Not all golf balls are created equally. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It’s clear to the average consumer something must be different in some balls due to price changes. A good golfer knows more and can feel the difference on the course. We aren’t reinventing the wheel here; our best golf ball for a 10 handicapper is the Titleist Pro V1. It’s the best ball available, cut and dry. The best players play them. Average players get the most out of their game when they play them.
If you’ve only been playing for a few years, but quickly gained skills and dropped strokes, you might not realize the importance of golf balls. Ask any scratch golfer, having the right golf ball is as important as the right clubs. A golf ball that fits your game adds distance, control and confidence to each shot.
Adding one of these elements is nice, but put all three together and you won’t be reading about the best golf ball for a 10 handicapper very long. Getting the right golf ball is the first step on consistently breaking 80.
Top Pick: Titleist Pro V1
What more is there to say about Titleist Pro V1’s that hasn’t already been said? Besides being the number one ball on tour, it’s also the best golf ball for a 10 handicapper. Outside of the absolute hacks of the golf world, Pro V1 is the best golf ball for every player.
Once you’re around the 10-handicap level, you can start to reap the full rewards of this ball. Let’s break this down like the only balls you’ve ever bought were 18-packs of Noodles.
Titleist Pro V1 balls are designed for a high launch. With an optimal trajectory, you can maximize distance without losing any control. Ask any golfer what they want out of a golf ball and those two characteristics (distance and control) are sure to be at the top of their list.
Another thing that we love about Pro V1’s is how their spin level differs with different clubs. With your long irons, you won’t spin the ball a ton, but will still have controlled landings. With your short irons, a lack of spin won’t kill you since you will be attacking from a steep angle. Even without spinning the ball, it will land and stop within a tight radius.
The only pain you’ll feel with one of these is when you step on to the first tee and put it deep into the woods. It’s never fun losing a ball, but losing a brand new Pro V1 stings a bit more.
What we liked
- What’s not to like? Distance, control, the whole package
- The balls are perfect, but you also can choose high or low numbers, pink or black numbers, and white or yellow balls
What we didn’t like
- Price, it’s tough paying $4 per ball, but in golf, you pay a premium for premier ball
- Everyone uses these, you have to mark them uniquely if you want to make sure it’s yours (when you’re looking in the woods)
Runner-Up: Callaway Chrome Soft
Callaway has always been in contention for one of the better brands of golf balls. In the last few years, however, they have established themselves as one of the best brands. Leading the charge is the Chrome Soft, which is their best golf ball for a 10 handicapper.
Something Callaway does that I wish other brands did too; they go in-depth to provide the rationale behind why their balls perform so well.
Compared to most golf balls, Chrome Soft’s have a larger core, which uses graphene. The purpose of this is to promote a higher launch and reduce spin. The outer core, which also uses graphene, adds an extra layer of durability.
The cover itself is thin. As with most major brands, this is a trend we see sticking around. With a thin cover, golfers can increase ball speed while maintaining control and spin. You won’t produce 10 feet of backspin with your 6-iron, but you’ll also be able to land it on the green without running it over.
The “soft” in Chrome Soft plays a key role. When you’re greenside, getting the ball up in the air is not a problem. Getting it to stop on a dime is also pretty easily achieved thanks to the carefully crafted blend of materials used.
What we liked
- Abundance of options—triple track, soccer ball design, different colors. Find what you like
- Their tag line, “Tour performance with soft feel” is completely true. Once you put one of these in play, you’ll agree
What we didn’t like
- Price—yet another $4 golf ball. Not a bad price if you can play a round without losing more than one or two though
- If you opt for the soccer ball style, you lose the alignment benefits of the normal or triple track version
Best for High Swing Speeds: Bridgestone Tour B XS
Bridgestone introduced the Tour B XS golf ball a couple seasons ago, and have made subtle improvements in the time since. Engineered for golfers with swing speeds greater than 105 mph, it’s no surprise that it plays best with big hitters.
The strangest or most unique aspect of the Bridgestone Tour B XS ball is dual dimple technology. Resulting from this design, you guessed it, more distance. This dimple system helps improve launch angle and aerodynamics. Simply put, you can hit it longer with less or the same effort.
Bridgestone talks a lot about the Reactiv Urethane cover. Can’t say we blame them, it’s innovative and produces results. Essentially, the ball cover reacts differently based on loft and club speed. The system makes wedges stop faster, but also allows your woods and long irons to carry and roll in a controlled fashion.
With an increasing number of professional golfers putting this ball into play, it’s no surprise that it’s gaining popularity among average golfers. If you want the best golf ball for a 10 handicapper that will help add distance to your game, you have it here. Knowing Tiger Woods had a hand in its creation…well, that’s just icing on the cake.
What we liked
- Helps golfers that hit the ball far, hit it ever farther
- Bridgestone took some risks with a unique design, but when it works (like this), you won’t hear any complaints
What we didn’t like
- Some golfers might not like the dual dimple look, which is too bad since we’ll likely see other brands start to adopt this style
Budget Option: Srixon Soft Feel
Most of our reviews are tailored toward golfers who have scores that are going down. This one is for golfers who used to be a bit longer and likely had single-digit handicaps. If for the first time in your golfing life, you’re looking to add distance, this one is for you.
Srixon Soft Feel is the best golf ball for a 10 handicapper that does not want to spend a lot of money. Additionally, it helps golfers with slower swing speeds reclaim distance they lost over the years. With a soft center and harder exterior, you’ll have no problem hitting this ball high and long. What Srixon calls a growth core helps add ball speed, regardless of swing speed.
Soft hands and a softcover make this a great ball for around the green. While most affordable golf balls don’t give you the chance to get chips to check, the Srixon Soft Feel does. With this ball, you can take out the 56 or 60-degree and loft something right beside the hole—and have it stay there.
When you’re on a budget, but still looking for the best golf ball for a 10 handicapper, your options are limited. It’s easy to find balls that will go longer. It’s significantly more difficult to find something that gives you precision control. If you want to minimize the damage of missing green in regulation without spending more than a couple of dollars a ball, this is it.
What we liked
- Great ball at a great price, what more can you ask for?
- Ionomer cover makes getting up and down possible, regardless of how bad your shot in was
What we didn’t like
- Golfers with 100 mph+ swings might cause scuff marks by hitting it too hard, rather than only by hitting trees, cart paths, etc.
Best for Adding Distance: Titleist Tour Soft
The top models of Titleist balls are always good, there’s no arguing that. Most golfers will also agree that there has been a lot of inconsistency with everything not in the Pro V (or more recently, the AVX) line.
The NXT line was always solid but lacked the little edge that would make it a playable ball for golfers of all levels. The Titleist Tour Soft figured these problems out, providing a Titleist ball that costs a little less, but performs equally as well.
Titleist had one goal in mind when they were designing the Tour Soft ball: distance. A two-piece ball, both the core and cover are built to cut through the air and add yards to each club in any way possible.
This ball won’t fly the highest of all the balls you’re bound to try within a full golf season. In most cases, this equates to less distance, but not this one. Titleist Tour Soft balls stay slightly lower, but maintain height for longer, producing more forward spin and adding extra yards.
What we liked
- Unique alignment logo on the side helps golfer’s line up putts and tee shots
- Mid-range price, but top of the line performance ensured a spot on our best golf ball for a 10 handicapper list
What we didn’t like
- Less spin produced than most golfers preferred around the greens. Only players with the best command will get their wedges to stop within a foot or two
Takeaways from the Best Golf Ball for a 10 Handicapper
Once you get to know your golf ball, it will never be too good for its home—and yes, it will answer you. Enough with the Adam Sandler golf references. If you want, drop a comment and I’ll edit this to include more.
All golfers have a lot of problems with their game. If you want to be a golf whose problems are less noticeable, you have to diagnose them. When you play using the best golf ball for a 10 handicapper, you put yourself in a position to succeed. It might not seem obvious in the beginning, but this will pay off in the long run.
If you’re short off the tee and hitting a 6-iron when your playing partners are hitting 8, you need to look for a ball that helps with distance. If you’re erratic off the tee and only hit 25% of greens in regulation, you need a ball that reduces spin and helps with accuracy.
You use (and lose) golf balls every round. If you play often, you’ll spend more on golf balls than you do anything else during the golf season. If you live down South, or anywhere warm, the golf season 365 days a year—must be nice. Regardless of where you live and play, try a few golf balls. Keep track of what feels good and helps you score the best, and don’t change a single other thing about your game.