A three-piece solid golf ball composed of a solid core, an intermediate layer which encloses the core, and a cover layer which encloses and is softer than the intermediate layer is characterized in that the solid core undergoes a deflection of 2.8 to 3.6 mm when a load of 130 kg is applied thereto from an initial load of 10 kg and has a surface hardness and a center hardness which differ by at least 15 Shore D hardness units; the intermediate layer has a surface hardness which differs from the surface hardness of the solid core by not more than 12 Shore D hardness units; and the cover layer has a surface hardness which differs from the surface hardness of the intermediate layer by at least 7 Shore D hardness units, is made primarily of a thermoplastic polyurethane, and has a thickness in a range of 0.5 to 1.3 mm. This combination of features provides an overall outstanding golf ball endowed with excellent flight characteristics, excellent controllability and durability, and a soft feel on impact.