Golf is a game of consistency and accuracy, which does not come that easy. When you’re a newbie in golf, you need to use the best clubs, tees, and even the best golf balls for high handicappers, in order to improve your performance on the course and increase your chances of shot accuracy and swing consistency.
Dedication and focus both play a very crucial role in the game of golf, but having the right gear can make all the difference, especially if you dedicate several hours a week to developing as a player. But finding the right type of golf balls that match your skill level and your playing goals isn’t easy.
I’ve reviewed many of the leading balls on the market, each of which utilizes the latest in golf ball tech. I’ve narrowed it down to a total of six different models that scored well in several areas. I’ve also created a buyer’s guide that will go over the different features each type of ball has to offer, how to choose the right balls for you, and how a golf ball can have an impact on your performance.
Below, you’ll find a comparison chart that lists each of the balls that made it onto my must-have list, how they rated and their most important features.
Golf Balls for High Handicappers Comparison Chart
| Product | Best For | Balls Per Set | Material | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nike Mix AAAA Golf Balls  Shop On Amazon! | Speed, Distance Feel | 50 | Ionomer | |
Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls  Shop On Amazon! | Distance/ Reduced Drag | 12 | Ionomer | |
Wilson Prime Distance Golf Balls  Shop On Amazon! | Distance | 36 | Ionomer | |
Bridgestone e12 Soft Golf Balls  Shop On Amazon! | Distance | 12 | Polymer | |
Volvik Vivid Colored Golf Balls  Shop On Amazon! | Distance | 12 | Polymer |
Nike Mix AAAA Golf Balls
Our Rating:
Nike is another major manufacturer that all players are familiar with. Their extensive line of golf balls features the latest in ball technology, so you can expect durability, improved trajectory, and more. This is the deal of a lifetime if you’re on a tight budget and looking for balls that will help you progress as a player. This set includes a variety of styles of Nike brand balls, for a bargain price. The set is designed for handicappers of all skill levels, so you can choose balls based on your performance goals. The set includes balls that are designed to increase speed, distance, and feel.
Pros
- Fifty balls
- Improves feel, distance, and speed
- Designed for players of all skill levels
- Low price
Cons
- Scuffs easily
Conclusion
This set includes a variety of different balls by Nike, made out of urethane material. The balls themselves earned high marks for durability, while the set has something to offer both high and low handicappers, so you can use different balls as your skill level progresses. Unfortunately, Nike no longer makes golf equipment so finding Nike balls may be difficult.
Callaway Golf Supersoft Golf Balls
Our Rating:
Callaway is one of those major brands that has been around for years. Most golfers are familiar with their extensive product line that ranges from clubs to tees. Their line of golf balls has also earned top marks, thanks to the durable design and patented HEX aerodynamics that help to enhance lift and reduce drag.
Pros
- Improves distance
- Reduces drag
- Enhanced feel
- Low price
Cons
- May be too soft for some golfers
Conclusion
These balls have a much softer feel then the high handicapper may prefer, but the innovative design can help to minimize drag and improve distance. The durable design allows you to get plenty of use out of these balls, without scuffs or tears. Overall, these are great balls for golfers of all skill levels, especially those who are looking for a set that can help to improve their shot distance.
Wilson Prime Distance Golf Balls
Our Rating:
This set of golf balls by Wilson Prime features high energy cores that promote a longer distance flight, in addition to low compression technology that results in a softer feel. These balls are made out of ionomer, which is designed to maximize distance and create less ball spin. The spin reduction is also due to the dimple pattern technology. The dimple pattern helps to reduce slices and hooks. These distance balls are designed to get your ball exactly where you want it to go, with fewer strokes. The high energy core will help to naturally increase ball speed, for improved distance that feels almost effortless.
Pros
- High energy core
- Longer distance flight
- Dimple pattern reduces slices and hooks
- Spin reduction
Cons
- Prone to scuffs
Conclusion
These balls earned top marks for their low compression construction, which helps to improve feel. The cover is specially designed to improve shot accuracy, reduce spin, and allow you to direct your ball where you need it to go, easily. This is a great set for the beginner who needs to improve their range, reduce spin, and hit farther without using a whole lot of force.
Bridgestone Golf e12 Soft Golf Balls
Our Rating:
These best-selling balls by Bridgestone are made out of durable polymer material that includes added surfactant, which is designed to increase ball height at impact and increased distance. The dimple design includes the patented Delta dimple pattern that this manufacturer is known for. The manufacturer claims that the ball features enhanced aerodynamics that is designed to promote a straighter shot trajectory. This is a three-piece ball design, which normally would offer too much spin, over distance. However, this ball has a reputation for its distance capabilities, making it a better choice for the high handicapper.
Pros
- Three-layer design
- Delta dimple pattern
- Enhanced aerodynamics
- Made out of polymer
Cons
- These balls may be too soft for some players
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a durable set of balls that are designed with distance in mind, then you’ll appreciate this ball’s trajectory, overall quality, and how effortlessly it catches air. If you’ve ever purchased balls from Bridgestone in the past, then you already know these balls are designed to last, however, if you’re a beginner and you’re looking for a firmer ball, which can guarantee farther distance, then you may want to pass this set on by. Some beginners have reported that it takes too much force to achieve the type of distance many high handicappers are looking for, however, for some, it will be a fair tradeoff for durability.
Volvik Vivid Matte Finished Colored Golf Balls
Our Rating:
The Volvik Vivid matte finish colored balls are designed with an oversized core that maximizes distances for golfers who have an average clubhead speed that ranges from seventy to one hundred miles per hour. The three-layer design increases higher wedge spin and lower driver spin, resulting in mid to high ball flight. The three hundred and twenty-two dimple pattern ensures a stable, consistent ball flight. The balls themselves have a compression rating of seventy-five.
Pros
- Three-piece design
- Larger core improves ball flight
- Designed to produce higher wedge spin and less driver spin
- Offers a medium-soft feel
Cons
- Must have a minimum swing speed of seventy
Conclusion
These balls are a perfect fit for golfers with a seventy to one hundred miles per hour swing speed. This means the beginner may not get the most out of balls that feature the latest in golf ball technology. These balls are marketed toward the beginner, with their ability to travel the distance and improved control and feel, but if you have a low swing speed under seventy miles per hour, then you may struggle to get this ball airborne.
Golf Balls for High Handicappers Buyer’s Guide
Choosing the right type of balls is just as important as choosing the right type of golf club. But even if you already use the best irons for a beginner, your shots won’t travel as far or have the type of trajectory you’re looking for if you’re not using the right balls. Your choice should be based on your skill level and experience, which can make all the difference. In order to help you make the right choice, I’ve created a buyer’s guide that will go over the different options available, how to choose a ball that will work for your playing style and performance goals, and how a golf ball can have an impact on how you play, your shots, and more.
As a beginner, you need a ball that’s designed to enhance your skills, can allow you to practice your putting drills, and can even give you the confidence you need to keep at it and improve your performance.
Design
How a ball is constructed will be one of the most crucial factors that you’ll want to take into consideration when you’re shopping for a new set of balls. The number of layers you need in a ball will ultimately depend on the type of shots you’re trying to make. As a high handicapper, you’ll need balls that consist of two to three layers, since these are the balls that can provide a little spin and more distance.
Cover Options
The cover on a ball can also have an impact on your performance and can ultimately boil down to the type of shots you want to make. If you’re looking for a ball for straighter and lower flights, then models with a surlyn cover are the way to go. However, urethane covers offer more backspin, but you won’t have the same type of control that you can get from balls made with a surlyn cover.
Distance Needs
Do you always find yourself falling short in terms of distance? In order to get the type of distance you want, then the number of layers the ball offers will also have an impact. A ball with fewer layers will give you more distance, while the three-layer balls will not fly nearly as far. Two-layer balls can be a good compromise and can provide the type of distance you need, without less spin. For these balls, you won’t need to hit with too much force.
Dimples
Most beginners are not aware that the dimples on a golf ball actually serve a purpose, but they do. The dimples are designed to decrease the impact of air pressure. This is done by minimizing the coverage area of the ball. The number of dimples can also impact the ball’s distance. If you decide to buy a set of balls that have shallow and wide dimples, the ball will be able to travel further, with minimal backspin.
Spin
When you’re shopping for golf balls, you’ll notice that there’s usually a tradeoff between spin and distance. Because of this, if you want a ball that offers more spin, then you’ll end up with balls that may not be able to travel the distance you need. A ball with deeper dimples and more layers will offer more spin, but you’ll need to use more force when you hit it in order to get the type of distance required. This can be a big challenge for the beginner who may not have the shot accuracy and general power that’s needed to get the ball to travel the distance.
Most pros will recommend that the high handicapper stick with balls that have a lower spin rate until their performance improves. So, if you’re new to the sport, or your skills aren’t quite there yet, stick with a ball that offers better distance instead of more spin.
Two-Piece
A ball with the basic two-piece design typically consists of a core and a cover. These basic balls are often aimed at the beginner or high handicapper. The materials the balls are made of definitely aren’t pro-quality, so the price is often low. These balls often have a harder construction and offer plenty of roll on the fairway. However, for the high handicapper, this can be a good thing, since pro-quality balls often generate too much spin.
Three and Four Piece Balls
Three and four-piece balls usually come equipped with a urethane cover, which is a softer material that’s usually found on premium balls. The cover is designed to increase spin, especially when it comes to faster swings. These balls tend to spin too much, with less roll out. Additionally, these balls tend to be pricier due to the higher quality. If your priority is spin, then a multi-layer ball is definitely the way to go. However, as I mentioned earlier, if you’re a high handicapper, then you’ll be better off using balls that offer better distance.
Price
You won’t have any trouble finding lower-priced sets for under twenty dollars. Balls that are more tech-heavy and durable will come with a higher price tag. However, if you’re new to the game, then losing plenty of balls during your first few months on the course is something you’ll want to anticipate. Because of this, many high-handicappers and beginners tend to stick with lower-priced balls that are easy and affordable to replace. Some specialty balls that are specifically designed for the beginner can make life easier on the course, thanks to the unique core design that promotes distance and ball control. If you’re not on a tight budget, then models that can help improve distance using minimal effort are definitely the way to go, but if the cost is an issue, then you’ll be better off sticking with low priced sets and buying in bulk.
Choosing a Ball That’s Perfect for Your Golf Game
Once you know what you want out of a ball, whether it’s more spin or better distance, then picking out a new set of golf balls will be a piece of cake. However, there may be other factors that you’ll need to take into account before you make your final choice.
Durability is one of them. Balls that come equipped with a urethane cover are usually much softer and provide more spin on the green. Ionomer and polymer covers are made out of surlyn, which is a type of tough material that’s not easily scuffed. Urethane covers will scuff pretty easily, even from hard wedge shots. Both types of material feature very different characteristics on the course. If you’re a beginner, then you may not want to invest in pricier balls, despite the fact that they’re more durable. This is because, as a beginner, your shots will be wild, inaccurate, and you’ll be more likely to lose your balls your first several rounds. But if you’re willing to pay the higher price tag for the best golf balls, then go for the models that are made out of surlyn.
Final Thoughts
The best golf balls for high handicappers will have a major impact on performance, distance, speed, and spin. Low priced balls may be a better option since the new golfer is going to lose plenty of balls their first few times on the course. Additionally, the high handicapper will also benefit from using balls that offer better distance as opposed to more spin. Most high priced balls will offer more spin and decreased distance, which is why many beginners tend to stick to the lower-priced balls. But pros will argue that a beginner will need to learn how to properly power a ball and that using top of the line balls can help them to improve their force and striking power. In the end, it will be a matter of personal preference, the player’s performance goals, and what’s more important, improved distance or spin. I hope this guide has helped you determine which type of ball will work for your playing needs and your budget. The sets I’ve reviewed each have something special to offer, whether it’s better than average durability, spin, speed, or distance. Considering their user rating and overall quality, I’m confident that you’ll find the perfect set of new golf balls out of my top six lineup.
