Gear & Reviews · Golf balls

Best cheap golf balls that still perform in 2025

You don’t have to pay tour prices to get a ball that flies straight, feels decent off the face, and doesn’t hurt so much when it disappears into the trees. There’s a big middle ground between “whatever is in the bargain bin” and $50 a dozen tour urethane.

On this page we’re focusing on new, non-recycled golf balls that offer good value for the price. No refinished mixes, no used “lake balls” – just fresh boxes you can trust for everyday play. If you’re also working on understanding your distances, it pairs nicely with our guide on how to judge golf club distances.

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Top picks: cheap golf balls at a glance

Golf ball Rating Approx. price Link
TaylorMade Golf Rocketballz Golf Ball
ASIN: B0CL8228HV
4.7 ★ (1531) $16.99 View on Amazon
TaylorMade Noodle Long & Soft Golf Balls, Ultra-Soft 34 Compression Core, Great Feel and Increased Spin, Patented Dimple Design for Straighter Flight
ASIN: B09F5FN7DT
4.7 ★ (2356) $18.97 View on Amazon
TaylorMade Golf Distance+ Golf Balls
ASIN: B08QSL9XQW
4.7 ★ (10425) $19.97 View on Amazon
Titleist TruFeel Golf Balls
ASIN: B0CPKXFZ5P
4.8 ★ (2229) $24.97 View on Amazon
Zero Friction Stryker Golf Balls
ASIN: B0C7D21MPC
4.5 ★ (28) $16.97 View on Amazon
WILSON 2024 Chaos Golf Balls - 24 Balls
ASIN: B0CQMSWN65
4.8 ★ (503) $24.95 View on Amazon

Prices and availability change fast, especially on value balls. Always double-check the current listing on Amazon before you buy.

Best cheap golf balls – closer look

Here’s a closer look at some of the budget-friendly balls from the table above. These aren’t tour-level urethane models, but they’re perfectly good for most golfers trying to break 100 or 90. If you really want to see what the pros use, check out what balls professional golfers play and what golf balls the top-ranked pros use.

TaylorMade Golf Rocketballz Golf Ball

TaylorMade Golf Rocketballz Golf Ball

Rating: 4.7 ★ (1531 reviews)

$16.99 $19.99

This ball showed up in our search for popular value options and has solid feedback from other golfers. If the price and description line up with what you need, click through to see recent reviews and any multi-dozen deals.

TaylorMade Noodle Long & Soft Golf Balls, Ultra-Soft 34 Compression Core, Great Feel and Increased Spin, Patented Dimple Design for Straighter Flight

TaylorMade Noodle Long & Soft Golf Balls, Ultra-Soft 34 Compression Core, Great Feel and Increased Spin, Patented Dimple Design for Straighter Flight

Rating: 4.7 ★ (2356 reviews)

$18.97

This ball showed up in our search for popular value options and has solid feedback from other golfers. If the price and description line up with what you need, click through to see recent reviews and any multi-dozen deals.

TaylorMade Golf Distance+ Golf Balls

TaylorMade Golf Distance+ Golf Balls

Rating: 4.7 ★ (10425 reviews)

$19.97

This ball showed up in our search for popular value options and has solid feedback from other golfers. If the price and description line up with what you need, click through to see recent reviews and any multi-dozen deals.

Titleist TruFeel Golf Balls

Titleist TruFeel Golf Balls

Rating: 4.8 ★ (2229 reviews)

$24.97 $2.08

This ball showed up in our search for popular value options and has solid feedback from other golfers. If the price and description line up with what you need, click through to see recent reviews and any multi-dozen deals.

Zero Friction Stryker Golf Balls

Zero Friction Stryker Golf Balls

Rating: 4.5 ★ (28 reviews)

$16.97 $0.71

This ball showed up in our search for popular value options and has solid feedback from other golfers. If the price and description line up with what you need, click through to see recent reviews and any multi-dozen deals.

WILSON 2024 Chaos Golf Balls - 24 Balls

WILSON 2024 Chaos Golf Balls - 24 Balls

Rating: 4.8 ★ (503 reviews)

$24.95 $1.04

This ball showed up in our search for popular value options and has solid feedback from other golfers. If the price and description line up with what you need, click through to see recent reviews and any multi-dozen deals.

How to choose a good cheap golf ball

When you’re shopping on price, it’s easy to fall into the “lowest number wins” trap. A better approach is to think about how you actually play and what kind of feel you prefer. You can save money and get a ball that helps your game instead of fighting it.

  • Decide what “cheap” means for you. For some golfers, that means value models from major brands. For others, it means lesser-known brands that offer two- or three-piece balls at a discount. Either way, don’t buy something you’ll resent losing.
  • Match compression to your swing speed. Slower to moderate swing speeds often benefit from lower-compression balls that feel softer and are easier to launch. If you’re not sure where you stand, our guides on average golf scores and how to calculate a golf handicap can give you context for your skill level.
  • Think about feel around the greens. Even on cheaper balls, there’s a big difference between “rock hard” and “soft enough.” If you like touch shots and bump-and-runs, err toward models that mention softer covers or better short-game feel.
  • Color and visibility. High-visibility yellow or other colors can be genuinely helpful if you tend to lose balls in rough or low light. The less time you spend searching, the more fun the round.
  • Buy in the right quantity. If you’re still losing a handful of balls per round, it may make sense to buy bigger packs of budget balls rather than small dozens of premium models.

Cheap doesn’t have to mean bad. Once you find a ball that feels decent off the face and doesn’t punish you on mishits, stick with it for a while so you can focus on improving your swing instead of constantly adjusting to a new feel.

Cheap golf balls vs premium tour balls

It’s easy to assume that you “need” the same ball the top-ranked players on TV are using. In reality, most everyday golfers will score just as well—or better—with a more forgiving, lower-cost ball that fits their swing and budget.

When cheap golf balls are a better fit

  • You’re still losing several balls per round and don’t want to bleed money.
  • Your main goal is keeping the ball in play and building confidence off the tee.
  • You’re working on contact and consistency more than shot-shaping around the greens.
  • You mostly play casual rounds with friends and local leagues.

When premium tour balls start to make sense

  • You usually finish a round with the same ball you started with.
  • You can feel and control spin on wedges, pitches, and chips.
  • You care about dialing in exact launch and spin numbers with your fitter or coach.
  • You’re chasing small performance gains to squeeze out a few more birdies.

If you’re curious about the “top end” of the market, you can always read more about what balls professional golfers use and which models the top-ranked pros put in play. But for most golfers, a solid cheap ball is more than enough.

Tips for getting the most from budget golf balls

Once you’ve picked a value ball you like, a few simple habits will help you get more out of it—and maybe lose a few fewer.

  1. Stick with one model for a while. Bouncing between brands every round makes it hard to build a consistent sense of feel and distance.
  2. Use a simple marking. Add a small line or dot pattern so you can quickly tell your ball apart from others in the group and use the line to help with putting alignment.
  3. Play the right tees. If most holes feel impossibly long, you might be on the wrong set of tees. Our guides on which tees you should use and what equipment you need to start golfing can help.
  4. Use your practice time well. Spend some time hitting half- and three-quarter shots with the same ball you play on the course. That consistency pays off fast.
  5. Track basic stats. Even a simple note of fairways hit, greens in regulation, and putts per round can help you see whether a new ball is helping or hurting.

As your game improves and your average score drops, you can always experiment with different balls. Starting with something affordable takes the pressure off while you learn.

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