Are Golf Balls Made from Rubber?

Yes, absolutely. The core of virtually every modern golf ball is made from a highly engineered synthetic rubber, specifically polybutadiene.

This isn’t the same rubber you find in a tire or a rubber band. Golf ball rubber is formulated to be incredibly responsive. When a clubface compresses it, this rubber core acts like a spring, that is used to store and release energy efficiently to propel the ball off the clubface at high speed. So, while you won’t find a ball that’s pure rubber, a rubber core is the essential “engine” inside almost every golf ball.

Top 5 Rubber Golf Ball Models & How They Use Rubber

Here’s a look at five of the top-performing and most popular golf ball models on the market and how they utilise rubber.

1. Titleist Pro V1 / Pro V1x

• The Benchmark: The #1 ball in golf, used by more touring professionals than any other.
• Rubber Use: Yes, extensively. Both models feature a high-gradient, rubber core. The core is the primary power source, designed for exceptional speed and low long-game spin.
• Key Differentiator: The core is part of a multi-layer system. The Pro V1 has a softer core for a softer feel, while the Pro V1x has a firmer core for a higher trajectory and slightly firmer feel. They are then wrapped in a cast urethane elastomer cover for unparalleled greenside control.

2. Callaway Chrome Soft / Chrome Tour

• The Modern Feel Player: Known for its very soft feel without sacrificing performance.
• Rubber Use: Yes. Callaway uses a Hyper Elastic SoftFast Core made of polybutadiene rubber. This core is designed to be both very soft for feel and very fast for distance—a difficult engineering balance to achieve.
• Key Differentiator: The 2024 Chrome Soft X is renamed Chrome Tour and is designed to compete directly with the Titleist Pro V1x. It features a new HyperFast Soft Core for even more speed and a new urethane cover for maximum spin around the greens.

3. TaylorMade TP5 / TP5x

• The 5-Layer Innovator: Famous for its complete 5-layer construction.
• Rubber Use: Yes. At its heart is a Tri-Fast Core. This isn’t just one rubber core but a dual-layer core system. An inner soft core and a firmer outer core work together to maximise the spring-like effect (energy transfer) while optimising spin for different clubs.
• Key Differentiator: The 5 layers allow TaylorMade to fine-tune performance for each club in the bag. The TP5 is designed for a softer feel, while the TP5x is for a firmer feel and higher launch.

4. Srixon Z-Star Series

• The Tour-Validated Alternative: Offers exceptional performance, often at a slightly better value.
• Rubber Use: Yes. Srixon uses a FastLayer Core made of rubber. The core is engineered to be soft in the centre for a great feel and gradually firmer toward the outside to enhance speed.
• Key Differentiator: Srixon’s cover technology, called Spin Skin with SeRM, is a coating that becomes incredibly sticky on wedge-face impact, generating exceptional spin and control for precise stopping power on the greens.

5. Titleist AVX

• The Low-Flying Premium Ball: Designed for players who prefer a lower trajectory and softer feel than the Pro V1 provides.
• Rubber Use: Yes. It features a high-speed, rubber core. However, this core is specifically engineered to produce lower long-game spin, which contributes to its penetrating ball flight.
• Key Differentiator: The AVX is for the skilled player who doesn’t need the high trajectory of a Pro V1 and prioritises a very soft feel and a boring, wind-cheating flight path.

What “Rubber Golf Balls” Are Available?

When people ask for “rubber golf balls,” they are usually referring to one of two things:

1. Low-Compression, Supersoft Balls (High Rubber Content):

These balls have very large, low-compression rubber cores designed for slower swing speeds. They feel incredibly soft off the clubface. This is the modern interpretation of a “rubber ball.”

• Titleist TruFeel: One of the softest feeling balls on the market, with a large, low-compression rubber core.
• Callaway Supersoft: An ultra-low compression ball famous for its soft feel and high launch, thanks to its large rubber core.
• Srixon Soft Feel: Another top contender in the soft feel category, powered by a large, responsive rubber core.
• Wilson DUO Soft: Marketed as the “World’s Softest Golf Ball,” it has a very low compression rating of 35 (compared to a Pro V1’s ~90), meaning its rubber core is exceptionally soft and easy to compress.

2. Vintage-Style or Novelty Rubber Balls:

These are the literal, often one-piece, solid moulded rubber balls. They are not for serious golf but have specific uses:

• Practice / Limited Flight Balls: Often called “almost” golf balls or practice balls. They are made of solid rubber or foam and are designed to fly only about 40 yards, making them safe for practice in backyards or other limited spaces.
• Floaties / Water Balls: Lightweight, solid rubber balls that float on water. They are designed for playing on cruise ships or near lakes where losing a standard ball is a risk.
• Vintage “Rock Flites”: Some cheaper, old-fashioned balls were simply solid rubber. These are largely obsolete for performance play but can still be found.

For serious play, every major performance golf ball uses a highly advanced synthetic rubber (polybutadiene) core. The term “rubber golf ball” in a modern context best describes low-compression, soft-feel models like the Callaway Supersoft or Titleist TruFeel, which maximise the size and softness of that rubber core.

Alex Smith is the Head PGA Pro at Online Golf Shop. With over 20 years of experience in the golf industry, Alex has a passion for helping golfers improve their game. He shares trusted and authentic advice through tips, tricks, and thorough product reviews—always based on his own experiences and insights. Alex also helps shape our product selection, making sure it’s tailored to every golfer’s needs, helping you find the right equipment and strategies to play your best golf!