No tennis player starts a match with the wrong racket, no baseball player takes the field without the right glove, and no basketball player goes on the court without the right sneakers.

When it comes to golf, your golf balls matter more than almost anything. 

As any golfer with an ounce of experience knows, the ball you use can make a massive difference in the game you play. This simple reality is even more the case for high-handicap players, who often struggle to find a ball that can address any golf problems they face. If you are playing with a high handicap, you'll want a golf ball that compensates for your specific challenges on the green, ensuring you play with the greatest accuracy possible. For some players, a low to medium swing means you hit the ball slower, as you'll want to ensure that the golf ball compression meets your needs. In other cases, control is a problem, so you'll want a cover that ensures you don't hit the ball wildly off course. 

What does this mean? There's no specific golf ball that works for all high handicappers. The best golf balls for high handicappers ultimately depend on the specific needs of the golfer in question. 

The impact of the right golf ball on a player's game can be massive. As noted by numerous experts in the field - like Golf Magazine - the right golf ball can reduce your score, improve your control, and ensure that you are ready to play as well as possible. 

If you are at a certain skill level, you need the best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers. However, if you are new to the game, you may not fully understand just how golf ball aerodynamics work and how that will impact your score. To that end, let's take a look. 

Criteria for Selecting Golf Balls for High Handicappers

First, let's answer a key question: What differentiates golf balls for high handicappers from those designed for low handicappers?

The answer to this ultimately depends on four key factors related to the ball's construction. 

First, there is the construction of the golf ball. Two-piece vs. three-piece golf balls have dramatically different feels and can significantly impact where your ball goes after you hit it. Two-piece balls have a rubber core and outer layer. Three-piece balls have an added second layer that tends to increase its spin, but sacrifice distance. This design gives three-piece balls a softer feel and more control. To that end, it's hard to say which golf ball is best for a high handicap without knowing more about your specific skill level. If distance is more of a problem than control, a two-piece ball may be preferable to a three-piece one.

Next, you have to consider the compression rate of the ball. Golf balls have compression scores between 30 and 120, with a higher compression rate, meaning the ball is harder. Higher compression rates will travel farther with lower swings, while lower compression rates do better with softer ones. As you can see, you'll need to judge your swing speed before determining what compression rate works best for you. Golf professionals can often assist with these efforts. In most cases, if you are new, golf ball compression for high handicappers can make a major difference. 

Spin and control features of a golf ball can also be critical, and if you have challenges with control, you'll be looking for the most forgiving golf ball. This means you will need low-spin golf balls that don't exaggerate your spin and won't slice into the trees. 

The spin of the golf ball is related to a final point: The dimples and aerodynamics on the cover of the golf ball. The dimples of a golf ball can alter its aerodynamics by altering how the air flows around the ball, helping to increase or decrease certain factors, like spin or distance. Your challenge will be to find a golf ball that fits your needs, compensates for your weaknesses, and enhances your strengths. Some dimple patterns are designed to control for spin, while others can make the ball go further. Just remember, golf ball dimple pattern benefits can be critical in enhancing your control.

The above are key factors in determining the best golf balls for high handicappers. Thankfully, there is no shortage of golf balls for high-handicap players, and you can absolutely find a golf ball that fits your specific needs, playing style, and handicap. Let's take a look at some of the best options. 

Review of Top 5 Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers

There are many golf balls that are available for high handicappers. In our opinion, here are five of the best. 

Callaway ERC Soft Triple Track Ball

Callaway is a regular name in the golf world, and this ball helps to show why. This Callaway is a three-piece ball (available in white and yellow) that helps with spin, making it ideal for golfers looking to keep their balls on the green. Users and reviewers report that the ball doesn't sacrifice much distance: It launches off the tee and has been noted to help golfers gain additional height.

Unique to this ball is the triple track design. According to Callaway, this proprietary design offers advanced alignment possibilities for golfers, thus helping them to hit the ball with the exact section of the club they want, ultimately enhancing its accuracy. The triple track design can be particularly helpful to golfers struggling to get the right hit off the tee. 

The Callaway ERC has a hybrid cover that enhances its soft feel, with users reporting that this helps users with their short game. When combined with the Triple Track design, users of this ball felt that it helped them putt with greater accuracy. 

Lastly, Callaway's website notes that this ball is constructed using multiple materials. This hybrid design is meant to give users a combination of accuracy and distance, thus making it ideal for high-handicap players who may generally be struggling but without a particular lean towards needing to increase accuracy over spin.

Titleist Trufeel Golf Ball

As the name implies, this ball is meant to help golfers struggling with control issues. When used properly, it can greatly enhance the accuracy of the high handicap golfers who play with it. 

Titleist is one of the best-known brands in golf and in the creation of golf balls, and they have applied their proprietary technology to numerous facets of their golf ball. Two items in particular stick out when it comes to the Trufeel. First, there is the TruFlex cover, which is more aerodynamic and designed to reduce overspin. Second is the TruTouch core, which helps high-handicap golfers flex when hit, thus enhancing their range while not sacrificing accuracy.

The TruTouch core is a two-piece ball, which is somewhat counterintuitive, as most two-piece balls are meant to enhance distance, not control. However, Titleist has found a way to merge the two properties, making it easier for golfers of all skill levels to hit the ball hard while ensuring that the hit is relatively accurate. 

The fact that the ball's design reduces spin can dramatically enhance high handicap golfers who often struggle with control, as this ball can help golfers like you reduce slices. It certainly won't go as far, on average, as other balls, like the Soft Triple Track. It also doesn't have the triple track technology some balls are known for. However, that doesn't really matter: Its construction helps the ball stay much more accurate while also providing players with a much softer feel that can enhance their long and short game.

Finally, the ball is relatively moderately priced, a big bonus for a golf ball like Titleist, which tends to run high. All these factors make it a perfect entry ball for many, including those playing with a high handicap. It is also available in white, yellow, and red. The red design is relatively rare among golf balls on this list, making it stand out for players looking for something different.

Srixon Distance Golf Ball

For some players, the distance of a golf ball is a much greater problem than their accuracy. In this case, the Srixon Distance Golf Ball may be the best way to go.

The Srixon has a much softer compression than most golf balls, which will launch itself off the tee, giving players a much higher launch with greater speeds. The Srixon is great for any player looking to enhance their distance, but this is particularly true for players who have high-speed swings and are still struggling. The cover of the ball is highly aerodynamic and meant to travel through the air at any temperature while also ensuring that the ball is highly durable. As such, you'll be able to get more hits out of the ball, increasing its overall value and usefulness to high handicap players.

There are additional notes on the cover that are worth commenting on. Most golf balls have between 250-300 dimples, with this design meant to enhance control and distance. However, the Srixon has only 108 dimples. As you can imagine, this cover design is meant explicitly to help the golf ball get greater distance.

To be sure, this ball comes with some challenges. It has a harder feel, which can damage your accuracy and increase the speed of your short game. However, in some cases, this may be a tradeoff worth making. Furthermore, testers and reviewers have found this problem relatively minor, meaning that while it can be a challenge, it is not overwhelming.

Bridgestone e6

In certain cases, players who are looking to enhance the distance of their ball can be stuck in a conundrum: They want to hit the ball as hard as possible but simply don't have the swing speed necessary to do so. In instances like these, players will want to turn to balls with higher compression, allowing them to hit the ball hard, even with a lower swing speed. The Bridgestone e6 may be the best ball option in cases like this.

The Bridgestone e6 has a two-layer design with a larger core and a Surlyn cover. These factors combine to make a relatively unique ball with a high compression score, enabling newer players or seniors to get a high distance, even without sacrificing accuracy. The ball also manages to do something that many high compression balls are typically unable to do: It achieves a relatively soft feel and well-controlled short game, enabling players to put the ball with great accuracy and speed.

The ball can help new and senior players achieve greater distance in any set of circumstances, but as Bridgestone's website notes, it tends to work best for players who are looking to get more distance off of the tee: The ball sails off of it and also gains a great deal of height.

Finally, in addition to the Surlyn cover, the ball has a highly dimpled "Delta" design. This design ensures that the ball sails relatively straight, another bonus for newer players who often struggle with accuracy. The straightness of the hit typically reduces the ball's spin, allowing golf players at all skill levels to reduce their score, increase their accuracy, and hit with greater distance. 

The ball comes in optic white and yellow. It is also relatively affordable, costing players around $25 for twelve balls and half off the retail price on lostgolfballs.com.

Wilson Triad Golf Ball

High handicap golfers often look for a few traits in a golf ball. Chief among them is helping these players achieve consistency. High handicap golfers need a ball that will do the same thing in response to the same swing, allowing players to make the necessary adjustments that will enable them to improve their game. Fortunately, in this regard, the Wilson Triad Golf Ball delivers and delivers well.

The cover of the Wilson Triad is Urethane, an ultra-thin cover designed to sail through the air as straight as possible and with as much ease as possible. In other words, the cover is explicitly designed to help high handicap golfers get the same consistent results with every hit. It is a highly consistent ball known for its excellent distance. At the same time, the ball doesn't eliminate spin, meaning that players who tend to use spin - and enjoy it - can still take advantage of this golf technique.

Despite the high distance achieved with the Wilson Triad, the ball has not completely eliminated its short game benefits. Players who use this ball will still be able to achieve some semblance of a soft feel in their short game, ensuring that they can get a soft touch when on the green.

Lastly, the Wilson Triad offers something more unique in its ball construction. As noted by Wilson, the ball's construction is balanced, meaning that it transferred weight that is normally found in its core to its cover and outer layers. All layers of the ball hit with the same weight, meaning that the ball is relatively balanced. These features enhance the overall consistency of the ball, something that may be desperately needed for high handicap golfers who are struggling with accuracy.

Perhaps most appealing about the Wilson Triad Golf Ball is its overall value. It is able to achieve all of the above but does so at an affordable price, typically costing around $35 for twelve. Lower prices on slightly-used balls can also be found at LostGolfBalls.com.

Factors to Consider When Buying Golf Balls

As you can see, there is a long list of factors that can make a major impact when it comes to the best golf balls for high handicap players. Fortunately, besides the five balls listed above, there are plenty of high handicap golf balls, many of which may be ideal for your specific golf ball needs. However, these are not, by any stretch, the only factors that may impact your style of play.

The cost and value of the ball will almost certainly matter when it comes to buying the right kind of ball. After all, no one wants to spend a small fortune on golf balls only to discover that they don't fit your needs or aren't worth the price they claim. To that end, your best bet may be to buy a small amount of balls and experiment with them before making larger purchases. Alternatively, you may also want to check out buying near-mint or good-condition golf balls. These balls won't be as expensive and may give you a better idea of the overall quality of a ball and whether it fits your needs.

Frequent players who manage to avoid hitting their balls into the woods or the water may also have concerns about the durability of balls. Indeed, when asked about golf-related costs, durable golf balls for frequent players frequently come up. This makes sense: If you can hang onto a ball, you will want to use it for as long as possible. The challenge, however, is that balls can be damaged with a bad hit. As such, you will want a golf ball that has enough durability to not have to worry about the ball being damaged if you hit it off slightly. While some golf ball damage is unavoidable, you will want to make sure you buy a ball that can withstand normal wear and tear.

Furthermore, the weather can make a major difference when it comes to how your golf ball performs. This is particularly the case for colder temperatures that may slow your swing. In such instances, a low compression golf ball may perform better than a higher compression one.

Last, remember that the golf ball isn't everything. High handicapper golfing tips, golf lessons, and experience can all make a major difference in how you play golf and whether or not you are able to be successful on the green. Yes, the best golf balls for high handicappers can make a difference - sometimes a major one. Remember that they aren't the only thing high handicappers need when playing.

Final Thoughts

Improving your golf game with the right ball is unquestionably possible. At the same time, unless money truly isn't an object for you, you don't want to go broke playing golf, so you'll need the best-value golf balls for high handicappers. Fortunately, there are plenty of options.

As noted above, we think these top picks strike the balance needed when it comes to high handicappers who are looking for the best golf balls. Some are better for all-around high handicappers, while others offer more advanced options when it comes to spin, accuracy, and distance. Regardless of what areas you need assistance in, the most important thing you can do is understand what your needs are and how a golf ball can help to compensate for any weaknesses in your golf game. To that end, we encourage you to try out what ball works best for you. We also encourage you to check out other resources to help you better determine your best golf ball, including blogs, reviews, and YouTube videos.

At Lost Golf Balls, we're here to help and offer a massive array of golf balls that can fit any player's style or needs. Our blog and user-generated reviews can also offer you a great deal of guidance on what balls will best fit your needs, and our regular sales and new arrivals can help you determine if there are newly arrived items that will work for you.

Check out our selection today, and learn more about how we can help you improve your game.