Best Golf Balls for Beginners 2026

Equipment choices can feel confusing as a beginner, but don’t worry we’re here to help

What are the best golf balls for beginners? Well, they should all go straight so what else do you need from a golf ball? In this article we run through our top picks based on your needs. All our golf ball picks come from thorough testing and we’ve factored in price as a key factor (apart from one pick).

Enjoy.

Best Golf Balls for Beginners – Top Picks

Srixon Soft Feel

Our top pick for beginner golfers are the Srixon Soft Feel golf balls. These perform really well in every aspect, and although they aren’t the cheapest, they offer great value if you want to stick to one type of golf ball when playing.

In ball testing, low compression balls lose 1-2 yards off the tee versus the hardest golf balls on the market, even for a slow swing speed, but this shouldn’t put you off. They still perform above average for distance.

Spin into the green with full irons and wedge shots is really good. However, spin around the green won’t quite match a $60 box of Pro V1s.

Golf Insider Verdict

I sometimes use these golf balls myself when it gets cold in winter here in England. The Soft Feel golf balls offer great all-around performance without breaking the bank. If you don’t know what you need out of a golf ball, or this is your first time buying new golf balls these are a great pick.

Kirkland Performance

Unless you have been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard of the Kirkland golf ball range. They released a ball that performed incredibly well…but it got them in some trouble with allegations it infringed on patents… V2.0 was good and now we have the V3.0 Kirkland Performance golf ball.

In testing, these perform really well given their price. They are not the longest off the tee, but again, we are talking about 3-5 yards shorter on a 250 yard drive.

However, they really make up for this with the amount of spin they deliver on full iron shots and wedge shots. They almost match the top golf balls on the market for spin around the green, but fall a little short.

They offer really nice feel when putting and chipping thanks to their Urethane cover. However, because of this softness you will see these covers scuff up a little more than firmer golf balls that offer less spin.

Golf Insider Verdict

The Kirkland golf balls really surprised us in testing. For the price they offer you are great value pack of golf balls with great feel, good spin and solid distance.

Titleist Left-Dash

There is nothing to say beginners can’t play with premium golf balls. We’ve considered every other golf ball on this list with budget in mind. However, if you want the longest golf ball on the market then go for the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash ‘– Pro V1x’

In testing, the Left Dash golf balls outperform all others, which holds true for super slow and very quick swing speeds. This is partly because of their very high compression, making this golf ball feel extra firm and its low levels of spin.

Spin into the green with full irons and wedge shots is below other premium golf balls, by design, however it still offers more spin than most of the lower-budget golf balls in this list.

This golf ball feels great to chip and putt with but is very firm. If you like a soft golf ball when putting then this isn’t the pick for you.

Thanks to its firm cover, this golf ball will last you a long time…as long as you don’t lose it on the golf course!

Golf Insider Verdict

This is not the great ball if you are on a budget and tend to lose golf balls. But if you are straight off the tee and want to maximise your total distance then the Left Dash is the best pick on the market.

Vice Drive

Vice golf balls are a great brand to check out if you are a beginner or high handicapper. They aim to make premium golf balls without the price tag, as they don’t spend big bucks on marketing or sponsorship.

The Vice Drive golf balls are their 2-piece distance golf ball, which actually offers good all-around performance for the price.

These will give you great distance off the tee, thanks to their firm core and low spin. Surprisingly these golf balls offer good spin on full iron and wedge shots too.

However, when you get inside 50 yards the levels of spin do drop thanks to the 2-piece design and firm cover. These golf balls also feel firm on chips and putts, but this shouldn’t be seen as a negative, just a preference.

You’ll be hard-pressed to beat these golf balls when it comes to longevity. If you don’t lose them on the golf course, they will give you many rounds of golf, and that is the reason we have them in our list of the best golf balls for beginners.

Golf Insider Verdict

If you want a no-nonsense golf ball that flies straight and far for a great price then check out the Vice Drive Golf balls. They are firm around the green and don’t offer great spin, but the firm covers and low price makes them a brilliant golf ball if you are on the hunt for value.

TaylorMade Tour Response 

The TaylorMade Tour Response are the best golf ball for beginners who want some help with their alignment. As you can see, these come in standard white, or a range of snazzy stripes, which some golfer find helpful off the tee and on the greens.

The TaylorMade Tour Response is actually one of the longest golf balls on the market, and thanks to its three-piece golf it also generates a good amount of spin on iron shots and around the greens.

The Tour Response has a soft feel thanks to its design and soft cover. This usually means the ball will scuff easily, however TaylorMade incorporated a new crosslink chemical reaction formula, which is supposed to give this cover extra durability…in practice its okay, but not as durable as a cheaper 2-piece cover.

Golf Insider verdict

These are great all-around performing golf balls, they are a little more expensive than other pick on this list, but if you are happy to spend more you get all of this performance wrapped in a cover that will help you aim up your tee shots and putts.

Vice Pro

Vice Pro golf balls were the original direct-to-consumer golf balls aiming to make premium golf balls more affordable. They are still a great pick.

These are built like a premium golf ball (think Pro V1 or TaylorMade TP5) but for 60% of the price. In testing, they really do live up to this claim as the best premium golf balls for their price.

In our Vice golf ball testing, we found that they lost 1-2 yards off the tee compared to a Pro V1, but they matched the premium golf balls for spin on full iron shots and were 95% as good around the greens.

That may sound okay, but I can promise you, it is really impressive considering the price of these golf balls. The soft cover makes these golf balls feel premium, but that does lead to the one downside which is that they won’t last as long compared to a hard 2-piece distance golf ball.

Golf Insider Verdict

If you are a beginner golfer who wants to play with a premium golf ball, but you lose a few too many to make it affordable, then grab the Vice Pro golf balls, they are a great alternative.

Frequently asked questions

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about the best golf balls for beginners. With all the options on the market, you may go through a few different brands before finding your ideal fit. 

Do golf balls matter for a beginner?

Golf balls do not matter for beginners as much as they do elite players, but they can still make a small difference. All new golf balls will travel straight, but certain types of golf balls feel softer, spin more and can make a few yards difference when driving.

What kind of golf balls should a beginner use?

A beginner should look for a golf ball they enjoy playing with, that they can afford. Playing with the same type of golf ball over time makes it easier to gauge distances and feel when chipping and putting.

Should beginner golfers use hard or soft golf balls?

A beginner should choose their golf ball compression based on personal preference as the real difference between hard and soft golf balls is only 2-6 yards on a 250-yard drive. Beginners need to learn to hit the ball consistently before this will make a difference.

Can a beginner use Pro V1?

A beginner can use Pro V1 but the price difference between these golf balls and regular golf balls is not likely to be worth it if you are expecting to see noticeable performance gains.

Summary

I hope you now feel like you can choose a beginner golf ball with confidence. There are dozens of options out there, but many of these will not be optimized for the needs of a beginner player. Instead of choosing a golf ball based on price alone, get a much better value and take advantage of the benefits that these golf balls can bring to your game.

You get one chance to be a beginner golfer; give yourself the best advantage you can! For more beginner equipment guides check out our best golf sets for beginners article here.

Happy golfing – Will @ Golf Insider