I'm a new golfer. I've been around it all my life, and everyone in my family plays but me (until I played my first 18 last summer).

Obviously I've got a lot to work on being so new to the game, so I'm wondering what are some good cheap balls?

I've played the following:

Top Flite Gamer - $35 for 2 dozen at Golf Galaxy (liked it best of all I've played so far)

Nike Mojo - $20 for 12 @ Golf Galaxy - liked it

Nike Karma - Gift - liked it

Noodle - can't remember $$ (hated it)

I just won a dozen of Srixon tri-speeds in a scramble.

Please:
1. list your favorite cheap balls to play ($20 per dozen or less

and

2. comment on the following if you have used them:

Top Flite Gamer

Precept Laddie X

Srixon AD333

I've been playing Titleist X-outs. Walmart has them for about $10/dozen. They're not ProV1(x) x-outs. Mostlty NXT's and DT's. They seem to play as well, if not better than the Top Flite XL- Straights I was playing last year. Also could just be my game improving.

also, take a look at this thread

http://www.oobgolf.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1176

I'm currently using TOP FLITE XL-5000 ($15 per dozen) and TOP FLITE D2 Distance($19).

The greens in my area are very hard so backing the ball up is unheard of. These balls have a VERY good lifespan and the price is great.

I've also used the Titleist X-outs with very good success.

kidputter wrote:

I'm currently using TOP FLITE XL-5000 ($15 per dozen) and TOP FLITE D2 Distance($19). The greens in my area are very hard so backing the ball up is unheard of. These balls have a VERY good lifespan and the price is great. I've also used the Titleist X-outs with very good success.

I actually like the Top Flight stuff as well. Most hate them and call them "Top Rocks" which is true, but they are good for distance and roll - not so much around the green and putting surface.

I'm using Callaway Warbirds for the moment at around 10$ dozen. Great ball for the price.

I have used and liked the Precept Laddie X and the Dunlop Loco. I would suggest either of them for players looking for a "bargain" ball.

I just bought another 30-pack of Snake Eyes balls from Golfsmith; only paid a little over $15 after using a 10% off plus free shipping code. I really like the Snake Eyes balls and will continue to buy them as long as they are sold. In my opinion, the Snake Eyes balls are just as long as the Top-Flite XL's but feel softer around the green.

Check them out

http://www.golfsmith.com/products/292522/Snake_Eyes/SDF_Double_15-_Pack#

PS It looks like the price is back to original price = $19.99 for 30 balls.

If you travel, check the PGA Tour Store at the airport (if there is one). Over Father's Day weekend, they were running a deal on Nike One (I think). If I remember correctly, they were $25 for 2 dozen.

As I started to play more often I used the Noodle+. I have a higher ball flight than most, and they performed well with the woods & irons. However, I couldn't get them to check up on greens with my chip shots like I wanted.

I did some research and decided to try out the Top-Flite Gamers. I love these balls! Distance-wise they performed just as well as the Noodle+. The key for these balls is their ability to stop on greens. Now, they don't spin as much as your higher end balls like the Pro V1s. However, any full swing with a 5-iron or below I have full confidence in stopping on the green or even spinning back a little. On my chips, the balls check up nicely.

The last time I played really showed just how much the Gamers helped. I had around 6-7 rounds to get used to how they felt for me. I beat my previous best score by 11 strokes (90 to 79)!!! My playing partners (who are all in the 8-12 handicap range) were having trouble keeping their irons/wedges on the green. Not me! When I took a full wedge swing, the Gamers were like lawn darts! Anytime I missed the green I was able to play the chip I wanted, and usually left myself within a few feet for an easy putt.

(And by the way, I used the same ball for all 18 holes. They hold up nicely, so they stretch your $ out even more!)

I won't be switching from the Gamer anytime soon. Best ball I've played for the money, hands down.

If you are like i am, with an extremely high handicap. i lose about an average of 8 balls every time i go out( because i play a very narrow course) so i use Nitro Blasters very cheap throw aways. I am a big hitter and i can not compare distance with any other ball but i hit these an average of about 270 with my driver. But i haave been on the course less than 10 times in my life so i am still learning to hit it straight consistently. but the balls cost $5 for 15 at walmart. if you don't beat the hell out of a ball like i do they will last a lil while but i have cracked some on impack off a drive. but like i said you get what you pay for.

I bought a 15-pack of Titleist NXT refurb at Wal-Mart. Paid $10. Great feel around the green. Very good control and distance.

kidputter,right you are. Absolutely the best deal in golf. 18 pack of reloads, all of them bright, Titliest NXT*Tours, for about $9.00

Top Flite Gamer's are the best you have listed. The TaylorMade Burner TP is also really good IMO.

Dick's sporting goods recently had the Nike Mojos for $20 for 2 doz. So I picked some up, and I've liked them...but to be honest as a beginner I don't know whether I can even tell the difference of balls. I can however tell how much they hit my wallet. I've also used some Top Flite XL (some number) that I got from Walmart for about $9 for 15. They get the job done too.

decastro3 wrote:

Dick's sporting goods recently had the Nike Mojos for $20 for 2 doz. So I picked some up, and I've liked them...but to be honest as a beginner I don't know whether I can even tell the difference of balls. I can however tell how much they hit my wallet. I've also used some Top Flite XL (some number) that I got from Walmart for about $9 for 15. They get the job done too.

I just bought 3 dozen refinished Titleist Pro V1x balls. Honestly, I saw no difference. Maybe I'm just not good enough to see a difference, I dunno.

The only balls I've really seen a difference with was the Nitro Blaster balls that Typhoon mentioned - and not in a good way. These balls were utter crap...

I'll stick to my cheapie Top Flite XL5000 Super-Straights since they are cheap and I simply haven't found anything better.

I am liking the Noodle + right now. Got a 15 pack for $20 at Target. Took some getting used to as they are a higher compression than what I was used to, but now I am settled in, I am going into my third week playing the SAME BALL. If I get round without losing it next time, I am going to retire its jersey and open a new sleeve.
Previously I used Intech Beta Ti's (great at 47c per ball if you hit the water a lot like I used to when I started playing back in May).
I have tried TopFlite D2 straight in a futile effort to minimise the slice (actually the slice has been getting straighter by itself as I play more often - don't believe the hype).
If I ever exhaust my 15 pack of Noodles then next on the list is the Nike Mojo. Gotta hurry for the 24 for 20 bucks deal.
If I ever bought Pro V's or similar $5 ball, I would probably end up getting the one faulty pack that always finds it way out of bounds and lost forever.