Best Cheap Golf Balls 2024: Save cash without sacrificing performance

Click below to find out more about Today's Golfer's golf ball testing process.

How We Test Golf Balls

We used a robot at Loughborough University to test golf balls. This ensures consistent, repeatable swings, something human testers can't match, especially across 24 different golf ball models. It took over a week to test and months of prep to make sure everything was perfect.

We tested with different clubs and swing speeds to reflect real-world golfers. Driver shots were at 85, 100, and 115 mph, 7-iron at 80 mph, and wedges at 74 mph, using Ping clubs suited to these speeds.

We also test every golf ball on-course too, to gather feedback on feel and how they perform during rounds.

Click here to find out more about how we test golf balls.

Which cheap golf balls are worth purchasing to improve your game and save you money?

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Every golfer wants to play with the best golf balls, but not every golfer wants to spend top dollar on a dozen golf balls. Playing golf can be expensive, so where it’s possible to save some money it’s welcomed, and one of the best ways is by finding a brilliant deal on golf balls.

Whether you’re precious about playing with the best premium golf balls or happy to play with anything round and dimpled, one thing everyone wants is for it to be as cost-effective as possible. Many of the best cheap golf balls are some of the best golf balls for beginners and high-handicappers.

The best cheap golf balls 2024 at a glance:

Best four-piece cheap golf balls: Cut Blue | View Offer

Best colorful cheap golf balls: TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink | View Offer

Best cheap golf balls for golfers with slower swing speeds: Callaway Supersoft | View Offer

Best distance cheap golf balls: Titleist Velocity | View Offer

Playing with cheap golf balls doesn’t mean you have to play with a rock! Manufacturers have realized that there’s substantial interest from budget-conscious golfers who want nice feel, good distance and spin, and durability from their golf balls. It’s difficult for many golfers to differentiate between the best cheap golf balls and the best amateur-level golf balls purely based on feel and performance.

Within the best cheap golf balls, there are options to suit those looking to maximize distance and others for golfers who prioritize a soft feel. There is a wide range of golf balls to challenge the best ladies’ golf balls within the category of cheap golf balls – none of them doing too much damage to your bank account.

If you’re a fan of cheap golf balls you can find brilliant value by stocking up before the golf ball rollback eventually happens because you’ll still be playing with cheap golf balls but they’ll be traveling farther than any released post rollback.

Best Cheap Golf Balls

Four-piece golf balls that are stupidly affordable

Best four-piece cheap golf balls
Price: $24.99
Alternative Retailers
Walmart
$19.97
There aren't many cheap golf balls that have a four-piece construction, but the Cut Blue does. Cheaper golf balls tend to sport a two-piece construction but at less than $20 for a dozen golf balls, the four-piece Cut Blue is clearly a cheap option and well worth considering if you tend to play with the best premium golf balls and you're looking to save some cash.

The Cut Blue is perhaps stronger off the tee than it is on approach shots and around the greens. This ball travels exceptionally well into the wind thanks to the drag reduction aerodynamics - this also helps the ball travel well in more neutral conditions. Around the greens, the Cut Blue feels really soft and provides good feedback off the club face, but the performance just isn't as impressive as the response.

Pros

  • Consistent ball flight
  • Travels well into the wind with drag reduction
  • Environmentally friendly packaging

Cons

  • Only available in the US
Construction 4-piece
Cover Urethane
Dimple 314
Feel Softer
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Mid
Colour options White
  • Tour quality urethane cover
  • USGA conforming

Vibrant, long, fast, and soft

I was really impressed with the performance of the TaylorMade SpeedSoft golf balls when I took them out for a test drive. They might not be a golf ball I'd automatically reach for in idyllic conditions, however, in low visibility conditions I can definitely see myself reaching for one of the TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink golf balls.

I actually prefer the Ink model to the standard model because of the vibrancy. I must admit, when I first saw images of these golf balls I was slightly pessimistic and I didn't see how the wild splashes of color would assist anyone on the course - I'm happy to say I was wrong. The splashes of ink make it very easy to see the ball on the ground and in the air - much easier than other colorful golf balls.

I wasn't only impressed with the design pattern! The SpeedSoft golf balls travel very well off the tee keeping up with some of the best premium golf balls myself and my playing partners tend to play with. Speaking to a 24-handicapper at my home golf course, he had nothing but praise for these golf balls and he also preferred the Ink models.

Sadly, it isn't all positive, compared to the premium golf balls I usually game, the SpeedSoft golf balls do generate less spin when attacking pins, but you can quickly adapt to this and make them work for you - I just don't have that ability.

Pros

  • Very easy to see on the ground and in the air
  • Impressive distance off the tee
  • Soft-feeling which will please the vast majority of golfers

Cons

  • Short-game spin and control is lacking compared to more premium models
Construction 2-piece
Cover Ionomer
Dimples 322
Feel Soft
Flight Mid
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Mid-high
Color options Blue; Green; Red; Pink
Alternative models SpeedSoft
  • New PWRCORE technology
  • Soft Sub 50 Compression
  • 322 Extended Flight Dimple Pattern

Callaway's long golf ball for golfers with slower swing speeds

Expert rating:

4.5
Best cheap golf balls for golfers with slower swing speeds
Price: $24.97
Alternative Retailers
Walmart
$24.97
DICK'S Sporting Goods
$24.99
PGA TOUR Superstore
$24.99
Golf Galaxy
$24.99
It may come as a surprise to hear that Callaway's Supersoft golf balls offer incredible distance because for many golfers they attribute soft with spin which comes at the cost of losing distance. However, that's not the case with Supersoft. At a driver swing speed of 85mph, this golf ball was the longest in our golf ball robot test, but it did drop off quite significantly at 100mph and 115mph.

The Supersoft doesn't only offer distance, spin is fairly easy to generate because of its low-compression core. The Supersoft is a brilliant option for beginner and high-handicap golfers because it's easy to launch which materializes into good distance. Also at the price they are brilliant value and they possess that soft feel so many yearn for.

Read our full Callaway Supersoft golf balls review.

Pros

  • Really good distance for golfers with a slower swing speed
  • Super soft feel
  • Fantastic value

Cons

  • Distance does drop off for golfers with driver swing speeds of 100mph+
Construction 2-piece
Cover Hybrid
Dimples 332
Feel Super soft
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin High
Color options White; Yellow; Green; Red; Orange; Pink
Alternative models Supersoft Lucky; Geo Collection
  • Hyperelastic softfast core
  • Hybrid cover
  • Hex aerodynamics

Super long Titleist golf ball

Expert rating:

4.0
Best distance cheap golf balls
Price: $29.97
Alternative Retailers
Walmart
$19.97
DICK'S Sporting Goods
$29.99
PGA TOUR Superstore
$19.99
Golf Galaxy
$24.99
If distance is your priority when purchasing golf balls Titleist Velocity has to be one of consideration. In a Titleist golf ball fitting I attended, I discovered that the two-piece Velocity produced the same distance as the four-piece Pro V1x - so why would you play with Pro V1x?

The issue with Velocity - as is the issue with all distance golf balls - is that they don't generate as much spin, but if this isn't a concern of yours then distance golf balls are well worth buying because they deliver great distance and they're much cheaper.

Titleist Velocity golf balls feel great considering they have an ionomer cover. These balls are very well-priced and despite producing low-spin I'm a massive fan of Velocity golf balls.

Read our full Titleist Velocity golf balls review.

Pros

  • Extremely long off the tee
  • Nice feel from every clubface
  • Consistent ball flight

Cons

  • Low greenside spin but this is expected for a distance golf ball
Construction 2-piece
Cover Ionomer
Dimples 350
Feel Soft
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Low
Color options White; Orange; Green
  • High speed LSX core
  • Fast NAZ+ cover
  • Octahedral dimple pattern

TaylorMade's quality budget-friendly cheap golf balls

Best alignment cheap golf balls
Price: $19.99
Alternative Retailers
Walmart
$19.97
DICK'S Sporting Goods
$19.99
PGA TOUR Superstore
$19.99
Golf Galaxy
$19.99
As one of golf's major brands, TaylorMade dedicates much of their time, energy, and resources to their premium range of golf equipment. Perhaps it would be expected that their Distance+ golf balls are no comparison to their more premium golf balls, however, that's far from the truth. These golf balls perform exceptionally well from tee to green, and at such an affordable price, they are a fantastic option to have on hand for any standard of golfer.

If like me, you struggle with lining up putts, and need an extra bit of assistance, the Distance+ golf balls come as standard with a plus alignment aid which certainly helps to visualize the line and roll. Around the greens, these balls are much more responsive than imagined with decent stopping power and control. Moving away from the greens, to the tee box, you won't be disappointed by the distance this ball can generate - being primarily a distance golf ball.

Read our full TaylorMade Distance+ golf balls review

Pros

  • Enhanced alignment aid
  • Extremely versatile golf ball to suit a wide range of golfers
  • Soft distance golf ball
  • Impressive short game performance

Cons

  • Not available without the alignment aid
Construction 2-piece
Cover Ionomer
Dimples 342
Feel Soft
Flight Mid
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Mid-high
Color options White; Yellow
  • Plus alignment aid
  • Soft REACT core
  • Aerodynamic dimple pattern

Wilson's softest low compression cheap golf balls

Best low-compression cheap golf balls

Rrp: $19.97

Price: $19.00
Alternative Retailers
Walmart
$19.97
DICK'S Sporting Goods
$19.99
PGA TOUR Superstore
$19.99
Golf Galaxy
$19.99
If you're looking for a high-performing, inexpensive, and soft-feeling golf ball, then you may not need to look any further than the Wilson Duo Soft. As the world's softest golf ball, the Duo Soft also has a low-compression core which is easy to compress. Being such a budget-friendly golf ball, these golf balls are incredibly popular for a wide variety of golfers.

Wilson are very well-known for their affordable golf equipment that can compete with the major golf brands. Their Duo Soft golf balls may not be the cheapest balls Wilson offers, but they are by far the best at a very reasonable price. Some golfers may be put off by the soft feeling and low compression, but it doesn't hinder this golf balls performance both off the tee and around the greens.

Read our full Wilson Duo Soft golf balls review

Pros

  • Incredibly soft feel
  • Long game distance is very impressive
  • High spin and control around the greens
  • Easily compressible core

Cons

  • Really soft and low-compression won't suit every golfer
Construction 2-piece
Cover Ionomer
Dimples 302
Feel Soft
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Mid
Color options White; Yellow; Green; Orange; Red
  • Velocity boosting core
  • Low compression core

Titleist's softest golf balls are a brilliant cost-effective option

Best soft feeling cheap golf balls
Price: $24.97
Alternative Retailers
DICK'S Sporting Goods
$24.99
PGA TOUR Superstore
$24.99
Golf Galaxy
$24.99
Titleist are obviously incredibly well-known for their premium golf balls, therefore, it might be hard to believe they also manufacture one of the best cheap golf balls of 2024. Titlesit's TruFeel golf balls are an excellent soft golf ball - the softest golf ball Titleist offers.

The TruFeel golf balls work exceptionally well in the wind because they naturally fly lower than other soft golf balls. Off the tee, this ball can challenge any of the other balls in this category for distance, but if you prioritize short game spin and control, you may want to opt for a different golf ball. As a cheap option by one of golf's largest companies, this is a great inexpensive ball to consider.

Read our full Titleist TruFeel golf balls review

Pros

  • Low penetrating ball flight
  • Brilliant ball in windy conditions
  • Incredibly soft feel

Cons

  • Not the best short game performers
Construction 2-piece
Cover TruFlex
Dimples 376
Feel Very soft
Flight Low
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Low
Color options White; Yellow; Red
  • TruTouch Core
  • 2.0 TruFlex Cover
  • Spherically-tiled 376 tetrahedral dimple design

Oustanding all-performance from these cheap Bridgestone golf balls

Expert rating:

4.0
Best tee to green cheap golf balls
Price: $23.99
Alternative Retailers
Walmart
$24.30
DICK'S Sporting Goods
$24.99
PGA TOUR Superstore
$24.99
Golf Galaxy
$24.99
Bridgestone's e6 golf balls are amazing for a wide range of golfers, whether you're brand new to the game, have been playing for years, playing off the front tees, or the backs. Not only do they perform incredibly well off the tee box and around the greens, but best of all they are very budget-friendly. Bridgestone are notorious for manufacturing quality golf balls and their e6s doesn't miss the mark.

Being a two-piece golf ball, they won't entice every golfer, however, if you play with them you won't be disappointed. When you play a round of golf with the e6s you'll struggle to find a negative, especially when you consider how cheap a dozen is.

Read our full Bridgestone e6 golf balls review

Pros

  • Very affordable all-round performance golf balls
  • Soft feeling golf balls
  • Impressive long game distance
  • High greenside spin and control

Cons

  • For quicker swing speeds dispersion increases
Construction 2-piece
Cover Surlyn
Dimples 326
Feel Soft
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin High
Color options White; Yellow
  • Seamless cover technology
  • Gradational compression core

Very good option for people who are new to golf

Expert rating:

3.5
Best cheap golf balls for new golfers

Rrp: $37.95

Price: $32.00
Pinnacle are a manufacturer you may have expected to see featuring within the best cheap golf balls of 2024. Their Rush golf balls are brilliant distance golf balls that offer excellent value for money with one of the lowest costs per yard of any ball on the market.

Making the deal even sweeter with Pinnacle's Rush golf balls is that rather than only being a dozen, these balls come as standard as a 15-ball pack. If distance golf balls aren't your preference, and you favor a softer golf ball, Pinnacle's Soft golf balls are definitely worth trying for the same price as the Rush.

Read our full Pinnacle Rush golf balls review

Pros

  • Great distance for a low compression golf ball
  • Nice feedback from a distance golf ball
  • Very reasonably priced

Cons

  • Not suitable for those with quicker swing speeds
Construction 2-piece
Cover Ionomer
Dimples 332
Feel Soft
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Low
Color options White; Yellow
  • High-energy core
  • Icosahedral dimple design

Very durable cheap golf balls

Expert rating:

4.0
Best durable cheap golf balls
Price: $22.97
Alternative Retailers
Walmart
$22.97
DICK'S Sporting Goods
$22.99
PGA TOUR Superstore
$22.99
Golf Galaxy
$22.99
These golf balls are the supposed men's version of the Srixon Soft Feel Lady. They are the exact same golf ball as the female-focused model. These golf balls are the softest Srixon offers and with this, you might expect better greenside performance than what they display. However, you maybe can't expect too much from a ball aimed at beginners and high handicappers. For the price and compared to other similar golf balls they are a very good competitor.

Off the tee, they travel very strongly - especially into the wind. Soft Feels don't seem to be affected as much as other balls by rival manufacturers of this quality and specification. If you manage to keep a ball for a long time and they don't end up in the trees or the water you'll find these balls last very long because of how durable they are - definitely a factor of Srixon golf balls.

Read our full Srixon Soft Feel golf balls review

Pros

  • Very durable golf ball
  • Incredibly soft and responsive golf ball
  • Travels well in the wind

Cons

  • Would be nice to have a bit more greenside spin
Construction 2-piece
Cover Ionomer
Dimples 338
Feel Softer
Flight Mid-high
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Mid
Colour options White; Yellow
Alternative models Brite; Soft Feel Lady
  • Fastlayer core
  • Speed dimple pattern
  • Lower drag, higher lift

Best cheap golf balls: Buying Guide

How to choose the best cheap golf balls

Purchasing cheap golf balls doesn’t mean you’ll be playing with inferior golf balls, all of the best cheap golf balls outlined above are incredible options for the right golfers. As long as you have the game suited to playing with cheap golf balls then there’s no need to splash the cash on more premium models. When investing in cheap golf balls you still want to make certain considerations to ensure you find the right golf balls for your game – even if they are cheap you want them to be right.

Ability

Depending on how well you score and you’re ball striking ability this will influence whether or not you should be looking at the best cheap golf balls or something slightly more premium. Obviously, if you do just want to play with a cheap golf ball there’s nothing stopping you. It tends to be that cheap golf balls are targeted towards beginners and high handicap golfers, but that doesn’t mean better players can’t in order to save some money.

Performance

Playing with a cheap golf ball doesn’t mean you lose performance, as long as your game suits the ball you’re playing. For instance, you could have an 80mph driver swing speed and struggle to generate distance off the tee, in this case, a premium golf ball won’t benefit you, but perhaps the TaylorMade Distance+ or Pinnacle Rush might. Therefore, the performance of a cheap golf ball will be better than a premium golf ball for certain golfers.

Feel

With cheap golf balls, there is perhaps the preconception that they are all hard and very unresponsive. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The majority of the best cheap golf balls are soft and very responsive. Even those that aren’t soft, certainly aren’t hard but they remain responsive. Most golfers know whether they want a soft or firm golf ball – with the best cheap golf balls, you have plenty to choose from.

Durability

This is a massive factor when considering purchasing cheap golf balls. Depending on how durable a golf ball is directly correlates to how cost-effective it is. If a cheap golf ball isn’t very durable and lasts less than 9 holes then it isn’t very cheap because you’ll need to buy a lot more than a more expensive golf ball that you might get 2-3 rounds out of.

Best cheap golf balls: FAQs

How do I know what golf ball is best?

The only way to find out which balls are best for you is by trying as many options as possible. There are recommendations for every kind of golfer but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be the best for your game. Whatever golf ball you settle on being the best for you is the one that helps your game by making you shoot lower scores – regardless of price, feel, or even if your playing partners don’t concur.

What is the difference between cheap golf balls and expensive golf balls?

Depending on your playing ability you will either notice many differences between cheap golf balls and expensive golf balls, or you won’t see many. The main differences tend to be the material of the cover – cheaper balls tend to be made using either an ionomer or surlyn cover. Whereas expensive golf balls will sport a urethane cover. Another major difference is the number of layers, the more layers a golf ball has, the more expensive it will be.

When should you replace your golf ball?

Some golf ball manufacturers will recommend a time frame for each golf ball before it needs to be switched out for a fresh one. However, most of the time you’ll be able to tell yourself. When your ball starts to scuff or the paint starts to wear these are the key signs for you to retire that golf ball to the practice bag. If you see a difference in flight or performance this is also time to trade that ball for a new one.

How we test the best cheap golf balls

Thoroughly testing the best cheap golf balls is as important as testing the best premium golf balls – if not more. This is because when testing cheap golf balls they are perhaps scrutinized more due to their lower price. We are always looking at feel, performance, sound, spin, distance, and durability – the latter being very important for cheap golf balls.

Some of the best cheap golf balls were included in our extensive golf balls robot test which rigorously tests golf balls we either had sent by the brands or we purchased for the purpose of the test if the brands wouldn’t send in their products. As with all pieces of golf equipment, we test them on the course and off the course. If you want to read more about how we test golf equipment you can do so here.

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About the author

James Hogg is a Golf Equipment Writer for Today's Golfer, with expert knowledge in putters, golf balls, and apparel.

James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer

James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.

He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters, golf balls, and apparel.

James took up golf as a teenager and, thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee, he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club.

You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.