If you’re a golfer with a mid handicap, you likely enjoy your day on the course more often than not. Mixing mostly bogeys, some pars, and the occasional birdie or two makes for a beautiful morning or afternoon.
If you’re a mid handicap golfer, you’ll be able to play almost any course out there and find success for ones more suited to your game. But how are you supposed to know which ones are best suited to your game if you don’t know which ball is the best for your skillset?
Finding the best golf balls for mid handicappers isn’t tricky as there are plenty of options. You’ll want ones that work best for your game. If you like a soft golf ball that will work with your swing speed, there are options for that. If you’re looking for control around the green to work some spin, there are options for that. Some people just want it to go really far. You’ll find that too.
So take a look at our picks for the best golf balls for mid handicappers, and get ready to attack the course.
Best Golf Balls for Mid Handicappers: Our Top Picks
If you want our recommendations right away, here they are. Read further for the complete list and individual reviews.
- Best Overall: Titleist Tour Speed Golf Balls
- Runner-up: Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls
- Best Value: TaylorMade Noodle Long & Soft Golf Balls
- Best for Seniors & Slow Swing Speeds: Vice Pro Soft Golf Balls
- Also Great: Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls
- Also Great: Wilson Staff Duo Golf Balls
1. Titleist Tour Speed Golf Balls (Best Overall)
The Titleist Tour Speed is built to get golfers more speed and distance without sacrificing the soft feel that we have come to expect from Titleist premium golf balls.
- Urethane cover, high durability
- Long-distance golf ball
- Lower, more penetrating ball flight
- Great feel around the greens
- Soft feel
- Priced a bit higher than some other Titleist golf ball options for beginners
- Short game spin is not quite as high as Pro V1
There is so much to like about these golf balls, mainly because you can do so much with them. If you’re someone who hits the ball a long way, these will go. Thanks to the technology-driven core, you’ll pick up maximum speed any time you strike one with a full swing.
While you may be worried about distance off the tee and with an iron around the green, you want more control. That’s where these balls also shine. With a proprietary TPU cover, spin is generated ever so slightly to help with your short game.
Each one has a 346 quadrilateral dipyramid dimple design to help the ball stay straighter as it’s soaring through the air. This is widely seen as one of the top golf balls in the game because of the compression core and two-piece construction.
There is even an alignment aid on the ball that will help you with your putting. You can choose different colors and typically get them in packs of 12.
2. Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls (Runner-up)
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
One of the most widely used balls on the market, these are ideal for mid handicappers. Offering you fast ball speeds, high launch angle, low spin, and soft feel, there’s so much you can do with them.
The new Hybrid Cover features a PARALOID Impact Modifier, which leads to a combination of technologies and qualities. The soft compression core maximizes energy to boost ball speeds.
Utilizing the HEX aerodynamics, the Supersoft reduces drag and enhances lift for longer carry. These have a dual-layer construction and react well to full swings. But the incredibly soft feel is what people come to these for.
This ball offers excellent greenside control so that you can lower your scores more efficiently. You can find these in multiple colors and pack sizes.
3. TaylorMade Noodle Long & Soft Golf Balls (Best Value)
- Durable and soft iothane cover
- Impact propulsion core for longer carry
- Great feel and increased spin around the greens
- Patented dimple design for straighter flight
In the past, people may have thought the Noodle wasn’t great for golfers who aren’t high handicappers. But the latest version of the TaylorMade Noodle offers terrific value in a pack and surprising capabilities.
You can get 24 balls for less than $1 a ball. They are comprised of two layers, including a soft urethane cover. The impact propulsion core will compress just enough to deliver better distance off the tee.
These balls are surprisingly soft and offer you better control with your short game. You should be able to get up and down easier than in previous versions. They feature a patented dimple design that allows them to stay straighter with your driver and your irons. You can use these during practice rounds, tournaments, and more, thanks to the value.
4. Vice Pro Soft Golf Balls (Best for Seniors & Slow Swing Speed)
Golfers with slower swing speeds tend to struggle to get the distance. The less distance that you get from your shots, the more frustrating the game of golf can be. That is why Vice put together the Vice Pro Soft, a 3 piece low compression golf ball with an incredibly soft feel.
You may not have a swing speed as fast as Bryson DeChambeau, and that’s totally fine. But if you have a slower swing speed than average, that doesn’t mean you’re not going to be a good golfer. You need to arm yourself with the right equipment, and this is a ball that can help you get there.
This ball is excellent for golfers with a lower handicap who are trending away from mid. Some would say the experienced golfers who have a lot of rounds under their belt would love this. Constructed with three layers, the three-piece cast urethane cover delivers more spin.
It is not as soft as other options and provides more spin than others. But the low compression core is responsive to deliver more distance to those who can’t ratchet up the speeds. The 336 dimple design is highly durable, and the energy transfer is impressive. They are offered in white, red, and lime.
5. Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls (Also Great)
Srixon Soft Feel golf balls are incredibly soft, have impressive distance capabilities, and are fairly priced.
- Excellent value
- Impressive distance
- Good feel around the greens
- Low spin rates and reduced drag for slicers
- Lower compression golf ball
- Not as durable as firmer golf balls
There’s no denying that these golf balls feel soft. They have a soft FastLayer core that transitions to a firm outer layer to work well around the greens and deliver speed off the tee. But the 338 Speed Dimple Pattern helps reduce drag at launch, allowing you to keep your shots straighter. You’ll notice a difference with your driver by increasing lift during descent. Plus, you’ll still get solid greenside control.
The cover is thin, so you’ll get some great spin if you want it. The stamp on the side of the ball allows you to line up putts more easily. Major champions Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama are Srixon athletes, and Matsuyama prefers Srixon golf balls. You’ll enjoy soft, comfortable impact with these.
6. Wilson Staff DUO Professional Golf Ball (Also Great)
At a ground-breaking 29, Duo soft has the lowest compression, best feel of all competitive premium 2-piece golf balls
If you’re someone who doesn’t love hitting their driver off the tee, these are golf balls for you. You’ll be able to hit your irons well from the tee box, fairway, or rough and get some great results from these.
The spin is higher than some options on this list, allowing you to practice more spin techniques around the green. But the soft feel gives you higher shots, allowing you to get closer to the hole on second and third shots.
Featuring an ultra-thin urethane cover, this has a seamless 362 dimple pattern for more distance and trajectory. It has three layers, as there is a mid-hardness ionomer mantle layer.
The compression rating is 62, suitable for mid to slow swing speeds. They are offered in various colors.
What Exactly is a Mid Handicapper?
A mid handicapper is someone whose golf scores typically land in the mid-80s. They’re at least a double-digit handicap who can navigate their way around most courses. They understand how to use their clubs and get the distances they typically want.
Mid handicappers tend to be serviceable around the green, and the better they get, the more spin they can utilize. That’s why the ball preference tends to change the lower your scores get.
Should a Mid Handicapper Use a 2, 3, or 4-Layer Ball?
We went over a few different options for the construction of a ball. Most options for mid handicappers are between two and three layers.
The more layers a ball has, the more spin you tend to get around the green. That’s why low- to mid handicappers typically use three- and four-layer balls.
The dimple design and cover material help you keep the ball straighter and keep it on the green when you’re closer to the pin. So, thinner and softer balls are better for those in the mid to high 80s.
Those shooting closer to the 90s should aim for two-layer balls to lower their shot totals. As you progress, you can change your choice of ball to a three or four-layer ball.
Should Mid Handicappers use ProV1s?
Everybody loves to tout that they use Titleist ProV1 golf balls. But not everyone should be using them. These are known for longer distances and more spin near the green.
If you don’t want just to be donating your ProV1s to the course, you should be a low handicapper or someone who consistently shoots in the low 80s.
They are meant for golfers who aren’t slicing the ball with frequency but instead are playing cuts and draws on purpose. These balls are expensive, so make sure you trust your game before making the change.
What Does “Soft” Mean for a Golf Ball?
You may think every golf ball feels the same way, but it’s the inside that matters. Softer golf balls tend to spin less than firmer balls and have fewer layers.
The core has a lower compression rating, which means that your swing doesn’t have to be as fast to get the ball to compress correctly. That delivers longer distances and keeps the ball straighter.
The better you get, the firmer of a ball you will want. But for average and mid handicappers, softer will help you stay in play and get you closer to the pin more consistently.
Wrapping It Up and Heading to the Clubhouse
There are a lot of golf balls that are a fit for your game if you are a mid handicapper. Shooting in the 80s allows you to make your way around most courses and enjoy yourself most days.
You’re likely looking for a two or three-layer golf ball with a lower compression rating. That will help keep your ball straighter while also giving you better distance.
Some balls are enhanced to be soft around the green and allow you to get the most out of your skillset. Choosing any of these golf balls will help you maintain your handicap and help you work it lower.
