Did you know, an estimated 1.2 billion golf balls get produced each year while about 300 million are lost here in the US alone!
Even avid golfers lose 1-2 balls per round, so an average golfer has to lose a handful of them. Hence we recommend golf balls that don’t just suit your swing but also are pocket-friendly.
We’ve reviewed multiple balls available in the market today and shortlisted top-5 options based on their overall performance, budget, player’s shooting style, and other factors. We found the Callaway Golf SuperSoft Golf Balls to be the best choice for an average golfer. It has one of the most advanced designs guaranteeing straighter shots and remarkable control around the green.
Our runner-up, the Titleist ProV1x golf balls, offers equally excellent performance with low long game spin and high trajectory.
Here’s our list of best golf balls for the average golfer,
- Callaway Golf SuperSoft Golf Balls– Best overall
- Titleist Pro V1x Prior Generation Golf Balls– Runner Up
- Srixon Men’s soft feel Golf ball– Best Low-End
- Srixon Q-Star Tour 2 Golf Balls– Best for Spin
- Bridgestone Golf e12 Soft Golf Balls– Best value
Who is considered an average golfer?
Reports indicate that an average golfer has between one to five years of golfing experience with a handicap within sixteen to twenty and spends around four and a half hours playing and 72 minutes practicing the game, each week.
Other parameters would be distance (211 to 216 yards), swing speed (93.4 mph), etc.
What to look for when selecting golf balls for an average player?
As an average golfer, you better stay away from the advanced balls. You will often end up slicing or hooking with such balls, due to the exaggerated spin they offer.
Go through all the factors below that we think are most important in your selection.
Spin
It is common for amateurs to slice the ball and if you take shots like that, your best option is to get balls that accommodate this shooting habit and still stay on course- low spin balls. Spin describes how the ball revolves when hit and can be of two types: high spin and low spin. High spin balls require a lot of precision on the hit to get the right distance. So, stick to a low spin ball for straighter shots, until you’re experienced enough for more spin. However, if your style of play prioritizes spins and feel, then high spin balls should do.
Flight
One constant wish for high handicappers and average golfers is more distance and speed. For this, select “distance balls” with advanced core and cover design that promote higher ball flight and provide more distance and high running shots with every hit.
Price
There isn’t much ground to the assumption that costlier balls perform better. You can easily find suitable balls in every price range. The trick is to set a price range and find an ideal product within this range.
Construction
Golf ball construction determines the ball’s spin, feel flight, distance, durability, control around the green, etc. Golf balls come in five types based on construction, and each design suits varied skill levels and style of play. They include
One-Piece Golf balls
This type features the simplest design, lowest price, lowest spin, and most suitable for total beginners.
Two-Piece Golf Balls
These come with two layers- a solid rubber core and a urethane or surlyn cover. They provide a better spin than the one-piece type and are most suitable for high handicappers or average players who need distance and flight assistance.
Three-Piece Golf Balls
This is also highly suitable for an average golfer. It features a rubber core, another rubber layer and a surlyn cover.
Four-Piece Golf Balls
These are for professional players (or the big boys) as they offer more spin for greenside control.
Five-Piece Golf Balls
This is the most complex type of ball, and as you’ll think, it is not suitable for average players but for elites.
Accuracy
As an average golfer, you will have a handful of mishits. The best way to improve your precision will be to continue practicing and your best bet is to get a golf ball with a consistent trajectory even on mishits. A multi-layered golf ball would be just right in this case. However, don’t just go for a five or four-piece golf ball looking for more accuracy-remember that spin also plays a part in your overall performance.
Low Compression
Compression describes the amount of force required to compress the ball when struck. High compression balls require more force from higher swing speed to get a good distance or straight shot. The average golfer has a swing speed of 93mph whereas a high compression ball needs a speed of over 95mph for best results. So, a low compression ball is better for average golfers.
Durability
The service life of your ball depends on its construction and outer layer but there is no definite way of knowing just how much a ball can endure. You cannot tell a ball’s lifespan by looking it over so it’d be wise to choose products from reputable brands.
Our Top 5 picks for best Golf balls for the Average Golfer
Now since you have some idea about what to look for in the ideal ball for you, let’s talk about the best options.
Callaway Golf SuperSoft Golf Balls
We consider the Callaway Golf SuperSoft Ball as the overall best golf ball for an average golfer because of its unique construction, excellent feel and outstanding design. The ball’s build is a testament to its industry-leading manufacturer’s reputation for innovation and advanced designs.
The Callaway Golf SuperSoft Golf balls come with the advanced, Ultra-low compression core that fosters higher speeds and increased accuracy. It does that by enabling low spin to get the ball farther on a full shot while keeping its flight straighter.
This low-spin rate isn’t caused by the core design alone, though. The ball features the Low-Drag HEX Aerodynamics function that reduces the drag, and enhances lift for higher flight, longer distance and low spin.
The feel on this ball is also quite impressive owing to Callaway’s New Soft Tri-ionomer Cover formulation for lower compression and improved greenside feel and better shot-stopping spin.
Compared to Callaway’s other products this model has the best forgiveness, one of the softest feel and straightest flight. Besides, it is available in Matte, Pink, Yellow and Multi colors, providing better visibility.
All in all, ticking all the boxes for an average golfer, like distance, spin, flight and feel, this ball is definitely a premium pick and our #1 choice.
PROS
- Excellent distance and straight flight
- Extremely durable
- Soft feel on the putter face
- Excellent value for money
CONS
- Might be too soft for some
Titleist Pro V1x Prior Generation Golf Balls
Our runner-up is the Titleist Pro V1x Prior Generation Golf Balls. It is quite similar to the ProV1 that topped our list of best golf balls for beginners but this model’s build is more suited to an average golfer.
For starters, the V1x has the best performance and one of the most advanced designs from this brand.
The integrated 2.0 ZG Process Dual Core, improves the distance on all shots by expanding better after you strike the ball.
The ionomeric casing layer comes in a thinner construction to further increase the speed and provide more control of the spin on full shots. This casing design could be a fantastic feature if you haven’t gotten your way around the right spin.
Another notable technology on this ball is the Soft Urethane Elastomer cover system, for better greenside control, soft feel and durability. The cover system works alongside the Drop-and-Stop Short Game Control function to provide the highest short game spin, lowest long game spin and highest flight on any Titleist golf ball. Also, the spherically-tilled 328 tetrahedral dimple design on the ball further adapts to the average golfer’s skill by providing consistent flights.
Overall, the Pro V1x comes with many features designed to afford excellent distance, control of spin and good forgiveness on mishits.
PROS
- It delivers straight flights consistently
- Great distance off the tee and low spin off the driver
- Excellent control along the green
- Excellent value for its price
CONS
- A bit on expensive side
- There are many counterfeits in market, so you gotta be careful
Srixon Men’s soft feel Golf ball: Best Low-End
Are you on a budget looking for a top-quality golf ball? Srixon Men’s soft feel Golf ball might be your best option.
This ball comes with the Srixon patented FastLayer core design that is only available on their premium models. This design allows this two-piece golf ball to feature a soft inner core that gradually gets firmer towards the perimeter. Hence, giving you more distance without compromising on the feel.
The latest upgrade on this model’s core design adds more resilience when you strike the ball. The aim is to allow the ball to shape quickly after impact; thus, more speed and distance off the tee.
The ball also has Srixon’s proprietary dimple design- the 338 Speed Dimple Pattern for improved, straighter flight performance, and aerodynamics with irons, woods or drivers.
In all, this model features an advanced design and construction that you may not find on other models within this price range. We think it can be one of the best low-end golf balls for an average golfer.
PROS
- Affordable
- Low spin driver for straighter shots on long game
- Excellent durability and long service life
- Advanced core and dimple design
CONS
- Not the best stopping control on the green
Srixon Q-Star Tour 2 Golf Balls: Best for Spin
Did you ever wish you could have a distance ball off the tee that turns into a tour-caliber ball in the short game, as if with magic? Well, guess what? Srixon Q-Star Tour 2 Golf Ball is just what you wanted. It offers a great blend of max distance with low spin off the irons and drivers while amazing feel and a lot of spin with your scoring clubs.
This is a three-piece ball because, for more spin, the ball requires internal interactions with more layers, a fairly harder compression and a firmer feel. This construction type works alongside the Tour-caliber urethane cover coated in SpinSkin with Srixon’s patented ‘Slide Ring Material’ (SeRM) to optimize the spin. SeRM delivers a topspin performance because its molecules are bonded using Moveable Cross-Links, thus evenly distributing the strike force across the ball, making it more elastic upon impact. Cool, ain’t it?
The product also comes with the FastLayer core design to improve its distance, feel and spin on a short game but reduces long game sidespin fostering accuracy.
Lastly, this ball has the 388 Speed Dimple Pattern for straight shots with little drag back and higher flight.
PROS
- Affordable
- Features long decal with arrow aids for proper alignment of putts
- Excellent spin and feel
CONS
- The spin may not be suitable for all players
Bridgestone Golf e12 Soft Golf Balls: Best value
The Bridgestone Golf e12 Soft Golf Balls are suitable for average players with driver swing speeds lower than 105mph. It features a three-piece construction and hence, has fairly average spin, good distance and a soft feel- everything that most average golfers need.
These balls come with Bridgestone patented cover layer- Active Acceleration Mantle Layer – that offers more thrust and initial velocity when hit. This layered design allows the core to soften on impact providing more forgiveness on mishit and better greenside feel and distance off the tee.
Lastly, it has the Bridgestone patented dimple design- Delta Wing Dimple Pattern – for smoother aerodynamics, fostering straight distances with minimum drag.
Overall, this product might be missing the high-end features of the Titleist Pro V1x and Callaway SuperSoft Golf balls, but it delivers top performance as well.
PROS
- Superb dimple design for smooth flight with low drag
- High launch angle
- Excellent value for its price
CONS
- Some users have reported that e12 Soft lags in distance compared to its cousin e12 Speed
- Not as consistent as the company’s high-end models
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you boost Distance with a Golf Ball?
Yes! Specific golf balls called distance balls come with an advanced core, cover and layer design with low compression that fosters speed, lowers the spin and gives the ball a high flight and improved distance. Such balls mostly come with improved dimple designs and have an extra-smooth exterior that reduces the drag and improves distance.
How important is manufacturing technology?
When one-piece was the only construction type for the golf balls, every ball was almost the same. However, tremendous improvements in the ball’s construction like the core design, multi-layering, dimples etc., have promoted a better feel, control, and distance. So, technology is essential when selecting your golf ball.
Does Brand Matter?
You should decide what construction – type, feel, and spin – you want on your ball without having any brand in mind because ball type is most important. However, when durability and other factors come into place, industry leaders like Callaway, Titleist, etc., seem to have a definitive advantage over lesser-known brands. Although we suggest that while picking a ball, focus on the ideal ball type for your skill-set and select a product from any decently known brand. You will soon have enough experience to know what to do the next time around.
Recap
Overall, selecting a golf ball isn’t exactly an easy task. You will need to fully understand your style of play and select a ball from a wide range of available products.
We suggest to opt for those with a low compression core. It would help if you go for a two- or three-piece construction, with your desired spin. You should also consider buying those that can be conveniently replaced when lost or worn-out.
The Callaway Golf SuperSoft Golf Balls are by far the best product on our list for an increased distance along the tee and better control around the green. The Titleist Pro V1x Prior Generation Golf Balls are a close runner-up offering consistent, high-trajectory flights and low long game spin.