Over the last two decades, golfers have seen significant changes in golf equipment. For instance, golf balls are now more durable and able to maintain the distance and spin that players need. In the past, the flight characteristics of a ball depending on the layers instead of the cover’s hardness. But today, you will notice a very slight difference between soft golf ball and hard golf ball.
While these revolutionary concepts have made golf balls difficult to distinguish, there are easy ways to spot the remarkable difference. In this article, I will show you the key differences that you need to consider when choosing between a soft golf ball and a hard golf ball for your short games or tournaments.
Ever since I believe that soft golf balls are much better options when it comes to creating spin while hard golf balls are great for distance. But with the constant changes, I don’t think this is still true for modern golf balls. So today, we will discover the main differences between these two options and determine which one should you use.
Read on to learn the ultimate tips when shopping for a new set of golf balls.
History of Golf Balls
To spot the key differences between a soft and hard golf ball, it’s important to relive the history of golf balls. In the late 20th century, golfers began playing with two basic types of golf balls. The first one is called the balata golf ball which is made of a softer cover to build spin on pitch and short iron shots. The second type is the hard-cover golf ball which is basically designed for distance.
At the time, the most popular choice for golfers was the balata ball, especially for low-handicappers and tour professionals. In the early 2000s, balata golf balls are the top choice because of their control and spin capabilities around the green. Moreover, manufacturers started to experiment with materials in order to create better spin capabilities for the balata ball.
On the other hand, the hard-cover golf ball is improved to provide better distance capabilities. According to experts, adding multiple layers to these balls helped combine the capabilities of soft-cover and hard-cover golf balls. However, these capabilities still depend on the swing speed of golfers to achieve optimal performance in the green.
In general, both soft and hard golf balls perform similarly on the green. The launch angle and distances between these balls are very close. However, the main difference can be seen in better durability on a hard golf ball and the higher spin rate on a longer club. So, it’s not really on the softness or firmness of the ball, your choice should depend on the kind of performance you want and on how fast you swing your club.
Should You Choose Soft or Hard Golf Balls?
With the advancement of technology in the golf ball industry, it’s almost hopeless to find hard-cover golf balls today. Between an expensive and cheap golf ball, the key difference is in the costs of the mantle, core, and other materials used. Another difference to consider when choosing a specific type of golf ball is the area between the cover and the core.
More often than not, expensive golf balls have multiple layers that offer different feels for various shots. For instance, four-layered golf balls feel soft when you hit them around the green and feel firm when you hit them off the driver – this is because of the different velocities of clubheads. In other words, the main difference lies in the feel of the ball when you hit it with your club. In that case, soft golf balls are a better option for many golfers.
The swing speed of an average golfer is around 90mph and can shoot up to 100 on a par 72 course. If you think players shot in the low 90s or high 80s, it doesn’t much happen in reality. Here’s the thing, a hard golf ball is best for you if your swing speed is over 100mph. Or else, you’ll end up feeling like you are shooting a rock in the green.
As mentioned before, it’s all about personal preference when it comes to the feel of golf balls. You can either get both types of golf balls as a beginner or as a tour professional. Now, you might have noticed that golfers with average swing speeds prefer soft golf balls while those with double-quick swing speeds use hard golf balls. Well, I can give you two reasons why they prefer so.
Spin Rate
Hard golf balls generally offer higher spin rates with most irons and drivers. For this reason, golfers find it easier to shoot fades and draws. Both professionals and scratch players can usually do this, but beginners may find it a bit challenging. Therefore, it’s important to test out different types and brands of golf balls to find the right one for your club and swing speed.
Feel
If you swing over 100mph, hitting a soft golf ball is like hitting a sponge. The way the ball feels makes it easier to control the spin and manage the distance in the green. On the other hand, having a swing speed below 90mph while using a hardball is like hitting a block of concrete.
When you play with your iron and driver, you will notice that soft golf balls travel farther and make a faster stop after hitting the ground. This is the kind of performance golfers are seeking when choosing between different types of golf balls. Hard golf balls travel shorter distances, but they roll farther than soft golf balls.
Testing the two …
To actually see the difference, I took one soft-cover and one hard-cover to the golf course. I checked their performance with my wedge, irons, and driver. Although I wasn’t able to get the exact numbers because I didn’t use a launch monitor, I can tell you the significant differences.
Driver
In terms of the driver, I’ve learned that soft golf balls launch higher, while hard golf balls have more spin. When it comes to the distance, both golf balls offer similar performance. One important thing you should check first is the performance of soft and hard golf balls with the driver. Different golf balls perform differently for every club.
Another important factor to look at is the launch rate of the balls. For golfers with faster swing speeds, a better option is low-flying balls. If you have an average swing speed, high-flying balls are the best choice for longer and straighter shots. With closer attention, I also noticed the difference in height distance between a soft and a hard golf ball – softballs fly higher than hard golf balls.
How about the biggest difference in performance? Given the spin rate of the ball with the driver, the hard golf ball offers extra spin – making the ball run into a more curve motion. The additional spin rate helps fade or draw the ball while controlling the trajectory better. This is a common option for pro golfers, while beginners can choose the golf ball that gets them in the fairway.
Iron
The launch angle, spin rates, and distances of the soft and hard golf balls are very similar to each other with my irons. If you check the height, they are almost the same. If you don’t have a launch monitor, you can check the numbers by taking shots. Regardless, you will notice that the launch rates are also too close with the soft and hard golf balls.
With the driver, hard golf balls offer a higher spin rate and fly straighter than soft-cover balls. Since the spin rates and launch angle are almost the same, there’s not much difference between a soft and hard golf ball in terms of distance. However, the spin rate with the soft golf ball is much less, giving you more distance.
Wedge
With the wedges, the launch angle and distances were very similar. In terms of spin, soft golf balls offer a higher rate than hard golf balls. So, the main difference lies in the spin rate. With irons and driver, the hardball offers more spin – but it comes with a quick stop on the green. After hitting a few shots, you will notice the soft and hard golf balls have the same distance and height.
Which Golf Ball Offers More Advantage to Average Golfers
In this modern time of advancement, technology continues to build promising innovations in golf equipment. Meaning to say, the golf ball market is slowly changing the focus of consumers to comparing expensive and cheap options. And it all boils down to the feel you get when hitting the ball, the number of layers makes the difference while increasing the cost.
With my observation, the best golf ball for golfers with normal swing speed is the two- or three-piece type with a low to mid compression rate. You can hit through the fairway and improve your short game by choosing a golf ball with less spin off the tee while landing gently on the green. I’m also recommending this because a two- or three-piece golf ball is more affordable.
Buying expensive golf balls isn’t a good idea since you will lose a lot of them in the green. In addition, balls that don’t spin off the tee helps in hitting more fairways per round. The more fairways you can hit, the fewer strokes you have per game. However, you also need a golf ball that stops faster on the green.
If you still don’t know your swing speed, you can test it somewhere else to avoid spending money. For example, if your normal driver distance is 205 yards, then your swing speed is most probably 80mph. If it’s 230 yards, your swing speed is 90mph and 260 yards for 100mph. This might not be an exact measurement, but at least you have an idea.
If your swing speed turns out to be 95mph, then you need a ball that matches your category. Using that knowledge, you can finally decide which ball suits you depending on the overall feel. Some popular options are the Callaway Chrome Soft and Titleist Pro V1 to give you an idea of which ones to start with. These golf balls offer softer covers to benefit you in the green.
On the other hand, some of the most common brands for firmer golf balls include the Chrome Soft X and the Pro V1x. More often than not, you want a ball that can get you more distance, wedge spin, and fairways. And this decision is based on the ball’s overall construction and not how firm or soft it is.
The Moment of Truth
In most cases, average golfers often choose soft golf balls rather than firm golf balls. A softer ball has a low compression rate, so you can hit the ball with your club using less speed to decently compress it. As a result, you get a better feel of the ball and a straighter shot. Softer balls feel superior and they spin 5 times more than hard-cover balls.
The best tip in finding the perfect golf ball is to consider your goals and your budget. Find out how your chosen golf balls react in the green and determine if they will boost your games. For instance, the golf ball that stops the quickest in the green is the best option for you. It may sacrifice some distance, but it will provide you with overall performance.
So, when choosing between a soft golf ball and a hard golf ball, always keep in mind that softballs with lower compression travel further with irons and the driver. But with wedges, both golf balls travel a similar distance. However, results will depend on the balls being tested and the swing speed of the golfer who’s testing them. If you will ask me, soft and hard golf balls are closely similar in terms of performance.
Still, you should check the balls for yourself to actually see the difference between a soft and firm ball. Test your golf balls in the driving range and see how they perform.