Which golf ball suits your level?

Your level helps determine which golf ball plays most comfortably. A short guide per group of players — so you can choose with confidence.

Beginner

As a beginner you benefit from a forgiving, soft ball at a good price. You still lose the odd ball, so a keenly priced Pinnacle is a sensible choice.

Recreational

If you play regularly but without keen ambitions, a soft all-round ball is ideal — for example a Titleist TruFeel or a Pinnacle Soft. Comfortable feel, tidy performance.

Advanced & low handicap

If you play at a higher level, you want control and spin: the tour balls Pro V1 and Pro V1x give you exactly that. Choose the Pro V1 for a slightly lower flight, the Pro V1x for more height and spin.

Not sure?

Try the golf ball selector: a few questions and you get tailored advice based on level, goal and budget.

Start with how many balls you lose in a round

The most useful question when choosing a ball is not which model plays best but how many you lose in a round. If you are still losing a handful over eighteen holes, the difference in price between an entry-level model and a tour ball is considerable per round, while you are barely drawing on the difference in play.

There is a psychological element too. Anyone playing an expensive ball over water tends to hold something back. That hesitation costs more shots than the ball will ever save. Play with a ball you do not have to think about.

Playing one model consistently counts for more than the right model

Plenty of golfers play whatever is in the bag: three brands mixed together, topped up from the rough. The ball then behaves differently around the green from hole to hole, and judging distance becomes impossible. Playing one model consistently pays off more immediately than moving up to a dearer one.

So choose a ball you can keep in stock. A box of the same model on the shelf, or one larger purchase, keeps your game predictable. If you do not need a logo and just want to buy in quantity, look at plain golf balls.

Testing starts at the green, not with the driver

Most people test a ball on the range with the driver, where there is least to see: small differences in length cannot be read reliably on an unmarked range. The short game answers more clearly, and that is where you win or lose most of your shots.

Keep it simple. From the same spot, chip to the same flag with two different balls and see where they finish relative to where they land. Do the same with mid-length putts and note the feel at impact. Those are not measurements, but they are useful observations from your own game.

Feel, speed and the myths that persist

Much is said about swing speed and ball choice, usually with more conviction than evidence. What is true is that models are positioned differently: Velocity aims at speed and distance with a high flight and low spin, AVX at a very soft feel with a lower flight and less spin. That is how the manufacturer places them.

What you cannot conclude from that is that a given model will give you a certain number of metres. That claim calls for measurements we do not carry out and which vary per player. Treat the positioning as a starting point for what to try, not as an outcome.

Soft feel and distance are not mutually exclusive either. Plenty of players find a softer ball more pleasant over a round and give up little for it. More points to consider when buying are in buying golf balls: what to look out for.

Juniors, beginners and mixed groups

For juniors and beginners, the ball mainly needs to be affordable and easy to see. Balls get lost; that is part of it. A cheaper model in larger quantity gives more enjoyment than a handful of expensive balls struck with apprehension.

If you are organising a clinic or a day with a mixed group, deliberately avoid a tour ball. The spread in standard is wide and most will not notice the difference, while the cost applies to everyone. To give a small group something special, split the order; how to set that up is covered under golf ball printing for businesses.

Choosing a ball for a club or association

A club ball is a different exercise. You choose not for one swing but for a membership spanning every standard, usually for several years. Recognisability, price per unit and availability across repeat orders weigh more than playing characteristics.

Ask what will still be available in a year or two, so a repeat order gives the same ball. For setting up a project like that, golf balls with a club logo is the best starting point. Printing is possible from 144 balls, with a free digital proof beforehand and five to fifteen working days' delivery after approval. To talk through the model choice, use contact.