Best Golf Balls for Beginners and High Handicappers 2020 to Boost Distance
The problem with using secondhand or practice golf balls is that they’re not always engineered for the slower swing speeds of high-handicap and beginner golfers. Now I understand if you’re on a budget and can’t afford to buy the best golf balls for beginners & high handicappers. But you should know that not all of them are pricey.
When you belong to the category of high handicappers and beginners, it’s very important to choose golf balls that make up for the flaws in your golf swing. Balls that bring your handicap level to single digits not only exist but are quite popular among players always looking for different methods to improve their golf scores.
So if you’re one of them, then how about I introduce you to the best of the lot!
Table of Contents
- Top 10 Golf Ball Reviews for Beginner and High-Handicap Golfers
- 1. Titleist Velocity Prior Generation Golf Balls
- 2. Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls
- 3. TaylorMade Tour Response Golf Ball
- 4. Vice Pro Plus Golf Balls
- 5. TaylorMade Project Golf Balls
- 6. Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls
- 7. Pinnacle Soft Golf Balls
- 8. Srixon AD333 Golf Balls
- 9. Snell MTB-X Golf Balls
- 10. Bridgestone E6 Soft Golf Balls
- Things to Look for When Buying Golf Balls
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Note
Top 10 Golf Ball Reviews for Beginner and High-Handicap Golfers
1. Titleist Velocity Prior Generation Golf Balls
- Explosive initial Velocity for powerful distance
- Low long game spin
- Soaring flight for remarkable carry and roll
When you need assistance, it’s always best to rely on professionals. And a brand like Titleist is nothing but a community of golfing experts who know how to fill in the gaps often created by some or the other flaw in your gameplay.
So for high handicappers and beginners who can’t generate enough distance because of their slower swing speed, Titleist presents Velocity Prior Generation that offers the fastest and largest core ever. This, no doubt, maximizes the carry distance like no other. The larger LSX core gives you greater ball speed on every shot.
And even the cover system is re-engineered for promoting high launch combined with a steep descent angle for enough stopping power on the green. So you’re looking at a playable feel and commanding distance in your short game.
Key Features
2. Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls
- Improved core designed to promote faster ball speed and low spin for longer,...
- New Premium HEX Aerodynamics with more refined surface contours reduces drag and...
- New Tri ionomer cover formulation increases softness for better feel and more shot...
A great deal for the money, Callaway SuperSoft offers an amazing feel. And this is very useful for high handicap and beginner golfers. Extremely soft, which means you gain greater shot-stopping wedge spin, apart from the better feel of course.
The soft landing and even height on 75 yards and below shots are the key takeaways. I don’t know how any golfer could be discontented with these Callaway golf balls at such a price point. Especially since they feature the brand’s exclusive Hex aerodynamics for increased carry distance.
Key Features
3. TaylorMade Tour Response Golf Ball
- 100% soft Tour cast urethane cover creates better spin, feel and durability
- High spring core provides effortless compression for faster speed and longer distance
- Increased groove interaction generates high wedge spin and soft feel around the...
As a beginner and/or high-handicap golfer, it’s likely that you’re struggling with generating enough distance. Now, how about yet another common struggle of looking for low-compression golf balls with a urethane cover? Does that sound familiar too? If yes, then you can put an end to that search right now.
Welcome TaylorMade Tour Response Golf Balls into your game with open arms because these are simply perfect for players with a slower swing speed. The ball works in your favor on long shots. In fact, you can also quite effortlessly stick it and spin it in your short game.
Tour Response may not be the cheapest, but it’s certainly well worth the price.
Key Features
4. Vice Pro Plus Golf Balls
- 4-Piece With Cast Urethane Cover
- Highly Durable 336 Dimple Design
- Dual Casting For Extra Distance And Lower Ball Flight
This is Pro Plus Lime by Vice, a brand that also offers Pro Plus Red and Pro Plus White. Red is for a stable ball flight trajectory. White is for controllable, high-degree backspin. And the current Lime golf balls are for extra distance. Even if the weather on the golf course is wet, cold, and/or windy, the balls perform exceptionally well.
You can achieve great flight right off the tee with an over-average distance. You’re highly likely to be surprised by the play of Vice golf balls on the green as well.
Moreover, the lime color makes it easier for you to track the ball when in flight. Also, this bright color precisely meets your putting plus alignment needs.
Key Features
5. TaylorMade Project Golf Balls
- Dual distance core is larger and softer
- 2 Layer core reduces driver spin and adds speed
- Less driver spin = less drag = more distance
TaylorMade prioritizes increases driver distance and low driver spin with their Project Golf Balls that give you a remarkably soft feel. So, as a high handicapper or beginner, you’re not obligated to choose either more distance or less spin. Meaning you get both!
This is a highly recommended choice for average golfers with a swing speed lower than 90-100 mph i.e. mostly beginners and high handicappers. They don’t scuff very easily and are extremely reliable when it comes to delivering a great trajectory and soft feel.
Key Features
6. Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls
- Extraordinary distance with consistent flight
- Very low long game spin and penetrating trajectory
- Drop-and-stop short game control
With Titleist Pro V1, gaining extraordinary distance and consistent ball flight becomes much easier. And this is true even if your handicap is high and your swing speed low. The penetrating trajectory, incredibly low spin on long shots, and drop-and-stop control on your short game are the high points of the experience.
The balls offer spin, range, and a nice, soft feel. And the smaller dimple structure allows you to shape your shots on the golf course more aggressively.
Key Features
7. Pinnacle Soft Golf Balls
- Dialed-up feel for peak performance
- The core is the engine. Pinnacle soft contains a proprietary high-energy, very low...
- The incredibly soft ionomer cover provides extremely soft feel on all shots while our...
Given the price of these Pinnacle Soft Golf Balls, the performance is outstanding for high-handicap players. They fly straight and provide good distance, nice roll, and bite on the green. So high handicappers looking for affordable golf balls to help them in their game without ruining control can rely on Pinnacle to get the job done right.
The dialed-up feel is for maximizing your performance levels on the course. And the very low compression and high-energy core for producing low spin on long-distance shots.
Key Features
8. Srixon AD333 Golf Balls
- Country Of Origin: United States
- Model Number: 133101
- Package Weight: 2.0 lb
With great distance and durability, these Srixon golf balls are perfect for slow swingers. The softer feel is ideal for golfers who want to improve their short game. When you swing properly, you can expect the golf ball to stop as it should.
The improved energetic gradient growth core boosts launch capabilities while also maintaining greenside performance. The drag, because of such characteristics, is minimized to provide consistency in the dispersion, distance control, and trajectory of your every shot.
Key Features
9. Snell MTB-X Golf Balls
- New smaller core offers low driver spin & faster speeds
- A thicker, firmer mantle layer for increased mid and short iron approach shots
- Low lift, low drag for controlled ball flight to reduce "ballooning" and offer great...
Why can’t high handicappers and beginners alike look for high-performance golf balls! In that context, here’s what you might need for superior distance, feel, and spin. The Snell MTB-X Golf Balls feature a smaller core, which delivers faster speed and lower driver spin.
They also have a firmer, thicker mantle layer to increase spin on your short-iron and mid-iron approach shots. As for the refined aerodynamics, they reduce drag to control ball flight and enhance performance when the weather gets windy on the golf course.
In short, every possible assistance a slow swinger and/or high handicapper demands from the golf ball is a part of the Snell experience.
Key Features
10. Bridgestone E6 Soft Golf Balls
- BRIDGESTONE GOLF BALLS: Switch to the BRIDGESTONE GOLF e6 SOFT golf ball and feel...
- E6 SOFT: Pack of 12 BRIDGESTONE GOLF e6 SOFT white golf balls for men; This golf ball...
- COLORED GOLF BALLS AVAILABLE: Also available in Optic Yellow color for greater...
Now, how about golf balls that deliver the much-needed accuracy and feel for more birdies? Sounds like something you could use as a high handicapper with a slow swing speed? In that case, Bridgestone E6 Soft Golf Balls reduce the damage often caused by common mistakes high-handicap golfers with a slower swing speed make. Such as hooks and slices.
With these golf balls, holding the green on your long approach shots with fairway woods and hybrids is much easier. Even your short iron approach shots benefit a great deal here. On top of that, the balls roll true on putts. All thanks to the advanced mantle and cover, which work together for delivering such outstanding greenside and approach performance.
Key Features
Things to Look for When Buying Golf Balls
These are the characteristics that benefit high-handicap golfers with a slow swing speed…
Construction (Spin)
This implies the number of layers or pieces that a golf ball is made of.
Cover
The spin and flight of every golf ball largely depend on its cover. Surlyn is great for consistent, straighter long distances. And urethane works best for better spin. The latter is softer than the former with a higher spin rate on your wedge and irons shots. So skilled and professional golfers prefer this kind of control.
As for beginners and amateurs, Surlyn seems like a more suitable choice. But only if you’re okay with its hard, firm feel that’s ideal for consistent shots without scuffing. And if not, then go for softer urethane.
Compression
Generally speaking, low compression (between 70 and 80) is equal to more distance when your swing speed is low. Low compression also creates less spin on long shots, so they travel farther.
Also, an important factor that determines the compression of a golf ball is the core density. When the latter is harder, the compression is low.
So it goes without saying that high handicappers and beginners ought to choose nothing but low-compression golf balls to boost distance. This also applies to women because even they have a comparatively slower swing speed.
Dimples
This particular pattern has a direct impact on the air pressure i.e. distance achieved. That explains why damaged golf balls tend to travel farther than smooth ones.
As a rule of thumb, shallow, wide dimples produce minimal backspin. And a low spin rate maximizes distance. So, obviously, these are better for high handicap and entry-level golfers. One more thing, with shallow, wide dimples, your chances of generating straighter shots are also quite high.
Needless to say, the dimple design affects spin, trajectory, and, ultimately, distance. With more dimples, the golf ball is bound to get the least affected by external conditions like rain and wind.
Spin Rate
With more spin, you get a higher ball flight. But is that necessarily a good thing for high handicappers and beginners in golf? Not exactly because only professionals have the ability to control spin in order to make the golf ball fly higher and farther.
Beginners, on the other hand, are better off with low-spin balls that also increase distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What About Illegal Golf Balls for Beginner and High-Handicap Golfers?
Are you planning on playing competitively? If not, then why not use illegal golf balls! Simply because they’re designed to maximize nothing but distance. And since you’re not playing in any competition, it’s completely okay that these balls are not approved by USGA and R&A.
No doubt, illegal golf balls produce straighter shots, irrespective of how much spin you generate on them.
Why Should Beginners and High Handicappers Use the Same Golf Ball?
As a slow swinger, it’s best if you stick to just one golf ball that you know works for you. Way too many golfers think that just because their golfing skills are below average, it doesn’t matter what golf ball they use. And that’s wrong because you’re only making your game more difficult by using different balls.
Every golf ball offers its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Some fly higher and longer, some feel firmer and harder, some tend to spin more, and on and on. So if you keep switching, you’re giving up on consistency. And this is a factor most high-handicap and beginner golfers need the most.
So if you come across a golf ball that works in your favor, then stick to it.
How Do Golf Balls for High Handicappers and Beginners Differ From Regular Golf Balls?
High-handicap golfers are just beginners struggling with spin and distance. In that case, golf balls for them feature low compression for less spin and more distance. It’s the perfect combination that demands minimal force and intensity from slow swingers to achieve the desired distance.
As for regular golf balls, these may deliver a decent spin but they tend to do that at the expense of minimizing control.
Do Covers Have An Impact On the Performance of Golf Balls?
Urethane cover is better for producing a higher spin rate on wedge and iron shots, which is why professional or skilled golfers choose urethane. As for Surlyn, it’s ideal for generating consistent shots, but it offers a hard and firm feel.
How Does the Spin Rate of the Golf Ball Affect Performance?
A higher spin rate can be achieved only by those who know how to take advantage of it. Only with more power can the ball then cover the distance you want it to. So, needless to say, beginner and high-handicap golfers perform better with golf balls that create a lower spin.
Should I Use Soft or Hard Golf Balls?
Once again, low-compression golf balls are softer, hence more suitable for adding extra distance. So unless you’re a better player i.e. unless you have the ability to produce enough swing speed for compressing the ball, stick to the soft, low-compression version.
How Much Should I Pay for Golf Balls?
More often than not, beginners and high-handicap golfers lose a fair chunk of golf balls. So it’s best to avoid spending a huge sum on them. Let’s say one golf ball costs $10 and you lose 1/2 a dozen in just a single round. That’s $60 down the drain. And this keeps adding up very quickly.
But then there are some premium golf balls that feel softer and create more spin on the green. So, to be honest, it all depends on your budget. One thing is for certain though, that expensive golf balls manufactured by trustworthy brands like Titleist, TaylorMade, Srixon, Bridgestone, Callaway, etc. do indeed deliver added benefits to improve your game.
Do Golf Balls Makes A Difference for Beginners?
As someone new to the sport, it’s impossible that you have a fast swing speed and single-digit handicap. In that case, for your high handicap and slow swing speed, golf balls with low compression, 2-piece construction, urethane cover, and shallow, wide dimples are more suitable. Since these characteristics give you the best combination of feel, distance, and spin.
Anything else and the golf ball just ends up making the already challenging sport for a beginner more difficult.
Final Note
Plenty of brands manufacture golf balls that feature all kinds of unique and sometimes even complex technologies and specifications. So it’s only natural to get confused when buying golf balls that suit your swing speed, handicap, and other golfing skills.
But one thing is for sure that not every golf ball is a fitting choice for golfers with a slower swing speed and/or a lower handicap. So if you belong to those categories, then it’s important for you to choose a low-compression, softer-feel golf ball that maximizes distance. Like the 10 top-selling ones I’ve reviewed for you in this article!
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