TaylorMade Soft Response Golf Balls

Product Information

My driver ball speed averaged 137.8 mph, 4 mph below my fastest speed in 2023. I felt I lost some velocity at impact due to the higher spin rate and softer cover, but the results were still respectable. The Soft Response span far more than the Tour Response in a comparative test of 10 seven-iron shots, often reaching 7500 rpm. Ball speed was lower (113 to 116mph) compared to Tour Response which was consistently between 117 and 120mph. The shots were grouped between 166 and 171 yards for Soft Response compared to a range of 170 to 176 yards for Tour Response. I personally prefer using the standard white TaylorMade Soft Response golf balls because I’ve always played white models. However, I did enjoy the high-visibility yellow golf ball for its ease of traceability in the air. I feel it’s a valuable asset to golfers with visual impairments tired of losing sight of their ball in the sky or in the cabbage patch. Balls with low-compression soft cores will feel softer off the face on full shots, with the added rebound properties of those soft cores also potentially helping those with low to average swing speeds hit it a little bit further compared to firmer-compression balls. What is a soft golf ball compression rating?

I was apprehensive to test such a soft-feeling ball as I didn’t want to lose distance. With my wedges, I didn’t lose much distance but with a driver and 7 iron I was losing around 10 yards which was disappointing but was to be expected from such a soft golf ball. As mentioned previously the Response range from TaylorMade is designed for a mid-range golfer with a lower compression rate so someone with a slower swing speed may not see this drop in distance. I found the Tour Response to offer more short game control and while the Soft Response felt great on the wedge and putter, it released more on chip shots and doesn’t offer the same precision as expensive models like the TP5 and TP5x balls. Which ball should you choose? If you are looking for an all-out budget urethane golf ball, this one offers good performance, especially in the short game. Now, admittedly, the long game performance was not as good as others in this list, or other golf balls on the market, but we think, given the price, the value on offer here is excellent, so it's certainly one of the best cheap golf balls on the market.For high speed, high spin players, lower spinning soft balls can work really well because the distance gained from spin reduction can more than offset the speed penalty. Those same high spin players typically don’t have issues generating enough iron spin. On mid to long iron shots, both balls had the same stable straighter flight you expect from the best TaylorMade golf balls and deviated less than other mid-range golf balls. I suggest golfers with visual impairments select the easier-to-follow yellow balls. There are no performance or price differences between the 2 options. It comes down to personal choice.

Instead of my average 5-yard roll average, the Soft Response golf balls produced 3.8 yards, highlighting the faster bite. Launch and Flight With Tour Response, TaylorMade’s is using what it calls a speed-increasing ultra-soft ZnO Flex Core. As we’ve touched on before, all soft materials aren’t created equal. There are faster soft materials and slower soft materials. Similar to the stories built around new versions of Titleist’s AVX and Callaway’s Chrome Soft, the TaylorMade-supplied info suggests a faster soft ball. Ideally, I’d prefer a golf ball that spins lower and optimizes length. However, I welcomed the easy launching nature and consistent carry distance it produced. The cover etched into the grooves of my short iron and wedge shots, increasing friction and boosting spin. Sound Sam is a member of North Hants Golf Club in Fleet, Hampshire, where he won the club championship 3 times in succession from 2015-2017. His golfing highlight to date is shooting a round of 10-under 60 at his home club, narrowly missing a wedge shot for a magical 59.The easy-launching nature of the TaylorMade Soft Response golf balls was one of my favorite features. As an average golfer, I enjoyed having one less factor to worry about. Thanks to the rapid rebound off the clubface, the ball launched into the air with moderate spin and consistent velocity, resulting in an elevated launch.

In long game testing, the TaylorMade Tour Response was a clear front runner over the Soft Response. On the course, both balls launched well and reached a healthy peak height that meant shots held the greens well. The increased compressibility on high-impact shots promotes an elevated launch, consistent ball speed, and controlled spin levels. The low compression core and Speed Mantle Layer enhanced my energy transfer from face to ball to boost speed, control spin, and promote an effortlessly high launch.Bauer Media Group consists of : Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited, The feel of the Soft Response golf balls impressed me, considering my experience with other firmer, distance golf balls. It produced a pleasant sensation off the clubface and felt soft in the hand. Its squashy feel stems from its lower compression core and soft ionomer cover to boost spring off the clubface and spin around the green. Wedge Spin Price -No buying guide would be complete without at least mentioning the price factor. Thankfully most brands make models at different price points so you can rest assured there will be a top-performing model for you, however much you want to spend. Additionally, most of the soft feel models we included in this guide have different price points but none come at that super premium end of the price spectrum. FAQ's What is a soft ball good for? In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he has also presented many Golf Monthly videos looking at all areas of the game from Tour player interviews to the rules of golf. A softer golf ball is good for getting more feel off the clubface especially when it comes to hitting shots around the green, and when on it as well. In the past using a soft ball would've meant compromising on distance but this is not really the case anymore because of technology.