Soft Vs. Hard Golf Balls: What Golf Ball Should You Use?

 For players of various skill levels, there are several golf ball alternatives available. It might be challenging to choose what golf ball is ideal for your game given the vast price range and promises made about their products by golf ball manufacturers.

Whether to play a hard or soft golf ball is one of the key decisions golfers must make. The idea behind this could be confusing to some since, when you hold a golf ball in your hand, they all look to be about the same size. What does it mean to play a game in a hard or soft setting, and does it really matter which kind you choose? Are there any combinations of hard and soft, or does it have to be one of those?

The fundamental distinction between hard and soft golf balls in UK will be discussed in this blog along with its relevance to the right ball to use.

 

A golf ball's compression

Golf balls are classified according to how much of their form is altered when struck, or compression value. If you were to use a super slow-motion camera to capture the impact of a club striking a ball, you would see a brief change in the ball's form. Compression is measured by how much it changes form. 

Harder golf balls change form less, as you might expect. Golf balls with more give change shape more. This change in shape can be influenced by variations in the ball's core, cover, or number of layers.

A compression scale used in golf goes from around 30-110 and provides a relative understanding of how hard or soft a ball is. A softer ball is indicated by the lower end, and a harder ball is indicated by the upper end. A harder ball will spin more and be easier to control on approach shots in general if it has a high compression rating.

Longer clubs can travel farther with softer golf balls because they typically spin less, but control is less precise.

 

A Hard or Soft Golf Ball Should Be Used by Golfers?

The majority of premium golf balls are tougher since they are designed for players with faster swing speeds. You should probably use a tougher golf ball if your swing speed exceeds 100 mph. The ball benefits from less contact with the club face since the amount of force being applied to it is so tremendous.

A soft golf ball would feel like a sponge and would probably launch excessively high, resulting in less distance if a player with a faster swing speed used it.

A Titleist Pro V1 golf ball, which has a compression value close to 90, is an illustration of a hard golf ball. In addition, there is a Pro V1x variant, which is just a tougher golf ball with a compression value slightly higher than 100. Some players prefer the Pro V1x's increased spin because it can assist shape shots in various directions.

However, the majority of golfers shouldn't be using tougher golf balls. Because these balls have more side-spin and cause shots to travel further offline than usual, it actually makes the game harder.

Most golfers should play with softer golf balls. These balls will launch higher, with less spin, and fly farther off the tee while not travelling as far offline for slower swing speeds. On approach shots and in the short game, considerable control is lost, but the advantages in the long game greatly exceed any drawbacks.

Contrary to popular belief, most golfers would believe that success depends on having an expensive golf ball. Instead, those expensive golf balls might only be hurting your game and draining your bank account.

A golf ball may have both a hard and soft surface.

One of the most perplexing aspects can be this. Almost all golf balls are promoted as having a soft feel, regardless of whether they are tougher or softer in terms of compression. For instance, the Pro V1 is renowned for having a soft feel while being a tougher ball overall.

Although it may sound unusual, the exterior cover of the ball is what truly matters. A urethane cover is used on the majority of high-end golf balls, giving them extra feel and spin on the greens. Many other golf balls have tougher and lower-spinning Ionomer or Surlyn coverings.

A golf ball can therefore be both hard and soft. Compression is addressed by one factor, although shorter strokes typically feel softer with a firmer golf ball.

In case you were curious, there are golf balls with mild compression that provide a soft feel. One such example is the Vice Pro Soft. Because of this, the price falls into the mid-range.

 

How do I choose the right golf ball to use?

Swing speed is mostly what determines how this works. Use a softer golf ball if your speed is less than or equal to 95 mph. This is particularly true if you lack general expertise or struggle with side-spin on slice and hooks.

The good news is that cheaper soft golf balls are typically available. This does not imply that the quality is low; you may discover a fantastic soft golf ball that works for your style of play. On the other hand, golf balls with a higher compression should be preferred by players with faster swing speeds.

Golf balls ultimately come down to personal choice. Make sure to test all available golf ball varieties, seeing how far they fly and what kind of performance they provide. Everything is irrelevant unless something is effective for you.