Best Golf Balls for Beginners: What Should New Golfers Buy?
Choosing the best golf balls for beginners can be surprisingly difficult. Walk into any golf shop and you'll find dozens of different models, prices and brands, all claiming to offer better distance, more feel or improved performance.
But when you're new to golf, you don't necessarily need to spend £40 or £50 on a dozen premium golf balls.
For many beginners, value, durability and confidence are much more important. If you're still learning your swing and occasionally finding the water, trees or rough, buying affordable golf balls can save you a lot of money while you're improving your game.
At The Golf Ball Guys, we specialise in second hand golf balls, giving beginners access to quality golf balls from some of the biggest brands at much lower prices.
What Should a Beginner Look for in a Golf Ball?
There isn't one golf ball that is perfect for every beginner, but there are a few things worth considering.
Value
The most important consideration for many new golfers is price.
It's completely normal to lose golf balls when you're starting out. Spending £4 or £5 on a new premium golf ball doesn't make much sense if there's a good chance it won't survive the round.
Buying cheap used golf balls for beginners means you can carry plenty of spares without worrying about the cost.
Feel
Many beginners prefer a golf ball with a softer feel, particularly around the greens and when putting.
Balls such as Titleist TruFeel, Titleist Tour Soft and Callaway Supersoft can be good options for golfers who prefer a softer-feeling ball.
Finding Your Ball
A coloured golf ball can also be worth considering. Bright colours can make your ball easier to identify on the course, particularly when playing with friends who are using the same or similar models.
Our Best Golf Balls for Beginners
There isn't one answer for everyone, so here are some of our favourite options depending on what you're looking for.
1. 48 Mixed Brand Golf Balls – Best for Maximum Value
If you're brand new to golf and expect to lose a few balls, our 48 mixed-brand Grade B golf balls for £25 are difficult to beat for value.
That's 48 golf balls for approximately 52p each.
The box contains golf balls from recognised brands, making it a great option if you want plenty of playable golf balls without spending a fortune.
Because they're Grade B, they have more noticeable cosmetic wear. But if you're learning to play and your priority is simply having plenty of balls in your bag, this can be a fantastic choice.
2. Titleist TruFeel – Best Budget Titleist
If you'd prefer to stick to one brand, Titleist TruFeel is a great option.
TruFeel is designed as a softer-feeling Titleist golf ball and is particularly well suited to recreational golfers.
Our second hand TruFeel golf balls are available from around £12 per dozen, making them an affordable way to put a recognised Titleist golf ball into your bag.
3. Titleist Tour Soft – Best All-Rounder
If you're happy to spend a little more for a more premium option, Titleist Tour Soft is an excellent choice.
Our second hand Tour Soft golf balls are just £16 per dozen, giving you a quality Titleist golf ball at a fraction of the cost of many new premium models.
It's a great option if you're a beginner who is starting to take golf more seriously and wants a golf ball you can continue using as your game develops.
4. Grade A Pro V1 – Best Premium Option
You might not expect a Pro V1 to appear on a list of beginner golf balls, but buying second hand changes the equation.
Our Grade A Pro V1 golf balls are just £22.50 per dozen, giving you the opportunity to try one of the world's most popular premium golf balls without paying the full new-ball price.
If you're a beginner who already has a relatively consistent swing and wants to experiment with a premium golf ball, this can be a great option.
Do Beginners Need Expensive Golf Balls?
In most cases, no.
A brand-new premium golf ball isn't automatically going to make a beginner play better.
Your swing, contact, club choice and course management will have a much bigger effect on your score than whether you're playing a £1 golf ball or a £4 golf ball.
That's why we recommend that beginners focus on finding a golf ball they like the feel of, fits their budget and gives them confidence.
As your game improves, you can always experiment with different models.
Should Beginners Buy Used Golf Balls?
Absolutely.
Buying second hand golf balls for beginners makes particular sense because you're likely to lose more balls while you're learning.
A used golf ball can still provide excellent performance while costing considerably less than buying new.
And if one disappears into a lake on the third hole, you're unlikely to be quite as annoyed when it cost around 50p rather than £4!
What Are the Best Golf Balls for Beginners?
The best choice ultimately depends on your budget and what you want from your golf ball.
For maximum value: 48 mixed-brand Grade B golf balls
For an affordable Titleist: Titleist TruFeel
For a great all-rounder: Titleist Tour Soft
For a premium golf ball at a lower price: Grade A Pro V1
If you're just starting out, don't feel like you need to spend a fortune on golf balls. There are plenty of cheap, quality golf balls for beginners available, particularly when you buy second hand.