Best Beginner Golf Balls 2026: Our picks for high handicap and budget golfers
GolfMagic's equipment editors break down the balls providing the best mix of feel, distance and value for every golfer.
One of the cruelest ironies in golf is that the very best golf balls you can buy also happen to be models that the vast majority of casual players have no real business playing with.
While the excitement that comes with finding a lost Pro V1 or TaylorMade TP5 in the bushes is universal, most players should be playing a cheaper golf ball as a matter of practice.
After many decades of budget golf balls being, well, crap, these days they've far more well-engineered to meet the needs of the modern high handicapper.
Indeed, those starting out in the game will get more out of playing a beginner-friendly golf ball, which are more affordable, expendable, and deliver more forgiving performance for players who should be prioritising launch and distance.
We've tested all the best beginner golf balls on the market over the years, pinpointing the very best golf balls that deliver forgiveness, feel and affordability to make getting into the game cheaper and more enjoyable.
Here, then, are GolfMagic's picks of the best affordable balls right now providing forgiveness and feel for beginners and higher-handicappers, starting with our favourite on the market and an all-time classic.
The best beginner golf ball for 2026
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Srixon AD333
RRP: £28/doz
Pros
- Outstanding value
- Lots of forgiveness and durability
- SpinSkin adds extra grab on the greens
Cons
- Feel isn't as soft as other models
The AD333 needs no real introduction in 2025. It's one of best-selling balls on the market, and has stuck fairly resolutely to the mantra of all-round, soft-but-not-crazy-soft feel for some time now.
There's nothing to dissuade us from recommending this ball to the vast majority of golfers wanting something affordable and effective to have as an everyday gamer. It suits a variety of swing speeds, is fairly soft from tee to green, and the addition of Srixon's SpinSkin coating adds genuine performance with the wedges without sacrificing the AD333's famed durability.
Sure, it's not the most exciting choice with new models hitting the market all the time, but it's still among the most effective.
READ OUR FULL SRIXON AD333 REVIEW
The best golf balls for beginners and high-handicappers
Callaway Supersoft
RRP: £26.99/doz
Pros
- Incredibly soft and straight
- Compression aids distance for slower swingers
- Lots of cool pattern and customisation options
Cons
- Lacks some control around the greens
The Callaway Supersoft is perhaps the ball more responsible than any other for the shift in the budget ball market away from firmer distance balls and towards soft, low-compression constructions.
The Supersoft changed the game with its uber-soft feel and long, straight trajectory, finding a substantial following among newly-interested players who wanted a modern-feeling ball without the big outlay.
And so it remains today. The Supersoft is still, as it says on the box, soft, straight and long for a wide range of golfers. It still suffers a little bit in terms of short game spin compared to its rivals, but the aerodynamics and feel you get with the longer clubs are an acceptable trade-off for many.
Mizuno RB 566
RRP: £25/doz
Pros
- Cheap and good-looking
- Soft and high-launching with lots of hangtime
- Balanced feel around the greens
Cons
- Micro-dimple design might turn some people off
- Needs to find some shelf appeal
Mizuno are quietly developing a rep as one of the most underrated ball manufacturers around right now. We loved the Pro X and Pro S tour models, but lower-level golfers have never really warmed to the RB 566.
This might change if more try the RB 566: a soft-feeling all-rounder that boasts lots of forgiveness, a soft feel and the good-but-not-great greenside feel we've come to expect from most ionomer cover balls. Aimed squarely at slower swingers, its profile is designed to enhance launch and distance for a wide range of players.
TaylorMade SpeedSoft
RRP: £24.99/doz (SpeedSoft), £28.99/doz (SpeedSoft Ink)
Construction: Two-piece
Pros
- Ink option looks very cool and is easy to spot
- Soft and straight for reliable performance
Cons
- Low compression will cost faster swingers some distance
As eye-catching as it is affordable, TaylorMade's entry-level SpeedSoft is most recognisable for its distinctive Ink pattern, which comes at a £4 premium over the plain version and offers a high-contrast, colourful design that makes it easy to spot in low-visibility conditions.
Away from the design, the SpeedSoft's PWRCORE core technology delivers a great blend of soft feel and performance throughout the bag. It's on the lower side when it comes to compression, putting this one firmly in the realm of moderate speed players, but still offers feel and finesse on approach shots that improving players will appreciate.
Titleist TruFeel
RRP: £26/doz
Construction: Two-piece
Pros
- Fantastic spin for a two-piece ball
- Soft, workable feel
- The best combo of value and feel on the market
Cons
- Doesn't have the check of a three-piece ball
The goal of the Titleist TruFeel is to be the first golf ball that beginner golfers come to really trust starting out in the game, and that's been the case for me since I started playing its predecessor, the DT TruSoft, more than a decade ago.
Since then, the TruFeel has gradually evolved to stay the best-performing budget ball on the market. It feels soft without being too soft, spins nicely for players learning to control their game around the greens a little more, and provides the speed and forgiveness off the tee to help provide confidence with the driver.
If there's a ball readily available under £25 that delivers better bang for your buck, we're yet to discover it.
Vice Drive
RRP: £21.99/doz
Construction: Two-piece
Pros
- Incredibly durable
- Super long
- Higher compression generates distance for all swing speeds
Cons
- Very firm
- Not a lot of finesse around the greens
As the name suggests, Vice's entry-level Drive ball is all about delivering affordable, reliable distance for beginners and budget players.
The Drive prioritises distance and durability above all else, utilising a cut and wear-resistant Surlyn cover that'll stand up to all manner of punishment on the course.
The Drive's 95 compression score makes it also significantly firmer than many softer beginner balls, which makes it a great choice for faster swingers who want to hit it long and straight. However the Drive will feel firmer than most of the other balls on this list around the greens as a result.
The combination of a softer core and a firmer cover also helps more moderate swing speeds generate distance, and while the Drive isn't super spinny, the higher ball flight and landing angle higher landing angle gives players the chance to attack the pin with confidence.
Wilson Duo Soft
RRP: £22.99/doz
Construction: Two-piece
Pros
- New alignment aid looks great
- Incredibly soft
Cons
- Compression will be too low for faster swingers
Wilson's Duo Soft is a fantastic option if getting the ball in the air and going far is still your number one priority.
The model has long boasted of having the lowest compression of any ball in the industry, giving the most help towards launch and distance for seniors, high-handicappers, and anyone else who struggles to generate clubhead speed.
This isn't a performance golf ball by any means. The green side spin is on the lower side, while moderate-to-faster swingers will likely max it out fairly quickly. But it's great to have a ball on the market that provides great looks, feel and feedback for an often neglected group of players.
What factors should a beginner consider when choosing their first golf ball?
There are plenty of variables that go into picking the perfect golf ball for any person, but as a general rule, beginners should pay heed to the following things:
Price
Beginner golfers are liable to lose a lot of balls, so choosing a brand and model that you can economically replace is important for avoiding undue stress as you progress through your golfing journey.
Feel
A player's preference for feel is entirely subjective, but even different golf balls at the lower end of the price spectrum can generate very different sensations when struck both on the tee and around the green. This is largely determined by the ball's cover and the compression of its core – higher compression balls generally feeling softer when struck more powerfully.
Some players prefer a softer feeling balls for their muted, more luxurious sensation when struck well, while others prefer the feedback you get from a firmer ball.
Compression
Affordable golf balls tend to fall into two broad categories of how much compression they're engineered with. Higher compression golf balls compress more when hit, lending the ball a softer feel and allowing players with slower swing speeds to generate more distance as the ball will rebound more off the face of the club. Well-known of this include Callaway's SuperSoft and Wilson's Duo Soft.
Faster swingers concerned with distance, however, might get more out of the higher compression distance balls some companies still market. Callaway's Warbird and Srixon's Distance balls are commonly seen examples of this.
What are the specific benefits of using a three-piece vs a two-piece golf ball?
While most beginner golf balls are engineered in a two-piece construction, the three-piece mid-range ball is a growing sector of the market. Each has their own benefits.
Three piece balls are generally made with more premium materials and offer a more balanced performance profile out on the course. Most are made with Urethane covers, enhancing feel and the amount the ball grips on to the grooves of the club, and the added mantle layered underneath the cover means that three-piece balls spin more than their two-piece counterparts. This makes them a great option for improving golfers wanting to introduce more control into their short game without forking out for an expensive tour-level ball.
Two-piece balls, on the other hand, are generally cheaper and more simple, made of less expensive materials and providing more reliable performance characteristics. Their construction generally favours a straighter ball flight and enhanced distance, making them a great reliable option if you just want to focus on getting the ball up flying straight for the time being.
Are there any particular brands that are known for producing high-quality budget golf balls?
Going with a ball made by any of golf's OEM manufacturers is a smart move, but certain brands and models are particularly well known for their popularity among budget-conscious golfers. Srixon are particularly well known in this area, with models like their Soft Feel and Q-Star enduringly popular budget options.
Entry-level models from premium brands, like Callaway's SuperSoft and Titleist's TruFeel, also have a long history of finding favour with golfers looking to save money without sacrificing too much performance.
Check out our full range of golf equipment guides below:
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Brad Nash is Reviews Editor at GolfMagic, having joined the team in June 2025 to look after all things reviews, soft goods testing and equipment alongside Equipment Editor Georgina. Primarily a writer, you may see him pop up in videos or on the GolfMagic socials from time to time.
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