Cheap Vs Expensive Golf Balls – How Do They Compare
As a golfer, there are two expenses that never seem to go away, greens fees and golf balls. If you want to keep enjoying the game each week you need to have money in your budget for these two things.
Golf balls can get expensive and if you are a player that loses a few each time you head out to play, the question about buying cheap or expensive golf balls is a valid one.
If you have not experimented with different types of golf balls and how they will impact your game, we have all the insight you will need. Understanding the difference between cheap and expensive golf balls can save you quite a bit of money the next time you go out to play.
Intro To How Important A Golf Ball Is To Your Game
Playing with the right golf ball is essential. As golfers we spend quite a bit of time getting our game to a very high level.
Between the time spent practicing and the money spent on equipment, the last thing you want to do is choose the wrong golf ball.
Not only will the proper golf ball help you work on your distance but it will also impact the accuracy of your shots.
Certain golf balls will fly higher or lower than another and the feel around the greens is important to ensure maximum performance as well.
There are many factors to choosing the right golf ball for your game, and they should all be considered.
How Do Cheap Vs Expensive Differ
The biggest difference you are going to see in cheap vs expensive golf balls is the construction of the ball.
The cheap golf balls have fewer materials and they are designed to offer a single benefit to a golfer (ie. distance, high ball flight, low spin).
An expensive golf ball is typically made of several more pieces and it can offer multiple levels of performance and functionality for a player.
What Is The Difference Between Cheap And Expensive Golf Balls?
Cheap golf balls are typically built for the mid to high handicap player that loses quite a few golf balls each time they go out to play.
The cheaper golf balls will offer you some performance off the tee or around the green, but its rare to find something that offers both.
An expensive golf ball is supposed to be a one stop solution for a golfer of any playing ability.
You can get the long distance off the tee, yet still have spin and feel around the greens.
This type of technology and manufacturing takes a bit more time and effort, therefore the expensive golf balls tend to cost quite a bit more.
Are Cheap And Expensive Golf Balls Constructed The Same (How Many Pieces)
The majority of cheap golf balls are made of two pieces. There will be an inner core and an outer core. The two piece construction offers the singular functionality that we talked about.
This is why most of the cheap golf balls are considered to be distance golf balls. They give players that extra performance from the tee; however, they may be lacking a bit from the greens.
Expensive golf balls will have anywhere from three to five pieces. These extra layers are going to give players performance from the tee, fairway, and green. There is no question that these expensive golf balls can handle a player’s needs regardless of where they are striking the ball.
How Do They Differ On Quality Of Materials
The more expensive golf balls will use higher end materials and components.
The components are going to offer things like a low spin off the tee yet give players plenty of feel and spin around the green.
You will notice that many of the covers on the premium golf balls are softer materials, yet they are more resistant to being cut by a golfer’s poor swing.
Is Cheap Vs. Expensive Going To Make A Big Difference For High Handicappers?
Higher handicap players tend to lose a lot of golf balls. The problem with playing with great golf balls for higher handicappers is that it will be really expensive.
You can test yourself to see if the expensive golf balls make a big difference in your game.
Take two types of golf balls to a putting and chipping green and work on your short game for a little bit.
If you feel as though you can control the expensive golf balls a bit more, they are likely the better fit.
Should High Handicappers Use Cheap Or Expensive Golf Balls?
Most high handicappers should look for a middle of the road, three piece golf ball to play with. The three pieces will offer distance off the tee yet still some decent performance around the greens. And it wont cost as much when you knock 6 of them into the water.
Having this versatility in performance can really help a golfer reach a different level in their game.
High handicapper that uses expensive golf balls will likely see some performance benefits, yet they will have to justify whether or not it is worth paying the price for these benefits.
What is the best inexpensive golf ball?
TaylorMade Distance Plus Golf Balls
The TaylorMade Distance Plus Golf balls are some of the cheapest on the market.
This is a two piece, low spin, high speed golf ball.
If you want to have less drag from the tee and lots of roll in the fairway, this is a perfect choice.
Pros
- Low spin
- Very fair price
- Aerodynamic design for more roll
Cons
- A bit hard around the greens
Overall Score: 94/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Why Are Titleist balls So Expensive?
Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls
Titleist golf balls stand out as being some of the most expensive on the market; however, they also offer some of the best performance.
There is no question that Titleist golf balls can offer multiple benefits to a player.
With longer distances, consistent flight, and excellent performance around the greens, it is no wonder Titleist charges a bit extra for their products.
The Pro V1 has long been considered the best golf ball in the game. It has tremendous feel around the green and does not sacrifice a yard of distance off the tee.
Pros
- Long distance
- Short game performance
- Penetrating trajectory
Cons
- Expensive golf ball
Overall Score: 98/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
What Is The Longest Golf Ball For Seniors?
Callaway Golf Supersoft Golf Balls
Seniors typically need to look for a golf ball that has a lower compression and some straight flight technology.
The lower compression golf balls make it easier for a slower swing speed player to get the distance they need off the tee.
The Supersoft uses the HEX aerodynamics and reduced drag to get players lots of roll yet a soft feel when chipping and putting.
Pros
- Very fair price
- Advanced dimple pattern
- Low compression
Cons
- Not good for faster swing speed players
Overall Score: 95/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
What Is The Best Golf Ball For The Money?
TaylorMade Project (s) Golf Balls (One Dozen)
Taylor Made makes quite a few excellent golf ball choices for the average player. One of our favorites is the TaylorMade Project (s) golf ball.
This ball is built with a two layer core that helps golfers get more spin around the greens, less spin off the tee, and plenty of ball speed.
For the impressive performance benefits, the Project (s) comes at a very fair price.
Pros
- Dual distance core
- 2 layer core
- Lower driver spin
- Less drag
Cons
- It still feels a little hard around the greens
Overall Score: 94/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
What Is The Best Golf Ball For A 20 handicapper?
Callaway Golf 2020 Superhot Bold Matte Golf Balls
Callaway makes several great golf ball choices for the player with the average handicap. Our favorite option is the Superhot Bold Matte.
This ball is offered in several different colors, has tons of aerodynamic benefits, and is a three-piece golf ball.
The three-piece ball provides the perfect mix of technology and value.
Pros
- Great for average swing speeds
- 3 piece construction
- Available in many colors
Cons
- Not soft enough around the greens for advanced players
Overall Score: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
FAQ
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about cheap vs expensive golf balls.
Should I Use Soft Or Hard Golf Balls?
If you are a golfer who needs to work on touch and feel around the putting green, the softer golf ball will make much more sense.
The ball will allow you to feel the length and trajectory of the shot that you need to hit. This makes it much easier to hit both short and long chip shots.
Do Softer Golf Balls Go Further?
If you are a slower swinging golfer that has trouble getting distance, a soft golf ball can help you with distance off the tee.
However, if you have a good amount of swing speed, the softer golf ball can actually cause you to lose some distance.
The softer golf ball makes the faster swinging player leave a few extra yards on the table. It is essential to match the compression of the ball you play to your abilities as a golfer.
Is Pro V1 A 4 Piece Ball?
The regular Pro V1 golf ball is a three piece ball. The Pro V1x built for the faster swinging player is a 4 piece golf ball.
Are Kirkland Golf Balls Like Pro V1?
Kirkland golf balls offer some significant performance benefits for the price that they are offered.
Kirkland golf balls have been known to feel quite a bit like a Titleist Pro V1 ball.
They offer low spin off the tee, plenty of distance, and good spin around the greens. It’s hard to beat the performance that these golf balls bring to the table.
Is A 2 Piece Or 3 Piece Golf Ball Better?
A three piece golf ball is going to offer some extra layers of performance when compared to a two piece golf ball.
The issue, of course, is that the pricing on the three piece ball will be quite a bit higher.
What Is Better, A 3 Piece Or 4 Pieces Golf Ball?
Once you get over three pieces, the golf ball becomes a matter of preference.
The three piece ball offers a performance that most golfers will be more than happy with.
When you add pieces and get to the four or five piece design, you are just expanding your performance.
Are lake balls Worth Buying?
If you lose a lot of golf balls on the course, a lake ball can help to save you money.
These balls are sometimes very good construction; however, there is a chance that their performance benefits are slightly reduced from sitting in the water.
If you want to play with lake golf balls, pay close attention to the performance and how it is impacted when you put the lake balls into play.
Overall Conclusion
The best golf balls for your game are the ones that match your swing speed and your player’s strengths and weaknesses.
If you can find an inexpensive golf ball that still helps you feel as though you are getting distance off the tee and spin around the greens then you should consider using this ball. For better players, the performance of the higher end golf balls usually helps to justify the cost.
As long as you can keep the ball straight, you should have no issues with the price of the golf ball you purchase.
Hi, I am Matthew, a mid handicap golfer who likes to play as much as possible. I love trying out new gear and this blog is where you can find all the gear I have tested over the years!
