5 Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers (Most Forgiving)

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What’s interesting about the concept of picking the best golf balls for high handicappers is that every player has their own requirements and vulnerabilities.

Some players have a fast swing, while others have a slow swing.

Most of them like golf balls with a soft feel, but some don’t care about that as long as they get the distance they are looking for. 

The same is true for the ball’s spin because it depends on their shot.

This article will tell you all about these terms, their importance, and what are most likely the best golf balls for a high handicap golfer. 

Short on time? Here are the top picks for the best golf ball for high handicappers:

???? Srixon Soft Feel – Most Forgiving Golf Ball For High Handicappers

???? Wilson Smart Core – Best High Handicap Golf Ball Deal

???? TaylorMade Soft Response – Best For Beginners

We Tried These Top Golf Balls for High Handicappers

We have five excellent choices for high handicap golfers. Take a look, and you will see why we picked these.

Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls

Features:

• Cover is made of thin ionomer
• Has a two-piece construction
• Comes in different colors
• Marked with 338 dimples in various sizes
• Has a low compression of 60

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, and the color is white.

They 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.

And since they are softballs, they take in force well and go the distance by lowering air drag.

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

Pros	Cons
Good for those who have a low swing speed	Not great when the swing speed is mid or high
Flies straight, goes longer, and has a soft feel
Bright colors make it easy to spot the ball

Wilson Smart Core Golf Ball

Features:

• Has a durable and thin enough ionomer cover
• Comes with two-piece construction
• Has a mild compression rate of 85
• Equipped with smart-core tech
• Has 432 dimples in different sizes

This is for golfers who want a good ball but are on a budget. This is a pack of 24 balls, and it comes at a very good price. It’s a good choice from an established company.

These balls are meant for those who want to improve their score by working on technique in practice.

These balls have a two-piece construction, and their core is built to survive short and long games.

The balls have more than 400 dimples on the surface.

The spin is minimal on these balls, which reduces the air drag and gives you distance.

In the shorter games, the flight of the ball can be controlled when you generate some spin.

Pros	Cons
Good for short and long games	Does not come in bright colors, which isn’t great for some courses
Cover is durable and long-lasting
Meant for mid-high handicappers
Affordable and value for money

TaylorMade Soft Response Golf Ball

Features:

• Has a strong ionomer cover
• Comes with three-piece construction
• Has a low compression of 60
• Uses zinc oxide core tech
• Has 322 dimples in round shape
• Comes in three different colors
• Pack of 12

These golf balls are a good choice for beginners. They are made by a good brand called TaylorMade, which makes premium quality affordable balls in different colors.

These golf balls have a three-piece construction and a core with a very low compression of 60. They come in three colors and have an ionomer cover. But they are soft on the inside and durable in performance.

You don’t need a great swing speed to achieve distance because they can reduce the air drag and fly straight.

These balls also don’t have much spin, making hooks and slicing easier. Plus, they are U-shaped which keeps them strong when in flight.

Pros	Cons
Gives you distance and feels soft on the outside	If you’re playing in brown grass, the red matted balls won’t help much
Controlling the spin is quite easy, which is good for handicappers and beginners
Best suited to players with a slow or moderate swing speed

Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls 2020

Features:

• It has a thin but strong ionomer cover
• Comes with a two-piece construction
• Has 432 dimples of different sizes
• It comes in three different glossy colors
• They have a low compression of 65
• It contains 12 balls in a pack

This is one of the best-known brands in golf, and for good reason. This particular model is of soft but firm balls that are long-lasting and meant to cover more yards.

They come in two colors and are a good choice for tournaments. These balls cost slightly more than a couple of other brands, but they are worth the investment.

Tour Softballs have a cover made of thin ionomer and two-piece construction. Each ball has more than 400 dimples, enabling a smooth flight and giving the golfer more control, especially in short games.

Pros	Cons
Good for mid-high handicappers	Not the best choice for players with a slow swing because it is soft but not that soft
Enables better control, alignment, and spin for long games
More dimples than the Pro V1

Callaway 2021 ERC Soft Triple Track Golf Balls

Features:

• It has a hybrid cover
• Made with a graphene-infused dual fast core
• Has a low compression of 60
• Comes in two bright glossy colors
• Has a three-piece construction
• Has 12 balls in one pack

These balls are also from the reputed brand, Callaway.

The ones that are in a bright yellow color, the visibility is excellent. They are known for going long distances in a straight flight.

They are soft with a three-piece construction.

The cover is made of polybutadiene which is a hybrid material that combines soft urethane and hard ionomer.

This makes it absorb force much better. The balls also contain graphene, which makes them unique.

Now, these golf balls are meant to give a high launch while reducing the spin.

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.

The balls also have a side stamp with three lines as opposed to the one line that the competitors offer. This is a great asset for high handicappers.

Pros	Cons
Three lines on the side help the alignment	If you’re into chip shots, this isn’t for you
Good forgiveness with a soft and straight flight
Enables a high launch which gives more distance

Important Aspects of a Golf Ball

To understand golf balls is to know the best aspects and pick up on the specifications that will help your golf game. Here, we will look at the top 4 factors.

Core

This is the inside of a golf ball. Back in the day, golf balls used to be made of rubber bands that were wound tightly. This created a strong core for the ball. But today, they are so much more than that.

Many different types of rubber and resins are used to produce a strong, solid core. In fact, some high-end balls also contain a liquid center.

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.

Typically, this is made of different types of plastics, rubbers, and hybrids. Some are made of Surlyn, a resin and a popular choice for golf balls.

This resin has a soft feel and gives you great control, which is why Surlyn balls are good for beginners and average-high handicappers. It 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. 

If 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 lesser 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 new ball fares compared to an old ball. 

This is not just about buying golf balls but also when to change the ball during a tournament. There are only two factors here. Let’s take a look.

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 balls tour balls, you will pay about $10 more than you would for balls with 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.

This means you need a ball that is constructed well. It should be able to give you high launching power.

It must also stay in flight for a longer period even though the swing is not super fast.

That means it must have a harder impact from the club regardless of the speed. So, 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.