Golf is an expensive sport as it is, so why not find value golf balls that are still high quality without breaking the bank? In this guide, I’ll show you the best cheap golf balls that you can buy today.
For each option, I’ll go over:
- The price for a box of balls
- Key features that I like in each
- A full description on the quality of each
As you’ll see below, you can find an affordable golf ball for a cheap price that gives you impressive distance and reliable approach shots.
Cheap golf balls are a great way to start with, especially if you’re a new golfer. There are a huge amount of options out there for you to choose from. If you have a favorite from the list below, comment down at the bottom of this post and let us know.
The Best Cheap Golf Balls For Value
- Callaway Supersoft (Best Overall)
“The Callaway Soft has almost everything that you’re looking for on a cheap golf ball. The price, combination of distance, feel, and spin.” - Srixon Soft Feel (Best Around Greens)
- Titleist TruFeel (Softest Ball)
- Cut Red (Cheapest of the Cheap)
- Wilson Smart Core (Best for Slicers)
- Cut Grey (Best Value)
- Bridgestone e6 (Best for Slow Swing Speeds)
- Wilson Ultra 500 Straight (Best for Beginners)
- Callaway Warbird (Best for Distance)
- Shag Practice 96 Ball Bag With Assorted Brands And Models (Best on a Budget)
Reviews of the Best Cheap Golf Balls
Callaway Supersoft
Best Overall
Key Features
- Have different color options
- Low compression core to assist ball speed
- Hex Aerodynamics dimple design
- Two-piece golf ball with an ionomer cover
- Fair price
Key Drawback
- Don’t have the best spin around the greens
Price
The Callaway Supersoft costs $22 per dozen.
Review
Callaway Supersoft is the best cheap golf balls for beginners and high handicappers. It has a low compression rating of 38, perfect for players with a slow swing speed. The low compression core of this ball helps the player controls the ball spin.
Even for golfers with moderate swing speeds, this ball can deliver a straight ball flight for more driving distance because of the HEX Aerodynamic design. This helps the ball reduce the drag and maximize the distance.
The Callaway Soft is an incredibly inexpensive golf ball. It will not hurt your pocket as it only cost around half of your greens fees.
How cool is that?
Callaway is a known brand and has a reputation for producing the best golf ball for a different player profile. This ball is also the best when it comes to forgiveness and feel. It has a low spin, and its performance excels on a driver for distance off the tee box shots.
Learn more in our Callaway Supersoft review.
- Supersoft Has Been One Of The Most Popular Golf Balls For Years, And We'Ve Combined Incredible Cover, Core And Flight Technologies To Make It Even Better.
- The New Hybrid Cover Features An Innovative Paraloid Impact Modifier Made By Dow Chemical. This Multi-Material Construction Allows For An Incredible Combination Of Fast Ball Speeds From High Launch And Low Spin, Soft Feel, And Excellent Greenside Control.
- The High Speed Soft Compression Core Maximizes Energy Transfer To Increase Ball Speeds, While Also Promoting High Launch And Low Spin In Your Longer Clubs For More Distance.
- Hex Aerodynamics Is Optimized To Reduce Drag And Enhance Lift For Increased Carry And Higher Flight.
Srixon Soft Feel
Best Around Greens
Key Features
- Ideal for slow to average swing speed
- Great feel around the green
- 344-speed dimple pattern
- Ionomer Cover
Price
$23 for a dozen balls.
Review
One of the best cheap golf balls on the market today is the Srixon Soft Feel. It truly shines not just because of the price, but because of its performance around the greens.
Designed with a 344-speed dimple pattern, your ball can reach far more carry distance. The dimple design reduces the drag that slows down ball speed, and creates turbulence for more distance.
This golf ball is ideal for players with slower swing speeds of between 70 and 90 MPH. It has straighter drives and is excellent from tee to green. It provides outstanding performance around the green.
The Soft Feel has excellent feedback and control when putting, and the ball does really roll well. It is also easier to chip with this golf ball compared to something harder..
Overall, Srixon Soft Feel offers the best value for durability and price, while helping you with excellent performance around the greens and your short game. It was just updated with a new design for 2022 and is my favorite of all soft golf balls.
- FastLayer Core - With a soft center that gradually transitions to a firm outer edge, the FastLayer Core gives SOFT FEEL incredible softness and great distance off the tee.
- 338 Speed Dimple Pattern - To get more distance overall and better performance in the wind, Speed Dimples reduce drag at launch and increase lift during descent.
- Soft, Thin Cover - Provides more greenside spin and softer feel on all pitches, chips and putts.
- Included components: No
TaylorMade TruFeel
Softest Ball
Key Features
- Long distance off the tee, even for slow swing speeds
- Very soft control around the green
- Top-tier Titleist technology
Key Drawback
- Can be too soft for faster swing players
Price
You can buy a dozen Titleist TruFeel golf balls for $25.
Review
The Titleist TruFeel is a best budget golf ball from Titleist, who make the #1 ball in golf (the Pro V1). The TruFeel is marketed towards beginner golfers who want good distance off the tee and a soft feel around the green. This is one of the softer balls in this list.
The TruFlex cover on the ball is extremely soft and easy to hit. It’s thinner than other golf balls and easy to compress. There are only two layers to this golf ball. The core has a lot of area.
There are 376 tetrahedral dimples on the ball, which promote more contact with your golf club.
Titleist usually focuses in the upper price range. The TruFeel is the closest you’ll get to a budget ball from Titleist and I think it’s well worth the consideration.
- Ultra Soft Feel
- Longer Distance
- Excellent Greenside Control
- Trusted Quality and Consistency
Cut Red
Cheapest of the Cheap Balls
Key Features
- Saves costs without losing performance.
- Long distance and maximum durability.
- Has moderate compression so that amateur golfers will get maximum distance.
Key Drawback
- Weak construction
Price
You can buy a dozen Cut Red balls for $13!
Review
Cut is a value brand and the Red golf ball is the company’s cheapest golf balls. Amazingly, you can buy brand new balls like these for $1 per ball.
Cut Red is a 2-piece construction ball featuring an Ionomer Cover in the outer shell. It’s the perfect ball for golfers looking for accuracy off the tee and those with lower club-head speed.
Cut Red can also help you maintain green-side performance while staying on top of your game. It has a softer feel and comes with a 320 dimple pattern for higher swing speed.
Cut Red also have a firmer feel at contact and low-spin performance. It will easily spring off your club when you hit it.
Cut Red has an Ionomer Cover. While the shell is hard, it is perfect for those who desire more distance. Some reviews do complain about the lack of durability in the cover, which is a good case of “you get what you pay for”.
- Ionomer Cover
- 60 Compression, 332 Dimple Pattern
- USGA Conforming
- Color: White
- Included components: 1 Dozen Golf Balls (4 Sleeves)
Wilson Smart Core
Best For Slicers
KEY FEATURES
- Helps in achieving long travel and straight trajectory
- Helps in reducing spin on long shots
- Maintains control in short shots
- Adapts its response to the game situation
KEY DRAWBACKS
- It’s better suited for the long shots
- Short shots aren’t as accurate as they need to be
Price
You can buy 24 Wilson Smart Core balls for $33.
Review
Why is the Wilson Smart Core called smart? You were wondering about that too, right?
Well, it’s actually smart.
The Smart Core adapts its response to the situation at hand. At the tee, it acts as a firm object to get maximum travel distance out of the swing. Its response on the green is the complete opposite. Here, it actually pretends to be soft, and gives the player a chance to hit a soft landing.
Similar behavior happens with short and long golf balls. It gives a lot of spin with the former to give the player more flexible paths and limits the spin significantly in the latter to straighten the trajectory of the long shot and cover the largest distance.
This is an awesome result that comes after years and years of product development. The Wilson Smart Core is built with a core that can respond to the speed of the swing.
Players who have trouble with slicer will probably find this ball quite helpful. It’ll help you control the spin and the dimples on the surface will keep air resistance to a minimum. This will maintain the proper direction of the ball, and let it fly at top speed, covering much ground and eventually reaching its intended destination.
The Smart Core comes in two dozen boxes for only $33, which is great value.
- Smart Core technology that reacts to a player's swing speed
- Yields spin and control on short shots
- Minimizes spin for distance and accuracy on long shots
- Durable lonomer cover provides long lasting playability through a range of condition
- Firm response off the tee for maximum distance and a soft response around the green for exceptional feel
Cut Grey
Best Value
Key Features
- 3-layer construction
- Tour-quality urethane construction
- Good distance and responsive feel
Key Drawback
- Very high spin
Price
You can buy a dozen Cut Grey for $20.
Review
If you don’t mind spending a little bit more, the Cut Grey is our selection for cheap golf ball. Cut Grey is a three-piece construction golf ball with a softer compression performance. They are designed for golfers with moderate swing speeds who desire total control of the ball and maximum performance.
They deliver higher ball flight, optimal distance, as well as improved green-side control.
Cut Grey comes with the formulated urethane cover as its outer layer, which gives it a softer feel. It’s equipped with a 314-dimple pattern. It offers good greenside spin compared to other balls in this list.
These balls contain a solid center core and an outer layer composed of a soft cover and a rubber. The solid center core offers incredible spin and soft feel. It also creates more rebound on long shots.
Overall, it’s a lot higher quality than the Cut Red for only a little bit more in price. Cut sells its products more direct to consumer and isn’t as greedy as the big brands. You can find premium golf balls for a really reasonable price.
- 3 piece construction
- Tour Quality Urethane cover
- 314 dimple pattern
- 80 compression
- Built with soft feel and incredible spin, perfect for golfers with moderate swing speeds looking for greenside control, good distance and responsive feel.
Bridgestone e6
Best for a Slow Swing Speed
Key Features
- A soft feel to help amateur golfers get further distance.
- Durable Surlyn cover designed
- Low compression for amateur golfers
Key Drawback
- Hard to add spin
Price
The Bridgestone e6 costs $24 for a dozen.
Review
Bridgestone has made a big splash in recent years, getting pro golfers like Tiger Woods and Bryson Dechambeau to use their balls. The Bridgestone e6 is the companies longest available golf ball that they have sold and it is also the most affordable.
The e6 is a two-piece construction, featuring that inner core and the outer shell and nothing else. The ball is designed for golfers with moderate swing speeds, which I would say is in the 85 MPH range. If you don’t know what your swing speed is, you can buy the FlightScope Mevo, or another one of our best launch monitors, and see for yourself.
The compression core in the current e6 is both larger and has a softer feel than the old generation. This gives the golf ball a more responsive design that adds extra distance for those who have a little higher swing speed. The soft core gives the ball lower compression. This means that it will spring off of your golf club easier when you hit it.
Bridgestone e6 golf balls have a surlyn cover (an ionomer resin), which is a harder shell used in balls that want to add more distance. Surlyn shells allow for less spin around the greens, so you won’t be able to shape your shots as well.
Click here to view our complete Bridgestone e6 review.
- NEW! e6 is the SOFT FEEL, LONG DISTANCE golf ball
- REENGINEERED for MORE POWER and FEEL
- MORE POWER – softer and larger core for faster compression and LONGER DISTANCE
- MORE FEEL – a soft seamless cover for BETTER SPIN and FEEL
- TIGER WOODS, BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU, FRED COUPLES, MATT KUCHAR AND LEXI THOMPSON Proudly represent Bridgestone Golf on international professional tours
Wilson Ultra 500 Straight
Best for Beginners
Key Features
- Spin-reducing technologies
- Gives good distances
- Great for beginners
- Set consists of 15 golf balls
Price
$20 per 15 golf balls.
Review
Wilson is one of the leading pioneers of the golf ball industry, meaning the majority of their balls can be extremely pricey. However, the Wilson Ultra 500, while being a basic two-piece construction, has incredible technology used in the manufacturing process. This not only creates a great golf ball, but allows them to be extremely cost-effective.
The Ultra 500 has amazing spin-reducing technologies that allow it to fly straighter and farther. Perfect for beginners, each Ultra 500 boxes comes as a set of 15 golf balls.
With a low spin design, you can be sure your shots will be on target!
Ultra 500 is a two-layer construction ball. They also feature a titanium core, with cut golf resistant cover allowing for amazing distance and perfection on the driving range. The cut resistant Surlyn cover means that the Wilson Ultra 500’s have a huge lifespan.
- Advanced two-piece construction
- Technologies to reduce spin which allows the ball to fly straighter
- The high energy titanium core generates maximum initial velocity
- Guaranteed cut proof cover for ultimate playability
- Hit farther with the Wilson Ultra 500 Golf Balls. Advanced two-piece golf balls with a titanium core and cutproof cover give the Ultra ultimate playability and distance off the tee. Complete with spin-reducing technologies
Callaway Warbird
Best for Distance
Key Features
- More carry distance
- Great feel
- Good quality
- High energy core
Key Drawback
- Thin cover
Price
$18 per dozen golf balls.
Review
Callaway is one of the most popular golf ball brands available today and the Warbird is their value golf ball that they sell. However like all of their balls, the Callaway Warbird is still really good quality and usable by all average golfers.
The Warbird golf ball is a distance golf ball. It is a two-piece construction and is one of the affordable golf balls in the market. It was designed for long carry and distances. It uses its renowned HEX Aerodynamics so for a higher lift and faster ball flight.
Even beginners and intermediate golfers find Warbird’s spin amazing, which is great for greenside control. It has a great feel because of the thin ionomer cover. This is a softer ball and is consistent when it comes to putting. It has a great sound upon impact.
The Warbird can also help you improve your short game as it offers control and feel both around the greens and off the tee.
- Callaway's renowned HEX Aerodynamics reduce drag and promote high launch for increased speed, hang-time and distance
- The extra-large high-energy core is highly compressible to unlock more potential distance at any swing speed
- Thin, high-sensory ionomer cover works with the core to promote super-satisfying feel off every club
- The package weight of the product is 9.1 pounds
Shag Practice 96 Ball Bag With Assorted Brands And Models
Best on a Budget
Key Features
- Ultra value for money
- May include premium brands
- All balls are washed, cleaned, and inspected
Key Drawback
- Used balls
Price
$44 for 96 golf balls!
Review
These are similar to lake balls that may be for sale at your local golf course. Still, for an extremely low, affordable price, you receive 96 Shag, perfect for practicing and also fantastic for beginner golfers.
As you receive a large variety of brands and models, this allows you to find the perfect ball for you without breaking the bank!
For beginner golfers, it can take a long time to find the right ball for you. As a pack usually isn’t cheap, you may even find yourself spending hundreds of dollars and still not know which is the right ball for you.
The Shag Practice bag consists of assorted brands and models. Each ball is checked to ensure that it is still in good condition. However, scuffs and markings are common.
If you do lose them, as they’re incredibly cheap, you may as well just purchase more! Seriously, this is an amazing deal that we highly recommend.
This deal is wonderfully priced and is affordable for even golfers on an extreme budget. The best part about this is that many of the balls you receive are premium balls from industry-leading brands such as Nike, Callaway, and Titleist!
- GRADE AA primarily recycled for practice. Great for muddy conditions. No representation is made for coloration, scuffs or tint
- RECYCLED WASHED AND CLEANED without altering the manufacturers original specifications
- FAIR TO GOOD CONDITION practice grade shag golf balls. Not for use on the green.
- PLAY THE BEST BALLS for up to 80 percent off the new ball price. Mix of assorted brands, models and colors
- DRAWSTRING MESH BAG for storage
Distance vs Feel
Above, you’ll notice that most of the golf balls are marketed for either long distance or soft feel.
Distance
Distance golf balls are usually harder and designed with a surlyn cover. They have a large core that is easy to compress so that you can maximize your distance off of each swing. These balls save money by being only two-piece.
Feel
Feel golf balls are designed with higher dimple patterns which allow for higher spin on the course. Some of the options are three-piece construction so that you can apply some spin to your shots. You might lose a little bit of distance on the tee box, but will be able to get a higher launch angle and a softer landing.
Which type of ball is best for you?
If you have a slow swing speed, a “distance” ball is a better option for you. This will allow you to get more distance and get down the fairway quicker.
If you are a more experienced golfer with a faster swing, a “feel” ball will help you get some spin and control into your game. Since you swing fast enough, you’ll still be able to compress the core and get the distance you want.
What to Consider in a Budget Golf Ball
When looking for the best cheap golf balls to buy, here are some tips to consider.
Dimples
Balls usually have around 300 to 400 dimples with an average depth of 0.010 inches. They are usually arranged symmetrically on the surface. Manufactures can choose the number of dimples that are included to match with the player’s profile.
As you hit the ball with your club, the dimple pattern affects the lift. The dimples create turbulence and allow it to fly smoothly, and reduce the drag that can hinder its movement. Manufactures based the number of dimples on what aerodynamics it is trying to achieve.
Ball Construction
Picking the right ball for you is the same as finding the right golf equipment. Over the years, the technology behind golf clubs and equipment is increasing rapidly. Manufacturers continue to develop ball construction that can fit with every golfer.
Are you familiar with its construction? Understanding how it’s made and the composition will help you better understand whether it will work to your advantage. Below are the most common ball construction in the market.
ONE-PIECE CONSTRUCTION
These sets are usually cheap and are often used by beginner players. These are made from solid pieces of Surlyn. It has a soft feel and has a longer life span. You may be able to save a few bucks with this kind of golf ball, but they don’t provide a great feel and performance on the course. It has a lower compression and doesn’t offer enough carry distance.
TWO-PIECE CONSTRUCTION
These are used frequently by the casual, weekend, or everyday golfers and are often called a “distance ball”. It offers both durability and distance. Two-piece construction has a solid rubber core and an ionomer or surlyn cover.
Compared to other types, they are more affordable. These are low compression, even with a slower swing, because you don’t have to hit them as hard to get impact into the larger core.
THREE-PIECE CONSTRUCTION
These-piece balls have either liquid or solid outer core rubber with a molded cover such as Urethane, Surlyn, or Balata like material.
These types are perfect for players that have average swing speeds. Like the two-piece ball construction, it offers longer carry distance, control, and consistency. They are softer but have a higher spin rate off the tee because of the layers of the ball, which create more game spin.
MULTI-LAYERED
Multi-layered balls are those that have four to five-layer piece ball construction. Four-piece construction is often used by experienced golfers. It offers different spins and a great feel with your golf clubs. It has a low launch and spins with wedges. Its inner core has a solid rubber center.
Only very few produce a five-piece construction and TaylorMade is one of them. This is the most expensive and commonly used by professionals. It provides more spin separation and offers the most optimized performance for your golf game.
Multi-layered options are not found in the list above because the manufacturing process makes them an expensive golf ball.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Do low priced golf balls really make any difference?
For average golfers, you will not notice any different buying a budget option vs spending more. The main reason golf balls are expensive are due to more complicated manufacturing processes. Three and four layer options take a lot longer to make and are more expensive as a result. However, these options are only good for more advanced players who can add their own spin to the ball and have a high swing speed. For the most part, you can save a lot of money for a ball that makes no difference.
Do cheap golf balls lose distance?
Cheap options are usually designed for a specific function such as distance, soft feel, or high spin. A durable golf ball promoted for distance will fly as far as more expensive options.
Premium golf balls have extra pieces and layers that help improve their performance and allow you to play different shots to a high quality.
What is the standard size of a golf ball?
The size that is allowed by USGA and R&A for golf balls should not be smaller than 1.68 inches or 42.7 mm. When it comes to weight, it should not exceed 1.62 ounces. The size and the weight are regulated for fairness on every player and to ensure that they are not too heavy.
What Is The Best Type Of Golf Ball For Beginner Golfers?
For beginner golfers, a two-piece golf ball would be ideal to start with. Two-piece balls are named “distance golf balls” and provides beginner golfers with extra distance and low spin even with slower swing speeds.
What Are Markouts Or X-Outs?
Markouts or X-outs are factory overruns that are sold at a cheaper price. These are the balls that failed with quality testing. Rather than destroying it, it is sold to the market at a lower price. These are still brand new and have an identical feel and performance to accepted balls. Markouts are not always USGA approved.
What Is The Meaning Of The Number On Each Golf Ball?
One of the basics that a player must understand is the number that is printed outside the ball. There are single, double and even triple numbers. Let’s go ahead and get familiarized with the meaning behind these numbers.
SINGLE-DIGIT NUMBER
Single digits is the most common and is for identification purposes. There will be times that you and your golf buddy have the same golf number. The number will help you save time trying to figure out each others golf balls. Any number from 0 to 9 is acceptable.
TWO-DIGIT NUMBERS
The two-digit usually is the guide for compression rating. Golf ball with a low compression rating are ideal for beginners and lady golfers. This compression rating usually ranges from 70-80. At the same time, those with a faster swing speed (105 mph or more) can choose an option with 90 or higher compression.
Aside from compression, there are personalized options which have two-digits which denotes a special event in your life like anniversaries.
THREE-DIGIT NUMBERS
If you see a three-digit number on a golf ball, this usually indicates the number of dimples.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can play golf without spending an absolute fortune on golf balls. More often than not, you are simply paying for the branding on the side of the golf ball.
Another good option is to purchase “lake balls” – many golf clubs sell these within their shops.
They are simply large boxes of balls that have been recovered from lakes around the golf club. These are a great option as they are extremely cheap and you also get all types of golf balls.
All of the options reviewed above have an excellent price point and high quality – allowing you to enjoy a regular game of golf without breaking the bank!
Last update on 2023-06-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
