I've tried everything playa. I've played the Titleist Pro V1 - too expensive in Thailand. TaylorMade TP5X - doesn't suit me. Srixon Z Star XV - love them. Inesis Tour 900 - really good value.

BUT. Nothing performs the way the Vice Pro Plus has been performing for me. It's consistent in its distance with every club. It doesn't get cut up after a wedge shot. It flies LONG. 

I used this ball a lot on my recent trip to Scotland and it was just so reliable. I played on hard running courses with lots of wind and the ball was so stable with all clubs, especially off the tee. 

Every aspect of this ball suits MY game. I may move on from it one day but for the foreseeable future, I will play the Vice Pro Plus. especially the lime green ones!  

TaylorMade's roster boasts some of the biggest players and their TP5 line is now considered as an equal to the main tour balls.

These balls are full of technology. The main difference between the TP5 and TP5x is the cover. The TP5 has a soft cast urethane cover, while the TP5x has a firmer cast urethane cover. The firmer cover of the TP5x is designed to produce more speed, a higher trajectory and less spin - pretty much like a Pro V1x.

These are the only 5 piece balls on the market and you can feel the difference. The marketing material on the box mentions a “Speed layer system” and “High flex material.” In reality this translated into control and distance for me. The TP5 feels fractionally softer than the TP5x, but the distance and higher flight I achieved with the TP5x was noticeable.

My long irons were flying much higher and with my low dynamic loft, it helps a lot because that lower flight can hurt on the wrong course. On and around the greens the TP5 felt like a bar of soap and I was getting some grip action with wedge shots inside 100 yds. The TP5x performed equally well, to the point where I couldn’t notice much of a difference.

I found both balls to be durable, with little scuffing visible after 2 rounds.

I’m a fan of colorful balls and the eye-catching Pix variant, used by Ricky Fowler and Matt Wolff, really helps with chipping and putting. The pattern on the ball makes it look bigger at address which is a big bonus for chip shots. For puts, the Pix line up to your club face providing more confidence in your green reading. 

There is nothing more to say. Okay, but I will say more.

This is the most popular ball on tour for a reason. Yes, they only cost about 6c a piece to make and sell for a lot of money, but at the end of the day, even the pro's who have to buy their golf balls will choose the Pro V1.

King of golf balls end of story. Consistent, long, spinny.

When Nike stopped making hard products, the golfing world wondered which ball Tiger would start using. There was a rumor that he had been using a rebadged Bridgestone for a while anyway, so when he moved to the American OEM, it was little surprise.

As a TaylorMade staffer, it was a major win for Bridgestone to have Tiger use their product instead of the Taylormade range.

The Tour B RXS is aimed at the better player, and specifically those who generate higher swing speeds. Those with driver swings of less than 105MPH won’t get the most out of this ball, BUT that doesn’t rule them out completely. Slower swing speeds can still take advantage of the premium golf balls.

Pro Mo, from my channel loves this ball. He will tell you this ball is LONG. I mean silly long. He can generate enough speed to take advantage of the Gradational Compression core, launching the ball in the air with high speed and low spin. The ball flew past some of the more traditional premium offerings.

Bridgestone balls have unique looking dimples, and the Dual Dimple pattern delivered on its promise of enhanced aerodynamics and increased distance. Where this ball excels however, is around the greens. Tiger is famous for demanding exact spin numbers and this ball was easy to control with the lofted clubs. The ‘Reactiv’ urethane cover feels good on the wedges and putter and I was able to get the ball to stop quickly out of bunkers.

This is a ball which is definitely worth checking out. 

Whenever I see the Srixon Z Star XV on promotion, I make sure to get a couple of dozen. The first time I tried them, they shocked me and in a good way. How could a lesser known manufacturer produce something so close to a Pro V1 for such a good price?

I’m now a Srixon convert and I’m happy to see them receive the recognition they deserve outside of Asia. 

The cover of these balls is a bit harder than a Pro V1 but you hardly notice a difference between the balls. The biggest difference is that the Srixon looks more like surlyn rather than urethane even though it is urethane.The Z-Star XV sits down and rips back on the greens with the shorter clubs.

What I like about these balls is the durability of the cover. I ripped wedges on it all day and hardly noticed a scratch using only a single ball per round. Compared to the Pro V1 which just gets chewed up, I prefer something a little more durable like this Srixon. 

If you’re a Pro V1 user who is looking for a cheaper alternative, definitely check these out. The yellow model is really good too! 

I’m a big fan of Wilson golf balls. They are cheap, no frills but consistent. JMac from the channel has played their two piece offerings for years and the DUO professional is his new ball of choice.

The DUO Professional replaced the popular DUO soft and is slightly firmer than that ball. With short irons, the Duo Professional surprisingly spins much more and on all shots provides a softer feeling. This is due to the increased compression rating.

It's hard to find a urethane ball at this price point and the major trade off is in the distance category. This ball won’t fly as far as some of the premium options which is a consideration.

When you handle the Duo Professional ball, you notice the texture of the cover and the 'bite test' lets you know that it’s not a cheap ball. Feel off the club face is smooth and off wedges feels soft.

The Duo Professional is a high-value golf ball for golfers who want that premium feel and spin at a relatable price point.

I played these clubs for 2 years. I love these clubs. 

I tried many many muscleback irons, from Mizuno to TaylorMade to Ping to Cobra to Itobori. I like them all but the Srixon Z Forged is just made of superior metals. 

These irons are the best looking blade on the market and feel like butter when you hit the ball. When I hit the sweet spot, the distance control is the best in the business. 

These are one of the most forgiving muscleback irons I’ve played and it's because they use superior metals to any other big manufacturer. The metal is soft, the sweet spot feels like a tuning fork ringing in your loins.

The Z-Forged irons have a signature 'double curve' design which helped me use the clubs with maximum workability. The forged construction delivers a fantastic soft feel and the V sole promotes optimized turf interaction and stability. The leading edge will enter the ground, but then does not get stuck, instead sliding through the other side, smoothly. The best muscle back iron on the market is the Srixon Z Forged. 

The Apex is Callaway’s premium player’s club and this 2021 version includes a few updates from the 2019 version.

These  irons feature improved tungsten weighting a semi cavity to give you maximum forgiveness with a precision strike you're used to from Ben Hogan irons. Callaway bought the Apex range off Hogan and this is the result. 

I play quite a bit with very low handicappers and pros and these feature in the bag quite often. I've hit them plenty but for me the look of a Callaway iron just doesn't feel 100% right to my eye which is the most important part of your clubs. You MUST love them.

Callaway have created a very forgiving iron with the Apex series. 

Takomo 301MB irons are my iron of choice and current gamers. What sets Takomo apart in the muscleback category is that they are prices below any other iron on the market.

The 301MB are forged in Japan and designed in Finland. My set came with the standard KBS Tour stiff shafts. I switched them out to KBS Tour S+ shafts which are not on the Takomo standard fitting options. The quality of KBS Tour shafts makes it even more amazing that these high quality irons can be had for less than $700.

When I play the 301MB, I find the forgiveness is biased toward the toe and high in the face. Center strikes are always consistent distances which is vital for muscleback irons and their biggest advantage. When i hit high toe shots, they generate much lower spin and go similar distances to well hit shots.

I will be playing the Takomo 301MB for the foreseeable future.

PXG made a name for themselves as only for the elite with eye watering prices. 

The prices have come down and that is great news for every day golfer because these clubs are superb. The weighting, the design and the feel are right up there with some of the best in the game.

Yond from the channel, and Joe who contributes from England on this site both play these PXG irons and have fallen back in love with the game. What is important from both Yond and Joe's experiences is that you should be fitted for these clubs to understand your specs. 

Lofts are slightly stronger in the PXG 0311P but the ball flight is high and handsome with a soft face for buttery contact. While the price is high, it's because you get the best of the best. PXG won't release new clubs unless they are confident their new model is much superior to their prior models. This model is a couple of versions older now so you'll be sure to get the best value if you buy used or new! 

Mizuno clubs have to be included in any muscleback list - they pretty much invented the term almost.

They are seen as the players iron and when you buy a set of the MP range of Mizunos, you keep them for years and years because NOTHING ever compares and the new models of any other iron never impress you enough to give up your 8 year old set. 

I know, because I had 2 different model of Mizunos from 2001 to 2019. Steve on the channel only plays the MP range and has had his set for 18 years. He loves them so much, he has a backup set with the identical specs in case his current set goes missing.

The Mizuno MP20 MB has a thin layer of copper in the face to enhance feel. Where these clubs offer forgiveness is in their stability. They are very accurate and even mishits won’t go wildly off line. You will sacrifice some distance but you will be rewarded with supreme feel and feedback.

The differences between these and the Srixon Z Forged are minimal. If I weren't playing Z Forged I would have a long hard look at purchasing a third set of MP Mizuno irons. I tried the JPX 919 Tours and if you're in the air about which to purchase, I would say go for the MP range every time. 

This is one of the hottest topics in golf. It might be one of the hottest topics in LIFE. Many players tell me that they want to play a premium golf ball, but that the thought of slicing a brand new Pro V1 into the bushes and water brings them out in a cold sweat. We need to find the best cheap golf balls!

Why do only bad shots keep us up at night?

Is the ball causing us to play bad golf? 

Golf balls don’t need to cost the earth to be good - some of the best cheap golf balls in the world will be better suited to your game and I'm going to tell you why. So put your preconceptions away, and open the door to golf ball enlightenment (on a budget). 

Now in its umpteenth iteration, the Srixon Soft Feel remains an anchor in Srixon's ball collection. It's a two-piece golf ball so it's made for distance and durability but the thin cover gives this ball a soft feel so it doesn't feel like you're playing a rock. Expect long drives and irons that roll out with a soft feel on the club face.

Whenever someone asks for a recommendation for a golf ball as high or mid handicapper, I immediately, without hesitation say Srixon Soft Feel. I've loved these balls since I used them dropping from a mid/high handicapper down to a 5 handicapper. Soft feeling off the face and big distance off the tee. Probably the best inexpensive golf balls on the market. 

Callaway deliver excellence ball after ball. The Supersoft Max is made for the slower swinger for maximum distance and forgiveness, aerodynamically designed to get high up for a long strong carry.

The soft mantle and cover system work in tandem to reduce spin. Reducing spin also means reducing side spin, so on your longer shots you can reduce those slices and hooks.

I'm not the biggest fan of these balls when I use the insert putter. When I use my steel faced putter, I like them a lot as the feedback is evident. If you use an insert putter, I'd suggest something firmer like the E6 or the RZN below.

There is nothing to dislike about Kirkland Signatures. You can pick them up for next to nothing and play a golf ball that actually performs and have a decent urethane cover. 

I know because I bought 24 of these in the USA and played with them at Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, everywhere. 

My Experience with the ball

The Kirkland Signatures are balls that fly far, and do hold greens. They spin but not in a way that makes the ball rip so far back that you can't control it.

It will be a big difference for you if you move from a surlyn ball to the urethane of the Kirklands. I found there was actually a GAIN in yardage with the Kirklands and the balls sit down where they pitch. That's at a pretty high swing speed, so you may experience slightly less 'rip' with these balls.

Even hitting the ball with wedges that have a rough face, these balls hold up very well compared to even premium urethane balls. You can go a full 18 holes with this ball and just keep using it. 

This is a great golf ball for mid handicappers because it's high quality, urethane covered but it's at a price where you don't feel upset about losing one and reloading. It's very different when you're paying $4-$5 for a premium ball.

That cannot be overstated. The feeling of freedom when you don't fear losing a golf ball is huge. When you don't care about losing balls, ironically, you lose less. The Kirklands are the gateway to that feeling. 

That's what makes the Kirklands so special. I played a 73 and a 71 at Pebble Beach and used Kirkland. You can enjoy that freedom too. Check out the video on my channel. 

This 2021 model is preferred by a lot of golfers. The performance and feel overall seems to be better in the older model, and on top of that, the price is incredibly low!

Slashing your handicap comes from hitting fairways and greens. The Bridgestone E6 gets you in the fairway easier and boosts long and mid iron performance to get you closer to the green more often. You may need to change your aiming - no more aiming way left. The ball goes where you aim.

Like with other Bridgestone balls, it's easy to notice the shallow dimples. They've done something right with their golf balls because most guys I play with loves these balls. I find the cover is quite hard so don't expect a bar of soap when you undo the packaging. This is for you if your priority is straight hitting and reducing slices and hooks.

Once again, this is a two-piece ball as the prior two options are and so you'll notice more rollout and consistent spin of these balls.

I love me some Vice golf balls. I have to admit I'm not usually a guy to get take in by the hype, but once I tried Vice balls, I knew that that they were legit, and as good if not better than anything put out there by the big boy manufacturers. 

The Drive is their "budget" option but it doesn't perform like a budget golf ball. The two piece construction with Surlyn cover feels great off all clubs, and this ball is massively long with the longer clubs in the bag. When you get this ball anywhere near the middle of the face it feels like it's being trampolined into another dimension and it cannot get there fast enough! 

For mid to high handicappers who want a quality ball which is super long and forgiving, the Vice Drive is up there with the best you can get. 

Make sure you buy direct and take advantage of the multi-buy discount for the best deals. 

When comparing the Wilson DUO Professional to other balls in the list above, it's clear the difference comes in the short game. With short irons, the Duo Professional spins much more and on all shots provides a softer feeling.

The surlyn covered balls might have a slight edge in purely distance but all-round the Duo Professional is a high-value golf ball for golfers who want some feel and spin with an amazing bang for the buck.

When you first touch the Duo Professional ball, you notice the texture of the cover and the 'bite test' tells you straight away the ball is softer than others. Feel off the club face is pleasant and off wedges feels surprisingly soft. The colors on offer make these a fun golf ball to play all year round. 

TaylorMade’s 60-compression Project (s) offers good all-round performance, and gives players a TaylorMade option without breaking the bank.

The ball’s fast core stores and releases energy efficiently throughout the bag for excellent distance. The high-lift, low drag dimple design promotes a high launch and keeps the ball up in the air longer for optimum distance.

When it comes to putting and chipping, the cover offers a soft feel to help you play those scoring shots with ease. I really like the yellow version of this ball as it’s so easy to see after hitting tee shots and in the rough. Buy these and you'll be playing some of the cheapest premium golf balls there are. 

The PGA tour on TV has ruined spin for the vast majority of golfers. When you see highlights reels of players ripping balls 30ft backwards you think that’s what you should be doing.

Here’s a question for you though, how often have you actually seen that happen in the cold light of day on the course? Probably rarely or never. 

We are led to think that it is the ball which is the key ingredient to that tour level zip on the greens. Yes, it is important, but it is one of MANY FACTORS. Club choice, club age, groove sharpness, attack angle, quality of strike, ground conditions, green firmness, swing length, air moisture - yadda yadda yadda. It’s a list so long you’ll start to sound like Bryson and do you really want that? 

The truth is that Pro V1 MIGHT help you to stop the ball on the green quicker, but it is probably harming your drives and approach shots because it is spinning TOO MUCH. 

Sidespin on your drives is what causes the ball to veer off from the target. Softer premium balls are designed to spin more. Are you picking up what I'm putting down?

Golf ball psychology

Have you stood on the tee and a buddy shouts, “Don’t slice it” and you proceed to hit it into the next state? When we play with premium golf balls, a common thought is “I don’t want to lose this ball, it cost me $XXX!”

We often try to remove this demon by teeing up with an old or cheaper ball. Then the ball goes where we want it miraculously!

Why not remove the headworms before you hit the course by playing a ball which suits your budget AND your capacity to keep it on the course. A Pro V1 might fit into this bracket but the best cheap golf balls shouldn’t be any less productive than the premium models. 

When you're buying cheap balls, you can get urethane options, or you can get the cheaper surlyn options. The manufacturers have every base covered.

The rest is up to you and your priorities. If you want spinny action, you have to try the urethane options which are the best value possible above. Then if you're happy with more bump and run, more rollout, then you can go for the 2 layer options with surlyn covers and 2 piece construction. 

Try a few and get the one you really like and use it exclusively to understand the way it reacts and you will slash strokes from your score with your deep knowledge of your game.

This is Golf Sidekicks review of the best PING irons in 2024.

I’m a long-term golf addict and rabid golf club tester for 7 years.

I got the latest PING irons in hand recently and took them onto the driving range and out on the golf course to give you the rankings of the best Ping irons on the market.

The Ping i230 is my recommended low-handicap Ping iron.

• Excellent control of the ball flight
• Feedback off the face makes it clear where you hit the ball
• High launching and penetrating flight
• Excellent ability to hit the target after a bad strike for a players iron

The i230s have a smaller club head than the i210 model yet Ping upgraded the MOI. 

The 4 degree gapping between each iron from pitching wedge to 7-iron keeps distance gaps consistent. Using 3.5 degrees between each iron from 7-iron to 3 iron helps to stretch out distances to cover long approach shots. 

I recommend the i230s instead of the i525s is just based on the sound and feel. The heads in the 1230 are larger than the i525 so hitting ehm reminded me of the Ping set I had growing up as a kid, hitting balls for hours on my local goat track. 

Verdict: The best looking Ping iron and great performance.

Ping G425 irons are my choice for mid handicap golf irons from Ping:

1. So easy to get airborne
2. Biggest distance out of any iron
3. You can hit the ball all over the club face and get a good result
4. Amazing sound and feel
5. If you like shot-shaping, these will shape

I usually play blade irons and I thought the 425 would be wooden and hard. Instead I found them to be very workable and out the sweet spot, the ball rockets off the face!

Center strikes felt pure and even when i missed the sweet spot, I didn't notice much distance loss. 

As with most game improvement irons, the lofts are strong.

Conclusion: The G425s are in the top 5 irons I have tested for average golfers.

Verdict: If anyone wants a new iron and plays over a 14 handicap, I would heavily push them toward the G425.

I believe the i59 are in second place only to the i230 for the skilled golfer because:

1. I like how they look at address - a nice top line
2. Very nice feeling through the entire blade - the iron doesn't feel toe or heel biased.
3. My shots went long and distance was consistent.

I found the i59s were very easy to shape but I didn't find the contact as precise and pleasing as the i230 irons above. I was in line with the pin on the greens but perhaps the shafts did not suit me. I just couldn't dial in the radar to get the ball more on line.

They are better looking than the i230 but I did not enjoy the sound of the irons at contact. 

Verdict: Good-looking irons are nearly as good as the i230 but I found more precision with the i230.

Ping G430 irons are as playable, and feel about the same as the G425s, but it is the latest iteration. 

1. Very easy to find the sweet spot
2. The irons give a high and straight flight instead of curving too much right to left
3. The feel is the same as the G425

Ping decreased the lofts in the G430 compared to the G425 but they have added new technology for higher ball flight at lower lofts. 

Conclusion: The G430 are a little bit longer then than G425.

Verdict: If you don't own any G series Ping irons, go for the G430, but if you have a set of G425 or G420, there is no need to upgrade.

The Ping i525 are much more hittable than the i59 but the sound is not as good as the i59.

I cannot fault the performance of these irons other than the clangy sound. It sounds much firmer than the i59.

Verdict: We prefer the higher choices on the list but these are solid irons that would compete with any of the Callaway or Taylormade offerings.

Which PING irons are right for you? 

If you shoot in the 100’s or 90’s, you are probably looking for a club which will get the ball in the air quickly and maximise your distance.

Ping offers a range of clubs which could be suitable for this type of player each with subtle differences. 

Generally the G425 will be excellent for most mid to high handicappers.

For advanced players, the blade Ping irons will be fantastic options.

But like all golf clubs, how they look and feel is just as important as the tech which is built in. You have to look down at your clubs and LOVE them. If you don’t, you need to think about why and reassess your tools. With this in mind, you might find that the best Ping iron for YOU is a blade. It probably won’t be but it could be. 

The coolest golf headcovers need to be cool but they also need to be top quality. If there's anything that turns me off, it's a low quality gimmick. But what turns me on, is a high quality 

Ripping the headcover off the big dog has to fill you with desire and pump before the big tee ball. Pulling off some cheap junk that rips or feels like crap is not allowed here.

The best of the best high quality yet coolest golf headcovers detailed below. 

Through my Youtube channel, I've learned a lot about good and bad quality products. Which is why I designed my own headcovers. The stuff I have been sent by some manufacturers was never good enough to make it onto my channel. 

At the same time, there are some brands I would love to try out myself. I've listed not only my intensely high quality and cool headcovers in the Waddaplaya range, but also some brands I think would legit fit into any true playas bag. including mine.

New designs for the 2022 season in blue, white and black. 

I stand behind this product 100% and turned a headcover into something that actually adds something to your round. There is simply no better feeling in golf, and I mean this, as taking this supreme quality sensual headcover off your driver or fairway wood.

It's the start of a great shot. It's the first trigger move that gets you in the zone, and with the soft, silky touch of the inner of the headcover, to the solid stitching and delicious colors, it's frankly impossible to hit a shit shot.

These are produced in batches and sell out fast! Be sure to sign up to be notified of when they arrive in stock on waddaplayagolf.com

I really wanted to do a collaboration with Sandy Golf Co and Mark is a great cheerful chill guy. I love the designs he pumps out. Due to COVID and other unforeseen issues in my own life, I was unable to follow through on the collab but let's hope so in future!

You can contact Mark through Instagram for orders but due to the current situation, production may be slowed or ceased until the crisis lifts.

The rooster is an animal full of color, full of pride and full of BDE. Using this in conjunction with the Kochenbolz golf polo at Waddaplayagolf will guarantee the cockiest round of golf, but you'll need a stick to defend against all the hens trying to get your attention.

One of the coolest golf headcovers on the internet. Loads of color, and the color scheme will complement your Waddaplaya golf headcover perfectly.

This was a design I was looking at creating in the Waddaplaya line for putters. I didn't go with it though because this one is just what I like. The detail is perfect and the quality is superb.

Another design idea I thought would be a great addition. I just couldn't get it to work in my favor and found this to be a decent vintage looking driver headcover. 

I like novelty items but I like things I will use for a long time. Waddplaya Golf is the culmination of all my experience with accessories in golf and the solution I created is the best, coolest and highest quality headcovers in the game

The best low spin golf ball is necessary for golfers who want to hit the ball longer and straighter - from senior golfer to low handicap player even a beginner, you want a ball with distance and proximity to the target. 

Ask any golfer and they'll tell you a hard golf ball goes farther than a soft golf ball. While that is generally correct, a lot of companies create golf balls that feel softer, producing low spin with the driver while creating high spinning wedge shots. Every golfer can play a low spinning golf ball.

The number of golf ball models available for purchase is larger than ever and you need to know which are low spin balls and how that ball could work with your swing speed and handicap level. I'm going to help you with my 8 best low spin golf balls in 2024.

Higher handicap players and senior golfers often have a high handicap and slower swing speed. Their golf ball must be controllable and give feedback of a soft feeling and most importantly, more accuracy. If you want a reliable soft feeling low spin golf ball, I suggest the Srixon Soft Feel.

The Srixon Soft Feel has two layers with a surlyn ionomer cover which encapsulates a large core. The compression of the Soft Feel is quite low at 60. Soft Feels have a larger core layer which helps to increase ball speeds by lowering spin for more distance. 

The Srixon Soft Feel golf balls come in two colors: white and yellow. For anyone who plays in the high handicap, mid handicap level, you can rely bon the Srixon Soft Feel at a good price. Senior golfers also love the Srixon Soft Feel.

I personally played the Srixon Soft Feel until my handicap was 7. I changed to a urethane ball after I got to single figure handicap.

Key Features

• Two-piece structure with large core
• Ionomer cover
• 338 dimple pattern
• Two glossy colors - yellow and white
• 60 Compression

The Titleist AVX is a pretty amazing golf ball, but you've probably never heard of it. Jim who writes for the site shot his personal best of 79 after switching to the AVX and just couldn't believe how straight it flew. It's a super low spinning ball off the driver and long irons and is designed for a low trajectory. It's a great ball for players who generate too much spin or who want extra distance. 

There is no doubt that this ball is super long. Jim noticed that his shots were flying a full ten yards further than his old gamer, the Inesis Tour 900. You may have heard that the AVX was firm around the greens. Titleist saw this and have made changes to the current version to increase short game stopping power. 

The ball feels super soft on chips and pitches and gives you great feedback off the putter. As you progress into the longer clubs, it firms up to give you supreme control. it's rated at 80 on the compression scale which is must softer than most premium balls. 

It's really hard to find a fault with this ball other than the price. It's one of Titleist's 4 premium balls along with the Pro V1, Pro V1X and Pro V1 Left dash and has the price tag to match. Check it out and see if it suits your game. 

Key Features

• Three-piece premium structure 
• Softer Cast Urethane Elastomer Cover System
• Unique Spherically-Tiled 348 Catenary Dimple Design
• Low Compression - rated at 80

The Vice Drive ball is specifically targeted at low to mid swing speed golfers, with the soft Energy Speed core. It's a great option for these swing speeds which means a lot of senior golfers can also benefit from this golf ball in the same category as the all-time favorite Srixon Soft Feel. As it's a lower spin model, you will notice a more penetrating ball flight off the tee and into the wind. 

The cut-resistant Surlyn cover boosts durability, while wedge spin rates are higher in the latest Drive model for improved control from closer range. It has a solid feel off most of the clubs in the bag which may be a negative for some players. 

Key Features

• Two-piece structure with large core
• Surlyn cover
• 318 dimple pattern
• Low Compression

The Mizuno RB 566V is a 3 piece golf ball, wrapped in ionomer. A unique 566 dimple pattern which has micro-dimples means there is less drag on the ball for the correct level of spin for your needs. 

With the dimple pattern and micro-dimples, the balls launch and descend at a higher angle and makes them more stoppable on the greens. Around the greens, the balls perform well without feeling like they're made of marshmallow or soap. They have a firmer feel but work surprisingly well on the greens with very predictable results which is what you need. 

These are the new premium balls out of Japan with the intention of creating faster ball speeds and with the dimple pattern, delay the descent of the ball as long as possible which creates the steeper landing angle for more stopping power. 

Key Features

• A soft compression, three-piece construction
• 566 D dimple design with microdimples
• High launch characteristics
• Softer rubber core
• Ionomer cover

Bridgestone make another 3-piece surlyn golf ball to feature on this list. The e12 Contact is said to reduce sidespin properties which means less dispersion left and right. In the 3 piece surlyn balls, the softer core with a compression of only 50, is not making contact with the cover and in between the core and the cover is now a mantle which is a firmer layer to produce better energy transfer instead of letting the impact all be absorbed by the soft core. 

This is usually a recipe for slow golf balls. Not with the e12 Contact.

Bridgestone use an Active Acceleration Mantle as an important part of the 3-piece construction. This mantle is made up of a composite material that transfers the power of the shot into the ball and creates a higher initial speed at impact.

Because Bridgestone doesn't rely on the core for the speed, they were able to soften the core to allow for softer response around the greens than most distance golf balls. Remember to separate the spin performance of urethane balls and surlyn balls. This Bridgestone e12 Soft may be a soft and long golf ball with a nice touch, it won't spin as much as a urethane ball.

This ball is for the player who understands their swing and game is not suited to a urethane golf ball. 

Bridgestone have four color choices, with three new matte ones. 

Key Features

• Three-piece construction
• Ionomer cover with a larger softer core 
• 50 compression
• 372  dimple pattern
• Four colors in white matte green, matte red and matte yellow

Wilson DUO ranges of golf balls are extremely popular and before JMac on my channel was a single figure handicap, he only played Wilson DUO's. He's now onto TP5 and Inesis Tour 900 but these Wilsons were his starting point of new golf balls. And the loved them.

The DUO Soft + is a low compression ball at 40 compression that spins nicely on approaches and has a nice soapy soft feel on the wedges and putter. It feels like a Tour ball off the face but of course, the spin is much less than that. For the price, there is not much better out there. 

A weird sensation is the matte colored golf balls. They are the same as the normal balls but for some reason - maybe placebo - they FEEL like they spin more on chips and approaches, as if the cover grips onto the clubface more. 

It's surprisingly a two-piece golf ball with only 302 dimples. When I look at these balls, there are so few dimples that the ball actually looks smaller than it really is which is a mental picture that makes you feel like you can't miss with these low spin golf balls. 

Key Features

• Two-piece construction
• Surlyn cover 
• 40 compression
• 302  dimple pattern

This is one of my favorite balls despite being much maligned lately by My Golf Spy for the issues with the core. In any one of my videos, I may be playing this ball as it's always in my bag.

A soft inner core slowly gets firmer as we move toward the outer edge. The new urethane covering is called Spin Skin and is supposed to grab onto the grooves of your club like velcro and I agree, i get great spin with this ball. Even at a 4 handicap, I can't tell the difference between these and more expensive premium balls.

The new side stamp is excellent with a solid black line with white font inside so you can align your golf ball to your putting line much easier. The ball has a medium 72 compression.

When I hit these balls, I find that they launch high off the driver with a penetrating flight. The roll out on drives is minimal as with most urethane cover golf balls I hit. Where I like the Q Star Tour golf balls is on approach shots. The ball spins enough to stop without ripping back too much. While the back spin of some golf balls looks impressive, I prefer a golf ball that stops where it lands. That's the Q Star Tour.

Key Features

• Three-piece construction
• Thin tour cast urethane cover with energy gradient core
• 338 dimples
• Two color choices (all glosses)
• 72 compression

While faster soft balls are very popular now, In some cases, the lower spin properties of soft balls can compensate for the loss of speed. The flip side is, the lower spin balls do supply much lower spin, which is what we want to often avoid with the iron game.

High speed, high spin players won't worry about lower spinning soft balls because the increase in distance will offset the reduction in spin because they already hit it high and full of spin. 

The urethane covered Tour Response also has the firmer mantle like the surlyn balls above. The low compression core covered in a much firmer mantle, means the soft, slow ball, turns into a quick, long ball that sits down thanks to the cover.  

That's basically how the Taylormade Tour Response works. On a budget too.

As the balls say in their name is Tour Response, they are not illegal golf balls and can be used in all tournaments with USGA approval. These balls are suitable for seniors because of the ultra-low and effortless compression core (40).

These Tour Response balls have three-piece, including a large Hi-Spring core, HFM speed layer, and 100% urethane cover. Although the total compression rate of the ball is 70, its core is soft enough to deliver the true feeling and transfer energy better.

In general, the softer the ball is, the shorter the distance it can reach. However, you will have both the soft feel off the tee and the distance with the Tour Response golf balls. A pure urethane cover is durable and not too hard to hit.

If you are a senior golfer and want to maximize your distance in the game, don’t hesitate to give this ball a try. Each ball has the same number of dimples as the TP5 or TP5x balls. These patterns help maintain the ball’s consistency and fly straight to the target you want.

Key Features

• Three-piece construction
• Urethane cover
• 40 compression core
• 70 compression overall
• 322 dimples

Surlyn

If you need more distance off the tee and shape the ball a big way left or right, the low spin golf balls may be for you. If you prefer a chip and run style of chipping instead of floating high shots, you'll like a low spinning ball. Perhaps you can roll the ball up to the greens and in that case, your approach game will like less spin - these will be the surlyn covered golf balls.

Urethane

But if you prefer to have some spin around the greens, you'll want a ball that spins more on the wedges and chip shots. These will generally be 3-5 layer golf balls with a urethane cover. The manufacturers have engineered them to the point that they have similar low spin on drivers but significantly more spin on wedges and chip shots. 

Player examples

Slow swing speed 

Didi, on my channel, plays to an 8.6 handicap and plays low spinning 2 piece, surlyn golf balls. That's correct, at an 8.6 handicap, he isn't playing a premium urethane high spinning ball.

His game has developed in a way that he wants more distance off the tee as he hits a fade and prefers the lower spin for more rollout and carry. On his approaches, he is often hitting 7 iron and longer into the greens so he plays for the extra rollout. 

Around the greens, he plays the chip and run exclusively and that means he never needs a high spin golf ball to rip back because at his swing speed, and ball flight, he can hardly take advantage of the extra spin. He knows the golf equipment he needs to use to match his game. 

Fast swing speed

Personally, I can play 2 piece golf balls no problem tee to green. With the spin I can generate with the swing speed, the balls stick where they land. The place where I see a clear difference between the urethane multilayer balls and the 2-piece surlyns, is inside 80 yards on partial shots and around the greens, especially bunker shots and floating chips. The low spin balls don't sit as quickly. So I prefer a low-spin ball with a urethane cover off the tee, but by default, the ball will spin more on irons and wedges because of the urethane cover.

Pick carefully.

Hit it high, full of spin but want longer tee shots and confidence that your ball will sit down regardless of the ball you use? Use the surlyn.

Hit it low, with slow swing speed on the irons? Think about the urethane covered low spin golf balls.

Your chips not stopping? Your pitches rolling through the green? Urethane can help.

Low ball hitter with lots of spin? Ball not rolling out on tee shots? Prefer to hit bump and run shots? Surlyn low spin golf balls are fine for you!

Remember, we're not on the PGA Tour so we just need to the best golf balls for us. Pick a couple to try, get your golf clubs, got to the course and hit some shots. You'll soon find the low spinning golf ball for you. 

There is a budget category for golf clubs that include the best budget golf driver, but I have a better idea for you.

My idea is that you take a look at the cheaper end, yes. But also the higher end, perhaps a second hand model of a driver that is 4-5 years old. The drivers made in the last 4 or 5 years have no changed much and you can pick up a steal on either a new or used one.

Of course, if you want to spend as little as possible, I have a couple of options in this guide, but if I can give you one piece of advice it's to spend as much as you can afford on your equipment. It does make a massive difference to play premium materials instead of the composites that the budget manufacturers make. 

How do I know that? I grew up with not much money to spend on golf clubs and so I always played equipment that was WAY inferior to everyone else. My driver was for the longest time some kind of titanium alloy, Taylormade Burner knockoff. It did not perform as well as stuff made just 3 or 4 years prior.

The Cleveland HB Launcher has a very tall dominating face and setting up to the ball, it looks like a traditional Cleveland. Classic shape and tall face with a massive sweet spot, especially forgiving on toe hits. Used or new, it's a bargain and one of unsung heroes of amateur golf when ti comes to accessibility to good equipment at decent prices. 

The club is light and by light, I mean REALLY light. That might not appeal to everyone but it can definitely help pick up an extra couple mph in your swing. If you're hovering around 85 mph, this little beauty can bring you up to 90 mph and give you a few yards more off the tee.

On the crown, the detailing is similar to PING with cool shapes that make the driver look streamlined and powerful over the ball. 

The 460CC head can be adjusted to lofts of 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees. Whether you swing it fast, slow or medium, you can adjust it to create more height and carry.

Wilson's Launch Pad driver has an ultra-thin face to generate much faster ball speeds for which in turn produces longer carries for more distance.  They've expanded the sweet-spot for greater forgiveness but don't think that just because it's a budget golf driver, that it's no good.

Wilson have been around for years, only being overtaken in the modern era similar to Nokia being overtaken by Apple and Samsung. They still make great phones, but people just focused their attention onto the shinier objects. Wilson are always a sleeper pick but currently also produce some of the nicest putters and wedges I have tried. 

The best part of these drivers is how SIMPLE they look at address. There is almost nothing on the crown except a little mark to show the center of the face.

The stock shaft is a Project X HZRDS which is a high quality shaft indeed. The shaft really is the powerhouse of the club and these come fit with a very strong engine.

What I've noticed the most about this club is how on toe hits, the ball actually goes AS FAR AS solid strikes which is perfect for someone like me who hits it toward the toe more often. 

The face has no fancy graphics on it. The crown is super simple and the sweet spot sends feedback up your arms, knowing you've hit it in the pantie.

Looking down at this club is not distracting at all and the top of the crown makes it easy to line the ball up to the sweet spot and with minimal decal and lines on the face, it looks classic and not full of gimmicks. A real simple point and shoot. 

The Mavrik driver is one of the best Callaway have produced. It's said that once Jon Rahm tested this club out, he made the decision to switch from TaylorMade. The Jail Break technology in the crown and head makes it difficult to beat in terms of distance and sweet spot extension.

Callaway put a technology called Flash Face into the driver to help you get more ball speed off the face to gain more distance. In other words, they made a bigger sweet spot on the driver and in the center of the sweet spot, it's even bouncier.

The computers Callaway used cycled through different 15,000 face iterations, learning from each iteration to finally settle on the best option being the technology they call Flash Face.

Jailbreak bars inside the head near the face stiffen and stabilize the crown plus the sole, so when you hit the ball it places the impact load in the right places for more consistent and long ball flight.

You do not need the latest driver if you want to have a nice one. Didi on my channel has recently "upgraded" to this driver because it's 4 models old! 

He was using an RBZ driver prior to this and has seen a massive improvement in drives into the wind. The shape is much more penetrating and his big fade is reduced to a small fade. 

Why I don't suggest super budget driver

I do not recommend really cheap drivers because they stunt your enjoyment of the game whether you're a new player or been playing a while. If you're not playing something in the last 4,5 or 6 years, you're missing out on a lot of fun and a lot of enjoyment of the game.

How I know this, is that my sister took up golf only after she realized that she could finally afford decent equipment. When she was young, she couldn't have nice clubs and so she never got into golf because it was so difficult to play the cheaper, less effective clubs we could afford.

It changes your whole outlook on the game when you have a decent driver not just a junky one that is cheap. 

How much does a good driver cost?

A good golf driver will cost you between $100 and $300. Anything less than $100 will be trash and anything more than $300 probably isn't going to add that much to your game.

Best affordable drivers for high handicappers

If I have to recommend one of these drivers for a high handicapper, it has to be the Cleveland Launcher HB driver. It's the best combination of distance, forgiveness and price. 

Best driver under $400

If you're looking for a new driver under the $400 price tag, the Wilson Launchpad is a great option. 

Best driver under $300

Now available at around the $250 mark, the Cleveland Launcher HB Driver is a complete steal at this price point. Long bombs for little money! 

Best driver under $200

It's hard to believe it, but you can now snag a Srixon Z 585 Driver for under $200. This is one of the best drivers of the last 5 years so you won't be disappointed with one of these bad boys. 

Conclusion

You can go for the ultra budget stuff, or you can settle for a new or even USED item from recent years. I would suggest a second hand driver to extract max value on the best budget golf drivers out there.

Driving irons have become easier and easier to hit for people like you and me who like the look of an iron over the look of a hybrid. I am a huge fan of the driving iron and I've turned a lot of people onto using them through my YouTube channel. I hit the 2 iron driving iron a lot on there!

Before pursuing one of the best driving irons for high handicappers, perhaps take a quick look at the guide for hybrids. They are supposed to be easier to hit, but if, like me, you'd prefer a driving iron, I've listed the best, most forgiving utility irons below.

The Cobra King Utility comes in either a graphite or steel shaft and with the graphite, you'll be able to get a lighter experience but if you're a fast swinger, the steel can match your high handicapper irons.

You want to pay more attention to the 19.5 and 22.5 degree lofts. These driving irons are adjustable and can be set to a "draw" setting to promote more of a right to left ball flight. The 22.5 degree club for example can be adjusted to 21 all the way up to 24 degrees for more forgiveness.

The ball speed is very consistent off the club face between thins and mis hits and center strikes. Cobra are becoming well-know for the forgiveness of their irons for the weekend player and the Utility iron is similar in that regard.

From the top, the iron has a thick top line and the overall look is very similar to a normal iron in your set. From a distance the club LOOKS like a blade but it is not. it's a hollow-backed design and that resembles more of a hybrid action without the extra baggage in the back of the club.

Despite being hollow, it sounds crispy and tasty off the club face and when you pure one, everyone in the vicinity knows it. 

The UHX from Cleveland features a hollow-body construction, same as the Cobra above, delivering more distance with additional forgiveness when comparing to normal irons.

Cleveland's Launcher UHX comes with a graphite shaft and with lofts of 20 degrees for the 4 iron and 23 degrees for the 5 iron, the club is going to help you get it airborne and flying long.

The steel face insert in the variable thickness face delivers stronger ball speeds for distance, reducing the impact of mis-hits off the toe and heel.

Interacting with the turf is much smoother with the v-shaped sole. This is a feature on the Srixon irons. Srixon is part of the same company as Cleveland and XXIO. Quality and value for money combined with forgiveness make Cleveland an EASY recommendation for your game.

They might almost appear to be hybrids, but when you cozy the club to the ball, it looks so different. The TaylorMade STEALTH is a chunky driving iron.

The STEALTH is more prone to a right to left ball flight. Looks-wise, it looks like an iron on the face and the slight offset helps to stop the left to right movement. The sound of the club lets it down with a heavy, thick sound. It can be quite a common complaint with the foam-filled clubs being produced lately.

The STEALTH is much more of a hybrid club so was not included in this purely driving iron list. It will be easier to hit but at the same time, regardless of which model, the best lofts for this driving iron are 21 and 24 degrees.

Remember we want to have a club that is easy to launch and forgiving on mis hits. The GAPR is a solid club.

In the TaylorMade SIM Max DHY, you have a very forgiving DHY (Driving HYbrid). The bottom of the club very thick and full of meat which helps with confidence - as opposed to the razor like thinness of a 1 or 2 iron of old.

The trajectory is higher than the other TaylorMade offerings in the driving iron category because of the hollow-body construction with a low and deep center of gravity. 

It's important to steer clear of the UDI model as this is for better players with more speed. Everything about the UDI model is thinner, smaller and harder to hit. The DHY SIM MAX model has been designed to be the easiest to hit by putting the weight in the sole, not behind the face.

Because of the thick sole, the DHY can be used from the rough as easily as any hybrid. It's a big plus because driving irons can often be seen as only a tee club. I can see this club being used to punch out down the fairway under trees, but from the fairway, I would be worried about chunking the ball because of the massive sole. Tee and rough is where the DHY will shine.

The DHY features a lot more offset than the UDI model which will promote less slice. Using the higher lofted options of 19, 22 or 25 degrees will ensure more forgiveness too and keep the ball flying less offline.

This is not necessarily a driving iron in the true sense of the word but the Callaway B21 Big Berthas have very strong lofts.

The key in this equation is that these irons are extremely forgiving to hit and that 18 degree or 21 degree loft are designed with special technology to help you get the ball in the air. This is a no brainer if you're looking for a single iron to hit off the tee.

You can order the clubs individually by selecting the number iron. I suggest 4 or 5 iron as the 18 degree loft on the 4 iron will be infinitely easier to get airborne than a driving iron with 18 degrees of loft.

The Big Bertha B21's are deep cavity backs with perimeter weighting to give you the most forgiveness on off-center hits. A really simple, efficient solution.

Other similar options would be TaylorMade STEALTH single irons or Cleveland single irons in the 3, 4 or 5 iron model. This is a little secret no one will tell you. Skip the driving iron utility irons and just get a lower lofted forgiving High handicapper iron!

I don't like hybrids personally, as they like to go left and and lefter due to their upright lie angle. I've tried countless hybrids and just always come back to my Srixon ZU85 2 iron. The only other solution I've found is to be a 7 wood which could be a great choice for those with a slower swing speed. 

Some people find the extra junk in the trunk distracting plus the increased offset at address makes the club look closed.

I've found a lot of utility (driving) irons are standard fit with steel shafts and that's a big plus so it can match the behavior of your set of irons. Of course, the driving iron can also have a graphite shaft standard fit, but hybrids all come with graphite shafts.

The Cobra King utility driving iron is the most forgiving driving iron I have tested. However any of the driving irons featured above in the list will be more than good enough for the beginner or high handicapper who doesn't want to game a hybrid. 

In my experience with my driving iron, and letting high handicappers try hitting it after seeing it on my channel, there are some things to consider if it is suitable for you.

Shaft type

My driving iron has a steel shaft and this alone can prevent you from hitting the driving iron well. The shaft weight should be light enough for you to get enough speed on your swing to launch the ball into the air. If your swing speed is too low, you will not be able to launch a driving iron.

The solution is to try a driving iron with a graphite shaft because it is much lighter than steel. Graphites light weight means you can swing it faster without more effort and so generate enough speed.

How do I select the correct loft for my driving iron?

Honestly, at high handicap and slower swing speeds, you should be looking at higher lofts - 20 degrees and higher. As your speed increases, you can look below 20 degrees. 

The current driving irons are higher lofted than the ancient ones which could go down to 15 degrees. Modern ones seem to start around 18 degrees and they're tough to get airborne. They're A LOT easier than the antiquities you can find at junk shops, but still, we want to have a club that is not hard to hit. It needs to be a joy-bringer.

Keep in mind also, that a graphite shaft will be lighter than a steel shaft and can assist in increasing some club head speed.

Utility of the driving iron

Why are you looking for a utility iron? Do you want it for tee shots and approaches?

The driving irons are good from the tee if you need a 180 yard or more tee shot but from the fairway they can be a really difficult club to hit. That is the reason I actually take my 2 iron out the bag sometimes. I love it from the tee but not from the fairway. Be clear on why you want one and if it is the right choice for the purpose you need.

I like to use versatile clubs and in fact, a 7 wood is an excellent choice for a high handicapper. 

Real talk: do not skimp on a driving iron if you do want one. I have hit all sorts of driving irons from bargain barrels and the most expensive ones in golf shots. Because this is a very niche golf club, you want the best you can afford.

The forgiveness in the more expensive, more technologically sound driving irons beats having a cheap piece of junk with no sweet spot. I once owned a Spalding 2 iron driving iron and it turned me off long irons for years. It was impossible to hit that thing. I have tried 15 degree driving irons from junk shops for $5 and there is no best cheap driving iron.

The best cheap driving iron is not cheap - it's probably a second hand expensive one! But I do have an alternative for you below:

There are driving irons that can help you but the secret sauce is in the fact you can just buy a single iron from a forgiving set of any Taylormade, Cobra or Callaway set and it will work maybe EVEN BETTER than a utility iron.

It's a cheap, reliable option and the clubs made in the last 3-4 years are so easy to hit in lower lofts from a tee peg. You can pick up 3 irons, 4 irons, or even 5 irons that are sold loose, not as part of the set. This is a super simple, and cheap way to get a driving iron. 

Have you ever hit one?

I mean that without malice. I've seen high handicappers like Brian (BDog) on my Youtube channel try a driving iron and all he felt was pain and ringing in his hands. He LOVES a hybrid though. 

Other times I've seen my high handicapper partners hitting driving irons and telling me that feel that they can't get a hybrid in the air and the driving iron gives them way more roll out.

It comes down to swing speed and amount of tension in your body. If you have good swing speed, you can go lower lofted. If your swing speed is not fast enough, the driving iron may hurt you more than a hybrid would. Tension in the arms, shoulders or hands will also kill the speed and relaxation needed to hit a driving iron. If you have these two things sorted, you're going to be okay.

It's all personal choice and if you have the speed; or just prefer the look of an iron behind the ball, you have to go with your gut. The aesthetics are 75% of the battle. If you don't like the LOOK of the club, you're not going to hit it well.

You hit the driving iron with a more sweeping action and do not take a very deep divot.

You can hit the ball without a divot at all off a tee peg. I would not try hit it off the ground without a tee on the tee box. 

The number one tip I can give you to hit a better driving iron shot, is to have ZERO tension in the body. Your forearms must be loose, your shoulders relaxed and you must swing smooth. Any tension in the forearms or arms, hands or shoulders will result in a painful strike. You have to hit with 100% commitment and swing the club smoothly without jerky motions. 

Do not try to hit the ball too hard. You must swing through the ball and finish your swing. It's a tough club to master but if you're a natural sportsman you can pick it up in a few dedicated range sessions. 

Taylormade, Cleveland and Cobra are top of forgiveness game in the utility and driving iron world. Make sure you have enough swing speed to get the lower lofted clubs airborne and then proceed with the higher lofted versions to ensure forgiveness.

There's no rule against having multiple driving irons if you prefer them!