Golfers with slower swing speeds tend to favor balls that are lower on the compression scale. Others might swing the club faster, but prefer the softer feel. Whatever the case, with so many options out there, I’m going to narrow things down and give you a couple of options based on your skill level.
Here are the best low compression golf balls:
- Best For High Handicaps: Srixon Soft Feel & Callaway Supersoft
- Best For Low-Mid Handicaps: Taylormade Tour Response & Srixon Q Star Tour
- Best Budget: Noodle Long & Soft
One thing to keep in mind is that there’s no set in stone number for what low compression is. In my eyes, it’s anything under 70(ish), but I’ve seen people push that number to 80. Whether it’s 70 or 80, the balls below are some of the best I’ve tried and I don’t think you could go wrong with any of them.
Let’s hear from you – Do you have a favorite low compression ball? Let us know in the comments below which one and why you like it.
Best For High Handicaps: Srixon Soft Feel
If you’re a high hadicapper (shoot above 90) and want a low compression ball, this is likely your best bet. It’s been one of the best-selling balls for average players for a number of years, and I can see why.
It’s a 2 piece ball with an Ionomer cover. The compression rating is somewhere around 60, which is right in the sweet spot for a wide range of golfers. It’s not going to feel squishy and it’s not going to feel like a rock.
What I like about this ball is that it’s forgiving. It’s not the longest ball I’ve hit and it doesn’t offer the best performance around the green, but when it comes to hitting greens/fairways, it’s top notch.
The reason I have this ball listed for high handicappers is, for one, the price. High handicaps tend to lose a lot of balls, so that’s why something budget-friendly is important.
The other reason is performance off the tee. What do you usually see from high handicappers? It’s usually a duck hook or a slice that goes two fairways over. A premium ball will likely make that worse.
A 2 piece ball with an Ionomer cover will spin less. When you have less spin, you’ll hit the ball a little straighter. Fairways and greens, that’s the key.
If you prefer to play something even softer, you should consider our alternative, the Callaway Supersoft. The compression rating is about 10 less, so along with being slightly softer, it also goes a bit higher, which could help if you need more height.
Personally, I prefer the feel of the Soft Feel and get a bit more distance out of it. My swing speed is around 100 MPH, so that’s expected.
- Full Review: Srixon Soft Feel
- Best Place To Buy: On Amazon
- An Alternative: Callaway Supersoft
Best For Low-Mid Handicaps: Taylormade Tour Response
If you’re a low to mid handicapper (shoot 70s & 80s), you might want to play a more expensive ball that offers better performance around the greens. You don’t have to, but it could improve your short-game consistency.
At this point, you probably hit your fair share of greens and fairways, so you’re able to sacrifice some forgiveness for improved spin rates. This is the main difference between “budget” and premium balls.
In the tour-value category, this is my second favorite ball. My current gamer is the Wilson Triad, but the compression rating is a bit higher.
In my opinion, 90% of golfers shouldn’t use a premium ball (Pro V1, TP5, etc). They do spin more around the greens, but the overall performance is fairly similar to something like this, at a much better price point.
The Tour Response is a 3 piece ball with a Urethane cover (same as the Pro V1). The compression rating is somewhere around 70, which is better suited to “average” swing speeds.
Another ball I really like is the Srixon Q Star Tour. It’s very similar to the Tour Response, but I find it a bit softer off the putter. I also find that the Srixon has a bit less spin off the tee and around the green.
- Best Place To Buy: On Amazon
- An Alternative: Srixon Q Star Tour (Amazon Link)
Best Budget: Noodle Long & Soft
If you’re looking for a low compression ball and you want the best option for the lowest amount of money, this is the one I’d recommend. A lot of people disrespect the Noodle, but I don’t think there’s a ball that’s hit more fairways for me.
It’s a 2 piece ball with a compression rating around 70. This means it’s right in the sweet spot for a lot of different swings, not too soft and not too firm.
What I like the most about this ball is how high and straight it goes. Compared to the Srixon and Callaway we’ve already talked about, I think this one is even straighter.
On top of that, 24 Noodle balls will cost you around $20 less than 24 Srixon/Callaway balls. That’s an awesome value, especially for someone who loses their fair share.
The reason I didn’t list it above is simply because of how little it spins around the green. Both the Srixon and Callaway were a bit better, so if short-game is important to you, you might want to spend a bit more.
I don’t know if I’d recommend this ball to a low/mid handicapper because of how little it spins around the green, but if you’re a high handicapper with a slower swing speed and just want more greens and fairways, it’s one of the best.
- Full Review: Noodle Long & Soft
- Best Place To Buy: On Amazon
- An Alternative: Amazon Golf Ball
How To Pick The Right Golf Ball
Not all balls are the same. There are a bunch of things to consider when deciding which ball to play, so let’s talk about what you need to know.
High Handicappers
The first thing you need to think about is what you normally shoot. Are you shooting in the 100s? Maybe you’re just breaking into the 80s. Wherever you’re at, the type of ball you play makes a difference.
If you’re a beginner or shoot in the 90s-100s, you probably lose a lot of balls. You likely hook/slice the ball off the tee. At this point, the two most important things to consider are price and straightness.
Hitting a few more fairways and greens per round will really help you avoid the blowup holes. This is how you can quickly move to the next level.
The benefit to cheaper 2 piece balls is that they spin less. With less spin, you’ll likely hit the ball a little straighter. It won’t fix your hook/slice, but it could help you hit 1-2 more fairways. You can learn more about 2 vs 3 piece balls HERE.
Mid Handicappers
Once you’re able to consistently shoot in the 80s, you might want to consider using a more expensive ball. You don’t have to, but it’ll improve certain areas of your game.
I’m a mid handicapper myself, and I’ve shot some of my best rounds ever with a cheaper 2 piece ball. That main benefit to something more expensive is more spin around the greens.
The downside of premium balls is that you’ll get more spin off the tee, which could result in big hooks/slices.
If you’re able to hit a lot of greens/fairways already, it’ll be worth playing a 3 piece ball that has a Urethane cover. This is how you get the ball to bite the greens.
In saying that, I’d recommend you try both types of balls and actually see which one you play better with. Most people just assume a premium ball will be better, but that’s often not the case.
Low Handicappers
At this point, the main thing to look for is a ball that feels right and performs well on and around the greens. You’re likely able to play any type of ball and put up some good scores, so feel is what most people would look for.
Most low handicaps choose to play a tour-value or tour-premium ball. This just means it uses a Urethane cover and has a compression rating above 70.
That said, I’ve seen a number of really good golfers playing cheap golf balls. This is usually older folks who don’t have the fastest speeds and prefer a softer ball.
Whichever way you go, try out a few balls and see how they feel and perform with your putter and wedges. This will be the most important thing to look at.
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