The 9 Best Golf Balls for Beginners to Use in 2022

When I first started playing golf, I convinced myself that I had to buy the expensive Titleist Pro V1 golf balls that all of my friends used.

I mistakenly thought that I needed the top-of-the-line balls to be able to play good golf. I was suffering from a classic case of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) before that was even a known thing!

There are tons of golf balls out there, but if you’re a beginner, which ones are best for you?

We break down what type of ball is best for beginners and which brands to try. We hope that this golf ball guide helps take the guesswork out of which golf ball to buy.

For golfers that just need a quick recommendation, here are our top choices:

What Kind of Ball Should You Be Using as a Beginner?

When it comes time to buy golf balls, the process can quickly become overwhelming. There are a plethora of brands and features to choose from so it’s difficult to know what ball is right for you as a beginner golfer. Here are the most important features to look for when buying balls for the first time.

1. Opt for An Ultra Soft Feel

Most golfers who are new to the game have slower swing speeds. This means they need a golf ball that will deliver optimal distance, even on shots that are not well struck.

Soft golf balls will provide a decent amount of spin but will limit the amount of sidespin that causes hooks and slices. This is a huge advantage for beginners because it will allow them to find the fairway more often instead of the trees or water. Ultra Soft golf balls also perform brilliantly both on and around the greens.

2. Pick the Correct Compression Rating

Soft golf balls with a lower compression rating provide a high level of forgiveness, which is a necessity when you’re first learning how to play golf. Most newer golfers struggle with hitting the ball straight so the extra forgiveness that a soft ball brings will come in handy on the course.

What compression rating should you look for in a golf ball as a beginner? Make sure that the balls you are buying have a compression rating of 70 or less. Most of the UltraSoft golf balls have a compression rating of around 35 or so.

3. Go With Cheap Over Expensive

When you’re first starting to get into golf, it’s not necessary to buy expensive golf balls. Most beginner-level golfers won’t notice any difference between a ball that costs $4 apiece vs. a ball that costs $1 each. The reason is that most new golfers rarely make consistent contact with the center of the clubface.

A good strategy is to buy golf balls that are both soft and cheap. Take the money that you saved from buying cheaper balls and invest in some lessons with a PGA teaching professional. By doing this, you’ll be well on your way to learning the game and shooting lower scores on the course.

9 Best Golf Balls for Beginners

1. Callaway 2021 Supersoft Golf Balls

Our favorite golf ball for beginners is the Callaway Supersoft.

These Callaway Supersofts are a great choice for beginner golfers because they provide a rare duo of good ball speed but not too much spin. It’s easy to see why these are listed as the #1 Best Seller on Amazon.

Golfers will also love the extremely high ball flight that this golf ball provides. This will come in handy when trying to stick wedge shots close to the pin.

It’s also made to not only fly higher but also carry further than other golf balls because of Callaway’s HEX Aerodynamics technology.

2. TaylorMade Noodle Long and Soft Golf Balls

If it’s value you’re looking for, the TaylorMade Noodle is a great option.

These are one of the cheapest golf balls on the market today, but don’t let that scare you. These little babies perform beautifully and at less than a buck each, you can’t go wrong by trying them out on the course.

The Noodle features a soft iothane cover that provides ideal control for your short game.

What’s also impressive about the Noodle is its insanely high level of durability. I’ve been hitting these things off and on for over a decade and they rarely even get scuff marks on them.

3. Pinnacle Soft Golf Balls

Pinnacle strikes the ideal balance between softness and distance with this golf ball.

The Pinnacle Soft provides a lower amount of spin for your longer shots but with a soft feel that you’ll love when chipping or putting. This ball is made with a 332 dimple design which is helpful in limiting spin. Remember, less spin equals straighter shots!

Golfers of all skill levels love how the Pinnacle Soft feels coming off of the clubface of their driver. Some golfers have even switched from the premium Titleist Pro V1’s to this brand and have seen no difference between the two of them.

Plus, at only $1.33 per ball for the pack of 15, who can argue with the price?

4. Bridgestone E6 Soft

It was a tight battle for the top spot in our rankings between these E6 Soft balls and the Callaway Supersoft.

While there are cheaper options out there, none of them provide the performance that Bridgestone does. Also, getting a high-quality golf ball for less than $2 apiece is quite a bargain in our book.

The engineers at Bridgestone designed this golf ball with the beginner in mind. The E6 Soft offers less spin than other golf balls, especially when using the driver, fairway woods, and long irons.

This results in straighter shots and more confidence when hitting the longer clubs.

You’ll love the soft feel of this golf ball, especially when chipping, pitching, or putting. The Delta Dimple design also provides good control on all types of shots. Give these Bridgestone E6’s a shot – you won’t be disappointed.

5. Titleist Velocity Golf Balls

If you don’t mind paying a few extra bucks, the Titleist Velocity balls are an excellent choice for beginner golfers.

These balls provide fantastic distance and a low spin rate to help limit those pesky hooks and slices that plague most new golfers. Titleist has a fabulous reputation and is the most popular brand of golf ball on the PGA Tour.

The 350 Octahedral Dimple Pattern allows you to enjoy a higher ball flight and better control with your irons. What’s also kind of cool about the Titleist Velocity balls is that they come in four different colors (white, matte green, matte pink, and matte orange).

The bright matte colors make it easier to spot your ball, even when you end up in the tall grass.

6. Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls

Srixon is somewhat new to the golf ball manufacturing scene as they started back in 2000.

However, these folks know how to make a high-quality golf ball. The core of this golf ball is made with Srixon’s patented Fastlayer technology.

This leads to a softness that is second to none and plenty of distance off the tee. To increase distance, Srixon makes these balls with a 338 Speed Dimple Pattern.

The softcover performs great around the greens and the thick black line is very helpful for lining up your putts quickly and effectively.

7. Wilson Staff Duo Golf Ball

Wilson has been a major brand in golf for several decades as they’ve been manufacturing golf balls since 1954. Wilson’s best ball for beginners is the Duo, which is known for being incredibly soft while providing good distance off the tee.

Golfers rave about how consistent the Duo performs on the course. The core of this two-piece golf ball features VelocitiCOR, which is said to make the ball travel longer distances.

A few extra yards off the tee is never a bad thing!

8. Vice Golf Pro Soft Golf Balls

Vice is a hot new brand that has grown in popularity in recent years. These balls cost a little bit more than the others on our list because they are three-piece instead of two-piece. They are also made out of a slightly more expensive urethane material.

These balls are great for beginners who have slow to medium swing speeds since they’ll provide plenty of ball speed and distance off the tee. The Vice Pro Soft is available in three shiny matte colors (red, white, and lime).

If you don’t mind paying a few extra dollars, the Vice Pro Softs are worth trying out.

9. TaylorMade Project (s) Golf Balls

TaylorMade is a top-notch company and they make phenomenal golf balls. We talked about how well their Noodle ball performs. The Project (s) isn’t nearly as cheap as the Noodle but it performs beautifully on the course.

The Project (s) offers the two main ingredients that most beginner golfers need: low driver spin but significant distance off the tee. This ball has a 342 dimple pattern for increased softness, accuracy, and control.

Many golfers also rave about how durable these golf balls are.

Golf Ball FAQs

Should you always use the same golf balls?

The majority of amateur golfers seem to play a wide variety of different golf balls. If you checked the golf bags of most weekend hacks, you would probably see five to ten different brands of golf balls inside.

While it may seem cool to collect and play with a plethora of different options, this seemingly innocent choice may be hurting your performance on the course.

So, to answer the question, YES, play the same golf ball for every round. A key to playing your best golf is consistency and playing the same ball each time provides that. PGA Tour pros play the same type of ball for several years for this very reason.

You never want to be on the tee box or green and wondering how your golf ball is going to perform. Pick a brand of ball that you trust with features that help compensate for your weaknesses and stick with it! You wouldn’t change out your driver or irons after a couple of bad rounds so don’t do so with your golf balls either.

Now, this does not mean that you have to be married to one particular brand or type of golf ball for the rest of your life. A good strategy is to stick with the same ball for one to two years and then reevaluate your own strengths and weaknesses as a golfer.

If you’ve made big improvements to your game and lowered your handicap quite a bit, consider switching to a golf ball that will fit your new skill set. I like to reassess my game at the beginning of every year to see if I need to make any equipment changes.

Does it matter what golf ball you use as a beginner?

YES, it matters a great deal what type of ball you choose as a beginner golfer. Like we discussed above, since most new golfers struggle with accuracy (hooks, slices, pushes, etc.), it makes sense for them to choose a golf ball with a low spin rate. Eliminating sidespin will help beginners hit the ball straighter more consistently.

The last thing you want to do as a beginner is to choose a hard golf ball. Hard balls will have a faster spin rate which will make your hooks and slices much more prominent. Golf is hard enough as it is. Don’t make it even harder by choosing the wrong golf ball.

Do softer golf balls go further?

No, as a general rule, the harder the golf ball the farther it will fly. That doesn’t mean you should opt for the hardest golf ball you can find just to maximize distance. Several studies have shown that the distance difference between hard golf balls and soft golf balls is often only five yards or less.

The reason most beginners should choose a soft golf ball is because of the high amount of forgiveness they offer. Forgiveness and control should be prioritized over sheer distance. Remember, you’re trying to shoot your best score, not win some kind of longest drive competition!

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.