You might think that a golf ball is just a ball and it doesn’t really have an impact on your game. That’s what I thought before I actually tried the right ball for my game. It actually does have a big impact on how you score and in this post, I’m going to be talking about what type of golf ball a beginner or high handicap should be using.
If you’re a beginner or higher handicap you should be using a 2 piece golf ball that has low compression and low spin. These three aspects will give you the most distance possible, the straightest and highest shots, and will result in the lowest possible scores. Other balls have their advantages but those advantages will actually hurt your game right now.
You can start using other types of balls as you get better but I think the ones I’ll talk about in this post will be the best for you.
You may have to try each of them out because everyone will be different. I’ve used them all and they all perform really well.
What Ball Construction Should You Use?
Golf balls come in a bunch of different designs and you’ll have the choice of picking a 1-5 layer ball.
Each of them has its pros and cons but if you’re a beginner or high handicap player you’ll want to stick with a 2 piece golf ball.
This type of ball will most likely give you the straightest shots with the most distance.
They’re also going to be cheaper than the 3, 4, or 5 piece golf balls, which is another plus. The main thing you should be focusing on is hitting more fairways and greens and I do think these balls will help with that.
If you do try to use a ball with more layers you’ll probably get more spin.
That extra spin will make it easier to hook or slice the ball (big curves) and that’s going to decrease your distance. I actually still use a 2 or 3 piece ball myself and I’m perfectly fine with the way they perform.
When you do become a better player you might want that extra spin though.
When you have more spin you’ll be able to control the ball a lot better. You’ll be able to hit it high if you want and you’ll be able to keep it low. You can also draw and fade the ball much easier and get the ball to stop on the green. That being said, it’ll hurt your game as a beginner.
What about the other types of balls?
1 piece golf balls are used at a lot of driving ranges and are used because they’re cheap. They shouldn’t be used on the course, in my opinion, because they don’t go nearly as far and aren’t going to perform that well. You could use them at home if you’re hitting into a net though.
3 piece golf balls are designed for people who are getting a little bit better and want a bit of spin. They’re still pretty forgiving and will travel pretty straight but they’ll definitely curve more. The benefit is that you can get a little bit of stopping power on the green and work on drawing/fading the ball.
4 piece golf balls are used by scratch and pro golfers. If you try to use these balls you’ll most likely struggle with distance and hitting the fairway. I wouldn’t think to use these balls myself and neither should you. You really have to make solid contact with these balls to get any sort of performance out of them.
5 piece golf balls are even harder to hit well and are only used by professional golfers. They’re going to be a lot more versatile for the better player who needs max control over the ball. They’re expensive and won’t perform that well for you. See how many layers each ball has.
How Much Spin Should Your Ball Have?
If you’re a beginner or high handicap player you’ll want to use a low spinning golf ball.
We talked about this in the previous section how spin will make the ball curve a lot more. That won’t be very good for your game.
When you have less spin you’ll be able to get more distance out of your shots.
The reason is that they’ll fly a lot straighter. You’d be surprised by how much distance is lost when you have a curve to your shots. You’ll also be able to hit more fairways and greens and that should help the scorecard.
Like I was saying before, when you start getting better you’ll want to have a decent amount of spin.
You’ll be able to control the height of the ball, the shape it flies, and how quickly it’ll stop of the green. Focus on the basics right now though and you’ll get better much quicker. See how much spin each ball has.
Should You Use A Low Or High Compression Ball?
Compression is the amount of force it takes to properly compress the golf ball. If you’re a beginner or high handicap player you’ll want to use a low compression golf ball.
Again, it’ll help with distance and straightness in your shots.
A lot of weekend golfers I see are using the complete wrong ball for their game.
They’re playing a mid to high compression ball because the pros are using them. Some people can get pretty good distance out of them but almost all of them have a major curve to their shots.
If you don’t have a fast enough swing speed (over 95 MPH) you won’t be able to compress a higher compression ball.
Your distance will suffer and you’ll most likely hook or slice the ball every single time. When you compress the ball properly, you’ll fix these two issues and the game will be much easier. See the compression of each ball.
Which Golf Ball Is Best For Beginners & High Handicappers?
I’ve tried out a lot of golfer balls over the years and these are going to be some of my favorites. I used to be a high handicap player so I can relate. I’ll include a few different balls from a variety of different brands. All are great though.
Callaway SuperSoft
This is the softest and lowest compression golf ball from Callaway. It’s one of the most forgiving balls I’ve ever hit and that’s why it’s great for higher handicap players. The compression on the ball is around 40, the spin rate is low, and it’s a 2 piece golf ball. Check the current price on Amazon.
Srixon Soft Feel
This is one of my favorite balls and is actually the one I use most often right now. It’s not as forgiving as the SuperSoft but it offers a bit more control. It’s a 2 piece ball with a compression somewhere around 70. It’s designed for a low amount of spin off the tee and has a nice and soft feel to it. See our full review here.
Taylormade Noodle
This is a golf ball that’s overlooked by a lot of golfers and I don’t really know why. It’s one of the cheaper balls on the market (around a buck per ball) but it still performs really well. If I’m playing in the winter and lose a lot of balls (they get plugged in the ground) then I’ll use these or the Fifty Elite from Wilson and they’ve always done the job for me. See the full review here.
Titleist TruFeel
If you’re a fan of Titleist products, these balls should perform the best for you. They’re the softest ball that they make and the best for beginner players. They are a 2 piece ball with lower compression (don’t know the exact number). They have a softer feel to them and are designed for a lower spin off the tee. Check the current price on Amazon.
Wilson Staff Fifty Elite
These are another overlooked golf ball and are actually the cheapest on this list. If you’re on a budget or don’t want to spend 5 bucks per ball, these could be for you. They’re a 2 piece ball with a compression of fifty (hence the name). They’re designed for low spin and will help you keep the ball in the fairway. Check the current price on Amazon.
Let me know your thoughts and any questions you have. Like this article? Feel free to give it a share!
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Last update on 2023-07-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API