Welcome to our golf ball compression chart guide!
Golfers should not underestimate how much the golf ball you choose can affect your game. Selecting the right golf ball can help you achieve distance, accuracy and, ultimately help to lower your score.
In other words, playing the right golf ball optimizes your performance. The first key element of choosing the right ball? Golf ball compression.
What is golf ball compression?
Whenever a club hits a golf ball, the force of the impact causes the ball to change shape and compress against the face of the club before it ‘springs off’. This is golf ball compression, and can be seen if you watch a slow-motion replay.
Golf ball compression is the interaction of the clubface with the ball’s core, and in general, the softer the ball, the more it compresses.
The golf ball compression rating describes how hard or soft the ball is, and usually ranges between a score of 30 and 120. The softest is 30, while 120 is the hardest.
In other words, the lower the compression, the softer the ball, and the higher the compression rating, the harder the ball.
Got the idea? Now let’s examine what this means to you.
Which golf ball Compression Chart Rating Is Right for You?
Just like choosing the right club, choosing the right golf ball is all about selecting the equipment best suited for your swing speed, handicap, and other such skills.
Faster swing speeds demand high-compression golf balls.
Why? These balls offer accuracy, control, responsiveness, trajectory, feel, and backspin – but only with a faster swing speed.
Swing speeds in the middle range, 85 – 105 mph have a choice.
If you want more distance, then opt for a lower compression ball within the range.
If you want more control then pick a higher compression ball – but keep within the range that is designed for your swing speed.
Slower swing speeds require a lower compression to boost distance. It’s that simple!
The higher compression golf ball for experienced and low-handicap golfers account for less than 5% of the golf market. What about us mere mortals and newer players?
Distance is king, so pick a ball that maximizes length – and for most of us, this will be a lower compression golf ball.
Golf ball Compression Chart: By Swing Speed
Time to dive into our golf ball compression chart to start the process of selecting the right golf ball.
But first, just one more thing to do.
First, you must find out your swing speed in order to match the choices of a golf ball to this speed – this is crucial.
If you play at a club, then your professional will likely have a swing monitor device to help you find out your swing speed. Many driving ranges now have this facility.
From this information, you can now make an informed decision to select the correct golf ball compression and gain maximum performance from your golf ball.
You can then find a ball that matches your budget.
This makes sense if your game is a little errant. Losing 3 balls a round can add $15 to your game every time you walk on the course playing a top-dollar golf ball. Painful!
Less expensive options are available within each swing speed parameter. To help, we have added a price guide. The prices for budget to high-quality golf balls range from $20 to $50+ for a box of a dozen balls, respectively.
The golf ball compression chart below lays out the balls in sections starting with fast swing speeds through to slower with each section listed in compression order from top to bottom.
Some balls do not offer the actual golf ball compression rating and just offer what swing speed bracket they fall into – high, medium, or slow.
Golf Ball Compression Chart
| Golf Ball | Layers | Golf Ball Compression | Swing Speed | Price Bracket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAST | SWING SPEED | |||
| Mizuno RBX Tour X | 4 Piece | High 110 | + 105 mph | $$$$ |
| Cut DC | 4 Piece | High 105 | + 105 mph | $$$ |
| Taylormade TP5X Pix | 5 Piece | High 100 | + 105 mph | $$$$ |
| Titleist Pro V1 X | 4 Piece | High 100 | + 105 mph | $$$$ |
| Volvik S4 | 4 Piece | High 95 | + 95 mph | $$$ |
| Callaway Chrome Soft X | 4 Piece | High 90 | + 95 mph | $$$$ |
| Cut Blue | 4 Piece | High 90 | + 95 mph | $$ |
| Mizuno RB Tour | 4 Piece | High 90 | + 85 mph | $$$$ |
| Vice Pro Plus | 4 Piece | High | + 85 mph | $$$ |
| Volvik Crystal | 3 Piece | High | + 85 mph | $$$ |
| FASTER | SWING SPEED | |||
| Srixon Z-Star XV | 4 Piece | High 100 | + 105 mph | $$$ |
| Taylormade TP5X | 5 Piece | High 90 | + 95 mph | $$$$ |
| Wilson Staff Tour | 4 Piece | High (no figure) | + 95 mph | $$$$ |
| MID | SWING SPEED | |||
| Callaway Warbird | 2 Piece | High 90 | + 95 mph | $ |
| Snell MTB-X | 3 Piece | High 90 | + 95 mph | $$$ |
| Srixon Z Star | 3 Piece | High 90 | + 95 mph | $$$ |
| Titleist Pro V1 | 3 Piece | High 90 | + 95 mph | $$$$ |
| Volvik XT AMT | 3 Piece | High 90 | + 95 mph | $$$$ |
| Bridgestone Tour B X | 3 Piece | Medium 85 | + 85 mph | $$$$ |
| Bridgestone Tour B XS | 3 Piece | Medium 85 | + 85 mph | $$$$ |
| Taylormade TP5 Pix | 5 Piece | Medium 85 | + 85 mph | $$$$ |
| Volvik S3 | 3 Piece | Medium 85 | + 85 mph | $$$ |
| Cut Grey | 3 Piece | Medium 80 | + 85 mph | $$ |
| Snell MTB – Black | 3 Piece | Medium 80 | + 85 mph | $$$ |
| Taylormade TP5 | 5 Piece | Medium 80 | + 85 mph | $$$$ |
| Titleist AVX | 3 Piece | Medium 80 | + 85 mph | $$$$ |
| Titleist Tour Speed | 3 Piece | Medium 80 | + 85 mph | $$$ |
| Volvik Vivid | 3 Piece | Medium 80 | + 85 mph | $$$ |
| Bridgestone e12 Speed | 3 Piece | Medium 75 | + 80 mph | $$ |
| Callaway Chrome Soft | 3 Piece | Medium 75 | + 80 mph | $$$$ |
| Srixon Q Star | 2 Piece | Medium 75 | + 80 mph | $$$ |
| Volvik Vi Max Soft | 2 Piece | Medium 75 | + 80 mph | $$ |
| Srixon Q-Star Tour | 3 Piece | Medium 70 | + 80 mph | $$$ |
| Taylormade Tour Response | 3 Piece | Medium 70 | + 80 mph | $$$ |
| Taylormade Project (a) | 3 Piece | Medium 70 | + 80 mph | $$$ |
| Volvik Power Soft | 2 Piece | Medium 70 | + 80 mph | $$ |
| Volvik XT Soft | 3 Piece | Medium 70 | + 80 mph | $$$$ |
| Callaway Strata Eagle | 3 Piece | Medium | + 80 mph | $ |
| Titleist Velocity | 2 Piece | Medium | + 80 mph | $$ |
| Volvik Solice | 3 Piece | Medium | + 80 mph | $$$ |
| Wilson Tour Velocity Distance | 2 Piece | Medium | + 80 mph | $$ |
| Wilson Tour Velocity Feel | 2 Piece | Medium | + 80 mph | $$ |
| SLOWER | SWING SPEED | |||
| Bridgestone Tour B RX | 3 Piece | Low (65) | < 80 mph | $$$$ |
| Bridgestone Tour B RXS | 3 Piece | Low (65) | < 80 mph | $$$$ |
| Cut Matte | 3 Piece | Low (65) | < 80 mph | $$ |
| Titleist Tour Soft | 2 Piece | Low (65) | < 80 mph | $$$ |
| Callaway ERC Soft | 2 Piece | Low (60) | < 80 mph | $$$ |
| Cut Red | 2 Piece | Low (60) | < 80 mph | $$$ |
| Srixon Soft Feel | 2 Piece | Low (60) | < 80 mph | $$ |
| Wilson Duo Professional | 3 Piece | Low (60) | < 80 mph | $$ |
| Bridgestone e12 Soft | 3 Piece | Low (50) | < 70 mph | $$$ |
| Wilson Fifty Elite | 2 Piece | Low (50) | < 70 mph | $$ |
| Callaway Superhot | 3 Piece | Low (50) | < 70 mph | $$ |
| Bridgestone e6 | 2 Piece | Low (45) | < 70 mph | $$ |
| Callaway Supersoft | 2 Piece | Low (40) | < 70 mph | $$ |
| Callaway Supersoft Magna | 2 Piece | Low (40) | < 70 mph | $$ |
| Taylormade Noodle Long / Soft | 2 Piece | Low (35) | < 70 mph | $$ |
| Wilson Duo Soft+ | 2 Piece | Low (35) | < 70 mph | $$ |
| Wilson Duo Optix | 2 Piece | Low (30) | < 70 mph | $$ |
| Mizuno RB 566 | 2 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $ |
| Mizuno RB 566 V | 3 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $ |
| Snell Get Sum | 2 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $ |
| Taylormade Soft Response | 3 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $$ |
| Titleist TruFeel | 2 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $$$ |
| Vice Pro | 3 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $$$ |
| Vice Tour | 3 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $$ |
| Vice Pro Soft | 3 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $$$ |
| Vice Drive | 2 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $ |
| Wilson Zip | 2 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $$ |
| SPECIALIST LADIES GOLF BALLS | ||||
| Srixon Soft Feel Lady | 2 Piece | Low (60) | < 80 mph | $$ |
| Bridgestone e6 Lady | 2 Piece | Low (45) | < 70 mph | $$ |
| Callaway Reva | 2 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $$ |
| Taylormade Kalea | 2 Piece | Low | < 80 mph | $$ |
stages to find the right Golf Ball Compression
You have found out your swing speed and should now be looking at options that match this speed.
The second factor is the type of golf ball suitable to your ability level in terms of the core constituent of the ball – 2, 3, 4, or 5 piece ball. The core of a golf ball is a fundamental factor in how a golf ball compresses.
Again, what does this mean?
Let’s keep it nice and simple. The number of pieces = the number of layers in the manufacturing process and the more layers mean more control. This comes at a cost – more layers also means a higher price.
2-Piece Golf Balls
The ideal ball for beginner and high handicap golfers with slow swing speeds. Not just on performance but also on price.
3-Piece Golf Balls
The next step up the ladder offers great performance and control.
4 and 5-Piece Golf Balls
Designed for experienced golfers to optimize distance with control but will only perform well for golfers with higher swing speeds.
The manufacturers know what they are doing. Except for one ball, every option in the mid-slower swing speed range is either a 2 or 3-piece golf ball. The benefits in performance of a 4 and 5-piece ball only come to the fore with a faster swing speed.
Female golfers may think they are being short-changed with their options, however most manufacturers that don’t sell female-branded golf balls claim that all their balls are suitable for all genders.
As females tend to have slower swing speeds, a ball from within the lower compression range will likely be the most suitable.
Golf Ball Compression Chart: Conclusion
If there is one thing to learn from this golf ball compression chart guide it is this: do not neglect your golf ball selection.
It is not a price choice, the most expensive balls on the market just may not be suitable for your game. Fact. Cheaper doesn’t mean less quality.
Look at how much we invest in golf clubs, time to match the correct ball to your equipment and your game. This is of paramount importance for further success.
Try a few options and you’ll find the one that is the perfect match for your game.
Get it right and you will visibly see the results with more distance, greater control – and ultimately lower scores!
Let us know how you get on in the comments below. Happy golfing!
Optimize tHis Knowledge by working on your game
Time to optimize what you’ve learnt from the golf ball compression chart by reading our guides below.
Hi! Your driver swing is 10-15 mph faster than your iron swing. So are u choosing a ball compression rating based on your driver or iron swing speed I.e. since u hit your irons much more than your driver.
Thanks and have a great day!
Is swing speed based on your driver?
The actual swing speed for most golfers remains constant for most golfers whatever club they may be using. What changes as you go through the bag is the ball speed; this increases with a driver as compared with a mid-short iron.
This is, in effect, down to simple physics – the longer club is on a wider and longer swing path, in effect travelling for a greater distance that creates a faster ball speed off the clubface with the same swing speed.
I hope this makes sense. Simon Lawrence
Ball speed increases because club head speed increases.
As the shaft gets longer your club head speed get faster, some physics.
Swing speeds change based on the length of the club. A male that swings a driver at 90 mph will swing a 7 iron at approximately 77 mph. However, ball speeds are not just determined by club speed. The more lofted a club, the lower the smash factor. Smash factor is a golf term that allows one to determine how efficient the contact was between the ball and club. A typical smash factor on a sand wedge is around 1.0. Swing it at 70 mph and watch the ball fly at 70 mph. The desired smash factor on a driver is 1.50. Swing a driver at 70 mph and the ball would leave the face at 105 mph. 50% faster than the club speed. A driver that is slightly mishit could have a smash factor of 1.40, (or any number between 1.0 and 1.5) which would mean the ball would then leave the club face at 98 mph. Less carry and less overall distance. Final note, I used 70 mph driver speed in this instance as a comparison to a 70 mph sand wedge swing speed only for math reasons. Obviously if you swung a sand wedge at 70 mph, your driver swing speed would be closer to 85 mph.
Very good article made a lot of sense, no longer will I be buying balls made for higher swing speeds
Hi Dave, find your swing speed with your driver and 7 iron. Take 10 swings with each and the average of it should help you decide what to use. Again try different brands because they offer different options for the golfer, distance, spin, etc
Have fun
I have been in the golf industry for more than 35 years, still am today and the most important aspect that the majority of golfers, aside from taking lessons is the close relationship between your swing speed and the ball you use.
Always say to them:” Don’t let your ego deprive you from 20 more yards !”
Thanks for your info… Great 👍🏻