Soft vs Hard Golf Balls
For any golfer, choosing which golf ball to play is one of their biggest decisions.
Every bit as important as the type of equipment you play, the golf ball determines distance, spin, and the flight you create.
Essentially, golf balls come down to two types: hard and soft, with each ball delivering its own benefits and drawbacks in relation to your handicap.
But which one is best for your golf game?
In this article, we determine the winner in the battle of soft vs hard golf balls, helping you find the ball that will maximize your potential and help lower your scores.
Choosing the Right Golf Ball for Your Game
We recommend that players match their swing speed with golf ball type. Here’s a quick chart to help you determine the right ball for your swing speed.
High Swing Speeds (Driver Speed – 105 mph)
For fast swing players, soft golf balls, such as the Titleist Pro V1 offer more versatility and workability for their game.
While they might see a slight difference in overall distance compared to firmer balls, their ability to shape shots and hold greens on longer plays delivers a significant advantage when looking to post low scores.
Mid Swing Speeds (Driver Speed – 95 mph)
Most golfers with middle-range swing speeds should test both hard and soft golf balls before making a final choice. Both golf balls offer benefits when considering their mid-tier swing speed.
If you find yourself in this category, you should play the best soft golf balls if you value feel around the greens, and harder balls if you prefer more distance.
Low Swing Speeds (Driver Speed – 85 mph)
Beginning golfers typically carry slow swing speeds, so they should look at low-to-mid compression golf balls that maximize distance.
These hard golf balls are usually less expensive and more durable, helping these inexperienced golfers focus solely on learning the fundamentals of the game.
Differences Between Soft and Hard Golf Balls
When looking at soft vs hard golf balls, there are some significant differences to consider before making your final choice.
When playing harder golf balls, expect lower flight but more distance with a longer rollout.
From inside 150 yards, the hard golf balls don’t spin as much as soft golf balls, so there could be problems with holding the green.
Soft golf balls may limit your distance slightly, but the spin and feel you get from these golf balls are unmatched. With higher ball flight, soft golf balls also land with spin to keep them holding firm on the green.
When comparing durability between hard and soft golf balls, hard golf balls tend to last longer, but that comes at the price of feel and spin.
Golf Ball Compression
Golf ball compression measures how much the ball deforms at impact. The higher the compression, the less the ball will be affected by the impact of the golf club.
Hard golf balls typically carry a lower compression because golfers with slower swing speeds use them. But they also lack feel because their core is made from only one material.
Soft golf balls carry a higher compression due to the multi-piece construction and how golfers with faster swing speeds typically prefer them on the course due to their spin rate and feel.
The low compression balls tend to spring off the club face, making them great for golfers who need every yard they can get from their lower swing speed.
Since faster swing speeds play higher compression golf balls, they don’t need that spongy feel at impact to maximize their distance.
Golf Ball Recommendations for Different Players
Since we categorize players by their handicaps, here’s a quick guide for the golf balls players should play based on their handicaps.
Low Handicappers
Faster swing speeds demand a high-grade soft golf ball to maximize distance and provide the control to shape shots and hold greens from longer distances.
Fast-swing golfers could get more distance from a firmer golf ball, but they won’t see the softness around the greens where they can pick up strokes.
Mid Handicappers
Mid-handicappers looking to drop to a single-digit handicap should play golf balls with a higher compression rating and softer feel.
The average golfer in this range should begin working on how soft golf balls can shape shots and improve short-game efficiency.
High Handicappers
Handicaps over 20 should consider playing hard golf balls due to their lower price and higher durability. These balls maximize distance and rollout, helping shorten the distance of approach shots.
Beginning Golfers
Hard golf balls are ideal for beginning golfers because they carry low swing speeds and need repetitions to establish their fundamentals.
Also, these balls are more durable and will provide more money for equipment upgrades.
Golf Ball Versatility
Modern golf ball technology allows players to enjoy the best of both worlds: the softness desired for control and feel and the firmness needed for distance and durability.
Golf balls like the Callaway Chrome Soft and Titleist Pro V1 exemplify this blend, catering to golfers seeking versatility on the course.
The key lies in ball construction. Multi-layer designs combine materials like urethane covers for a soft feel and metal core or advanced core materials for increased energy transfer.
This construction balances spin, trajectory control, and ball flight to adapt to a variety of shots.
A soft cover enhances green stopping power, crucial for precision, while the firm inner layers boost distance for faster swing speeds.
The polyurethane or urethane outer layer provides a soft touch, enhancing short-game control, while the firm core offers higher compression for explosive drives.
Golfers benefit from this combination with a consistent spin rate and predictable performance across all clubs.
Additionally, technologies focusing on core materials optimize energy transfer, achieving maximum distance without sacrificing feel.
For players, versatile golf balls ensure adaptability in varying conditions, enabling them to fine-tune their shots while maintaining a balance between distance and control.
This innovation caters to golfers seeking comprehensive performance in every aspect of the game.
Performance Comparison Across Clubs
With soft golf balls, golfers will have more control the closer they are to the green.
With the driver, softer golf balls tend to lose a few yards in distance, but that’s made up with the feel and control the average golfer gets for their game.
The softer golf balls tend to spin more with irons and wedges due to their urethane cover. This helps players hold the green with minimal rollout over 150 yards.
Harder balls with a surlyn cover deliver more side spin due to the toughness of the outer layer and lack of interior layers that minimize driver spin.
You’ll see more distance from your irons and wedges, but the average golfer will see far less spin making it difficult to hold these golf balls on the green from over 150 yards.
With wedges, you’ll see higher launch with the softer balls due to the increase in spin. Hard golf balls tend to stay lower because it’s more difficult to spin them with wedges.
Professional Preferences
Professional golfers love playing with high-grade, softer golf balls like the Callaway Chrome Soft and Titleist Pro V1 series.
One of the biggest reasons they play these softer balls is because they feature a multi-layered core that works well with high swing speeds.
The multiple layers generate considerable spin around the greens but also help minimize spin on drives to maximize distance and tighten dispersion.
These top-tier multi-layer golf balls are considered to be a high-compression ball with a rating of around 90.
The higher compression does provide a bit firmer feel than previous models of the Titleist golf ball but continues to produce a buttery feel off the club face.
The Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the most popular golf balls on the PGA Tour.
Golfers such as Viktor Hovland, Adam Scott, and Sahith Theegala play the Pro V1 version, while Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark, and Justin Thomas prefer the higher spin, lower launch of the Pro V1x.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use a hard or soft golf ball?
Harder golf balls are great for high handicappers and beginners just learning the game.
Softer golf balls tend to have more feel and spin. Plus, they’re more versatile around the green, making them best for low handicappers who can work the golf ball.
What are the disadvantages of soft golf balls?
Soft golf balls often lack distance compared to harder balls, especially for players with high swing speeds. Their lower compression can reduce energy transfer, leading to less ball speed.
Additionally, they may wear out faster due to softer covers and offer less durability when frequently used on firm or abrasive surfaces.
Is a Pro V1 hard or soft?
The Pro V1 is a soft golf ball. Professional golfers play the Pro V1 because it delivers consistent overall performance with high spin and excellent short game control.
For weekend warriors, the Pro V1 utilizes softer materials to help amateurs generate more spin from the fairway to help stop shots cold on the green.
What is the advantage of soft feel golf balls?
For high handicappers and beginners, soft feel golf balls add a new element to their short game.
While they might see less distance off the tee when compared to firmer golf balls, they’ll find a more consistent performance.
If you are a low to mid handicapper, the soft feel golf balls offers a huge difference in feel around the green.