Golf Balls for High Handicappers (Most Forgiving)

To choose the right golf balls, it’s essential to understand their key features and how they can enhance your game. Selecting the best golf balls for high handicappers is not straightforward, as each player has unique preferences and playing styles.

A high handicap golfer typically has a handicap of 20 or above, often shooting in the high 90s or more per round. Within this group, players can vary significantly in their swing speeds and what they need from a golf ball.

For instance, some high handicap players have fast swings, while others have slower swings. Many prefer golf balls with a soft feel, but some prioritize distance over feel. Although distance off the tee is crucial for many, players also look for balls that provide good greenside control.

Many high-handicap golfers struggle with consistency, particularly when teeing off, leading to frequent lost balls. This can be quite costly if you’re using premium, high-end golf balls. The golf balls we’re recommending are budget-friendly, so losing them won’t hurt your wallet as much

We have some excellent choices for high handicap golfers. Take a look.

Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls for Men & Women

Our first choice is a very well-known manufacturer called Srixon. The Srixon Soft Feel golf balls solve the problem that high handicappers have, which is that their swing is often too slow. These golf balls have low compression. With their firmer outer layers that add resiliency, we found that they rebound quicker off the face after impact for more ball speed and greater distance.

Srixon Soft Feel Features:

• The cover is made of thin ionomer
• Has a two-piece construction
• Available in 7 colors
• Marked with 338 dimples in various sizes
• Has a low compression of 60
• Trajectory Mid-High
• Driver Spin Low
• Greenside Spin Mid

Srixon offers both Soft Feel, and Soft Feel Lady golf balls, ideal for high handicap golfers with moderate swing speeds seeking a soft feel, good distance, and reliable spin control.

Srixon Soft Feel golf balls have an ionomer cover which makes them tough and forgiving, but it is also soft, and when you hit them off a tee, they produce a good sound. We found that they provide more greenside spin and a softer feel on all pitches, chips and putts.

Srixon Soft Feel Lady golf balls are engineered with a slightly softer core than the standard Soft Feel for women golfers with slower swing speeds, providing a very soft feel, optimized distance, and good control.

These balls also have 338 round dimples in different sizes and side stamps that are good for alignment.

Vice Drive

Vice have five different Vice Golf Pro balls to consider: the Vice Golf Pro, Vice Golf Pro Plus, Vice Pro Golf Air, Vice Golf Tour and Vice Golf Drive. The Vice Pro Golf Air and Vice Golf Drive are better for golfers with lower to medium swing speeds, providing exceptional distance while retaining control.

But we feel that the best ball that Vice offers for high handicapper golfers is the Vice Drive, a distance-optimized ball. We consider it the budget-friendly version of the Vice Pro Air. We mention price points, because high handicappers tend to lose more golf balls during a round of golf than the average golfer. 

Golf ball compression ratings range between a score of 30 and 120. The softest being 30, and the hardest being 120. With a compression rating of 80, which is optimized for high efficiency at low to medium swing speeds, the ball will help your shots go farther off the tee. The Vice Drive provides a medium to firm feedback. The Vice Drive has slightly more roll on the green compared to some other Vice models such as the Vice Pro Air.

The ball has an engineered Soft Energy Speed Core (ESC). Its heavier weight and higher compression maximizes distance off the tee. Golfers with lower to medium swing speeds will get the most benefits from this ball. Although, according to Vice, the Vice Drive is a great option for high handicap players at any swing speed who want maximum distance ball

The Vice Drive is a 2-piece ball with a 312 dimple pattern structure which improves the ball’s aerodynamic performance during flight. Its 2-layer design has a Surlyn cover which has been made slightly harder to improve energy transfer. We really like this ball when playing in the wind because of its lower spin. Lower spin combined with higher ball speeds = increased distance.

In addition, Vice helps golfers take strokes off their game with an alignment aid right printed on the ball. See the ball with the black alignment aid line printed on the ball in the above image. We suggest you use it as a guide when visualizing your aim on the tee or lining up a putt.

Players who are familiar with Vice golf balls know that color and customization options are plentiful on their various models. The Vice Drive is more modest in its color offering with only 4 solid color options:

• White
• Yellow
• Pink
• Blue

The prices are reasonable, especially when buying in bulk. The bottom line is that we found the balls to be strong performers.

Volvik Vivid

The Volivk Vivid certainly lives up to its name. If you love vivid colored golf balls these might become your favorites. Volvik created them to help improve visibility not only in the ball’s flight, but also when the ball is on the ground.

The Volivk Vivid is a 3 piece ball with 322 dimples, however the patented matt finish tends to obscure them, although you can certainly feel them. The matt finish is suppose to reduce glare and thus help improve your ball striking.  some golfers have noted that the matte-finish seems to take a bit more grip on the green than other surlyn covered balls.

The ball is engineered for the player with a 70 to 90 mph driver swing speed. We feel that the the mid to high trajectory and spin should appeal to most golfers. We found the ball to be a little firmer than what Volvik claims. But a 85 compression is considered medium.

As with many of these golf balls, Volvik has an alignment tracking system on the ball with a little arrow on the side of the ball that helps you line up to the target off the tee and on the greens.

Volivk Vivid Golf Ball Features

We can’t quite imagine playing golf with a black ball, but it certainly would be a conversation starter.

For a mid-range golf ball, the Volivk Vivid golf ball is great value especially for high handicappers swinging below 90 mph.

Callaway ERC Soft and ERC Soft Reva Golf Balls

For 2023 Callaway introduced the ERC Soft REVA, a ball designed for woman with the same features as the standard ERC Soft golf ball. This is Callaway’s longest golf ball with a soft feel and greenside control.

We really appreciate the new range of new technologies. As well as being long and soft, we found it is high launching and impressively durable.

Features:

• A hybrid cover with a Grip Urethane Coating
• Made with a HyperElastic SoftFast Core
• Has a low compression of 60
• Triple Track Dagger lines for easier aliginment
• Has a three-piece construction
• Has 12 balls in one pack

They are soft with a three-piece construction. The cover is made of polybutadiene (polybutadiene urethane acrylate oligome) a hybrid synthetic rubber material that combines soft urethane and hard ionomer. This makes it absorb force much better and is the reason for the combination of distance and greenside control along with its durability. We found that the ball’s cover produces a noticeably soft feel and ample greenside spin on the majority of our well-struck, short-game shots.

The surface of each ball has more than 300 dimples in the shape of a hexagon which enables the ball to fly straight. This helps with distance.

Both the Callaway ERC Soft and the Callaway ERC Soft REVA balls have a side stamp with three lines as opposed to the one line that most competitors offer. This is a great asset for high handicappers.

Important Aspects of a Golf Ball

The modern golf ball consists of three main components: the core, the mantle, and the cover.

Core

Three examples of cores, covers and mantles.

Cover

The cover is the construction around the core of the golf ball. Most notably, this is what makes up the dimples on a golf ball. You will find that there is a lot of variety in golf ball dimple patterns from model to model, as well as from manufacturer to manufacturer. The way a golf ball performs is directly related to its dimple size and pattern. However, it is more important to understand whether a ball offers little spin or a lot of spin rather than knowing how many dimples it has. The dimples on a golf ball increase distance by controlling/optimizing lift and decreasing drag. Deep dimples result in a lower ball flight, while shallow dimples produce a higher ball flight. 

Typically, golf ball covers are made of different types of plastics, rubbers, and hybrids. Many of the golf balls for high handicap players are 2 layered and made with Surlyn, a resin that is a popular choice for golf balls. The Callaway ERC Soft golf ball is a three layer golf ball made with polybutadiene, a hybrid synthetic rubber material that combines soft urethane and hard ionomer.

Surlyn balls have a soft feel and gives beginners and average-high handicappers better control. It also adds distance to each shot and provides durability for the cover. Mixing Surlyn with other materials is also a good way to harden the resin.

Spin

When we say spin, we are talking about backspin, which is created after the club hits the golf ball. When you get the right backspin, you will send the ball further and control it once it hits the green. 

That might also be because it will create a certain amount of sidespin, which keeps the shot straight no matter where you hit the ball.

Typically, a golf ball has low, mid, and high spin, which is matched with the player’s swing speed. 

A high handicapper wants to have low spin because, more often than not, their swing speed is low.

Compression

The compression of a golf ball is the amount of deformation it undergoes after being hit by a club. 

This is usually tested based on a standardized speed by manufacturers, and it gets a rating from zero to 200. 

The higher the compression rate, the less the ball will deform upon impact. Typically, golf balls have a compression of 50-100.

Those who are high handicappers must look for golf balls with a low compression rating. 

This keeps them soft, and the little bit of compression helps them create distance. That is also a reason why weekend golfers like these balls.

On the contrary, golfers with low to mid handicaps go for balls with higher compression because they want more control.

Used Golf Balls vs. New Golf Balls

Once you know how to judge a golf ball, you need to see how a new ball fares compared to an old ball. 

This is not only about buying golf balls, but also when to change the ball during a tournament. There are only two factors.

Performance

Most manufacturers say that the balls, when stored well, will last for about five years. That means keeping them away from too much heat.

But you must also keep an eye on the advancing tech so that you know when to replace the balls.

Don’t fall for advertising too much because companies tend to oversell technology.

Don’t leave the balls in a water body for too long if you intend to get them because that will age them prematurely and damage their performance.

It doesn’t matter what kind of club you have; if the ball isn’t in good condition, it will impact your performance.

Other than that, watch out for physical problems like cuts and rips. These have a significant effect on your performance because these are structural problems.

And the grade of the ball or the game’s location doesn’t matter once the structural integrity is compromised.

So, it’s more about how you use them rather than how new or old the balls are.

Cost

New golf balls are more expensive than old ones. And the difference is quite a bit. But here’s how you pick them. If you are looking for the best golf ball tour balls, you will pay about $10 more than you would for balls with a two-piece construction.

Old golf balls are categorized as—value, average, near mint, and mint. Each of these balls has a rating that takes their type, age, and condition into account. Value balls are a small part of the total cost of a new ball, while golf balls in mint condition are about 2/3rd the cost of a new ball.

Typically, you can get used balls from golf courses or from teenagers who collect them from these courses. And that also has a role to play in their condition.

Factors to Consider Before the Purchase

For high-handicap golfers, finding the best golf ball depends on a few specific factors that will heavily influence their game.

Here are the factors you must closely consider before you start browsing through your choices.

Distance

High handicappers usually need help when it comes to covering the distance on the golf course which means you need a ball that is constructed well. It should be able to give you high launching power and also stay in flight for a longer period even though your swing may not be superfast.

A golf ball must have a harder impact from the club regardless of the speed. Therefore, Srixon, Titleist, and Callaway are good choices.

Durability

High handicap players need golf balls that are more durable than regular players because the ball tends to get into trees, bushes, and sand more than usual.

That leaves it vulnerable to scrapes and cuts. A golf ball with a thin but firm cover is an excellent choice for this reason.

Spin

Golfers who are categorized as high handicappers need the shots to be less destructive. This depends on the spin of the ball. They need golf balls that won’t curve so much in case of a slice.

So, lesser spin in general and greater control over the sidespin in particular is what you want. This will also help you keep track of the ball and not lose it because of a destructive shot.

Color

Speaking of lost balls, you don’t need to and ideally should not be adamant about using only white balls.

There are plenty of manufacturers who are making golf balls in bright yellow, red and green.

It is advantageous to buy these balls because they are very visible whether they are in the air or have landed on the ground.

Budget

And finally, you want to figure out a budget first and then go shopping.

For a good-quality golf ball meant for high handicappers, all you need is to look at performance. You will see that in the specifications.

FAQs

The Bottom Line

Now you know the critical factors in picking the right golf ball. You also know how to judge a golf ball, whether it is for a high handicap player or otherwise.

We have looked at the ball’s core, cover, and construction. We have also looked at spin, compression, and cost.

Golf is a solo sport in general but picking the right club and ball is how you create a team and win the game.

A golf ball isn’t perfect only because of a checklist of characteristics. It depends on the player’s game and needs a little extra help from the ball.

Thanks to the extensive testing and analysis of golf balls, we have a lot of the information we need to recommend the golf ball that is best suited to your game.

It is also what helps you make an informed decision at the end of the day. Now that you have it all get started with the shopping.