Picking the right golf ball for your game is a pretty important thing to do, most people actually use the wrong one. In this post, I’ll be talking about some of the best balls for average players, so you can, hopefully, improve your game.
Here are the best golf balls for average golfers:
- Best For High Handicaps: Srixon Soft Feel
- Best For Mid Handicaps: Wilson Triad
- Best Budget: Noodle Long & Soft
- Best Distance: Titleist Velocity
- Best For Slow Swing: Callaway Supersoft
- Best For High Swing: Vice Pro Plus
- Best Low Spin: Titleist AVX
- Best High Spin: Kirkland Signature
The average golfer shoots well over 80, and because of that, spending a bunch of money on a premium ball doesn’t make much sense. It’ll cost you money you didn’t have to spend and it’ll probably hurt your performance.
The average golfer would benefit a lot by playing a budget or tour-value ball. One that’s long off the tee, decently forgiving, and easy on the wallet. For more info, you can look at our golf ball comparison chart to see the specs of each ball and who they’re designed for.
Best Golf Ball For High Handicaps: Srixon Soft Feel
If you’re a high handicap golfer (shoot 90+), this is probably my favorite ball. It’s been one of the most popular options for a long time and there’s good reason for it.
What I like about this ball is that it’s easy on the wallet, the compression rating isn’t too low/high, they’re long and straight, and they don’t get scuffed up too quickly.
It’s a 2 piece ball that has a compression rating of around 60. This means it’s built for low to mid swing speeds. Anything below 95 MPH is ideal, which is where a lot of golfers are.
If you do have a swing speed nearing the 100 MPH mark, you won’t get as good of performance. You’ll overcompress the ball, get too much height, and not as much distance.
Around the green, you won’t get nearly as much spin as a premium ball. That’s fine though because most high handicaps don’t strike their wedges well enough to get much spin, regardless of what ball they’re using.
That said, it’s probably the most well-balanced ball at this price point and will suit a wide range of golfers. So if you haven’t tried it, I’d highly recommend it.
- Full Review: Srixon Soft Feel Review
- Where To Buy: Check Price On Amazon
- An Alternative: Titleist TruFeel (Amazon link)
Best Golf Ball For Mid Handicaps: Wilson Triad
This is my favorite ball. It’s not one I’d recommend to a beginner or high handicapper, but anyone shooting in the 80s should try this one out.
At this point, you don’t need as much forgiveness as a high handicap would, so it’ll be worthwhile to spend a bit more. You still don’t need a tour-level premium ball, but tour value is what you should look at.
What I like about this ball is that the specs are similar to a Pro V1 (see other alternatives HERE), but they cost a lot less. I wouldn’t say the cover is as durable and I don’t find that they spin as much around the green, but what you get for the price is tough to beat.
Along with the price, I prefer this ball over a Pro V1 because I hit them a lot straighter.
The Triad is a 3 piece ball with a urethane cover. The compression rating is somewhere around 86, so it’s not going to feel too soft or firm.
- Where To Buy: Check Price On Amazon
- An Alternative: Taylormade Tour Response (Amazon link)
Best Budget Golf Ball: Noodle Long & Soft
Believe it or not, these are actually some of my favorite balls and are what I usually play in the winter. At this price point, I don’t think there’s anything else that comes close.
The only problem with a Noodle is that people seem embarrassed to tee one up. I don’t know if it’s the name or their ego getting in the way, but I’ve seen countless people find one, see that it’s a Noodle, and throw it back.
If you’re a beginner or high handicapper, you don’t need a premium ball. You don’t even need a 3 piece ball. Save some money and focus on hitting fairways and greens.
I don’t know what it is, but every time I’ve found a Noodle on the course it seemed to last me the entire rest of the round. Rather than Long and Soft, you could name this ball Long and Straight instead.
- Full Review: Noodle Long and Soft Review
- Where To Buy: Check Price On Amazon
Best Distance Golf Ball: Titleist Velocity
If you’re a mid to high handicapper, you don’t care much about spin, and you just want to bomb it long and straight down the fairway, this will be the ball for you.
It’s actually the ball I used to shoot my best round. You’d be amazed how much better you’ll shoot when you hit a few more fairways and greens in regulation.
Since this is a 2 piece ball with an ionomer cover, you won’t get much greenside spin. You will still get some if you’re good with your wedges but don’t expect them to drop and rip back.
The average player won’t benefit from that type of ball, if anything, it’ll hurt their game. The higher spin rates can cause the ball to slice two fairways over. Plus, a lot of people don’t hit their wedges solid enough to get any spin, regardless of the ball used.
The compression rating is somewhere around 85, so it’ll fit a range of different swing speeds. Toss the ego aside and give them a try, you might be surprised.
- Where To Buy: Check Price On Amazon
- An Alternative: Taylormade Distance (Amazon link)
Best Golf Ball For Slow Swing Speeds: Callaway Supersoft
If you have a slower swing speed (under 90 MPH), you don’t need much greenside spin, and you want a ball that’s long and forgiving, this will be one to try.
It’s a 2 piece ball with a compression rating of around 45. This means that it doesn’t take much force to fully compress the ball. You might not get as much distance as a higher compression ball, but you could get a bit more height and it’ll feel a lot better.
Since the compression rating is lower, you wouldn’t want to use this ball if you have a faster swing speed (over 100 MPH). You could use it, but you’ll likely overcompress the ball and lose distance.
This ball isn’t going to spin much around the green, the same with any other 2 piece ionomer ball. It’s aimed at mid to high handicaps who want to hit more fairways and greens, all without breaking the bank.
It’s been one of the best-selling balls for a number of years now, so Callaway must have done something right.
- Where To Buy: Check Price On Amazon
- An Alternative: Wilson Duo Soft (Amazon link)
Best Golf Ball For High Swing Speeds: Vice Pro Plus
If you have a faster swing speed (110+ MPH), you want a ball that has premium short-game spin, and you don’t want to spend a fortune, this could be one worth trying.
Vice is a direct-to-consumer brand so their stuff is cheaper than other brands. They aren’t going to be as durable and consistent as Titleist, but for the price, the value is very good.
Plus, the more you buy, the cheaper they are.
It’s a 4 piece ball with a compression rating of around 100. It has very similar specs to the Titleist Pro V1x (see other alternatives HERE). If you’ve used that ball in the past and have liked it, you might want to give the Pro Plus a try.
The reason you’d want a higher compression ball if you have a faster swing speed is that you’ll likely overcompress other balls. If you compress a ball too much, you’ll lose a lot of distance.
- Full Review: Vice Pro Plus Review
- Where To Buy: Check Price On Amazon
Best Low Spin Golf Ball: Titleist AVX
If your ball spins too much, especially off the tee, you might need a lower-spinning ball. When it comes to options for the average golfer, there isn’t anything better overall than the AVX.
It’s a 3 piece urethane ball with a compression rating of around 77. It’s going to produce high spin rates around the green and low spin rates with the driver and long irons.
One of its characteristics is that the ball flight will also be lower.
Even though this ball will work very well for certain people, it’s probably not the best option for 90% of “average” players. Be sure that you actually need a lower spinning/flying golf ball.
- Where To Buy: Check Price On Amazon
- An Alternative: Callaway Supersoft (Amazon link)
Best High Spin Golf Ball: Kirkland Signature
When it comes to urethane golf balls, there is no better value in golf than the Kirkland Signatures. As of right now, each ball will cost you less than $1.50, which is 68% cheaper than a Pro V1.
Sure, it’s not as well-built as a Pro V1 and it’s not going to be as consistent, but for the average person, the performance won’t be all that different.
It’s a 3 piece urethane ball with a compression rating of around 93. Since the compression is a bit higher than a Pro V1, it’s also going to feel a bit firmer.
Along with that, it’s going to spin more off the tee and around the green. It’s not going to be ideal for everyone, but if you need that extra spin, there aren’t many better balls.
- Full Review: Kirkland Signature vs Titleist Pro V1
- An Alternative: PXG Xtreme (Amazon link)
How To Pick The Right Golf Ball
Picking the right ball for your game isn’t going to make or break your game, but it’s an easy way to start dialing in your game. Here are a number of things you should consider when looking for a new ball.
Skill Level
The average golfer is a high handicapper who normally shoots above 90 on a par 72 golf course. Golfers who shoot 90 are considered “bogey” players, but the average golfer scores a bit higher than this.
I always thought that the average player shot in the 80s, but that’s not the case by far. Most people are just as bad as I was and that made me feel a bit better and more confident about my game.
According to the USGA, the average golf score is 91 for all ages of golfers. That’s actually not true because most weekend hackers don’t record their handicaps. If you included those golfers, the average score would be closer to 100.
That’s really not that great.
And what makes things worse is that the average score has actually gotten worse. You’d think with all these advanced clubs and balls, the game would be easier. Nope, not the case.
If you prefer talking about your handicap, anyone who’s above 20 is considered a high handicap. If that’s you, you’re still among the average. If you’re a beginner player and can shoot close to these numbers, I’d say you’re doing pretty well.
I’m sure there’s a technical definition of handicap, but here’s how I like to think of it:
- If you shoot in the 70s = low handicap
- If you shoot in the 80s = mid handicap
- If you shoot above 90 = high handicap
Long story short, if you’re a high handicapper, save some money and stick to a budget-friendly option. If you’re a low handicapper, use a tour or tour-value ball. Mid handicapper? Somewhere between.
Ball Features
If you’re a mid to high handicap golfer, there are a few key things I’d look for in a golf ball. Everyone will be slightly different, but if you want to take your game to the next level, you’ll need a bit of help.
These are the main things I’d look for in a golf ball:
- Low driver spin
- High ball flight
- Decent price tag
If I can find a ball that’ll check all those boxes, I’d say it’s a winner. You’ll also have the choice between a softer or firmer ball, but that’s not something that impacts performance. You can learn more about that HERE.
Let’s talk a bit about driver spin. What’s the most common shot for beginners and high handicaps? You’d be right if you said a slice. You’ve done it, I’ve done it, and it’s not something to feel proud of.
There are a number of reasons people slice the ball, but it really comes down to too much sidespin. A ball that spins less off the tee could help you reduce the amount of curve.
You’ll get more distance on your shots, you’ll be playing from more fairways, and you’ll lower scores (hopefully). That’s why this is probably the most important thing to look for in a golf ball.
You’re also going to want a ball that has a higher ball flight. The average player usually doesn’t have the fastest swing speed, which can result in low running shots. You might still hit the fairway, but you’ll get no distance.
Certain balls are designed to launch higher without high speeds. That’s what you’ll want because it’ll give you more distance, but it’ll also add forgiveness.
The final thing you’ll want to consider is the price tag. I don’t know about you, but I really don’t like losing $5 every few holes. That’s the main reason I wouldn’t recommend a Pro V1 or some other high-end ball. Our cheap vs expensive ball test showed us that expensive isn’t always better (for average people).
Not only that, but those balls probably won’t perform the best for you either. That’ll cause you to hit more balls in the trees or water. That’ll hurt your confidence and your wallet.
You’ll probably be better off playing a ball with an Ionomer or Surlyn cover. They’ll be quite a bit cheaper, but if you don’t already know, you can read our in-depth article HERE.
Ball Construction
Golf balls come in different designs, anywhere between 1 and 5 layers. Each of them has its pros and cons, but if you’re a beginner or high handicap player, you’ll want to stick with a 2 piece golf ball.
This type of ball will most likely give you the straightest shots with the most distance. They’re also going to be cheaper than 3 layer (Pro V1), 4 layer (Pro V1X), or 5 layer golf balls (TP5), which is another plus.
The main thing you should be focusing on is hitting more fairways and greens. If you do use a ball with more layers, you’ll probably get more spin. That extra spin will make it easier to hook or slice the ball, which will decrease your distance.
I still use a 2 or 3 piece ball myself (budget or tour value), and I’m perfectly fine with the way they perform.
When you do become a better player, you might want that extra spin. When you have more spin, you’ll be able to control the ball a lot better. You’ll be able to hit it high or you’ll be able to keep it low. You can also draw and fade the ball much easier and get the ball to stop on the green.
That being said, it’ll hurt your game as a beginner. What about the other types of balls?
4 piece balls are used by scratch and pro golfers. If you try to use these balls, you’ll most likely struggle with distance and hitting the fairway. I wouldn’t think to use these balls myself and neither should you. You really have to make solid contact with these balls to get any sort of performance out of them.
5 piece balls are similar to 4 piece balls, but they are usually a bit softer and launch higher with the longer irons. Again, these should only be used by low handicappers.
Ball Spin
If you’re a mid to high handicap player, you probably don’t want to use a ball that spins a lot. We talked about how spin will make the ball curve a lot more, which won’t be very good for your game. You can learn more about how spin impacts your ball HERE.
When you have less spin on the ball, you’ll be able to get more distance out of your shots. The reason is that they’ll fly a lot straighter. You’d be surprised by how much distance is lost when your ball curves.
You’ll also be able to hit more fairways and greens, which your scorecards will love.
Like I was saying before, when you start getting better you’ll want to have more spin. You’ll be able to control the height of the ball, the shape it flies, and how quickly it’ll stop on the green. Focus on the basics right now though and you’ll get better much quicker.
Ball Compression
Compression is the amount of force it takes to properly compress the golf ball. If you’re an average golfer, you’ll want a low to mid compression ball, unless you have a very fast swing speed.
Again, it’ll help with distance and straightness of your shots. A lot of the weekend golfers I see use the completely wrong ball for their game. They’re playing a premium, high compression ball because the pros are using them.
Some people can get pretty good results with them, but almost all of them have a major curve to their shots. If you don’t have a fast enough swing speed (over 100 MPH), you won’t be able to compress a higher compression ball.
You can read our golf ball compression guide HERE for more info.
When Should You Upgrade Your Ball?
You’ve been practicing, working on your control around the green, and shooting some better scores. You’re about to finally break 90, but you might be thinking, should I upgrade the ball I’m using?
As I said before, high handicaps should be playing a different ball than mid and low handicaps. You could use the same ball, but I think you’d get better performance playing something else.
The short answer is that yes, you should probably change your golf ball.
The main thing you might want to look at is a ball that has a bit more wedge spin. We talked about low driver spin, which you’ll still want.
As you start getting better, you’ll want the ball to bite a bit harder on the green. You probably won’t be able to spin the ball back, but you’ll want something that doesn’t run out as much. At this point, having a bit more control is going to be better than max forgiveness and distance.
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