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If your driver's swing speed is 80 mph, and a friend also has a swing speed of 80 mph, should you both be playing the same ball? Maybe, but not necessarily.
Because there are so many other factors that should determine what ball you play. Your launch angle, smash factor, how much shaft lean you have (which can determine how much you spin it), swing path, and your priorities and preferences are all factors. If you and your buddy match up in every category, sure, maybe you should play the same ball.
And here’s something else that you might not expect. If you have a slow swing speed (under 90 mph with a driver), the idea of playing a golf ball with “soft” in the name generally will not get you more distance. In fact, it’s just the opposite, because with most players, the firmer the ball is, the farther it goes.
But no, you don’t want to just look for the closest thing to 100 compression if you don’t have a lot of swing speed. Construction of the ball is important, and so is cover material. So there’s not one best golf ball for slow swing speeds because golfers have different preferences and needs, which is really the case for all golf equipment, including balls.
Also, let’s examine the question again. The best golf ball for slow swing speeds isn’t necessarily the ones that produce the most distance. Maybe a few extra yards off the tee really isn’t that important in your game, especially if you’re already playing from the front tees. That’s where softer golf balls might just feel better if you have a slower swing speed.
And plenty of really skilled players have slow swing speeds, and many of these are not the kind of players who want to give up greenside spin for a few extra yards off the tee. Luckily, the most premium golf balls are also the longest. So even if you have a slow swing speed, a three-piece, urethane covered golf ball is a great choice if you have a single-digit handicap.
Again, it depends what you value, and a bunch of other factors. Let’s take a look at some options, including one that will surprise most golfers right off the bat, er clubface. What you’ll notice is that there are quite a few premium balls on the list, because quite frankly, they are best for just about everyone, including golfers with slower swing speeds.
By the same token, golfers with slow swing speeds who aren’t that skilled will see little benefit from the tour balls, so we’ve got some more budget friendly options in there, too. The bottom line on all of this is that if you have a slow swing speed, you should probably test golf balls yourself to see what best fits your game and preferences. Or maybe use a launch monitor or even go through an in-person ball fitting if possible.
How we compiled the list of best golf balls for slow swing speeds
We polled our GolfPass members who have less than 90 miles-per-hour swing speeds to see what they preferred from their golf ball. In order to be eligible for this list, the product must have a least 5 reviews from our members. In determining the best golf balls, we surveyed members and asked them to rate the golf ball they use on the following categories and generated an overall score for each.
- Distance
- Feel
- Value (cost vs. performance)
- Satisfaction
You may notice that the list includes older golf balls, highlighting the continued satisfaction golfers experience with these options. We hope this list offers valuable insights, whether you are in the market for brand-new golf balls or considering used golf balls. While the list is not data-driven, it provides additional options you may want to explore during a ball fitting or looking to try something different.
Titleist Pro V1x
Most golfers, it seems, think the Pro V1x, which is the firmer option of the Pro V1s, is best for players with really high swing speeds. And for some of them, that’s certainly true. But in truth, the Pro V1x is a great golf ball for slow swing speeds because it launches high and spins really well. Players who have trouble generating much clubhead speed can benefit from both those traits, meaning more carry distance, holding greens, and providing some spin on chips and pitches. In fact, you could say the best golf balls for slow swing speeds based on test results are really the tour level balls in general. They generally test out the best in all categories, including distance. But of course, not all golfers with slow swing speed want tour level balls. Our next recommendation is a compromise of sorts.
Kirkland Signature Ball
For golfers with faster swing speeds, this value-driven, three-piece urethane from Costco is a terrible choice because it spins too much. But if you have moderate to slow swing speeds, it’s a fine option because it’s just a yard or two behind the longest golf balls, and it produces a lot of spin around the greens and on approach shots. Translation: Golfers who don’t generate a lot of clubhead speed can get a lot of stopping power for their buck with this ball. As a bonus, the Kirkland Signature ball is around a dollar each.
Bridgestone e12 Series
New for Bridgestone Golf is a series of e12 balls designed to optimize different characteristics for golfers' different needs. Bridgestone says that 85 percent of all golfers could benefit by choosing the design that best addresses their needs. For example, the e12 HiLaunch is designed to maximize carry. The e12 Distance is designed to provide a more penetrating ball flight for players who tend the balloon the ball a bit. And the e12 Straight is designed for players who hook or slice the ball. Players with slow swing speeds, it seems, could benefit by using one of these three balls to address their most glaring need.
Srixon Soft Feel
The 2025 version of the Srixon Soft Feel is longer than its previous versions, according to the company. For slower swing speeds that means you’ll get a little more distance than most balls, and the distance won’t lag far behind the premium balls. In fact, it might not even be noticeable. I really think this is one of the most versatile balls on the market, and at $23 a dozen, one of golf’s best values as well. It really does have a nice feel to it.
Wilson Staff
If distance is what you’re looking for, independent tests have shown the Wilson Staff to be one of, if not the longest, golf ball on the market. And that includes golfers with slower swing speeds. The main reason, perhaps, is because this is a really, really firm golf ball, and again, firmer means farther in almost all cases. The bonus here is that this is tour ball, so it’s great around the greens, on the greens, and on approach shots. If you’re a serious player who doesn’t swing very hard, you might want to give the Wilson Staff a try.
Callaway Supersoft
Several tests have shown that with swing speeds of 85 mph, the Callaway Supersoft is right up there with some of the premium balls in terms of distance off the tee and with the irons. Plus, it has great feel, provides adequate spin, and is priced very economically. This two-piece ionomer-covered ball is a good all-around choice for most players, to be honest, but it’s really adept for players who don’t swing that hard.
Vice Pro Plus
If you’ve never heard of Vice, don’t sleep on this suggestion. Testing indicates that it performed just about as well as any ball in the market in terms of spin and right up there with the Pro V1 and the like in terms of distance for slower swing speeds. One of the firmer Vice offerings, this is a quality three-piece golf ball at around $35 a dozen (as opposed to more than $50 a dozen for the more recognizable brands).
TaylorMade TP5
Here’s another one that might surprise you. The same ball that has been played by Rory McIlroy, who can hit it 330 yards or longer off the tee, is also one of the longest balls for players with 85 mph clubhead speed with the driver. That’s right; this five-piece tour ball gains about six yards carry over the average golf ball, which is pretty significant. And it also has a sensational feel off the irons and around the greens.
Mizuno RB 566V
Here’s another ball you probably never considered, but it’s actually really good for slower swing speeds because it’s fairly low compression and has a 588 dimple pattern, which causes the ball to fly higher. Golfers who play target golf courses where they have to carry bunkers or water features need this characteristic because it’s difficult to run the ball up to the greens on those types of courses. It’s not a tour ball, so it won’t spin like one, but it does feel good around the greens and off the putter.
Pinnacle Rush
At this point, you’re probably thinking, “What about all those distance balls?,” and that’s a very good question. Because distance balls are certainly longer than the average ball, but you might be surprised to find out they aren’t longer than the tour balls, especially for slow swing speeds. But the difference isn’t that great either. So if you’re not looking for workability or a lot of stopping power, a ball like the Pinnacle Rush works just fine. It’ll get you to where you want to go, doesn’t feel harsh, and is extremely durable. The best part is you can get a 15-ball pack for $20.
Other ‘Distance Balls’ to Consider
Along with the Pinnacle Rush, the Callaway Warbird has been a longtime favorite among golfers with slower swing speeds. It too produces decent length, as does the new Srixon Distance, TaylorMade Distance Plus, and Titleist Velocity, just to name a few. With all of these balls, maximizing distance for all swing speeds is their priority, but the feel isn’t too bad either.
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