Best of the best! We bring you the low down on the best golf balls for mid handicappers you can buy in 2023
When it comes to picking the best golf ball, each golfer has a different set of requirements. While tour calibre golf balls are undoubtedly the best all-round performers. Not all of us can unlock all of their performance benefits to make the price tag worth it.
Many mid-handicap golfers would benefit from using a golf ball that gives them a little bit more distance, a consistent flight but still provides some control around the greens. We’ve collated a collection of the best we have tested in this category.
Best Golf Balls for Mid Handicappers
Wilson Staff Model golf ball
It is so white! I know that sounds silly, it is a white golf ball stupid! There is a Staff Model R that is not painted and offers a slightly duller look. It does though look like a premium ball, I don’t want too much fuss when I look down on chip and the branding on the Wilson Staff Model is nicely understated without too many distractions.
With 7 iron I was finding some really pleasing numbers with the Wilson Staff model. Spin rates were up at nearly 7000 revs, and very consistent and that translated into some very good, and consistent carry numbers with a pleasing comparative total. 7 – 8 yards roll on a 7 iron feels playable and the Wilson Staff model was delivering this.
I don’t mind admitting that I drove the ball very badly on ball testing day. There were a lot of lefts, but what I can say is that the Wilson Staff Model golf ball was not at fault and produced good numbers and surprisingly consistent spin data given I was striking it all over the face.
Overall, I would have no problem recommending the Wilson Staff Model ball to a mid handicap golfer, the only compromise I found was in feel around the greens.
Pros:
- Improved as I went up in CHS
- Loved it on longer shots, and pitches
- Impressive distance
Cons:
- Not my favourite on test to chip and putt with
Read the full Wilson Staff Model golf ball review
Titleist AVX golf ball
I have never considered playing a Titleist that is not a Pro V1, the AVX may have changed all that. First of all it looks like a Pro V1, this might sound like a stupid thing to say, but I want my mind free of independent thought when chipping and putting so looking at a ball that my mind has processed 1000s of times before is comforting. There is no new branding to consider, it is not strikingly white like some brands. So I like this familiarity.
To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I hit lots of chips both with a lofted wedge and some bump and runs. I use bladed irons and Cleveland RTX 4 wedges, I am looking for something really responsive in my short shots. The feel, even at low club head speeds with the AVX, is sublime, and I was able to get it spinning just as I would expect from my Pro V1. This was a genuine surprise. This feeling passed over into the putts I hit from both long and short range, there is no ‘clunk’ whatsoever to the strike.
I thought these 7 iron numbers were exceptional. The spin numbers are optimal, and the AVX was one of the longest balls I tested. So that is very much backing up the Titleist claims. The front-to-back dispersion was incredibly good. My full-out shots alls travelling within 5 yards and backing off did indeed take yardage off. This is another big win for the AVX.
Pros:
- Incredible feel on putts and chips
- Long and tight dispersion with irons
- Feels like a premium ball to pitch with
Cons:
- Struggling for any!
Check out the full Titleist AVX Golf Ball Review
Wilson Triad golf ball
Wilson Triad golf balls “will fly longer and straighter, hold greens better, and roll truer”. Can they also cure disease? It’s about the only thing that’s not being promised.
So how do they say it’s going to be done? First up, they reckon the high MOI design on this three-piece ball will mean “fast speed with lower spin off the tee for a more stable flight”.
They claim an “ultra-thin cast urethane cover means high spin with scoring irons and wedges”, and they assure you that a “patented Tri-Balanced” construction means pinpoint accuracy and putts that roll true”.
When the Triad was first unveiled at the start of 2022, it had a very specific golfer in mind. Me. That’s right, if you were looking to break 80, this was the ball for you. And if you could get your swing speed into the mid 90s (yes, I can), even better.
You can see why. It really is great to hit. It feels like it absolutely crunches off the face with a driver, and the sound is incredibly satisfying.
Into the 7-iron and I was pretty pleased with the overall carry, which is five yards – or half a club – more than I’d usually manage with this club.
I like the bold Wilson logo on the front and while I’d prefer the Triad symbol to be a solid black line to help alignment even further, the arrows on either side do help you point the ball to your intended target line.
Trust in Triad, we’re told. I think I do, Wilson. I think I do.
Pros:
- Low spin with driver should help players looking for extra distance off the tee.
- Great feel with an iron and superb stopping distances increases confidence with approaches.
- Really soft with pitches and around the greens.
Cons:
- A very minor grumble, but alignment logo could be bolder.
Read our full Wilson Triad Golf Ball Review
Titleist Tour Soft golf ball
I am a long-time Pro V1 golf ball used, so visually, when I look down on this golf ball, I can see it is a little different. The finish is slightly shinier, and the text is printed slightly differently, but looking down on a Titleist is still very comforting.
Starting at the top of the bag, I was interested to see if this golf ball could help me pick up any distance, given its new fast core and updated dimple design for more efficient aerodynamics.
Turns out it was. This was the second-longest ball I tested with driver. It generated 1 mph more ball speed than the Pro V1 and an extra 7 yards of carry thanks to lower long game spin. On average, I carried this ball 242 yards with driver, which is a pretty impressive showing. If you’re looking for more carry distance off the tee, this seems like a perfect option.
Probably the most notable difference between this and a premium golf ball was the drop-off in spin when it came to half shots and shots around the green.
On 40-50 yard pitches, the spin stayed in the 3000-4800 rpm bracket, which is lower than you would get with a urethane golf ball. This did jump up into the 6000s when I hit a few shots that carried 60 yards or longer.
Overall this is a solid performing golf ball which I think I could put in play tee to green. Personally, I would like some extra short-game control, but if you are someone who prefers to hit low-releasing chip shots and you don’t generate much spin this is a perfect all-round option at a great price point.
Pros:
- Long with driver
- Great consistency
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Didn’t generate as much short-game spin as some other models
Read our full Titleist Tour Soft Golf Ball Review
Best Golf Balls for Mid Handicappers 2023
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.
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