Most Forgiving Golf Ball

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You may have arrived here wondering “What’s the most forgiving golf ball?” or “Can you help me find the best golf balls for high handicappers?”

Of course I can!

I ran a par 3 golf course for close to a decade, so I focused mostly on golf balls for average golfers.

Basically, if someone’s looking for the most forgiving golf ball, I’m assuming they want a golf ball that will…

  • fly straighter or longer than a standard golf ball
  • complement their game better than a standard golf ball
  • help them par more holes or at least eliminate a few extra strokes along the way

Obviously golf ball performance is influenced by key factors such as club choice, ball contact, and swing speed, but there’s no doubt that the golf ball design/construction factors into the equation as well. So what I’ve tried to figure out is what golf ball will bring the greatest number of golfers the greatest amount of happiness (read up on utilitarianism if you don’t get the joke).

If you don’t want to read my full assessment, just check out the table instead.

Most Forgiving Golf Ball, Ranked

My initial rankings are intended for golfers who have a low to average swing speed. Most recreational golfers fall into this category.  However, I did highlight several golf ball options for golfers that have high swing speeds,. Feel free to scroll down if you fall into that category.

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#1 – TaylorMade Soft Response

Most Forgiving Golf Balls - TaylorMade Soft Response Cost: $24.99/dozen
Construction: 3 piece

The TaylorMade Soft Response replaces the Project (a) balls, which originally won our top ranking in this category. The Soft Response golf balls were designed based on input from 1000s of golfers across all skill levels.

With a compression of just 40, this ball has a great feel on each hit. Thanks to a soft ionomer cover and U-shaped dimples, golfers benefit from increased lift and decreased drag. The result is more distance, even if you have a slower swing speed.

What Golfers Have to Say

  • I hit longer, straighter shots with this ball.
  • Better than the TP5
  • Incredible golf ball for the price

See the TaylorMade Soft Response on Amazon

#2 – Bridgestone e6 Golf Balls

Best Golf Balls for the Average Golfer Cost: $20-$23/dozen
Construction: 2 piece

The Bridgestone e6 golf balls rank #2 thanks to their consistent performance and reasonable price. These are great golf balls that will increase a golfer’s average distance and hide some of their misses to the left or right. Available in white and optic yellow, these balls are a solid choice

Side note: The Bridgestone e7 are an older favorite, but they are increasingly difficult to find in stock.

What Golfers Have to Say

  • One of the best golf balls for the money.
  • Feels great, improves my distance.
  • Straighter ball flight for sure.

See the Bridgestone e6 on Amazon

#3 – Callaway Super Soft Golf Balls

Forgiving Golf Ball - Callaway Supersoft Cost: $18-23/dozen
Construction:
2 piece

If you a high handicapper and want a soft, long distance ball that flies straight, the Callaway Super Soft Golf Balls are a great choice.

Fast ball speed and better accuracy are two of the selling points, and this ball packs in a ton of technology that help make it one of the best golf balls for high handicappers.

You could also consider the Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls, but the price on those tends to be higher. Many color options available.

What Golfers Have to Say

  • Great feel and a very good hold on the greens.
  • I notice an improvement with I play with the golf balls.
  • Hitting straighter drives thanks to the Super Soft golf balls.

See the Callaway Super Soft on Amazon

#4 – Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls

Most Forgiving Golf Ball for Slow Swing Speed - Srixon Soft Feel Cost: $20-23/dozen
Construction: 2 piece

The Srixon Soft Feel is a favorite with recreational golfers. This ball is nearing 11 years on the market (with technology improvements over the years), so it has a proven track record of delivering on its distance promises. The price is right, and most golf experts would tell you that beginners will perform better with a 2 piece ball.

Want more info? Read Golf Digest’s write-up on this ball.

What Golfers Have to Say

  • These balls play and putt well for the average golfer.
  • A great golf ball…can’t argue with the price either.
  • A ball that works well if you have a slower swing speed.

See the Srixon Soft Feel on Amazon

#5 – Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls

Most Forgiving Golf Ball - Titleist Tour Soft Cost: $49
Construction: 2-piece construction

Specifications: These balls are labeled as a number 1 selection in golfing. The softer ball offers more game control on poorly centered hits and offers increased distance on low impact shots. I’ve ranked them a bit lower because of cost.

These Titleist Tour golf balls are ideal for beginner golfers who require plenty of forgiveness on their hits.

What do golfers have to say?

  • The balls move well
  • The balls offer good distance and decent spin
  • The balls offer a soft feel

See the Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls on Amazon

FOR WOMEN – Bridgestone Golf Lady Precept

Bridgestone Lady Precept Cost: $25
Construction: 2-piece construction

Specifications: This 12-ball pack is ideal for female golf players, and not just because of their bright pink color. These balls are engineered for a soft feel, better control, higher flight and longer distance.

These balls are ideal for female players who want to increase their distance when playing with other women, and especially when going up against men who typically have a more powerful swing. Available in both white and pink options.

What do golfers have to say?

  • This is my ball of choice
  • They have a soft feel 
  • Excellent for distance

See the Bridgestone Golf Lady Precept on Amazon

THE OLD #1 – TaylorMade Project (a) Golf Balls

Cost: $20-30/dozen
Construction: 3 piece

The TaylorMade Project (a) was our first recommendation for the Most Forgiving Golf Ball (back in 2017 or so). This ball has since been replaced with TaylorMade’s Soft Response.

This is a softer ball specifically designed for amateur/average golfers. This ball continues to be a favorite, thanks to its excellent distance off the tee and it’s carefully-crafted performance for the short game.

The price on these balls has dropped over the past few years, so now is a great time to scoop them up. At some point, they will no longer be available.

What Golfers Have to Say

  • Best ball I’ve ever played with.
  • I hit longer, straighter shots with this ball.
  • This ball feels great and plays better than I expected.

See the TaylorMade Project (a) on Amazon


All of the golf balls reviewed on in this write-up are good picks if you want to improve your gameplay. These forgiving golf balls also make terrific gifts if you want to spoil a golfing buddy or family member. If you are having a tough time choosing the best golf balls for an average golfer, then perhaps these tips can help you decide!

The Best Golf Balls for Average Golfer (Budget-Friendly)

At $19 per dozen, the Srixon Soft Feel Golf balls are one of the most affordable. These are an ideal pick for newer golfers that may lose some balls along the way. Alternatively, you may also want to consider the Titleist Tour Soft golf balls or The Bridgestone 2019 e6 golf balls, since these are also quite affordable.

2-Piece Balls

2-piece balls offer a very soft feel. If this is the type of ball you are after, then we recommend the Srixson Soft feel, Titleist Tour Soft, or Bridgestone 2019 e6 golf ball packs.

3-Piece Balls

3-piece balls are typically more durable than 2-piece balls. The balls by TaylorMade Project and Bridgestone e7 Golf Balls are both good packs if you are moderately good at golfing and need balls that are a bit more durable. 

Despite their enhanced durability, these balls are still pretty forgiving and easy to play with. 

They also offer good added distance on low impact hits. 

The Best 2-piece Balls

A dozen Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls are a good pick for beginners because they are affordable. 

The Best 3-Piece Balls

The best 3 piece balls are the TaylorMade Soft Response. So many golfers are satisfied with the performance they receive from these balls.

Best Golf Balls if You Have a Fast Swing Speed

If you have a fast swing speed, you want to choose a ball that’s going to work well with your talents. My suggestion:

Older Model Balls that Have High Forgiveness

These are a few options that I recommended in the past. If you can still find them somewhere, they’re worth picking up.

Bridgestone e7 Golf Balls

Most Forgiving Golf Balls - Bridgestone e7 Cost: $20-$23/dozen
Construction: 3 piece

The Bridgestone e7 golf balls rank #2 thanks to their consistent performance and reasonable price. These are great golf balls that will increase a golfer’s average distance and hide some of their misses to the left or right. Highlights include a unique 326 dimple pattern that increases ball trajectory and velocity, as well as a ionomer cover for superior durability.

Side note: The Bridgestone e6 are worth considering for forgiveness but the e7 seem to do better with both distance AND forgiveness.

What do golfers have to say?

  • The e7 ball goes further than any of Bridgestone’s other golf balls.
  • My game has improved because of these golf balls.
  • My new go-to golf ball.

See the Bridgestone e7 on Amazon

How Did I Choose the Most Forgiving Golf Ball?

It’s pretty simple. I walked into my multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art facility and began testing every major golf ball brand for hours on end until irrefutable data literally fell from the sky.

I’m kidding, of course.

The process took some time. Basically, I let other golf outlets (see references below) with way more time and resources do the heavy lifting on my behalf. Then I compared their results, reviewed their data/recommendations, and factored in feedback from average golfers. This helped me I arrive at my conclusions for the most forgiving golf balls.

Some of the Sources I Consulted

If cost is a prohibitive factor for you, take a look at my write-up on new vs used golf balls. You can always pick up one of my recommendations from a used golf ball vendor and save some money for your side bets.

Do you have other suggestions for the Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers?

If so, please share them in the comments section below.

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