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Struggling with slices, short drives, or inconsistent contact? The simplest way of changing that could be to game a more appropriate golf ball…
If you’re a high handicapper then you’ll know life on the golf course can be both frustrating and thrilling. So that you experience more of the latter it’s imperative to use golf equipment that will work with your swing rather than against it.
The right golf ball won’t magically fix your swing, but it can make a noticeable difference in distance, forgiveness, feel, and even confidence.
That can mean a golf ball promoting lower spin off the driver to reduce slices and hooks, higher launch for longer carry and a softer compression for slower swing speeds.
Equally you may be looking for something that isn’t going to cost an arm and a leg.
To help you find the right one for you, we have highlighted the golf balls that are the highest launching, the best all-rounder, most surprising etc.
One of the standout aspects of the Wilson Triad is its urethane cover, which provides excellent feel around the greens. This golf ball also delivers what we would call a confidence-inspiring control.
Wilson claims that shifting the weight distribution toward the outer layers enhances MOI (Moment of Inertia), leading to more stable flight and better accuracy off the tee.
This is a big positive for those searching for a little more consistency off the tee.
PROS
Excellent short-game spin
Soft feel
Great value for money
Stable ball flight for accuracy
CONS
Slightly lower driver ball speeds
RELATED: Read our full Wilson Triad golf ball review HERE.
The first thing to say about the Kirkland Signature golf ball is that it is quite the surprise performer. For a ball of this price I wouldn’t expect it to be equipped with a urethane cover, so that is a big bonus.
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The spin rates this golf ball is able to produce was a real shock as not many of this calibre are able to produce this level of spin around the greens. In fact, it tends to be their achilles heel.
The peak height sitting at around 100ft was also ideal and a good sign for being able to control shots into the green.
PROS
Fantastic value for money
Overall performance is strong
Plenty of spin on approach shots
CONS
Ball speed and distances down
RELATED: Read our full Kirkland golf ball review HERE.
The one standout quality of this golf ball that our testing showed was that it launched high and flew with minimal curvature.
From the face of mid-iron the trajectory was high, the spin was moderate, and the ball flew straight—a promising combination for players looking for consistency on approach shots.
While it’s not the longest driver ball on the market, it’s respectably long given its low-spin design and straight-flight characteristics.
PROS
Fantastic ball flight control
High launch
Excellent value for money
CONS
Distance isn’t as long as the other Bridgestone e12 golf balls
I’m a player who tends to use a ProV1x but I do enjoy a ball that has a soft feel off the face, especially in the colder months!
As you would expect this is not a high spinning golf ball. Don’t fret though, as this is designed for mid to higher handicap players so the low spin with wedges is not a big issue.
It also comes off the face really nicely and is an enjoyable golf ball to use.
Off the tee, is where you’ll really see this golf ball shine the brightest. It is incredibly consistent in terms of both carry and total distances with a driver in hand.
Another standout feature is the alignment aid. It’s simple but you will still found it genuinely helpful on the greens. Whether you’re lining up a birdie putt or just trying to two-putt for bogey, the bold visual guide will certainly bring some extra confidence.
PROS
Plenty of distance off the tee
A low, penetrating ball flight
Great value
CONS
A drop in the spin rate around the greens
RELATED: Read our full TaylorMade Distance Plus golf ball review HERE.
Bridgestone E16 High Launch Golf Balls | Source: NCG
Despite not having a urethane cover the quality of the short game performance isn’t negatively affected in any way. This slight change does show how much of the performance focus is on distance and forgiveness.
Approach shots are a real highlight as it produces a soft-landing flight that would help players to hold greens with confidence. On the other hand, the softer compression does show its limitations more off the tee. Those with quicker swing speeds may struggle in this regard.
PROS
Excellent spin numbers for a two-piece ball, particularly with wedges
Forgiving and suited to the majority of amateur swing speeds
Strong value offering for high-handicap or mid-handicap players
I liked the levels of playability that this promoted around the greens it certainly offered more than what I was expecting and other similar priced golf balls I have tested.
Equally, I was able to reach an average 263 yard carry and a run-out of nearly 290 yards. That’s seriously impressive for a soft, value-driven option.
PROS
Consistent performance from tee to green
Great feel and distance
Perfect for golfers with moderate to slow swing speeds
CONS
None
RELATED: Read our full Srixon UltiSoft golf ball eview HERE.
In summary, there are a range of quality golf ball options for higher handicap golfers to choose from. No matter whether you’re looking to launch your shots higher, gain more distance or even have the ideal winter golf ball there is something for you.
We can’t guarantee that choosing any of these golf balls will make your swing complete but it should at least improve your performance.
At National Club Golfer, we are passionate about producing accurate and thorough reviews and make sure our testing process is rigorous so we get a good understanding of how each club performs.
We headed to Woodhall Spa Golf Club to allow us to collect launch monitor data with our in-house TrackMan and Flightscope. We tested each golf ball on the putting surface and around the greens before collecting data on 50-yard pitch shots, with a 7-iron and with a driver.
What is important when buying a new golf ball?
Feel
Golf ball feel is a personal preference. Different balls on the market will feel softer or firmer depending on their compression and structure. It is crucial to test balls when putting, chipping and hitting long game shots to check you like the performance across all areas.
Distance
How far you want to hit the golf ball is a crucial consideration when picking a brand and model. Getting the right compression relative to your swing speed and strike will help you get the maximum distance out of a golf ball. You also need to consider if getting maximum distance is important to you or if you would rather give up some yardage to gain in other areas.
Spin
Generally, lower handicappers are looking for a ball that spins more so they can get more control around the greens. In this case, getting a ball with a urethane cover is really important as it will give you the most spin and control.
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Price
Not everyone wants to spend £50 a dozen on golf balls. When picking the right golf ball for you, you should consider how much you want to spend relative to what performance you want.
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A bit of a late bloomer to the game of golf, Max fell in love with the sport when he attended Saturday coaching sessions down at his local golf club after being inspired by friends and family members.
Max has remained a member of Eden Golf Club in Carlisle for a number of years now as he looks to get his handicap down into single figures. Most of his golfing career has been spent battling a permanent slice off the tee, which has led to some ugly rounds.
Having studied at the University of Sunderland, Max is starting out his dream career in sports journalism. During his time at university, he picked up valuable work experience at Reach PLC, BBC Radio Cumbria and GiveMeSport, whilst also getting work published in the Teesside Live. He also spent time working at a local weekly newspaper, Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser, as a general news reporter partially covering some local sport just north of the border in Langholm.
Max has just started his journey with the NCG working as the assistant equipment editor. He looks forwarded to reviewing the latest golf equipment, taking up an interest in reviews when buying his first golf club, a Cleveland RTX wedge.
With his bag not going under too many changes throughout the last few years, Max carries an M3 driver, Titleist GT3 Fairway Wood, M2 hybrid, a set of M2 irons, Callaway Jaws wedges and a TaylorMade Spider putter. And yes, Max is a bit of a self-proclaimed TaylorMade fan boy.
