are Soft or hard golf balls better?

If you think it’s hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball. – Jack Lemmon

You’ve probably never put much thought into the golf balls you use, just pick a brand, get a sleeve, lose them, and start all over again.

But what if you’re losing so many golf balls because you didn’t pick the right type?

This is pretty common, some of your unwanted misses and weird ball behavior could come down to the ball being too soft or hard.

But all golf balls are hard – Some Wise Guy

This is true, but some are just harder than others. 

70%+ of golfers and 60% of the professionals on tour prefer soft golf balls.

Notice the drop-off between amateurs and professionals in their love for softer balls…

There is a good reason for this, as professionals know what works for them to get them the best results.

You could save a couple of shots a round by swapping balls.

Below, you will discover which ball is best suited for you and a list of golf balls you can try out.

How To Tell If A Golf Ball Is Soft Or Hard (Compression Rating)

How hard or soft a golf ball is depends on its compression rating.

A softer-feeling golf ball will have a lower compression rating.

For example, firmer golf balls with a rating of 100 will be much harder than those with a rating of 70.

Sometimes, this rating will be printed on the golf ball, but this will usually be found on older golf balls.

This rating tells you how easily the ball is to compress/squish/crush on impact. 

Imagine if you had a mechanical press: soft golf balls with a lower compression rating will change shape easier than a harder golf ball with a higher compression rating.

How cool would it be to have one of those presses!

When You Should Use Soft Golf Balls

Low – Average Swing Speed

Soft golf balls will be better suited for the average golfer because of their slower swing speeds.

Swing speeds below 100mph could benefit by using softer golf balls.

Swap the mechanical press for your club face, and the same applies.

The softer ball will compress more easily, which the average golfer needs.

You won’t get the best from these balls because you don’t have the breakneck speeds to crush the harder golf balls.

Don’t you want the best for your balls, my man?

Besides, if you don’t have the speed, hitting a harder golf ball will feel like hitting a rock.

Will sound like it too.

You Don’t Want Your Golf Ball To Spin Too Much

Soft golf balls won’t spin as much as hard golf balls when hitting your longer clubs in the bag.

Why is less spin good for the average golfer?

Mishits like slices, draws, hooks, or fades happen because the ball spins out of control, which causes these painful shots.

Now, if your ball can spin less, then the whip or curvature of your shots will reduce.

So, if you’re struggling to get off the tee, softer balls could be the difference.

Everyone likes softer balls… am I right?

Stop The Golf Ball Quicker On The Green

Gofers who want the ball to stop quicker with their approach shots or greenside chips will benefit from a softer golf ball.

This is where the magic of a softer golf ball comes into play…

Softer golf balls spin less off the tee, but with your short irons/wedges, they spin way more than harder balls.

The additional spin helps your golf ball stop on the green. Most golfers would love to hit shots like the pros when the ball stops and zips back toward the hole.

But you’ll never be able to achieve this without tons of spin.

When You Should Use Hard Golf Balls

Shot Shaping

For scratch golfers, single handicappers, and professionals, being able to shape their shots is essential.

Being able to shape shots on demand is what separates the pros from the average golfer.

The only shot most golfers can hit on demand is a slice… myself included.

As you learned earlier, harder golf balls spin more off the tee.

All this extra spin makes it easier to hit fades or draws.

Making it the perfect ball for some of the world’s elite golfers so they can bend and weave their ball down fairways or away from hazards.

High Swing Speed

Golfers with a swing speed of 100mph or above should consider using a harder ball.

Once again, when swapping a mechanical press for a driver at full speed, high-compression balls get crushed easily when hit at speed.

If you swing out of your shoes, you will get the full benefit of harder balls.

When you have a high swing speed and hit a softer ball, you will feel like you’re after hitting a marshmallow. 

It just won’t feel as solid.

Harder golf balls will give players with a faster club head speed the best bang for their buck in terms of performance and overall distance. 

What Golf Balls Do Professional Golfers Use?

Professionals are slightly skewed in favor of softer golf balls.

But the pros swing faster than almost every amateur, so surely a harder golf ball is better suited for them?

Well, it’s a simple answer: they lose a few yards off the tee but gain the ability to control the ball better around the greens.

And what’s a few yards lost when you’re hitting the ball 300+ yards?

The most significant difference in the pro game is their work around the green.

They can all drive the ball well, it’s what happens after their drives that decides who wins.

When it comes to the rest of us, we need more help off the tees, so those extra few yards of distance and control come in handy.

What Goes Further, Soft Golf Balls or Hard Golf Balls?

So neither golf ball, by default, goes further than the other. It all comes down to the golfer who’s hitting them.

For example, a senior golfer with no power will hit a soft golf ball further than a hard ball.

On the flip side, a juiced-up freak machine will crush a hard ball further than a soft one. 

If you can’t fully compress the ball at impact, you won’t get the most from the ball.

List Of Softer Golf Balls

Callaway Super Soft Golf Balls

Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls

Taylormade Soft Response Golf Balls

Wilson Duo Soft Golf Balls

Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls

List Of Harder Softer Balls

Mizuno RB Tour X Golf Balls

Titleist Pro V1X Golf Balls

Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls

TaylorMade TP5x Golf Balls

Vice Pro Golf Balls