Golf-FAQ.com

what are the benefits of a soft golf ball

by Dr. Torey Monahan Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
image

Pros:

  • The most premium truly soft (35 compression) golf ball
  • Impressive distance in the long game
  • Controllable spin with irons and wedges

In almost all cases, an average golfer will prefer a softer golf ball over a firmer ball. Softer balls normally have a lower compression rating which means it will take less club speed to properly compress the ball. This will result in straighter shots and a better feeling golf ball.

Full Answer

Why are soft golf balls so popular?

The biggest reason soft golf balls appeal to golfers is feel. You get a greater sensation of compression at impact with a softer ball because it’s easier to compress. Compression is perhaps the most addicting feeling in golf, which explains why many golfers are fiending for soft golf balls. Let's explain the importance of compression for a minute.

Should you use soft or hard compression golf balls?

Some soft compression golf balls also offer more feel and that means more control when playing short shots around the green. However, there are some cons when using low compression golf balls.

What is the softest golf ball?

The Srixon Z Star…it goes far and feels soft. If you believe everything you read, then damned near every golf ball is soft. In reality, the soft balls I’ve mentioned by name span a more than 50-point compression range from 40 (the softest we’ve tested) to a bit over 90. That’s less than half the deformation.

Are supersoft golf balls any good?

When it comes to performance, Supersoft is known for churning out great distance, a straight ball flight, it’s easy to launch, it has superb soft feel, and at $25 a dozen, it’s a great value. That’s exactly why we put it on our “Best Golf Ball” lists for value, beginners, slicers, and women, in addition to soft feel.

What is soft feel?

Do golf balls feel soft?

Can you credit a soft ball?

Is the XS softer than the V1?

image

Do soft golf balls make a difference?

Lower compression balls tend to be softer and compress more to create more distance. Higher compression balls offer more control and are used by better players who can produce faster swing speeds to compress the ball. For more on softness and compression, please read our Guide To Soft Golf Balls.

What is the point of soft golf balls?

A low compression ball helps to reduce the amount of ball speed lost on mis-hits and provides performance through the bag to help golfers get the most out of every shot they encounter on the course. Softer golf balls also allow the golfers to hit the ball higher which is beneficial to most golfers.

Do pros use soft golf balls?

'Firm' compression golf balls include the Titleist Pro V1, Callaway Chrome Soft X, TaylorMade TP5, Bridgestone Tour B XS and Srixon Z-Star....Do the Pros Use Special Golf Balls?Golf BallNumber of 'versions' on USGA / R&A Conforming Balls ListBridgestone TOUR B XS10Callaway Chrome Soft X197 more rows

Is a soft or hard golf ball better?

The main difference between a soft and hardball is that the softer ball feels much better when you hit it. Back in the 20s, there were two types of golf balls, Balata and hard cover golf balls. The Balata balls were designed to promote spin, whereas the hard-cover balls were created to provide more distance.

Is Pro V1 hard or soft?

The Titleist Pro V1 is a three-piece solid-core golf ball provides total performance from tee to green with penetrating flight and very soft feel. The Pro V1x is a four-piece solid core golf ball provides total performance from tee to green with high trajectory and soft feel.

Are soft golf balls better for beginners?

In our opinion, when a beginner is learning how to make solid contact with the ball, they should be using a softer ball with well-rounded performance. This means good distance and launch off the tee, good control with approach shots, and good spin and feel around the greens.

Is a softer golf ball more forgiving?

The dimple pattern produces the high spin needed to stop golf balls on the putting surface on short iron shots. Soft feel golf balls offer an enhanced response that offers better forgiveness over distance golf balls.

Which golf ball flies the farthest?

Titleist Velocity Golf BallsWe discovered that the Titleist Velocity Golf Balls are the undisputed champs as far as distance golf balls go. Golf balls should prioritize essential factors such as spin, control, and feel.

Is Titleist Tour soft a 3 piece ball?

Now in its third generation, the Titleist Tour Soft is a two-piece golf ball that provides superb tee-to-green performance for just £2.66 per ball.

What happens if you play too soft of a golf ball?

Having control of shots around the green is very important but for some golfers, having a ball which feels too soft is going to become a hindrance and this can lead to loss of control on both chip shots and putts.

Is Pro V1 a soft ball?

A Soft Cover One key area in the success of the Titleist Pro V1 was its soft feel. Titleist says that the current generation of Pro V1's has the softest cover they have ever used.

What is the best golf ball for the average golfer?

9 Best Golf Balls for Average GolfersCallaway 2021 Supersoft Golf Balls. Top pick. ... Bridgestone Golf e12 Contact Golf Balls. ... Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls 2020. ... Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls. ... Wilson Golf Staff Fifty Elite Golf Balls. ... Titleist Velocity Golf Balls. ... TaylorMade Distance Plus Golf Balls. ... Vice Tour Golf Balls.More items...

Do softer golf balls go further?

Although softer golf balls go further from the tee for lower swing speed players, the gap across the whole range of ball types is only around 5 yards, so it is more important to fit the ball to your irons and then fit your driver to your preferred ball to maximise distance.

What is the most forgiving golf ball?

Most Forgiving Golf Balls ReviewedBest Overall: Titleist Velocity.Best for Low Handicappers: TaylorMade TP5x.Most Forgiving Soft Feel Ball for High Handicappers: Callaway SuperSoft.Best Extra Spin: Titleist Pro V1.Best Soft Feel Ball for Mid Handicappers: Titleist TruFeel.More items...

Which golf ball flies the farthest?

Titleist Velocity Golf BallsWe discovered that the Titleist Velocity Golf Balls are the undisputed champs as far as distance golf balls go. Golf balls should prioritize essential factors such as spin, control, and feel.

What is the best golf ball for the average golfer?

9 Best Golf Balls for Average GolfersCallaway 2021 Supersoft Golf Balls. Top pick. ... Bridgestone Golf e12 Contact Golf Balls. ... Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls 2020. ... Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls. ... Wilson Golf Staff Fifty Elite Golf Balls. ... Titleist Velocity Golf Balls. ... TaylorMade Distance Plus Golf Balls. ... Vice Tour Golf Balls.More items...

A Guide To Soft Golf Balls: Everything You Need To Know

Soft golf balls are different from hard golf balls differing in several characteristics, design, behavior, and usage. The definition is tricky and confusing, making most people ask what exactly is a soft golf ball.

Why is a soft golf ball good?

Having a golf ball with a soft feel means you can control the ball easier and this opens an array of shots which may not be available with a firmer ball.The best advice here, is to try a few different low compression golf balls and see which one offers the best balance of distance, spin and feel for your style of play.

Why use a low compression golf ball?

Using a low compression golf ball can help to control the ball when it lands on the putting surface. However, there a couple of things to be aware of when it comes to the increased spin of a low compression golf ball and we will come to those shortly.

What is a three piece golf ball?

A three-piece golf ball does not offer the same amount of distance off the tee as a two-piece ball but does offer more control around the green. These are aimed at the improving golfer, who wants more spin on iron shots but is happy with their distance with the driver.

What is compression in golf?

Golf ball compression is basically the density in the golf ball and this density has an impact on the flight and loft of the ball. The density is measured by the tightness of the threads inside the golf ball and the more loosely the threads are wound, the lower the compression of the golf ball. A golf ball is compressed when hit by the club.

What happens if you have a slow swing speed?

A player with a slow swing speed will find it more difficult to hit the ball a long way and that’s where the low compression golf ball comes into play. Regardless of your playing ability and golf handicap, if you have a slow swing speed you need a different way of generating distance on your shots.

Does a golf ball travel farther in cold weather?

Due to the nature of a low compression golf ball, as discussed above, a lower compression golf ball will see the ball travel farther in cold weather.

Can seniors play golf?

Senior Golfers. As golfers get older, their bodies change and this can lead to less strength and power. Unfortunately, this is just a fact of life but it should not stop older players from enjoying a round of golf and low compression golf balls are very useful for senior players.

Q&A With R&D: The Benefits of Soft, Low Compression Golf Balls

The hosts of The Fitting Room Podcast recently sat down with Rock Ishii, Senior Director Advanced Golf Ball Research at Callaway and 30-year Golf Ball Industry veteran who has been a part of the design of golf balls that have won 24 majors on the PGA Tour.

The Full Interview ..

The Fitting Room: Rock, tell us a little bit about our evaluation process for golf balls.

Soft Balls: General Guide

Until the 1990s, golf balls were just hard balls with a compression level of 90% or 100%. With the starting of the 21 st century, soft balls flooded the market.

Do Soft Balls Go Further?

Usually, the control of a ball is governed by the number of dimples on it. Though there’s no difference in the number of dimples in hard and soft balls, soft golf balls will still achieve higher hang time (air time) but will lose the velocity once it hits the ground. The expected length covered when rolling on the ground is very low.

Considering Handicap in Soft Balls

Based on your handicap, the ball selection will differ. A person with a handicap of 12 should avoid playing with a hard ball. Opt for a soft ball instead. That’s because soft balls are more forgiving, much needed by a handicapped player. If the handicap is two or near to two, playing with a hard ball is suggested.

Best Soft Golf Balls In The Market

This section talks about some top-notch soft golf balls along with their features in brief.

Most Forgiving Golf Balls (Best Balls For Handicappers)

As stated previously, handicappers may find it uncomfortable when playing with hard balls. Therefore, it’s better to choose the most forgiving balls that are best-suited for handicappers. But before proceeding, let’s find out what exactly is meant by most forgiving golf balls. Here’s the answer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Despite so many disadvantages, there’s still a green light for soft balls.

Conclusion

By the end of this article, we covered a general and advanced guide to soft golf balls. We also discussed some best soft golf balls their brands, features, advantages, and disadvantages. Please remember that choosing the right golf ball is highly recommended if you want to enjoy the game.

Soft vs Hard Golf Balls Comparison

The terms “soft” and “hard” indicate how the golf ball feels when it hits the ground.

How To Find the Right Golf Ball?

Beginners may ask why they should invest in greater softballs when all they want to do is learn how to play. Nevertheless, even for novices, the case for utilizing high-quality equipment appears to be true.

When to Use Each Type of Golf Ball?

Different situations require a certain type of golf ball. Here are some recommendations:

Conclusion

Soft and hard balls share some factors in common. However, thanks to flexibility, a soft choice is more common among golfers.

What is soft feel?

Feel and Compression. Just to bring everyone up to speed here; soft feel is primarily the result of low compression. Compression is a measure of how much a ball deforms under load. The harder the ball, the less it deforms. Most of you won’t care about that but somebody was going to ask.

Do golf balls feel soft?

The first is that lower-compression balls feel softer. That should be obvious. If you want soft feel, you want a low-compression golf ball. The other one is perhaps a little weird. It turns out there’s a strong correlation between legitimately soft feel and price.

Can you credit a soft ball?

Depending on your affinity for soft golf balls, you can credit or blame preference-driven golfers whose penchant for whacking marshmallows inadvertently created the fresh hell that is the nebulous world of soft balls. (Middle-finger emoji.)

Is the XS softer than the V1?

The XS is fewer than five com pression points softer than the Pro V1 and not much softer than a Srixon Z Star. It still qualifies as the softest tour ball but the average golfer isn’t likely to discern any appreciable feel difference between the three and you’re sure as hell not going to mistake any of them for a DUO.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9