Our guide to the best golf balls for high handicappers tackles a broad range of features, including distance, feel, accuracy, and the corresponding price tag of the golf equipment.
When you’re still classified as a beginner or high handicapper, it’s essential that you choose golf balls that help make up for the apparent flaws in your golf swing. They shouldn’t just be popular among players of your skill level but also help bring your handicap level down to single digits. With that being said, here are the top golf balls you’d want to consider as a high-handicapper:
At a Glance: Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers 2023
- BRIDGESTONE E12 CONTACT GOLF BALL – (Best Overall Golf Ball)
- WILSON TRIAD GOLF BALL – (Best for Game Improvement)
- WILSON SMART CORE (Best Budget Golf Ball)
- TAYLORMADE SOFT RESPONSE (Best for Beginner Golfers)
- TITLEIST VELOCITY (Best Golf Ball for Distance)
- MIZUNO RB566 (Best Value for the Money)
- TITLEIST TOUR SOFT (Best Quality Golf Ball)
- CALLAWAY 2019 ERC SOFT TRIPLE TRACK (Most Forgiving Golf Ball)
- SRIXON SOFT FEEL (Best for Slow Swing Speed)
- CALLAWAY SUPERSOFT (Best Golf Ball for Ladies)
Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers 2023
Bridgestone E12 Contact Golf Ball
Specifications:
- 3-piece construction
- High-performance polymer material
- Low (50) compression
- Available in different colors – white, matte yellow, matte red, and matte green
| PROS | CONS |
| Contact dimples allow increased contact during impact, resulting in a better energy transfer | Straighter ball flight doesn’t help you shape your shots |
| Slightly lower spin than prior e12 models effectively reduces unnecessary sidespin | Workability is less than those of similarly priced balls |
| Features a gradational soft core that promotes improved spin around the greens |
If you’re looking to straighten up your ball flight, you should add the Bridgestone e12 Contact ball to your bag for its straightening effect. When chipping and pitching, the e12 does a good job remaining on the face a bit longer and is remarkably soft and responsive. There’s also an extraordinary amount of feel for a mid-range, mid-price ball.
E12 contact balls are available in white, matte green, matte red, and matte yellow and come with a reasonable price tag of around $30 per dozen. It will benefit players who wish to hit longer shots and locate more fairways.
Wilson Triad Golf Ball
Specifications:
- 3-piece construction with ultra-thin raw cover
- 85 compression
- Only available in one color — white
| PROS | CONS |
| Helps ensure consistent ball flight | Doesn’t offer as much greenside spin as premium, Tour-level golf balls |
| Provides good distance in the long game | |
| Has a soft feel off the putter |
Wilson’s Triad golf ball is created for players who want the feel and control of a urethane model without the premium cost of a Tour golf ball.
The ball’s design is of an all-rounder for “the competitive golfer trying to break 80.” According to Wilson, the ball’s construction delivers high speed and low spin off the driver and long irons and a more stable trajectory for improved accuracy.
Of course, the ultra-thin urethane cover should allow for exceptional spin control in the short irons and wedges. Finally, the Triad features uniform density throughout all three layers for a superior roll on the greens.
Wilson Smart Core
Specifications:
- 2-piece construction
- Smart core technology
- Ionomer Cover Material
- Auto-adjust spin for long and short shots
- 24 golf balls per pack
| PROS | CONS |
| Affordable, mid-compression (85) golf balls | Only available in white |
| Durable cover material that lasts long in range conditions | |
| Suitable up to mid-handicappers |
These Smart Core golf balls can be great practice balls for anyone attempting to lower their handicap score. They have a two-piece construction and have around 400 dimples. The most significant aspect is that their core is smart enough to adjust to a long and short golf game.
In long shots where slicing happens frequently, these balls can minimize spin and air drag to fly directly to the spot and garner you more yards. Meanwhile, in short games, they can generate spins to better control ball flight.
The only disadvantage of these Wilson Smart Core balls is their color. Since they’re only available in white, you need to switch to another ball that’s more visible if you play on a course with many leaves and bushes or during winter.
Taylormade Soft Response
Specifications:
- 3-piece construction
- Low (60) compression
- Ionomer Cover
- 12 golf balls per pack
- Available in white, yellow, and red
| PROS | CONS |
| Has a soft feel, yet dominant distance | Players with faster swings may notice a drop off in their driver distance |
| Ball flight and side spin are easy to control | Red matte balls can be difficult to find on certain surfaces like brownish grass |
| Can be used by players with slow to moderate swing speeds |
As a high-handicapper, it’s better to start playing with premium golf balls that are available in multiple colors and under $25. The Taylormade Soft Response fits this billing. What you will get are 3-piece balls with ultra-low compression that come in three different colors.
You will find their ultra-low compression to be beneficial, especially if you don’t have a high swing speed. You can hit the ball weakly, and it will still fly straight and get you the distance you want. That alone makes them among the best balls for beginners.
Often, other players choose balls with less spin so they can easily manage their flight and fix their slices and hooks. The Soft Response balls’ unique U-shape reduces air drag, allowing them to remain in the air longer and provide better ball contact.
Titleist Velocity
Specifications:
- 2-piece construction
- 328 round dimples in different sizes
- Side stamp design
- Available in four colors — 1 gloss and 3 mattes
- Twelve balls per pack
| PROS | CONS |
| Incredibly low long game spin | Players with slower swing speeds may find the golf balls not soft enough |
| Easy to locate on any course | |
| Easily provides a longer distance |
These balls are designed for players with a mid-swing speed who don’t want to hit something overly soft. They still provide a great feel off the tee while keeping the cover durable enough to last longer than standard balls.
The Velocity balls were advertised as having a low long-game spin. That means you’ll be able to watch your ball flight more clearly after hitting it. It can both cure errant shots and assist you in improving your golf swing. Furthermore, these balls can bring back additional yards even if you hit them with your driver.
These Velocity balls are spherical and contain 328 dimples. This design can reduce air drag, increase launch, and let the ball fly more smoothly. If money isn’t an issue, you can put your trust in Titleist items like these Velocity balls.
Mizuno Rb566
Specifications:
- 2-piece construction
- 556 dimples with unique patterns
- High-quality ionomer cover and rubber core
- Available in white
- 12 balls per pack
| PROS | CONS |
| Air drag that’s twice lower than the usual | Only available in white |
| Easier ball flight control | Not ideal for players with high swing speed |
| Comes at an affordable price |
Dimple patterns on golf balls create an aerodynamic surface that reduces air drag and contributes to a smoother ball flight. They can even affect the direction of the ball. Typically, a good golf ball has 300 to 400 dimples.
The Mizuno RB566 has over 500 dimples with distinct designs. Every single one of the 350 larger patterns contains a micro round dimple. It means that air drag is twice as high, and golfers have much better ball flight control.
These balls have a two-piece construction and feature a thin ionomer cover and a large rubber core. Mizuno is a known manufacturer of durable baseball gloves. When they say their golf balls last longer, there’s evidence that we can trust their technology.
Last but not least, RB566 balls are inexpensive. Losing a few golf balls won’t break your heart or wallet since a dozen of these costs less than $25.
Titleist Tour Soft
Specifications:
- 2-piece construction
- Low (65) compression
- Available in two gloss colors
- 432 different-sized round dimples
- Side stamp design
- 12 balls per pack
| PROS | CONS |
| Low long game spin for easier ball flight control | Not soft enough for players with slow swing speeds |
| 44 dimples more than a ProV1 for a higher launch and smoother flight | |
| Beneficial for alignment purposes | |
| Suited for players with a high to mid handicap |
The new Titleist Tour Soft are two-piece construction golf balls with an ultra-large core designed for a combination of distance and soft feel. They aim to provide an all-around performance while living at a price just below the top of the pyramid.
It’s well known that the thinner the cover and the softer the core, the longer the golfers can go. These balls also have a greater launch than other premium golf ball options under the Titleist brand.
Each Tour Soft ball has 432 dimples, which is 44 more than a ProV1. This design can make the ball fly even smoother and provide more control and feel in short games.
These balls are a great choice if you’re looking to achieve greater distances.
Callaway 2019 Erc Soft Triple Track
Specifications:
- 3-piece construction
- Multi-hybrid material covering
- Low (60) compression
- 322 hexagon-shaped dimples
- Dual-speed core with graphene infusion
- Triple-track technology
- Available in two color choices (all gloss)
| PROS | CONS |
| Soft feel, straight flight, and maximum forgiveness | Not the most ideal choice for chipping |
| High launch for greater distance | |
| Triple lines are useful for placing alignment |
The ERC golf balls are one of the most forgiving with a soft feeling, straight flight, longest distance, and high visibility yellow color in the Callaway soft range. These balls have a three-piece construction and showcase breakthrough technologies in both material and design.
The ERC ball’s cover is made of a multi-hybrid polymer called Polybutadiene made up of both ionomer and urethane. This hybrid cover can accentuate the benefits of both materials while minimizing their disadvantages. It means that the ERC ball can absorb force and convert it into energy more quickly.
Another distinctive feature of these ERC balls is the side stamp design. When other golf balls only have one line on the side, Callaway upgraded their ERC golf balls to three lines. It becomes handy when putting, especially for high handicappers.
Srixon Soft Feel
Specifications:
- 2-piece construction
- 338 round dimples in various sizes
- Low (60) compression
- Available in two color choices
- Thin ionomer covering
- 12 balls per pack
| PROS | CONS |
| Excellent balls for senior golfers and slower swing-speed players | Not ideal for players with mid or high swing speeds |
| Provide a softer feel, straighter flight, and greater distance | |
| The bright colors of the balls make them easier to track and find on the golf course |
For a while now, the Srixon Soft Feel has been a reliable and popular ball – it’s easily the brand’s most affordable and popular offering.
It’s a two-piece ball with a FastLayer Core and a soft and thin ionomer cover, but it feels and performs far better than you’d expect from such a simple design, when compared to the many three, four, and five-layer balls on the market).
Further, the 60 compression helps the Soft Feel truly live up to its name, as it feels and sounds incredibly soft in both the long and short game. Even when compared to more costly balls on the market, it’s difficult to find an issue with the feel. Bottomline is, the Soft Feel just feels right.
You can also count on it to perform on the course admirably. Its length is impressive, and the 338 Speed Dimple Pattern ensures a remarkably stable flight. It launches through the bag at a great height and produces optimal control on approach shots.
Callaway Supersoft
Specifications:
- 2-piece construction
- Ultra-low (40) compression core
- 332 hexagon-shaped dimples in various sizes
- Available in five colors — 1 gloss and 4 mattes
- 12 balls per pack
| PROS | CONS |
| Helps improve lift for greater carry and distance | Too soft for practice using your driver |
| Soft feeling and extremely forgiving | |
| Increases your greenside control |
If you’re looking for the best lady golf balls, you can strongly consider the Callaway Supersoft. They’re the softest balls from Callaway and provide the most forgiveness. They’re available in five high-visibility colors and an ultra-low compression core of 40.
While many manufacturers sell individual lady balls on the market, there are those that are only available in pink or feature a lower compression than the originals ones.
Luckily, with the Callaway Supersoft balls, lady golfers can choose whatever color they like, including yellow and white.
The revolutionary Trigonometry cover formulation is responsible for the softer feel that these balls bring. An ionomer is used as the outer covering of a two-piece construction. It can aid in direct ball flight and improve greenside control.
The only downside of the Supersoft balls is its thinner cover with a bigger core can be a disadvantage. If you plan on practicing with drivers, the surface will be scuffed and won’t last long.
As a result, you’ll need to find separate balls with a firmer cover to do so.
What does the best golf ball for high handicappers look like?
A fairly common assumption in golf is that high handicappers don’t swing as fast or hit as far compared to lower handicappers. While this is often true, there are high handicappers whose game shows otherwise, and their power is just betrayed at times by greenside skills that need improvement or wayward hitting.
With this factor in mind, coming up with the best golf balls for high handicappers just got slightly trickier than it seems to be. For sure, focusing on just one factor would be an error. That’s why such a list can’t only contain golf balls that are designed to go further, although distance is indeed one of the most pressing requirements for many high handicappers.
Keeping in mind these characteristics when buying golf balls is a surefire way to make your game easier and your overall golfing experience more pleasant.
To help you achieve just that, we made a list of the characteristics that you need to keep in mind when purchasing your set of golf balls.
Construction
One of the primary characteristics of a golf ball is its construction. Standard golf ball constructions are classified as 1-piece, 2-piece, 3-piece, and so on. Every construction differs in terms of characteristics and how they affect the behavior of the ball.
As a high-handicapper, you’d want to look for either 2 or 3-piece golf balls since their construction allows for low compression and improved flight. Finally, consider the number of layers present in the ball’s anatomy. Keep in mind that the more layers there are, the lower the spin will be.
Outer Cover
It’s also essential to pay attention to the outer covering of a golf ball as this characteristic dictates how it will behave in-game. If you’re after straighter flights, surlyn covering is the obvious choice. Meanwhile, once you’re ready for a bit of spin as your skill advances, urethane-covered golf balls make the best purchase option.
Ultimately, your choice for outer covering will come down to your current requirements and your skill level as a player.
Spin
This characteristic is hugely dependent on the way the golf ball is constructed. Typically, the more layers it has, and the deeper the dimples are, the more spin the ball gives out, the lesser distance it covers, and vice-versa.
As a high handicapper, the ideal golf ball for you should be one with shallow dimples. Also, make sure to look for one that gives out lesser spin and covers a greater distance. Professional players commonly prefer golf balls with faster spin because of their advanced ball control skills.
Distance
As we mentioned previously, how a golf ball is constructed determines the distance that it can cover. So if you’re after covering a greater distance with slower swings, a 2-piece or 3-piece golf ball should be your choice, as many high handicappers do.
Remember that the fewer layers a golf ball has, the greater the distance it can cover. So with your current skill level, you’ll be able to cover enough distance on slower swings with a 2-piece golf ball.
Dimples
Another component of a golf ball that you shouldn’t overlook is its dimples, specifically their number, width, and depth. All these factors determine the drag, spin, and reaction of the golf ball when struck. Since you’re looking to be consistent with making distance shots at slower swing speeds at this stage, the ideal golf ball for you has shallow dimples.
Once you develop a faster swing, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go for a ball with deeper dimples that will introduce a little more drag and spin.
Budget
Last but not least is the budget. At this stage, you’re looking to improve your handicap. That’s why it’s a smart move to analyze your spending abilities before purchasing your set of golf balls. The first rule that you need to remember is that more expensive equipment doesn’t always mean better quality golf balls or superior features. There will be instances when certain equipment, regardless if they’re more expensive, may not match your current skill or needs.
What you can do is take the time to compare the features that different golf balls offer. While you’re at it, also make sure of your current golf ball needs as you analyze the respective prices per brand. By doing this, you’re ensuring yourself the best golf balls for high handicappers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a high handicap in golf?
In golf terminology, handicap is the means to determine your ability as a golfer with a corresponding numerical calculation. As a general rule, the lower your handicap number is, the better you’re considered as a player, and vice-versa. Through the handicap system, golfers are ranked based on their ability while considering the golfer’s scores and the difficulty of their playing terrain.
If you have a high handicap, your score is usually higher than 20, with the world average somewhere around 100. Anyone with a handicap that’s lower than 10 is considered a professional.
Is there a specific color of a golf ball that I should pick?
When it comes to color, white is the most prevalent among golf balls worldwide. As a high handicapper, though, we suggest that you opt for a different color while still lacking the required proper skills.
The more common colors for golf balls outside of white are yellow and neon colors such as orange or even multi-patterned ones. Orange or yellow-colored balls provide you with better visibility and make it easier to find them on the course.
Does the spin rate of my golf ball matter?
Undoubtedly, it does. It’s for this reason that advanced players and professionals prefer golf balls with a higher spin rate.
As a high handicapper, you should use golf balls with a low spin rate for the meantime. The higher its spin rate, the greater the distance the golf ball will sacrifice. Therefore, golf balls with a high spin rate require a higher set of skills to achieve optimum results.
Which golf balls are best for high handicappers?
The answer to this depends in large part on your particular needs. Usually, you’ll experience more significant trouble as a high handicapper with swing speed and ball control.
Since this is the case, a golf ball that features a significant amount of forgiveness with a low spin rate that will cover greater distances over slow swings is ideal.
Key Takeaways
As a high handicapper, you can simplify each game you play down to those few shots you can keep and those that you need to eliminate. Always remember that not every golf ball fits, especially if you have a slower swing speed or a high handicap. Look for low-compression golf balls with a softer feel that maximizes distance.
Once you find the best golf balls for high handicappers you like, go ahead and stockpile them. Purchase them in dozens and put them away somewhere.
Lastly, bear in mind that finding a golf ball that suits you best is part of the journey and just as important as using each piece of equipment you have the right way.
See related article: Best Golf Balls for Seniors
