The Piper golf balls are affordable, they have clean-looking branding, and they made us want to give them a try.
I took all four of the Piper golf balls out on the golf course and played four rounds of golf, making sure I used each ball and interchanging them at times to test from different areas or perspectives.
I’ll shoot you straight – I was not overly impressed with Piper golf balls, and I think there are better options out there. I’ll mention those later, but first let’s dissect what I discovered when testing these balls.
Comparing Features
There are four Piper golf balls to choose from: the Green, Blue, Black, and Gold. Here is a look at the construction, compression, and dimple pattern of each.
Construction
- Piper Green: 2 piece golf ball, Surlyn cover
- Piper Blue: 3 piece golf ball, Surlyn cover
- Piper Black: 3 piece golf ball, Urethane cover
- Piper Yellow: 4 piece golf ball, Urethane Cover
Compression
Compression ratings aren’t listed on the Piper golf balls, but the FAQ question on their website addresses the issue. The one thing I found odd about these listed “compression” ratings is that they seem a bit backward.
The Piper Green golf ball is for the slower swing speed player, yet the compression is firm. I’m not sold on these being correct – the Piper Green should really be the lower compression ball.
- Green – Firm
- Blue – Medium
- Black – Softest
- Yellow – Soft
Dimple Pattern
The dimple pattern on each of these golf balls is actually the same for all four. I found it interesting that even though they have different physical construction and attempt to offer different performances, the dimple pattern remained the same for each golf ball with a 332 symmetrical design.
Piper claims that the spin rate is low in the Green and Blue and high in the Black and Yellow.
Comparing Performance
I took the Piper golf balls on the course to test, and it’s my home course, so I know exactly where a golf ball will go based on positions around the course. The first golf ball I tried was the Piper Green, and when it came off the clubface, my playing partners asked if my golf club broke!
The Piper golf balls don’t quite live up to the performance they advertise.
Distance
From an overall distance perspective, the Piper golf balls are fine. The Green and the Blue go the furthest and seem to have an easier time staying straighter off the tee and getting that extra roll on the driver.
I was excited to try the Yellow as my swing speed is over 100 MPH, and I thought it would give me the best feel, comparable to a premium golf ball. However, I did notice that this one is a little spinny off the tee and takes a few yards of distance away.
If you want a distance ball, stick with the Green; just be prepared for what it will sound and feel like coming off the clubface. (It’s a bit harsh!)
Winner: Piper Green
Spin Off The Tee
The urethane cover golf balls in the Piper lineup (Black and Yellow) don’t have the best spin rates off the tee. If you struggle to keep the golf ball in play, tend to put a bit of a slice spin on the ball, or don’t get the distance you want, make sure to consider the Blue or the Green.
I’ll give Blue the winning spot on this one but know that Green is nearly as good. Blue is just a good option for a slightly faster swing speed golfer who needs a little help controlling spin.
Winner: Piper Blue
Spin on Approach
When I’ve tested golf balls recently, I’ve noticed that even some of the two piece value golf balls have started to incorporate a good amount of spin on approach shots to the Green. Of course, these balls lose that spin when you look at short shots, but the approach is impressive.
I thought the Blue and Green would be able to hold a green quite well, but they don’t. The Black and Yellow are your best bet here. The Yellow spins the most on the approach, but they both feel soft (compared to the others) and can stop.
The only thing to be aware of is that the total distance with the Black and Yellow on these approach shots will not be quite as good.
I also should warn you that on the first hole I used, the Piper Black, it was a short par 4. I hit a good drive and had a full sand wedge into the Green. On the very first shot, the ball cut. Can’t say I’m overly surprised.
Winner: Piper Yellow
Spin Around The Greens
The Blue and Green are distance golf balls with not much spin around the greens. The Yellow is your best choice on short game spin. This ball won’t spin like a Titleist Pro V1 or a Callaway
Chrome Soft, but it does create some decent spin.
If you have a slightly higher swing speed and are a lower handicap player, you may find this to be a good practice ball. I still wouldn’t put it in for tournament play; you can tell the quality of the components are not great, and the overall sound and feel are just still below what I would expect.
Again, I know it’s an affordable ball, but it must still be worth it!
Winner: Piper Yellow
Feel and Sound
Overall, the feel and sound from all the Piper golf balls was poor. When these come off your clubface, you will know they are Piper compared to other golf balls. The sound is a bit like you are hitting a rock, and the feel is not all that much different.
The Yellow is the best overall when it comes to feeling, but it still is not something that I can fully recommend and tell you that you will enjoy.
Winner (Feel): Piper Yellow
Winner (Sound): None
Value
All of the Piper golf balls are priced low. There is no question that they are going after the golfer who is on a budget.
The Green is the only one that I can say is probably going to be of some value. It’s a cheap 2 piece distance golf ball, so it gets a pass on some of the lack of feel and sound that you might expect from a premium ball.
The Yellow would probably be the next best, but again, there are better options on the market, especially something like the Vice Pro Plus or Vice Pro.
Winner: Green
Final Verdict: Deciding Which Ball is Right for You
As I’ve said, I can’t recommend the Piper golf balls with full confidence after trying them. As I mentioned, with the Black golf ball cutting on the 2nd shot, you can just tell these are made with less quality and are not designed for the serious player.
If you are set on trying them, here is what I would recommend. However, after having tried all of the Vice golf balls recently, I suggest you take a look at some of the reviews I did and pay just a few dollars more for those.
Piper Green: Best to Gain Distance for Slower Swing Speeds
If swing speed is an issue for you, but you want to maximize distance on the course, the Piper Green is a good selection. The Green should also help you straighten out a slice a bit, another important feature.
Piper Blue: Best for Mid Handicappers Looking for Distance
When swing speed increases, you often want to look for a golf ball that has a mix of speed from the tee and feel around the greens. The Piper Blue is your best bet here, and the cover holds up better than it does with the 3 piece black golf ball.
Piper Black: Best for Average Swing Speed Golfers Looking for Performance
If you have a high swing speed, stay away from the Piper Black. For those with moderate swing speeds who want some spin around the greens, the Piper Black is your best choice of Piper golf balls.
Piper Yellow: Best for Lower Handicappers Looking for Spin
The Piper Yellow is the best option for the low-handicapped golfers looking for the closest thing to a “premium” feel that a Piper golf ball will have. You do get spin on your approach shots and around the greens.
Brittany Olizarowicz
Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1