Best Budget Golf Balls 2024

Golf can be an expensive sport, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to enjoy a quality game. There are many excellent budget-friendly golf ball options on the market that can provide impressive performance without the hefty price tag.

In this guide, we focus on a selection of the best budget golf clubs that promise to deliver value for your money. We will delve into the specifics of the Wilson Duo Soft, Titleist TruFeel, Callaway ERC Soft, Callaway Supersoft and Titleist Velocity.

Each of these balls can help you play some great golf without breaking the bank.

Best Budget Golf Balls 2024

---

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”.

All for under £25 a dozen. Well, where do I sign up? Looks wise, it’s pleasing out of the box with that signature bright red Wilson logo dominating.

Let’s get to it then. Even though I was promised length, just how did I manage to the hit the ‘world’s softest golf ball’ further than any other when testing at the performance centre at Woodhall Spa?

I averaged nearly 208 in carry and more than 222 yards with the driver – numbers that would be mightily acceptable out on the course – and if you take out an obvious mis-hit with my second strike the figures would have been even better.

I’ve always had a carry distance with a 7-iron of around 137 yards but if I put the Wilson Duo Soft into play, I’d have to start re-evaluating.

An average increase of nearly seven yards, or half a club, is a hefty return just for changing ball and when I really got hold of it I saw some numbers I’ve only really experienced when combining with a set of irons that had lower lofts.

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.

Read the full Wilson Duo Soft Golf Ball Review

---

Reviewed by Jack Backhouse

This isn’t the normal style of ball I play, but I’ve never really hit one to find out why. The Titleist TruFeel is the type of ball that a lot of the players I coach will play for longer distances, so it’s absolutely worth me knowing how it feels and how it performs.

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 in the short game, chipping and putting around the green.

My 50 yard pitch shots were pretty much what I expected; pretty average spin with a couple with a big drop-off if the strike wasn’t perfect. The slower swing speeds golfer this ball is aimed at probably isn’t too concerned with spinning the ball back, but the ball produces enough spin to stop the ball on a green.

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

Check out the full Titleist TruFeel Golf Ball Review

---

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”.

How is that done? The spin is achieved through “high-elongation paint” and the core is optimised for faster driver speed and more distance off the tee.

Add in a Hybrid Cover that combines maximised distance from high launch and low spin and a High Speed Mantle which “creates more efficient energy transfer between the layers for more ball speed and provides more wedge spin around the green” and you’ve got a lot of technology combined with a lot of promises.

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.

 

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.

Read our full Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball Review

---

Reviewed by Steve Carroll

Super long, super straight, super soft. Just super in fact. That’s quite the set of claims for a golf ball that retails at under £30 a dozen but the Callaway Supersoft golf ball has enjoyed enduring popularity and the equipment giant say they’ve advanced the cover, core, and construction technologies, while also promising improved performance from tee to green.

A HyperElastic SoftFast Core is said to be optimised for faster speed and a softer feel around the green and the Hybrid Cover should also “create more wedge control while still maintaining distance, very soft feel, and durability”.

It’s in chipping and putting around the greens where I got the most out of this ball, though, and it was really very impressive. I loved the feel on contact when coming out of a bunker and, unusually for me, I actually managed to get some action on this golf ball on landing.

It’s easily the softest ball I’ve struck on the putting surface this year and it had a very pleasing sound as the putter made contact. I thought I’d have to hit it a bit harder to get it to the hole but the Callaway Supersoft had a really nice consistent roll and didn’t appear to hurt me too much on mis-hits. There was also good distance control with long putting.

When you badge all of that performance up with a price tag under £30, you really are getting an awful lot for your cash. Maybe I’ll just have to rein in the big stick!

Pros:

• Exceptional value at the price.
• Long distance and great ball flights with an iron in hand.
• Great sound and feel around the greens.

Cons:

• faster swing speed players may find it difficult to control with a driver.

Read our full Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball Review

---

Reviewed by Steve Carroll

I’m nowhere near the longest hitter on the range and, as a player who fluctuates between single figures and mid-handicap, shelling out £50 for a dozen Pro V1s isn’t a clever option given my propensity to find parts of the course better players don’t reach.

It’s all about speed with Titleist’s latest Velocity model. The company promises ‘deep downrange distance’, combined with extremely low spin in the long game and a high flight on all shots. While I don’t think anyone would describe the Velocity as ‘soft’, they’re also saying you can achieve playable greenside feel.

I struck the Titleist Velocity on a calm and warm early spring afternoon at the performance centre at Woodhall Spa. If you could paint a picture of Mr Average with a driver in hand, in terms of distance, then I am it.

The R&A’s distance report revealed that, in 2020, a six to 12 handicapper was hitting it 219.8 yards off the tee with a plus or minus of 1.8 yards. This is right where I am. I’ll expect to see an average carry of around 200 to 205 yards and a total run out of up to 220 during my rounds.

So what can we conclude about the Titleist Velocity? I’ve always found it to be a durable golf ball, which is important if you’ve got a propensity to not quite find the middle of the club face and you’re one of those players who prides themselves on making a ball last as long as possible.

This version certainly seems to offer more around the green and on the putting surfaces. I was pretty happy to find nearly half a club more distance with an iron can hugely improve approach shots, and the price point is always attractive for golfers who want to play a solid Titleist golf ball but don’t necessarily want to plump for a premium option.

Pros:

• A five yard distance boost with a 7-iron is a very decent return.
• More responsive around the green than you might expect.
• Good price point for budget conscious players.

Cons:

• Harder feel won’t suit all.
• I’d hoped for a little more distance with driver in hand.

---

Best Budget Golf Balls 2024

Investing in budget-friendly golf balls doesn’t mean you have to compromise on quality or performance. As our review has shown, there are plenty of excellent, affordable options out there, including the Wilson Duo Soft, Titleist TruFeel, Callaway ERC Soft, Callaway Supersoft and Titleist Velocity.

Each of these balls stands out in its own way, providing a great combination of value, durability, and performance. Remember, the best golf ball for you will not only fit your budget but also complement your playing style and skill level.

So, take your time, weigh your options, and find that perfect set that not only respects your wallet but also brings joy to your game. With the right budget balls, the course is yours to conquer!

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.

You’ve probably spent a small fortune to get the set up that’s right for your game, so don’t forget to get specialist insurance from Golf Care to protect your clubs from theft, loss, and accidental damage. Plus, they even cover GPS watches, trolleys, and other golf equipment. With 30% off annual insurance starting from just £26.59, and a free golf gift bundle worth up to £365 including 12 free Srixon balls, it’s a no brainer. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.