![\"Here\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/soft-golf-balls-test.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\tSoft golf balls have been marketed as easy to launch and ideal for slower swings. But our robot test shows they\u2019re shorter off the tee and lower spinning with wedges. Here\u2019s why softer isn\u2019t better \u2013 and what you should play instead.<\/p>\n
For decades, golfers have been told that soft is better when it comes to golf balls.<\/p>\n
\u201cEasier to compress.\u201d \u201cExtra distance for less effort.\u201d \u201cMore forgiving.\u201d \u201cBetter for slower swings.\u201d<\/p>\n
It all sounds great \u2013 but our robot test shows it\u2019s simply not true. In fact, the softest balls in our 2025 test<\/a> were the shortest with the driver \u2013 at three different swing speeds \u2013 and the lowest spinning with a wedge.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s dive into what makes a golf ball soft, why the performance of soft balls doesn\u2019t live up to the marketing hype, and how you can get the feel you want from a golf ball without compromising on performance.<\/p>\n Compression is a measure of how much a ball deforms (or squashes) at impact, usually rated between 30-120. The lower the rating, the softer the ball, and the more it will be squashed upon impact. A higher rating indicates a firmer construction that won\u2019t deform as easily. <\/p>\n Golf balls marketed as soft typically have a low compression rating. There\u2019s no hard and fast rule, but balls with a compression of 80 or below would typically be considered soft.<\/p>\n How we tested the golf balls<\/p>\n We put 62 golf balls through their paces with a $100,000 swing robot<\/a> \u2013 the same technology used by manufacturers when developing new clubs and equipment. A robot guarantees consistency that even elite players can\u2019t match, so the only variable was the ball itself.<\/p>\n We tested every ball across five different shot types:<\/p>\n 114mph driver \u2013 PGA Tour average<\/p>\n 93mph driver \u2013 LPGA Tour and typical male club golfer<\/p>\n 78mph driver \u2013 average female club golfer<\/p>\n 7-iron \u2013 80mph, which is club golfer average<\/p>\n 56\u00b0 wedge \u2013 hitting a 40-yard pitch shot The old myth \u2013 and why it\u2019s hurting your game<\/p>\n Conventional thinking was that slower swing speeds needed lower compression golf balls as they lacked the force required to compress a firmer ball.<\/p>\n But our data proved this simply isn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n The Pinnacle Soft (35 compression) was the softest ball in the test and delivered the shortest carry distance at all three driver swing speeds.<\/p>\n The Srixon UltiSoft (36 compression) was the second softest ball in the test \u2013 and the second shortest at all three driver speeds.<\/p>\n At 78mph, the swing speed where soft balls are supposed to shine, they were still bottom. In fact, you\u2019re giving up 8 yards of driver carry distance by playing one of these balls.<\/p>\n At 93mph, you\u2019re giving up 11 yards of driver carry distance.<\/p>\n If you swing at 114mph, the softest balls will cost you as much as 15 yards of driver carry distance compared to what you could get from a firmer ball.<\/p>\n The conclusion is clear: softer doesn\u2019t mean longer, at any swing speed.<\/p>\n And distance isn\u2019t the only problem<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t just driver distance where soft golf balls underperformed. Low-compression balls also struggled badly for spin on the 40-yard pitch shot.<\/p>\n Both the Pinnacle Soft and Srixon UltiSoft ranked in the bottom five for wedge backspin.<\/p>\n No ball with a compression of 80 or below ranked in the top half for wedge spin.<\/p>\n That means softer balls not only go shorter off the tee, they\u2019re also harder to stop into the green.<\/p>\n The only benefit to soft golf balls<\/p>\n Some of the soft golf balls we tested produced strong 7-iron carry distance. The Callaway Supersoft (41 compression) and TaylorMade SpeedSoft (50) ranked second and third for carry distance with a 7-iron. The Wilson Duo Soft (55) and Titleist TruFeel (68) also made the top 10.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s a catch: they all spun less than average. A yard or two extra with a 7-iron isn\u2019t much help if the ball won\u2019t stop on the green \u2013 or if you\u2019re 15 yards further back with your driver.<\/p>\n And the two very softest balls \u2013 the Pinnacle Soft and Srixon UltiSoft \u2013 didn\u2019t even deliver standout iron distance. Both were mid-to-bottom performers, with below-average spin.<\/p>\n Personally, I would never suggest choosing a golf ball based on the fact that it flies a yard or two longer with a 7-iron \u2013 especially when it delivers low spin rates with irons and wedges, and poor driver distance.<\/p>\n But what about feel?<\/p>\n This is the last argument for soft balls: \u201cI just like how they feel.\u201d Fair enough \u2013 but here\u2019s the truth.<\/p>\n Feel comes from the cover more than the compression. A urethane cover feels softer and spins better than surlyn, regardless of compression.<\/p>\n Putters matter. It\u2019s on the green where golfers tend to notice the biggest difference in the sound and feel of a golf ball, and most of the best putters<\/a> these days have face inserts that soften feel, which means firmer balls don\u2019t feel harsh.<\/p>\n Premium balls aren\u2019t actually hard. Today\u2019s multi-layer urethane balls pair a firm inner core with a softer outer layer, so you can get explosive distance and higher spin from a firmer compression, with the softer sensation many golfers prefer. Forget about chasing a softer feel. Instead, focus on a ball that:<\/p>\n Maximises your driver distance (because hitting wedges into greens beats hitting 6-irons).<\/p>\n Gives you enough iron and wedge spin to stop the ball where you want.<\/p>\n Fits your budget without sacrificing performance.<\/p>\n The bottom line: don\u2019t fall for the \u201csoft\u201d trap. If you\u2019re serious about playing better golf, pick a ball that\u2019s designed to perform, not just feel nice in your hands.<\/p>\n TG\u2018s golf ball expert James Hogg recommends the Callaway Chrome Tour (113) and Wilson Staff Model (112) as two high-performing balls that feel softer than their compression would suggest.<\/p>\n \u201cChrome Tour is the complete package, and definitely a golf ball you have to consider if you want a premium, tour-level golf ball that\u2019s fast and long off the tee, with good iron game and short game spin and control,\u201d he says. \u201cThe Chrome Tour is extremely popular on Tour, and it\u2019s clear to see why.\u201d<\/p>\n At the 114mph test speed, the Callaway Chrome Tour was the fastest and longest golf ball of the entire test, being the only golf ball out of all 62 to exceed 275 yards of carry. It\u2019s a similar story at 93mph, being the longest golf ball off the tee of all 62 tested.<\/p>\n Gold medal for driver performance <\/p>\n Longest golf ball <\/p>\n Rrp: $54.99 <\/p>\n Price: $49.99 <\/p>\n If you’re looking to improve your tee game, the Callaway Chrome Tour is the ball you should choose out of all four-piece and five-piece golf balls. <\/p>\n At 114mph, the Callaway Chrome Tour is the fastest and longest golf ball of the entire test, being the only golf ball out of all 62 to exceed 275 carry yards. It’s a similar story at 93mph, being the longest golf ball off the tee of all 62 tested. <\/p>\n Chrome Tour isn’t as competitive with carry distance at slower swing speeds, but being lower spinning than other golf balls in this category helps to produce competitive total distance. Also, ball speed is joint-third fastest. <\/p>\n Where the Chrome Tour is low spinning off the tee, it’s not the case approaching or playing around greens. <\/p>\n Chrome Tour is the complete package, and definitely a golf ball you have to consider if you want a premium, Tour-level golf ball that’s fast and long off the tee, with good iron game and short game spin and control. <\/p>\n On-course verdict<\/p>\n I’ve had a lot of enjoyment playing with the Chrome Tour, most notably when I took this model out for a spin on The Old Course at St. Andrews. It’s extremely difficult to find a negative considering it’s long off the tee, high-spinning around the greens, and feels amazing. <\/p>\n This isn’t a soft-feeling golf ball, but it’s not firm either, it’s somewhere in the middle, which is very pleasant because it offers great feedback as well as amazing feel. <\/p>\n The Chrome Tour is very strong off the tee, and it is noticeably longer than the Chrome Tour X on the course because it’s not as high-spinning. The Chrome Tour is extremely popular on Tour, and it’s clear to see why. <\/p>\n The Chrome Tour and Tour X are very closely matched, but the Chrome Tour is probably more versatile; it’s just not as high-spinning when approaching and playing around greens. <\/p>\n Read our full\u00a0Callaway Chrome Tour golf ball\u00a0review<\/a>. <\/p>\n Pros & Cons Specs Features <\/p>\n Pros Impressive distance and ball speedPlayed by some of the best golfers in the gameVery consistent golf balls Cons Not as high-spinning as the Chrome Tour X Carry distance (yds) Driver 114mph – 275.4 | Driver 93mph – 210.8 | Driver 78mph – 161.8 | 7-iron – 155.6 Ball speed (mph) Driver 114mph – 165.1 | Driver 93mph – 134.7 | Driver 78mph – 113.4 | 7-iron – 108.7 Backspin (rpm) Driver 114mph – 2,689 | Driver 93mph – 2,701 | Driver 78mph – 2,508 | 7-iron – 4,658 | Pitch – 6,036 Launch angle (\u00b0) Driver 114mph – 11 | Driver 93mph – 12.7 | Driver 78mph – 13.9 | 7-iron – 20.9 | Pitch – 30.1 Descent angle (\u00b0) Driver 114mph – 37.3 | Driver 93mph – 32.5 | Driver 78mph – 27.6 | 7-iron – 44.9 | Pitch – 35.2 Peak height (yds) Driver 114mph – 32.6 | Driver 93mph – 22.7 | Driver 78mph – 15.7 | 7-iron – 29.4 | Pitch – 6.5 Compression (psi) 113 Hyper fast soft coreSeamless Tour aeroHigh-performance Tour urethane soft cover332 dimples4-Piece constructionAvailable in white and yellowAlternative models include Triple Track, 360\u00b0 Triple Track, TruTrack, and Limited Edition patterns <\/p>\n \u201cFrom tee to green, the Wilson Staff Model is super consistent, and it ticks a lot of boxes for the majority of golfers,\u201d Hogg explains. \u201cRegardless of your ability or swing speed, the Staff Model will work for you if you want a golf ball that\u2019s easy to control when playing into and around greens and competitive for distance off the tee.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a ton to like about the Staff Model, and its softer feel compared to the Staff Model X is sure to please a lot of golfers.\u201d<\/p>\n Gold medal for tee to green performance at 114mph <\/p>\n Best soft-feeling golf ball <\/p>\n The Wilson Staff Model is a very impressive golf ball that unfortunately sits in the shadow of the Staff Model X. That might sound harsh, considering this is the best golf ball for tee to green performance at 114mph in this category. <\/p>\n At the 114mph driver swing speed, this is the third-longest golf ball, and one of only three to exceed 274 yards in the entire test. At a moderate and slower swing speed, the Staff Model is a solid performer, but not as strong as the Staff Model X – third at 93mph and second at 78mph. <\/p>\n There is one area where the Staff Model outshines the Staff Model X, and that’s with approach play. Staff Model scooped up the silver medal for approach play with the Staff Model X, one place behind in the bronze medal position. <\/p>\n Approaching and playing around the greens, the Staff Model doesn’t generate as much spin as the Staff Model X, but its distance is more consistent. Despite being a lower-spinning golf ball, you might be able to trust the Staff Model more to carry a repeatable distance – even if it is shorter.<\/p>\n At quick swing speeds, this is definitely a good option if you want a golf ball that can do everything, but with the Staff Model X just behind at 114mph for tee to green performance, and given how it’s better-performing almost everywhere else, it’s hard not to recommend Staff Model X instead. <\/p>\n That being said, the best way to differentiate is if you want a lower-spinning, softer golf ball, go for the Staff Model. <\/p>\n On-course verdict<\/p>\n The Staff Model is a very strong performer from tee to green. If you don’t want a high-spinning, firm-feeling golf ball, this is your best option. This model isn’t as impressive as the Staff Model X, but it’s pretty darn close. <\/p>\n From tee to green, the Staff Model is super consistent, and it ticks a lot of boxes for the majority of golfers. Regardless of your ability or swing speed, the Staff Model will work for you if you want a golf ball that’s easy to control when playing into and around greens and competitive for distance off the tee. <\/p>\n There’s a ton to like about the Staff Model, and its softer feel compared to the Staff Model X is sure to please a lot of golfers. <\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/robot-test-2025-compression-james.jpg\")
What makes a golf ball soft?<\/p>\n
\n![\"Another](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/robot-test-2025-driver-shot-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nSo what should you play?<\/p>\n![\"Callaway](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/callaway-chrome-tour-golf-balls-1.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n <\/a> Robot test verdict<\/p>\n
![\"Wilson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wilson-staff-model-2024-hero_.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a> Robot test verdict<\/p>\n
![\"Rob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rob-m.jpg\"\/)