The 10 Best Soft Golf Balls of 2022 For Satisfying Feel

Why Play a Soft Golf Ball?

It’s obvious that soft golf balls are more popular than they were 10-15 years ago, but why? Do soft golf balls bring performance benefits to certain types of players? If so, what are the benefits, and who do they help?

RELATED: Soft vs. Hard Golf Balls: How To Choose the One for You

The biggest reason soft golf balls appeal to golfers is feel. You get a greater sensation of compression at impact with a softer ball because it’s easier to compress. Compression is perhaps the most addicting feeling in golf, which explains why many golfers are fiending for soft golf balls.

Let's explain the importance of compression for a minute. A ball’s softness is defined by its compression rating. A lower compression rating means a ball requires a lower swing speed to achieve ideal compression. In other words, the lower a ball’s compression rating, the softer it is. Wilson Director of Innovation for Golf Balls Frank Simonutti gave a brief explanation on YouTube of how softening the core of a golf ball impacts performance.

“Generally speaking, there are two ways to make a golf ball softer, you can soften the core, or you can soften the cover.” Simonutti said. “If you soften the core, generally you can maintain distance, you will reduce spin, and if you go too far you end up with an impact durability issue.”

So generally speaking, balls with softer cores are lower-spinning, which helps both distance and accuracy. However, it’s worth noting that if you play too soft of a ball for your fast swing speed, you can actually over-compress a ball. When this happens, the ball is in a deformed state for too long and you begin to lose the advantages of compression, including some ball speed and total distance.

Another reason to consider playing a soft golf ball is that they tend to spin less. This helps keep your drives longer and straighter, and helps you launch the ball higher. That higher launch also results in a steeper descent angle, which helps make up for some of the stopping power lost due to the reduced spin. That’s a checklist most recreational players would love to have in their ball. One added bonus? Lower-spinning balls perform better in the wind than a high-spinning ball. If you often play golf in the wind, it could help to use a ball that’s less susceptible to the elements.

Softer balls are often more forgiving than their firmer counterparts. The ball speed loss you suffer on mis-hits is less severe with a softer ball than it is with a firm ball.

How Soft Golf Balls Differ

We have established that not all soft golf balls are created equal. So how can you identify which one, or which options, will work best for your game? Here is how some common features translate to performance. Identify what you’re looking for from your ball, and find the balls that fit those needs. Then try a few to see which one actually works best for you.

Compression

There is no hard and fast rule of which compression rating fits which swing speeds, but if you want to get started in the right direction, a good rule of thumb is the slower your swing speed, the lower compression ball will fit you best. You can maximize your distance by playing a ball with the appropriate compression rating for your swing speed. 

If you swing your driver faster than 105 MPH, look for a ball on the higher end of the compression scale, say 90 or above. If you have a pretty fast swing, 95-104 MPH, and want to play a softer ball, something in the 70-90 compression range should fit you great. For example, the Bridgestone Tour B RX, the ball that Lexi Thompson games competitively, has a compression rating of 75 and advertises right on the box that it’s best for players with swing speeds under 105 MPH.

If you swing driver between 85 and 94 MPH, a low to medium compression ball, something in the 50-70 range, might fit you best. If your swing speed is under 85 MPH, there are plenty of golf balls with compression ratings as low as the 35 that will help you compress it plenty and launch it as far as possible.

Construction

The construction of a golf ball has a big impact on its performance. Two-piece golf balls are best for distance, especially among slower swing speed players. Meanwhile, 3-piece balls, and anything above that, offer an extra layer to enhance performance through the bag. 

The middle layer or layers are what allow premium balls to be low-spinning with the driver but high-spinning with short irons. Different clubs and different swing speeds activate different layers of the ball. That’s why 2-piece balls, while great for distance, come with some performance tradeoffs as you get closer to the green. 

To sum that all up, multi-layer balls, all of which on this list are 3-piece, are better for players who need performance throughout the bag. Of course, that extra layer costs a little extra money.

Cover

The cover on your golf ball matters, as it impacts performance and price. Urethane-covered balls offer the most spin. All premium golf balls and every golf ball played on tour has a urethane cover. And guess what? Urethane balls cost more.

On the other hand, ionomer and Surlyn golf balls spin less, which is great for players who want to reduce pesky side-spin and aren’t as worried about stopping their ball on a dime from 175 yards away.

Because the players who demand the spin of a urethane ball also demand tee to green performance, you won’t find any two-piece, urethane golf balls on this list.

The Best Soft Golf Balls

That’s a lot to take in, but by now you should have a good picture of what profile of soft golf ball will fit your game the best. With that in mind, here is our list of the 10 best soft golf balls, and which players should consider using them.

Best Overall Soft Golf Ball: Wilson DUO Soft+

The Wilson DUO Soft+ is as soft and low-spinning as golf balls come. That means maximum distance and more accuracy with the longer clubs for most recreational golfers. The 2-piece, 35 compression ball also launches high with a steep descent angle to help you stop it on the greens.

The DUO Soft+ is geared towards average players with driver swing speeds in the mid-90s and lower, which is why it’s one of our top golf balls for beginners and one of the best balls for seniors. Those players will likely notice distance gains through the bag due to the low-spinning characteristics of the DUO Soft+. 

Players who swing faster than that will find that a higher-compression ball results in more distance off the tee, and offers more stopping power when hitting into greens. At just $23 per dozen, anybody whose swing speed fits the profile should consider giving the DUO Soft+ a try.

Pros:

• Low spin, including low side spin
• Maximum distance
• High launch

Cons:

• Swing speeds above 95 MPH will lose distance compared to a firmer ball
• Low spin could make holding greens challenging

Srixon Soft Feel

The Srixon Soft Feel checks so many boxes for a massive golf audience. Its incredible soft feel, high launch, great distance, low spin, and price earned it a place on our lists of the best golf balls for value, beginners, slicers, and our top recommended golf ball for seniors, in addition to being one of the best soft golf balls you can find.

With a compression rating of 60, the Soft Feel is a great option for any golfer with swing speeds into the 90s. The two-piece construction emphasizes distance, and the Soft Feel is one of the easiest balls to launch high in the air, which also helps when it lands on the green.

As with many 2-piece balls, the Soft Feel offers an appealing $23 per dozen price tag, giving you easy access to experiment.

Pros:

• Soft feeling ball that fits a wide range of swing speeds
• Easy to launch
• Great option for majority of recreational golfers

Cons:

• Players with aggressive swing speeds will not reap the performance benefits

Titleist TruFeel

If you want the confidence that comes with playing a Titleist ball but prefer a soft-feeling, 2-piece distance ball, the Titleist TruFeel is a great choice for you. Not every player fits into a Pro V1, but countless golfers want to put Titleist balls in play, partly because of the brand's unmatched ball-to-ball consistency.

The TruFeel is a low-compression ball that launches and spins low. The ultra thin cover that debuted in the updated 2022 TruFeel allows for a larger, 1.6-inch core which boosts distance. Adding to the appeal of the TruFeel is the $25 price tag, which makes it Titleist’s lowest price ball, and half the cost of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x. 

Pros:

• Large core results in added distance
• Penetrating ball flight for players who don’t need help with launch
• Simple, effective alignment aid

Cons:

• Not ideal for players who need an easy-to-launch ball

Bridgestone Tour B RX

The Bridgestone Tour B RX is a different breed of soft golf ball than many others on this list. As a 3-piece, urethane-covered ball with a compression rating of 75, it’s clearly geared towards the most skilled players who prefer a soft feel, without needing the long distance, high launch, and low spin benefits that come with some of the softer 2-piece options. That's why we believe the Tour B RX is the best golf ball for mid-handicap golfers. This is just another example that the term “soft” is relative. In this case, a soft refers more to the feel than the performance.

We mentioned earlier that Lexi Thompson games the Tour B RX. If you’re wondering what that means for your game, consider that Lexi averages about 275 yards off the tee. Unless you’re swinging driver well over 105 MPH and hit it closer to 300 yards, there’s a good chance the Bridgestone Tour B RX will hold up for your game too.

As a 3-piece ball, the Tour B RX delivers much better spin into greens than its soft, 2-piece counterparts. Of course, those performance enhancements come at a premium price, as the Tour B RX costs $50 per dozen. If you try the Tour B RX and appreciate the performance but crave a slightly softer feel (and welcome a little more spin), try its sibling the Tour B RXS.

Pros:

• Excellent wedge spin
• Great for holding greens with irons and wedges
• Premium tee to green performance

Cons:

• Core is not as soft as others on this list
• High price

Vice Pro Soft

The Vice Pro Soft fills a gap that not many balls occupy. It combines all the elements of a premium ball with a urethane cover and 3-piece construction, with the super low compression rating of 35. That makes the Pro Soft a great ball for golfers whose fastest swings are behind them, and need to convert to a ball better suited for a declining swing speed. Or, juniors who haven’t unlocked their full potential yet, but still need a ball that meets high performance demands.

The 3-piece construction gives the Pro Soft tee to green performance, meaning you can hold a green with a mid-iron and get plenty of response in the short game. The ball is best suited for golfers who carry their driver around 200 yards, and the ball was tested with swing speeds in the mid to low 90s. If either of these numbers match your game, the Pro Soft could add many performance elements you won’t often find in other truly soft golf balls.

Pros:

• The most premium truly soft (35 compression) golf ball 
• Impressive distance in the long game
• Controllable spin with irons and wedges

Cons:

• Many players who demand the performance of this ball swing too fast to use it

Piper Black

If you swing hard and want a soft-feeling golf ball without sacrificing controllable spin, the Piper Black might be the ball for you. The Black gets its soft feel from a soft urethane cover, meaning you don’t need to worry about over-compressing a core that’s too soft for your swing. That allows the Black to produce the high spin rates that skilled players need in order to shape shots and hold greens.

"The custom soft urethane cover on the Piper Black provides top-notch feel, spin, and control,” Piper Golf founder Mike Gottfried told GolfLink.

The Piper Black isn’t the only ball that’s made to give skilled players precision in the short game with the opportunity to shape shots and hold greens from the fairway and hit bombs off the tee. It is, however, about $20-$25 per dozen cheaper than most other balls that offer that level of performance. Try the Black for $30 a dozen, and if you decide it’s the ball for you, subscribe and save for about $25 per box.

Pros:

• Soft-feel option for single-digit handicap players
• High spin allows players to shape shots and hold greens
• About half the cost of balls with nearly identical profiles

Cons:

• Not as durable as other premium balls
• Softer cover compromises ball speed

Callaway Supersoft

When you take a closer look at the Callaway Supersoft, it should come as no surprise that it’s one of the best-selling golf balls on the market today. That’s because it checks almost every box for the largest population of golfers, the average recreational golfers.

When it comes to performance, Supersoft is known for churning out great distance, a straight ball flight, it’s easy to launch, it has superb soft feel, and at $25 a dozen, it’s a great value. That’s exactly why we put it on our “Best Golf Ball” lists for value, beginners, slicers, and women, in addition to soft feel.

Supersoft is a low-spinning, 2-piece ball and is about as soft as they come with a compression rating of 38. The low spin means more distance and less sidespin that exaggerates slices and hooks. For golfers who swing driver about 95 MPH or less, it’s one of, if not the best all-around balls. 

Pros:

• Great soft feel
• Easy to launch
• Low spin means long distance and straighter shots

Cons:

• Spin may even be too low with driver

TaylorMade Soft Response

The TaylorMade Soft Response is the only 3-piece ball on this list that does not have a urethane cover. That means players who want the tee to green performance that comes with a 3-piece ball, but want the forgiveness of an ionomer-covered ball have a great option. 

The Soft Response utilizes the “Extended Flight Dimple” pattern to keep the ball in the air as long as possible, even with lower club and ball speeds. Soft Response is a low-spin ball with driver, which is how it achieves peak distance from slower swings, but the middle layer boosts wedge spin to help you as you get closer to the green.

Don’t expect to master a draw or fade with the Soft Response, but you can expect exceptional soft feel, impressive distance, enjoyable accuracy, and satisfying short game control.

Pros:

• Forgiveness results in consistent ball speed even on mis-hits
• 3-piece construction offers short iron and wedge performance
• Appealing price point

Cons:

• Not as workable as some other soft 3-piece balls

MaxFli Softfli

The Maxfli Softfli blends soft feel, distance, accuracy and value, so we had to put it on our list of the best soft golf balls. With a compression rating of 35, it’s in the “as soft as they come” feel category, and as a two-piece, ionomer-covered ball, it’s purely a low spin, distance ball. So if you’re looking for the best-priced, softest, low-spin distance ball for your moderate or lower swing speed, the Maxfli Softfli is it.

The Softfli is easy to launch and is responsive in the short game. We also like the simple, yet effective, alignment aid. If you’re intrigued by the Softfli, but want a ball that goes all-in on a straight ball flight, at the expense of feel, MaxFli also offers the Straightfli, which we think is a great choice for beginners, high-handicappers, and slicers at the same appealing $20 per dozen price point.

Pros:

• Among the best value balls on this list
• Low-spinning ball results in tighter dispersion
• Nice wedge and short game response

Cons:

• Not the longest ball in the “soft” category

Noodle Long and Soft

The Noodle Long and Soft golf ball is a classic, and there’s a reason it’s stood the test of time. For starters, it’s not overcomplicated. Everything you need to know is in the name, the ball is long, and it’s soft. Secondly, it’s straight-up one of the best value golf balls you can buy, especially considering its pedigree and performance. Finally, it’s a great ball for a huge market of golfers. The Long and Soft gives players soft feel and great distance. 

If you don’t need a 3-piece, urethane-covered ball that you can work both directions and stop on a dime, the Noodle Long and Soft probably suits your game as well as any ball. You can get the Long and Soft for a bargain no matter where you find them, or you can probably find one in the woods at your local muni and give it a spin for a few holes.

Pros:

• Long and soft, like the name suggests
• One of the best values in golf balls
• Fits a large demographic of players

Cons:

• Not suited for faster swing speeds
• Lacks the spin and short game characteristics better players demand

The Best Soft Golf Ball for You

We recommend a few simple steps to find the best golf ball for your game. First, identify what profile of ball fits your game best. Do you want the longest, straightest, soft-feeling ball available, or do you need something with some added performance features? If you’re unsure, try a ball from each category and see which suits your game best on the course.

Once you’ve determined what you need from your ball, look at the balls that fill those needs. There should be multiple options for everyone on this list. Try two or three that catch your attention and see how they actually perform on the course for your game. After a round or two of comparing different options, the best soft golf ball for your game should rise to the top.