As iron speeds drop into the mid-range of our test, the low-compression balls are faster. Soft is still slow but context matters. The softer outer layers of the high-compression (firm core) golf balls are responsible for a modest speed deficit while the lower-compression balls gain speed because of the firmer covers and mantles. While the distance is intriguing, the low-compression offerings fly only moderately higher but spin significantly less than mid- and high-compression models. The high-spin end of the chart should look familiar. The PXG XTREME, Inesis Tour 900, Srixon Z-Star Diamond, Callaway Chrome Soft X, and Kirkland Performance+ v3 all hit the board again. The higher-spinning balls fall mostly on the higher end of the compression scale. The Bridgestone TOUR B XS (low 80s compression) is a notable exception. With the core being less of a factor, the outer layers of the ball have a greater influence on speed.

The notable exception is the Reload (refinished) Pro V1. Despite an average compression rating that’s closer to Pro V1x than a real Pro V1, it produced ball speeds at or below what we saw from the softest balls in the test.Without regard for distance, higher-flying options include the Mizuno RB Tour X, TaylorMade TP5, Wilson Staff Model and Maxfli Tour X. While there is some movement in the middle of the table, the highest-spinning balls off the driver were consistently the highest-spinning off irons and even with the shorter wedge shots. The performance section below references “soft” and “soft-ish” golf balls. As with many things in the golf equipment world, there is no universally accepted standard that defines what it means for a golf ball to be soft. You’ll find the phrase “soft feel” applied to balls that range from 35 compression all the way to 100. Low-flying options with strong distance showings include the Srixon Z-Star (the lowest of the bunch), the Bridgestone TOUR B X and the TaylorMade TP5, which offered the steepest descent angle.

MyGolfSpy’s 2023 golf ball test took place at two locations and involved more than 80 hours of testing time. Other lower-flying options not in the top 10 are the Seed SD-02, Callaway Supersoft, and Bridgestone TOUR B RX. I’d been looking to this test. The original Ball Guide completely changed how I looked at golf balls. Balanced Performance – Bridgestone Tour B XS, TaylorMade TP5x, Titleist Pro V1 Slow Swing Speed Driver Robot Averages

On another note, and I offer this simply as a suggestion, it strikes me that with regard iron performance, carry distance is a far more important metric than total distance…. It seems to me that carry should have more emphasis in your analytics than total distance…. just an opinion.