What Compression Should I Play?
Golf ball compression is a measure of how much a golf ball compresses when struck by a club. It is an essential factor in determining the performance of a golf ball.​
Compression is not "lower compression = longer distance", though many companies imply this. What is the spin rate for that ball? Is a fast player swinging 110 for every shot? Do slower players not "compress the core" of firmer balls? Let's see what the data says.
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Consider a 2024 laboratory experiment where a robot was employed to test popular golf balls. The swing speed was set at 85, 100, and 115 mph. For whatever reason, they did not include compression in their graphics. I manually added the compression, layers, and cover details. Below are the results for the driver test.
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Drivers
What golf ball should I play if I have a slow swing speed?
The three balls that carry furthest for an 85 mph swing are:
Wilson Staff Model (193.6 yards)
Vice Pro Plus (192.4 yards)
Callaway Chrome Tour X (192.1 yards)
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Notice, however, that the difference between the longest-traveling ball and the shortest-traveling ball is less than ten yards.
What golf ball should I play if I have an average swing speed?
If you have an average swing speed (100 mph), the three balls that will carry furthest for you are:
Wilson Staff Model X (245.4 yards)
Callaway Chrome Tour X (245.1 yards)
Callaway Chrome Tour (244.8 yards)
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What golf ball should I play if I have a high swing speed?
If you have a fast swing speed (115 mph), the three balls that carry furthest for you are:
Callaway Chrome Tour X (283.2 yards)
Wilson Staff Model (282 yards)
Wilson Staff Model X (281.7 yards)