The Kirkland Signature golf ball has earned a legendary status in the amateur golf community, primarily by shattering the established price structure of the premium ball market.
Its latest iteration - a 3-Piece Urethane Cover model sold in a 24-pack - promises tour-level materials and performance at an unbeatable value. As a dedicated gear tester, I set out to determine if this golf ball can genuinely compete with some of the game's best golf balls on performance, or if its exceptional price tag hides a critical deficiency.
The incredible price tag is the first thing that hits you: for £34.99/$34.99 for two dozen golf balls, the proposition is nothing short of extraordinary. When premium competitors are nearing and exceeding £50 a dozen, this model offers a significant financial relief. However, a golf ball’s merit needs to be measured from tee to green, not by its barcode, and I needed to know if the value came at the expense of performance.
My initial impression of the feel, which was a little "clicky" in older models, has much improved. The latest version delivers a notably softer impact, though it still has some way to go to match the truly soft, deep sensation of a Titleist Pro V1, for example.
The improvement in feel is most noticeable on the irons and wedges, particularly short chips and pitches around the green. Off the putter face, it felt solid and responsive, a pleasing experience given the price.
My testing and data gathering began indoors using a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor. While the spin and speed data looked promising, showing nearly identical launch conditions and minimal distance variation compared to the 2025 Titleist Pro V1, I was cautious.
It is essential to remember that a camera-based system like the GC3 only measures the first few feet of flight, projecting the rest through incredibly complex and accurate algorithms. It must be noted, however, that a ball setting off with high levels of spin can experience significant "spin decay" if the dimples and aerodynamics are not as sophisticated as they should be - a critical factor that the initial measurement can easily miss.
Because of this, I decided to take the test outdoors for a true, real-world comparison: a good old-fashioned 'pace-off' against the 2025 Titleist Pro V1. I hit 24 of each ball with both my 7-iron and driver, meticulously numbering each one to ensure I knew which ball I was comparing.
Despite the GC3 reporting only a one-yard difference in carry with my driver, when I went up to collect the balls and pace out the distance, the average difference was nearly 10 yards in favour of the Titleist ball.
It was a similar story with the 7-iron, with a 6.5-yard difference apparent here, despite less than half a yard difference being reported on the launch monitor. This suggests to me that the Kirkland ball may indeed be struggling with spin decay or some aerodynamic inefficiency over the full distance, costing the amateur golfer valuable carry yardage.
A slight lack of control becomes more apparent as you approach the green, where the Kirkland ball certainly fell short of more premium golf balls in terms of spin and performance. It produced a significantly higher ball flight and noticeably less grab on the putting surface, in particular on mid-range pitch shots around the 50-yard mark.
This lack of greenside bite is the most noticeable performance compromise I found throughout testing.
In truth, I would need even more time with the ball over a number of rounds to judge the overall consistency and how it plays in varying conditions. But even after the testing I have done, I can pretty confidently say that the Kirkland is a fairly reliable product, offering decent feel and feedback and a reasonable level of spin and control, albeit at a mildly reduced distance.
I would dispute Costco’s website's claim that these balls are "great for beginners or professionals," as the lack of greenside control would make them stand out like a sore thumb among elite players.
However, I cannot think of a ball that even gets close to representing the same extraordinary value for the beginner or intermediate player. If you're someone who loses a ball or two per round and prioritizes saving money without resorting to a low-quality rock, the Kirkland Signature is unbeatable.
