Golf is a challenging sport for anyone but especially for beginners. The more you can do to improve your game, especially in the early stages, the more confident you’ll feel. The golf ball might be the last thing you think of in this respect, but there is a greater variance from one ball to the next than you’d think. Beginners should be spending their time having fun on the course, not trawling through forums and social media trying to track down the perfect ball for them. We decided to round up what we believe are the best golf balls for beginners.
The Best Golf Balls for Beginners
We spent hours on extensive research and testing in search of beginner-friendly golf balls. We’ve narrowed it down to five great options, ideal for those who are just starting out. There are some big differences in price here, and you’ll see there are some significant variations in features too. Don’t worry though – we’ll highlight the best features of each one, so you can gauge which ball might help you improve your performance from day one on the course. Price is just one factor to consider. There is a lot more going on under that dimpled surface than you might think.
Below we’ve listed 5 of the best golf balls for beginners.
Titleist Velocity Golf Balls (One Dozen)
Available in standard white or easy-to-spot pink or orange, these golf balls come in four separate sleeves with three balls in each, creating a 12-pack in the outer box. Every shot you make with these balls is guaranteed to have high flight, ensuring your ball flies for a longer distance over the course. It boasts a steep descent too, helping you drop it into place in the ideal spot. A soft core is coupled with a NaZ+ cover to encourage a faster speed as well. The dimpled design ensures the ball carries as far as possible.
Callaway Golf Supersoft Golf Balls, (One Dozen)
Callaway has come up with their softest golf ball ever. For you, this means reduced spin on every shot, carrying the ball further up the course. Less spin means your ball is going to travel straighter too. Ideal for beginners, the super-soft design means you’ll find them easier to control. Available in a box of one dozen, the Callaway Supersoft golf balls can be purchased in standard white or optical yellow. The color has been designed to be easier to see no matter what the weather conditions are when you play.
Srixon AD333 Golf Balls (12-Pack)
This smart pack of a dozen golf balls comes with four three-ball boxes in the outer pack. Offering Spinskin Technology, the cover of each ball is comprised of soft rabalon hr+ and pana-tetra. This ensures a thin yet robust cover. The inside of each ball is designed to reduce drag while ensuring you can maintain a consistent trajectory on each shot. Better distance control is another key feature, boosting your confidence and allowing you to make the most of your skills every time.
Callaway Warbird Golf Ball
Our next Callaway pick made our list of best golf balls for all players. The Waybird set of a dozen golf balls is available in white or yellow. Callaway is well known for its HEX Aerodynamics technology, which limits the amount of drag on each ball. The high launch point guarantees faster speeds and distance with each shot along the fairway. The extra-large core can be easily compressed, giving you excellent performance regardless of swing speed, not to mention greater confidence on the course. Other pack sizes are available too, including a two-pack – ideal if you want to try them before buying a dozen.
TaylorMade Burner Golf Balls (1 Dozen)
Invest in a dozen TaylorMade Burner golf balls in white to experience the power this design can give you on the course. Boasting the REACT core, they offer a performance that ticks off all the important elements beginners look for – speed, distance, and a soft performance for greater confidence. The long-lasting IOTHANE cover ensures no damage occurs, while the aerodynamic features give you low drag on each shot. Benefiting from a two-piece construction, these balls are perfect for most beginners to the game. TaylorMade also provides a reliable track record to support this design.
Buying Beginner Golf Balls
People who have never played golf before might assume everyone uses the same golf balls. Not so. In fact, you might be surprised at how many options there are to choose from. If you are a beginning golfer, let’s face it, you’re going to need all the help you can get. If one golf ball gives you a slight edge compared with another one, that’s the one to buy. So, what do you need to look for when shopping for your first set of golf balls?
How far do they go?
There are two elements to this:
- How far does the ball fly when struck?
- How far does the ball roll when it lands?
Even the slightest improvement of one ball over another in this category is going to have a marked effect on how close to the tee you get. You want a ball that doesn’t go too high, instead getting plenty of length… and no stopping dead when it hits the ground.
How soft is it?
Golf balls range from soft to hard. Softer balls are ideal for beginners as they compress further than the harder counterparts. This gives them the power to go further.
However, what you get in distance you pay for in control of the ball. So, if you can experiment with a few to get a feel for what works best for you, that’s great. If you can’t, try a softer ball designed for beginners. If you want something a little harder for greater control, you can scale up. A lot depends on your skill level and where you excel or fall short.
How long will it last?
Longevity is important, especially to start with when you’re not sure whether you’re going to stick with the hobby. (We all know you will, but it’s best to be sure…) Some balls last far longer than others, so look at the price and what you’re getting for the price in terms of longevity. Reading reviews and the blurb for each set of golf balls should help in this respect.
How much spin does it offer?
Ah, now we are getting technical… I’ll keep this simple though. To start with, you may not know what kind of spin you’re putting on the ball. This is affected by your stance and swing among other things.
Increased spin can generate more swerve on the ball, sending it off course. Searching for beginners’ golf balls with low spin is ideal, as you’ll be able to control their flight path and eventual landing spot more easily.
What type of ball construction is best?
Ah yes, more technical still. Golf balls may all look similar on the outside, but they vary on the inside. You can get one-piece balls or others with up to five layers involved.
A two-piece ball is ideal if you are just getting started. The more layers there are inside the golf ball, the harder it can be to control it during play. Since you want to try and land your first hole in one, why not make things as easy as possible?
Conclusion
There is far more to the average golf ball than you think. Indeed, is there any such thing as an average ball? Not according to the selection we’ve picked here. While you can head out on the course with the first set of golf balls you come across, it makes sense to find a set that offers a supportive performance if you can.
With lots of variations even within the top picks we’ve highlighted here, there is an ideal ball out there to help you up your game. Go for a famous brand with longevity in the field and choose the design that fits with your current game. And prepare to change to something else as your game improves, too. If you’re a brand new golfer, we recommend reading this guide on golf terminology, it seems to have helped plenty of our readers out.