Golf balls can get very expensive.
Some manufacturers make golf balls that are close to $4 per ball, making it quite expensive to use a few in a round.
Over the years, players have looked for alternatives to find golf balls that are still high performing but allow for much lower pricing.
Many cheap golf balls have a hard and unforgiving feel, and this has players going right back up to the expensive models.
One alternative option that many golfers have chosen is the Kirkland.
Kirkland golf balls are affordable and seem to have a really strong performance.
We have done some research and testing and have some information that golfers should be considering when it comes to the Kirkland brand.
Are Kirkland Golf Balls Good?
Kirkland golf balls are good for the average golfer who is looking for a mix of performance from the tee and around the greens.
The Kirkland golf balls have impressive spin characteristics, good distance, and a mid-distance flight.
Players who typically play premium golf balls have looked to see if the Kirkland ball can potentially replace what they are playing.
Specifically, golfers are looking for an alternative to the Pro V1.
The Kirkland Signature Performance Plus is a three-piece golf ball with a urethane cover, and it holds up quite well round after round.
There is no question that this is a very good value urethane golf ball.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at what the Kirkland golf balls have to offer and whether or not they would be a good fit for your game.
Kirkland Golf Balls: Details And Features
The Kirkland Signature Performance Plus golf ball is a three-piece golf ball with a urethane cover.
The features and details of this golf ball can help you determine if they are the right fit for your game.
1. Urethane Cover
Kirkland Signature Three-Piece Urethane Cover Golf Ball v2.0, 1 Dozen, 12 Count, White
The urethane cover provides a high level of performance and conforms to USGA regulations.
Urethane typically helps provide a soft but high-speed feel.
Kirkland golf balls are designed to have a responsive feel on the putting green, good greenside control, and a long lifespan.
It’s one thing to get these golf balls at a really low price and another to keep them in play round after round.
If you don’t hit any trees or golf cart paths, there is a good chance you can play with your Kirkland Signature golf ball for several rounds.
Urethane is a material that is used in most of the higher-end performance golf balls.
2. Dimple Pattern
All golf balls have unique dimple patterns.
The dimple pattern will impact ball flight.
The Kirkland Signature has a 338-dimple pattern designed to create a more penetrating ball flight.
This typically works best for people with a mid to high swing speed as they can often launch the ball a little too high.
The dimple pattern from Kirkland is also going to help on those windy days when you need the ball to cut through the wind.
3. Three-Piece Golf Ball
Kirkland Signature 3-Piece Urethane Cover Golf Ball, 2-Dozen
Most of the premium golf balls on the market are four- and five-piece golf balls.
The benefit to a golf ball with more pieces is that it can offer performance from both the tee and the green.
A three-piece golf ball should allow for a great distance from the tee box as well as some spin and control around the greens.
The Kirkland Signature Performance Plus three-piece golf ball has a low compression rubber core.
The idea here is that you can have higher ball speeds while still having a responsive feel overall.
With a responsive rubber core, the ball should fly longer than other competitors.
The mantle layer of the golf ball is there to control the spin on the longer irons and fairway woods.
This will help ensure the spin rates are lower, and the golf ball is rolling toward the target.
However, when you move to the short irons, the mantle combined with the urethane cover should produce a much softer feel and more spin.
The Kirkland Signature Performance Plus is not the highest spinning golf ball on the market, but it certainly has some grab around the greens.
Remember that high spin around the greens is also impacted by golfers’ swing speed and the wedges being used.
4. Compression
The compression rating of the Kirkland golf balls is 90.
This is the best fit for a golfer with a mid to high swing speed.
If you can get some speed, you want a golf ball that rewards you for it instead of punishing you for it.
Players with low swing speeds will not be able to compress the Kirkland Signature quite like they may want to, and this can cause issues with total distance.
The compression of the Kirkland golf ball is similar to the Pro V1, which is why they are often compared to each other.
5. Two Dozen Pack
At first glance, the price of Kirkland golf balls seems fair.
However, when you take a closer look, you will see that this is a pack that includes two dozen golf balls.
Getting 24 golf balls for a price that is lower than 12 golf balls from other manufacturers is a significant reason these Kirkland golf balls stand out.
Two dozen golf balls should last even the most erratic of golfers for quite some time.
Costco tends to sell a variety of products in bulk, and apparently, that applies to golf balls as well.
Are Kirkland Golf Balls Like Pro V1?
Titleist Pro V1 Prior Generation
Kirkland golf balls are often compared to the Pro V1.
There are a few reasons why the Pro V1 and the Kirkland are often compared.
The first is the compression of the golf ball.
A Titleist Pro V1 has a compression rating that is very similar to the Kirkland golf balls.
When compression ratings are similar, players with similar swing speeds can benefit from the golf ball.
The Kirkland balls are best suited for those with mid to high swing speeds that have enough power to compress a golf ball fully.
Kirkland and Pro V1 golf balls also have urethane covers.
The covers provide a low spin from the tee, a softer feel, and a higher spin around the greens and with wedges and approach shots.
The feel from a urethane cover is often similar, which has helped these two golf balls get compared to each other quite often.
Lastly, the Pro V1 is also a three-piece golf ball.
Therefore, when you look at the basics of the construction of these golf balls, you can see that there are many similarities.
The real difference comes down to materials, research, and development.
Titleist is a company that specializes in golf balls.
Part of the reason the pricing is higher for Titleist is because of the extensive testing and product development that their golf balls go through.
If you ever get the chance to take a tour of the Titleist facility, you will quickly learn how involved this process is and why the Pro V1 is actually such a big deal in the game of golf.
Costco, on the other hand, has a goal to make products that are of good value and appeal to a wide range of players.
The facilities where Costco golf balls are tested and produced are nothing like what Titleist has built.
Titleist is the number one golf ball used on the PGA Tour, but the same cannot be said for Kirkland.
With a Titleist golf ball in play, you can guarantee consistency of the product and that you are getting some of the best distances and spin in the game.
Although it’s a hard thing for some golfers to wrap their heads around, in this game, you very often get what you pay for.
Are Kirkland Golf Balls Good For High Handicappers?
Kirkland golf balls are suitable for high handicappers who have a faster swing speed.
High handicappers with low swing speeds will struggle to get enough distance with the Kirkland golf balls.
Instead, players with the highest swing speeds can get the ball to travel a long distance with a penetrating ball flight and plenty of roll.
Many people in the world of golf assume that high handicappers are slower swing speed players, but this is not the case.
When you have a higher handicap, it typically has to do with shot-making ability and especially in the short game.
The Kirkland golf balls are good for the short game because they have a decently soft feel and some higher spin.
One thing that high handicappers can do is test a few different golf balls to see which ones fly the furthest, spin the best, etc.
Most high handicappers look for a low spinning ball from the tee box as this promotes a straighter ball flight.
Where Are Kirkland Golf Balls Sold?
Kirkland golf balls are sold at Costco.
Costco is a large warehouse-type store that sells everything from birthday cakes to televisions to golf equipment.
The Costco brand is Kirkland, and the Kirkland golf clubs and balls are typically made in China.
Overall, Costco strives to produce higher quality products offered at a reduced price.
There is no question that the pricing of the Costco golf balls is fair for the technology and performance you can get.
The only problem with the Costco balls is that they are sold in bulk, so you will have to find a few from a friend to try before investing in 24 golf balls that you aren’t sure are right for you.
If you end up finding that this is not the right golf ball, chances are you could sell the rest to a friend or use them for chipping practice in your yard.
Kirkland Vs. Vice Golf Balls: Which Is A Better Deal?
Vice Golf PRO Soft DRIP RED 2020 | 12 Golf Balls | Features: 3-Piece cast Urethane, Soft Feel, high Ball Flight Stability | Profile: for Ambitious Golfers (VG1008099)
The Kirkland golf balls are fair in price, and it brings up the point as to whether other fairly priced golf ball manufacturers also have some great products to offer.
One of the brands that are most well known for their golf ball pricing is Vice.
Vice is a direct-to-consumer golf ball manufacturer that makes several different types of golf balls, one for every player and swing speed.
Vice’s advantage over Kirkland is the variety of golf ball choices that players will have.
If you are new to the game and want a cheap distance ball, Vice has an option.
For players who have low handicaps and need impressive greenside spin performance, the Vice has a ball for that.
With Kirkland golf balls, there is really only one well priced option.
The Kirkland golf balls are cheaper than Vice, but when we tested, we got some extra distance from the Vice golf ball.
In addition, Vice does something that almost all golf ball manufacturers should be doing.
They sell a sample pack with five different types of golf balls.
The sample pack is fairly priced, and it offers players some variety in the golf balls they try.
We highly recommend taking this sample pack to the putting green first and seeing which golf ball has the best feel when trying to roll those ten-foot putts down.
What Golf Equipment Does Kirkland Make?
Kirkland Signature Golf Gloves Premium Cabretta Leather, Medium/Large (4 Count)
Kirkland does not only make golf balls.
Although this is certainly not a full line of golf products, there are wedges and a reasonably impressive putter that you can also purchase under the Kirkland brand.
The putter is often compared to a Scotty Cameron style putter with a blade look to it and adjustable weights.
The wedges are sold as a set, and they are fairly standard with no technology that really stands out.
Kirkland also makes golf gloves and other accessories that can come and go from one season to the next.
There are some brands in the golf industry that are known for being cheap and lacking a bit when it comes to performance.
However, with the effort that this company has put into their golf balls and clubs, the Kirkland name has a pretty good reputation at this point.
The average golfer on a budget will like what this company has to offer.
Who Should Play With The Kirkland Golf Balls?
Now that you have a better understanding of what the Kirkland golf balls have to offer, you are likely wondering whether this could be a good golf ball for your game.
A few things we recommend for golfers thinking of switching to the Kirkland golf balls include checking your swing speed and thinking about premium greenside performance.
The swing speed for a golfer using the Kirkland golf balls should be mid to high.
This is a lower flying golf ball with a more penetrating flight, and you need a slightly higher swing speed to compress it.
In addition, it makes sense to mention that although the Kirkland golf balls have a good spin around the greens, don’t expect the same spin you would get with a four-piece or five-piece golf ball.
The golf balls like the Pro V1x or the TaylorMade TP5x will have considerably higher spin rates on and around the greens.
Kirkland is a great golf brand when you need value but aren’t looking to sacrifice a ton of performance.
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