Last Updated – Dec 17, 2022
The best golf ball for beginners is one that is inexpensive, but that will offer consistent performance. I have a database with thousands of data points on golf balls and personally test each one before it’s recommended.
I put them to the test in my home simulator and out on the golf course.
As a beginner golfer, you are far better off spending your hard-earned money on lessons as opposed to equipment. Especially golf balls.
But, you still want a golf ball that performs! The best advice I can give, pick a ball and stick with it for a while!
Best Price
TaylorMade Noodle
The Noodle, Long & Soft! I’ve watched someone win long drive with this ball!
Best Overall
Vice Drive
A direct-to-consumer manufacturer with great prices and amazing quality!
Most Popular
Callaway Supersoft
Built for distance and accuracy with high quality and a brand nearly all golfers trust.
Best Golf Balls for Beginners – Full List
⛳️ Our experts spend hours gathering data, testing, and comparing products to deliver comprehensive recommendations to help you choose. Find out more about how we test products.
TaylorMade Noodle
I bet you didn’t even know the Noodle was a TaylorMade ball! Ok, maybe you did. But did you know that one of the inventors of the Noodle, Dean Snell, also had a hand in creating the ProV1?
The Noodle performs! It is very soft and gets great distance off the tee. A friend of mine actually won a long drive at a scramble event with a Noodle. This was years ago, but he definitely hit it well over 320 yards!
I’ve used the Noodle for years and honestly, I am not sure why I don’t anymore. I went on this crazy quest a couple of years ago to try every golf ball under the sun. I’ve found some pretty good golf balls during that time. Either way, for the price, you just can’t beat it. That’s why it’s number 1 on my “best cheap golf balls” list!
Quick Facts
Very low compression rating and a 342 dimple pattern. Offers short game spin and control around the greens. Consumer reviews give this ball a 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 6,000 reviews!
TaylorMade spends a whopping $0 in marketing the Noodle. They keep the cost extremely low, especially for a new golf ball.
PROS
- PRICE!
- Feel
- Did I mention the price? ~$1/ball (For a golf ball, that’s cheap!)
- Durability
- Decent greenside spin
- Distance
CONS
- You won’t get quite as much spin as premium golf balls
- You’ll be playing with a “long and soft noodle”
- The Noodle recently fell off of the USGA compliant golf ball list, so it cannot be used in official events
Why Should Beginner Golfers Choose the Noodle
Price is the biggest reason, by far, to choose the Noodle. These typically come in a pack of 2 dozen or a pack of 15. So when you look at the price, be sure to keep in mind the number of golf balls you are getting. They are typically around $1 per ball.
Vice Drive Golf Ball
Vice Golf is one of my favorite manufacturers, hands down. They are a direct-to-consumer company and don’t spend millions of dollars sponsoring PGA Tour players. This allows them to pass on some lower costs to us.
Vice golf balls are very high quality, they get some really good distance and are very durable. I have personally tried every single one of their golf balls, both on the course and on the simulator to see how they perform.
Here is a full review of Vice Golf Balls!
They do pretty well! I have teed up a Vice Drive, right after hitting a ProV1. Fortunately, I hit both very solid, they were right next to each other in the fairway. So when it comes to distance, you’re not missing out!
Quick Facts
The Vice Drive is a soft ball that certainly rivals premium golf balls at a fraction of the cost. It is a 2 piece ball and offers a 312 dimple pattern. In an independent study conducted by Golf laboratories, the Vice Drive significantly outperformed the Titleist Tour Soft golf ball.
PROS
- Durability
- Distance
- Price
CONS
- You won’t get quite as much spin around the greens
Why Should Beginner Golfers Choose the Vice Drive?
It really comes down to price and quality. Vice offers a high-quality product at a very reasonable price. As a beginner, price is a big factor, but using a consistent ball with good quality is also important. The Vice Drive meets all of those criteria.
Callaway Supersoft
The new Callaway Supersoft golf ball is designed for distance and accuracy with its low spin profile. The dimples on this golf ball are hex shaped, which Callaway claims will provide reduced drag resulting in more distance. At least that’s what Callaway claims!
I tried the Callaway Supersoft, and it feels good off the tee and with my irons. I didn’t get any noticeable distance gains, it was right in line with what I’d expect from other high-quality 2-piece golf balls. As for accuracy, I think the low spin made a bit of a difference, but nothing crazy.
The Supersoft might just be one of the most popular golf balls on the market! They have 4.8 stars from over 19,800 reviews on Amazon.
Related – Callaway Supersoft Review
Quick Facts
2-piece construction with a 332 dimple pattern and a single cover. The Callaway Supersoft golf ball has a low spin rating with a driver and a mid spin rating with short irons. You can get the Supersoft in white, orange, yellow, red, pink, or green.
PROS
- Good distance off the tee
- Soft golf balls with great feel
- Slight accuracy improvement
- Decent greenside spin for a 2-piece golf ball
CONS
- Priced a bit higher than other 2-piece golf balls on this list
Why Should Beginner Golfers Choose Callaway Supersoft golf balls
The Callaway Supersoft is a high-quality golf ball that Callaway has put a ton of research and technology into. With that, you’ll find it is a slightly more forgiving golf ball that will offer a bit more control around the greens. You’ll pay a few extra bucks for those features, however.
Callaway Warbird
The Callaway Warbird is designed for distance! The dimples on this golf ball are hex shaped, which Callaway claims will provide reduced drag resulting in more distance. At least that’s what Callaway claims!
I tried the Callaway Warbird, It feels decent. It definitely played a bit longer than I expected. For the price, it’s a pretty good deal for a quality ball. I didn’t get quite as much spin as I would have thought around the greens. That is very typical for a 2-piece golf ball however, and not something a beginner is even going to notice early on.
The Warbird is the cheapest golf ball in Callaway’s lineup, but don’t let that fool you. It is a quality golf ball. They have 4.7 stars from over 5,700 reviews on Amazon.
Quick Facts
2-piece construction with a 332 dimple pattern and a single cover. The Callaway Warbird golf ball has a low spin rating with a driver and a mid spin rating with short irons. Designed fro maximum distance and ball speed. You can get the Warbird in white or yellow
PROS
- Good distance off the tee
- Good feel
- Price
CONS
- You’ll lose some greenside control
Why Should Beginner Golfers Choose Callaway Warbird golf balls
First, they are the most inexpensive golf ball in the Callaway lineup. And in case you didn’t know it, Callaway is one of the biggest names in golf! They have a great reputation for producing quality products.
Bridgestone e6
The new e6 with soft feel is Bridgestone’s 2-piece low compression golf ball, priced in the mid-range. Bridgestone produces some really high-quality golf balls and the e6 is no exception.
I have also used the e6 golf ball and found them to be just as long as a ProV1. They felt very soft and I found them to be very durable. They are specifically designed for golfers with moderate swing speeds per Bridgestone, but they hit well for a higher swing speed too.
The e6 golf ball also gets some great reviews on Amazon, which is consistent with my personal experience. They have 4.7 stars from over 5,600 reviews. Players with slower swing speeds will get a lot of extra distance off the tee.
Quick Facts
2-piece construction with a 330 dimple pattern and single cover. The Bridgestone e6 golf ball has a low spin rating, with both driver and short irons. Designed as a distance golf ball with low spin and high ball speed. You can get the e6 in white or yellow.
PROS
- High quality for the price, great for budget-conscious golfers
- Low spin off the tee leading to better overall distance
- Suitable for a wide-range of golfers/li>
- Surprisingly good greenside performance for a 2-piece ball
CONS
- While it performs well, it will not match the spin performance of a premium golf ball like the ProV1
- May not be the best choice for golfers who prefer a firmer ball
Why Should Beginner Golfers Choose the Bridgestone e6
The e6 is a high quality ball from a manufacturer that is serious about their products. They are priced a bit higher than many of the others on this list. But if you are a golfer who cares about brand, these are the best golf balls for beginners from Bridgestone’s lineup. New Bridgestone e9 golf balls coming soon!
Srixon Soft Feel
The Srixon soft feel golf ball is one of the cheaper golf balls on the market, which makes it a great option for new golfers. It gets a ton of great reviews, with 4.7 stars on over 3,000 reviews. Srixon compares this ball to the Callaway supersoft and delivers slightly more distance.
I’ve tried these out, and honestly, they perform very similarly to the other 2-piece golf balls on this list. They feel soft, as you’d expect from the name. But you will definitely lose some greenside spin with these. They also seemed pretty durable. I hit a cart path with one and the damage wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d expected.
Quick Facts
2-piece construction with a 338 dimple pattern and ionomer cover. It is a soft golf ball, designed for maximum distance. In distance testing performed against the Callaway supersoft golf ball, Titleist TruSoft (previous generation), and Bridgestone e12 soft (previous generation e12), the Srixon soft feel has a slight edge against all 3.
PROS
- Price
- Soft Feel
- Decent distance off the tee
CONS
- You’ll lose some performance around the greens
Why Should Beginners Choose The Srixon Soft Feel golf balls
This is another quality golf ball for a decent price. They also have some independent testing against some of the other golf balls on this list that put the Srixon at a VERY SLIGHT edge in distance. So it really just comes down to price and whether you are looking for a specific brand.
Titleist TruFeel
Titleist TruFeel golf balls are another attempt for Titleist to meet the demands of golfers looking for cheaper golf balls. Players with moderate swing speeds will find this ball feels great and gets good distance.
I have only used this ball on the course once, and my first impression was that it felt great. No surprise that this one also gets 4.7 stars from over 8,500 reviews on Amazon.
It is certainly not at the top of the list when it comes to affordable golf balls, but it’s in the middle of the pack and a great option for those who feel more comfortable playing a golf ball from one of the most trusted names in golf.
Related – Trufeel Golf Balls Review
Quick Facts
The TruFeel is a 2-piece construction with a single-piece 376 dimple cover. It has a low spin rating for both driver and short irons. You can get the TruFeel golf balls in white, yellow, and matte red.
PROS
- Great feel around the greens
- Great feel in general
- Durable
- Good distance off the tee
CONS
- You’ll sacrifice a little control around the greens
Why TruFeel Golf balls for beginners?
These are softer golf balls, which most players will find more appealing. They are a bit higher priced than some of the others, but if you are looking for a ball from the biggest name in golf, this is the best beginner golf ball in their lineup.
Best Type of Golf Ball for Beginners
In general, golfers want three things from a golf ball.
- Increased distance off the tee.
- Good greenside control.
- Feel
As a new golfer, it will likely take you quite some time to develop the skill around the greens to take advantage of spin and overall greenside control with a ball.
Related – Best Golf Drivers for Beginners
Why Does that Matter?
New golfers can benefit from added distance, and feel. But not greenside control. So, it’s usually best to find a golf ball that fits those two categories and spend the money saved elsewhere.
Once you start getting better, maybe as a mid handicapper, you might start looking into 3-piece balls.
Ball manufacturers produce golf balls with multiple layers, usually referred to as pieces. All of the golf balls on this list are 2-piece, which means they have an inner core and a cover.
On the opposite end, premium golf balls usually have 4-pieces, and some golf balls even have 5.
In order to get good distance off the tee, you need a ball that will not spin too much in the air. To get greenside control, you need a ball that will spin. With a 2-piece ball it is really hard to achieve both. That’s where the added layers come in. But the more layers, the higher the price.
What is the best golf ball for beginners?
I would go with the TaylorMade Noodle. It is one of the cheapest golf balls on the market and gets good distance. They are good beginner golf balls because they offer good feel, great distance off the tee and you cannot beat the price.
The most important piece of advice I can offer on this topic is – Pick a ball and stick with it.
Every golf ball performs differently. Most are subtle differences, but those differences matter for your game as you get used to certain shots.
Let’s say you are working on your wedge distance control. Maybe you are using reference points in your backswing as I do. For a shot from the 9 o’clock position, you may find one golf ball goes 50 yards and another travels 55 yards.
The problem is – if you are switching between different make/model golf balls, you’re not going to know if the shot that went “too far” was the ball or your swing. You’ll think it was your swing and next time you’ll take a little off of it, exacerbating the problem.
Remove the variable! Use the same brand/model and get used to that ball. It’s not going to fix everything for you, but it is a variable that can be very easily controlled.
What About Recycled or Refurbished Golf Balls?
I absolutely do not recommend playing with refurbished golf balls. The problem with them is – you really never know what you’re going to get.
And it’s not like a box of chocolates.
Admittedly, I’ve used them in the past myself. Fishing them out of the pond by my club’s #9 hole when the course is empty. I still have a bucket sitting in my garage.
Golf balls can get waterlogged.
USGA requires golf balls to weigh no more than 1.62 ounces. Here are just a couple that I pulled from my bucket of pond balls, all coming in over the 1.62 mark.
When you buy refurbished or recycled, you don’t know where they came from. There is an entire industry dedicated to retrieving golf balls from ponds to resell.
Sure you might get a giant bag of ProV1’s at half-price, but half of those balls are probably garbage. Compromised by being waterlogged, or in some cases not even being a ProV1, maybe a ProV1x which has a significantly different feel and distance specs.
Final Thoughts
The best golf balls for beginners are those that offer good distance at a great price. And one that has a feel you will like. To get a consistent ball flight, using the same ball make/model is important.
I cannot emphasize enough, pick a ball and stick with it for a while. There is no problem with switching balls at different times, but don’t do it from one hole to another as you play.
You’ll get used to how that ball reacts and distances. Playing the same golf balls will add an element of consistency to help you improve.
Resist the urge to allow marketing to influence you. Golf balls are not going to make the giant difference many manufacturers claim.
Golf balls matter. But, the reality is – most of these golf balls perform very similarly. Differences in distance are typically only a handful of yards. Differences in spin are oftentimes subtle as well. Neither of which are you likely to even notice, nor care about, as an amateur.
Good luck on the golf course!
Callaway Supersoft
One of the most popular golf balls on the market. Great feel, slight accuracy improvement and good distance. All for a decent price. It makes sense why this is one of the most popular golf balls.