Best Golf Balls for Beginners and High Handicappers 2024
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As a beginner or high handicap golfer finding the right golf ball for your game can seriously improve your enjoyment and scores on the course
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If you are a beginner or high-handicap golfer, choosing which golf balls to play with can be overwhelming because of the extensive choice. Every manufacturer produces quality golf balls to suit different golfers. So if you are looking for the best golf balls you will find a representative from every major golfing brand.
Each ball aimed at beginners and high handicappers slightly differs in performance and technology. There are balls that feel softer or firmer than others. Also, some balls are designed to maximise distance whereas others are intended to maximise spin and control. Although distance might not be as prominent once the golf ball rollback starts to impact the balls you can buy on the shelves!
Depending on your game, this will influence which type of golf balls to play with. One thing you can guarantee from golf balls aimed at beginners and high handicappers is they are cheaper than any other range of golf balls.
The best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers 2024 at a glance:
Best overall golf ball for beginners and high handicappers: Srixon AD333 | View Offer
Best soft-feeling golf balls for beginners and high handicappers: Callaway Supersoft | View Offer
Best colourful golf balls for beginners and high handicappers: TaylorMade SpeedSoft | View Offer
Best distance golf balls for beginners and high handicappers: Titleist Velocity | View Offer
As a beginner or high-handicap golfer, it doesn’t mean you have to play with golf balls tailored to your playing ability. If you want to play with a ball packed with more technology or with a urethane cover then you want to be considering the best premium golf balls, which do come at a greater cost.
Regardless of whether you are looking for the best distance golf balls or any other type of golf balls, what we want to ensure is you are finding the best value golf balls for your game.
To help you choose, we have compiled a list of the best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers and there’s a detailed buying guide you can read to assist you in your decision making.
Best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers 2024
A very popular golf ball which can be attributed to price and performance
Best overall golf ball for beginners and high handicappers
In our 2023 robot test, the AD333 was very impressive, and the results highlighted why this is such a good option for beginners and high-handicappers. The AD333 produced very similar numbers to those achieved by three-piece golf balls. The main reason the AD333 remains at such an affordable price is because it sports an ionomer cover which is slightly clicky compared to a urethane cover.
Read our full Srixon AD333 golf balls review.
Pros
- Kept up with three-piece golf balls in our 2023 robot test
- Long distance off the tee
- Durable golf ball
Cons
- Doesn't make the most appealing sound off the clubface
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 338 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid-high |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid-high |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- Fatslayer core
- Spin skin with SeRM
- Speed dimple pattern
A soft golf ball great for high handicappers and beginners with slow swing speeds
Best soft feeling golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
Rrp: $24.99
Rrp: $24.99
Around the greens the Supersoft is arguably the best ball for beginners and high handicappers, the importance of playing good golf around and on the greens cannot be overstated and this ball may just help chalking shots off in your short game. The Supersoft performs well in the short game because of its high greenside spin and with short irons, its soft feeling makes it incredibly responsive and off the putter face it rolls very true. Off the tee this ball flies very well (and far) - for those with the optimum swing speed.
If you like the sound of the Supersoft but have a quicker swing speed try the ERC Soft or Chromesoft.
Read our full Callaway Supersoft golf balls review
Pros
- Really soft golf ball offering great feel
- Easy to get in the air for golfers with slower swing speeds because of low compression
- Long and straight off the tee for slower swing speeds
Cons
- Unsuitable for golfers with quick swing speeds
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Hybrid |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Feel | Super soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow; Matte green; Matte red; Matte orange; Matte pink |
| Alternative models | Limited edition |
- Hyperelastic softfast core
- Hybrid cover
- Hex aerodynamics
Vibrant, long, fast, and soft
Best colourful golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
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 |
| Colour options | Blue; Green; Red; Pink |
| Alternative models | SpeedSoft |
- New PWRCORE technology
- Soft Sub 50 Compression
- 322 Extended Flight Dimple Pattern
Wilson's softest low-compression golf ball
Best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers to easily compress
Rrp: $19.97
Rrp: $19.97
The Duo Soft is also a really strong performer off the tee with good distance and ball flight which ranks it highly amongst all golf balls it's a competitor to. If you prefer a firmer feeling golf ball you are best steering clear of the Wilson Duo Soft and looking at some of the other balls listed.
However, if you do try this ball the performance will not disappoint. There are plenty of frequent good golfers who opt for the Duo Soft. Although, those with quicker swing speeds will benefit from playing the Wilson Triad or Staff Model.
Read our full Wilson Duo Soft golf balls review
Pros
- Incredibly soft feel
- Long distance off the tee for a ball of this nature
- Impressive spin rates
Cons
- Soft feeling might not be to everyone's liking
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 302 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid |
| Colour options | White; Yellow; Green; Orange; Red |
- Velocity boosting core
- Low compression core
Titleist's model that revolves around increasing distance
Best distance golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
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.
Certain beginners and high-handicap golfers won't need to play with a distance golf ball like Velocity because they produce enough distance with a non-distance golf ball. However, for those of you who struggle to keep up with your playing partners, Velocity is a brilliant model to game.
Read our full Titleist Velocity golf balls review.
Pros
- Great feel for a distance golf ball
- Very impressive length
- Excellent value
Cons
- Does struggle to generate spin, but it's expected
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 350 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Low |
| Colour options | White; Matte Orange; Matte Green |
- A high-speed LSX Core
- A fast NaZ+ cover
- Spherically-tiled 350 octahedral dimple design
A distance golf ball helping you line up your putts on the green
Best alignment golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
This ball is not only a good ball on the greens but also when approaching with decent spin and control in the short game. Stepping back to the tee box, the Distance+ travels very well and long (being a distance golf ball). TaylorMade are a golfing giant that produces quality equipment, and even their two-piece golf balls for beginners and high handicappers are brilliant examples of their fine work.
Read our full TaylorMade Distance+ golf balls review
Pros
- Enhanced alignment aid
- Very versatile golf ball which suits a wide range of golfers
- Soft distance ball with good levels of spin and control in the short game
Cons
- Alignment aid might be too much for some golfers
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 342 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid-high |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- Plus alignment aid
- Soft REACT core
- Aerodynamic dimple pattern
A great distance golf ball for beginners and high handicappers which won't break the bank
Best affordable golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
Rrp: $24.70
Rrp: $24.70
Srixon are very well known in golf for their excellent golf balls to suit a wide range of golfers. Although, their balls tailored for beginners and high handicappers are perhaps their most popular.
Read our full Srixon Distance golf balls review
Pros
- Good long game performance
- Surprisingly soft feel for a distance golf ball
- Respectable spin and control in the short game
- Brilliant value for money
Cons
- Not suitable for golfers with slower swing speeds
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 324 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- Fastlayer core
- Speed dimple pattern
- Durable ionomer cover
Great golf balls at a great price, considering there are 15-balls in a pack
Best 15-ball pack of golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
Rrp: $30.76
Rrp: $30.76
Since Pinnacle golf balls first began being manufactured in 1972, their reputation for producing quality golf balls for high handicappers and beginners has continuously strengthened. We were blown away by how well the Rush golf balls performed in our 2023 robot test, they compete with three-piece golf balls in all areas - even with spin firing into greens.
Read our full Pinnacle Rush golf balls review
Pros
- Great distance
- Impressive spin and control for a distance ball
- Very reasonably priced
Cons
- Feel isn't the best
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Low |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- High-energy core
- Icosahedral dimple design
A low-flying golf ball perfect for beginners and high handicappers who struggle with too much height
Best low-flight golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
This ball travels exceptionally well off the tee - thanks to its penetrating ball flight. However, in the short game, it does lack some performance regarding spin and control, although you do still get a soft responsive feel. The alignment aid on the TruFeel is very good, my personal favorite of all Titleist golf balls, and makes it easy to line up putts.
Read our full Titleist TruFeel golf balls review
Pros
- Low-penetrating ball flight
- Brilliant ball in windy conditions
- Incredibly soft feel
Cons
- Struggle to generate spin in short game
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | TruFlex |
| Dimples | 376 |
| Feel | Very soft |
| Flight | Low |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Low |
| Colour options | White; Yellow; Red |
- TruTouch Core
- 2.0 TruFlex Cover
- Spherically-tiled 376 tetrahedral dimple design
Perfect ball for beginners and high handicappers who find it hard to hit fairways
Best straight-flight golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
Rrp: $34.99
Rrp: $34.99
Beginners and high handicappers are likely to lose balls (as are all golfers), so having a ball which is more likely to find the fairway is certainly a plus. The e12 Contact is very soft and provides a solid feel through impact. Around the greens and when approaching, this ball doesn't provide the most spin, but there is a lot of control. Available in multiple colors, this is a very good ball to play year-round.
Read our full Bridgestone e12 Contact golf balls review
Pros
- Impressively straight ball flight
- High contact with every club face for more control
- Good distance off the tee
Cons
- Not much spin in the short game
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Surlyn |
| Dimples | 326 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Low |
| Colour options | White; Matte yellow; Matte green; Matte red |
- Flexativ cover technology
- Contact force dimple
- Active acceleration mantle
- Gradational compression core
Very durable golf balls ideal for beginners and high handicappers
Best durable golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
As well as being durable, the Soft Feel is Srixon's softest golf ball and it feels really pure and responsive off the club face. This ball travels well off the tee, especially into the wind, because it is designed to reduce drag, having been made more aerodynamically. Around the greens, the ball is responsive, but it doesn't spin as much as you might expect from a soft golf ball. Nevertheless, the Soft Feel is still a strong golf ball you should consider gaming.
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 | Mide |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
| Alternative models | Brite; Soft Feel Lady |
- Fastlayer core
- Speed dimple pattern
- Lower drag, higher lift
Exceptional ball in all departments for beginners and high handicappers
Best all-round golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
The price for a dozen e6 golf balls is very reasonable for a ball with such high all-round performance, despite it only being a two-piece golf ball. This ball is best suited to beginners and high handicappers due to the technology within the ball. However, better players with more moderate swing speeds may also improve their scores playing with the e6.
Read our full Bridgestone e6 golf balls review
Pros
- Great value ball for moderate and slower swing speeds
- Soft feeling golf ball providing good feedback from every club
- Long distance and high greenside spin
Cons
- Dispersion increases if your swing speed is too quick
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Surlyn |
| Dimples | 326 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- Seamless cover technology
- Gradational compression core
Best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers: Buying guide
Whether you’re new to golf or playing off a high handicap it can be difficult to figure out exactly what the best golf ball is for you, and speaking frankly, there isn’t going to be just one model that is head and shoulders above the rest. Every golf ball manufacturer from Titleist and Callaway to Wilson and Srixon offers golf balls for a wide range of players. Depending on your wants and needs you’ll be able to find an ideal option from any of the top producers of golf balls.
It probably goes without saying, but the best golf balls any golfer can play with is one of the best premium golf balls because they are packed with technology to help all golfers obtain more from their golf ball. The best premium golf balls feature a minimum of three layers and can sport up to a five-piece construction. All Tour players reach for premium golf balls because of their unmatched performance.
As a beginner or high-handicap golfer, you might be thinking, why do I need a premium golf ball? It’s a good question, and potentially you don’t need to be playing with one of the best premium golf balls, but there’s definitely no harm in teeing it up with a Titleist Pro V1, TaylorMade TP5, or Callaway Chrome Tour. One thing all golfers can guarantee from a premium golf ball is outstanding performance that’ll please golfers of all standards – even if you’re a beginner.
There are specific golf balls tailor-made for beginners and high-handicappers whether that be the best golf balls for beginners and high-handicappers or the best cheap golf balls, both are arguably most suitable for newbies because they’re the most inexpensive golf balls and it’s inevitable that beginners and high-handicappers will lose golf balls during their round. However, so do the best golfers in the world!
Here are the main factors on how to choose a golf ball for beginners and high handicap golfers…
Feel
One factor that always plays a part in golfers’ decision-making when it comes to golf balls is feel – here’s a quick crash course in feel. Golf balls tend to be categorized as soft or firm in feel, but you do get some that claim to be softer, softest, firmer, or mid (somewhere Goldilocks would appreciate). The majority of golfers prefer soft-feeling golf balls because of the pleasant sensation they deliver off the clubface.
I’m definitely in the minority as a fan of firm-feeling golf balls, but I appreciate the stronger feedback and sound at impact. There isn’t a direct correlation between feel and performance, by this I mean it isn’t the case that soft golf balls are better around the greens and firm golf balls are better off the tee – this relates more to the construction.
If you’re unsure as to which feel you favor you can always find out by sampling firm and soft golf balls. However, you’re much better off having no preference and playing with the best golf balls for you, whether they’re firm or soft.
It’s worth noting that firm doesn’t feel like you’re smashing a rock around the golf course.
Alignment
Golfers all over the planet miss fairways and putts due to poor alignment, so finding a golf ball that works for you and has an enhanced alignment tool you can take advantage of feels like a win-win.
There are more and more golf balls entering the marketplace season after season that have been overhauled with an enhanced alignment aid, and they do work! You can use the alignment aids to help you line your ball up on the tee and on the putting green.
I’m definitely in favor of alignment aids on golf balls but I can see why some golfers would find them off-putting. The only way to find out whether you like them or not is by giving them a go. One of the most profound alignment aids on a golf ball is that on the TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe which sports a 360° ClearPath Alignment aid. Whereas a more subtle alignment aid can be found on the Titleist AVX.
Colour
When you play a round of golf it’s highly likely that over 90% of the people on the course will be playing with a white golf ball, but there are other colours to choose from. Most people will play with a white golf ball because it’s viewed as the norm.
There’s no harm in playing with a more vibrant colour unless it negatively impacts your game. Chances are it wouldn’t, if anything, it could positively impact your game because it should be easier to see than a white ball.
You can buy golf balls in all sorts of colours from your usual solid yellow to multi-coloured paint-splattered golf balls. Adding a splash of colour to your golf ball might not only make it easier to see, but it could also make it easier to identify.
Spin
Ideally, every golf ball would produce low-spin off the tee and high-spin in your approach game. However, not all golf balls are designed that way. The majority of golf balls are designed to produce low-driver spin and generate distance off the tee, but not all golf balls are manufactured to generate high spin from irons and wedges.
Price generally correlates to short-game spin. Budget golf balls will generate less short-game spin than expensive golf balls but there might not be much difference in your long-game spin. During a ball fitting at Titleist, I discovered that a Titleist Pro V1x and Titleist Velocity performed very similarly with my driver, but with a 7-iron the spin dropped slightly with the Velocity, then with a 60° wedge the spin fell massively with the Velocity.
Spin in the golf ball comes from the combination of layers within the golf ball reacting with one another, hence why more expensive golf balls spin more in approach play because they consist of more layers and the technology is more refined. Cheaper golf balls tend to consist of two layers, the cover and core. Therefore they don’t have the number of layers required to produce astronomical spin when attacking pins.
Another factor that helps to enhance spin is the cover material. Golf balls with a urethane cover naturally spin more because it’s a more flexible material compared to ionomer or surlyn which doesn’t create as much friction with the clubface as urethane does. Once again, it’s more expensive golf balls that feature urethane covers to generate higher spin on approach shots.
Spin is massively important because it can either make you hit and hold a green or hit and fly over the green. The best golf balls for spin are by far premium golf balls closely followed by golf balls for mid-handicappers because they feature much of the technology found in Tour standard golf balls. If you feel as though you need high levels of spin when attacking greens you could save some money by purchasing one of the best value golf balls.
Budget
Beginners and high-handicappers arguably don’t need to spend as much on golf balls as seasoned golfers, therefore, you can afford to have a lower budget. While budgeting is worthwhile, you always don’t want to stoop too low and limit yourself to golf balls that lack quality.
I would say that there are other areas where budgeting is more of a necessity. If you play with one of the best premium golf balls compared to one of the best distance golf balls, you will notice a difference – regardless of your ability – in the feel, performance, and your score.
Budgeting when buying golf equipment is never bad but I believe you’re better off splashing on golf balls than you are with other pieces of golf equipment.
The market for the best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers is incredibly competitive. Therefore, it is important to factor in as many considerations as possible before purchasing golf balls to ensure you find the best for your game.
Performance
This is in reference to the performance of the golf ball for the individual. Obviously, every golf ball performs slightly differently, but the most differences are seen from golfer to golfer. Golf balls are tailored to different golfers and if you are playing with a ball not suited to your playing ability or playing style it may be hampering your scoring. If you are unsure which golf balls will perform best for you, ball fittings are available and can help you find the perfect golf ball to lower your scores
Best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers: FAQs
How do I choose the best golf balls as a beginner or high handicapper?
If you don’t know which golf ball will best suit your golf game, there are a couple of ways to determine which golf balls will work for you. You can try and work it out yourself through trial and error, but as a beginner or high-handicap golfer, I would suggest asking for expert advice or having a ball fitting.
Can beginners and high handicappers use premium golf balls?
Of course, any golfer can play with any golf ball they wish. However, if you were to ask should instead of can, my answer would be a definitive no. For beginners and high-handicap golfers, there is very little need to play with premium golf balls because it’s unlikely they will unlock the full potential of the golf ball. Beginners and high handicappers are better off playing with cheaper golf balls which are more attuned to their game.
What is the difference between soft and distance golf balls?
The main difference is that distance golf balls are designed to maximise distance, whereas soft golf balls are intended to maximise spin and control. Distance balls tend to be firmer than soft golf balls, although you can purchase distance balls that have a soft feeling off the club face. Soft golf balls – as you would imagine – feel soft off the club face, and unlike distance golf balls which are soft, you can’t get soft balls that are firm. There is no right or wrong as to which ball you prefer, simply just which is best for your golf game.
How we test the best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
Beginners and high-handicap golfers may know what ball they want to play, alternatively, there will be those golfers who are still searching for the best golf balls for their game. To help as many golfers as possible in their quest for finding the ultimate golf balls for them we test every golf ball we can both on and off the course. This year we have taken our testing further, by conducting our second golf balls robot test.
When testing the best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers we are looking at performance, feel, sound, durability, distance, and spin – along with other elements specific to individual golf balls. As with any piece of golf equipment, we ensure we thoroughly test every item we are provided with or purchase ourselves. You can find out how we test golf equipment by following this link.
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About the author
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.
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Best Golf Balls for Beginners and High Handicappers 2024
