Opinions on best "VALUE" ball for a mid handicapper ?

I'm talking the $15 per dozen category, no more.     I've bought $25 Srixon Q Stars - just can't tell that much of a difference at the stage I'm at to justify the cost.    Last few months, I've been really practicing & working on hitting proper divots with my wedges & am fairly certain I'm compressing the ball at least somewhat, as my wedge distances are significantly longer than they used to be (which often gets me in trouble, as I regularly overshoot greens now that I'm taking divots), and on rare occasion, I'll even back it up a few inches ... so, I want a better ball than a $10/doz Top Flite XL or Wilson, but don't want to pay alot more, because I still lose way too many balls with the longer clubs.

I'm aware of the used/reconditioned ball market, but for the intent of this thread, let's keep it to NEW balls that I can buy locally.

Would really like opinions on your experience with the best all around ball in this category ... thx !

Best ball for your buck in my opinion is the Srixon Soft feel ball.  20 bucks and it is a 70 compression ball that if you hit it well will knuckle.  It also is a soft ball which I can stop pretty easily on any green.  In my opinion it is the best kept secret since its soft easily compressed and cheap!

Gamer V2 ?

Another vote for the TopFlite D2 Feel. It has decent green stopping power for the price range. Although I hear lots of good things about Srixon's offerings in that price range and I haven't really tried them, so I can't compare there.

Seconded. I think they're $20 though. Still, best $20 ball out there.

All the ball makers have decent low to mid priced balls. Just pick a characteristic (spin, feel, distance) you want to enhance, and a brand logo that doesn't make you gag, and go for it.

Top Flite D2 Feel - tried it a couple of years ago ... good ball, but it does not stop around the greens unless those greens are soft.

Personally, I think the best all around mid-priced ball that will stop on the greens is the B'Stone e5.

As with all balls $20 and above, I buy when I find a deal.

Desmond is spot on: The D2, in my experience, is a soft ball; this does not mean it spins. It goes great off irons, pretty solid off driver, and it launches high. I'd recommend it for a cheap option, or a winter ball since it's low compression and feels good. The Gamer is spinnier and a bit harder compression, I like it a lot.

Avoid the NXT, it's overpriced and the Gamer slightly outperforms it for 10$ less. Haven't tried the E5, but I've heard good things. If you buy in bulk, usually there are 3 for 2 deals on amazon: I got 3 dozen Gamers for under 40$, that's a buck per ball. Pentas could be had for 20$/dozen if you find a deal.

Another vote for the Gamer V2, if you can go to $20.  I think that it's better than a lot of balls costing way more.

Nike PD Soft

I really don't think it matters much for you at this point. Personally I played Pinnacle Golds until my handicap was in the low teens. I had quite a few sub 80 rounds with those balls. It's much more the indian than the arrow. Keep working on your game, then when things become more consistent start worrying about the type of ball.

Thanks to everybody for the advice.     I especially like Grumpter's ... to date, I have resisted getting even mid priced balls at this stage of my game for this very reason (indian not the arrow) - probably not much point in it just yet.

Grumpter's right.  Only once I got my HC down to maybe 12 or so did I start noticing the difference between premium and low-mid price balls.  Even now, while I love the pentas and buy them whenever I can get a deal, there's honestly not that huge of a difference of what I can feel between the penta and my current pick for cheaper balls, Nike PD Soft. Used to really like the Srixon AD333.  With those replaced by the Q-Star at $25/doz instead of $20/doz, I'd rather play the Nike PD Softs or found balls and wait for deals on premium balls for $25-$30.  I also used to like the Calloway HX Hot Bite balls.  Those have been replaced by the Diablos, which I haven't played, but might be worth trying.

It all depends on why you have a 22 HC.

Sometimes, it's a swing change, sometimes you have a good short game, but crap for a long game. Sometimes, you have little game.

Choice of ball depends on where your handicap lies.... and what you need the ball to do...

Only you know what kind of player you are -- and there is a lot of info out there -- use it.

Mr. Desmond:

It's often tough to tell from just text on a screen, but your tone seems condescending:

- I'm a 22 HC, because I'm an out of shape 47 year old with a bad back & never picked up a golf club until 14 months ago (I'm actually pretty happy with my progress - I played about as much as a sane person could & still hold down a job (71 times to date this year & went from off the chart (130's) to consistently in the low to mid 90's).

As far as "use it" comment ... I am the poster child for using information that's "out there" ... the golf channel is my most watched TV Channel, Youtube is my private golf coach, and the collective experience of this place has been like that better golfer we all know who we wish we could ask these types of questions of ....

Mr. Snyder (PS - you might consider posting your hc)

I think you're being touchy.

What I'm saying is that we can't tell you what ball to use from what you've told us. It all depends on your game, and only you know your game. When it comes to balls, I've found Bridgestone to have the most variety to fit the golfer depending on their ball flight issues. All ball are good - if you want green side spin, use a urethane ball. Then you've got to decide on the firmer or sofer version of a urethane ball.

For ball without a urethane cover, I think it's about feel -- soft feel or firm or hard -- and how much distance you need and ball flight issues. That's why I like Bridgestone. They seem to have a ball for every issue. At least, that's my take.

This is not about me, but I once played the 330-RXS as my SS is below 90 mph. I still like spin around the green so I play the e5 - a 2 piece urethane ball that was improved in 2011. I just had heart surgery 5 months ago and decided to change my swing to elements of S&T.; So I don't keep a handicap at the moment. But I can spin a ball around the green, love to use a variety of wedge shots, and can drive the ball straight. But I am only learning to hit down on the ball, and my fairway wood and mid iron play is fairly non-existent at the moment as I learn a new swing.

Good luck to you.

The good thing about being in the market for low to mid priced balls is you can buy the whole dozen to try them out.

Just don't get stuck on one type of ball and buy too many. I bought a ton of Wilson Eco Cores when they were phasing them out because that was going to be my ball. Then I switched to the Top Flite Gamer V2 or TaylorMade (Black and Penta) and just can't get excited about those Eco Cores. They're okay, but when you hit a ball that should bend toward the pin (or away from it on a mishit) and it goes perfectly straight, chances are good that it's not going to hold the green when it lands.