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The notion that golfers with high swing speeds are at an advantage is a myth. Especially with the kind of golf gear available today, players have access to countless ways to level the playing field. From precision engineered clubs, to scientifically developed grips, and yes, even ingenious golf ball construction.
Low compression golf balls are designed specifically for beginners, seniors, and slow swingers who want to get the most distance out of their hit. And with the market for these special golf balls constantly expanding, it’s worth asking - what are the best low compression golf balls out there?
Most people think that hard golf balls are where it’s at, but that’s not always the case. A low compression golf ball can be particularly beneficial for certain types of players, offering performance that might work better in specific situations. In general, a golf ball’s compression rating will fall anywhere between 60 and 200. Lower ratings indicate a softer ball.
On the course, you’ll find that soft golf balls can be particularly advantageous for certain types of players and game conditions. Understanding what you want out of a ball should help you determine whether or not the low compression ball is for you.
What makes a golf ball ‘low compression’ is that it isn’t wound as tightly as harder designs. The result is a ball that ‘deforms’ more readily during a hit. For this reason, a low compression golf ball can feel far more satisfying against your golf club. Some players will even claim that low compression golf balls deliver better feedback, helping players learn more about swing technique.
Do low compression golf balls go further? That depends on your swing speed. The reason why low compression golf balls are often touted as the ideal choice for beginners and seniors is because they’re more forgiving. These golf balls are capable of maintaining higher speeds even when they’re mishit. That means even if you don’t hit the ball exactly where you should have, it’ll still produce reasonable distance.
Always caught in a bunker? A low compression golf ball might help your situation. These balls are known to produce higher spin rates especially during short game. For you, that means the ability to bring your ball to more drastic trajectories that can save you from bunkers and other hazards around the green.
Perhaps one of the most frustrating sights for any golfer is to watch their ball hit the green and then bounce on back to the rough. This usually happens with harder balls, since the tightly wound interior can accumulate momentum. With softer golf balls however, you’ll usually find that once they land on the green, they’ll roll gently to a stop. This makes it easier to keep your ball where you want it to stay after you arrive on the green.
Putting a soft golf ball can open up a world of enhanced control. As you navigate the green and putt your ball to the hole, you’ll find that its performance can make it much easier for you to execute an accurate shot - regardless of your skill level. In many cases, soft golf balls are often ideal for short game because of their heightened control for short-distance shots.
Not all golfers will benefit from low compression golf balls, but there are quite a few types of players who might find these softer balls to be highly advantageous. Depending on your level of expertise and your swing style, you might find a need for these softer golf balls.
Many novice golfers have found themselves giving up the club after a few disappointing shots. But a low compression golf ball might change that. Offering forgiving performance even for shots that aren’t square on the club face, low compression golf balls can sustain relatively farther distances even when struck by a beginner with slow speed and poor aim. Ideal as a starter golf ball, many players start off learning the intricacies of the long distance shots with softer balls, and then graduate on to harder, high compression golf balls once they develop faster speeds.
Older golfers will naturally swing slower than their more youthful counterparts. In fact, the average senior golfer will produce a swing that’s slower by around 5 to 10 miles per hour. That said, it might be beneficial for senior golfers to use low compression balls to preserve distance even with dampened speed.
There are loads of different reasons for a player to swing slower than average. Whether it’s fatigue, poor grip strength, lack of practice of experience, or whatever else, slow swingers will always work best with a softer golf ball. This is especially true if you want to cover more ground with a single shot despite not being able to produce a swing that’s at least 90mph.
Hitting a few trick shots in your backyard? A soft golf ball will produce more spin and offer better control for short game. So if you were hoping to practice your skills around the green or if you simply wanted to know what you could do with a golf ball, then a softer ball would be the way to go. The same goes for golfers who just find it a little harder to manage turf play compared to long distance drives. If you feel your game would benefit from a more controllable golf ball on the green, then a softer choice might help out.
The 2-piece Callaway Golf Supersoft Golf Balls are one of the brand’s lowest compression golf balls. The loosely wound construction permits reliable, straight flight across long distances even for players with slower swing speeds. Its ultra-low compression core also works to improve control, giving you better feel during short game shots for enhanced intuition on the green.
Another thing worth mentioning about the Supersoft Golf Balls is that they tout low-drag HEX Aerodynamics. This technology from the Callaway brand reduces the low pressure area that forms behind the ball during flight. This in effect dampens the vacuum effect of drag, allowing your ball to travel farther for longer.
Embedded with hundreds of shallow dimples, the Callaway Golf Supersoft Golf Balls were specifically engineered for streamlined, aerodynamic performance. And with their vibrant color choices, these golf balls produce exquisite contrast against all the various types of terrain you might encounter on the course.
Known as one of the most prominent golf gear manufacturers on the market. The Titleist brand boasts a stellar reputation for their world-class golf creations. Their DT TruSoft Golf Balls are one of the softest in their lineup, designed for long distance performance and versatile short game play to satisfy players across the entire spectrum of expertise.
These golf balls use what the brand calls a TruTouch Core. This low compression center deforms more readily during on impact, ensuring to minimize spin for long distance shots. The core is then layered in a TruFlex Cover that offers a soft strike factor that can be particularly satisfying during the swing. The pliable cover material also flexes ever so slightly during impact to heighten spin during short game.
Developed to stop solid as your game lands on the green, these golf balls can be especially helpful in lowering a high handicap. Available in both white and yellow, these Titleist golf balls can be a sound investment for any beginner, senior, or slow swinger.
The low compression Bridgestone E6 Golf Balls were designed for excellent long game, launching your ball farther with almost zero spin with drivers and long irons. These balls travel longer distances even with slow swing speeds, and produce negligible side spin to bring your ball closer to the target with one hit. Its Delta Dimple design was strategically designed for aerodynamic performance, lowering drag to help your golf ball move forward more dramatically.
The bright yellow balls are also available in white, and feature premium Bridgestone construction. The two-piece design produces a much more satisfying smash factor as the ball deforms to absorb your energy and convert it to forward propulsion. With excellent feedback, these golf balls also make a suitable choice for players who want to fully understand the science of their swing.
The cover and core on these golf balls respond readily to short game swings. The construction makes it possible for players to achieve all sorts of trick shots that can become particularly handy on the green. So whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned golfer, the Bridgestone E6 Soft Golf Balls has something to offer to improve your play.
The Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls are engineered with a highly resilient super soft core. This two-piece construction incorporates the brand’s Energetic Gradient Growth Core that marries control with distance, especially for players with swing speeds at an average of 70 miles per hour. This softer feel promotes excellent short game, and also provides resonant feedback that travels up the club and through your hands for a more fine-tuned swing.
The surface of the ball is covered in 344 Speed Dimples. These shallow depressions throughout the cover minimize the size of the pocket of drag that forms behind the ball during launch. The result is a more powerful forward propulsion that fuels your ball to travel farther even without the maximum swing strength of a power hitter.
The Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls have a compression rating of 72, which is one of the lowest you’ll see on the market. So if you were hoping to get your hands on some of the softest, lowest compression golf balls out there, these balls from Srixon might be a worthy contender.
The TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls use a unique five-piece construction, incorporating both firm and soft materials to combine the benefits of both ball feels. Nonetheless, the ball comes out with a soft strike feel, compressing readily against the speed of your club head. The balls’ 3-layer core touts progressive compression that helps transfer and preserve energy throughout the inner layers of the ball. Outside, a dual spin cover maximizes the interaction between the ball and the club to produce performance spin on shorter shots.
For long distance play, the TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls are especially ingenious, using a combination of low spin and momentum preservation to cast your ball forward. Much like any other low compression ball, the TP5 works best in the hands of a slow swinger, producing much farther distances with swing speeds of about 70 to 85 miles per hour.
Incorporating high-flex material, the interior of the TaylorMade TP5 acts like a spring when subject to force. This jolts the ball forward towards your target. But as it strikes the ground, these balls also demonstrate excellent roll and stop. That said, you won’t have to worry about your golf ball ricocheting off of the turf to land back in the rough after it’s landed near the hole.
It’s time to break the notion that harder golf balls travel faster. The distance a ball travels won’t depend on how hard or soft it is, but on how you play the game. So if you find that harder balls just aren’t working for you, maybe it’s time to soften up.
Getting one of the best low compression golf balls can be a smart way to maximize your distance if you’ve got slower swing speeds. And because they’re designed for excellent control around the green, these golf balls can also be especially beneficial if you’re trying to learn the ropes of short play.
