What Compression Golf Ball Do I Need?

The one-sentence answer: if your driver swing is under about 90 mph, buy a low-compression ball; under about 75 mph, buy the very softest one you can find. Here’s how to know where you fall, even without a launch monitor.

Step 1: estimate your swing speed

If you’ve been on a launch monitor or a simulator, use that driver clubhead speed. If you haven’t, use your honest average driver carry— how far it flies in the air, not total roll. As a rough guide: about 200 yards of carry is roughly 85 mph; about 220 is roughly 95 mph. Be honest; most of us over-estimate.

Step 2: read the tier

Take that number to the ball compression chart. Under 75 mph is the very-low tier; 75–90 is the low tier where most seniors sit; 90–100 is mid; over 100 is firm/tour. Pick the tier your speed lands in.

Step 3: buy on price within the tier

Within a tier, the balls are close enough that price should decide. In the low tier that means the Srixon Soft Feel, Callaway Supersoft, Titleist TruFeel and TaylorMade Soft Response are interchangeable enough to just buy the cheapest. See our ranked picks for the details.

When to size up or down

If you’re on the border of two tiers, favor the softer one — the cost of too-soft is small (a little control), while too-firm robs a slow swing of distance, which is the bigger loss. And if your eyes struggle to find a white ball, choose a high-visibility yellow within your tier.