If you are new to golf, you will lose a lot of golf balls. That is not a criticism. It is just how the first year or two goes.
Which makes the question of which ball to play slightly different from the one you read about in magazines. The best ball for a beginner is not the one tour players use. It is the one that suits a slower swing, goes reasonably straight and does not make you wince when it disappears into a pond.
Here is how we would choose.
What actually matters for a beginner
Golf ball marketing talks about spin rates, cover materials and layers. Most of that matters to good players. For a beginner or high handicapper, three things matter.
- Low spin off the driver. More spin exaggerates a slice or a hook. A lower-spinning ball keeps a mishit in play more often.
- Low compression. Softer balls compress properly at slower swing speeds, which helps distance and feels better off the face.
- Price per ball. If you lose four a round, the cost of each one matters more than the last few yards of performance.
That points almost every beginner towards a two-piece, low-compression distance or soft-feel ball.
Why a Pro V1 is usually the wrong choice
Premium tour balls like the Titleist Pro V1 are brilliant golf balls. They are also designed to spin a lot around the greens, which is exactly what a skilled player wants and exactly what a beginner does not need off the tee.
The extra spin that lets a good player stop a wedge on the green also makes a sliced drive curve further. And at full price, losing a sleeve of them in a round is an expensive lesson.
There is one exception. If someone gives you premium balls, play them. And if you like the feel of a premium ball, graded pre-owned ones remove most of the cost problem, which we come to below.
Golf balls that suit beginners
These are widely available, low-compression balls that suit slower swing speeds. They change names and versions from time to time, but the families have been around for years.
| Ball | Why it suits a beginner |
|---|---|
| Callaway Supersoft | Very low compression, very soft feel, low spin off the tee. |
| Srixon Soft Feel | Soft, forgiving and consistently good value. |
| Titleist TruFeel | Titleist's softest ball, designed for straight and simple. |
| Wilson Duo Soft | One of the lowest-compression balls made, popular with slower swingers. |
| A value brand mix | Good quality balls from several brands, at the lowest cost per ball. |
Honestly, at a high handicap the difference between any of these is small. Pick one you like the feel of and stick with it for a while, so you learn how it behaves.
New, used or graded?
This is where most beginners can save the most money.
New balls are the most expensive way to lose balls.
Lake balls sold by the hundred are cheap, but quality is a lottery. Some have sat in water for years, and a waterlogged ball does not fly properly.
Graded pre-owned balls sit in between. They are cleaned, sorted and graded, so you know what you are getting. An A-grade ball has light cosmetic marks at most and plays within a whisker of new. A C or practice grade is scuffed but perfectly playable, and ideal for the holes with water on them.
Our graded golf balls include a value brand mix that suits beginners well, plus premium models if you want to try them without paying new prices. The grading page explains each grade.
How many balls should a beginner carry?
More than you think. A new golfer on an unfamiliar course can lose a dozen in a round without trying very hard. Carry at least a dozen, keep a few cheaper ones aside for holes with water or out of bounds tight to the fairway, and do not feel bad about it. Everyone has been there.
Common questions
What golf ball should a beginner use?
A two-piece, low-compression ball with low spin off the tee. Callaway Supersoft, Srixon Soft Feel and Titleist TruFeel are all sensible choices, and graded pre-owned versions cut the cost of losing them.
Should a high handicapper play a Pro V1?
Usually not at full price. The extra spin that helps good players around the green also exaggerates slices and hooks off the tee. If you like the feel, graded A-grade Pro V1s make far more sense.
Do expensive golf balls make a difference for beginners?
Very little. At higher handicaps, the quality of the strike matters far more than the ball. Spend the money on lessons or practice before you spend it on premium balls.
Are used golf balls any good?
Graded ones are. A urethane-covered ball loses performance when the cover is cut, not because it has been hit before. Avoid ungraded lake balls of unknown age.
Buying balls for someone new to golf?
A new golfer is one of the easiest people to buy for, because they need everything and lose most of it. Our Members Box covers balls, a glove, tees and a marker in one go, and our guide to golf gifts for beginners has more ideas. If you want to choose the balls yourself, you can build your own golf gift box and pick the grade.