A lot of golfers with very different skillsets can often be lumped together in the 'higher handicapper' category. The stereotype is a slow swinger of the club who doesn't hit the ball very far and although that is often the case, it's not ALWAYS the case. We've all played with players who hit the ball a mile and can't putt or who simply can't keep the ball in play because they're too wayward. So not all high handicap golfers can be grouped together, which makes coming up with a list of the best golf balls for this particular group of golfers trickier than you might think.
So this list can't just focus on which ball goes furthest, although we will feature some of the best distance golf balls as well as the best golf balls for slow swing speeds.
There are options on the market that try and conquer the damaging effects of bad shots. Typically, when a shot is mishit it creates sidespin which deviates the ball from it's desired path - the slice being the most common. Some options look to neutralize these effects, because straighter shots will lead to lower scores.
Inconsistency is another hallmark of many higher handicappers’ games - especially off the tee - which often means losing a lot of golf balls. This will be a key consideration for many golfers as it can be very expensive if you are using the best premium golf balls.
Have a think of what you're looking for in a golf ball and use this guide to help you choose the best golf ball that could suit your game. If you want more help in choosing the perfect golf ball, check out our guides on the best mid price golf balls, the best golf balls for beginners and the best distance golf balls.
The Quick List
Titleist are considered by many the gold standard of golf ball production, which extends to higher handicappers as well through the strong performance of the TruFeel.
The Callaway ERC Soft Triple Track has nice, soft feel to help with those fiddly ptich and chip shots around the green. It's also solid off the tee and worth a try if you're looking a new golf ball to test.
The Srixon Distance helps with you, you guessed it, distance off the tee via the high, penetrating flight and hard-wearing nature of the design. It suits those higher handicaps with swing speeds over 80mph in particular.
We love these TaylorMade Soft Response balls for their excellent feel from the putter face, and for their outstanding spin control on the short game. The choice of colors is also helpful.
Another option from Callaway, the Hex Soft is great for all round performance and is available at a really reasonable price. It wears well but still gives off that soft feel around the greens.
Wilson Triad balls come with good distance in the long game, a consistent ball slight and also a soft feel when putting, making them the best value option on this list.
Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers
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Top pick
The Titleist TruFeel golf ball in rede packaging, lying on grass
We think the best golf ball on this list for higher handicaps in the Titleist TruFeel for a number of reasons. Coming from the same manufacturer as the famous Pro V1 and Prov V1x, Titleist know what they're doing when it comes to golf balls. Despite the popularity of the Pro V1 and it's usage as the most popular ball on the PGA Tour, the TruFeel is catered specifically to the higher handicappers so they aren't forgotten about.
TruFeel is a two-piece construction golf ball that features a new, softer 3.0 Truflex cover which improves green-side spin and control. There is also a new TruTouch core which promote longer distances, making it a versatile golf ball with no real weakness. But how did the ball test for us? Very well is the answer. It's long and springy off the face of the driver off the tee and the same springy-like feel is present during putts and chips too.
The red alignment on the side of the ball will help players of all abilities on the greens. Lining your ball up to your intended line whilst putting is a great habit to get into for any higher handicap player who may struggle on the greens.
- Read our full Titleist 2024 TruFeel Golf Ball Review
Best for alignment
The Callaway ERC Soft golf ball next to an iron on the golf course
We spoke about alignment on the side of the golf ball with the TruFeel being good, but how about this option from Callaway?
The Triple Track alignment aid features on several of the best Callaway golf balls including the latest version of the ERC Soft, which is packed with technology and features designed to make it Callaway’s longest soft-feeling ball and an ideal option for higher handicap players.
One of our testers is a mid-range handicapper who played off 18 at the time of this review - he noted higher launch and distance with the ERC with less spin being created too. The ERC Soft shares the same hybrid cover featuring a Paraloid Impact Modifier as Callaway’s Supersoft model, and in testing it produced a distinctly soft feel and plenty of greenside spin.
We can't compliment the triple track more though, it really can prove crucial to new players when on the green. It will, hopefully, allow players to get into a healthy routine with putts - reading them, lining them up and then hitting towards their desired line with the help of the alignment on the side of this ball. This can help inspire confidence with putter in hand and should lead to better scores!
- Read our full Callaway ERC Soft ball review
Best for distance
A dozen Srixon Distance golf balls in red packaging, lying on the ground
If distance is your over-riding priority when it comes to a golf ball, the Srixon Distance ball is a model that seems to sell very well everywhere. It has a number of design features which many high handicap players will benefit from. First and foremost, it has a softer compression compared to the previous iteration. This helps deliver added distance through more velocity and a higher launch.
We tested the Distance on a windy day and were impressed by how it penetrated through the wind, providing good distance numbers in doing so. The reduced number of dimples of the shell helps the ball do this, creating less friction against the air. Said shell is durable, but does feel hard. This might suits lower to mid handicappers as much, but the durability is great for higher handicaps.
The Distance is without doubt one of the best cheap golf balls, but the trade off with this ball is the lack of significant feel when compared to more premium models, especially around the greens.
- Read our full Srixon Distance ball review
Best soft feel
A dozen TaylorMade Soft response golf balls in packaging, on the ground
The TaylorMade Soft Response golfball is a great choice for golfers with a slow swing speed. The key to distance is successfully compressing the golf ball because the ball springs off the face when successfully compressed.If you have a slow swing and a high compression golf ball, it won't compress enough and you will lose distance. A high swing speed with a low compression ball results in too much compression and once again you will lose distance.
The Soft Response is the softest ball Taylormade have ever produced, specifically made for those players with slower swing speeds. With a low-50 compression, the Soft Response is one of the best golf balls for senior golfers. This ball will not suit faster swingers, with our testing team noticing a drop off in number when we swung over the 90mph mark - but if you're average is below this, then this ball is well worth a go.
The softness around the green impressed us a lot. It is nice to chip with and has a similar feedback when putting. Spin numbers on our trackman device showed that this ball spins as much as some of the best golf balls on the market, which pleasantly shocked us. It's perfect for lower swing speed players who want short game performance matched with a bit more distance off the tee.
- Read our full TaylorMade Soft Response 2022 ball review
Best for durability
Two Callaway Hex Soft golf balls next to a sleeve of white packaging on the ground
As you will have gathered from everything mentioned above, a good golf ball for a high handicapper has to do a lot of things well. Another good example of this is the Hex Soft from Callaway, which delivers a good all-round performance in both the long and short-game, whilst also being extremely durable, making it one of the best value golf balls on the market. We tested the durability by using the same ball for two and a half rounds across different weather conditions and it held up impressively well.
This ball isn't the longest off the tee but is at least competitive with more expensive models and has a nice soft feel to it around the greens. These are one of the cheapest golf balls on this list too, so if you lose a few balls during a round these could be an excellent value option so you're not breaking the bank week on week.
- Read our full Callaway Hex Soft Golf Ball Review
Best value
The Wilson Triad golf ball in red packaging lying on the ground
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 when we tested it?
We're pleased to report that it did. Distance on all shots was as impressive as it was consistent, with a strong ball flight being promoted. The Triad is obviously a tier below the more premium golf balls on the market, hence the cheaper price, but we still found it performed surprisingly well in relation to short game as well. Higher handicappers are often not good enough to nip and spin the ball like the pros do with short chip shots, meaning they wouldn't get the full benefits of playing a premium ball like a Pro V1. With this in mind, the Triad delivers more than enough performance around the greens.
With this in mind and adding the price to the equation, the Triad is an excellent option that provides real value for money for the higher handicapper or beginner player.
- Read our full Wilson Triad Golf Ball review
How we test golf balls
Our testing procedure for golf balls, as well as all other golf gear, revolves around several key commitments;
When we say we’ve reviewed a product, it means that we’ve used it out on the golf course and also on a launch monitor where applicable. So all clubs and balls are extensively tested on course as well as with a launch monitor to give us the most information possible for our reviews. It is important to state that manufacturers can’t pay for a good review – we always tell it how we see it. And finally we will always do everything possible 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. This gives us as wide a scope as possible when it comes to assessing the performance of a golf ball at different swing speeds and different skill levels.
Our team is built up of passionate golfers, meaning through our experience of both testing and playing we know what to look for in a golf ball. We pride ourselves in our reviews because they are made for golfers, by golfers, with the aim of helping our readers make the best informed purchasing decision to help their own golf game.
Our review process has been honed over decades of experience testing all sorts of equipment. No brand can 'buy' a good review, nor does a brand get preferential treatment - we simply call it how we see.
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?
What is the area of your game that needs the most improvement? A lot of beginners and higher handicappers struggle with consistency and distance off the tee and could well be suited to playing a harder model of golf ball to help with such problems. Models like the Srixon Distance for instance.
It isn't all about just distance though. There are also golfers who struggle in terms of feel so we have also included some models above in this regard too, such as the Titleist TruFeel or Callaway ERC Soft. So regardless of which 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, which will help destructive tee shots become less so. For example the Bridgestone E12 Contact helps reduce sidespin which means it won't curve as much after a sliced tee shot. That will undoubtedly mean fewer lost balls, plus you will also find yourself further up the fairway with a shorter shot in.
Durability
There's no point splashing cash on a golf ball that will scuff itself up after six holes and negatively impact your game as a result. It's wise to purchase durable golf balls that can last multiple rounds in case you don't lose them!
Color
White is traditional, but tradition can also be a bit boring sometimes. Some players like to spice things up by playing yellow, orange or even pink golf balls. Not all models offer such customization, so keep that in mind when looking for the ball that suits you the best.
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 we have got you covered there too.
FAQs
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. You need to ask yourself what is the most important thing you need in a golf ball and then base your decision on that.
What is a high handicap in golf?
Officially a high handicap is anything above 18 when using the handicap index as a reference.
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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