low Compression Golf Balls in 2023

Key Features:

• Designed for golfers whose drives are less than 250 yards
• Two-piece construction
• Offer two color options
• Deliver a more solid feel

Product Specifications:

7. Polara XDS

(Goes the Straightest)

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When talking about illegal golf balls which fly the straightest, we can not skip Polara products, and the Polara XDS Golf Balls would be one of the most outstanding one in the list.

Firstly, as regular as other Polara illegal golf balls, these balls are integrated with the advanced self-correcting tech, which is acquired thanks to the technological breakthrough in their aerodynamic design.

These dimples are engineered asymmetrical and shallower. They are responsible for converting sidespin into backspin, hence helping to self-adjust the ball flight by minimizing potential hooks and slices up to 75% off the tee.

Thanks to that, your shots will get the ultimate straight. Learn more about How to Hit a Golf Ball Straight here.

Besides, due to being constructed of three-piece, the Polara XDS balls are also able to generate higher spin, which gives you greater control over the ball and therefore enhances the accuracy of your shots.

These balls are custom-made for recreational golfers with mid to low handicaps.

See Also: 8 Best Bridgestone Golf Balls in 2023

Key Features:

• • Three-piece construction
  • Ionomer outer cover
  • Self-correct hooks and slices up to 75%
  • Asymmetrical dimple pattern which is engineered shallower than usual
  • Produce higher spin-off on short irons

Product Specifications:

8. Bandit SB

(Best Premium)

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What are your expectations of a premium golf ball? A high-end golf ball made of superior quality material? Just like what you imagine, the Bandit SB Golf Balls are the most premium ones on my current list. Let’s discover what’s special about them.

First, these balls feature the oversized cores, which are charged with high C.O.R energy needed to produce the ultimately long distance off the tee.

While the core is super-large, the ball seems smaller than usual, however. The small diameter allows the balls to fly more smoothly in the air, reducing air resistance, therefore, maximizing the balls’ velocity and travel distance.

Plus, those above unique features combined perfectly with the aerodynamic dual radius 338 dimple pattern to give your shots more carry, more roll and more distance, hence adding more fun and enjoyment to your game.

Lastly, due to the exceeding distance the Bandit SB offers golfer with, these small magic balls are regarded as non-conforming in professional rounds.

But let’s grab them for your weekend golf game. They surely will give you a satisfying sense of achievement just like a professional.

Key Features:

• Small balls constructed of a high-energy oversized core
• Feature the aerodynamic dual radius 338 dimple pattern
• Available in a dozen pack
• Optimum gram weight

Product Specifications:

9. Kaede Fly Distance

(Best Rated)

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The colorful Kaede Fly Distance Golf Balls might make you mistake them for Christmas decorations. Well, that’s a great plus point of these balls, I suppose. Thanks to the Japanese aerodynamic design, they look very cute with only 270 dimples on each ball cover.

Why is this special dimple pattern but not the traditional rounded dimple? Actually, this intriguing flower-shaped dimple design is responsible for reducing air resistance by 18% and therefore extending the flight time, resulting in greater travel distance off the tee.

Also, the colorful paint outside also improves golfer’s visibility, allowing them to follow these balls around the greens better.

Moreover, the Kaede Fly Distance balls also feature oversized cores, which are engineered on purpose to increase the absorbency and rebound force, which are both necessary to boost the travel distance of the balls.

Key Features:

• Constructed of large cores
• Engineered with 270 Japanese aerodynamic dimple pattern
• Offer 6 color options, coming in a pack of 6 balls
• Two-piece construction
• Best choice for female golfers

Product Specifications:

Now if you want to take a closer look into the unique flower-shape dimple pattern of the Kaede Fly Distance golf balls, don’t miss the very helpful video below.

10. Volvik 2020 Magma

(Best Value for the Money)

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Once talking of Volvik golf gears, we immediately think of beautiful, vibrant colored things. And the Volvik 2020 Magma is no exception. These balls are available in super-bright yellow colors, making them easy to spot around the greens, best for those whose visibility is weak.

Besides, these balls are three-piece constructed, including high-energy dual cores and 432-dimple ionomer outer cover, making sense why they are regarded as illegal due to providing golfers with explosive distance, exceeding USGA restricted distance limit.

In addition to that, the Volvik balls are engineered with reduced diameter and adjusted weight, which are helpful to lower down the aerodynamic drag, hence promoting a further and higher ball trajectory.

Also, these balls are designed at a compression rating of 90 and described to be custom-made for golfers whose swing speed is between 70 and 90 mph. Plus, they are optimized for low driver spin and great wedge spin.

Key Features:

• Three-piece construction
• Small diameter and adjusted weight
• Constructed of high-resilient ionomer cover and dual power core
• Suited to golfers whose swing speed is about 70 to 90 mph
• Engineered with 432 aerodynamic dimples on its cover
• Available in vibrant yellow color

Product Specifications:

How to Choose the Right Illegal Golf Balls?

A golf ball is listed as illegal once it offers some unusual features which are needed to add more distance to its carry travel yet better straighten the ball flight.

However, these magic features make them non-conforming in tournaments, only serve to play for fun. So, what exactly are the features making them illegal on the professional courses?

1. Distance

The USGA briefly stands for the established some certain standards and rules for golf balls, which include a legal USGA distance to keep the game as equal as possible.

A golf ball will only be allowed in professional tournaments unless it provides golfers with too much support and helps them achieve an unfair distance that exceeds the USGA’s restricted distance.

It is claimed by golfers that an illegal ball can add 15 or even more yards to their shots’ carry travel off the tee.

So, where does this mysterious extra distance come from? What makes an illegal golf ball different from regular ones is its super heavy and hard oversized core produced with high-tech formula.

Hence, when looking for an illegal golf ball, don’t forget to pay attention to its core structure.

There are also some useful videos on Youtube like the following one that might help you explore what’s inside the ball and find out how solid, hard, and dense a core can be, making sure of the ball quality and the certain distance it might add to your shot.

2. Dimple Pattern

The next factor worth your consideration is the dimple pattern of an illegal golf ball. Why?

Because the technologically advanced dimple design of an illegal golf ball will help reduce the sidespin, converting it into backspin, resulting in an excellent self-correcting effect, allowing the ball to fly straighter and minimize potential hooks and slices on the flight.

Besides, the aerodynamics dimple design also does its excellent job of allowing more carry, more roll, and more distance to your shots, immediately improving your game and giving you more sense of achievement, just like a real professional golfer.

Some non-conforming golf balls feature an irregular dimple pattern like the Polara Self Correcting Golf Ball (let’s watch the video above to see its difference).

This unusual feature is deliberately made to adjust the ball’s spin, reduce slices off the tee, and better correct the ball trajectory.

Meanwhile, the USGA regulated that the pattern must be symmetrical. That’s why these magic non-conforming golf balls, with their unique dimple pattern, are regarded as illegal in tournaments.

However, if you just take up golfing as your weekend sports game, not for serious purposes, why not try out something fancier, more distinctive, adding more fun and excitement to your game?

Curious about How Many Dimples on a Golf Ball? Check it out here.

3. Construction

Last but not least, also as always as it is, the construction of a golf ball will strongly affect its performance on the course.

More detailed, two-piece constructed golf ball works better for high handicappers, who can not control the ball well and need more unnatural support from the ball to achieve the ideal carry distance and penetrating trajectory.

Meanwhile, a three-piece golf ball or above seems to be an ideal choice for average golfers, who can hit the ball at mid-swing speed but would love to receive a little more support and greater spin control of the ball.

Thanks to that, they can hit the shots like a professional golfer does and reach great distances, though with different levels of swing speed and skills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Some inconsistent and unclear information related to illegal golf balls might trouble you to figure them out. If it’s your problem now, let’s see whether some of the most commonly asked questions about non-conforming golf balls I’ve listed below can give you a hand or not.

Do Illegal Golf Balls Work?

In fact, some people, even golfers, haven’t heard of these non-conforming golf balls. If you’re wondering whether they can be used to play on the course or just for display or for fun, I can assure you that these golf balls definitely can work as regularly as other golf balls.

However, the most important thing to remember is that they are listed as illegal golf balls by the USGA, which means they are not allowed in professional tournaments, only suitable to play around the greens for fun and leisure.

When to Use Illegal Golf Balls?

You should consider choosing an illegal golf ball to play on the course once you just take up golfing as your leisurely sports game on weekends, not for serious purposes to perform in tournaments. Also, these golf balls are ideal if you’re longing for the optimum support on the course to achieve pleasing distance with your not very good swing speed.

However, if you want to hit serious shots to gradually improve your golfing skills, I must say that playing these golf balls means you sacrifice the playability of your game and might rely on them to reach the ideal distance but not thanks to your own skill and swing speed.

Also, I recommend these illegal golf balls for fresh kids who need more encouragement on their very first shots to gradually get used to this complex and difficult sport.

What Illegal Golf Ball Goes the Farthest?

If you’ve already broken the rules when deciding to go for an illegal golf ball, why not pick up the most illegal but longest one on the list. I highly recommend you the products from Bandit with two options from my list above in terms of distance.

Why Bandit golf balls? Because each of them is a perfect combination of super reactive core and revolutionary aerodynamic dimple design, allowing it to travel with incredible distance, further exceeding the USGA restricted distance limit.

Why Are Polara Golf Balls Illegal?

Polara golf balls are regarded as illegal due to their asymmetrical dimple pattern. This irregular design offers golfers an unfair advantage over the course by fixing hooks and slices and better straightening the ball trajectory.

Hence, your shots will get straighter with minimized errors on their flight. Having this unnatural benefit on the course means you’re breaking the rule established by USGA.

Are Nitro Golf Balls Illegal?

The answer is yes, and no; not all Nitro golf balls are listed as non-conforming in tournaments. The most outstanding illegal one in the range is LD+20 which is newly designed by Nitro, featuring premium quality and excellent carry distance.

If you’re interested in this golf brand and impressed with the excellent performance of its products, it’s good news for you that Nitro also offers some legal options in its golf ball range.

Take a look at Tour Distance, Ultimate Distance, Maximum Distance golf balls. They are all certified by the USGA and totally legal in professional tournaments.

Are Volvik Golf Balls Illegal?

No, actually most Volvik golf balls do conform to the USGA’s standards for tournament play, such as the Vivid Soft, Vivid XT, Crystal golf balls…etc., except for the Volvik Magma.

These balls feature the power dual oversized core, which is responsible for generating strong spin and promoting high trajectory with explosive distance.

My Final Thoughts

Having the best non-conforming golf balls to assist you on the round, you will get more confidence in each of your shots, ready to hit with your own swing speed but receiving the extraordinary result of a professional golfer. Just for fun, there’s no harm in that.

If you’re too lazy to research each product to seek the ideal one, I recommend you straightly go for the best overall, the Polara Ultimate Straight. It will undoubtedly meet your expectations of obtaining the ultimate straight and impressive distance shots.

Meanwhile, if you’re craving for the one which offers the exceeding distance, Bandit Maximum Distance seems to work better for you. Besides, if the straighter trajectory is your expectation instead, you’d better go for the Polara XDS.

Lastly, I hope that my article on the 10 best illegal golf balls has fulfilled you with basic knowledge of non-conforming golf balls and recommended you some of the ideal ones. If you find it helpful, please drop me a share on Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for reading!