At a glance: Best Golf Ball For Cold Weather
If you have ever played squash, you will know that a cold ball doesn’t travel far, and the same principle applies in golf. Golfweek’s David Berner explains that the temperature impacts the ball’s speed, spin, and resilience. That is why I am unveiling my picks for the best golf ball for cold weather in this post.
I will cover the features and benefits of each golf ball and determine how it performs in cold conditions.
Quick Overview: Best Golf Ball For Cold Weather
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
OUR RATING: 4.8/5 | Callaway Supersoft |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
OUR RATING: 4.8/5 | Titleist Tour Soft |
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
OUR RATING: 4.7/5 | Bridgestone e6 |
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OUR RATING: 4.7/5 | Srixon Soft Feel |
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OUR RATING: 4.6/5 | TaylorMade Tour Response |
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Contents
Best Golf Ball For Cold Weather Overall
1. Callaway Supersoft
Pros
- Generates accelerated ball speed
- Produces low spin for longer shots
- Promotes maximum distance on all shots
- Delivers increased carry
- Affordable
Cons
- The ball may launch excessively high for fast swinging golfers
- Reduced greenside spin
With a compression of 38, the Callaway Supersoft features one of the lowest ratings on the market. That is why it earns my pick for the best overall golf ball for cold weather. The versatile Paraloid cover offers you a combination of rapid ball speed and low spin for a high launch and optimal carry.
The high ball flight leads to a steep descent enabling exceptional shot-stopping power to hold compact greens. Plus, the soft compression core enables maximum spring at impact to generate maximum power for accelerated ball speed and added distance.
Furthermore, Callaway’s Hex dimple pattern restricts drag and increases your aerodynamics to achieve longer carry with all shots. Finally, the two-piece Supersoft’s are available in six colors, providing options to traditionalists and adventurers alike.
Overall, the Callaway Supersoft balls are ideal for players that require extra ball speed and low spin on long shots. But need optimal spin around the green to enhance your overall performance in cold weather conditions.
2. Titleist Tour Soft
Pros
- Lowers spin on long shots
- Medium spin around the green
- Generates accelerated ball speed
- Promotes maximum distance in your long game
- Soft feel
Cons
- Durability
My final pick for the best golf ball for cold weather is the Titleist Tour Soft, which features the largest core of any ball they make. The compression rating of 65 is higher than any ball on this list, but when it combines with the core it produces considerable distance.
Titleist engineers employed a thin 4CE grafted cover, designed to increase spin around the green. Plus, the ionomer material helps you to accelerate ball speed and lower spin on long shots.
Furthermore, the implementation of 342 Cuboctahedron dimples boosts the ball’s aerodynamics. As a result, it produces a piercing trajectory and optimal carry.
In summary, the moderately priced Titleist Tour Soft’s lower your spin and increase ball speed on long shots to increase your distance. However, the thin cover enhances your spin and control around the greens. As a result, it is an ideal ball for mid-handicappers looking for all-around performance on the links.
3. Bridgestone e6
Pros
- Produces low spin
- Generates optimal spring at impact for faster ball speed
- Promotes high ball flight
- The steep angle of descent helps you to stop the ball rapidly on approach
- Affordable price
Cons
- The low spin nature of the ball makes it difficult to achieve greenside spin.
If you are losing distance in the cold, the Bridgestone e6 helps you gain extra yards from tee to green. This two-piece construction is a 44-compression that is soft enough to produce optimal spring at impact leading to a powerful launch, farther carry, and maximum distance.
A Surlyn cover protects the large rubber core to initiate explosive ball speed and low spin to promote. These factors combine to deliver a high launch for optimal carry distance and a steep angle of descent to increase your shot-stopping ability into narrow greens.
The Bridgestone e6 is an ideal distance ball for those players who could use a few extra yards. However, it struggles to produce adequate levels of spin around the green, limiting your short game control.
In summary, the low compression core enables you to maximize your distance potential in the cold. Therefore, it is an excellent option in cold weather, especially for mid to high handicappers looking for maximum distance at an affordable price.
4. Srixon Soft Feel
Pros
- Affordable
- Provides a moderate level of greenside spin and control
- Optimal aerodynamics to maximize carry distance.
- Promotes optimal spring onto the clubface at impact for a powerful launch
- Soft feel
Cons
- Durability
The Srixon Soft Feel contains a higher compression than the other products we have looked at so far, with a rating of 60. The soft core combined with its low compression rating enables maximum spring at impact for a powerful launch.
On top of the moderately low compression, a 0.063-inch cover provides a soft feel that premium producers would be proud of.
Furthermore, they positioned 338-speed dimples uniformly to reduce drag and boost aerodynamics. That leads to increased carry distance, even in windy conditions.
Although ionomer covers are commonly associated with distance balls, the material is manipulated on the Soft Feel’s to enhance your greenside spin and short game control. Bear in mind that the spin and control around the greens lags that of premium balls with a urethane cover.
Overall, Srixon Soft Feel golf balls are affordable and ideally crafted for mid to high handicappers looking for a combination of distance and spin.
5. TaylorMade Tour Response
Pros
- Accelerates ball speed
- Maximizes transfer of energy at impact
- High launching to increase carry distance
- Enhanced greenside spin
- Durable
Cons
- Moderately expensive
The 40-compression TaylorMade Tour Response ball features a three-piece construction built for the superior players among us. TaylorMade employed a urethane cover to enhance the durability, soft feel, and spin of the ball.
The low compression and high spring core partners with a speed mantle, maximizing energy transfer at impact. This design leads to low spin and increased ball speed to deliver a high launch for extra carry distance.
Added to the Tour Response’s explosive ball speed are its soft feel, durability, and exceptional spin features. That is made possible by the 100% cast urethane cover that you typically find on premium golf balls.
The design of the Tour Response equips you with all the characteristics necessary to optimize your distance off the tee and on approach while ensuring heightened levels of spin around the green.
While the overall performance of this product is everything a golfer demands, it comes at a moderately high price. As a result, it is best suited to lower handicappers who don’t frequently lose balls or players who have the budget to splurge on a box.
FAQ
Does Cold Weather Damage Golf Balls?
Vice Golf suggests that exposing a golf ball to extremely warm or cool temperatures for extended periods impacts the compression. Plus, cool temperatures can cause your ball to contract and expand, leading to a loss of shape. That ultimately influences your spin, ball speed, and distance.
Should I Change Golf Balls In Cold Weather?
If you play with a low compression golf ball in warm weather, you don’t need to change designs in the cold. According to Berner, low compression golf balls travel farther than their higher compression counterparts.
Adding to that view is Golf Digest’s, Michael Johnson. He suggests that you lose an average of one yard of carrying for every ten degrees that the temperature drops. For example, if the average temperature is 70-degrees Fahrenheit and you play in 50-degree weather. You stand to lose two yards of carry.
How Do I Keep My Golf Balls Warm In Cold Weather?
Johnson further suggests that you can warm your golf balls up before a round by placing them in a wet, hot towel for thirty minutes before your tee time. However, under USGA rule 14-3/13.5, you are prohibited from warming them during your round.
A few years ago, Golf Labs conducted tests to determine the consequences of warming up a ball in cold weather. The results proved that one cannot warm up a ball sufficiently to impact performance in the cold since the ball instantly adapts to the outside temperature.
Are Pro V1 good in cold weather?
The average compression score of a Pro v1 is approximately 100, which is on the higher end of the spectrum. As I mentioned before, your best option in cold weather is a golf ball with a lower compression score.
Final Thoughts On The Best Golf Ball For Cold Weather
Throughout this post, we have seen that the best golf ball for cold weather is those with low compression ratings. The design of these balls helps to generate optimal spring at impact for maximum carry and total distance.
Although all five options on this list are suitable in chilly conditions, the Callaway Supersoft is the best overall choice. The construction helps you lower your spin and increase ball speed on longer shots while optimizing your short game spin.
If you are a mid-handicapper looking for an affordable ball that delivers all-around performance, take a closer look at the Callaway Supersoft here.
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
