Why are soft golf balls so soft?
· A soft ball is a slower ball. It’s physics…it’s why you don’t see legitimately soft golf balls played on tour. The fitting for swing speed story is often told and understood backward of its reality. On ball speed alone, a soft ball is going to be slower for most golfers. At roughly 80MPH and above, a soft ball is going to cost you speed.
What is a soft golf ball core?
· The terms “soft” and “hard” indicate how the golf ball feels when it hits the ground. Soft golf balls are good for golfers with slower swing rates, as they provide more range and a better path. If you perform with a fast swing speed or you are an experienced golfer, a hardball can support you with superior control. Most golfers will ...
What is the softest golf ball?
· It is generally agreed that soft golf balls spin less than firmer golf balls so from the tee they should be longer as well as straighter, having less back and sideward spin. However, spinning less will mean that there is less control into and around the greens so the balls are harder to control and will feel softer off a putter face.
What makes a 3-piece golf ball soft?
Soft-core golf balls. Easily compressed, so no need to swing fast or hard for core activation. With low compression, maximizing distance with a slow swing speed is very easy. High Compression Golf Balls The opposite of low is high, which would mean these golf balls are played by the fastest and hardest hitters.
Why would you want a soft golf ball?
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 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.
Are soft golf balls more forgiving?
The softer ball offers more game control on poorly centered hits and offers increased distance on low impact shots. I've ranked them a bit lower because of cost. These Titleist Tour golf balls are ideal for beginner golfers who require plenty of forgiveness on their hits. What do golfers have to say?
What is the difference between a hard and soft golf ball?
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.
What is Compression?
Compression is a measurement of the deformation of the golf ball under a static load. As the deformation of the ball increases, the compression value decreases.
Summary
Testing of a significant number of golfers indicates that low compression/soft feel golf balls are preferred by a majority of players regardless of handicap. With the correct design, low compression golf balls can be produced that have distance performance that is as long or longer than higher compression golf balls.
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.
Are balls getting softer?
Yes. A look around our golf ball reviews will show that there are more soft golf balls in the market today, or at least the marketing focus is on the softer feel attribute of many golf balls, as this is something in blind testing that have identified appeals to many players.
What has enabled balls to get softer?
New materials and manufacturing processes. New materials have enabled manufacturers to create cores that are soft, but do not lose as much energy and therefore speed as previous generations of soft balls.
What is meant by golf ball compression?
In general golf balls are categorised by their compression, meaning how much they deform under a load and the lower the number the softer the golf ball is, although there is no fixed number which defines a ball as soft. However when talking about compression it is important to bear in a mind some important factors.
How do you decide if a ball is soft?
Even though we can use compression to say if a ball is considered 'soft' or not the question of what feels soft to any individual golfer is not so straightforward.
What are the characteristics of soft balls?
It is generally agreed that soft golf balls spin less than firmer golf balls so from the tee they should be longer as well as straighter, having less back and sideward spin. However, spinning less will mean that there is less control into and around the greens so the balls are harder to control and will feel softer off a putter face.
Is there also a trade off in performance at faster swing speeds?
In general it is considered that at faster swing speeds of around 95mph and upwards there can be a fall off in ball speed of a softer compression ball relative to a firmer ball. This is because softer ball deforms to a greater extent from the greater force at impact resulting in energy being lost and this reduces the ball speed.
How do you decide whether a soft golf ball is best for you?
It is best to decide which ball you prefer and is most effective with your irons and also for how you like the ball to behave and feel into and around the greens.
Historical Differences Between Hard and Soft Golf Balls
Throughout the second half of the 20th century, there were two types of golf balls. Balata golf balls were made with a soft cover designed to promote spin, especially on short iron and pitch shots. Hard-cover balls were designed almost solely for distance and provided very little spin on shots around the green.
Innovation Reaches the Golf Ball
Around the turn of the 21st century, golf ball manufacturers began experimenting with materials to combine the spin properties of balata balls with the distance characteristics of hard-cover balls.
Current Differences Between Hard and Soft Balls
With the growth in technological innovation within the golf ball industry, hard-cover golf balls are relatively nonexistent today. Instead, the difference between cheap and expensive golf balls results from the cost of materials in the core and the mantle, the area between the core and cover.
How to Find the Right Ball
Finding the right golf ball for your game should depend on your goals and how much money you are willing to spend. Rob Akins, a PGA professional and “Golf Digest” contributor, suggests finding out how the ball reacts around the green to find the ball that will work best for you.
When does Golf ball Compression happen?
If you grab any golf ball and try to squeeze it I’d be willing to bet that you will not be able to, not even a little bit. Even if you stepped on it you will not be able to. Even if you put your golfing buddy on your shoulders and stepped on it you wouldn’t be able to.
How do I achieve maximum distance from a golf ball?
There is a point at which almost everything will either explode, break, or crumble based on the amount of force exerted on that object. On the other hand, just before the point of explosion, that object would be at maximum energy generation. This is the key to achieving maximum distance from a golf ball.
How does weather affect golf ball compression?
When you golf in extreme heat (90+ degrees) the higher compression balls will have a lower compression rating vs the lower compression balls will have a higher compression rating
Picking the right ball for me?
Compression is just one of many factors that you need to consider when picking a golf ball. That said, use the quick guide below to narrow down your golf ball choices.
How does a golf ball feel?
FEEL. A golf ball's feel is influenced by its construction. Some balls feel soft off the clubface, others feel firm or hard. Balls with a solid rubber core often feel hard and tend to primarily be two-piece balls. These will typically be more durable and generate better distance.
How much compression does a golf ball have?
The more a ball is compressed, the further it will travel as it rebounds off the club. Most golf balls range between 40 and 100 in compression.
What is a one piece golf ball?
Two piece: A popular combination of durability and distance. A solid core is then enclosed in the ball's ...
Why do golf balls have dimples?
Golf balls have dimples to reduce drag and create lift. The dimples create a thin turbulent layer of air that clings to the ball's surface and travels further around the back of the ball, decreasing the wake and therefore the drag.
How many dimples are in a golf ball?
Most golf balls have 250-500 dimples, with an average depth of about 0.010 inch. A depth change of 0.0001 inch can produce a radical difference in the ball's trajectory and the overall distance it can fly. "If the core is the engine of a golf ball, the dimples are the wings," says Nick Nardacci, Titleist 's senior manager ...
What is a high spin golf ball?
High spin: These balls are designed to spin the most through the air, creating a longer carry. A high-spinning ball will not get the run out on the fairway of a low or mid spin ball - but will make up for it with added control and feel around the greens. 6. DIFFERENT BRANDS, DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES.
What is the measure of how much a ball compresses or squashes against the clubface when struck?
Compression is a measure of how much the ball compresses or squashes against the clubface when struck. The amount of deformation affects the energy transfer from the club to the ball. The more a ball is compress ed, the further it will travel as it rebounds off the club.
