Best Golf Balls For High Handicappers 2024

Our guide to the best balls for high handicappers covers a range of options. Read more here.

Best Golf Balls For High Handicappers
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
Best Golf Balls For High Handicappers: Quick Menu

The general assumption is that high handicappers don’t swing it as fast or hit it as far as lower handicappers. Often that is true, but we will all have played with high handicappers who hit it miles, with their power perhaps betrayed by wayward hitting or poorer greenside skills. This makes coming up with a list of the best golf balls for higher handicappers a slightly trickier task than it perhaps appears at first glance. It means, for example, that any such list can’t consist exclusively of balls primarily designed to go further.

But for many high handicappers, that is, indeed, one of the most pressing requirements, so our list does feature a number of the best distance golf balls, along with others offering greater playability closer to the greens.

There are also balls on the market that seek to neutralize the damaging effects of sidespin to a degree by spinning less. The slice is the most common high handicapper’s affliction, so anything that might stop the ball heading quite so far right would be great for many. It could see them in play a little more often and slightly further up the hole too, as slice spin is the avowed enemy of distance! Inconsistency is another hallmark of many higher handicappers’ games. That brings us to our final, and perhaps most important, consideration for many: Price! If you’re still losing a lot of balls, you’ll be wanting to keep the cost down, much though you may hanker after the best premium golf balls.

The Quick List

Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers

Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Top pick

Titleist 2024 TruFeel Golf Ball Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Construction: Two-piece
Colors: 1 (white)

Reasons to buy

+
Great value for money
+
Strong greenside performance
+
Good alignment features

Reasons to avoid

-
Won’t suit faster swingers who create a lot of spin

Our top pick for higher handicap players right now is the latest version of Titleist's TruFeel golf ball. This is a two-piece golf ball that features a new, softer 3.0 Truflex cover for greenside spin and control, as well as a new TruTouch core to promote longer distances. But how did the ball test? 

Well we think this is an excellent ball to consider for higher handicap players because it did indeed offer good distance, especially with the driver, so much so that we think it is a golf ball many beginner's should try as well. Off the face the ball felt springy and got into the air easily, both of which will suit higher handicap players, and the performance around the greens was good as well. This springy face continued with wedges and putter in hand, and there was a surprising amount of spin too, which only aids the performance further.

We also really liked the red lines stamped on the ball for additional alignment and certainly helped with close-range putting. We think this kind of visual stimulation will also help higher handicap players on the greens as well. It is available in just white at the moment but we expect more colors to be coming soon. If you want to check out the rest of the Titleist ball range, have a read of our best Titleist golf balls guide.

Best for alignment

Callaway ERC Soft Ball Review

(Image credit: Callaway)

Specifications

Constrution: Three-piece
Colors: 2 (white, yellow, also available with Triple Track)

Reasons to buy

+
Soft feel on all shots
+
Extra distance off the tee
+
Extra alignment assistance via the Triple Track design

Reasons to avoid

-
Lines on ball may prove off-putting from the fairway

The latest version of Callaway’s ERC Soft is packed with technology and features designed to make it Callaway’s longest soft-feeling ball. Was this the case and why is it on this list? Well one of our testers for this ball was an 18 handicapper and he thought it produced a higher launch and extra distance, with less spin being created as well.

In the short-game performance was good too. It shares the same hybrid cover featuring a Paraloid Impact Modifier as Callaway’s Supersoft model, which produced a noticeably soft feel and ample greenside spin on the majority of well-struck, short-game shots. 

But the design feature that really helped this ball stand out, and will definitely help high handicap players be more consistent on the green is the distinctive Triple Track alignment aid. Having not used the tool before our tester was dubious but felt it really helped him concentrate more on lining up the ball properly, and it seemed to help with consistency of start line on the greens. 

Best soft feel

TaylorMade Soft Response 2022 Golf Ball Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Construction: Three-piece
Colors: 3 (white, yellow, red)

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent feel off the putter face
+
Superb short game spin control
+
Three good colors

Reasons to avoid

-
Faster swingers may see a drop off in driver distance

TaylorMade says this is the softest ball it has ever produced and that was something we really noticed on the greens. It has a lovely feel of the face of the putter and this extends to the wedges as well with the spin numbers produced being only slightly behind the best golf balls on the market. 

However, it is important to say here that with a low 50-compression, the Soft Response is undoubtedly aimed at players with mid or slow driver swing speeds. With faster speeds there was a drop off in distance but if your driver head speed is around the 90mph mark, you may well find the long game performance is good.

Overall this ball is a product that promises plenty of performance. Whilst faster swingers may see a drop off in distance at the top end of the bag, slower swingers will still be able to benefit from the superb short game performance, but won't experience the loss of yardage.

Best value

Wilson Triad Golf Ball Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Construction: Three-piece
Colors: 1 (white)

Reasons to buy

+
Good distance in the long game
+
Consistent ball flight
+
Soft feel off the putter

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as much greenside spin as a Tour-level premium golf ball

Wilson released the Triad golf ball at the beginning of 2022 and was designed for those golfers after the feel and control of a urethane model without having to pay the premium price of a Tour golf ball. Did it deliver? 

Well from a high handicapper perspective, it produced good distance and we were very happy with the consistency of the ball flight as well. There was still an element of short game control and spin, despite the model being a touch below the premium models in the game. But this is not a massive issue because higher handicap players will still be able to maintain a degree of touch and feel when they are on and around the greens with this golf ball. 

With plenty of distance and consistency in the long game and a good feel on the green, the Wilson Triad is definitely a golf ball to consider if you are a high handicapper who seriously wants to improve at the game. In fact when you consider the total performance of this ball, and combine it with the lower price you can find the Triad for, then the value here really sets it apart.

Best for distance

srixon distance ball and packaging

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

Specifications

Construction: Two-piece
Colors: 1 (white)

Reasons to buy

+
Ideal for 80+ mph swing speeds
+
High penetrating ball flight
+
Hard-wearing and wallet friendly

Reasons to avoid

-
Durable cover is very hard

A model that seems to sell very well everywhere, the Srixon Distance ball has a number of design features which many high handicap players will enjoy. First it has a softer compression compared to the previous iteration, which helps deliver distance through more velocity and higher launch. Our tester did see a good increase in distance and it also penetrated the air in windy conditions a little better than other models as well, resulting in more yardage. This is because of the reduced dimple count, with 108 fewer. 

High handicap players will also enjoy the durable cover which is engineered for greater cut-proof durability. So these are good value as well. The trade off with this ball is the lack of significant feel when compared to more premium models, although we were pleased it did not feel like a rock, which has often been an issue with golf balls designed purely for distance. 

Best for durability

Callaway Hex Soft Golf Ball Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Construction: Two-piece
Colors: 1 (white)

Reasons to buy

+
Good all-round performance
+
Excellent value for money
+
Soft feel and yet durable

Reasons to avoid

-
Significantly less spin compared to urethane balls

As we have discussed a good golf ball for a high handicapper has to do a lot of things well and another example of this is the Hex Soft from Callaway. The all-round performance is good in the long and short-game areas of golf, whilst the ball itself is extremely durable as well. Our tester managed to get two and a half rounds out of one golf ball and it was very resistant to cuts and general wear and tear. 

When it came to short game shots this ball undoubtedly feels soft - and that will appeal to a lot of golfers, whilst the distance on offer was at least competitive with more expensive models. Importantly you can also find these golf balls at a good price too, further adding to the overall value on offer. 

How we test golf balls

Our testing procedure for golf balls, as well as all other golf gear, revolves around several key commitments;

If we say we’ve reviewed a product, that means we’ve used it out on the golf course and hit it on a launch monitor where applicable. Manufacturers can’t pay for a good review – we tell it how we see it. And finally we will always endeavor to use the latest and best equipment to assess performance. In terms of specifics for golf balls, we use several members of the Golf Monthly team, who play at a variety of levels, to put golf balls to the test out on the golf course.

The entire team are regular golfers and therefore balls are used over a number of rounds because that is how you can test for things like distance, feel, durability, spin and so on. We then seek to be as honest and insightful as possible in reviews and guides to help you be more informed.

How to choose golf balls

If you are a high handicap player and want to find the best golf ball for you, what are some of the things you need to consider? Well this section is here to help...

Distance or feel?

The area of the game that higher handicap players usually need the most help is in getting the ball in the air and in terms of distance. Therefore many models above have simple constructions which are designed to create a high launch, stay in the air longer, and feel a bit harder at impact. Models like the Srixon Distance, and Volvik Vivid for example.

However there are also players who struggle in terms of feel so we have also included some models above in this regard too, such as the Titleist Velocity or Callaway ERC Soft. Whichever part of the game you most struggle with, there is a ball to help.

Spin

Linking with the above point many models above are going to spin less too which will help destructive shots become less so. For example the Bridgestone E12 Contact helps reduce sidespin which means it won't curve as much after a slice strike. That could mean fewer lost balls, and you are further down the golf hole.

Durability

Golf balls also have to be durable too especially for higher handicap players. They tend to get into more trouble in terms of sand, bushes, trees and so on, and therefore a good golf ball will be resistant to cuts and scrapes here. Many of the models above have firmer covers to help in this regard.

Color

No longer do you have to plump for a white golf ball because now you can go for greens, reds, yellows, or if you want the Volvik Vivid, just about any color you can think of. If you struggle to see the white golf ball in the air or when it lands, why not try a different color?

Budget

Finally be aware of how much you can or want to spend on golf balls. If you want the cheapest dozen possible with a degree of performance then a couple of models will suit you above, whereas if you want to spend a little more then we have got you covered there too.

FAQs

What is a high handicap in golf?

Officially a high handicap is anything above 18 when using the handicap index as a reference.

Which golf ball is best for high handicappers?

There are lots of models that can lay claim to this title as the best golf ball for high handicappers. It is worth noting though that many high handicap players want something different from their golf balls. For example, some want as much distance as possible, and some want more of a soft feel so the best golf balls for these players will differ. 

What is a 3-piece golf ball?

A three-piece golf ball refers to the three laters of the ball - usually the core, mantle and the cover. Usually these balls offer a a softer feel and slightly more spin when compared to two-piece balls. As such they offer a touch more control whereas two-piece models can offer more distance. 

What is a 2-piece golf ball?

A two-piece golf ball refers to the two layers of the golf ball, which are the core and then the cover. These balls are designed to spin less than multi-layer balls and as a result stay in the air longer for more distance. The compromise is they offer less spin and control on other shots, especially around the green.

If you want more golf ball buying advice, check out our guides on the best golf balls for slow swing speeds and best golf balls for seniors.

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Sam Tremlett
E-commerce Editor

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly. 

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for.


Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. 

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. 


Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter/Nike Air Zoom Infinity NEXT%/Cuater The Ringer