A lot of people overlook the golf ball they play and it’s actually impacting their game more than they think. Picking the right golf ball for your game is super important and it’s something simple that can improve your game. In this post, I’m going to be talking about what kind of ball a senior golfer should be using.
If you’re a senior player you’ll want to pick a 2 or 3 piece golf ball that is also low spinning. The compression on the ball should also be fairly low because your swing speed probably won’t be as fast as it used to be. All three of these aspects will generate you the most distance, the straightest shots, and will result in the lowest scores. Examples are the Callaway Supersoft, Srixon Soft Feel, and Taylormade Project (S).
That’s all just my personal opinion though and some of it will depend on your own game. If you’re a better golfer then you might want something different but I tried to aim this article at the average player. The average player doesn’t have the fastest swing speed, tends to hook or slice the ball off the tee, and shoots well over par. Continue reading for the full details on why I recommended what I did (and the best balls to pick).
What Ball Construction Should Seniors Use?
If you’re a senior golfer, you’ll most likely want to use a 2 or 3 piece golf ball. These types of golf balls will give you the most distance possible (since your swing speed will probably decrease) and will help keep your ball in play (who wouldn’t want that).
You have the option to pick from 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 piece golf balls. Each of them offers different things but the price will also increase as you add layers. The 2 and 3 layer balls will be somewhere in the middle and be the most versatile, in my opinion.
If you’re someone who wants the most distance possible and you want your balls to last a long time (as long as you don’t lose them), you’ll probably want to go with a 2 piece golf ball. This type of golf ball will normally give you the most distance but the main downside is that they won’t give you much control for drawing/fading the ball.
For a while there, these balls were pretty firm feeling at impact and some people didn’t like that. You do have the option now to pick between firmer feeling and softer feeling 2 piece golf balls. They also seem to hold up fairly well and won’t get all cut up like some of the more expensive balls out there.
If you’re someone who wants a bit more control with the ball and something that’ll spin a bit more, you’ll probably want to go with a 3 piece golf ball. The overall distance you’ll get probably won’t be as much as a 2 piece but you’ll have much more versatility. You can also pick between a firm and softer feeling ball which is a big plus as well.
These balls are normally a bit more expensive as well and don’t seem to last as long. I guess my general opinion is that the average senior players should use a 2 piece golf ball and the better senior player should use a 3 piece ball.
What about the other types of balls?
A 1 piece golf ball is the cheapest ball out there and is what’s used at most driving ranges. The only time I’ll use these balls is when I’m hitting into a net at home or into a lake. They don’t belong on the course, so don’t even bother.
A 4 piece golf ball is designed to give explosive distance off the tee and good spin with your irons. That might sound good and all but the average player probably won’t be able to generate enough club speed for it to work. You need to be able to compress the ball well and if you don’t, you’ll probably get big hooks and slices.
A 5 piece ball is the most advanced and most expensive ball that is used by pro golfers. Sadly to say, I’m sure that’s not you. It pretty much takes what the 4 piece ball offers and does a bit more. More distance, more spin, and more control. But again, you really need to be able to compress the ball to get the benefits. See how many layers each ball has.
Should Seniors Use Low Or High Spin Golf Balls?
When it comes to the amount of spin you want on your golf ball, it’ll really depend on your shot shape. I think the majority of senior players would benefit the most from a low to mid spinning golf ball. Both have their pros and cons but each is suited towards a specific type of player.
If you’re someone who tends to hook or slice the ball, you’d probably benefit the most from a lower spinning golf ball. These types of balls will decrease the amount of sidespin you get on your shots and should keep things straighter. You won’t get as much carry distance but your ball will roll out more and you should be playing from more fairways.
If you want a golf ball that has some stopping power on the green but you still occasionally hook or slice the ball, you’d probably want to get a mid spinning ball. You’ll still get a lot of the benefits of a lower spinning ball (straighter and more roll) but you’ll also get a bit of spin to stop the ball quicker on the green. The downside to this is that your hooks and slices could get worse.
What about a high spinning ball?
In my opinion, you’d only benefit from a higher spinning golf ball if you’re a good golfer. You’d only want to use this type of ball if you can keep the ball fairly straight. If you hook or slice the ball then these will compound that mistake. The advantage to them is that you can control the ball easier. They can stop quickly on the green and you can better control the height of your shot. See how much spin each ball has.
What Compression Golf Ball Should Seniors Use?
If you’re a senior golfer, you’d benefit the most from a low compression golf ball. Your swing will probably slow down as you get older and this type of ball will give you the most distance and the straightest shots. You might not have the most control over the ball but I think you’ll spend more time in the fairway and ultimately, lower scores.
Lower compression golf balls take less force to compress the ball. All that means is it’ll take less force to generate distance. This is why average players and people with slower swing speeds should use lower compression balls. The only downside to them is that they don’t offer as much control for things like trajectory and shot shape.
Higher compression golf balls take more force to compress the ball. This means you’ll need higher swing speeds to get the distance out of them. If you have a slower swing speed and you try to use these balls, your distance will decrease and you’ll most likely hook or slice the ball. If you still have a swing speed above 95 MPH and hit the ball straight, you could still use a higher compression ball. That won’t be many though. See the compression of each ball.
What Are The Best Golf Balls For Seniors?
Taking into account everything we talked about, I’m going to give you my recommendations for what ball to pick. I actually like all of them myself and even use one as my main golf ball. I picked one ball from each of the major ball companies.
Callaway Supersoft
If you like Callaway golf balls then this ball will probably be for you. It’s a 2 piece golf ball that’s designed for maximum distance and lower spin off the tee. It’s a softer feeling ball that still has some stopping power around the green and the compression is somewhere around 40 (which is really low). Check the current price on Amazon.
Srixon Soft Feel
If you don’t want to spend a fortune on golf balls but still want something of high quality, these could be for you. They’re actually the ones I’ve been using as of late and really like them. Obviously, they’re a softer feeling golf ball with a 2 piece construction. They’re a lower spinning ball that will keep things straight and the compression is around 70, which will help with distance. See our full review here.
Taylormade Project (S)
These are currently my favorite golf balls from Taylormade. I don’t know for sure but I’m assuming the “S” stands for soft and that’s the type of ball I like. They’re a 2 piece golf ball with a compression of 60. That’ll help with higher ball flights and less curve on your tee shots. Check the current price on Amazon.
Titleist TruFeel
I haven’t always been the biggest fan of Titleist golf balls but I do really like the new TruFeel balls. They’re a 2 piece ball designed for distance and low spin off the tee. They’re the softest ball from Titleist and the compression on them is low (I don’t know the exact number). Check the current price on Amazon.
Wilson Staff Fifty Elite
If you’re looking for a solid budget golf ball then these could be for you. They’re normally around a buck per ball and is what I normally use in the winter. A lot of people overlook Wilson products but I really like them myself. These are 2 piece balls and the compression on them is 50 (just as the name says). 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