The 10 Best Golf Balls For Seniors To Improve Your Shots

Do you have years of experience playing the golf game, but it is not up to the mark anymore due to age? Are you looking to improve your shots and ace your game every time you play? We strongly believe that most seniors are pretty young at heart and do not want to let age get in the way of their game. After all, it is a game, and as such, it has to be enjoyable and fun regardless of age, gender, style, or any other factors.

Today, with the improvement in technology, manufacturers bring you the most appropriate equipment and accessories to suit players' age and styles of playing. Do you have the feeling that you have lost the speed in your golfing game over the years? Choosing the right ball among the different golf balls will give your golfing style the much-required push.

Making the right choice and finding the perfect ball will definitely mean being competitive again in your favorite game and fully enjoying the whole experience without making any compromises. 

This article introduces you to the top 10 golf ball variants that specifically suit the seniors and their gaming style; it additionally uncovers our top pick: The Callaway Golf SuperSoft Golf Ball, which is the Best quality Golf Ball For Seniors based on our tests and the latest extensive customer reviews we considered in our research.

Check Also: Best Golf Balls For Women

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Last updated January 12, 2022. Those are affiliate links, we may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.

I ADORE THE GAME OF GOLF. I WON'T EVER RETIRE.

~ Lee Trevino

What are the key differences between a regular and a senior golf ball?

In the past few years, golf ball manufacturers have made incredible advancements, creating a plethora of different types of balls to suit every single player's style, age, strength, needs, etc. Senior golfers need to choose their golf balls based on many criteria such as compression, cover, construction, and dimples. The goal is to select a ball that requires less effort to travel the longest possible distance.

Compression: low or high?

The compression of a golf ball simply means how tightly wound the threads inside it are, and the level of compression is usually expressed using a rating of around 100 and below. In the end, there are two types of balls: low compression (80 or lower rating, also referred to as soft balls - with the softest balls having a rating as low as 40) and high compression (or hard balls, having a compression rating of 100 or higher). The higher the compression, the harder the ball, and vice versa.

These two types of balls mainly differ in performance. Softer balls require less strength and travel for a longer distance due to their softer texture physically reacting to the golf club, making them more useful for longer, straighter shots.

On the other hand, harder balls require stronger swings and travel for shorter distances; but they provide more accuracy and control. It seems that softer, low compression balls are better suited for senior players, while harder balls are better for younger, stronger, or even professional players.

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Ball cover: Surlyn or Urethane?

The majority of golf balls nowadays are covered either in Surlyn or Urethane. Surlyn-covered balls are less expensive, more durable, and provide more distance than urethane-covered ones, making them a better choice for most amateur players.

The only major disadvantage is that they lack the backspin that many professional and demanding amateurs need to control the ball. Simply put, surlyn provides more speed and distance, while Urethane provides more control despite being slightly more expensive.

Construction: two-piece or three-piece?

Two-piece golf balls are usually composed of a solid core with a hard surlyn cover, while three-piece balls are made of either a solid core or soft liquid core, an outer rubber layer with a soft outer cover.

Two-piece balls are less expensive and more durable than three-piece balls. They are also harder and cover greater distances.

Three-piece balls, however, provide better backspin and feel, which may make them more appealing for some golfers.

Dimples:

The average number of dimples on a golf ball varies between 300 and 500 depending on the model and manufacturer of the ball. The dimples are usually spherical in shape, even though some makers may opt for different shapes, as is the case with Callaway's HX ball having hexagon-shaped dimples. The average depth of the dimples on a ball is about 0.010 inches (0.25 mm).

Those are not a simple aesthetic addition to golf balls, as dimples are scientifically proven to help significantly with the ball's performance. In other words, the dimples on the ball create a layer of air around it that makes its trajectory more predictable, thus providing more control and smoother ball flight.

Moreover, a back spinning ball in the air creates a lifting force by the air that goes underneath it; dimples can magnify this force by about 50%, making it fly higher and cover a longer distance. In a nutshell, dimples are essential to the speed, consistency, control, and smoothness of the golf ball flight.

What to look for when buying golf balls for seniors?

Choosing which golf balls for seniors to buy is a highly subjective matter. Many factors need to be taken into consideration before making the decision depending on the person's preferences and abilities.

Distance 

It seems that the most basic goal for senior golfers is to achieve the longest possible shots requiring the least amount of energy and strength. In this case, low compression soft balls tend to achieve longer distances compared to high compression balls.

The ball cover also matters here, as Surlyn-covered balls can perform better than urethane balls. Simply put, to achieve a longer distance, seniors may opt for either low compression balls or with ones covered in Surlyn. Yet, control will be slightly sacrificed.

Durability

If durability is your main criterion while choosing your golf balls, then your options range between high compression hard balls, Surlyn- covered, and two-piece balls. These are the ones to look for if you want your golf balls to last a bit longer.

One may also look for brands offering balls combining more than one of the options, such as two-piece, Surlyn-covered balls. Some performance will be gained, but at the expense of control and feel.

Feel/Spin

Some senior golfers may still have a preference for control, feel and spin. The best balls to offer better control are High-compression balls, ones covered in Urethane, and three-part balls. These are a little bit more expensive, but if this is not an issue for you, then these are your best choice.

Again, one may look for balls combining two or more of these criteria. These types of balls offer a better feel and spin but require more power, as they need stronger swings to achieve better results and distances.

Color and Visuals

As we grow older, it is normal for vision to decrease; we are not able to see some smaller things as well as we used to when we were younger. It's just how life works. Yet, vision is of utmost importance when it comes to golfing; the whole game relies on it.

Senior players need golf balls that can stand out in the middle of the surroundings and can be perfectly tracked at all times - be it mid-air or on grass. Golf balls come in many different colors, even though white is considered to be the default color. If a different color is to be chosen, it will be better to avoid blue balls, as they don't contrast very well with grass.

Orange is a good option, but it may cause problems during autumn with tree leaves on the ground. The best ball colors to offer better visibility and tracking in the air and on the ground are green (like the Volvik vivid golf balls), pink and yellow. They offer the best visibility anytime, anywhere.

Check Also: Best Glow In The Dark Golf Balls

Value For Money

Usually, golf balls that favor performance over control are relatively cheaper. If budget is an important factor for you to consider when buying your golf balls, then you need to strike a balance between price and performance.

That is, you need to get balls that are a bit cheaper without sacrificing too much on the performance and control departments. Balls like the Srixon AD333, the Titleist Tour Soft, and the TaylorMade Tour Response provide some of the best value for money in the market.

The 10 Best Golf Balls For Seniors Reviews

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Now is the time to find answers to all those questions you have on golf balls for seniors.

So why are there unique golf balls for seniors? Can other players use these balls? What is the ideal swing speed of a senior golfer?

Can senior golf players try other balls? What is the relationship between compression, and how far can you hit it? Does the design on the ball affect the velocity? Well, we may not be able to address all of your questions. However, we have taken down a few of the most common queries senior golfers may have.

So here, we proceed to the Q&A session on golf balls for seniors.

Why are golf balls for seniors different from other balls?

Golf balls for seniors are different due to many reasons. One of the main reasons is the compression. We need balls with low compression so that they can be set in motion with relatively minimum effort. As players age in the game, there is a significant decline in their swing speeds. It is not easy for senior golfers to get to the speed required to launch the ball high. Hence, there is a need for softer balls with improved design and engineering to launch the ball even with slow swing speeds.

We have the best distance golf ball for seniors to achieve a reasonable distance, which may not be possible with the regular balls. Another reason is the visibility; as you may have noticed, most of the golf balls we reviewed come in bright colors so that you can spot them easily.

Ball compression for seniors: low or high?

Golf ball compression refers to the way the core threads are wound together. For instance, when we say a ball has low compression, it means that the threads are not wound together very tightly. Balls with low compression tend to traverse more distance than the ones that have high compression. Senior players with slow swing speeds would prefer and do better off with low compression balls as they will give them the distance and spin. Even beginners, junior players, and women prefer these golf balls for improved playability.

The hardest hitters use high compression balls in the game. They use enough force to flatten the ball on impact. So, high compression balls may not be ideal for senior players.

The verdict is that low compression balls can also be the longest golf balls for seniors. This is also why we have the best low compression golf balls for seniors as a separate category.

What is the average swing speed for a senior golfer?

The average swing speed for senior golfers would definitely be a lot less than players who are in their 20's or 30's. Here, when we refer to senior golfers, we have this threshold of 50 years. Senior golfers who are in their 50's may play at a swing speed higher than a player in his 70's.

The average swing speed of golfers can range anywhere between 60 to 85 mph. For instance, a 50-year-old male golfer may have a swing speed ranging between 85 to 90 mph. As the player ages, he/she may tend to lose the swing speed drastically.

A senior female golfer may have slower swing speeds than their male counterparts. A 50-year-old female golfer can have an average swing speed between 60 and 70 mph. She can also stand to lose five mph every ten years. That being said, the swing speed cannot be tagged at a particular range as it differs from person to person. What we have mentioned here is a rough estimate.

Which golf construction is best for senior golfers?

Golf ball construction comes in 2, 3- and 4-piece construction. Most of the options we have reviewed belong to the two or three-piece category.

Experts believe that senior players who have been witnessing a decline in their swing speeds find a two-piece or 3-piece construction useful to gain more distance. These usually come with a durable yet thin cover made from ionomer, surlyn, or Urethane. Soft balls are more likely to give the best results in senior players with slower swing speeds. Firm balls will need more effort from the player to set them in motion.

These balls tend to give more yardage and good distance coverage. Seniors will have to make slight adjustments to their playing style by hitting short and allowing the ball to roll up to the greens.

Players with a single-digit handicap can play well with the 3-piece construction, which will probably have a urethane cover.

What color golf ball is easiest for seniors to see?

Balls with vivid colors are more likely to be visible and trackable by senior golf players. That's why almost all ball manufacturers are now trying to expand the color options and finishes of their golf balls. However, since colors like blue, purple, or orange may cause issues of contrast in specific conditions (blue and purple not contrasting very well with the grass, and orange being problematic during autumn), the best golf ball colors to consider seem to be yellow and green. They are favored by seniors (or anyone having vision issues) because they provide perfect visibility in the air, on grass, and in any weather conditions. 

Do Soft Feel golf balls go further?

The answer is yes, especially for seniors or any players with low to average swing speeds. Soft feel, or low-compression balls have a compression rating of 80 or less, which means their core is softer than that of high-compression balls. When hit with a golf club, a soft feel ball, and thanks to its softer core, will rebound off the club's face, which will help it go a little further compared to a high compression ball. They also require less strength and swing speed, which makes them perfect for senior golfers wishing to achieve longer distances.

What are the best golf balls for seniors with medium swing speed?

This is a tricky question, as we have mentioned before that the right choice of golf balls depends on the players' personal preferences and playing styles. In addition, in this same article, we have covered a selection of our top 10 golf balls for seniors. But one ball stands out of the lot and seems to be the perfect ball for seniors with medium swing speeds: The Bridgestone e6 soft golf ball. It is an all-around solid performer that manages to bring the best of both worlds, providing longer distances with plenty of feel and control. We believe it is the best ball to use for senior golfers with low to medium swing speeds.

Are there any other considerations when choosing the best golf ball for seniors?

Most of the brands we discussed in the golf balls for seniors category consider factors such as vision, budget, etc., while putting forth their product in the market. It is up to the players to choose the right one based on their preferences and skill level.

Vision – this is one of the crucial aspects of choosing a golf ball for a senior player. As they age, the decline in vision is quite common, and it is ideal to select ones that are brightly colored so they are easy to spot. It also allows seniors to differentiate their golf balls from that of other players. Today you also have some luminescent varieties that are available.

Budget – may be another critical aspect as senior golfers are mostly the retired folks living on their savings. Price is a primary consideration even while choosing any product for that matter. We have reviewed several options that are the best budget buys.

Final Words

All our recommendations carefully consider the different aspects of choosing the best golf ball for the senior players, such as affordability, visibility, quality, durability, etc. Now, it is up to you to choose based on highly subjective likes and preferences to achieve your best possible performance, fully exploit your abilities, and compensate for any age-related issues that may prevent you from achieving the best results.

We have reviewed some of the best brands like Callaway, Titleist, and other brands that do not compromise quality even if they are available at a comparatively lower affordable price.

Out of all the best golf balls for seniors 2021, our top pick is the Callaway Golf SuperSoft. They are super soft, give more straight shots, and are ideal for players with slow swing speed. They are also available at affordable prices to our senior folks.