When I was a kid, one of the first boxes of golf balls I was ever given was the Top Flite brand. Back then, it was a bit more about the price of the golf ball vs. the actual performance. I was young, learning the game, and the Top Flite was cheap.
The golf ball was a Top Flite XL, something that has been a standard for them for a long time. I didn’t think too much about this golf ball and whether or not it was high quality because I was new to the game and just happy to be playing.
One day my uncle tossed me a Maxfli ball and said, “try this.” It was an entirely different experience, and there began my interest in how different one golf ball brand can be from another.
I’ll share some of my experience with Top Flite through the years and try to help you decide if this is a good golf brand you should be using when you play.
Quick Facts About Top Flite
- At one point, Callaway golf owned Top Flite
- Top Flite has always been known as being a value brand
- Dick’s Sporting Goods currently owns Top Flite
- No professionals use Top Flite
- Beginners and high handicappers can often find solutions from Top Flite
My Thoughts on Top Flite Balls and Clubs
Before we get into the details and specifics of the Top Flite balls and clubs, I should be upfront about the fact that some players will benefit from this equipment and others that should stay away.
Top Flite is not the most premium golf brand in the industry, and that creates solutions for some and headaches for others. The key here is to find out what Top Flite does a good job with and see if you fit into that player profile.
Golf Club Sets
Golf club sets are one of the most popular sellers for Top Flite. These are complete sets built for beginner players, occasional golfers, or even high handicappers. The great thing about the sets is the value.
The bad news here is the feel and longevity.
Putting something like a Top Flite Gamer club in your hand has a completely different feel than something from Cobra or Cleveland. The main differences here are advances in technology and materials.
The research and development that Top Flite puts into its gear is nothing like what Titleist or Callaway does. This is because Top Flite knows its target market. They know that an affordable golf club that is easy to hit is all that their customers are looking for.
Individual Clubs
In addition to golf club sets, Top Flite offers individual clubs that you can purchase. The best deal is the complete set, as it comes with everything, including the bag. However, if you are in the market for just a driver or a wedge, the Top Flite equipment is some of the cheapest you can find.
I like the idea of the individual clubs for new player that wants to test out the game before they commit to a big spend. In addition, for teens and young adults, this also creates a good option from an affordability standpoint.
Expect average distance, good forgiveness, and a decent feel.
Women’s Golf Clubs
The women’s golf clubs come both as a complete set and as individual club selections. This set is specifically for a newer player or a woman golfer who only plays occasionally. It’s very lightweight, has graphite shafts, and encourages a higher ball flight.
Women golfers looking into beginner golf sets have a few options to choose from, and this one should likely be considered in the mix from a value standpoint. Most of the clubs are only sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods as this is their brand.
If you have been in the game a while, and are used to the feel and precision of Callaway, Cobra, or TaylorMade, don’t switch to the Top Flite golf club sets.
Junior Club
The junior clubs are probably my favorite thing about the Top Flite brand. With kid’s golf clubs, it’s important to stay with something affordable. Kids grow out of clubs quickly, and unless your child is playing in tournaments and events, the specifications and technology of the club doesn’t matter all that much.
What does matter is the fitting and the height ranges for Top Flite junior clubs make it easy to choose a set for your kid?
Each one comes with a golf bag, and it’s certainly enough to get any young child ready and excited about playing the game.
Golf Balls
The golf balls are probably where Top Flite is most well known. However, many golfers will tell you that Top Flite golf balls are hard and unforgiving. From personal experience, I can tell you that was absolutely the case for many years.
Golf balls from Top Flite were put on the market for players that lose several balls in a round.
However, through the years, they have grown their golf ball product line and tried to appeal more to the average golfer looking for a mix of quality and value.
The golf balls are good, not great, and the three piece models like the Gamer are much better than the value two piece models.
Forgiveness
Top Flite golf clubs forgive because they are offset and have a large sweet spot. However, when it comes to technology like tungsten weighting or AI-optimized center of gravity, Top Flite can’t compete.
Feel
Feel is my least favorite thing about the Top Flite brand. If your main concern is to play with a club that has that buttery smooth feel when you make contact, the Top Flite is not the best choice for you.
These clubs feel a little harsh, and it mostly has to do with the material selection and manufacturing. These are not forged golf clubs, and premium metals are not being used. This is not a big concern for a golfer who plays once a month.
For the golfer that plays every day, I would recommend going with something a bit more refined.
Distance
Top Flite has good distance technology. Will the driver fly as far or have as high of a ball speed as something like the TaylorMade Stealth? Probably not. However, many golfers are comfortable with certain distance ranges, and for the most part, Top Flite is not going to cause you to fall out of those ranges.
Combining the Top Flite clubs with one of their distance balls will probably give you the best chance for lots of roll and long distance. This combination, however may be difficult to get a ball to stop on the green where you want it.
Longevity
Top Flite golf clubs can last for a long time, but chances are this is a set you will replace in a few years. In most situations, the technology in the Top Flite sets becomes outdated quickly, and the resale value is not very high.
Top Flite golf clubs will not break or become damaged after a few rounds; they have much better quality than that. Just be careful about how often you play and whether or not you expect to keep these in the bag for the long haul.
Value
The initial costs of the Top Flite golf clubs are very fair. In fact, some of the fairest in the industry. If your primary concern is the total cost of the golf clubs you purchase, the Top Flite brand is worth looking at.
In addition, it feels that you get what you pay for with Top Flite.
Who Should Play Top Flite?
Golfers that are occasional players, new to the game, or just need a backup set of clubs when friends come to visit should consider the Top Flite clubs.
Some high handicappers may enjoy the style of the club head and feel as though it encourages forgiveness, but it’s not always the best fit for higher handicappers.
As far as the Top Flite golf balls are concerned, you may want to consider the three-piece options like the Gamer to get a bit more feel.
Not all Top Flite golf balls are considered “Rock Flight” anymore.
My Favorite Golf Club Brand
As you have seen, the Top Flite brand is not my favorite for high-quality and impressive golf equipment. From a value standpoint, I can’t say that Top Flite is a poor choice. However, my favorite golf club brand is still Titleist.
Titleist has some of the more premium golf clubs on the market, with an impressive feel, high-quality materials, and advanced engineering and design. However, in addition to golf clubs, Titleist also makes the best ball in the game.
Titleist also manufactures Scotty Cameron putters. The depth of their product line and the quality of each of the individual products help this stand out as my favorite golf club brand.
Although I don’t always play Titleist, they are my hands-down favorite.
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.