Best Golf Ball For 100 mph Swing Speed In 2023
You have decided to take your game a little more seriously and start playing a specific model of golf ball going forward. But which one do you choose? If you have a swing speed at the higher end of the spectrum (100+ mph) then there are certain golf balls that will complement your game better than others.
This guide will run through why your choice of ball matters and select the best golf ball for 100 mph swing speed.
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Testing Methodology
Wherever possible I test the equipment myself. Where that isn’t feasible I gather data from several reputable online and offline sources along with feedback from golfing friends to make a recommendation.
In the case of the balls in this post, I have played several rounds with each type and used many of them on a launch monitor in order to form a judgment.
While my own swing doesn’t quite reach 100 mph I think my 30+ years of golf experience means I can still offer a valid opinion.
Top Pick
Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls
Titleist Pro V1 golf balls are designed for serious golfers looking for high-performance balls. They feature a soft feel, low spin off the driver, and consistent flight. The Pro V1’s multi-component construction includes a soft compression ZG process core, an ionomeric casing layer, and a urethane elastomer cover. These features work together to provide excellent distance, control and durability. Whether you’re looking to improve your game or play at a high level, Titleist Pro V1 golf balls are a great choice.
Does Swing Speed Matter?
Swing speed is an important factor in deciding which ball will work best for you. Bridgestone for example tends to base their ball fitting around your driver swing speed. The faster you are able to swing the club the better you will be able to compress the golf ball. It’s also likely that you won’t have any problems generating sufficient spin particularly if you use a ball with a urethane cover.
Golfers with faster swings will be better able to get the most from premium golf balls since they are designed with tour professionals in mind who all have high clubhead speed.
While players with a slow swing will find it more difficult to compress the ball, high-speed photography shows that even at 65 mph the golf ball compresses quite a lot!
Not surprisingly the recommendations below center around the premium golf balls on the market.
High Compression Golf Ball vs Low Compression Golf Ball
It’s generally true that higher compression balls will go further than lower compression balls for any given swing speed. The faster your swing the greater the difference will be. For this reason, players with higher swing speeds will tend to prefer higher compression golf balls. Tour balls tend to be toward the higher end of the compression scale.
Low compression golf balls tend to spin less and lack distance compared with their firmer cousins. Players who prefer a soft golf ball will probably need to look at a low compression model since balls described as soft are generally manufactured with a lower compression rating.
MyGolfSpy is a good source for comparing the compression of balls from different manufacturers.
How To Select The Right Golf Ball For You
Choosing a golf ball can seem quite tricky given how many options there are these days. Probably the best way is to come up with a shortlist of balls that on paper match your requirements. If you have a higher swing speed then you probably want to look mainly at premium models.
Factor in any particular requirements that you have such as needing to increase or decrease the amount of spin you generate. If you like the feel of a softer ball then you need to look at lower compression options amongst the tour balls.
You then need to test the golf balls out in the wild. Start off on and around the green. Find the balls that you prefer when putting and playing short game shots. Once you found your contenders move on to your wedges and irons. Work out which will also feel right to you and also give you the ball flight and distance that you are looking for.
Finally, see which balls perform best for you with your driver and then once you have all the facts you can make an informed decision. Undoubtedly you may have to compromise in one or areas with regard to feel, spin and distance. It’s important to know which aspect is most important to you.
Best Balls For High Swing Speeds In 2023
Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1x
The premium ball from Titleist. The most played ball by professionals who live and die by their performance on the course so that should probably be enough of an endorsement for this particular model.
Personally, I’ve always found the Pro V1 to be a little firm but my swing speed is in the 85-90 mph range. Like the other premium balls, they are quite expensive at around $50 for 12 balls.
The Pro V1x would be a better choice if you are looking for a higher flight and more spin. If you need to reduce the amount of spin you generate off the tee then the recently released Pro V1x left dash would be worth testing.
If you prefer the feel and flight of the Pro V1 but need a little help bringing down your spin numbers then the Pro V1 left dot should be added to your shortlist.
Srixon Z-Star/Z-Star XV
The Japanese company’s equivalent tour-level ball. With similar compression ratings to the Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1x, they will probably feel similar to most people when they hit the ball.
The XV has a higher compression rating than the standard Z-Star. It is also 4-piece rather than 3-piece. The XV will produce a little less spin with the driver so you need to bring your spin rate down slightly that might be the better option of the two.
Srixon also offers the Z-Star Diamond which is meant to be increased spin on your iron shots compared to the normal Z-star model.
One advantage of the Z-Star is it is more likely to be available at deeper discounts than many other tour balls.
TaylorMade TP5/TP5x
Several tour players have switched to the flagship TaylorMade ball because they believe it offers them a more penetrating ball flight in windy conditions.
The only company making a golf ball with five layers.
Callaway Chrome Soft/Chrome Soft X
If you’re looking for a ball that is used on tour but is not quite as firm then the Callaway Chrome Soft golf ball should be top of your list to test. Given its compression rating of only 76 should feel significantly softer than most other premium tour golf balls.
If you prefer Callaway but need a firmer ball then the Chrome Soft X has a much higher compression rating.
Golfers Needing More Spin
If you need help getting extra spin then your choice of ball can help you out.
Kirkland Signature Performance
One of the spinniest balls on the market. Extremely cheap for a urethane-covered golf ball. If you’re looking to save money they cost around $1 per ball.
Golfers Needing Less Spin
If you’re prepared to sacrifice a little distance then one way to reduce your spin rates would be to go with a low-compression golf ball.
Srixon Q-Star Tour
The Q-Star Tour from Srixon offers many of the benefits of the Z-Star range but the lower compression means it should spin less when you use your driver.
Why don’t you order a couple of different models to test them out?
Top Pick
Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls
Titleist Pro V1 golf balls are designed for serious golfers looking for high-performance balls. They feature a soft feel, low spin off the driver, and consistent flight. The Pro V1’s multi-component construction includes a soft compression ZG process core, an ionomeric casing layer, and a urethane elastomer cover. These features work together to provide excellent distance, control and durability. Whether you’re looking to improve your game or play at a high level, Titleist Pro V1 golf balls are a great choice.
BUDGET Pick
Kirkland Signature Performance Golf Balls
For golfers looking for a three-piece urethane ball at an affordable price, the Kirkland is an excellent option.
ALTERNATIVE PICKS
Pro V1x. A premium ball for players looking for extra spin and height.
A premium 3-piece ball for tour performance.
Tour-quality ball, offering slightly lower spin than the Z-Star.
A premium 5-piece ball for players looking for a similar performance to Pro V1.
5-piece ball for tour performance. Higher launch than TP5
Urethane ball from Callaway – lower compression than competitors.
A firmer version of the Chrome Soft which is used by some Tour Players.
An ultra-cheap urethane-covered 3-piece ball from Costco.
A low-compression 3-piece urethane ball.
Budget Golf Balls For High Swing Speed
Most of the urethane balls on the market can be quite pricey, particularly from the big boys like Titleist and Callaway.
If you’re working on a higher budget then you might want to test out some of the following balls to see if they suit your swing.
Kirkland Signature Performance. This ball spins quite a lot so I would only recommend it for people who struggle to generate much spin. Ridiculously cheap though at just over $1 per ball.
Cut Grey or Cut Blue. You can pick these up pretty cheap now. If you want a urethane ball without breaking the bank these could be a great choice.
The Maxfli Tour CG has also received plenty of praise although as I’m in the UK I’ve not been able to get hold of any of these balls to test myself.
If you’d prefer to stick to Srixon, Bridgestone, et al then you could look at a prior generation of one of their tour balls.
Srixon Z-Star. The previous edition of their premium ball. Do you really think you are good enough to tell the difference between the old and new models?
Best Golf Ball For 100 mph Swing Speed: Conclusion
Whether you need high spin, low spin, soft feel or a firm feel one of these balls should suit you. Give some of them a try against your current ball to see if they could help your game.
If you are struggling with a slice then check out this post on the best balls for slicers.
If you want to buy purely based on distance then MyGolfSpy came up with some surprising results in their robot testing.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ]
How far should I hit the ball with 100 mph swing speed?
If you can get the optimal angle of attack, launch angle and spin rate then a driver should carry 239 yards with a swing speed of 100 mph. By getting those parameters wrong you could easily lose 25 yards of carry.
Does It Really Matter What Golf Ball You Use Depending On Your Swing Speed?
To an extent, your choice of golf ball will matter. All golfers will see more distance from higher compression balls with fast swingers likely to see the biggest difference. A player that hits the ball too high or with too much spin might need to choose a low spin or low compression ball to get their spin numbers into the optimal window.
Which ball goes further Pro V1 or Pro V1x?
The Pro V1x will probably carry slightly farther than the Pro V1 but there is more to selecting the right ball for your swing than which one goes further.
How do I know which golf ball is best for me?
Feel and therefore compression should be the lowest priority. Titleist ball fitters will put most players into the Pro V1 or Pro V1x and they are both “firm” golf balls. Only select a low-compression ball if the numbers suggest you will benefit from it.
Can high handicappers use Pro V1?
There is nothing about a Pro V1 that means it shouldn’t be used by a high handicapper. However, such a player might not want to spend that much on golf balls until their game improves and if they already generate lots of sidespin then a urethane ball will probably make that worse.
What is the best golf ball for 100-105 mph swing speed?
Any of the premium urethane balls like Pro V1/Pro V1x, TP5/TP5x, Z-Star/XV etc. will probably work well. Your launch conditions and the ball flight you want to achieve will determine exactly which model. Some are designed to spin a bit more or a bit less. Some are designed to fly a bit higher or lower.
What is the best golf ball for high swing speed?
While swing speed does play a part in picking a ball the spin rate and trajectory are probably more important. Finding a ball that gives you good distance off the tee while giving you the right flight with your irons and control on short shots is ideal. This usually means a urethane-covered golf ball.
What is the best golf ball for slow swing speed?
Ironically, the best golf ball for a slow swing speed could well be the same as the ones for a high swing speed. In terms of distance high compression balls do better even at low speeds. Many players don’t generate much spin so a premium urethane ball may also help them.
What is the longest golf ball for 100 mph swing speed?
The Pro V1x left dash regularly comes out on or near the top of distance tests for players with faster swings.
