Low compression golf balls have come a long way in a short time. Compression happens when the golf ball “squishes” against the club face as your club makes contact with the ball.
The ball is propelled forward by compressing it at impact and allowing the club to interact with the core of the ball. That is a brief and inadequate explanation, but this is why low compression golf balls with reactive cores have gained prominence.
Manufacturers are able to keep softness and feel around the green while adding distance and low spin rates for more control.
The Srixon Soft Feel and Callaway Supersoft are prime examples of low compression, high distance golf balls. They are soft and long while maintaining low spin rates for extra control and accuracy.
The Srixon is a slightly firmer golf ball and is made for golfers with slightly higher swing speeds. It is a distance ball with a very soft shell.
The Supersoft, first of all, is a Callaway golf ball which means it is high quality. It is a lower compression ball and provides good control and distance with adequate spin.
The following is a review of the Srixon Soft Feel Vs Callaway Supersoft. Both are good golf balls but they cater to a different golfer.
Srixon Soft Feel
The Srixon Soft Feel is another in a long line of high quality golf balls for a very practical price. The Soft Feel is Srixon’s long ball with low spin. It features a very thin and soft outer cover that gives the golf ball the “Soft Feel” name but with a very reactive core that produces a great amount of distance.
Its 2-piece construction is a very simple and effective design that really focuses on distance and low spin off the tee with a soft feel and touch around the greens. For the distance and soft feel that it produces you will be hard-pressed to find another ball like that at this price. On top of that, Srixon has been a golf ball industry leader for years and is known for the quality and durability of their golf balls.
Pros
- A simple, 2-piece construction that is long off the tee, soft around the greens, and produces very little spin so that it stay straight.
- While most “long and soft” golf balls feature ultra low compression rates, the Srixon Soft Feel has a rating of 60 which will appeal to many who do not want the degree of softness that other balls have.
- It is a really good ball at a price point that makes it accessible to the vast majority of golfers.
- Srixon is known for quality and durability, and these golf balls will last longer than any other ball you will find in this price range.
Cons
- The low spin rates and relatively low compression rate make the ball less workable than many of its counterparts.
- Designed for high handicappers with slow to moderate swing speeds.
Callaway Supersoft
Callaway continues to make some of the best golf balls on the market. In fact, they are the no. 2 golf ball seller in the world after Titleist and they are still climbing the ranks. The Supersoft golf ball is Callaway’s softest golf ball yet. It features 2-piece construction with an ultra-soft trionomer cover and a very low compression ratin gof 38.
It is a great ball for golfers with slower swing speeds of around 90mph or less. It promotes optimal energy transfer from the clubface to the core of the ball and even at the softness level it remains a very controllable and sturdy golf ball. Most ball manufacturers have a “long and soft” option out there, and this is Callaway’s version of that. It is definitely on the expensive side of that market, but the combination of high launch, long distance, and super soft feel make it a very desirable golf ball for players of all skill levels and lower swing speeds.
Pros
- It is a great ball for beginners and high handicappers because it increases distance, control, launch, and softness around the green.
- Very low spin rate, one of the lowest for this type of golf ball, and that low spin rate promotes great control and accuracy with your longer clubs.
- A very soft golf ball that gives you great feel on every shot and especially as you get closer and close to the green.
- The Supersoft golf ball has a really low compression rating, but with the soft and thin outer layer it can do more than provide distance to slower swings.
Cons
- The price may not warrant purchase because there are other golf ball with very similar features for less money on the market today.
- Starting at your mid irons and working your way up, the low spin rate works against higher lofted clubs both in chipping and in your approach game because these clubs cannot grip the ball well enough.
Features Face To Face: The Srixon Soft Feel vs Callaway Supersoft
Construction
Both golf balls boast 2-piece construction with a focus on softness and distance. The Callaway Supersoft has a much lower compression rating and produces very low spin compared to the Srixon. Its distance and accuracy are top notch while the softness of the ball is great for players with slow and moderat swing speeds of less than 95 mph. The HEX design is very aerodynamic and creates very low drag which, when coupled with the low spin, gives the ball a very penetrating flight and high trajectory. It is softer, a little longer for lower swing speeds, and has a lower spin rate than the Srixon.
The Srixon Soft Feel is firmer and is a little more well-rounded golf ball than the Supersoft. The 2-piece construction features a thin and soft outer cover with a reactive and slightly firmer core. It is not as long as the Callaway ball, but the construction lends itself to more spin and feel around the greens. The higher compression rate of the core makes the Srixon a better golf ball for players who swing a little harder and is optimal for players with swing speeds upwards of 100 mph. If you want length, the Callaway is slightly better, but for all around construction the Srixon has the slight edge.
Performance
Distance
Pure and simple, the Callaway Supersoft is the longer golf ball of the 2. This is especially true for players with slow to moderate swing speeds, but even for golfers who swing hard the Callaway outdistances the Srixon ball. With lower spin rates and a more aerodynamic shape, not to mention the more reactive core, the Callaway Supersoft is one of the longest golf balls in this market.
Launch
Both the Srixon and Callaway promote high launch angles and are easy to get off the ground. The slightly thinner outer layer and subsequently oversized core of the Callaway make it a little easier to launch with a slightly steeper trajector but there is not much difference here. In general, they are both easy to hit and promote a high ball flight.
Spin
Long Game
The thing about the “Long and Soft” golf ball market is that long game spin is something that golf balls try to prevent as much as possible. More spin leads to more movement left to right, and more movement leads to less distance and more balls going into the woods. The Callaway Supersoft definitely spins less in the long game than the Srixon. It is one of the lowest spinning balls out there.
Short Game
The Srixon is a better spin ball in the short game. The 2-piece construction of both balls make it difficult for them to be good all-around golf balls and spin around the green is one of the areas where both are lacking. However, the Srixon’s extra firmness allows wedges and short irons to catch more easily and the ball spins more and is easier to stop on the green.
Feel
Long Game
Long game feel comes down to preference. Many golfers with higher swing speeds will greatly prefer the Srixon Soft Feel. In the long game, the Srixon will appeal to a wider audience because you can really feel the moment of impact in your hands while the Callaway ball is so soft that it can lack some response.
Short Game
The Callaway Supersoft is a soft feeling ball around the greens and it gets the nod in this department. Both balls are soft and provide great feel in the short game, but really thin and soft cover of the Callaway give it a slight edge.
Cost
This may be the biggest difference in the 2 golf balls. Sure, the Supersoft has a compression rating of 38 compared to 70 for the Srixon, but that difference is minimal compared to the almost $10 price difference in the 2 golf balls. If a few yards on the driver and a little straighter and more penetrating ball flight is worth it, the Supersoft performs a little better. However, for the price, the differences are just not big enough in our opinion to make the Callaway worth it.
Standout Features of The Srixon Soft Feel vs Callaway Supersoft
Cost
The Callaway Supersoft is one of the most expensive “long and soft” golf balls on the market, but the features and performance are similar to that of the Srixon Soft Feel and other golf balls as well. For this reason, cost stands out because the Srixon ball is about $10 less in price than the Supersoft and has very similar features. It is somewhat surprising that the Supersoft does so well at that price in this category but it speaks both to quality and durability of the ball along with the respect golfers have for the Callaway name.
Compression Rating
The compression ratings are very different in the 2 golf balls, and it shows both in performance and in the type of golfer that should be more drawn to each. The Callaway is on the very low end of low compression balls while the Srixon could be classified as a mid compression ball. This makes the Callaway Supersoft much better for beginners, high handicappers, and players with slower swing speeds. The ball will jump off the club a lot more for players who do not generate the ball speed needed with their own club. There are other features that make the Callaway longer for the majority of player, but the compression rating make it perfect for golfers whose swings are not as fast.
Brand Name
There are 2 names in the golf ball industry that have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the pact. Titleist and Callaway golf balls are, up and down the line, better and more sought after than any other company. While Srixon makes a high quality ball and generally provide a great price:feature ratio, Callaway still has the name power and that alone will push more golfers toward the Supersoft ball even at the higher price.
Final Thoughts on The Srixon Soft Feel vs Callaway Supersoft
The Callaway Supersoft and Srixon Soft Feel are both really good golf balls in the “Long and Soft” market. The features of the Callaway ball set it apart as one of the best in terms of market specific features such as distance and feel, but the Srixon is probably a slightly better overall golf ball.
If you are looking for extra distance, very low spin, and a soft feel, which most golfers in this market are, then the Supersoft ball is one of the best. It is, however, also priced as one of the best.
On the other hand, if you do not mind a little spin and a little extra firmness, then the Srixon Soft Feel is a really good golf ball as well.
