The best affordable golf balls for beginners and high-handicappers

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.

As the definition of a bang-average golfer, I've become well familiar with this paradox in my years playing the game. I know the excitement that comes with finding a lost Pro V1 or TaylorMade TP5 in the bushes all too well. I also know that I'm just as likely to lose it as quickly as I've found it, meaning my search for new golf balls tends to take me down towards the more budget-friendly end of the shelf.

Over the years playing, testing and gaming these balls, I've come to learn a few things. Most players should be playing a cheaper golf ball as a matter of practice. Indeed, most players of my level will get more out of playing a cheaper golf ball. 

And after too many decades of budget golf balls being, well, crap, I can happily attest that in 2025, they've never been better nor more varied to suit the needs of the modern mid-to-high handicapper.

Golf balls on the affordable end of the spectrum tend to be offered in a few general categories: slightly more premium three-piece balls aimed at faster swingers and mid-handicappers, soft-feel balls that promote a straight flight and a forgiving feel through incredibly low compression numbers, and two-piece budget distance balls that have a firmer feel and help slower swingers extract every yard of distance out of their game.

Today, we're largely going to be focusing on the first two. Because after all, if you've ever tried to putt with one you know life's too short to be playing distance balls.

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.

The best beginner golf ball for 2025

Titleist TruFeel

Construction: Two-piece

Price: £26

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.

The best three-piece golf balls for mid-handicappers

Callaway ERC Soft

Construction: Three-piece

Price: £39.99

Pros

• Pro-level performance in a more forgiving package
• Loads of spin from the urethane-coated cover
• Great distance for moderate swing speeds
• Triple-track, TruVis and 360 Fade alignment options all available

Cons

• Expensive

The most expensive ball on this list by quite some way, Callaway's E-R-C soft nonetheless performs admirably bridging the gap between a true tour level ball and something that provides similar performance for a golfer with non-superhuman ball speeds.

The three piece design features a much softer cover than other two and three-piece balls, enhanced with a urethane coating promoting wedge spin and a buttery feel around the greens, while the triple-track aid gives tour-approved alignment on the dance floor.

All-in-all, it's really the complete package—so long as you're willing to pay for it—and is absolutely an option golfers investing more time and money into their game should consider.

Srixon Q-Star Tour

Construction: Three-piece

Price/dozen: £29.99

Pros

• Different models help address a range of game issues
• Soft, long and straight

Cons

• Not as forgiving as the original

I miss Srixon's original Q-Star: a soft feeling, forgiving two-piece ball I once had right up there alongside the TruFeel as one of the best value balls you could buy. 

But with the AD333, Soft Feel 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 alongside the E-R-C 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.

It all makes for a slightly more expensive proposition, but if you're progressing through the ranks and wanting to turn 90s into 80s, this is a great option to pick up.

READ OUR FULL SRIXON Q-STAR TOUR REVIEW

Bridgestone e12

Construction: Three-piece

Price/dozen: £32

Pros

• Different models help address a range of game issues
• Soft, long and straight
• Mindset visual aid is a fun touch

Cons

• Sacrifices a little all-round performance to fit the aim on the box

While Bridgestone undoubtedly make some of the best golf balls around, they also love a gimmick: something apparent in the e12 range.

The e12 isn't just one golf ball. It's not even two. The e12 range comprises three different models each engineered to aid launch (called the e12 HiLaunch), promote distance through a penetrating ball flight (e12 Speed), and mitigate hooks and slices (e12 Straight) respectively.

If any of these are the bane of your existence out on the course, the e12 might be the answer to your prayers, and each model is indeed, by all accounts, effective at what they claim to do. Even more surprisingly, all also offer a decent level of control around the greens.

There is, however, a bit of a trade-off with each one. The e12 Straight sacrifices distance in the pursuit of reducing side spin with the driver, the HiLaunch can be hard to control given the launch characteristics on the tin, while the e12 Speed will prove a burden if you struggle to get the ball in the air.

VICE Golf Tour

Construction: Three-piece

Price/dozen: £27.99

Pros

• Great value
• Good blend of feel and forgiveness

Cons

• Hard to come by if you don't shop direct

VICE set out to make a truly budget-friendly all-rounder with the Tour, and we can attest that they've succeeded.

The cheapest three-piece ball on this list, it's softer and higher spinning than the two-piece Drive model, while retaining a little more control and launch for developing players compared to the Pro and Pro Plus models.

As an all-encompassing proposition readily available for under £30 (and often under £25 if you find a deal), it's well worth checking out if you're still unfamiliar with the brand.

The best two-piece balls for beginners and high-handicappers

Titleist Tour Soft

Construction: Two-piece

Price/dozen: £34

Pros

• Dials up the softness and spin over the TruFeel
• Slightly higher compression favours faster swingers
• Great for better players looking to add finesse to their game

Cons

• A lot of money for a two-piece ball

The Titleist Tour Soft occupies a funny space in the brand's ball line-up. It does everything the TruFeel does slightly better, while costing a considerable amount more per dozen and without adding an extra layer to increase performance in the short game.

The Tour Soft is designed to be the TruFeel for the progressing player. It's slightly firmer, meaning it'll generate more distance for faster swingers, and spins more around the greens if you want to add an element of control to your game. And in all of these respects, there's no denying the TourSoft performs extremely well.

But will most mid-to-high handicappers be able to tell the difference? And more importantly, will they be convinced to shell out the extra cash? We're not so sure.

Srixon AD333

Construction: Two-piece

Price/dozen: £28

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 the best-selling ball 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

Callaway Supersoft

Construction: Two-piece

Price/dozen: £29

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.

Bridgestone e6 Soft

Construction: Two-piece

Price/dozen: £26

Pros

• Great value
• Lots of distance and softness
• Versatility on approach shots

Cons

• Might be a touch too soft for some

With its almost alien cover pattern and incredibly soft feel, Bridgestone's e6 was widely touted as one of the most forgiving golf balls you can buy when it first came out more than a decade ago.

The e6 has taken on a more conventional look and feel since, and in 2025 it's more something of a budget all-rounder, delivering steady, unspectacular performance in a soft package that launches high and goes far. 

The greenside spin is pretty good for a ball in its class and price point, and it can easily be had for under £20 a dozen. We can think of far worse options if you're wanting to change things up from your regular gamer.

TaylorMade SpeedSoft

Construction: Two-piece

Price: £24.99-£28.99

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

Wilson Duo Soft

Construction: Two-piece

Price/dozen: £26

Pros

• New alignment aid looks great
• Incredibly soft

Cons

• Not 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 greenside 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.

Mizuno RB 566

Construction: Two-piece

Price/dozen: £25

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.