Golf Ball Compression Chart and Rank

Everything You Need To Know About Golf Ball Compression

For detailed articles about golf ball compression, explore the tabs above.

To find the compression rating of a specific golf ball, explore the chart below.

(You will also find some great info below this chart)

Golf Ball Model Compression Model Review Bridgestone Tour B330 High Bridgestone Tour B330-S High Bridgestone Tour B330-RX Mid Bridgestone Tour B330-RXS Mid Bridgestone TOUR B RX Low Bridgestone Laddie Extreme Low Bridgestones New e6 Lady Low Bridgestone TOUR B RXS Low Bridgestone e5 High Bridgestone TOUR B XS Mid Bridgestone TOUR B X Mid Bridgestone Series e6 & e6 Ladies Low Bridgestone e12 Speed Golf Ball Mid Bridgestone e12 Soft Golf Ball Low Bridgestone Precept Powerdrive Golf Ball Mid Bridgestone e6 Mid Bridgestone e6 SPEED Mid Bridgestone e6 Soft Mid Bridgestone e7 High Bridgestone Lady Precept Low Bridgestone xFIXx Low Bridgestone Extra Soft Mid Bridgestone Laddie X Low Callaway HEX Black Tour High Callaway HEX Chrome+ High Callaway Supersoft Magna Low Callaway HEX Chrome High Callaway Chrome Soft X Mid Callaway HEX Diablo Low Callaway HEX Hot High Callaway HEX Hot Pro High Callaway ERC Soft Low Callaways New ERC Soft Mid Callaway HEX Solaire Mid Callaway HEX Warbird High Callaway Speed Regime 1 Medium Callaway Speed Regime 2 High Callaway Warbird and Warbird Yellow Med Callaway HEX Soft Low Callaway Supersoft Yellow Low Callaway New Chrome Soft with Truvis Technology Low Callaway New Chrome Soft Truvis Yellow and Black Low Callaway New Chrome Soft Yellow Low Callaway Strata Tour Advanced Mid Callaway Supersoft Pink Low Callaway Solaire and Pink Low Callaway Superhot 55 Yellow Low Callaway Speed Regime 3 High Callaway Limited Edition Chrome Soft "58" Low Callaway Superhot 70 Low Callaway Chrome Soft Mid Callaway Supersoft Low Callaway Superhot 55 Low Cut Blue DC High Maxfli Revolution Low Compression Low Maxfli Revolution Spin Mid Maxfli U/2 Model Low Maxfli U/3 Low Maxfli U/4 High Maxfli U/4x High Maxfli U/6 Low Mizuno RB566 Low Mizuno RB566V Low Mizuno RB Tour, RB Tour X Mid To High Nike 20XI-X High Nike 20XI High Nike One RZN X High Nike One RZN High Nike One Vapor Speed Mid Nike Power Distance Long High Nike Power Distance Soft Mid Nike RZN Black High Nike RZN Platinum High Nike RZN Red Mid Nike RZN White Low Nike RZN Tour ball High Nike RZN Speed ball High Pinnacle Rush Mid Pinnacle Soft Mid Pinnacle Bling Mid Pinnacle Gold Distance High Slazenger RAW Distance Feel Low Slazenger RAW Distance High Snell Golf MTB Red Mid Snell MTB-X Mid Snell Golf MTB Black Mid Srixon Q-STAR Mid Srixon Soft Feel Brite Low Srixon Revamped Q-Star Mid Srixon New Q-Star Tour Golf Ball Mid Srixon Soft Feel Low Srixon Z-Star Spin Skin Mid Srixon Z-Star XV Mid Srixon Soft Feel Mid Srixon Q-Star 5th Gen Mid Srixon Z-STAR PURE WHITE and TOUR YELLOW Mid Srixon Z-STAR XV PURE WHITE and TOUR YELLOW High Srixon Q-STAR XV PURE WHITE and TOUR YELLOW Mid Srixon SOFT FEEL SOFT WHITE and TOUR YELLOW Low Srixon SOFT FEEL LADY SOFT WHITE Low Srixon Soft Feel Lady Low Srixon Trispeed Tour High Srixon Trispeed Low Srixon Z-STAR SL Mid Srixon Z-STAR XV High Srixon Z-STAR High TaylorMade New Tour Response Low TaylorMade Soft Response Low TaylorMade Burner Mid TaylorMade TP5 & TP5x Mid / High TaylorMade Lethal High TaylorMade RocketBallz Urethane Mid TaylorMade RocketBallz Mid TaylorMade SuperDeep Low TaylorMade TP5 & TP5x TP5 Mid/TP5x High TaylorMade Project (a) Mid TaylorMade TP5, TP5 X, TP5 Pix Mid TaylorMade New Tour Preferred Mid Taylormade Kalea Low Taylormade Distance + Low Taylormade AeroBurner-Pro Mid Taylormade AeroBurner-Soft Low TaylorMade New Tour Preferred X Mid TaylorMade Project (s) Low TaylorMade Noodle Neon Matte Red/Lime Green Low TaylorMade Noodle Long and Soft Low TaylorMade Noodle Easy Distance Low Titleist AVX Mid Titleist’s 2020 TruFeel Low Titleist EXP-01 Mid Titleist DT TruSoft Low Titleist Tour Soft Low Compression Titleist DT SoLo Mid Titleist NXT Tour High Titleist NXT Tour S Mid Titleist ProV1 Mid Titleist ProV1x High Titleist Velocity High Titleist DT Trusoft Low Top-Flite D2+ Distance High Top-Flite D2+ Feel Low Top-Flite D2+ Straight Mid Top-Flite Gamer Tour Mid Top-Flite Gamer Mid Top-Flite XL Distance High Top Flite Bomb High Top Flite Gamer Soft Low Union Green Pindrop Mid Union Green Teebird Mid Vice Pro Soft Golf Ball Low Vice Pro Golf Ball Low Vice Pro Plus Golf Ball Low Vice Tour Golf Ball Mid Volvik Vivid Golf Ball Mid Volvik Crystal Mid Volvik Pro Bismuth High Volvik Vista iV High Volvik S4 High Volvik S3 High Volvik Vista iS High Volvik Vista DS 77 Mid Wilson Duo Soft+ & Duo Optic Low Wilson Staff Duo Professional Low Wilson Staff C:25 Mid Wilson Staff DUO Low Wilson Staff FG Tour X High Wilson Staff FG Tour High Wilson Staff Fifty Elite Low Wilson Staff Zip Low WILSON STAFF DUO URETHANE Low WILSON STAFF DUO SPIN Low Wilson Staff Duo Spin Low Wilson Staff FG Tour Urethane Mid Wilson Staff Duo Soft Spin Low WILSON STAFF DX3 URETHANE Low WILSON STAFF DX3 SPIN Low WILSON STAFF DX2 SOFT Low

Of all the variables that determine a golf ball’s performance, compression may be the most mysterious. What, exactly, is compression? It’s a measurement of how much a ball compresses against the clubface at impact, expressed as a simple number (e.g. 75 or 100). If you’ve seen photos or slow-motion video of the moment of impact, you’ve seen the ball compress or smush against the clubface. The ball launches as this compression is released.

Sounds simple enough, and it is… on the surface. There’s at least some disagreement, however, on the role of compression in how a particular ball performs for different golfers.

In recent years, manufacturers like Bridgestone and Wilson have put a major emphasis on compression, with the goal of fitting each golfer with the ball best suited to his swing speed and skills. The idea is that golfers with slower swing speeds have an easier time compressing a lower-compression (softer) ball, therefore getting more distance than they can with a high-compression tour model.

It stands to reason that a softer ball will compress more than a high-compression ball, right? Most analysts think so. And nearly every company makes golf ball models of different compression ratings aimed at golfers of different swing speeds.

The lone dissenter: Titleist. The world’s No. 1 golf ball manufacturer insists compression isn’t important when fitting golfer to golf ball. Titleist argues that there’s little discernible difference in how much a tour pro and a rank amateur compress the ball, regardless of the ball’s compression rating. Instead, Titleist focuses on feel, backspin, accuracy, trajectory and greenside responsiveness in its fitting recommendations.

So who’s right, and who’s wrong? As of early 2014, there’s no definitive answer. But most of those in-the-know tend to sway toward the compression matters camp.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume they’re correct.

Which Compression is Right for You?

Should you play a high-compression ball (rated 90-plus), a mid-compression ball (66 – 89) or a low-compression ball (65 or less)? That depends on your performance preferences. But let’s assume that, like most amateurs, driving distance is a key concern.

If you swing the driver at 105 mph or faster: You’ll generate good distance from any ball. While you may get a few extra yards from a mid- or low-compression model, you could also hit it too high with excess spin, resulting in a lack of control. Your best bet – a high-compression tour or premium model.

If you swing between 85 – 104 mph: On the higher end of this range (95 – 104 mph), a low-compression ball could create control issues. Your best bet likely lies among the mid-compression models. On the lower end (85 – 94 mph), control should be less of an issue if you pick a low-compression ball. Still, a mid-compression model could be a better fit.

If you swing slower than 85 mph: Definitely try a few low-compression golf balls. Compare them against each other, and against some mid-compression varieties. In this swing speed range, control isn’t a huge issue – but every yard matters. There are plenty of distance golf balls that could serve your needs well.

To be sure, compression isn’t the only factor affecting a golf ball’s length. Its core, cover and mantle materials have an impact, as do dimple shapes and patterns. And, just because you hit Ball A farther than Ball B doesn’t necessarily make A your best bet. You may prefer the flight and spin characteristics of B, or simply like the way it feels coming off the club.

In other words, compression isn’t the be-all, end-all of golf ball fitting. But it is a variable you should take into account.

This site features a Free Golf Ball Fitting Service as well as in-depth Golf Ball Tests and Reviews. Happy hunting!