Best Type of Golf Ball for Beginners (Complete Guide)

The global sports industry has experienced a massive influx of hosts, irrespective of age and gender, and this trend is projected to continue with the increasing population. Likewise, golf is one such sport that has gained huge interest from youngsters and people in the business, of course. The technique for hitting the ball into a series of holes is one of its kind, but the reality is that the type of golf ball holds key importance. As a beginner fastened to get expert at the game, the appropriate ball material matters greatly. 

Serving as a golf club professional, I have seen beginner golfers struggling with getting their hands on the right golf ball. Not every golf ball works perfectly for novices because a little too much or low spin can make them miss the shot and discourage them. 

With my long serving time in the golf club, my experience now makes me pick the right golf ball for beginners. For beginners, I always prioritize forgiveness and control on the golf over making the goal to cover a long distance. For this, I recommend using soft golf to get results. If you want to get one, try practicing on Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball. The ball offers a soft compression core to transfer maximum energy to the ball. This makes a win-win situation for the novice slow swing speeds to make the golf cover the maximum distance. 

However, I usually prefer Legato Golf Balls LTX 3085 for a high-performance game as a beginner.

Continue reading to learn more about the best type of golf ball for beginners to showcase your skills on the course. 

Why is it important to choose the best type of Golf Ball for beginners?

For novice golf players, it is quite hard to maintain their hand pressure for a proper swing speed. All they deal with is a golf ball, trying their best to hit the shot. Practicing on starter golf balls is tremendously important to settle into a golf swing. 

Choosing the best type of golf ball for beginners is important for increased focus and productivity. Your best bet would be a softer ball; a drastic reduction in spin compared to a harder ball and better control over the game creates a win-win situation. Various ball types can be easily purchased from multiple retail channels. Research on the appropriate ball material is worth it, specifically for the novice.

✏️ Side Note: Picking the best golf ball for a beginner is a challenge. There are multiple factors to consider before buying the accessory you will deal with daily. For this, I am here to take you out of the woods with a detailed buying guide and my top 3 golf ball picks based on my experience later in this guide. With that said, grab some snacks 🍫 and stick till the end!

The Different Types of Golf Balls

Beginners mistake that all the golf balls are the same type, but the ground reality is that some golf balls are specially designed for professionals to achieve optimal spin rate, while others practice golf balls. Among the various type of golf balls available in the market, the top preferred types include: 

1. Tour performance golf ball
2. Tour value golf ball 
3. Straight distance golf ball 
4. Soft distance golf ball

Let’s have a quick glance at each.

Tour performance golf ball

Tour performance golf balls are the most expensive in the market, specially designed for a player who can play to a course handicap of zero. It is provided with 3-5 layers; all you need is a faster swing speed to get the most out of it. 

The main benefits of tour performance include optimal speed and distance, exceptional spin, and perfect control. 

Tour value golf ball

Tour value is a 3-layer golf ball, somewhat similar to the tour performance but comes comparatively at a cheaper rate. Tour value golf balls do not spin much fast, making them a perfect considerable choice for beginner golf players. The slower spin speed and the low compression rating (usually ranging around 70) are the key characteristics of this 3 layers ball. 

Straight distance ball

As the name says, these balls travel long and straight. Straight distance golf balls contain up to 2-3 layers, offering their best performance to beginner golfers with a large core and a thin outer layer. If you struggle as a beginner with your golf ball slipping off the route, this 2-3 layer ball will definitely work for you. 

Soft distance ball

This golf ball contains 2-3 layers and has a low compression rating. Beginners with slower swing speeds are often recommended to practice on it to get their hands on the ball to make the perfect hit. 

The different Golf ball layers you need to know

After sharing about the main type of golf balls, here is a little on the ball’s layering, their importance, and what they offer to help enthusiastic beginner golf players to hit the golf offering optimal ball flight path. 

1 piece ball:

1 piece balls are only designed for mini-golf courses. It means this type of golf ball covers only a very small distance. Using a 1 piece ball on high-range golf will give no results. 

2 piece ball:

Straight distance balls are designed with 2 layers, best serving the beginner and an average golfer to get control of the hand pressure for a good swing speed. Unlike 1 piece ball, this offers the player to hit the ball, covering the maximum distance on the course. 

For beginner golf players, practicing the game on 2 layers is best if they wish for the ball to cover a maximum distance and need forgiveness. 

3 piece ball:

The 3 piece ball is provided with an additional layer to offer short game spin to the ball. If you want backspin on your wedge shots to stop the ball, it is for you. The 3 layer ball works the best for a mid-handicap golf player. 

3 Best Golf balls For Beginners

Keeping the needs of a novice golfer in mind, here are my top 3 picks for the best type of golf ball for beginners. The recommended pick is based on my deep research and a vast experience as a golf club professional. Let’s get started! 

1) Legato Golf Balls LTX 3085 – Best high-performance golf ball for beginners

Are you a beginner golfer with a goal of breaking 90? 

This cannot be achieved without using the best golf ball, and here is my recommendation for you. 

The Legato golf ball has always been my top choice for novice golfers. Not to forget, it is my tested ball. Legato is a 3 layer golf ball specially designed for handicapped golfers to offer them a softer feel. Its Urethane covering helps the golfer by offering better wedge control and motivates more to perform more better on the course. 

Legato has a low compression level, ranging around 85. This property helps a lot to maximize the energy transfer, so the ball covers a maximum distance. 

The ball offers a great feel off the clubface and provides a soft landing on the green. 

For the beginner who struggles with a varying swing speed, Legato helps by maximizing driver distance with its 3 layers crafted ball.  

With a super sophisticated design, high performance, maximum covering distance, and still very reasonable as compared to the competitors in the market, Legato has the best to offer the beginners. 

✅ What I liked

• Great low compression level 
• Improved spin rate
• Maximum of the tee distance

2) Wilson Staff Zip Golf Balls – Perfect for Moderate to Slower Swing Speeds

The Wilston Staff Zip golf ball is one of the best golf balls for beginners available in the market, offering an immensely soft feel and boosted distance traveled on the course. With a two piece layering, the ball has a compression rating of 50, creating a moderate ball speed on drives. 

Among its notable features is a pan headed dimple pattern. The Zip ball features a distinctive dimple design known as 302 PhD aerodynamics.

The ball’s shallow pattern minimizes drag and boosts the spin, while its ionomer cover offers soft greenside control. 

Overall, I recommend the  Wilston Staff Zip golf ball to any golfer looking for a high-quality, long-lasting ball to improve their game.

✅ What I liked

• Increased spin with irons and wedges
• Zero Compression Core
• Distinctive dimple design
• Soft feel in colder temperatures

👎 What I disliked

• The covering is not durable

3) Tour Response Golf Balls – Best beginner golfer budget pick  

The TaylorMade brand has been well known for years for bringing high quality, durable, and a budget friendly golf balls into the market for beginners and professional golfers. Tour response golf ball is Taylor made, made up of Polypropylene material to offer the maximum softness from its cover to the core. 

It is engineered with a compression core of 30 and a very soft ionomer covering to offer a premium golf ball for beginners while being very light on the pocket. The sophisticated design offers steeper and shallower dimples that reduce the drag and maximize the distance. With a nice feel on the green and a large core, it is the best considerable option for a beginner and an average golfer.

✅ What I liked

• Premium golf ball feel
• Reasonably durable and soft
• A great option for slower swing speeds
• Titleist Quality

The three picks have been gauged by extensive research, and a thing mutual to all is that each has a unique characteristic to offer.

How to choose the best type of golf balls for beginners

The various factors that supplement the buying process are listed below:

1. Build Material

The first and foremost aspect to consider is the build material. A softball against a hardball means more control over the game and retains the host’s interest. It also gives a kick-through as to how things go on the field. The best part is the directional support; the softball allows for a balanced movement in different directions and increases the probability of the points. A hard ball, on the contrary, requires calculated action and is feasible for a pro.

2. Compression

A general rule of thumb is that the higher the ball’s compression rating, the more energy is required to cover a larger distance. Concerning this, a softball encompasses a less compression rating. It is suited for a beginner – less energy input and more extensive coverage as the output is a main concern for any beginner.

 3. Swing

Swing is yet another crucial factor that cannot be avoided. Swing speed is linked with the height of the golf ball; the slower the speed, the lesser height it will achieve. Likewise, the slow speed is attained by a softer build material, unlike a harder one, allowing for greater control over the ball and capturing the audience’s attention. On the other hand, the amateurs are fine with a harder ball, supporting greater height and large distance coverage.

4. Core and Mantle

The fourth on the list is the core and the mantle, also commonly called a ‘Golf ball construction.’ A core is the center of the ball and needs to be softer to attain a lower compression rating, and vice versa. Likewise, cores are divided into two categories – softer and harder. It is evident for a novice to look for a softer core that aids in a low compression rating and favors speed. It has been observed that beginners do not value this part, affecting the performance of the sport.

5. Ability

Followed by this is the golfer’s ability. A beginner level is further categorized into different levels. If you are confident that you are here to disrupt the game, purchasing multiple softballs with variance in compression rating would be a boss move. You may save bucks due to the expected future inflation increase and get hands-on experience with different tastes. Fortunately, science has ensured the scrutinization of the golfer’s ability effectively via the advent of technology and machines. Thus, an appropriate assessment of yourself is no more a matter of worry.

6. Color Grading

It may come as a surprise to many that colors do play a role in the performance of a golfer. Since white is the norm, plenty of other options may be turned in favor of the golfer. Sharp colors like green and yellow increase the user’s focus and positively impact the performance. In addition to this, the colored ball can be easily observed in height and at a greater distance, and this is exactly what a beginner would desire.

7. Dimples

Like the dimples on the cheeks, the predominant spherical dimples printed on the golf ball hold importance. A general rule of thumb is that the greater the dimples, the more trajectory, and distance. Irrespective of the shape, it is important to get acquainted with the brand’s declaration about the dimples, and the beginner needs to check whether it aligns with the goals. Modern golf balls may have 200 dimples, expanding up to 400 dimples depending on the build material, and it is indeed a crucial factor for performance.

8. Pricing

Budget is the ultimate factor that makes or breaks the transaction. A misconception to avoid is that more than a single golf ball would suffice. The prices may vary across the globe due to fluctuating exchange rates. A cost-and-benefit analysis of various golf balls acts as a catalyst in the buying process. However, heading for purchase on special occasions like the year-end sale will yield great discounts, creating a win-win situation. 

A beginner must consider the above-mentioned factors to get a headroom into the sport. 

️⛳️ More Beginner-Friendly Guides:

• Reasons why do golfers slice the ball
• What is Executive Golf Course?
• What to wear golfing if you don’t have golf clothes?
• What shoes to wear for golf? (Detailed)

Summing it up

Among the many market options, getting yourself the best type of golf ball for beginners is challenging. I have poured all my learning into helping you get your hand on the right golf ball.

I have done it from my side, and it’s now your turn to practice hard and be a pro golfer very soon.

FAQs

Do I Want a Soft or Hard Golf Ball?

A soft ball has many benefits for a beginner golfer, including a low compression level beneficial to transfer maximum energy to the ball and a higher degree of spin. This makes the ball travel the optimal distance on the course and offers straighter and better shots. 

Which Golf Ball Goes the Furthest?

The softball is said to travel the farthest because of its slower swing speed. This type of ball usually has a higher trajectory as compared to hard balls fit for pro golf players. 

What Happens if My Golf Ball is Too Soft?

You will get favor in height and distance against less energy transfer. Also, the probability of putting the balls into the hole is increased.

Do Harder Golf Balls Go Further?

With a strong grip over the field and a high compression rating, a harder ball will stop at a particular time and is unsuited for achieving great distances. However, the amateur can make that happen.

Is it Worth Buying Expensive Golf Balls?

Unless you have a huge bank balance, going for expensive golf balls would mean a thing to you. Generally, going for cheap balls and having stock as a supplement is a boss move. Be it rain or the ball stuck in the tree, you can take out a reserve ball from your bag and continue playing.