One of the biggest mistakes that high handicappers make is assuming that the golf ball they choose is unimportant. This is truly not the case. To play great golf, you must play with a golf ball that is suited specifically for your game.
High handicappers need to stop buying that cheap box of used golf balls and give themselves just a bit more credit. Here are the best golf balls for high handicappers.
Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers: Our Top Picks
TaylorMade Tour Response (Best Overall)
Callaway Supersoft (Budget Pick)
Callaway Chrome Soft (Best Premium)
Titleist Pro V1 (Best For High Swing Speed)
Callaway ERC Soft Triple Track (Best For Game Improvement)
Bridgestone e6 (Best Affordable Distance)
Vice Pro Soft (Best Soft Feel)
TaylorMade Tour Response: Best Overall
The TaylorMade Tour Response is a mid-compression golf ball made with three pieces that help increase overall ball speed and keep spin in control, especially from the tee.
- Excellent value for seniors
- Impressive feel
- Good distance
- Easy to launch
- Nice greenside spin
- Help alignment with shots
- Too soft for some players
- Less spin than premium ballsMay feel too soft for some
The TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball took top honors in 2022 as the best golf ball for high handicappers. What we love about the Tour Response is that it has performance that can work for both high and low-swing speed players.
In addition, this Tour Response has quite a bit of the same technology you find in the TaylorMade TP5 golf ball, which is considerably more expensive and built for the lowest handicap players.
With a new Tour Flight Dimple Pattern, improved aerodynamics, increased lift, and higher ball speed than previous models, you will get quite a bit out of this golf ball on the course. In addition, the urethane cover is long-lasting, so you can get in more than just a few rounds.
Callaway Supersoft: Budget Pick
The Callaway Supersoft is one of the lowest-compression golf balls in the game. A new PARALOID Impact Modifier in the cover, high launch, and low spin make it a tremendous addition for any slow-swing speed beginner.
- Easy to compress
- Excellent performance for slow swingers
- Great distance
- Helps with launch
- Good greenside spin
- Many color options
- Not optimal for fast swingers
The Callaway Supersoft is a low compression golf ball designed to get players plenty of distance while still maintaining a soft feel around the greens. The Supersoft has become very popular because of its low price point. However, the technology is good for the price that it is offered.
There is a new cover on the Callaway Supersoft made by DOW Chemical. It’s designed to increase launch while keeping spin lower and feeling softer. The excellent greenside control of the Supersoft makes the concept of feel a little easier for the higher handicap player.
Callaway uses their standard HEX Aerodynamics in this particular golf ball. The improved carry and higher flight are noticeable from this dimple pattern. The only thing we will caution you on here is that this ball is not the best for the fastest swing speed players. If you can get your speed numbers up there, choose a higher compression ball.
Callaway Chrome Soft: Best Premium
The Callaway Chrome Soft features new precision technology, a SoftFast Core, and excellent distance; this is a premium golf ball that is well worth the money.
- Great golf ball for more distance
- Impressive greenside control
- Good feel, not too soft
- Great mid to high compression option for faster swing speeds
- The price point is high if your dispersion rates are high
We recently tested the Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls and found that the distance and technology was some of the best on the market for high handicappers. The downside, of course, is that these golf balls are more expensive than some others on the market, but the extra money spent could be well worth it.
The Callaway Chrome Soft 22 comes with a Hyper-Elastic SoftCase Core that allows for a big jump off the clubface. In addition, the new Tour Aero design allows for a more penetrating ball flight.
Callaway focuses on quality in all the products it creates, but we found the Chrome Soft to stand out from both the tee and the green. You can get distance, but at the same time, spin around the greens is entirely possible.
Titleist Pro V1: Best For High Swing Speed
The Titleist Pro V1 is known as the best golf ball in the game, but it shows its full potential for golfers with faster swing speeds.
- Premium quality
- Excellent greenside spin
- Great distance
- Consistent ball flight
- Penetrating trajectory
- Low long-game spin
- Not optimal for slow swingers
The Titleist Pro V1 is the best golf ball for high handicappers with high swing speed. If you want something that has lots of distance and the best greenside control in the game, the Titleist Pro V1 is a perfect choice.
There is a reason this golf ball is used so much on the PGA Tour, and that is because golfers find that it checks all the boxes. Whether you are looking for a golf ball that can roll down the fairway and maintain a penetrating ball flight, or something that stops on a dime when it hits the putting green, the Pro V1 has your back.
This is the same golf ball that has been on the market for more than a dozen years. However, Titleist updates the technology every few years, making it considerably better. You will always be getting a top-of-the-line product with Titleist.
Callaway ERC Soft Triple Track: Best For Game Improvement
Has some of the softest feel and best greenside control for the slower swing speed player; with multi-material construction and a high-speed core, the ball is ready to perform.
- Long distance and soft feel at the same time
- High Energy Core for better speeds
- Impressive high launch
- Good spin and soft feel around the greens
- Some of the best feel for slower swing speeds
- Not as much spin as the Chrome Soft
- Some golfers say it feels too soft on the greens
The Callaway ERC Soft is a soft golf ball with plenty of length. In fact, Callaway says it is their longest soft golf ball in the lineup. The ball features a High-Speed Mantle for more energy efficiency and power transfer to the golf ball.
However, our favorite feature here, and why it’s such a great golf ball for high handicappers, is the Triple Track design. Triple Track allows you to line up your shots from the tee box and on the putting green to ensure you are heading toward the proper target.
In addition, the Callaway ERC Soft Triple Track allows you to spin the ball a bit around the green. If you have been playing with a beginner-type low compression golf ball, the differences seen here with the ERC Soft Triple Track will be noticeable.
Bridgestone e6: Best Affordable Distance
The Bridgestone e6 golf balls have tremendous power and an impressively soft feel at a fantastic price.
- Amazing price
- Maximize distance
- Great value
- Powerful throughout the bag
- Soft feel
- Not the highest quality
- Lacks spin
The Bridgestone e6 is the best affordable golf ball for high handicappers seeking distance. If you want to hit the ball a long way but don’t want to purchase a premium golf ball, this is a good option to consider. The e6 from Bridgestone is built for long-distance but made with a softer feel.
This won’t be your best choice if you want something with a high spin around the greens. Higher spin levels are tough to find in a two-piece golf ball like the e6. Instead, look for a golf ball with three or more pieces.
The Bridgestone golf balls allow players to have a soft feel around the greens, and you can learn to control that; however, the ball won’t stop as quickly as it lands. After all, part of long-distance is total distance, not just carry distance, so this extra roll is something that many players are seeking.
Vice Pro Soft: Best Soft Feel
The Vice Pro Soft is an affordable three-piece golf ball with a great feel around the greens and enough technology to teach beginners how to spin the ball a bit.
- A great choice for mid swing speed
- It has some feel and spin capabilities around green
- High energy speed core for extra distance from the tee
- Won’t be the longest distance ball out there
The Vice Pro Soft is our favorite soft feel golf ball for high handicappers. If you are serious about getting your handicap down, chances are you know that much of the work needs to be done around the greens. Getting your chips to stop near the hole and feeling like you have control of a soft golf ball is quite important.
The Vice Pro Soft is a durable 336 dimple design golf ball made up of three pieces. You will notice that the case urethane cover has almost a sticky or tacky feel to it. This makes the connection between the ball and the club’s grooves considerably better and increases the total spin.
With a matte finish on the Pro Soft, the visibility is also considerably better than other options on the market. High handicappers will notice here that Vice Pro Soft brings something unique to the market.
What To Consider When Buying Golf Balls as a High Handicapper
Now that you are well versed on some of the best golf balls on the market for a high handicapper, it’s time to consider which of these could be the best fit for your game. We must admit that it sometimes takes trying out one or two different types before you can settle on something that is an exact fit for your game. Here are the things to look for.
Brand
Is there a specific brand that stands out as being the best for high handicap golf balls? The answer is no. The golf balls that we have on our list are from TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, Bridgestone, and Vice, all well-known manufacturers.
Within each golf ball brand, you will find at least one choice that works for the higher handicap player. Sometimes high handicappers are mistakenly pushed towards the cheapest golf balls on the list, but this should not be done.
Keep your mind open about which brands are the best on the market so you can find something with the best quality.
Compression
The compression of the golf ball will give you an indication of how much power and strength you need to hit it well. A high-compression golf ball will take a faster swing speed player to hit it far. Low compression golf balls require a slower swing speed in order to get maximum distance.
Once golf balls get into the mid compression zone in the 70-80 range, both high and low swing speed players can benefit.
However, compression below 50 and compression above 90 should be saved for low and high-swing speed players. Ultimately, this should play into your decision but not be the most critical part of it.
Number of Pieces
A golf ball with two pieces is typically considered a distance golf ball. When you move towards three and four pieces, you can get performance from almost any area on the golf course. With more pieces, expect performance from both the tee and the green.
The more pieces a golf ball has, the more it will typically cost. With five-piece golf balls using various unique materials and technology, you will pay more out of pocket.
For high handicappers, try to get your hands on three piece golf balls whenever possible. With a three piece ball, expect to get a good mix of distance and feel from the ball.
Spin vs. Distance
As a high handicapper, you know that there are different areas of the game that give you more trouble than others. For instance, some players are really good at short game while others struggle to get the ball in the fairway off the tee.
Distance is a big consideration for many high handicappers, and it’s essential to keep that in mind; however, it shouldn’t be your only goal. The longer you play golf and the harder you work to keep your handicap down, the more important it is to have a golf ball that helps you with accuracy.
A ball that you can hit straight will stop when an iron shot is hit toward the green and will respond to a chip is perhaps more valuable than a long-distance golf shot.
Related: 6 Best Golf Balls For Distance in 2022
Feel
With so many golf balls claiming to have soft feel, how do we know what has a soft feel? In addition, is soft feel something that is actually beneficial?
A softer feel golf ball can lead to better performance on the green, especially for those that struggle with hitting shots past the hole or even skulling their chip shots. However, some very low compression golf balls get a bit too soft and can almost feel mushy.
The best way to tell if you like the feel of a golf ball is to use it on the putting green. This is the easiest way to decide what feel is the best fit for your game.
FAQs
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about the best golf balls for high handicappers. The TaylorMade Tour Response checks all the boxes, but it’s good to explore new technology each year to find the perfect fit for your game.
The best golf balls for a high handicapper are typically mid-compression golf balls with a bit of a soft feel and spin around the greens. High handicappers often need help keeping the ball straight, but it’s good to have the ability to stop the ball on the green as well.
The type of golf ball a high handicapper uses makes a big difference. It’s essential to consider the golf ball you play with as another piece of your equipment. When you have a golf ball that matches your game, it could save several strokes in a round of golf.
The easiest golf ball to hit straight is a low spin ball that is also low compression. Most of these are two-piece golf balls.
Final Thoughts
We hope you now feel as though you can choose the best golf balls for high handicappers with complete confidence. We highly recommend the TaylorMade Tour Response if you have not yet tried it. It’s not often that an affordable golf ball checks all the boxes that a premium or high-end golf ball does, but TaylorMade did a great job with the Tour Response.
