Your golf ball is probably the only piece of equipment you'll use on every shot during every round. Knowing the characteristics of golf balls can help you understand how they benefit your game. Golf ball compression is an often misunderstood concept, but knowing its nuances can help you strike the ball better and lower your scores.
Definition
Golf ball compression's definition is widely accepted. According to the Professional Golfers Association and Golf Digest, a ball's compression is its relative hardness and resistance to being deformed at impact. In the past, golf balls were assigned a number usually ranging from 80 to 100. Higher numbers meant harder balls. This system has largely been vacated because there are no consistent standards for testing or quantifying compression. Now, compression characteristics are usually described on the ball's packaging.
Compression And Distance
When golf balls were labeled with compression ratings, it was believed better players should play harder balls with higher compression. The theory was higher swing speeds and harder balls would yield more distance. This, however, has changed. Golf balls now use different elements to impact distance, including the ball's dimples and its coefficient of restitution, also known as the trampoline effect. While players with slower swings are still encouraged to use balls with lower compression, they're also encouraged to look at all aspects of their ball, not just its relative hardness.
Compression And Feel
You have probably heard people discuss their golf ball in terms of feel. This sensation is partly derived from the golf ball's compression. Balls with lower compression typically impart a softer and more desired feel, especially around the green. But the ball's feel is not solely derived from its compression. The ball's cover and core material can also contribute to its overall feel, which is partly why manufacturers have abandoned the old numbering system, according to "Golf Digest."
Compression And Spin
Typically, balls with lower compression produce more backspin, meaning players with slower swings are able to get a softer ball airborne with more success. Many players want to avoid large amounts of spin with their driver and long irons for a more searing and roll-friendly ball flight. For this reason, you may find playing a higher compression ball more advantageous. Spin is not solely tied to compression, but, according to Golf Digest, "can almost always be estimated based on compression."
Choosing Right Ball
These days choosing a golf ball is about more than just a number. According to Titleist.com, no single factor should determine which ball you play. Hitting balls on a launch monitor can be very useful in understanding the correlation between your swing and golf ball compression. By hitting a number of different balls with varying compressions, different dimples and cover materials, you'll be able to find a ball that matches all levels of your game, not just your swing speed. Using balls around the green, where most shots occur during a given round, will also give you an idea of which ball is best.
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