Last Updated – Feb 14, 2024
If you are a high handicap golfer, this article will help you find the best golf balls for your game. I have a database with thousands of data points on golf balls and personally test each one before it’s recommended.
I put them to the test in my home simulator and out on the golf course.
The first thing you should ask yourself is – what kind of golfer am I? There are a ton of golf balls on the market and the one you pick should really depend on your situation. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all for high handicappers.
Are you completely new to the game? Are you an avid golfer working to get better? Maybe you’re someone who only gets out a couple of times per year.
I’m going to cover all of these topics, and more, to help you find a good golf ball that fits your game.
The best advice I can give, pick a ball and stick with it! I’ll explain more later.
Best Price
TaylorMade Noodle
The Noodle, Long & Soft! I’ve watched someone win long drive with this ball!
Most Distance
Titleist Tour Speed
Great distance no matter what your swing speed is! Price is very reasonable and soft feel.
Casual Golfer
Vice Drive
A direct-to-consumer manufacturer with great prices and amazing quality!
Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers
⛳️ Our experts spend hours gathering data, testing, and comparing products to deliver comprehensive recommendations to help you choose. Find out more about how we test products.
Vice Drive Golf Ball
Vice Golf is one of my favorite manufacturers, hands down. They are a direct-to-consumer company and don’t spend millions of dollars sponsoring PGA Tour players. This allows them to pass on some lower costs to us.
Vice golf balls are very high quality, they get some really good distance and are very durable. I have personally tried every single one of their golf balls, both on the course and on the simulator to see how they perform.
Here is a full review of Vice Golf Balls!
They do pretty well! I have teed up a Vice Drive, right after hitting a ProV1. Fortunately, I hit both very solid, they were right next to each other in the fairway. So when it comes to distance, you’re not missing out!
Quick Facts
The Vice Drive is a soft ball that certainly rivals 3-piece golf balls at a fraction of the cost. It is a 2 piece ball and offers a 312 dimple pattern. In an independent study conducted by Golf laboratories, the Vice Drive significantly outperformed the Titleist Tour Soft golf ball.
PROS
- Durability
- Distance
- Price
CONS
- You won’t get quite as much spin around the greens
Which High Handicappers Should Consider This Ball?
I’d recommend this golf ball for the casual golfer who only plays a few times a year. This is also a good ball for beginners.
TaylorMade Noodle
I bet you didn’t even know the Noodle was a TaylorMade ball! Ok, maybe you did. But did you know that one of the inventors of the Noodle, Dean Snell, also had a hand in creating the ProV1?
The Noodle performs! It is very soft and gets great distance off the tee. A friend of mine actually won a long drive at a scramble event with a Noodle. This was years ago, but he definitely hit it well over 320 yards!
I’ve used the Noodle for years and honestly, I am not sure why I don’t anymore. I went on this crazy quest a couple of years ago to try every golf ball under the sun. I’ve found some pretty good golf balls during that time. Either way, for the price, you just can’t beat it. That’s why it’s number 1 on my “best cheap golf balls” list!
Quick Facts
Very low compression rating and a 342 dimple pattern. Offers short game spin and control around the greens. Consumer reviews give this ball a 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 6,000 reviews!
TaylorMade spends a whopping $0 in marketing the Noodle. They keep the cost extremely low, especially for a new golf ball.
PROS
- PRICE!
- Feel
- Did I mention the price? ~$1/ball (For a golf ball, that’s cheap!)
- Durability
- Distance
CONS
- You won’t get quite as much short game spin
- You’ll be playing with a “long and soft noodle”
Which High Handicappers Should Consider This Ball?
Cost-conscious golfers will find this is the best-performing golf ball for the price, period!
Titleist Tour Speed
This golf ball was built for speed and offers exceptional distance for players of all swing speeds. The Tour Speed will generate a ton of ball speed. If you are looking for maximum distance, this is the one!
I have personally used this ball quite a bit and usually keep a few in my bag for when I’m trying to get a little extra distance off the tee. I have also recommended this ball to a couple of my “Senior” friends and they immediately saw an extra 10 yards of distance off the tee.
You’ll pay a few more bucks for this ball, but if you are looking for a premium golf ball on a budget, this is a winner! This ball performs, in every swing speed category, and was featured in my recommendations for the best distance golf balls.
Quick Facts
346 quadrilateral dipyramid dimple design – That’s a mouthful! 3-piece construction with a proprietary Titleist Urethane cover. Titleist is definitely doing some marketing with that language, but I wouldn’t expect anything else from a top brand.
PROS
- Great distance at all swing speeds
- Great greenside spin
- Soft Feel
CONS
- Pricing has been known to fluctuate due to supply issues (if you see them for $25/dozen, scoop them up)
Which High Handicappers Should Consider This Ball?
I’d recommend this golf ball to the high handicapper who isn’t as concerned about price and wants to get some more distance off the tee. This ball is especially beneficial to seniors or other golfers with lower swing speeds. Although, higher swing speed golfers will also see some exceptional distance.
Bridgestone e12 Contact
The new e12 contact is designed for distance and more accuracy. The dimples on this golf ball have a raised area in the center, which produces more contact with the club face resulting in more accuracy. At least that’s what Bridgestone claims!
I tried the e12 Contact and I was impressed! It feels good off the tee and with my irons. It had a nice soft feel to it. I also noticed better greenside spin compared to the Bridgestone e6. I didn’t get any noticeable distance gains, it was right in line with what I’d expect from any higher-end golf ball! As for accuracy, I think it made a bit of a difference, but nothing crazy. My bad shots were not quite as pronounced.
The e12 also gets some great reviews on Amazon, which is consistent with my personal experience. They have 4.7 stars from over 4,700 reviews.
Quick Facts
3-piece construction with a 326 dimple pattern and a double cover. The Bridgestone e12 golf ball has a low spin rating, with both driver and short irons. You can get the e12 in white, yellow, red, or green.
PROS
- Great distance at all swing speeds
- Durable
- Price
- Great Feel
- Slight accuracy improvement
- Decent greenside spin
CONS
- Most won’t notice a difference in the e6 or e12, but you’ll pay a few extra bucks for the e12
Which High Handicappers Should Consider This Ball?
I’d recommend these golf balls for high handicappers who are not as concerned about price and are looking for a bit more accuracy.
Bridgestone e6
The new e6 with soft feel is Bridgestone’s 2-piece low compression golf ball, priced in the mid-range. Bridgestone produces some really high-quality golf balls and the e6 is no exception.
I have also used the e6 golf ball and found them to be just as long as a ProV1. They felt very soft and I found them to be very durable. They are specifically designed for golfers with moderate swing speeds per Bridgestone, but they hit well for a higher swing speed too.
The e6 also gets some great reviews on Amazon, which is consistent with my personal experience. They have 4.7 stars from over 5,600 reviews. Players with slower swing speeds will get a lot of extra distance off the tee.
Quick Facts
2-piece construction with a 330 dimple pattern and single cover. The Bridgestone e6 golf ball has a low spin rating, with both driver and short irons. You can get the e6 in white or yellow.
PROS
- Great distance at all swing speeds
- Great Feel
- Durability
- Price
CONS
- Greenside spin is lacking, which is common with most 2-piece golf balls
Which High Handicappers Should Consider This Ball?
I’d recommend these golf balls for high handicappers who want some added distance but are okay with missing out on the greenside spin.
Vice Tour
The Vice Tour golf ball is a few bucks more than its little brother, the Vice Drive. But it is still an inexpensive option. Vice produces some really high-quality golf balls that compete with any of the major golf ball manufacturers.
I have also used the Vice Tour golf ball and found them to once again be just as long as a ProV1. I found them to be very durable and it is specifically designed for golfers of all swing speeds.
The Tour also gets some great reviews on Amazon, which I have found to be consistent with my personal experience. They have 4.7 stars from over 2,400 reviews. Players with slower swing speeds will get a lot of extra distance off the tee.
Quick Facts
3-piece construction with a 312 dimple pattern. The Vice Tour was compared to the Tour Speed in an independent study from Golf Laboratories in 2021, that test showed the Vice Tour got a little more distance. The 2022 Tour Speed came back a bit better the following year, but we are talking about feet at this point, not yards.
PROS
- Great distance at all swing speeds
- Good greenside spin
- Durability
- Price
CONS
- It is a firmer golf ball, which some may not like
Which High Handicappers Should Consider This Ball?
I’d recommend these golf balls for high handicappers who are looking for a bit more all-around performance but still want to keep the price low.
Vice Pro
When it comes to premium performance at a lower price, this ball delivers. This is the ball I play regularly and have tons of data on the launch monitor comparing it to several premium golf balls.
The Vice Pro consistently beats them and costs much less. Personally, I think it is one of the best golf balls on the market!
I did a full comparison of the Vice Pro and the ProV1, the Vice Pro wins in my book, and that’s before you factor in the lower price.
Quick Facts
3-piece construction with a 318 large dimple pattern. It is a soft golf ball, designed for players with medium to high swing speeds (95-110 mph)
PROS
- Outperforms the ProV1
- Great spin around the greens
- Good distance off the tee
- Durability
CONS
- The price is on the higher-end for golf balls on this list
Which High Handicappers Should Consider This Ball?
I’d recommend these golf balls for high handicappers who are actively working to improve their game and need a ball that can perform off the tee and around the greens.
Srixon Soft Feel
The Srixon soft feel golf ball is one of the cheaper golf balls on the market. It gets a ton of great reviews, with 4.7 stars on over 3,000 reviews. Srixon compares this ball to the Callaway supersoft and delivers slightly more distance.
I’ve tried these out, and honestly, they perform very similarly to the other 2-piece golf balls on this list. They feel soft, as you’d expect from the name. But you will definitely lose some greenside spin with these. They also seemed pretty durable. I hit a cart path with one and the damage wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d expected.
Quick Facts
2-piece construction with a 338 dimple pattern and ionomer cover. It is a soft golf ball, designed for maximum distance. In distance testing performed against the Callaway supersoft golf ball, Titleist TruSoft, and Bridgestone e12 soft (previous generation e12), the Srixon soft feel has a slight edge against all 3.
PROS
- Price
- Soft Feel
- Decent distance off the tee
CONS
- You’ll lose some performance around the greens
Which High Handicappers Should Consider This Ball?
I’d recommend these golf balls for high handicappers who are casual golfers and looking for a decent ball at a decent price.
Buying The Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers
Pick one and stick with it!
I cannot emphasize enough, pick a ball and stick with it. Balls perform differently, and constantly switching will hurt your golf game. Golf balls matter, but I think it is even more important to be consistent. Especially for high handicap golfers.
I also think it’s important to buy new golf balls! Used golf balls or refurbished ones can be a mixed bag. They could be waterlogged and you might not be getting what you actually order.
Curious to know what the most expensive golf balls are? Can you imagine paying $20 per ball?!?!
Two piece golf balls are generally the cheapest on the market. Most of them are comparable in distance, and nearly all of them lack greenside spin. If you are a casual golfer and don’t care about that, go with one of these.
Three piece golf balls are a bit more expensive and not all are created equal. Some do far better than others with regard to distance. A three piece golf ball will also offer more spin around the green.
Using the same ball consistently will eliminate one variable from your golf game. The best golf balls on the planet are not going to improve your game on the golf course. But, they can perform consistently and allow you to find true yardages and understand exactly how a ball will react around the green
Virtual Ball Fitting?
There are tons of balls for high handicappers. If you don’t want to try one of the balls I’ve recommended, GIVE OUR GOLF BALL SELECTOR TOOL A TRY!
Swing Speed – It’s Important for Finding the Best golf ball for Distance.
Every ball on the market performs differently. Part of that is, they react differently to varying swing speeds.
For example, you could take the new ProV1 left dash and hit it at a slow swing speed (85MPH) and it will go further than any other ball on the market. You could hit that same ball at 100MPH and there are a ton of other balls that would go further.
Balls compress at different rates and bounce off the club face based on that. So, it’s important to match a ball to your individual swing speed. A proper golf ball fitting can help with that.
Speaking of increasing your swing speed, I’ve been working with The Stack System to increase mine. There is a direct correlation to my distance gains and my handicap getting lower. So for all of us high handicappers, it’s something to consider.
Should you use a premium golf ball?
Finding the right golf ball is a balance between your skill level, your personal preferences, and how much you are willing to pay. The best golf balls on the market are not going to take you from high handicapper to scratch.
Most high handicap golfers are unlikely to have the skill level to take advantage of all the features a premium golf ball offers. Same for mid-handicappers. The more research I have done, and the more balls I experiment with, this has become abundantly clear.
I can hook a ball off the tee with the worst of them. It doesn’t matter if it’s a ProV1 or a Noodle. One costs 4x more, so it matters to me. I currently play a Vice Pro, I absolutely hit it just as far as a ProV1. I’ve tested them side-by-side.
The argument for premium balls is their distance AND greenside control. With technology and all of the layers they have introduced, they are able to get a lower spin off the tee for increased distance. At the same time, they are able to get a higher spin with wedges around the green because of their cover.
But the thing is, so many balls have caught up. Do you remember when it cost $3,000+ to buy a big screen TV. It wasn’t too long before you could get double the quality for half the price. I think we are getting there with golf balls.
There are a lot of great performing balls on the market for a cheap price. Partially because we have so many options when buying golf balls.
How to choose a golf ball.
Alright, so maybe I’ve convinced you to skip the premium ball. Now what? Well, I have an easy button for you.
Head on over to our golf ball selector tool, answer a few questions and…Done!
Balls perform differently at various swing speeds. The best distance golf balls for slow swing speeds may be totally different than the best golf balls for high swing speed.
How much of a difference does it really make? Well, for most golfers, not much at all. But for some golfers, especially those with slower swing speeds, it can make a giant difference. If you are looking to maximize distance on the golf course, having the right ball is definitely a factor.
I’ve been able to add 10+ yards of distance to a couple of slower swing speed players just by handing them a different ball. The answer is NOT premium golf balls. It is knowing how balls perform at different swing speeds and then matching them up to the golfer.
There is a bit more to it. Most golfers know whether they prefer a firm ball or soft feeling balls. Firm does not always mean superior distance. Plenty of soft balls outperform in distance at several swing speeds.
Bottom line – Try the selector tool and focus on the top 3 or 4 recommendations. Find one that you like from the list and give it a shot.
Conclusion
There are many golf balls for high handicappers, don’t get hung up on finding the perfect golf ball. As a high handicap player, you’ll be far better off selecting cheaper golf balls. You can get a great high-quality distance ball at a very reasonable price.
But honestly, it really depends on your individual situation. There is no such thing as high handicap golf balls. Every golfer has different needs and is in a different place in their ability.
Stay away from used golf balls! You never know where they come from and many golf balls that are pulled out of a pond are actually water-logged. You can buy a batch of used ProV1’s for cheap, but half of them might be total garbage.
Golf equipment will not fix your high handicap, so go cheaper and take the money saved to invest in some lessons or data analysis for your golf game.
Vice Pro
If you are a high handicapper trying to improve and looking for a great golf ball, the Vice Pro may be perfect for you! It beats the ProV1 and several other premium golf balls at a significantly lower price.