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what is the difference between soft and hard golf balls

by Prof. Mathew Hoeger II Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Here are some noteworthy differences of the balls while using the driver:

  • The softer ball flies higher in the air.
  • The hardball has a greater side-to-side spin than the softball.
  • The distance is identical in both balls.

As a general rule, both firm and soft golf balls will perform similarly for most golfers. The distances between them and the launch angle will be very close, but the key difference is the increased spin rates on longer clubs and better durability on firmer golf balls.

Full Answer

What are the softest golf balls?

Aug 15, 2021 · 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 find that both soft and hard golf balls …

What is the best golf ball for an average player?

Oct 15, 2018 · Q: What Is The Difference Between Soft And Hard Golf Balls? A: Aside from the names, the differences between soft golf balls and hard golf balls go back around 20 years, where the hardness of the ball cover affected the flight. Back then, soft golf balls possessed more spin, while hardcovers granted better distance.

What is the softest golf ball?

179 rows · Golf Ball Comparison Chart. Learn the Basics of Golf Ball Comparison. With golf ball ...

What are the best golf balls?

Feb 17, 2020 · The right golf balls do make a huge difference. A golf ball that is soft and light enough to travel a reasonable distance is what you should be looking at. If all this confuses you, no worries, we have painstakingly created a handy list of the best golf balls 2021 for seniors. ... Some players say these balls are too hard; $20.77. Buy on Amazon ...

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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.Feb 8, 2016

What is the purpose of 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.May 7, 2019

Do pro golfers use hard or soft balls?

We take a look. Why Do Pro Golfers Use Soft Golf Balls? In this day and age there is always talk about distance in the professional game. Given most courses are getting longer and longer, hitting the ball a long way has grown in importance with shorter players finding it harder and harder to keep up.Oct 30, 2019

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?

Is a soft golf ball better?

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.

Are soft golf balls better for beginners?

Several studies have shown that the distance difference between hard golf balls and soft golf balls is often only five yards or less. The reason most beginners should choose a soft golf ball is because of the high amount of forgiveness they offer.

Do warm golf balls go further?

Generally, a warmer golf ball travels farther. The rubber materials used to make golf balls respond better if they are more resilient. Warmth enhances resiliency. A warmer ball will come off the clubface with more velocity and spin than a colder ball, encouraging loft.

Do distance golf balls go further?

Analyzing the individual ball statistics we can see that the Titleist Pro V1x averaged the farthest distance as well at 266.7 yards. Meanwhile, the Callaway Chrome Soft X averaged the shortest distance at only 259.3 yards. This results in a difference between the average maximum and minimum of only 7.4 yards.Jun 27, 2019

Which golf ball should I be playing?

Beginner golfers should look for a two-piece golf ball that has a soft construction. With a two-piece golf ball, beginner golfers will notice a straighter flight with less spin, while the soft ball construction increases forgiveness even on off-centered hits.

What is the difference between Chrome soft vs supersoft?

Although both models compete for absolute dominance on the course, their difference is quite apparent. Chrome Soft is a premium, all-round golf ball intended for golfers that seek more control and spin around the green. Supersoft is an oversized, distance golf ball designed for golfers who seek speed and distance.Jul 7, 2020

Do golf balls matter for high handicappers?

Beginner and high handicappers should use golf balls that are two-piece, low-spinning and low-compression as they will generate the greatest distance but least curvature through the air.Jan 9, 2022

What kind of golf ball should a high handicapper use?

Best Golf Balls for High HandicappersTitleist TruFeel 2022 Golf Ball. Specifications. ... Srixon Distance Golf Ball. ... Wilson Triad Golf Ball. ... Callaway 2021 ERC Soft Triple Track golf ball. ... Bridgestone e12 Contact golf ball. ... Titleist Velocity 2022 Golf Ball. ... TaylorMade Soft Response 2022 Golf Ball. ... Srixon AD333 golf ball.More items...•Feb 18, 2022

What is a soft golf ball?

In general, the golf ball with three or more pieces of construction supposed to be a soft golf ball. This kind of golf ball will provide more spin control features, allowing you to control the ball's trajectory. There is no doubt about the fact that the softball is the present and future for the golf ball category.

What is the difference between softball and hardball?

Hardball and softball tend to serve in two different ways. For consistent spin control and accuracy, a softball will be of great help, whereas, to get the long and steady distance, it is the hardball that controls the upper hand. Almost all the golf balls found today tend to follow a soft construction with hard compression or layer, ...

How many pieces of construction should a softball have?

Though a softball with three pieces of construction will not ensure distance that much, a soft golf ball with four or five pieces of construction should be sufficient to provide both distance and accuracy. This kind of golf ball will provide a noticeable spin-separation advantage.

What are the characteristics of a hard golf ball?

Characteristics of a hard golf ball. This kind of golf ball tends to have a solid inside core and a tough outer cover. The core of a hardball will mostly be a high energetic resin or acrylate. As the cover material, there might have Surlyn or a similar kind of material. The solid core and the rigid cover of the ball tend to produce a great distance.

How many layers are needed for softball?

While choosing the softball, it is necessary to ensure a ball with at least three or more layers so that you can get both distance and accuracy at the same time. A softball with a four-piece construction is always better than that of a ball with three-piece construction.

Is a softball more accurate than a hardball?

All the golfing manufacturers are trying to put both the features of a softball and a hardball in a single item, making the ball more durable, accurate. As a result, nowadays, it is quite possible to get distance, spin control, trajectory control, along with feel and consistency in a single golf ball.

Does compression affect the softness of a golf ball?

The compression of the ball has nothing to do with the softness or hardness of the ball. Some balls will provide a soft feeling while hitting off the tee, while many others will be soft on the green surface. It depends on how you consider the softness or hardness.

What golf balls were used in the 2000s?

Hard-cover balls were designed almost solely for distance and provided very little spin on shots around the green. The overwhelming favorites were balata golf balls , which remained popular with tour professionals and low-handicappers until around 2000 because of their spin and control properties around the green.

What does adding layers to a golf ball do?

Researchers found that adding layers to the ball combined the properties of hard-cover and soft-cover balls, de pending on the velocity of the golfer's swing.

Is there a difference between hard and soft golf balls?

Golf balls, for example, are much more durable while maintaining the spin and distance properties that golfers covet. Today there is very little difference between hard and soft golf balls.

What percentage of golfers prefer a softer ball?

70+ % of golfers prefer a softer feeling ball compared to a harder feeling ball. This percentage is constant regardless of the handicap of the golfer. There are multiple contributing factors that contribute to the feel of a golf ball, but the largest factor contributing to ball feel is ball compression.

What is the inner layer of a golf ball?

Golf ball mantle layer: The inner layer of the 3-piece ball is designed to contribute both to the velocity of the golf ball and the spin of the golf ball. The material used for this inner layer needs to provide as much velocity as possible while also contributing to the low compression of the overall ball.

What type of polyurethane is used for golf balls?

There are two types if polyurethane that can be used as covers for golf balls: cast polyurethane and thermoplastic polyurethane .Either type of urethane can be used, but cast urethane is preferred as it provides better abrasion/scuff resistance and better cut resistance than thermoplastic polyurethane.

What is the limiting factor of a golf ball cover?

The limiting factor is that if the cover material is too stiff, the impact of the club will result in excess flex of the cover and result in brittle failure of the cover.

What percentage of the ball volume should be in a golf ball core?

The core is the primary contributing factor to producing a low compression ball and the volume of the core should ideally be at least 80-82% of the total ball volume. Maximizing the level of reactive materials in the golf ball core is necessary to maximize the velocity of the core.

Is high greenside spin bad?

For most high handicap golfers, high greenside spin is not discernible, and the benefits of straighter ball flight is a more beneficial performance attribute. Dimple pattern differentiation: Golfers generally ...

Is a low compression ball good for spin?

There are players who prefer a higher spin rate and still prefer the feel of a low compression ball. It is possible, through use of a 3-piece construction, to develop a ball that has low compression/soft feel and achieves a higher level of spin for the players who desire this added performance.

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.

Is "s oft" a word?

At worst, it’s a horseshit word that golf brands will attach to just about anything because, if they can’t sell you on performance, there’s a reasonable chance they can sell you on feel.

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.)

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.

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.

What is a golf ball?

A type of golf ball for anyone who desires better spin and control from their shots. They’re excellent for using around the green, which gives the player better autonomy over where the ball will end up, but they won’t be as useful on the fairway as they have a tendency to veer off course if you’re not careful. Of course, if ending up in the rough is something you’d like to change, then the high spin golf ball can help keep your shots level, as long as you aim for the opposite side.

Why do golf balls have dimples?

As soon as the golf ball is struck from the tee or from the ground, it is losing its speed thanks to air resistance. The dimples reduce the surface area of the ball so that it disrupts air molecules around and in turn flies further.

What is a 3 piece golf ball?

Comprised of either a liquid or solid rubber core, a second layer and then covered with suryn or similar material, three-piece golf balls are soft, provide greater spin, and allow for greater control. The more layers ensure better spin separation, which gives more customization from drives.

Why is golf ball construction important?

Golf ball construction is very important if you want to optimize your game the best way you possibly can and it’s best to look out for the different kind of constructions.

How to find a ball for beginners?

Think of it like a video game where you select your character or accessories based on stats and imagine the ball you start with has an equal distribution across speed, distance, spin, and weight. This will give you a chance to discover what parts of your game you need to focus on. If you can hit it far, but not straight, you’ll need to find a ball that helps avoid spin.

What is the outer cover of a ball?

With each layer having a specific purpose, the four-piece ball flies like a well-oiled machine. The inner core allows for explosive distance, while the next layer transfers energy to help in its flight. The middle layer gives excellent driver distance while the outer cover, with as many as 400 dimples, provides the feel. Its soft yet durable and is typically made from urethane.

What is Gearhungry staff?

GearHungry Staff posts are a compilation of work by various members of our editorial team. We update old articles regularly to provide you the most current information. You can learn more about our staff here.

Difference Between Senior And Regular Golf Balls

There are some fundamental differences between senior and regular golf balls. Good golf balls for seniors have to be light in weight so that they can travel a longer distance. With advanced age, they must begin losing out on the swing speed and precision. The best choice is to go for low spin golf balls.

What Do The Numbers On Seniors Golf Balls Mean?

There is a good chance that you have often seen yourself standing in sports retail stores staring at their endless display of balls. There are some numbers etched on them, and you have no idea what the number represents. Welcome to our guide!

How to Choose The Best Golf Balls for Seniors?

Golf is the most practiced sport by the seniors. The aim is to make sure that they use the right ball that will help them cover longer. A ball with low compression and soft feel is ideal. It will not just provide the distance but also help with the precision of the shot.

Best Golf Balls for Seniors Types

It is made of one solid material. Usually, it is the ionomer resin call surlyn, which is easiest and cheapest to make. A one-piece ball cannot be considered as a great ball. You may not see it on most golf courses. They can make a great practice ball. Distance is not something that you can expect from them.

What Golf Balls Are Best For Slow Swing Speeds?

Balls with lower compression and softer feel are the ones that are best for slow swing speeds. Anything that is lesser than 90mph is considered to be slow swing speed. A low compression ball of 70-80 should do the trick.

Are MG Senior Golf Balls Legal?

No, MG golf balls do not conform to USGA and are solely for the enjoyment of the golfers. They cannot be counted as tour balls.

What is the best golf ball for a low handicap?

In terms of design, build quality and materials, the closest an amateur can get to playing a pro’s golf ball is the Titleist Pro V1. It’s the best choice for the low handicapper looking to shoot in the 70s. The 2020 versions are still on the market, often a tick below the cost of their younger siblings. Titleist.

How many layers are in a golf ball?

Overall construction and materials vary from ball to ball in golf. Simpler balls use a two-layer construction, while more expensive offerings go as high as five layers of various materials. In general terms, a golf ball has a rubber or plastic core wrapped in urethane.

What is vice golf?

Vice Golf doesn’t have the longstanding reputation of Callaway or the high-tech reputation of Mizuno, but this newcomer to the golf scene is already making some of our favorite balls. Available with varying core designs and coverings, Vice Golf wants to appeal to every player, from high to low handicappers, whether he or she is looking for distance, spin or soft landings. The Pro Soft compress more on impact and offer more length off the tee. Like most soft golf balls, they can be more difficult to control around the greens. So, high handicap players get more distance, but low handicap players might have more trouble with shot-making.

What is the rating of the Titleist Pro V1?

Since their debut in January 2021, Amazon customers have given the 2021 Titleist Pro V1 a 4.9-star rating, which is an elite rating rarely seen on golf equipment (or any product, for that matter). Titleist. Buy: Buy 2021 Titleist Pro V1. buy it.

What is Taylormade 2021 TP5X?

Hyped up by TaylorMade for its “complete performance,” the 2021 TP5X uses a new dimple pattern to improve ball flight and five-layer construction to provide a soft feel. When you see a golf ball described as “soft,” that doesn’t mean it’s a stress toy or something a dog chews on when it’s bored. It means the ball is designed to land and grab. The physics of a ball designed to be “soft” means it’ll still take flight with good compression, but it’s not looking to bounce firmly skyward when that flight terminates.

What does a double digit golf ball mean?

a double-digit number, if one appears, most likely represents compression.

How many digits are on a golf ball?

A golf ball might also have a three-digit number stamped on it, usually something in the 300s or 400s. If you notice such a number on a ball, this number is letting you know how many dimples are on the golf ball .

What is the number on a golf ball?

That one number that all golf balls share is an identification number that almost always appears right below the name of the golf ball's brand. This number is most likely to be a 1, 2, 3, or 4 (although it can also be anything from a zero to a 9—and, in recent times, golf ball customization has allowed some ...

What does a red number mean in golf?

These numbers are usually black, but sometimes red. "Back in the old days," as golf oldsters say, a red number was thought to indicate a low-compression ball. That is no longer the case, though. Red, black—today the color doesn't indicate anything special.

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Historical Differences Between Hard and Soft Golf Balls

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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. The overwhelmin…
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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. Researchers found that adding layers to the ball combined the properties of hard-cover and soft-cover balls, depending on the velocity of the golfer's swing.
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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. More expensive balls are multilayered, offering a different feel for different types of shots. For e…
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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. He also states that the ball that stops quickest on the green is the one you should get, even if that means sacrif…
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