best golf balls for high handicappers 2022
The golf ball is essential to your performance as a player since it is the only piece of equipment you utilize on every single shot. It’s crucial to use a good ball that complements your swing and playing style.
In the end, it’s difficult to choose just one golf ball that would work for all high handicappers. This is so because every high handicapper is different and has unique swing velocities, trajectories, and objectives.
High handicappers typically have slower swing speeds and could use some assistance launching the ball; their golf ball should be made to account for this. However, the opposing side contains a few people with severe handicaps.
Choosing the ideal golf ball for you can be challenging and overwhelming due to the vast array of variations available. Fortunately, you’ve located the appropriate location.
The best golf balls for high handicappers from a variety of brands will be reviewed and compared in this buyer’s guide.
Find out about our top-rated high handicap golf ball.
These decisions are based on our own testing, customer and critic feedback, as well as on factors like popularity and general opinion.
Here are our best picks based on our own testing, study, and experience:
Golf Ball, Callaway Supersoft
Golf ball by TaylorMade Distance+
Golf ball, Wilson Duo Soft+
Soft Vice Pro Golf Ball
Golf ball by Srixon Z-Star
Supersoft MAX golf ball by Callaway
ELIXR golf ball from OnCore
Golf ball: Bridgestone e12 CONTACT
1. Golf Ball, Callaway Supersoft
For many years, and for good reason, the Callaway Supersoft has been one of the most well-liked golf balls available. Many high handicappers with slower swing speeds can compress the ball and produce high ball speed thanks to its soft feel and low compression rating of 38.
Supersoft is more than simply soft. It is also quick, strong, produces high launch and low spin, and is durable thanks to a multi-material structure and a hybrid cover with the exclusive PARALOID Impact Modifier, all while retaining superb spin control around the greens.
The Supersoft’s relatively low spin will lessen the impact of hooks and slices, which high handicappers frequently struggle with.
The Supersoft ball also has the following features:
improved HEX aerodynamics that enhance lift and decrease drag for greater carry, range, and stopping power into greens
a soft compression core created to more effectively transfer energy to the ball
Excellent reviews of the Supersoft golf ball may be found on the Callaway website. We like how long it is off the tee, how it performs on the greens, and how inexpensive it is in comparison to other balls.
Read reviews and purchase Callaway Supersoft golf balls.
2. Golf ball by TaylorMade Distance+
The Distance+ golf ball from TaylorMade is all about speed. It gets excellent reviews on the market and is appropriate for a wide spectrum of players, including those with high handicaps.
The medium compression rating for the Distance+ is 77. Slower swing speed players shouldn’t have any issue attaining the best energy transfer at impact because to its soft REACT Speed Core, which is designed for simple compression.
The REACT core and a soft ionomer cover make up the two-piece construction. With greater durability and resistance to scuffing and shearing, this cover keeps spin to a minimum.
The Distance+ has additional features like:
a 342 dimple pattern that is aerodynamically efficient
an integrated alignment aid that directs your putts and provides roll feedback
This ball has great distance on every shot, but it also has good spin and control around the greens. We adore how it offers a performance level comparable to expensive balls at a much reduced price.
Read reviews and purchase TaylorMade Distance+ golf balls.
3. Golf ball, Wilson Duo Soft+
Wilson is another of the top golf ball brands available right now. Their Duo Soft+ golf ball is buttery soft and a great choice for high handicappers who desire more distance, accuracy, and consistency. It has a lot of social proof to support it.
Since this ball has a low compression rating of 35, slower swing speeds can easily compress it at contact. Additionally, the Surlyn cover contributes to increased durability, decreases spin, and enhances launch, along with the 302 dimple design.
The patented VelocitiCOR included in the Duo Soft+’s 2-piece structure helps to enhance energy transfer to the ball
The Wilson Duo Soft+ ball is fantastic since it comes in six colors and may optionally be customized with printed logos of NFL clubs, Chicago, and the Super Bowl LVI. These specifically made balls cost a little bit more than the plain version.
The great feel from tee to green, affordable price, long lifespan, good distance, and impressive spin around the greens—given that it has a Surlyn cover—are all attributes that golfers adore.
4. Soft Vice Pro Golf Ball
Vice Golf is a relatively new company to the market. It was established in Germany in 2012 as a producer of premium golf balls, and it made its debut on the American market in 2015. One of their most popular golf balls is the Pro Soft; it won a gold medal on the Golf Digest Hot List and was recommended on the golf.com performance golf ball list.
For high handicappers with medium or slow swing rates less than 95 mph, the Vice Pro Soft is a great option. It is designed to be long, soft, and to deliver excellent feel and spin around the greens with a low compression rating of 35.
The Pro Soft has a three-piece construction instead of the two-piece balls shown above, consisting of:
a High Energy Speed Core (HESC) intended to speed up the ball
a Surlyn cloak that lessens spin during long games
constructed with a thin cast urethane cover for improved feel and short-game spin.
Other Pro Soft features include:
a design with 318 large dimples that encourages stable ball flight
wedges with stick-to-the-green (S2TG) technology have a sticky, controlling feel.
an aid for KIL alignment to improve putting performance
The Vice Pro Soft is long off the tee, precise on approach approaches, and highly controlled with a soft feel around the greens, in our experience. It is also quite durable.
5. Golf ball by Srixon Z-Star
We are aware that many high handicap golfers desire a higher compression ball and have faster swing speeds. Introducing the Srixon Z-Star.
Srixon has a long history of producing high-quality golf balls. Golfers give their Z-Star model very high marks, and it was included on the Golf Digest Hot List for 2021.
The Z-Star is built with penetrating flight and mid launch for maximum distance off the tee, a gradually softer feel as you move to the short irons, and a ton of spin, control, and accuracy around the greens.
This ball’s compression rating is 90, which is on the high side, and it is advised to utilize it with a swing speed of at least 90 mph.
The Z-Star ball is made of three parts, which are as follows:
a FastLayer Core that is soft in the middle and hard around the edges to maximize performance for each club
a light-weight thermoplastic urethane covering
a thin Spin Skin layer with wedge-shaped Slide-Ring Material (SeRM) that increases friction and spin
A 338 Speed Dimple design additionally encourages a penetrating launch and provides lift for the greatest possible carry distance.
The Z-Star is a high-end golf ball that shares many similarities with the well-known Titleist Pro V1. The durability is excellent, and the short game accuracy and distance are both excellent.
6. Supersoft MAX golf ball by Callaway
The Supersoft MAX is, as its name suggests, related to the Callaway Supersoft ball that is seen further up the page. Due to its somewhat larger size compared to a conventional golf ball and significantly easier hitting characteristics, it is ideal for many high handicappers.
In general, the Supersoft MAX has been highly received. Its two significant distinctions from the Supersoft are as follows:
It features a slightly bigger (rule-conforming) diameter of 1.73 inches, with the goal of encouraging more forgiving contact and boosting launch, which will increase distance.
It has a tri-blend ionomer cover rather than a PARALOID cover, which has a similar effect of increased durability and less spin.
In addition, the ball includes HEX Aerodynamics, which boost lift while reducing drag, and a soft compression core (compression rating of 30).
The Supersoft MAX can be a great option if you have problems establishing firm contact with the ball. Our observations show that the performance isn’t very different from the Supersoft.
7. ELIXR golf ball from OnCore
A relatively young, lesser-known maker of golf balls, OnCore has some genuinely outstanding products. Their high-performance Tour ball, the ELIXR, has twice taken home gold on Golf Digest’s Hot List.
Although it is advertised as a “Tour ball,” it is actually appropriate for all levels of players, from beginners to professionals, even those with high handicaps.
Golfers with a driver club head speed of at least 80 mph should utilize the ELIXR since it has an 80 compression rating. It is made to have a soft, pure short-game feel with plenty of spin, maximum long game distance, excellent levels of accuracy and control, durability, and all-around control.
The ELIXR’s three-piece construction consists of:
a polybutadiene core with a high COR for fast balls
a unique polymer mantle that improves precision and control
provides optimum greenside control and softer feel thanks to a cast urethane coating.
The 318 dimple ELIXR golf ball features improved perimeter weighting. The launch is designed to be low to mid, with minimal driver spin and strong short iron spin.
The distance, trajectory, and flight control excite golfers. Because it is so noticeable on the course, many people adore the color lime green.
8. Golf ball: Bridgestone e12 CONTACT
Bridgestone, a prominent producer of golf balls, must be included for obvious reasons. They are represented by some of the top golfers in the world, including Lexi Thompson, Fred Couples, Bryson DeChambeau, and Tiger Woods.
Their e12 CONTACT golf ball is incredibly well-liked and appealing to a wide audience. Its sidespin-reducing qualities, which dramatically reduce slices and hooks, make it especially desirable to high handicappers. It works best for swing speeds under 105 mph with a compression value of about 61.
This ball is made of three parts: a Surlyn cover, a mantle, and a gradational soft core. The mantle in question is known as the Active Acceleration Mantle and uses a unique high-performance polymer and additional surfactant to maximize energy transfer and ball speed.
The Contact Force Dimple is the other unique aspect of the e12 CONTACT. This dimple pattern allows for 38% more impact contact, which enhances core activation, energy transmission, spin, and control.
The e12 CONTACT is long, straight, and soft off the tee. Controllability of approach shots is good, while spin and feel on the greens are excellent. Although it might not be the best option for a player on the Tour, novice and intermediate players frequently succeed with it.
Golf balls come in a wide variety, but picking one as a high handicapper isn’t always simple, especially if you don’t know what to look for. You will receive the education you require in that regard from this handbook.
Generally speaking, you want a golf ball that helps you get distance off the tee, is also controlled, and can spin around the greens.
The following are the most crucial elements to think about while choosing a golf ball:
1. Compression
A golf ball’s capacity for compression is crucial. The compression rating, which typically varies from 30 to 120, is used to quantify this.
Less club head speed is necessary to sufficiently compress the ball to provide a “rebound” effect that increases distance the lower the compression rating. On the other hand, a high compression rating will call for a faster club head speed to compress the ball sufficiently.
A golfer should aim for a swing speed that is as near to X mph as possible to strike a ball with an X compression rating. However, this is frequently inaccurate; for instance, a ball may have a compression rating of 60 but be made for swing speeds of up to 100 mph. The compressibility of a ball can also be impacted by variables like temperature.
Many high handicap golfers swing at 90 mph or less, therefore a “soft” ball with a lower compression rating could be advantageous. This explains why these qualities can be seen in the majority of the balls on this page.
A higher compression golf ball, like the Srixon Z-Star, would be advantageous for some high handicappers who have faster driver swing rates. We have various golf balls that may work for this kind of player as well.
2. Cover
Deconstructing a Callaway Supersoft golf ball
A golf ball’s performance can be significantly impacted by the material used for its cover. The two most common cover materials are urethane and Surlyn. Ionomer, which contains Surlyn, may be viewed by some as a different kind.
Ionomer or Surlyn-covered golf balls typically last longer, spin less, and travel a little farther. They frequently cost less as well.
Urethane-covered golf balls typically spin more, feel softer and more luxurious, and offer more control and spin with shorter irons.
Although this is a generality, recent technological developments have allowed urethane covers to almost entirely mimic the advantages of Surlyn covers. The biggest disadvantage of urethane nowadays is its increased cost and potential reduction in distance off the tee for slower swingers.
Because they need more distance off the tee, high handicappers are typically better suited to play balls with an ionomer or Surlyn cover.
3. Colours
golf balls in red
The color of the golf ball is something that many people might not take into consideration. Many golfers will instinctively reach for the white ball, but that’s not always the greatest choice, it turns out.
High-visibility golf balls are useful in this situation. These balls are identical to the common white ball and are available in green, yellow, and orange in addition to white.
The main benefit of colored golf balls is to make it simpler to see the ball wherever it lands on the course as well as to maintain track of the ball while it is in the air, in addition to adding a visual flair that may fit your personality.
In our experience, orange balls perform admirably in bright, cloudless daytime conditions, yellow balls perform admirably in dimly lit environments, and green balls perform admirably in cloudy environments.
It is also worthwhile to see if the golf ball model you are considering is also offered in high-visibility colors.
Although playing with a white ball is perfectly OK, if you have visual issues or have a high handicap and tend to hit the ball all over the place, colored balls may make your life a bit simpler.
4. Dimples
a red tee with a golf ball.
Although we don’t suggest picking a golf ball only based on its dimples, it is important to understand what they are for.
In order to improve lift and decrease drag, the majority of current golf balls have between 300 and 400 JUdGzvrMFDWrUUwY3toJATSeNwjn54LkCnKBPRzDuhzi5vSepHfUckJNxRL2gjkNrSqtCoRUrEDAgRwsQvVCjZbRyFTLRNyDmT1a1boZVsame.
In contrast to smooth balls, dimples are necessary to achieve the aerodynamic performance required from golf balls today.
In addition to the quantity, dimples can also differ in shape (such as spherical or hexagonal) and pattern.
Your best bet is to look at what the brand says about the dimples of a given golf ball and examine if it suits the requirements of your own game because it’s difficult, if not impossible, for the typical golfer to forecast the eventual consequence of a specific dimple arrangement.
5. Price
price-tag illustration
Obviously, when looking for a golf ball, cost is crucial.
It’s obvious why many people object to paying $50 or more for a dozen balls like the Titleist Pro V1. Thankfully, high handicap players can play just as well, if not better, with less expensive balls that cost less than $30 a dozen.
Cheaper golf balls might be made more simply, have less feel, have less energy transfer, or perform worse overall, but this is not always the case. In this buying guide, we’ve made an effort to list high-quality golf balls for a variety of golfers’ budgets.
Don’t forget that buying recycled balls on websites like eBay could help you save even more money compared to buying new. Only balls with condition ratings of AAA or higher are advised to be examined.
Conclusion
Golf woods and irons are one thing, but the golf ball you choose can actually have a startling impact on your game performance.
High handicap golfers typically have slower swing speeds and require assistance with launch and distance. Because of this, they frequently perform best when using softer, low-compression balls designed for distance rather than shotmaking accuracy.
Of course, not all high handicappers fit into this group, therefore some will perform better with a Tour-level ball with a higher compression.
A golf ball that works for your game is always very helpful. And if you know what to look for and try a little, finding one you like is actually rather simple. The balls listed on this page should all be tried out to determine which one works the best for you.
Each of the golf ball models mentioned above offers excellent value for the price. You now have to take the necessary steps after we have provided you with the necessary information.
Find out about our top-rated high handicap golf ball.