I could tell you that consistent practice and lessons will guide you to a scratch handicap, but from my experience, that is untrue. A combination of practice and playing, a strong mind, and talent are essential to achieving this goal. In this post, I share 10 expert tips on how to become a scratch golfer.

I have played team golf with four players that are now professional golfers playing their trade on various tours around the globe. We all had the same coach and practice regiment. However, they had a natural talent and a strong mindset that led them to a zero handicap and a tour card.

Some players have what it takes, and others do not. But I will explain how to best position yourself to achieve this goal.

What Is a Scratch Golfer?

Simply put, a scratch golf player has a handicap index of 0. Therefore, they must shoot even par in 18-holes to play to their handicap. If the total par is 72, a scratch golfer is expected to return that score on an average day.

When a scratch golfer plays well, they will card several birdies and finish their round under par. Conversely, bad days lead to the scorecard reflecting over par.

How Realistic Is It to Reach This Level of Play?

Not everyone can reach the level of a scratch golfer. I want to remove the fairytales and focus on the facts. You need to possess an element of talent and dedicate yourself to playing and practicing consistently.

Casual players who hit the golf course a couple of times a year are unlikely to lower their number of strokes to the range of a scratch golfer. Conversely, those who train and play consistently are not guaranteed to become lower handicap golfers.

It is realistic if you thoroughly understand golf swing mechanics, course management and improve the weaknesses in your game. Plus, you must have a steel mind that shrugs off a bad shot and encourages resilience.

10 Tips to Help You Become a Scratch Golfer

1. Get Fitted for The Correct Equipment

The first step to becoming a scratch golfer is to get fitted with the correct equipment for your game. A high handicap golfer is typically oblivious to which golf clubs and ball best suits their golf swing. That is why I suggest visiting a professional fitter sooner rather than later.

They will set you up on a launch monitor and analyze each part of your swing through impact. Statistics provided to you by the launch monitor include clubhead speed, club path, backspin, sidespin, apex, direction, and distance. Plus, they assess your putting stroke to find the ideal design for your setup.

Fitters have you test various clubs during their search for your holy grail. In addition, they determine which golf ball is compatible with your swing.

Although their work involves analyzing stats, posture, swing, and ball position, they have two objectives. Find the equipment that maximizes your distance without compromising accuracy.

Without the correct tools, you cannot expect to reduce your total number of strokes from that of a bogey golfer to the level of scratch players. That is much like sending a soldier to the front line with a knife, expecting them to win the battle.

2. Take Lessons

Hopefully, you took a golf lesson or three from a PGA professional when you first took up the game. That would have taught you the basics, such as How to grip the golf club, alignment, ball position, and rotation.

However, a couple of lessons will not cut it. You need to consistently work with a coach to neutralize any issues as soon as they arise. Otherwise, you walk off the golf course, pondering how one lousy hole prompted a disastrous round.

Then, you hit the range and keep making the same mistake without comprehending your errors and how to fix them. The experienced eyes of a coach will detect your issue, help you correct it, and then work with you to get back on track.

Regular lessons basically prevent bad habits from seeping into your game and imploding your mission to be a scratch handicap.

3. Practice with a Purpose

One of my friends, Pete Arnott, coaches amateurs and professionals in Scotland. We recently spoke about practicing with a purpose and how that sets amateurs from the pros.

He used the example of Tiger Woods, who would pick out a spot on the driving range and hit different shots to reach that point. For example, he would hit a full, straight 7-iron to the target, followed by a draw and a fade. Then he would hit a 6, 5, 4, and 3-iron and attempt to land it on the desired spot.

The point is that Eldrick had a mission to land as many balls as possible in the same spot by playing different shots. This gave him multiple shot options from that distance to navigate varying weather conditions and golf course layouts.

By the end of his practice session, he had improved his ability to stick it close to the target from that distance. Therefore, practicing with a purpose helped boost his game.

Before you learn how to hit a draw or fade, I urge you to improve your accuracy and distance control with a straight flight. Start with your highest lofted wedge. Pick out a point in line with your average full wedge distance, and hit 20-shots to that target. After your 20th shot, take a break and analyze the results.

If you achieved a 70% success rate, move on to your next wedge and follow the same procedure. Work your way through your bag and dial in every club in your bag. That is one example of numerous methods to practice with purpose and actually see improvement in your game.

4. Play Often

While some golfers make our game look like it requires minimal fitness, that is fake news. You can practice all you want on the range, but if you do not take those teachings to the course, you will struggle to lower your handicap.

There are 3 elements involved here; walking, winging the club, and your mental state. You need endurance to navigate 18-holes of golf consistently, which comes when you play golf frequently.

When you are exhausted after the hole 12th, it is impossible to focus. That leads to a lack of power on your downswing and reduced hip and shoulder rotation.

As a result, you produce inaccurate shots and lose distance. That is one way to rapidly ruin your round. A couple of duffs and miscalculations can add those feared squares to your scorecard.

5. Master Your Short Game

A solid short game is vital to reach a scratch handicap. If you cannot execute chip shots and struggle to putt, a scratch handicap is an insurmountable challenge. Pencil in a short game session, at least once a week, to hone in on your performance around the green.

When you possess the ability to get up and down from around the green, it enables you to escape disastrous situations. Instead of a bogey, you walk away with a par and do not destroy your round.

Besides, saving your round increases your chances of carding birdies. Golfers who know how to stroke a flat stick stand a higher chance of carding birdies during their rounds. 1-under par holes are essential to becoming a scratch golfer.

We have a guide dedicated to the 9 best short game drills. Give this a read if you are searching for exercises to boost your greenside skills.

6. Learn How To Scramble

Players unfamiliar with the term should read our guide called what is scrambling? But, if you know how to scramble, you should improve your skills. You will rarely achieve a 100% fairways in regulation record every round. As a result, you need to prepare to escape tricky situations.

When you are in the thick rough, the sand, or behind a tree, you need to learn how to escape with minimal wounds. Therefore, you need to play smart and put yourself into a position where you can attack the flag and one putt to get down for a par.

High handicappers would implode in this quagmire and try and hit the ball through a 1-foot gap in the tree. Despite missing the 21-yard fairway, they still think they can execute with precision.

7. Shape Your Shots

I said earlier that you should focus on hitting the ball straight before embarking on a shot-shaping mission, and I stand by that. However, as you lower your handicap and know your way around the course, the next step is, shaping your shots.

The ability to hit a draw or fade enables you to position yourself optimally on doglegs and work your ball around trees and obstacles. Plus, working your ball from left to right allows you to remove hazards and trouble from your line. Plus, you can induce these shapes to play with the wind rather than into it, resulting in a loss of distance.

8. Play with a Caddie

Certain golf courses do not offer caddie services, but if your local does, take advantage of their knowledge. I credit most of my results on the course to my caddies as a junior. Edwin guided me to make the right club and shot selections, taught me how to read greens, and play off different lies.

Having a caddie gives you one less element to worry about when on the golf course. You do not have the heavy load of your bag on your back, and you have a second opinion before making a shot decision.

Finally, it helps if you can build a long-term relationship with a caddie, as I did with Edwin. He understood my game, my thought process, and what shots I could and could not execute. Thanks to him, I made better decisions that saved me strokes when I could easily have carded a double or triple bogey.

9. Improve Your Course Management

Amateurs often step onto the tee box and start swinging. There is no thought about the hole’s layout and where they should place their ball. Course management requires you to think astutely and play for your position. Effectively, you ask where should my ball land on this shot to give me the best chance at attacking the flag on approach?

Manage each shot and think about position. It is, of course, easier to make birdies from the fairway than from the woods.

For example, if water runs along the left side of the hole, you should avoid this area like the plague and instead aim to the right. That completely eradicates the threat of the water hazard.

10. Learn Green Grass Grains

My final word of advice revolves around grass strains. Each type of turf performs differently and impacts the result of your putt. For example, Bermuda grass produces fewer breaks when putting with the grain of grass. Conversely, bentgrass grows upwards and enables balls to break in every direction.

Bermuda greens are slower, while bentgrass produces increased speed. In addition, there is a third strain of grass used on golf courses, called Poa. This grass creates inconsistencies on the green by offering a pure roll one moment and deviating bobbling ball the next.

The point is that each grass strain impacts your putting experience. If you do not know how to play these greens, you will battle to play to a scratch handicap. Especially when you play at away courses covered in grass that you are unfamiliar with.

Further Reading: If you are a beginner, I suggest you learn to crawl before you can run. Study our review on how long it takes to get good at golf, and then come back to this post.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years. Current Handicap: 8

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Everyone has an opinion on golf fitness. Your playing partner swears by the Tuesday spin class. The guy at the range is convinced his rotator cuff routine changed his life. The internet influencer will sell you a 12-week program promising 30 extra yards if you just comment and buy the right resistance band.

Here’s the truth: most golfers are undertrained, moving poorly, and leaving distance, stability, and longevity on the table. This doesn’t happen from a lack of talent, but because nobody ever gave them an honest foundation to build on. The good news is that strength training for golf doesn’t need to be complicated.

Below, you can see five exercises that are great for your golf game. Give ’em a shot.

1. Split Squat

Take a medium to large step forward so that your back foot ends up on your toes, keep front foot flat on the floor. Begin the squat movement and lower under control, think about dropping the back knee straight down towards the floor. Then drive the front foot down in the ground, push hard through and stand straight up. Keep the pelvis neutral. Don’t let the trail hip hike or the low back extend to finish the rep.

2. Kick stand RDL

Stagger the feet, soft bend in the front knee, hinge at the hip until you feel the hip and hamstring load. Keep the weight close to the leg. Stop when the pelvis starts to rotate — that is your end range, not the floor.

3. Half-Kneeling Single-Arm Cable Row

Down knee same side as the pulling arm. Cable at chest height. Drive the pull with the scapula; feel it in the upper back, not the armpit. Hips stay square. If they rotate to assist the pull, the load is too heavy.

4. Half-Kneeling Landmine Press

Down knee same side as the pressing arm. Load the trail hip before you initiate. Drive from the hip through the shoulder — not just an arm press. Control the bar on the way back down.

5. Half-Kneeling Cable Chop

Cable set high. Down knee on the side you’re chopping toward. Take an overhand grip on a rope handle, pull diagonally from high to low, finishing outside the opposite hip. Resist the rotation as the trunk controls the arc, the arms just hold on.

Four-week progression

Week 1

Position and movement quality only. Keep loads light enough that every rep looks like the first. Three sets of eight on each side. 90 seconds rest between sets.

Week 2

If movement quality held up, increase the weight by a small increment — 2.5 to 10 lbs depending on the exercise. Three sets of eight on each side. 90 seconds rest between sets.

Week 3

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Golf often gets a bad wrap sheet for stuck-up individuals who do not welcome outsiders to their private establishments. Despite that stereotype, there is a lighter side to the game.

In this post, I take you through 30 funny golf terms and sayings every golfer should know.

I have compiled a list of classic terms that golfers globally can relate to. Plus, I included some that I learned growing up in South Africa. These terms refer to the conditions of courses, shot shapes, and scores.

1. Goat Track

When you grow up in a rural area as I did, you become used to poorly-maintained layouts and cheesy livestock references. A goat track was the term of choice in my neck of the woods for shoddy golf courses. You struggle to distinguish the fairway from the rough, and the greens are actually brown.

A goat track in my town meant the same as the phrase dog track that you employ in the United States.

2. Robbed

I am well versed in this term. Being robbed on a golf course happens when your ball lips out of the cup. Then it stops on the edge of the cup or just rolls by. On a good day, that would drop, but when the Golfing Gods are against you, you cannot win.

3. James Joyce

James Joyce was an Irish novelist praised for his intellect and wit. However, his work is lost on many readers who find it difficult to understand and follow. The golf term references putting lines that are near impossible to judge. This is especially true on links courses where undulation attacks at every turn.

4. The Cat Box

A cat box in golf references a sand trap. While you fill your feline’s toilet with absorbable clay, bunkers generally contain Silica sand. Either way, you do not want to drop your cat’s litter or a sand bunker.

5. Dew Sweepers

When possible, I prefer to grab the earliest tee time of the day. The course is quiet, and you do not have anyone in front of you, enabling you to set the pace of play. Getting up this early makes me part of the elite global senior’s club called the dew sweepers. Jokes aside, a dawn patrol round is an ideal way to start your day.

6. The 19th Hole

Although your scorecard only caters to 18-holes, it is the 19th which is most important in my eyes. This is the bar. A social environment to reminisce about the round and forge lifelong friendships. No matter how well or bad you played, the 19th hole makes you remember what matters in life.

7. Fresh Air Shot

None of us wish to admit it, but we have all had a freshy at some point in our golfing careers. A fresh air shot happens when you swing and miss the ball completely. Despite not touching the ball, your intention to strike it counts as a stroke. This is unfortunate for the victim but forever hilarious to their playing partners.

8. Banana Ball

Think about the shape of a banana. It curves slightly, the same direction your golf ball does when you catch it with an open or closed clubface. A banana ball describes a sliced shot, where your ball curves from left to right if you are right-handed. Yet another term you do not want to hear.

9. Rainmaker

If you generate excess backspin rpm off the clubface, your ball balloons into the heavens before falling rapidly back to earth. The term rainmaker suggests that your ball flew so high that it descends rapidly from the sky like a rainstorm.

10. Texas Wedge

My putter is my favorite club in my golf bag. So much so that I use it off the green whenever I can. I am not alone in this philosophy, and there is a slang term to describe this heathenism. It’s called a Texas wedge.

Ben Hogan is said to have coined the phrase based on his experience in the lone star state. The small dome greens, high winds, and tight lies made it safer to putt than pitch your ball.

A recent example of spectacular Texas Wedge play came from Cam Smith at the 2022 Open Championship. He putted the ball from off the green, around a bunker, setting himself up for a testing par attempt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqgPmJk5vCQ

11. Four-Jack

Four-Jack, like Three-jack, refers to the number of putts you had on a hole. Four-Jack specifically represents a 4-putt, which is painful and humiliating. Especially if you hit a par 5 green in 2 and a 4-putt for a bogey.

12. Snowman

A snowman is a score you never want on your scorecard. An 8 represents a snowman, based on the shape of the number. If you make an 8 on a par 3, you record a quintuple bogey, while the same score on a par 4 is a quadruple bogey. Finally, an 8 on a par 5 is a triple bogey.

13. Fried Egg

Landing in the bunker is demoralizing, but as bad as you think it is, there is always the chance of it being worse. A fried egg is one way to rain on your parade.

This means that most of your golf ball is lodged into the sand, and only the top part sticks out. It resembles a fried egg, with the yolk towering over the egg whites below. A fried egg is difficult to control for amateurs and professionals, leading to erratic results.

14. The Dance Floor

A funny synonym for the green is the dance floor. This is where all the action happens, and you must bring your A-game. If your putting stroke is off, you miss opportunities, lose strokes and go home feeling sorry for yourself. Much like a night out with the lads.

15. Mickey Mouse Course

A Mickey Mouse course takes a goat track to a new level. These layouts have short holes compared to other golf courses and suffer from poor maintenance. You needn’t be a long hitter to knock your ball onto the green. However, good luck trying to read the putts on the cabbage patch greens.

16. Victory Lap

When your ball does a victory lap, it is nerve-racking for every golfer. Your ball makes it to the cup and decides to inspect the layout of the land. It circumnavigates the hole before dropping in. Rolling around the cup counts as the victory lap before the ball sinks into the hole to secure a lower score.

17. The Drink

There is nothing intelligent about this term, only logic. The drink refers to the nearest water hazard in play. When the drink is in play, you can play safe and lay up or go for glory, bearing in mind a high risk.

18. Oscar Bravo

I like the name Oscar Bravo, it has a ring to it. This slang term takes the code words from the phonetic alphabet for O and B. O represents out of, while B stands for bounds. Therefore, you say Oscar Bravo when you are your playing partner sacrifices their ball out of play.

19. An Ostrich

As an African, I had to throw in one term that was thrown around my club. An ostrich is the grandest known living bird, but it cannot fly. However, it gathers some impressive speed, sprinting up to 43 mph.

On the links, we called an ostrich a shot that struggled to get off the ground but ran an impressive distance.

20. Yips

Yips are a psycho-neuromuscular impediment that hampers your muscle memory and ability to swing the club and strike the ball. I remember watching Sergio Garcia at the Nedbank Million Dollar when he got the yips. He literally couldn’t strike a golf ball. A few years later, I experienced the same. I could not stroke anything within 5 feet cleanly.

21. Scrambling

Scrambled eggs generally contain a mix of ingredients that form a delicious creamy texture to be enjoyed on toast or as is. Scrambling references a mixed bag of shots, yet you still manage to make a par.

For example, you hit your drive into the woods, then your second into the bunker. Next, you send your third shot 15 feet past the hole and drain the putt. Therefore, you were all over the place and still managed a par.

22. Breakfast Ball

An unwritten rule among buddies. When you tee off first thing in the morning, casual golfers enable a breakfast ball. This credits you with a mulligan should your first shot finish in an undesirable lie.

23. Ace

Ace is derived from the Latin term ‘asa.’ Asa was the smallest coin denomination in Ancient Rome. Therefore it is featured at the top of the list of denominations. The English later adopted the term to mean the ‘first one’ or the ‘best one at something.’

Therefore, when you card a hole-in-one the term Ace is fitting, as it describes you being the best one at that hole. Hole-in-ones are most common on par 3’s, where the achievement is also called an eagle. In addition, I have played with two players who carded aces on a par 4. That is also known as a double eagle or albatross.

24. Foot Wedge

I am not condoning this behavior but instead telling it how it is. A foot wedge is not a golf club. The term describes a golfer who kicks the ball into a favorable position. This is cheating and should not happen on a golf course.

25. Chicken Stick

A chicken stick is the most trustworthy golf club in your bag. No matter the lie, you can rely on this club to get you out of trouble and back into play.

26. Hosel Rocket

Another term you never want to hear coming your way is ‘hosel rocket.’ This is a classic shank where your hosel connects the ball and sends it rocketing directly right if you are right-handed. After a freshy, this is the most embarrassing result for a golfer.

27. Duck Hook

A duck hook is an unpleasant sight if you are the one who struck the ball. However, your playing partners find it hilarious. Your ball leaves the clubface and hooks violently to the left for right-handers.

Golf Monthly alleges that the animal reference in the name has less to do with the fuzzy creature and more to do with the action. When your ball hooks ferociously, it ducks into the rough or woods, leaving you with limited options for your second shot.

This definition of duck refers to taking cover or evading duty or responsibility. Therefore, your ball ducks behind trees, evading the fairway.

28. Platypus

The opposite of a duck hook is a platypus. The rarity of sighting a platypus makes it an apt comparison for hitting your ball out of bounds and still making par. It is uncommon and deserves a unique name.

Over in my neck of the woods, we would use fitting names for the area, such as a white rhino.

29. Swing Oil

Every time I hear this saying, it reminds me of Bender from Futurama. He needs hard liquor to keep him oiled and operational. On the golf course, swing oil generally means a beer. However, if hard tac or wine enhances your performance, keep doing what works for you.

30. Toothed It

If someone says they toothed their shot, they hit the ball off the bottom of the clubface. This means the ball produces less spin, flies low, and does not sit down rapidly. Plus, it sends vibrations up the shaft and shocks your hands.

Related Reading: Speaking of golf terms, we have more where that came from. Find yourself the perfect golf companion with our 50 pick-up lines to help you score.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years. Current Handicap: 8

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Handicaps help level the field in golf. Their inclusion in rounds means that, in theory, two golfers of different abilities can compete with one another fairly. But, if you’re a beginner, you may have wondered what the handicap for an average golfer actually is.

In short, it’s a little more complicated than there being just one average handicap. Lots of variables contribute to your handicap, from age and gender to location.

Here, you’ll find the standard ranges for those demographics to see just how close to the average you are.

What is a handicap?

Before delving into what the handicap for an average golfer is, it’s important to fully understand what we actually mean by a handicap and what it’s used for.

A handicap is a means by which golfers can establish their overall skill level, contextualise their scores and compete on a level playing field with players of differing abilities. It’s a number between zero and 54, which is combined with the gross score over the course of a round to create a final, net score. In theory, the lower your handicap, the better the golfer you are.

For many years, countries operated under their own systems for calculating a handicap. But in 2020, the World Handicap System was introduced to standardise handicaps worldwide, assigning golfers a Handicap Index. 

This Handicap Index is based on a golfer’s last 20 rounds and the average of the best eight scores from them. This is then combined with the difficulty of the course to determine how many shots a player receives over the course of a round.

So, for example, if a player with a handicap of 15 played against a player with a handicap of 10, they’d receive a shot on the five hardest holes. This allows them to compete more closely with a player who is – in theory – more skilled.

The handicap for an average golfer

As previously mentioned, handicaps range from 0 to 54. A player with a handicap of zero is known as a scratch golfer. They would be expected to complete a round to par or better than par.

Players with a handicap of zero or 54 are both rare. Scratch golfers are extremely skilled, and players with a Handicap Index of 54 make up a tiny portion of golfers globally.

England Golf reports that the overall average Handicap Index in the country is 19.37.

Average handicap for different genders

The R&A reports that the average Handicap Index for a male golfer is between 14 and 17, while for a woman it is between 27 and 29.

Specifically, according to England Golf in April 2025, the averages stand at 18.60 for men, 29.33 for women, and 19.37 overall.

This does differ slightly in the USA, 2025’s average Handicap Indexes were 14 for men and 28.8 for women, according to Golf.com.

There are various theories as to why the average handicap for men is lower than that of women. Rather than it simply being down to ability, it’s likely that participation rates, particularly in competitive participation, underpin the disparity.

While the number of women playing golf is rising in England and around the world, it still pales in comparison to that of men. According to England Golf, there were 1.46 million female golfers across the country as of September 2025, with The R&A reporting that there are over 36 million female players globally – but among the 108 million players worldwide, it’s still a small proportion.

Average handicap for different ages

Age also plays a key role in the distribution of handicaps. A Handicap Index between 16 and 20 is expected of men over 60, while women sit around the 30 region, according to England Golf.

It’s important to factor in that the average golf club member is reported to be 53.78 years old for men, but the average goes above 60 for women.

Average handicap for different abilities

One of the best things about handicaps is that they’re a great way of establishing your overall golfing ability.

England Golf suggests that the average Handicap Index for beginners is above 28, meaning you’d be expected to complete a course at least 28 strokes over par. So, if you’ve just started out and discover that your Handicap Index is much higher than you’d hoped it might be, don’t worry. This is normal.

Once you start improving, you can expect your handicap to drop below 27. And once you’re more experienced, an average of 14-19 is normal for men.

Between 14 and 28 are the levels at which most players’ Handicap Indexes will remain for the majority of their golfing years – and that’s okay! You’ll likely find that the casual golfer isn’t completing most holes to par. Bogeys are normal, as are double bogeys.

If you want to improve further, a handicap between 10 and 13 is really good, and between one and nine is absolutely excellent. Then there’s zero and below – the score of scratch golfers expected to complete a course either to par or under par.

Making it to the level of a scratch golfer is incredibly rare. The United States Golf Association reports that less than 1% of its players are scratch golfers. If you’re one of the rare few who make it to that hugely high level, don’t expect any favours on the course!

Key things to remember

The key point to remember is that the average Handicap index is closely linked to specific factors. It’s different for men and women, Brits and Americans, and players of different ages.

It’s also worth remembering that the majority of golfers are not at the extreme ends of the spectrum. You may have a Handicap Index of 54 at first, but it likely won’t stay this way for long. Similarly, you likely won’t encounter too many players with Handicap Indexes close to zero.

Most golfers will stay within 14 and 28, and that’s absolutely normal. Wherever your Handicap Index sits, it’s a great means by which you can keep track of your progress and compete with opponents of every level.

And if you’re playing with a high handicap, here are a few tips for choosing the best irons.

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Wilson Golf has advanced its award-winning Staff Model golf ball franchise with the introduction of two new tour-calibre performance offerings – the Staff Model and Staff Model X.

Building on the global acclaim earned over the past two years for exceptional all-around performance, the latest four-piece urethane constructions deliver enhanced speed, control, durability and feel for elite players.

Both models are also available in the popular TRK360 alignment-focused design, providing golfers with improved visual feedback and precision on the greens.

“The new Staff Model and Staff Model X golf balls are engineered with distinct performance attributes to meet the needs of different elite players,” said Frank Simonutti, Global Director of Golf Ball Innovation.

“We wanted to build on the momentum we’ve had over the last few years, which is our premium balls stack up to anything else on the market and it’s good to see so many golfers are putting them in play,” he added.

The balls are engineered using advanced V-COR performance technology which utilises a unique core composition to magnify energy and generate maximum velocity off the club face for the fastest ball speeds on the market, according to internal testing*.

Staff Model

The Staff Model ball features a compression of 90, which is 10 points softer that the Staff Model X. This ball is designed for the elite golfer who wants the performance of a Tour caliber golf ball but prefers a lower spin rate than a harder urethane ball.

The 2026 Staff Model iteration produces ball velocity, distance, and a lower spin rate (~ 3.5% to 4%) than “harder” premium urethane balls on both driver and irons. The ball utilises a soft-compression rubber core, a softer inner mantle layer to control driver spin, a hard ionomer outer mantle layer for velocity and distance, and a thin, soft cast urethane cover layer for exceptional spin on approach shots.

The dimple pattern of the Staff Model ball comprises 362 dimples arranged in a modified hexahedral pattern. The dimple pattern is designed to produce the optimum flight trajectory to maximise distance performance.

Staff Model X

The new Staff Model X remains the World’s Fastest Urethane golf ball but now offers a softer feel and sound to address feedback from Wilson Tour professionals.

This was achieved with a construction comprising a small, mid-compression core, a soft fatty-acid modified terpolymer inner mantle layer, an extra-stiff ionomer outer cover layer, and an ultra-thin cast urethane cover.

The softer compression core, compared to the previous Staff Model X, reduces driver spin rate, the soft inner mantle layer provides a combination of velocity and feel/sound, the stiff outer mantle layer provides ball velocity, and a thin, soft cast urethane cover combines with the outer mantle layer to provide exceptional spin on approach shots.

The dimple pattern of the Staff Model X is a 362 hexagonal seamless dimple pattern designed to produce the optimum flight trajectory to maximise distance performance.

For added shelf appeal to global golfers, both Staff Model balls incorporate new eye-catching premium packaging to match its on-course performance.

The Staff Model is now available in a standout Graphite Box design alongside the Staff Model X in its Champagne Bronze colourway.

TRK360

Both the Staff Model X and Staff Model balls are also available with the popular TRK360 design.

The 360-degree visual alignment lines are offered in a muted black and silver stripe to help golfers aim more accurately at their target but not become a loud, visual distraction.

The side seam stamp doubles as a training aid during putting practice, with a smooth, end-over-end roll indicating a well-struck putt, while any wobble reveals an off-centre strike.

For more information on the new Staff Model ball range and all Wilson Golf products, including woods, irons, wedges, putters, balls and accessories, visit www.wilson.com

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Let’s face it. Our poor earth takes a beating from us on a daily basis. From big diesel engines to materials that simply can’t be recycled, our environment is always fighting some sort of battle.

Unfortunately, this also happens on the golf course whenever a ball is hit into the woods or water. Thankfully, golf ball manufacturers now offer biodegradable golf balls that are much easier on the environment. These are some of the most remarkable inventions in modern-day sports!

We’ve researched all of these types of golf balls and have come up with the following list of the 4 best biodegradable golf balls. Using any of these options will make golfers feel better when they hit an errant tee shot into the trees or a pond.

1. Biodegradable / Water-Soluble Golf Balls

Pros

• Available in 1,2, or 8 dozen packages
• Currently on sale for 43% off if you buy 1 dozen
• Bulk discounts are available for golfers who buy 2 dozen ($2.91 each) or even 8 dozen ($2.81 each)
• Made in Vancouver by folks who are passionate about golf and protecting the earth
• Each golf ball will completely dissolve if it’s hit into the water, which helps protect marine life
• No more feeling guilty after hitting a lousy tee shot or approach shot into a water hazard
• It will also gradually dissolve in the woods once enough moisture hits it
• These still perform well and feel like you’re hitting regular golf balls
• Made mainly of corn starch and have a polyvinyl alcohol coating on them

Cons

• Not recommended for pro-level golfers or folks with high swing speeds
• These eco-friendly golf balls won’t roll as well as traditional golf balls on the greens
• More expensive than most high-performance golf balls but won’t hold up quite as well
• Some folks have had shipping issues where some golf balls were missing from the box

These biodegradable golf balls are made by a company called Biodegradable Golf Canada Inc. These folks are the industry experts at creating golf balls that are easier on the environment. They use a unique formula of corn starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to make their fully biodegradable golf balls.

Each of these golf balls will fully dissolve in water after 3 to 4 weeks, which is excellent news for all animals living in lakes, ponds, and rivers. In some cases, these golf balls will fully degrade in as little as 2 weeks. There are 2 videos on Amazon that confirm this.

Biodegradable Golf Canada Inc. was founded because of the ongoing plastic pollution problem that’s been going on in North America for several decades. Little plastic fragments from traditional golf balls pose a dangerous threat to all marine life and our drinking water as well. By switching to fully biodegradable golf balls, golfers can join in the fight against plastic pollution.

2. Dixon Wind Eco-Friendly Max Distance Golf Balls

Pros

• Designed with no toxic materials so that no ponds, lakes, rivers, or oceans will be harmed
• Made with 428 huge dimples to produce maximum distance off the tee and pinpoint accuracy on all shots into the green
• The external layer has an incredibly durable eco-friendly cover
• Produces just the right amount of spin for approach shots and short game shots
• Engineered with a unique core that gives each golf ball more recoil resulting in extra distance off the tee
• A non-toxic product that still performs well on the golf course
• An excellent choice for golfers with slower swing speeds in the 60-80 MPH range
• It has a superb alignment tool on the side that will assist with all of your putts
• Uniquely designed to generate a low amount of sidespin, which increases accuracy on tee shots

Cons

• Though these golf balls are 100% biodegradable, the process may unfortunately take up to 40 years
• The price is a little bit steep, but some folks claim these perform just as well as the Titleist Pro V1
• Advanced golfers or folks with higher swing speeds won’t get the same type of distance from these golf balls
• Some golfers may not like the relatively high compression rating of 110

Many golfers shy away from trying environmentally friendly golf balls because they fear they won’t get the same distance as regular golf balls. Thankfully, the fine folks at Dixon Wind have solved that problem. These golf balls are made out of re-processable materials but will still produce plenty of distance off the tee.

Dixon Golf is committed to the process of “Going Green.” All of the company’s team members are required to use reusable coffee mugs and water bottles. The company also does all of its invoicing through email to cut down on the use of paper.

What else is cool about Dixon Golf? They donate to over 8,000 charity golf tournaments each and every year! It’s so nice to do business with a company that consistently gives back to its communities.

3. Dixon Earth Golf Balls

Pros

• Performs better than most 3-piece regular golf balls
• It provides a nice, medium trajectory on all golf shots
• Golfers love how soft these golf balls feel on impact with the clubface
• The compression rating of 80 makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of golfers
• Designed to generate a medium amount of spin on all approach shots and short game shots
• Both the golf balls and the packages are made up of 100% recycled materials
• Dixon will give you $1 per ball if you choose to recycle them
• One of the few golf balls on the market that’s truly “green” to the core
• Built with a special polymer that retains each golf ball’s playability
• USGA tournament quality golf ball that won’t harm marine environments

Cons

• The compression rating of 80 may be too higher for golfers with slower swing speeds
• Not quite as much distance off the tee as the Dixon Wind golf balls
• These are slightly more expensive than the Dixon Wind line

Dixon makes it on our list twice because both their Wind and Earth lines are made from 100% recycled materials. The company goes to great lengths to ensure that no dangerous heavy metals like lead, cobalt, or tungsten are used in their manufacturing process. The Dixon Earth golf balls perform beautifully, just like the Dixon Wind ones do.

4. EcoBioBalls by Albus Golf

Pros

• This is the best choice for driving ranges that are near bodies of water
• Bought and sold in over 50 countries around the world
• 100% safe for all types of water and won’t harm any marine life
• You can practice your golf swing and feed the fish at the same time
• It entirely breaks down in 48 hours or less, which is the fastest on the market
• No more feeling bad when you hit a golf ball into the water

Cons

• These don’t perform anywhere near what a standard golf ball does
• The EcoBioBall is only meant to be hit 1 time, so you’ll need to buy lots of them
• They only give you about 30% of the distance of a traditional golf ball

You may not believe this, but these biodegradable golf balls are made with fish food! How cool is that? Not only is the EcoBioBall 100% safe for all marine flora, but they’re also perfectly safe for fish to eat.

This single-use golf ball is ideal for folks who want to hit balls into bodies of water for fun. The EcoBioBall is sold to lots of cruise ships and massive beachside resorts. Fun fact: World-renowned motivational life coach Tony Robbins uses EcoBioBalls.

FAQs

Golfers who’ve never used biodegradable golf balls are bound to have lots of questions about how they perform. To help with that, we’ve created the following frequently asked questions section.

Our hope is that this will help you make the best decision when it comes time to buy new biodegradable golf balls. After all, the only thing better than shooting a low score is doing it while not harming the planet.

Are biodegradable golf balls good?

Well, that depends on what you mean by good. Are biodegradable golf balls better for protecting the environment? Absolutely! Will they help you shoot lower scores like some of the high-performance regular golf balls out there? That’s where things get a little bit tricky.

Thankfully, a lot of the golf balls on our list have performed very well, even when going up against big-name brands like Titleist, Bridgestone, Callaway, etc. Both of the Dixon golf balls on our list have performed just as well as a Titleist Pro V1 in various tests.

How long do biodegradable golf balls take to decompose?

It all depends on the brand and the elements that they use to make the golf ball. Some biodegradable golf balls will fully dissolve in a matter of weeks after being hit into the water. Other brands can take several years to dissolve completely.

That’s in stark contrast to regular golf balls, which can take hundreds or even thousands of years to disintegrate in the water fully.

What makes regular golf balls so bad for the environment?

Traditional golf balls may perform beautifully on the golf course, but they’re made up of materials like plastic, zinc oxide, and zinc acrylate. Needless to say, these elements may seem harmless on the surface, but they can do lots of damage to the fauna surrounding them in water.

Why are biodegradable golf balls more environmentally friendly?

Golf manufacturing companies create biodegradable golf balls by taking out all of the materials that can pollute the earth. They replace these harmful elements with natural substances like corn starch or even fish food.

Which golf ball performs well on the golf course but is also eco-friendly?

If you’re a serious golfer who’s also conscious of the environment, we recommend either the Dixon Wind or Dixon Earth golf balls. Both of these will perform, feel, and sound more similar to a traditional golf ball. The only downside is that they’ll take longer to degrade than some of the other brands on the market.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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The most famous interaction between Jerry Pate and Pete Dye surely came in 1982, when Pate won what would become the Players Championship the first time it was played at Dye’s new Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. Following his victory, Pate pushed Dye and PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman into the water left of No. 18 green, an amusing scene with plenty of laughs that nevertheless highlighted the frustration felt by many players about the difficult new layout.