Golf balls are expensive. Especially if you’re prone to losing a few! Pro shops lure golfers with shiny displays of well-known brands like Titleist, Srixon and Taylormade, but the price tags often reach unnecessary heights, especially for beginners or higher handicappers. That’s where we come in, to shed the light on the best budget golf balls that are worth the purchase.
Does it matter what golf ball I use?
Premium golf balls promise distance off the tee, along with lots of spin and control around the greens which is undeniably valuable. But for the everyday golfer, especially those just starting out or with mid to higher handicaps, using a premium, pricy golf ball might not be as pivotal as some make it out to be. Especially when the performance gap between budget-friendly golf balls and premium alternatives is much narrower than it used to be.
Nevertheless, if you’re specifically looking to improve a certain aspect of your game, such as to hit the ball further, or to get more spin around the greens, then changing the ball you use can be a very easy step towards reaching a specific goal with how you play. A ball which simply aligns with your objectives can make a noticeable difference on the course.
Our Testing Process
For each golf ball we review, we hit multiple shots to gauge various aspects such as distance, accuracy and spin. Our testing process is just one piece of the puzzle in our recommendations. We also consider the feedback and reviews of other golfers who have used these balls on the course, as well as factors such as durability, the ball’s suitability and performance in varying conditions and information provided by the golf manufacturers. By considering all these factors, we strive to offer a well-rounded assessment that can guide you toward the perfect golf ball for your game. Below is our list of the best budget golf balls, each designed to optimise certain aspects of your game.
Callaway Supersoft
Pros & Cons
✅ Exceptional soft feel
✅ Good distance off the tee
❌ Not suitable for faster swing speeds
In the quest for the blend of performance and affordability, the Callaway Supersoft emerges as a standout choice. Callaway market this ball as being ‘super long, super straight and super soft’, which is honestly pretty accurate. It’s no doubt that the Supersoft rivals that of more expensive options when it comes to having a premium soft feeling off the club face. Most soft, cheap golf balls will often noticeably provide less distance off the tee. It’s almost a sacrifice for having a soft feeling and being affordable. Despite this, we really felt as though the Supersoft still managed to offer commendable distance off the tee. The combination of this soft feeling and solid distance off the tee is what makes this golf ball first on our list of the best budget golf balls.
However, this golf ball will not suit everybody, if your swing speed is over 110 mph (or roughly 270 yard carry with driver for those of you who don’t know their swing speed,) then it’s likely that this ball may spin too much for you resulting in a flight which is not optimum to maximise distance. If you’re interested in finding out more about the Supersoft, then here’s a link to our independent review of this ball Callaway Supersoft review.
TaylorMade Distance+
Pros & Cons
✅ Excellent carry distance off the tee
✅ Consistent, solid flight
✅ Good soft feel
❌ Not as much spin around the greens
The TaylorMade Distance+ certainly lives up to its name through delivering explosive distance off the tee. During testing, the ball was in fact the longest off the tee compared to the other budget friendly alternatives.
This budget-friendly golf ball also offers consistency in flight. Its design minimises unwanted sidespin, providing a reliable and accurate ball flight.
Nevertheless, we did notice a slight reduction in spin while chipping and pitching around the greens. This was deemed understandable, considering the price and been as the ball isn’t designed to be high-spinning.
The Distance+ stands out as a remarkable example of affordability without sacrifice. It offers golfers of all ability a well-rounded package of impressive distance, flight consistency and a decent soft feel, thus making this ball a compelling choice for those seeking maximum value without the premium price tag.
Srixon Soft Feel
Pros & Cons
✅ Quality soft feel
✅ Relatively durable considering the soft feel
✅ Good spin around the greens
❌ Shorter off the tee and with longer irons
The Srixon soft feel has notoriously been a cheaper, quality ball for a while. The core of the Srixon soft feel is what gives the ball its name and distinctive characteristics. The low compression translates to notably soft feel, both off the tee and on approach shots. This ball felt very gentle on the hands during testing, and it really does mimic the feeling of a much more premium golf ball, especially around the greens where a generous amount of spin was observed.
Our assessment noted a marginal decrease in distance with the longer clubs in the bag with the Soft Feel. While not significant, there was an approximate 5-7 yard reduction compared to more budget-friendly balls designed for maximizing distance, like the Srixon Distance or TayloMade Distance+. However, the compromise on distance with this ball remains modest, striking an overall impressive balance between control and overall distance.
Srixon Distance
Pros & Cons
✅ Long off the tee
✅ Durable ball – Harder feel
✅ Consistent, solid flight
❌ May fly too low for slower swing speeds
❌ Less spin around the greens
Ranked second only to the TaylorMade+ in overall distance, the Srixon Distance showcased impressive distance off the tee in our evaluation. It delivered a robust flight off the tee and with longer irons, giving what was a consistent and solid trajectory. The firmer feel also contributes to the ball’s durability, which is definitely a characteristic most budget-friendly options seem to lack.
The enhanced distance off the tee does come with a slight trade-off of reduced spin around the greens. This trade-off is reasonable, given the ball’s harder feel and considering that it is designed to optimise distance. It’s worth noting that for players with shorter drives (carrying below 150 yards with driver), this ball may not be as suitable, as it is better suited for those who generate higher clubhead speed to fully take advantage of the firmer feel.
Summary of the Best Budget Golf Balls
Our assessment began with several cheap golf balls, and was narrowed down to conclude that the best budget golf balls consist of the Callaway Supersoft, TaylorMade Distance+, Srixon Soft Feel and Srixon Distance. We’d like to conclude by highlighting which budget golf balls we recommend to optimise certain aspects of your game:
Best all around: Callaway Supersoft
Longest off the tee: TaylorMade Distance+
Most spin around the green: Callaway Supersoft
Most durable: Srixon Distance
Softest feel: Srixon Soft Feel
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