Best Golf Ball for High Handicappers 2024

Being a high handicapper in golf is nothing to be ashamed of; instead, it’s a stepping stone on your path to becoming a better player. To help you on your journey, selecting the right golf ball is of paramount importance. The perfect ball can help optimize your shots, leading to lower scores and an overall better game.

As we look forward to 2024, we’ve compiled a list of the top golf balls tailored for high handicappers: TaylorMade Soft Response, Srixon Soft Feel, Callaway ERC Soft, Wilson Duo Soft, Titleist TruFeel, and Callaway Reva. Each of these balls has been designed with specific features to assist high handicappers in achieving their best possible performance on the course.

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Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers 2024

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Reviewed by Hannah Screen

I had never experienced the sensation of picking up a golf ball that felt spongy but the Soft Response gave me just that. I instantly knew this golf ball was going to feel soft off the face and was excited to try it around the greens.

I was apprehensive to test such a soft-feeling ball as I didn’t want to lose distance. With my wedges, I didn’t lose much distance but with a driver and 7 iron I was losing around 10 yards which was disappointing but was to be expected from such a soft golf ball. As mentioned previously the Response range from TaylorMade is designed for a mid-range golfer with a lower compression rate so someone with a slower swing speed may not see this drop in distance.

The Spin I was really impressed with. The TaylorMade Soft response spun lots around the greens for me and easily grabbed when hitting pitches off clean lies. I didn’t see much spin improvement with full wedge shots but did have one shot in the data spin to 4700. For someone with a harder compression, the ball did tend to spin up and launch high into the wind.

I was overall pleased with the performance of the TaylorMade Soft Response. Typically I wouldn’t put a soft ball in play but for a mid range golf ball this performs well and would be suited for a golfer with a slower swing speed or lower compression. If you are looking for a great soft feel golf ball and more control around the greens whilst maintaining most of your distance the TaylorMade Soft Response could be the ball for you.

PROS

• Soft, smooth feel
• Increased short game spin
• Maintains distance and ball speed

CONS

• Distance control with a putter may be more difficult

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• RELATED: Read our full TaylorMade Soft Response golf ball review

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More info: TaylorMade Golf

Reviewed by Nicola Slater

Srixon Soft Feel balls have been around as long as I’ve been playing golf and I can’t really give a first impression as looks wise they haven’t really altered from what I can remember. The classic black Srixon logo with a number coloured according to the type of ball is very simple and effective. The Soft Feel is also offered in a yellow, with black writing.

Without getting too technical, the Srixon Soft Feel is a low-compression golf ball, having a compression of 60, meaning that it, should help those players with lower swing speeds get the ball speed that they need.

The feel off the club face was definitely a little softer than my usual Pro V1 x, but the softer feel was welcomed. I felt like they looked quite high off of the face than what I’m used to seeing but carry wise I can’t fault the numbers.

If you’re a low handicapper who requires spin to hold the ball then this probably isn’t best suited for you. But, this ball would work better for those mid to higher handicappers who aren’t looking for vast amount of spin.

PROS

• Low compression
• Reasonably priced
• Soft feel

CONS

• May not suit faster swinging players

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• RELATED: Read our full Srixon Soft Feel golf ball review

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More information: Srixon website

Reviewed by Steve Carroll

Callaway have been busy with their latest version of the ERC Soft. The renowned equipment giant says a new GRIP Urethane Coating System provides more greenside spin, while the equally new HyperElastic SoftFast core “increases ball speed, while maintaining soft feel through the bag”.

You’ve got to love the ERC Soft ball around the putting surface and on the greens, though. There was good, consistent, roll out from the fringe, and the Triple Track Dagger remains an absolute winner.

Alignment really is a doddle with this and those big bold lines – not to mention the fact there are three of them – makes a really simple task to get the ball pointing exactly where you want to.

That done, you do get a little surge of confidence that it’s going to set off on target and that you’re going to have a decent chance of making the putt. It is a huge plus and it sets Callaway’s balls apart from their competitors.

It felt a little harder off the putter face than some of its rivals and, especially on long putts, you might want to hit it a little bit harder to be confident you’re going to get the distance right. I felt, though, that it promoted a positive stroke and, for most mid to high handicappers, getting it past the hole is not a bad thing in the slightest.

PROS

• Triple Track Dagger means alignment remains a doddle.
• Lack of roll may suit players who want a high, stopping, ball with their irons.
• Consistent feel around the greens promotes a more positive strike.

CONS

• It didn’t feel very forgiving for me following some poor striking.

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• RELATED: Read our full Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball Review

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More info: Callaway Golf

Reviewed by Steve Carroll

With a compression of under 40, Wilson aren’t joking when they say their two-piece ball is soft. With an Ionomer cover construction, and 302 dimples, they say the core has been formulated so shots will fly far further and launch easier, while its “optimised aerodynamics means reduced driver spin for long carry, straighter shots and more fairways”.

The Wilson Duo Soft just seemed to keep going, all the more surprising given I struck it pretty low and which roll out numbers of nigh on 15 yards reflect.

I wouldn’t normally have expected to see this in a really low compression ball given I get into the mid 90s with my swing speed but Wilson say the core is designed for maximum energy return, resulting in shots that go further and launch easier.

And while the Duo Soft is also cited for its fast ball speeds and low driver spin, the numbers looked nothing out of the ordinary to me. What I would say, though, is that I’m replicating performance with a ball that’s half the price of some others I would play.

I like the big Wilson logo and I’d be more inclined to use this as an alignment tool rather than the arrowed stripe down the side of the ball. As with the Triad, I’d rather that be a bolder, solid, line but that’s purely a personal preference.

PROS

• Very good performance at the price point.
• Flies off the face of the driver but still drops relatively softly with an iron.
• Consistent roll on the putting surface.

CONS

• Very little to criticise given they’re under £25 a dozen.

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• RELATED: Read our full Wilson Duo Soft Golf Ball Review

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More information: Wilson website

Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

The Titleist TruFeel has the thinnest truflex cover of any ball that Titleist produce to give the player the best feel around the greens, and I was excited to give it a go.

The TruFeel is designed to provide the softest possible feel above anything else, which is does a great job of. Usually, these types of balls feel very hard and harsh off the face, especially when chipping and putting around the green.

Moving onto the 7 irons, I was actually really pleased with the performance of the Titleist TruFeel. The spin was pretty consistently above 5000rpm, and the 184-yard carry distance is plenty. I just found the ball went quite low, and as an already low ball player, this might affect my ability to stop the ball on a green with the mid to long irons.

The Titleist golf ball performed really off my driver. I thought I might over compress the ball and see some high spin shots, but the handled the club head speed really well. 263 carry is not to be sniffed at, and the spin stayed pretty low too.

This is a really solid ball and will suit a lot of players. Alongside the Titleist Velocity, Tour Soft and Tour Speed, it’s a great ball offering an extremely soft feel and distances that amateurs will love.

PROS

• Extremely consistent
• Unrivalled value
• Drivers and irons felt great

CONS

• High speed players will not get the best performance out of it
• Spin drops off around the greens

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• RELATED: Read our full Titleist TruFeel Golf Ball Review

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More info: Titleist

Reviewed by Hannah Holden

Given the oversized nature of the Reva golf ball, I was interested to see what it would look like at address, but actually, it is pretty hard to tell by eye that this has a larger diameter than a standard ball.

Some cheaper golf balls on the market are known for their harsh feel around the greens, this could not be less true of the Reva golf ball, which feels remarkably soft off the face around the greens. I would say it doesn’t spin as much on short shots as a urethane golf ball but if you don’t generate spin on chips and pitch shots you aren’t really losing out here.

If you have a slower club head speed and want to get more heights on your shots, this could be the perfect option. More height gives you more hang time which means you could also get some more distance, that’s hard for anyone to turn down.

The theory behind the tech is pretty simple, the larger size makes it easier to hit the middle of the face. This means the centre of gravity of the club stays below the centre of the ball, helping you launch the ball higher.

Overall, this was a really consistent golf ball. I loved the soft feel around the greens and how easy it was to hit. I can see how playing a ball like this would help higher handicappers play more consistently.

PROS

• Great for slower swinging golfers
• Bigger size is great for consistency
• Great value for money

CONS

• Only suits one group of golfers

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• RELATED: Read our full Callaway Reva Golf Ball Review

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More info: Callaway Golf

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Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers 2024

To sum things up, the TaylorMade Soft Response, Srixon Soft Feel, Callaway ERC Soft, Wilson Duo Soft, Titleist TruFeel, and Callaway Reva emerge as our top picks for the best golf balls for high handicappers in 2024.

Each of these balls offers unique attributes, whether it’s enhanced control, increased distance, or improved spin, to assist high handicappers in bettering their game. The choice among these options will largely depend on your individual needs and preferences, but one thing is certain: choosing the right ball can have a profound impact on your golfing journey.

Here’s to lower scores and a more enjoyable experience on the course in the coming year!

How do we test golf balls?

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.

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.