Best Cheap Golf Balls 2026: Our top picks for performance and value

There are a host of reasons to invest a little more in your golf balls, but for some golfers that's simply not an option.

Having a decent, cheap go-to golf ball can often be handy, providing reliable performance when you're caught short of balls or simply need to stock up your bag with balls for practice or casual rounds.

None of the balls on this list will deliver the outright performance of a multi-piece premium ball, but there's a surprising amount of performance and value to be had even when shopping in the budget ball category. All you need is to know which makes and models to look for.

Here, then, are the best cheap golf balls available in 2026, and where to grab yourself a dozen.

The best cheap golf ball for 2026

Srixon AD333

RRP: £28

Key features

• SpinSkin coating delivers extra grab on the greens
• 338 Speed Dimple Pattern improves overall aerodynamics for better flight performance
• FastLayer uses a contrasting compression effect to generate faster ball speeds on long shots and more control on finesse shots

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. The higher compression score means 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, and can easily be found for under £20 a dozen.

READ OUR FULL SRIXON AD333 REVIEW

The runner-up

Titleist TruFeel

RRP: £26

Key features

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, as well as a reliable option for those who want classic Titleist performance and quality on a tighter budget.

Since its introduction as the DT TruSoft, 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.

The best cheap golf balls for faster swingers

Srixon Q-Star Tour

RRP: £36.99/doz

Key features

• SpinSkin with SeRM is a new urethane coating that increases spin on short shots
• 338 Speed Dimple Pattern improves overall aerodynamics for better flight performance
• FastLayer uses a contrasting compression effect to generate faster ball speeds on long shots and more control on finesse shots

With Srixon's AD333 and Ultisoft all occupying space in the range as Srixon's low-compression two-piece options, the Japanese brand decided to move the Q-Star into a category of its own, adding an extra layer and branding it the Q-Star Tour.

The Q-Star Tour now sits as a more player-oriented three-piece ball, albeit a more affordable one, combining a soft feel, added greenside spin by way of an extra mantle, and lots of distance for players with moderate swing speeds.

While the latest version of the Q-Star is slightly out of our budget here, you can score the previous generation for under £25 and experience nearly the same performance. That's a steal.

READ OUR FULL SRIXON Q-STAR TOUR REVIEW

Vice Drive

RRP: £21.99

• Ultra-durable surlyn cover
• Firmer core delivers reliable speed and straight distance

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.

The best cheap golf balls for slower swingers

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.

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.