Check out our guide to the best soft feel golf balls on the market designed for control and feel around the green plus extra distance for some golfers
Best Soft Feel Golf Balls
What will the best soft feel golf balls do for your game? Well, there are precious few golf balls on the market that won’t refer to ‘soft feel’ to some degree, but it is all relative.
Golf ball manufacturers know that we have come to expect the best of all worlds from our golf balls whether we are beginners seeking inexpensive ammunition, improvers wanting to move on to the best mid-priced offerings or those prepared to invest in the very best premium golf balls.
Most balls will reference a blend of distance, feel, control and softness among their attributes as it really is now possible to mix distance with softness thanks to advances in golf ball design.
Premium balls will all feel relatively soft around the greens because of their urethane covers, but here we’re looking at soft feel golf balls a little further down the price pyramid, most of which explicitly reference that softness in their names.
On chips and putts, it is primarily the cover material that will dictate how soft a ball feels, but on fuller shots, other elements of the ball’s design – the core and any mid-layers – come into the equation.
Balls with low-compression soft cores will feel softer off the face on full shots, with the added rebound properties of those soft cores also potentially helping those with low to average swing speeds hit it a little bit further compared to firmer-compression balls.
So, if you like a soft feel on chips and putts or could do with a few extra yards courtesy of a low-compression core, our guide to the best soft feel golf balls could be just the ticket…
Best Soft Feel Golf Balls
Srixon Soft Feel golf ball
+ The longest Srixon Soft Feel model to date
+ Its thin cover improves greenside feel and spin.
– May feel a little too soft off the face for some
This is the 12th generation of Srixon’s Soft Feel model, a ball which should help those with moderate swing speeds maximise distance without compromising feel.
The FastLayer Core gradually transitions from a soft centre to a firmer outer edge.
Srixon says that this core will snap back into shape more quickly after impact for added ball speed, while reducing long-game sidespin for increased accuracy.
The 338 Speed Dimple Pattern gets the ball cutting through the wind better by reducing drag at launch and increasing lift during descent.
Titleist Tour Soft golf ball
+ This ball offers impressive hang time even in windy conditions
+ Some may find that its stand-out brighter finish inspires a little more confidence
– Non-urethane-covered so not quite up with the flagship Pro V1 for short-game spin
The key to performance in the latest Tour Soft is Titleist’s largest-ever core and an ultra-thin 4CE grafted cover. These combine to deliver added distance and more short-game spin than the previous Tour Soft model.
It offers a penetrating ball flight with added stability in the wind.
Tour Soft ranks among the very best non urethane-covered balls for feel, so you’re not giving too much away here in the scoring zone compared to premium balls.
TaylorMade Soft Response golf ball
+ A very good performer in the wind
+ Shallower U-shaped dimples decrease drag and increase lift for longer carries
– Not quite as much spin control as the sister Tour Response model
The Soft Response, along with the Tour Response model, is one of two TaylorMade balls sitting beneath the premium TP5 product.
Soft Response is significantly less expensive than Tour Response and has been designed with moderate swing speeds in mind
It offers all-round performance with a softer feel, courtesy of a soft but durable ionomer cover.
The ball’s Extended Flight Dimple pattern encourages decreased drag and increased lift to keep the ball up in the air longer at lower spin rates.
Callaway Supersoft golf ball
+ Ideal all-round ball for average swing speeds
+ Ball’s construction and cover are engineered for straighter shots
– Faster swingers won’t reap maximum benefit from the ultra low-compression core
The extremely low-compression core makes the Callaway Supersoft a great choice for added ball speed at average swings speeds. Low spin on full shots helps generate a longer, straighter flight.
The updated HEX Aerodynamics on the cover reduce drag and enhance lift for more carry and distance with the higher flight than many slower swingers crave.
The larger Callaway Supersoft Magna version is said to improve forgiveness via a higher centre of gravity and MOI, which could ecourage better contact and a higher launch.
Wilson Duo Soft+ golf ball
+ Ultra-low 36 compression is perfect for more modest swing speeds
+ New core design promotes added distance
– Surlyn cover may feel too hard to some around the greens
The VelocitiCOR is the powerhouse behind the performance of the Duo Soft+ ball, which Wilson claims to be the softest and longest premium two-piece ball on the market.
Its low-spin credentials may also soften hook and slice spin a little for straighter shots.
A higher launch off irons paves the way for a steeper descent and added stopping power on approach shots.
Srixon UltiSoft golf ball
+ Good feel off the face on and around the greens
+ Designed for low to mid swing speeds but performs pretty well at faster speeds too
– Likely to roll out a little more than urethane-covered balls around the green
The Srixon UltiSoft is the brand’s lowest-compression and softest golf ball ever courtesy of an innovative new core. This produces a softer feel while still maximising energy transfer at impact for more long-game distance.
The 324 Speed Dimple pattern reduces drag in flight for a penetrating trajectory.
Honma TW-S golf ball
+ Specifically aimed at swing speeds of around 85mph
+ A particularly good performer when the wind gets up
– May launch a little too low for some golfers
Honma’s new TW-S is a sister product to the TW-X, targeting those with slightly slower swings speeds (around 85mph rather than 90mph+ for the TW-X).
Its fast core promises faster ball speeds off the clubface.
The TW-S feels softer than TW-X, which many golfers prefer closer to the green. It also offers higher spin with a lower launch – ideal for golfers who often battle the wind around their home track.
Inesis Soft 500 golf ball
+ Low compression helps slower swinger create better energy transfer
+ Very competitively priced
– Only claims to offer moderate grip around the greens
This Inesis Soft 500 two-piece ball from Decathlon has a low compression, so those not blessed with the fastest of swings can optimise their distances
The low compression allows them to generate better energy transfer at impact, which then translates into those added yards.
Perhaps the biggest attraction, though, is its price – less per dozen than some lake balls! This makes it a good option for those who prefer to play with new balls but don’t have a limitless budget.
Available in white, orange, yellow and a very vivid pink in both standard and matte finishes.
Volvik Power Soft golf ball
+ Designed for a mid-high launch with the driver
+ Some golfers may find the vibrant colour options easier to follow and find
– Cover may feel too firm to some on and around the greens
The Volvik Power Soft is an inexpensive ball available in a wide palette of colour options.
Its oversized Power Core promises high ball speeds off the face for strong performance with the driver thanks to low spin and a mid-high launch.
A super soft ionomer cover adds in a suitable degree of greenside control too.
Pinnacle Soft golf ball
+ Designed for added distance off both driver and irons
+ Now has an even softer feel than previous generations
– Faster swingers may reap greater benefits from the sister Pinnacle Rush model
The high-energy core drives performance, generating faster ball speeds with every club.
An icosahedral dimple design, with 332 dimples in a soft, durable ionomer cover, promises a consistent, powerful ball flight.
Slower swingers may eke a little more distance out of this Soft model than the Rush, while also enjoying its softer feel around the greens.
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