Best Beginner Golf Balls In 2023 - Review & Buying Guide
Updated: Jun 24
You have finally decided to get your own set of clubs and have been digging through information to find out what's best for you. Got the perfect golf bag and the best looking covers and hopefully you used our guide on The best beginner golf irons.
But you have forgotten one thing, Golf Balls. You can't go out on the golf course without these.
"Does it really matter i'll use any". That could be a big mistake for new golfers and this is why we have created the Best Beginners Golf Balls list.
So, golf balls can make big difference to your game, not necessarily in terms of distance but on how the ball feels when you hit it. Also what kind of ball is best for you whether it be a hard golf ball or a soft golf ball.
Here are our Best Picks For Those Of You That Are In A Hurry
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Best All Round Beginner Golf Ball
-- Titleist Tour Soft Golf Ball --
Best Budget Beginner Golf Ball
-- Rife RX5 Tour Feel Golf Ball --
Rife also have a great Beginner Golf Set. Check it out here: Rife RX5 Package Set Review
Best Beginner Golf Ball For Slow Swing Speeds
-- Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball --
Check out this video on why golf balls matter.
Best Beginner Golf Ball List
-- Srixon AD333 Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
American Golf
-- Pinnacle Rush Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
Amazon
-- Callaway Warbird Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
American Golf
-- Taylormade RBZ Soft Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
Amazon
-- Titleist Tour Soft Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
American Golf
-- Callaway Hex Soft Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
Amazon
-- Rife RX5 Tour Feel Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
American Golf
-- Wilson Duo Soft Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
American Golf
-- TaylorMade Soft Response Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
Amazon
-- Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
American Golf
-- Srixon Ultisoft Golf Ball --
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Where To Buy:
American Golf
So there you have it our list on the Best Beginner Golf Balls. Every golf ball has its own unique feature and there is one suitable for every golfer.
If you have not yet got all of your golf equipment checkout our Best Golf Club Sets For Beginners and our Top 10 Classic Golf Shoes
What We Look For In A Beginner Golf Ball
We have looked at 4 main areas when it comes to beginner golf balls in this list these are:
Spin - How easy is it to place spin upon the golf ball
Compression - How much does the golf ball compress
Construction - How the golf ball is constructed and how it helps
Durability - How long will the golf ball last
FAQ
Difference Between Soft & Hard Golf Balls
So, as beginner golfers you could be seeing a few different results with your swing.
Firstly, you are not getting much distance
Secondly you are either slicing the ball or hooking it.
Yes this mostly comes down to your swing, but having the correct ball can make a difference too.
If your struggling with distance then this could be due to a slower swing speed. Slower swing speeds are great for beginners as it can help you get your timing and your tempo right.
Unfortunately this does not offer much in terms of distance.
Changing your golf ball to a soft ball (low compression) will help you get a little extra distance. Essentially as you make contact the ball will compress and spring away from the club face causing increased speed as it leaves the club head.
This helps to get maximum distance out of the golf balls and the softer feel will give you a lot more forgiveness in your golf shot.
Harder golf balls offer less in compression and more spin off the tee. If you have a higher swing speed and don't need help with distance this may work for you.
Unfortunately harder golf balls do not offer the forgiveness that soft golf balls do. This is why they are usually used by mid to low handicappers. They do offer a lot more in terms of shot shaping though.
If you are to produce a draw or a fade then a harder golf ball will make this easier. It will also offer a lot more control around the green as you can add more spin to a harder golf ball. Spin rate can make a big difference around the green and help to give you that 'bite' people often talk about.
So, for a beginnner we recommend that you use a softer golf ball as it offers a lot more when your learning the game and working on your stroke. Changing to a harder golf ball may be beneficial to you as you get better in the game.
Cheap vs Expensive Golf Balls?
As a beginner the same goes with most golf equipment. You do not want to be spending your hard earned money on things that you don't need or that won't benefit you as a beginner.
This is the same for a golf ball, at this stage in the game the difference between a cheap or expensive golf ball will not make much if any difference to your game.
We advise you stick to the cheaper balls and don't be tempted by the sales tactics of some of these companies telling you the golf ball will change your game as it won't.
Obviously this is up to you and if you want use a premium golf ball like the Titleist Pro V1 then go for it, we think that would just be a waste of money which you could use on other equipment that will help you improve your golf game.
Golf Ball Construction
The construction of a golf ball can make a difference to your style of play.. A two-piece golf ball is usually used by beginners as they are the most forgiving and the soft compression is good for slow swing speeds.
Where as the tour pros like to use a 5 piece golf ball as you can get a lot more benfits such as a higher spin rate and an outer layer that is more durable.
One Piece Golf Ball Construction
A one piece ball is a one piece moulded ball usually out of Surlyn, with all the dimples and look of a normal golf ball.
These are usually saved for practice balls and range balls and are very rarely used on a golf course.
Two-Piece Ball Construction
The two piece ball is the golf ball that most beginners use as it is the most forgiving and great for slower swing speeds.
They roll further and help to create more distance than most other balls.
They have a solid rubber core and an external cover. This could be either Surlyn, Balata or even a Urethane cover.
This is usually the best beginner golf ball. So if your a beginnner go for a two-piece construction.
Three Piece Golf Ball Construction
The three piece golf ball has a solid rubber core which is surrounded by a secondary layer and then finished in the same layer as the other golf balls. Surlyn, Balata or Urethane.
The idea behind these golf balls is that they offer greater control and feel of the golf ball. So if your shot shaping then these would be your go to golf ball.
Four Piece Golf Ball Construction
This is where it starts to get intersting. A four piece golf ball offers even more in terms of control and feel on the golf ball. It helps with power during high compression and also helps if you are wanting to add spin to the golf ball.
Usually reserved for the higher skill levels of golfers. As this golf ball is not as forgiving as the lesser layered golf balls.
It is made up of a solid rubber core, an inner cover layer and an added middle cover covered with Surlyn or Urethane.
Five Piece Golf Ball Construction
This is the newest design of golf ball and made for advanced players and percieved as high-end balls.
The five piece golf balls have been created to help with many features that a golfer would need in a golf ball. Depending on the golf ball this could mean better with spin, more control around the greens or better for shot-shaping.
Why Do Dimples Matter On A Golf Ball?
So you may think that the dimples on a golf ball are just for decoration or just part of the manufacturing process (I know I did before I found out). But they actually help to make a big difference to the way a golf ball moves in the air and the dimple design all contribute to a better flight.
Dimples have a big affect on the flight path of a golf ball, the dimple pattern helps to reduce drag in the air and becuase there is less surface area then you can get greater distance out of a golf ball.
If the golf ball did not have these dimples then the ball would travel significantly less in the air meaning we wouldn't be able to reach the distances that we can.
A golf ball usually has between 336 & 392 dimples, if you manage to find a golf ball that does not sit within these limits then it probably isn't good quality and you should steer clear of it.
Can The Weather Can Affect A Golf Ball?
Yes, believe it or not weather can have a big effect on how your golf ball performs. If a golf ball is cold it can have an affect on how far the golf ball travels. There are two reasons for this.
Firstly when the ball is cold and the golf club is cold the energy transfer between the club and ball is less efficient meaning a normal strike could be reduced by 5-10 yards or more.
Secondly cold air is less dnese than warm air meaning there is more friction placed upon the golf ball during flight. Again this contributes to a shorter distance.
On the other hand a warmer golf ball will travel further as the air is less dense and the energy transfer is a lot more effiecient in the hot air.
So take this into consideration when playing in the cold, ideally using a softer golf ball will help with maintaining your longer distance shots
