Golf Ball Compression Chart: Popular Balls Compared
Compression runs from about 30 to 120, and lower means softer. Popular balls sit between 29 and 98, so find yours below and match it to your swing speed.
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Compression is how much a golf ball squashes under load, and a lower number means a softer ball. Popular balls run from 29 (Wilson Staff Duo Soft) and 40 (Callaway Supersoft) up to 98 (Callaway Chrome Tour X and Bridgestone Tour B X). Slower swings usually suit the low end, faster swings the high end. Compare the numbers within one chart only, because makers and labs do not measure them the same way.
The chartGolf ball compression chart for popular balls
Each figure is the compression printed on the ball’s retailer product page, listed from softest to firmest, with the swing speed that same page recommends. Titleist does not print a number for Pro V1 or Pro V1x.
| Ball | Compression | Build | Listed as best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson Staff Duo Soft | 29 | 2-piece | Not listed |
| Callaway Supersoft (2021) | 40 (Low) | 2-piece, hybrid cover | Under 90 mph |
| Srixon Soft Feel 14 | 58 | 2-piece ionomer | Not listed |
| Bridgestone Tour B RXS | 65 (Low) | Not listed | Under 105 mph |
| Callaway Chrome Soft (2024) | 75 (Medium) | 3-piece urethane | Under 100 mph |
| Bridgestone Tour B RX | 75 (Medium) | Not listed | Under 105 mph |
| Bridgestone Tour B XS (2024) | 85 (Medium) | 3-piece urethane | 105+ mph |
| Callaway Chrome Tour (2024) | 88 (Medium-High) | 4-piece urethane | Over 100 mph |
| Bridgestone Tour B X | 98 (High) | Not listed | 105+ mph |
| Callaway Chrome Tour X (2024) | 98 (High) | 4-piece urethane | Over 100 mph |
| Titleist Pro V1 / Pro V1x | Not published by Titleist | Not listed | Third-party charts commonly show Pro V1 at about 87 to 90 |
Sources: retailer product pages for Duo Soft, Supersoft, Soft Feel 14, Chrome Soft, Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X and the Tour B family. Labels in brackets are the retailer’s own bands.
Read it in three bands: low is roughly 29 to 65, medium is 75 to 85, and medium-high to high is 88 to 98. The low band is mostly two-piece balls and the high band is all urethane tour balls, so compression and construction move together. The golf ball buyer’s guide covers what each construction changes.
Which oneWhich compression suits your swing speed
The retailer listings above give a workable rule of thumb. Treat it as a starting point, because the bands overlap and differ from listing to listing.
| Your driver swing speed | Compression to look at | Examples from the chart |
|---|---|---|
| Under 90 mph | Low, about 29 to 60 | Duo Soft (29), Supersoft (40), Soft Feel 14 (58) |
| About 90 to 100 mph | Low to medium, about 65 to 75 | Tour B RXS (65), Chrome Soft (75), Tour B RX (75) |
| 100 mph and up | Medium to high, about 85 to 98 | Tour B XS (85), Chrome Tour (88), Tour B X and Chrome Tour X (98) |
If you swing slowly and a firm tour ball feels like hitting a rock, a softer ball will feel better and you will probably putt and chip with more confidence. That is the real benefit of matching, and it is about feel more than distance. Slower swings get the most from our picks in best golf balls for slow swing speeds, and new golfers can start with best golf balls for beginners. For a head-to-head of two low-compression favourites, see Srixon Soft Feel vs Callaway Supersoft.
The catchWhy compression charts disagree
There is no single compression test. The number depends on the rig used and the load applied, so two labs can measure the same ball honestly and print different figures. Snell Golf says as much:
"The gauge variations and tests used to measure compression can vary from one manufacturer to another."Snell Golf, How Golf Ball Compression Ratings Affect Performance
You can see it in the numbers. Snell lists Callaway Supersoft at “around 38” while the 2021 retailer listing says 40, and Pro V1 shows up anywhere from 87 to 90 depending on the source. Words like “approximately” and “around” are the giveaway. A ball’s diameter and weight are fixed by the Rules of Golf and stated exactly. Compression gets an “around.”
The practical rule: compare balls within one chart or one brand’s range, where the ordering holds. Titleist, for example, says the Pro V1 has “a softer gradient core” than the Pro V1x. Do not take a 40 from one source and an 85 from another and conclude the gap is exactly 45.
By makerWhat the makers publish on their own pages
Most makers do not print a compression number for their own balls. They describe feel, swing-speed bands or low, mid and high categories instead.
| Manufacturer page | Compression number published? | What it says instead |
|---|---|---|
| Titleist Pro V1 | No: the word "compression" does not appear on the page | "A softer gradient core produces a softer feel and slightly less spin than Pro V1x" |
| Callaway Chrome Soft | No: one mention, no figure | "engineered to generate the most speed from a golf ball with our best compression and material properties" |
| Bridgestone e12 Straight | No, zero mentions | Performance and dimple-technology claims only |
| Vice: official comparison chart | No, icons and swing-speed bands, no numbers | "Optimized for high swing speeds" / "medium swing speeds" / "all swing speeds" |
| Snell Golf | Not for its own balls, only categories | Lists hedged figures for rivals ("Titleist Pro V1: approximately 90") while describing its own MTB range only as low, mid and high |
Sources: Titleist · Callaway · Bridgestone · Vice · Snell.
Measured numbersWhere to find measured compression
Independent labs that measure every ball on the same rig, and publish how, give figures you can genuinely compare to each other. MyGolfSpy’s annual ball test is the best known. A chart that collects numbers from thirty different sources cannot be compared at all, however tidy it looks, so check that a chart says who measured each ball.
What else to checkThree things that matter as much as compression
1. Cover material. A two-piece ionomer ball and a three- or four-piece urethane ball behave differently in ways that matter more to your scoring than a compression figure, especially around the green where the cover does the work.
2. Price tier. Ball pricing tracks construction closely. Choosing between a $25 dozen and a $55 dozen is mostly choosing between ionomer and urethane, a difference you can feel on a half wedge. For a closer look at the trade-off, see soft vs distance golf balls.
3. Ordering within a brand. Makers are reliable about which of their own balls is softer than which, so once you pick a brand, use that ordering to move up or down a step.
To settle it, buy one sleeve in the compression band your swing speed points to and putt and chip with it. Fifteen minutes on the practice green tells you more than any chart.
FAQCommon questions
What is a good golf ball compression number?
It depends on your swing speed. Under about 90 mph, a low number (roughly 29 to 60) usually feels best. From about 90 to 100 mph, 65 to 75 is a sensible middle. Above 100 mph, balls rated 85 to 98 are the usual fit. Compression is quoted on a scale of about 30 to 120, lower is softer, and there is no single industry test, so use it to compare balls within one chart or brand.
Which golf balls have the lowest compression?
Among popular balls, the Wilson Staff Duo Soft lists the lowest at 29, followed by the Callaway Supersoft at 40 and the Srixon Soft Feel 14 at 58. All three are two-piece balls.
Which golf balls have the highest compression?
The Callaway Chrome Tour X and the Bridgestone Tour B X are both listed at 98, which the retailer labels High. They are tour-level balls listed for swing speeds over 100 to 105 mph, and the Chrome Tour X is a four-piece urethane ball.
What is the compression of a Titleist Pro V1?
Titleist does not publish one. The word "compression" does not appear on the Pro V1 product page; Titleist describes the ball in terms of feel, stating that "a softer gradient core produces a softer feel and slightly less spin than Pro V1x." Figures circulating online for the Pro V1, commonly around 87 to 90, come from third-party measurements or other websites, not from Titleist, and are typically hedged with words like "approximately."
What compression golf ball is best for a 90 mph swing?
A 90 mph swing sits between two retailer bands: the Supersoft (40) is listed for under 90 mph and the Chrome Soft (75) for under 100 mph. A low-to-medium ball, roughly 40 to 75, is a reasonable range to test, and cover and feel should decide between them.
Why do compression charts disagree with each other?
Because there is no standardised industry test. As Snell Golf puts it, "the gauge variations and tests used to measure compression can vary from one manufacturer to another." Two labs measuring the same ball honestly can print different numbers depending on the rig and the load applied. On top of that, most published charts copy figures from other charts rather than measuring anything, so an early error propagates.
Should I match golf ball compression to my swing speed?
Loosely. Slower swings compress a ball more easily, so a softer ball will usually feel better and give more confidence on short shots. The exact swing-speed-to-compression tables in circulation are not published by the makers whose balls they list, and the bands differ from chart to chart, so choose by feel and cover material rather than by matching two numbers.
Is a low compression golf ball better for beginners?
Often, though for feel rather than distance. Softer balls feel less harsh at slower swing speeds, which most golfers prefer on putts and chips. Low-compression balls are also usually two-piece ionomer models in the value tier, which is where a new golfer should be while still losing several a round. Buy on price and durability first.
Where can I find measured golf ball compression numbers?
From independent labs that test every ball on the same rig and publish their methodology. MyGolfSpy’s annual golf ball test is the best known. Those figures are comparable with each other because one lab measured them all the same way.