Best Golf Balls For Beginners in 2024

When you first start playing golf, the amount of information and equipment can be quite confusing. There are differing opinions and lots of unnecessary information.

As a golf professional, I always felt a little bad for the excited beginner and all the information they were getting all at once.

Luckily there are some very basic things that a beginner needs when it comes to golf balls. Let’s take a look at those things and start breaking down the best golf balls for beginners in 2024.

Our Best Golf Balls For Beginners in 2024




How much effect does a Golf Ball have on your game?

A golf ball can have a tremendous impact on your golf game. When you are a beginner, you will need a golf ball that is forgiving, long hitting and low spinning. With this combination of features, you can get the distance and trajectory that you need in your golf shots. Even on the putting green, having the proper golf ball in the bag can make all the difference. The next time you go out to play, bring two golf balls and try them both on a green. You will likely notice almost an immediate difference in the way they feel and perform.

Best Golf Balls for Beginners: TaylorMade Noodle Long & Soft Golf Balls



PROS

  • Affordable
  • Good for average swing speed
  • Iothane cover is durable and soft
  • Long-distance off the tee

CONS

  • Not the best spin around the greens

The best overall golf ball for beginners is the TaylorMade Noodle Long and Soft. The Noodle is not a new ball, although it has been upgraded and improved a few times throughout the years.

The best thing about the Noodle is that it is long off the tee but has some soft feel around the green.

This is achieved because the ball is a two-piece ball with a high performing cover that helps to provide more feel at impact. The cover is made of an Iothane material that is also quite durable for a strike from a new player.

Let’s not forget that as a beginner, you are likely going to lose quite a few golf balls. The Noodle is offered at a very fair price.

Considering the golf equipment prices are never all that affordable, this is a perfect choice golf ball for a beginner.




Best Low Compression Golf Ball: Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls



PROS

  • Trigonometry cover formulation
  • Low compression
  • Good greenside control for 2 piece ball 
  • Fast ball speeds

CONS

  • Not much greenside spin

The Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls have been some of the highest performing balls on the market for the last few years. The Supersoft is not just the best golf balls for beginners, but they work for high handicappers as well. 

The unique thing about the Callaway golf balls is their HEX aerodynamics. The Hex pattern is a hexagon shape that will cover the entire exterior of the golf ball. The hexagon shape helps to reduce drag and create more spin where needed. 

For all that the Supersoft offers, it is hard to believe the price on these golf balls. Overall this is one of the more affordable golf balls on the market.

The Supersoft is available in several different colors so you can get something that suits your individual needs.

Read our Callaway Supersoft review




Best Durable Golf Ball: Vice Golf Drive White Golf Balls



PROS

  • Helps with aiming
  • Good feel
  • Very durable golf ball

CONS

  • Only comes in the white color

The Vice Golf ball company has not been around quite as long as TaylorMade or Callaway, but they are catching up quickly. The Vice Drive is a 2 piece golf ball that is made for durability and cut resistance.

When a golfer first takes up the game, they will put quite a few odd swings on a ball. These odd swings sometimes have the chance of cutting the golf ball.

Once a ball has a decent cut in it, there is definitely going to be a decrease in functionality.

We love the long alignment line on the Vice Drive balls. The alignment line can be used to help the higher handicapper make sure that the ball is set up properly on the tee and on the green as well.




Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls

Best for Soft Feel



PROS

  • One of the best beginner golf balls for greenside spin rate
  • Low compression core
  • 338-speed dimple design
  • Affordable

CONS

  • Might not be as long as the Callaway Supersoft

The Srixon soft feel golf balls are a great choice for beginners. Unfortunately, a majority of golf balls geared to the beginner golfer are going to be built for distance.

Distance golf balls are typically quite challenging and difficult to develop feel around the greens. 

Although a beginner will certainly need help to get distance, it is probably most important to start to develop feel. The Srixon Soft Feel is a distance ball with low spin, but they also have a great feel around the green. 

This is a low compression option that beginner golfers will thrive with. The Srixon Soft Feel helps to establish the need for beginner golfers to be able to spin the ball around the green.

Having a decent spin rate on a beginner golf ball is not a bad thing. 




Wilson Ultra 500 Golf Ball

Best Cheap Golf Balls for Beginners



PROS

  • Lots of distance
  • Durable golf ball
  • Easy to see yellow

CONS

  • Not much spin around the greens
  • Hard feel when putting

The Wilson Ultra 500 is one of the best beginner golf balls if you want to keep the pricing down. As you start playing this game, you will likely notice that the pricing of golf balls can get quite high.

Luckily with the Wilson Ultra 500, you get some great value. 

The fact that these are a yellow golf ball also helps you find them should you hit one slightly off the fairway. The Wilson Ultra 500 is a lower compression ball that will work for a variety of swing speeds. 

One of the good things about the high energy core in this ball for beginners is that it encourages a higher ball flight. A high ball flight is going to lead to much better trajector and better results from the tee box. 

If you are tired of losing balls but are on your way to being a true golf enthusiast, this is a great ball to help get you there. 




Bridgestone 2019 e6 Golf Balls

Best Value Golf Balls for Beginners



PROS

  • Known as one of the best balls for the price
  • Low spin off the tee
  • Two pieces durable construction
  • Low compression core

CONS

  • Don’t do much to eliminate side spin

As we have stated in our other reviews, there is a difference between the price and the value of a golf product.

Some golf balls are cheap, but they are not very good, and others are fairly priced but offer great performance. The Bridgestone golf balls are the way to go when you are looking for value.

The Bridgestone e6 balls have been around for quite some time now, and they are built to give golfers consistency. This is a two-piece ball that will provide distance, feel, and spin as well.

We love that this is a ball that works for beginners and mid handicappers as well. You can take this ball from the early stages of your game to the point of being a full on golf addict.

The e6 is known for its distance from the tee box, but around the green, it will have some soft feel as well.

This ball is designed for swing speeds that are slow to mid speed. If you are a really fast swinger, you may need something with a slightly higher compression core.




Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls

Best Premium Golf Balls for Beginners



PROS

  • Low spin off the tee
  • One of the best options for a premium feel
  • High spin around the green

CONS

  • Very high price for a beginner golf ball

The best premium golf balls for beginners are the Titleist Pro V1. This ball is not going to be the low price choice, but it certainly has a lot of performance.

If you are a slightly faster swinging beginner, the ProV1 will be the best choice. For beginners that have very slow swing speeds, the Pro V1 will probably not be a good golf ball to choose from.

The reason the ProV1 fees as good as it does is because of its construction. There are three layers of construction, and each is built to help the golf ball perform to a higher level.

With the Pro V1, you will get a lot of distance, consistent ball flight, and tons of feel around the greens.

The Pro V1 are a golf ball that many players say has changed their game. When they hit the ball on the greens, they are able to stop the ball where they want it. Developing this kind of spin is not easy, and it takes some time to develop this skill.




TaylorMade Distance Plus Golf Balls

Best Beginners Golf Balls for Distance



PROS

  • Low drag aerodynamic design 
  • Reach core
  • Low spin off the tee
  • Best golf balls for distance

CONS

  • Hard feel around the greens

The TaylorMade Distance Plus golf balls are a great choice for beginner golfers that want distance from their shots.

If you have a slower swing speed and struggle to get the ball speed that you need, these are some of the best golf balls for beginners.

The core of these golf balls for beginners is called the React core. This is to help golfers with a low swing speed feel a real jump off of the club as they get into the impact position.

High handicappers tend to focus on distance more than feel, and that is understandable.

The closer you get to the hole off the tee, the easier the golf hole will seem. With the React core and the 342 aero dimple design, you won’t have much drag on the golf ball either.

The only downside is that the best golf ball for distance is usually something that feels quite hard around the greens.




What to Look For when Buying Golf balls for Beginners?

Now that you have some great options for beginners’ best golf balls, it is time to start narrowing down the best option for your game. With all of the choices out there, this process can get quite complicated.

Here are a few questions to ask to help narrow down the best choice. 

Dimples 

The dimple pattern of the golf ball can vary from one model to another and from one manufacturer to another. When a dimple pattern has changed, the lift and trajectory can also change. Dimples will impact the overall ball flight and the forgiveness that you can get with a golf ball. 

Cover Composition

Most of the golf balls that are currently on the market are made with a Urethane cover. Some newer models also have an Ionomer blend on their cover. The idea of the cover is to help ensure that it is durable yet responsive at impact. 

Construction

The construction of a golf ball will be a significant factor to consider when you are a beginner. You will hear people talking about one piece of a three-piece golf ball and probably have no idea what they are referring to. 


The number of pieces that a golf ball has will help determine the type of performance that you can get from the ball. The more layers the ball has, the better the variety and depth of the overall performance is. 

Golfers that are new to the game should look for two-piece golf balls. These balls will give players plenty of distance, forgiveness, and some of the low spins that they need to see success. The higher spin golf balls will be better for the more advanced players.

One Piece

It is hard to find a one piece golf ball that is not a range ball. Most one piece golf balls are very low in price and not made to benefit a player and increase the overall performance. Expect these to be more like a practice ball. 

Two Piece

The two piece golf ball is made to be affordable yet offers distance and higher launch from the tee. Most of the golf balls on our list of the best golf balls for beginners in 2022 are going to be two piece models. 

Three Piece

Three piece golf balls start to give players a bit more control around the greens and some distance from the tee as well. When you get to the three piece golf ball, you can start to see the real performance benefits of the multilayer ball. Expect the three piece golf ball to be a bit more money than the two piece. 

Multilayer

Some golf balls like the Pro V1x or the TPX 5 will have four and even five pieces. These golf balls are typically not for the beginner player. The beginner is not going to have a bad experience playing with this golf ball, yet they also won’t feel the performance benefits of it easier. It makes sense to play with a ball that you can tell is helping you. 

Compression

Golf ball compression has everything to do with swing speed. The higher the swing speed, the higher the compression you can use. Golfers with a slower swing speed will need a lower compression golf ball. Most of the golf balls on our list have a compression around 50-70 which is good for the average beginner. 

Pricing

Golf balls will range in price from around $15 a dozen to over $55 a dozen. Beginners are typically found to spend money in the $20-$30 range. This is where they will find the best technology and most impressive benefits for the cost. 

Distance

Almost all golf balls are made to be long distances. The longer distance golf balls will travel considerably further. Some players are going to find that the higher ball speed they get from their clubs needs to be transferred into a distance type golf ball to get the long game benefits that they need. Distance is essential on the golf course, and some golf balls can give you several more yards than others. 

Weather 

Golf balls will be impacted by the weather conditions. For the most part, the weather that you need to think about most is the cold. For the days where the really cold temperatures kick in, try to use a lower compression golf ball. Outside of this, there will not be all that much you can do when it comes to weather conditions on the course. 

Beginners Guide to Maintaining Golf Balls

Golf balls can be used for more than one round of play. So many beginners think a golf ball is good for one round, and then it gets thrown in the bottom of the bag. If you are good enough to keep a golf ball for your entire 18 hole round, you can easily put it back into play and use it for six or seven rounds. 

After some time, you may see that the golf ball starts to travel a little shorter, and this is when you can switch it out for another ball. Most beginners will be fine to use a golf ball for at least 7-10 rounds before replacing it. 

Try to keep the ball from hitting the cart path, and that will ensure the dimple pattern and cover are not compromised. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few of the questions that we are most commonly asked about the best golf balls for beginners in 2022.

Do Golf Balls Make A Difference For Beginners? 

When you first start playing the game, it may feel as though any golf ball will do the trick. In reality, playing with one of the best golf balls for beginners can make a big difference in your ability to learn and grow as a golfer. 

When a beginner plays with a ball that is not the right fit for their game, it can cause issues with spin and especially feel.

Many new players focus more on a hard distance golf ball instead of considering that the best golf balls are those that combine both distances and feel capabilities. 

Golf balls make a difference regardless of your handicap. If you care about the game and improving your scores, take some time to research and find the best golf ball for your skills. 

What Makes A Golf Ball Good For A Beginner?

There are three major factors that make a golf ball good for a beginner. They are compression, price, and durability. 

Beginners will most likely need a lower compression golf ball. The low compression rating will help the ball get up in the air. The low compression rating also helps golfers to get the most distance possible out of their golf shots.

It is especially important to pay attention to golf ball compression when you are playing two piece golf balls. Two piece golf balls can get a little hard and challenging to control. The lower compression balls make things easier on a golfer. 

Is A Two Piece Ball Best For A Beginner Golfer? 

A two piece golf ball is an excellent choice for a beginner because the pricing is usually considerably less. The number of materials and the technology used in the two piece options for golfers is not quite as advanced. Therefore you will pay quite a bit less. 

The only problem is that some two-piece balls are going to be a bit hard. Choose something with an ionomer cover if you want to have a bit more feel and ball control around the greens.

Depending on how your golf game is progressing, at some point, it may make sense to move to a three-piece golf ball. 

Does Golf Ball Color Matter? 

As you may have noticed when we reviewed the Callaway Supersoft, some golf balls come in many different colors. The colored golf ball craze has been going on for several years.

The best thing about the colors of golf balls is that they are easier to find. In addition to standing out better in the grass, they are easier to track through the air as well. 

Most premium balls are going to be either yellow or white. These are the two most popular colors and will stand out the best on the course. You will also see some golf balls offered in blue, red and green as well. 

Some golfers find that they have an easier time focusing on their game when the golf ball is not white. As a new golfer, you should experiment with this concept and try out a few different types. 

What Golf Ball Is Best For Short Game? 

A new golfer should be focussing on improving their short game. When you can improve your shots around the green, you can lower your score much faster. The best choice for a great golf ball around the green is a soft golf ball. 

When you hit the ball off the face of the putter, the last thing you want is for it to sound like a rock. To perfect your short game, something with a soft cover or softer core is going to make a big difference.

Something like the Srixon Soft Feel will be a great choice for both short game capabilities and the price of the ball. 

Conclusion

With all of the golf equipment choices you have to make as a beginner, the golf ball can be one of the most difficult. There are so many options out there, and the price range is quite vast as well.

The best golf ball for beginners is the TaylorMade Noodle.

The Noodle has the perfect spin for a beginner, plenty of distance, and a soft feel around the greens. If you have a slow to mid swing speed and you are looking for an affordable and high performing ball, the Noodle is a perfect choice. We have also similarly layed down our guide to the best golf clubs for beginners in 2022.

Scroll to Top
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Save up to 49% on Callaway Certified Pre-Owned!

Callaway Golf is running a sale right now so don’t miss a great deal on a certified pre-owned driver or iron set because this is only available as long as stock last!