Golf ball compression is associated with the phenomenon that occurs when a golf club contacts a golf ball. The force that’s created by the swinging club causes the golf ball to compress for a fraction of a second. The amount a golf ball compresses, and the rate at which the ball returns to its original shape in flight gives the ball its compression rating.
Rating
Many manufacturers of golf balls stamp a compression rating number on their golf balls. Other manufacturers list the compression rating on the package and include a brief explanation for reference when selecting golf balls. Typical rating numbers list the compression factor in double or triple digits that range from 30 to 100, with the lower numbers representing less compression that increases with the rating number.
High Compression
Theoretical physics might suggest that a golf ball with greater density and a higher compression rating will travel farther than one with less density and less compaction. However, if this were true, the majority of golfers would play high-compression golf balls. Golf clubs are made with shallow grooves in the face that cause a ball to spin when hit. A golf ball with high compression has a tendency to spin at a rate that differs from a ball with lower compression. A golfer might select a ball with a higher compression rating when playing in windy conditions where the amount of spin aids the flight line of the golf ball.
Low Compression
In contrast to golf balls with a high compression rating, lower compression translates to a softer ball that reacts more dramatically when hit. A golfer can strike a softer ball in a way that causes it to loft over trees or rise quickly out of a bunker. In other situations the golfer can make a ball hook or slice around an object or hit the center of a dogleg fairway.
Club Speed
Many believe that golfers with a slower swing speed should use a ball with lower compression. The reduced density of a low compression ball causes it to spring back into shape with more force and improve the quality of that golf shot. A golfer that swings the club with more speed could compress a softer ball to such a degree that makes it ineffective. A ball with more compaction and a higher compression rating would stand up to the forces of a faster swing speed and react as the golfer intends.
Weather
The outside air temperature can affect the compression factor of a golf ball. On cold days, a ball with a high compression rating will have less compaction, which translates to reduced feel and less control. On extremely warm days, a ball with less compression could compress more than intended and shorten the distance of shots or make the ball or over-spin when hit.
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