Are you new to golf and wondering what type of golf ball you should be playing?
If you're a beginner golfer, choosing a golf ball can be overwhelming. Where do you begin? There are so many different types of golf balls on the market and you don't even understand what all the terms and technical features mean. In this article, we will review the best golf balls for beginners and provide information on what you should look for and what you need to understand about choosing a ball. We'll also discuss the benefits of picking a beginner golf ball and why it can help you improve your game.
Using a golf ball designed for beginners can help you improve your game faster than using a ball suited for more advanced players. They are designed to be more forgiving and help with distance, so you can enjoy the game more as you begin to better understand your swing.
Keep reading to learn more about the best golf balls for beginners and find the perfect one for you!
How We Choose The Best For You
When you're just starting to play and enjoy the game of golf, it can be very difficult to know what brand or type of golf ball you should be playing.
Many beginners think that all golf balls are basically the same, but that's not true. There are a lot of different factors to consider when choosing a golf ball. Do you need a premium ball with a lot of spin? Do you even understand how golf ball spin can help or hurt your game? Should you just play the same ball as your best friend or favorite PGA player or are cheaper balls better?
We've written this comprehensive guide to make your golfing life easier. If we can help you choose the best golf ball for your needs then you can focus on improving and having more fun on the golf course. So, we've spent countless hours researching and comparing the best golf balls for beginners. We'll explain what you need to understand about the golf ball, as well as how different types of balls can be better suited to your game. Let's get started and find a new golf ball for your next round!
Why We Love It
When it comes to beginner golfers and selecting the ideal golf ball, three words come to mind - value, distance, and forgiveness. If you only take away one thing from this article then pick a golf ball that offers all three. For this reason, our top-ranked value buy is the Vice Drive golf ball.
This is an affordable golf ball that was made for beginners and high handicappers. It offers excellent distance for slower swing speeds but more importantly, it's a very forgiving golf ball. The forgiveness comes from less side spin. As a result, it increases your chances of landing in the fairway.
You'll also find a cool little feature that more and more golf ball brands are adding to the golf ball. It's an extra long line that is stamped on the ball to help you line up your puts and enhance your visual perception. This is a nice little tool to help the beginner on the greens.
How It Can Help Your Game
The Vice Drive is a two-piece, soft ball meaning that it has a lower compression. This helps beginners with a slow swing speed generate decent ball speed and distance. It features a larger dimple design, 312 to be exact with a durable surlyn cover.
A durable cover is important for beginners who tend to beat up new balls. This cover will be more resistant to cuts and scuffs so it will help keep the ball in shape. Despite a tough cover this ball still has a soft feel that will help around the greens.
The combination of value and distance with a softer yet durable ball makes this an excellent choice for beginner golfers.
If you're looking for the best beginner golf balls this ball is a must-try.
Tech Features
- Two-Piece Golf Ball
- Long Game - Low spin
- Short Game - Low spin
- Lower Compression Rating - 50
- 312 Dimple Design - The dimples are larger for a more stable ball flight
- Durable Surlyn Cover - More distance, soft feel, better greenside spin
- Colors - White
Why We Love It
This is our top ranked golf ball for beginners and is the softest ball in Titleist's lineup.
The TruFeel is the perfect choice for beginners and high handicappers looking for a softer ball. It's been totally re-designed to maximize distance and feel, and it comes at a much more affordable price than other Titleist balls.
So if you're looking for a great value golf ball that will help you improve your game, the Titleist TruFeel is a perfect choice.
How It Can Help Your Game
If you're a beginner with a slower swing looking for ultra soft golf balls then the TruFeel will not disappoint. This is the lowest compression ball that Titleist makes and is perfect for the beginner chasing distance.
The oversized power core generates much longer distance while the thinner softer cover provides the feel. Redesigning the cover around a larger core mean better all-around performance, especially around the green.
If you're a beginner and you want to play a Titleist this should be the one you put in your bag.
Tech Features
- Two-Piece Golf Ball
- Long Game - Low spin
- Short Game - Low spin
- Lowest Compression Rating In The Titleist Lineup Of Balls - Larger, faster core for increased distance
- 376 Tetrahedral Dimple Design - Spherically Tiled
- Thinner Cover - Super soft feel, good control around the greens
- Colors - White, High Optic Yellow, MatteRed
Why We Love It
For years this has been one of Callaway's most popular golf balls. And it's one of the best golf balls for beginners. It's the ideal golf ball for the beginner who wants an affordable distance ball.
If you're a beginner with a slower swing then you will love the distance and forgiveness of the Supersoft. The new design reduces spin for better driver distance. And with less side spin you're sure to find more fairways with a more consistent flight.
So if you're a beginner looking for super soft golf balls then time to put this Callaway in your golf bag.
How It Can Help Your Game
This is a good golf ball for beginners who struggle to get the ball in the air. It produces a high launch with the extra distance you're looking for.
You will not find many other golf balls with a compression rating as low as 38. So don't worry about trying to swing out of your shoes to generate distance.
Callaway has also improved the hybrid cover in partnership with Dow Chemical. The result is a soft feel that helps you around the greens.
Tech Features
- Two-Piece Construction
- Long Game - Low spin
- Short Game - Low spin
- Lower Compression Core - Higher ball speed
- Hex Dimple Pattern - Better aerodynamics for less drag and a high launch
- Soft Ionomer Cover - Longer distance, softer feel, more greenside spin
- Compression - 38
- Colors - White, Green, Orange, Yellow, Pink, Red
Why We Love It
Here's one of our favorite golf balls of all time. It just seems to continuously outperform most golf balls at higher price points. We recommend it to seniors, high handicappers, and even better golfers. But it's also a brilliant beginner golf ball.
It's a two-piece ball which makes sense for beginners. It's a long ball that just seems to go further. It has a beautiful soft feel with excellent short game spin. And when it comes to value, it can't be beaten.
If you're a beginner who wants to know what it's like to play an all-performance golf ball without the premium price tag then try the Soft Feel.
How It Can Help Your Game
The Srixon Soft Feel is now in its 12th generation and with the help of technology, each generation seems to get better and better.
It's a lower compression ball designed for slower swings, but with a rating of 60, it can also work for medium swing speeds. The explosive distance comes from a spring-like core that Srixon uses in their more premium balls.
The proprietary dimple pattern is another example of innovation. It provides better dynamics and more distance making this a forgiving golf ball that holds up well in windier conditions.
The Srixon Soft Feel is the ideal golf ball for all types of beginners.
Tech Features
- Two-piece Construction
- Long Game - Low spin
- Short Game - Low spin
- FastLayer Core - Changes from soft to firm producing a spring-type effect for more distance.
- 338 Dimple Pattern - Reduced drag, high launch, longer distance
- Thin Ionomer Cover - Soft feel with good short game spin
- Compression - 60
- Colors - Soft White, Tour Yellow
Best Golf Balls For Beginners FAQ's
You're a beginner golfer and you don't know what type of golf ball you should be playing.
There are so many different golf balls on the market, that it can be hard to figure out which one is right for you. Do you need an expensive distance ball? Or do you need a ball that will help you stop slicing your shots? What golf balls work with your slower swing speed? Should you be using softer balls?
Who can you trust?
Our team has done all the work for you. After scouring the internet and hours of research, we've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about the best golf balls for beginners. We've also created the definitive guide on what you need to understand about the golf ball. This will help to answer some of your questions and make it easier for you to choose the best ball for your game.
Should Beginner Golfers Use Soft or Hard Balls?
Generally speaking, softer golf balls are better for beginners. Soft golf balls spin less with reduced side spin. This translates into more forgiveness and straighter shots. But we are assuming that the beginner has a slower swing.
However, high handicappers with a faster swing speed could benefit from a high compression golf ball or hard golf balls. They have the energy and the swing speed to properly compress the ball for maximum distance. But watch out for those mishits. When you're a fast-swinging beginner playing higher compression golf balls will increase the severity of your slice or hook.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual golfer to experiment with different types of balls and find what works best for them.
What Is The Most Forgiving Golf Ball For Beginners?
The most forgiving golf balls for beginners are typically two-piece, low spin, low compression balls. Low spin balls that generate the least amount of side spin will provide the most forgiveness.
We've highlighted a few very forgiving golf balls on our list: the Titleist TruFeel, The Callaway Supersoft, the Srixon Soft Feel, and the Vice Drive. These are some of the best golf balls for beginners on the market.
Do Golf Balls Matter For The Beginner?
Whether golf balls matter for the beginner golfer is a hotly contested question. Some believe that the type of ball you use doesn't make a big difference, as long as it is a quality ball. Others believe that having the right ball can make all the difference in your game. So, what's the truth?
First, it starts with you the beginner. And not all beginners are created equal. How skilled are you? How fast or slow is your swing? Do you tend to hit the ball high, low, slice, or hook? Once you understand your swing and tendencies even as a beginner you can begin to match your game with a ball designed for your level of play that can help improve your weaknesses.
What is The Easiest Golf Ball to Hit?
There is no easy golf ball to hit. There are different golf balls that are designed for different types of players and for different swing speeds. Some golf balls are designed to fly further, while others are designed to be more accurate.
The best way to find the right golf ball for you is to experiment with a few different types and see which one works best for your game. There is no perfect ball, so it's important to find the ball that fits your individual style and needs.
How Do I Pick The Right Golf Ball For Me?
There's a lot that goes into choosing the right golf ball. It's not as simple as just picking the same ball as your favorite pro golfer! Different materials and manufacturing processes can result in balls with different flight characteristics, spin rates, feel, and durability. And of course, your own playing style will dictate which type of ball is best suited for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a golf ball:
Your skill level: Beginner players and high handicappers will want to look for soft golf balls that are designed for maximum forgiveness and long distance. These balls typically have a fairly low compression rating, resulting in lower spin rates and a straighter more consistent ball flight. More advanced players can benefit from using multilayer premium urethane balls that create more spin, resulting in more control and accuracy.
Do Softer Golf Balls Go Further?
Soft balls will help players with slower swings generate more ball speed and distance. So, softer golf balls will go further for slower swing speed players.
How Many Golf Balls Does a Beginner Need?
Six to twelve a round may be a good number but it really depends on how you hit it. If you swing hard and wild you'll probably lose quite a few balls. But if you have a low ball flight and not a lot of distance you can probably keep it in play.
It also depends on the course - is there a lot of water or a lot of out-of-bounds? At the end of the day having more golf balls is probably a better thing.
Are Callaway Supersoft Balls Good For Beginners?
Callaway Supersoft are excellent beginner golf balls if you're looking for value, distance, and feel. You can read a more detailed review above.
Are More Expensive Golf Balls Better?
The simple answer is: no, more expensive golf balls are not necessarily better. However, there are some factors to consider when making your decision.
Golf ball technology has come a long way in recent years, and there is a big difference between the latest and greatest balls on the market and entry-level options. If you’re a serious golfer or looking to improve your game, investing in a higher-quality tour ball can make a big difference. But for recreational players or beginners, an expensive ball isn’t necessarily going to help—and it could even be a hindrance.
What You Need To Understand About The Golf Ball?
Ball Construction
The construction of the golf ball is made up of layers combining rubber and plastic. A typical golf ball will have anywhere from two to five layers. This is where you hear the term two-piece or three-piece golf ball.
The outer layer is the cover and it surrounds a large rubber core. The cover is usually made up of surlyn or urethane.
The best balls for beginners are either two-piece or three-piece balls. The two-piece golf ball is the easiest to manufacture and also the most affordable. The simple design helps beginners with slower swings generate distance and hit the ball straight.
When you get to three, four, or even five-piece balls you're looking at a more complex golf ball with advanced technological features aimed at helping the more experienced golfer. These are more expensive premium golf balls that usually do not make sense for beginners.
Multilayered balls work well for higher swing speeds and moderate swing speeds. They produce more spin and more control and usually work better for players with a lower handicap. However, there are plenty of popular golf balls that are three piece balls with a lower compression that would be well suited for beginner golfers.
Spin
When it comes to understanding the mechanics of the golf ball, spin is often misinterpreted. Let's explain how spin can help and hurt amateur golfers especially beginners.
When you're on the tee it's all about distance and finding the fairway. This is where less spin is your friend. Low driver spin equates to more distance thanks to less air resistance. Less spin also means less side spin which is crucial for the new golfer who often battles a nasty hook or slice. In this case, a lower spinning golf ball will provide more forgiveness and help keep the ball out of the trees.
As you become a better golfer and understand the value of the short game, spin becomes an asset. It helps you control the ball on the green, allowing you to stop the ball quickly rather than run through the green. It also helps control your approach shots to the green
Better golfers with faster swings often prefer balls with a high short game spin and low long game spin. This maximizes distance off the tee while still providing excellent greenside spin.
Compression Rating
When you're just picking up the game understanding compression is super important. This could be the one factor that helps you the most. So, what is compression and what does the compression rating mean for your game?
All golf balls are rated on a scale from 30 to 120. This scale represents how hard or soft the ball is, the softest being 30 and the hardest being 120. The softer the ball is the less energy required to properly compress the golf ball. The harder the ball is the faster you need to swing to compress the ball.
If you're a beginner and want to quickly improve your game, figure out what your swing speed is in MPH and choose a ball with a compression rating to match your speed. This is why players with slower swings can still generate a lot of distance. Their swing matches the compression of the ball allowing the right energy transfer.
Most high handicappers or beginners should choose a low to mid compression ball. Low compression balls have a rating of 30 - 65 while mid compression balls have a rating of 66 - 89.
High compression balls benefit players with a fast swing speed, above 105 MPH.
This chart shows the compression ratings for different swing speeds.
- High Compression Rating 90 and above - Swing speeds above 105 MPH
- Mid Compression Rating 66-89 - Swing speeds 85 - 104 MPH
- Low Compression Rating 65 -30 - Swing Speeds below 85 MPH
Cover
The final key to understanding the golf ball is the cover. There are two primary covers - the less expensive surlyn or ionomer cover and the more expensive premium urethane cover.
Surlyn covers are firmer and more durable than urethane covers. They also reduce spin. Golf balls with surlyn/ionomer covers are less expensive, so you'll find more affordable golf balls that use this type of cover. Most two-piece golf balls and many low compression golf balls use a surlyn/ionomer cover
Urethane covers are typically found on premium golf balls. They are softer than their counterpart and more expensive to manufacture. They provide more spin and more control for the better golfer.
Playing a urethane cover allows the lower handicap golfer to not only generate more spin but also control the shape of their shots. But the beginner or higher handicapper may not have the skills to take advantage of the premium features of a urethane cover.
But for beginners there is no need to worry. The technology in today's ionomer covers creates a golf ball that for even low handicappers can feel as soft and responsive as a premium urethane cover. And remember it's durable too, because we all know that when you're just starting out it can be a little too easy to cut or damage the ball.
What's The Best Beginner Golf Ball For You?
So, what are the best golf balls for beginners?
You've just started playing golf and you're trying to figure out the game and your swing. On top of that, you have to choose a golf ball and you have no clue what all the technical features mean.
Don't worry, we’ve read and researched thousands of reviews to come up with the perfect list of best golf balls for beginners.
Let's take a quick glance at our top-ranked picks!
Best Distance Golf Balls For Beginners
Best All-Around Golf Balls For Beginners
Best Golf Balls For Beginners Who Are Seniors
Best Value Golf Balls For Beginners
We hope you find this information helpful and that you’re on your way to a long life of playing golf.
All you need to do now is click the gold button above to find the best golf ball for you.
Thanks for stopping by. See you on the golf course.
Hit 'em long and straight.
Lawrence
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