As a beginner, a durable, lower-compression, two-piece ball will cost less and fly straighter on mishits than a premium tour ball.
Beginners often reach for premium tour balls because of brand prestige, but that's usually the wrong call on both cost and performance grounds.
Why a distance ball is the right starting point
A two-piece, ionomer-cover "distance" ball is more durable (important when you're still losing more balls than an experienced player), generally lower-compression (easier to compress with a still-developing swing speed), and produces straighter, more forgiving flight on the mishits that are a normal part of learning. See our golf balls equipment guide for the full compression and cover-material breakdown.
What you're trading away — and why it doesn't matter yet
Distance balls generate less greenside spin than urethane tour balls, meaning less stopping power on approach and chip shots. As a beginner, you are not yet controlling trajectory and spin precisely enough to benefit meaningfully from that extra spin — it becomes a relevant tradeoff once your ball-striking is more consistent, not before.
Buy in bulk, not by the sleeve
Since you'll lose more balls as a beginner, buying a dozen or two of a value-priced distance ball, rather than a sleeve of premium balls at a much higher per-ball cost, is the more sensible approach while you're building consistency.