How Good Is TaylorMade’s Ultra-Soft, Sub-50 Compression Golf Ball?
Golf-ball design usually involves compromise.
Make a ball firmer and you can create tremendous speed—but some recreational golfers dislike the harder sensation.
Make it extremely soft and it can feel fantastic—but traditionally you risk sacrificing ball speed.
TaylorMade set out to challenge that compromise with the SpeedSoft.
The concept is summed up perfectly by the name:
Speed + Soft.
SpeedSoft was TaylorMade’s first venture into the sub-50 compression category, combining an unusually soft PWRCORE with a firm ionomer cover in an affordable two-piece construction.
The objective is straightforward:
Give everyday golfers genuinely soft feel without sacrificing useful distance from the tee.
At around $25 per dozen, SpeedSoft also costs substantially less than TaylorMade’s premium TP5 and TP5x Tour balls.
But that lower price and exceptionally soft construction come with trade-offs.
The biggest is spin.
SpeedSoft can perform surprisingly well from the tee and with full irons, particularly for recreational and moderate-speed golfers.
Move inside 50 yards, however, and the limitations of its ionomer cover become much more obvious.
That creates an interesting question:
Is SpeedSoft simply a cheap, soft golf ball—or has TaylorMade created one of the better value options for the everyday golfer?
If you’re comparing SpeedSoft with other models, visit our complete collection of golf ball reviews.
In this review, we’ll examine its construction, compression, driver and iron performance, wedge spin, durability and unusual SpeedSoft Ink graphics—and determine exactly who should play it.
TaylorMade SpeedSoft Specs At A Glance
| Specification | TaylorMade SpeedSoft |
|---|---|
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Compression | Sub-50 |
| Core | PWRCORE |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimple Pattern | 332 Extended Flight dimples |
| Feel | Extremely soft |
| Driver Spin | Low |
| Iron Distance | Long |
| Wedge Spin | Low relative to urethane Tour balls |
| Launch | Mid overall / high on shorter shots |
| Standard Colours | White / Yellow |
| Ink Options | Multiple high-visibility patterns |
| US MSRP | $24.99/dozen |
| Category | Value / soft-feel distance ball |
| Best For | Recreational and moderate-speed golfers prioritising soft feel, distance and value |
| Biggest Strength | Extremely soft feel at an affordable price |
| Biggest Weakness | Limited greenside spin |
Quick Verdict
TaylorMade SpeedSoft is one of the most interesting value golf balls for players who place soft feel ahead of maximum greenside spin.
Its sub-50 compression produces an exceptionally cushioned sensation, while PWRCORE helps preserve useful ball speed. The catch is predictable: its two-piece ionomer construction cannot reproduce the short-game friction of a premium urethane ball.
Think soft feel + low spin + good distance + excellent value—not Tour-level wedge control.
In This Review
- What Is TaylorMade SpeedSoft?
- PWRCORE Engineering
- What Sub-50 Compression Really Means
- Driver Launch-Monitor Performance
- Iron Performance
- Wedge and Greenside Spin
- Sound and Feel
- Putting Performance
- SpeedSoft Ink
- Durability
- Who Should Play SpeedSoft?
- Who Should Avoid It?
- SpeedSoft vs Tour Response
- SpeedSoft vs TP5
- SpeedSoft vs Callaway Supersoft
- SpeedSoft vs Srixon Soft Feel
- Final Verdict
TaylorMade SpeedSoft: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Exceptionally soft feel
- Sub-50 compression
- Good driver distance for its target player
- Low driver spin
- Easy launch
- Excellent value
- Durable ionomer cover
- Attractive option for moderate swing speeds
- Particularly pleasant with irons and putter
- SpeedSoft Ink offers excellent visibility
- Wide choice of visual designs
- Lower-spin profile may help some recreational golfers reduce curvature
Cons
- Low greenside spin
- Cannot match urethane balls for wedge control
- Very soft feel may lack feedback for some golfers
- Faster players may generate more speed with firmer alternatives
- Limited shot-making control compared with premium Tour balls
- High-launching chips can produce additional rollout
- Better players may find short-game performance restrictive
1. What Is TaylorMade SpeedSoft?
SpeedSoft sits in a very different part of TaylorMade’s range from TP5 and TP5x.
Those are sophisticated five-layer urethane Tour balls.
SpeedSoft is deliberately simpler.
It uses:
Two-piece construction
consisting of:
1. A large PWRCORE
and
2. An ionomer cover
That simplicity helps TaylorMade keep the retail price around $25 per dozen.
But simple doesn’t necessarily mean unsophisticated.
The interesting engineering challenge is inside the ball.
2. The Big Innovation: Sub-50 Compression
SpeedSoft represented an important step for TaylorMade because it moved the company into:
sub-50 compression.
That is extremely soft.
To understand why that matters, think of compression as one indicator of how firm a golf ball feels and responds under load.
Broadly:
Lower compression
tends to produce:
- Softer feel
- Greater deformation
- Lower spin
- Potentially less speed at very high impact velocities
Higher compression
tends to produce:
- Firmer feel
- Less deformation
- Greater ball-speed potential at high impact speeds
- More responsive feedback
But these are tendencies—not absolute rules.
Modern core chemistry allows manufacturers to manipulate these relationships considerably.
And that’s exactly what TaylorMade is attempting with SpeedSoft.
3. The PWRCORE Engine
At the heart of SpeedSoft is TaylorMade’s:
PWRCORE
This is an oversized, very-low-compression core engineered to produce an extremely soft response while maintaining useful speed.
Why make the core large?
Because in a simple two-piece ball, the core performs much of the work.
On a driver strike, it needs to:
- Deform
- Store energy
- Recover rapidly
- Transfer energy back into ball speed
TaylorMade’s challenge was therefore not merely to make the core soft.
That would be easy.
The difficult part was making it:
extremely soft while still fast enough to produce competitive distance.
4. Does a Soft Golf Ball Really Go Far?
Yes.
But there is an important qualification.
A common misconception says:
“Slow swing = soft ball, fast swing = hard ball.”
Modern golf-ball fitting isn’t that simple.
You don’t need a soft ball merely because you swing slowly.
And a faster player doesn’t automatically lose enormous distance with a soft ball.
However, firmness is one contributor to ball-speed potential.
As impact speed rises, firmer constructions can often generate additional speed.
That creates SpeedSoft’s fundamental compromise.
It is engineered to provide enough speed for the everyday golfer while prioritising:
feel.
5. The Compression Delta: Who Benefits?
⚡ THE SUB-50 COMPRESSION DIFFERENCE
SpeedSoft’s extremely low compression means the ball deforms relatively easily at impact.
For a moderate-speed player, that can produce an exceptionally comfortable sensation without requiring enormous impact energy.
SpeedSoft becomes particularly interesting if:
- Your driver speed is roughly 75–95 mph
- You dislike hard-feeling golf balls
- You prioritise carry and straightness over maximum spin
- You want an affordable ball
- You prefer a muted sensation on chips and putts
What about 100+ mph?
You can play SpeedSoft at 100+ mph.
There is no point where the ball suddenly becomes unusable because you “over-compress” it.
However, faster players should compare it with firmer alternatives because higher-compression constructions may provide greater ball-speed potential and more precise spin control.
The faster you swing, the more important direct launch-monitor comparison becomes.
6. The Ionomer Cover
The second half of the SpeedSoft construction is its:
ionomer cover.
You’ll sometimes see this category referred to generically as “Surlyn”, although Surlyn is actually a DuPont brand of ionomer material.
Ionomer makes enormous sense for SpeedSoft.
It is:
- Durable
- Relatively inexpensive
- Fast
- Low spinning
- Resistant to scuffing
Those characteristics suit the target golfer extremely well.
But there is a major disadvantage.
Greenside friction.
7. Why Urethane Spins More Around the Green
Premium balls such as:
- TaylorMade TP5
- TaylorMade TP5x
- Titleist Pro V1
- Srixon Z-STAR
use urethane covers.
Urethane is softer and interacts differently with wedge grooves during low-speed, high-loft impacts.
That helps generate more short-game spin.
SpeedSoft’s ionomer cover cannot reproduce that same level of friction.
And independent testing confirms the difference.
So while TaylorMade describes SpeedSoft as providing useful control, golfers should understand:
SpeedSoft is not a high-spin greenside ball.
That isn’t necessarily a flaw.
It’s a design trade-off.
8. Driver Performance: Surprisingly Competitive
This is where SpeedSoft becomes more impressive.
You might assume a sub-50-compression ball would be dramatically short from the tee.
For its target golfer, that isn’t necessarily true.
TaylorMade engineered PWRCORE specifically to preserve speed despite the soft construction.
The general driver profile is:
- Low spin
- Useful ball speed
- Stable flight
- Good carry
- Strong rollout potential
For moderate-speed recreational golfers, that’s an attractive combination.
9. Launch-Monitor Performance: Separating Marketing From Reality
TaylorMade markets SpeedSoft around:
“explosive speeds for the everyday golfer.”
That’s marketing language.
So what does independent testing tell us?
The broader picture is more nuanced.
SpeedSoft is not generally the fastest golf ball available.
Nor should we expect it to be.
Extremely firm Tour and distance balls can produce greater raw speed under high-impact conditions.
But independent robot testing has shown that SpeedSoft can remain surprisingly competitive for distance—particularly as swing speed falls.
That is important.
The ball isn’t trying to beat TP5x for a 118 mph player.
It’s trying to provide enough speed for an everyday golfer while feeling dramatically softer.
Within that brief, it succeeds remarkably well.
10. Example Driver Testing Profile
For a moderate-speed golfer, you might expect a profile broadly like:
| Metric | SpeedSoft Tendency |
|---|---|
| Club Speed | 85–95 mph |
| Ball Speed | Competitive for soft-ball category |
| Launch | Mid |
| Driver Spin | Low |
| Peak Height | Moderate |
| Carry | Competitive |
| Rollout | Good |
| Feel | Extremely soft |
These are performance tendencies rather than guaranteed numbers.
Your actual results depend on:
- Driver loft
- Dynamic loft
- Strike
- Angle of attack
- Club speed
- Weather
- Launch conditions
11. Low Driver Spin: Good or Bad?
Low driver spin can be very useful.
A golfer producing excessive spin may see drives:
- Climb too high
- Stall
- Lose distance
- Become more vulnerable to wind
Reducing excess spin can produce a more efficient trajectory.
SpeedSoft’s low-spin design can therefore contribute to:
carry + rollout + total distance.
12. Can SpeedSoft Help a Slice?
Potentially—but don’t expect miracles.
A slice is created primarily by:
- Clubface orientation
- Swing path
- Strike location
A golf ball cannot fix those problems.
However, lower overall spin can sometimes reduce the amount of curvature produced by a given spin-axis tilt.
So compared with a higher-spinning ball, SpeedSoft may produce a somewhat less dramatic curve for certain players.
Think:
damage reduction
rather than:
slice cure.
13. SpeedSoft at High Swing Speeds
This requires nuance.
It would be wrong to claim:
“If you swing above 100 mph, SpeedSoft over-compresses and becomes dramatically shorter.”
Golf balls don’t operate with such a simple threshold.
Independent testing has shown SpeedSoft remaining capable of respectable distance even at higher speeds.
However, physics still matters.
Very soft golf balls tend to sacrifice some raw speed potential compared with firmer constructions.
Therefore a player swinging:
105–115+ mph
should ask:
“Why am I choosing an ultra-soft sub-50 compression ball?”
If the answer is:
“Because I absolutely love the feel”
that’s perfectly valid.
But if the answer is:
“Because I want maximum ball speed”
there are likely better choices.
14. Iron Performance
SpeedSoft performs particularly well in one area recreational golfers care about enormously:
iron distance.
TaylorMade officially positions the ball as producing long iron distance, and the combination of low spin and useful speed helps support that claim.
With a mid-iron, expect:
- Easy launch
- Relatively low-to-moderate spin
- Good carry
- Soft impact sensation
For many high-handicap golfers, that is an appealing recipe.
15. Does Low Iron Spin Mean Poor Performance?
Not automatically.
Suppose you hit a 7-iron with too much spin.
Reducing spin could improve:
- Carry
- Wind stability
- Total distance
But golfers who already struggle to generate height and stopping power need to be careful.
A ball that spins less may land and release farther.
This becomes particularly important on:
- Firm greens
- Long par threes
- Long-iron approaches
16. 7-Iron Performance
Independent testing has demonstrated something interesting about SpeedSoft.
Despite being a very soft two-piece ball, its mid-iron performance can remain surprisingly competitive.
The separation from premium urethane balls becomes much more obvious as you move:
closer to the green.
That is a crucial insight.
SpeedSoft’s biggest weakness isn’t necessarily your 7-iron.
It’s what happens when the shot becomes short enough for cover friction to dominate performance.
17. Wedge Performance: The Biggest Trade-Off
Now we reach the most important limitation.
On a:
- 100-yard wedge
- 70-yard pitch
- 50-yard pitch
- 30-yard chip
the ionomer cover becomes increasingly influential.
And this is where SpeedSoft gives up performance to premium urethane balls.
Independent testing places SpeedSoft among the lower-spinning options on short wedge shots.
That means golfers should expect:
more rollout.
18. What Does Low Greenside Spin Look Like?
Imagine a 35-yard pitch.
A premium urethane ball may:
land → bounce → check → stop.
SpeedSoft is more likely to:
land → bounce → release.
That doesn’t make it impossible to control.
It simply means you need to account for additional rollout.
For recreational golfers who already play a running short game, this may not matter much.
For skilled golfers accustomed to firing low pitches that grab aggressively, it can be a major limitation.
19. The High-Launch / Low-Spin Wedge Combination
Independent testing also reveals another interesting SpeedSoft characteristic.
On short shots it tends to launch relatively high while spinning relatively little.
That combination makes sense.
Low-friction ionomer balls can slide farther up the clubface rather than gripping as aggressively.
The result can be:
higher launch + lower spin + more rollout.
Understanding this behaviour helps you adapt your short-game technique.
20. Should High-Handicap Golfers Care About Wedge Spin?
Yes—but perhaps not as much as a scratch golfer.
A skilled golfer may deliberately manipulate:
- Launch
- Spin
- Trajectory
- First-bounce behaviour
A 20-handicap golfer may simply want:
- Predictability
- Durability
- Distance
- Soft feel
If you’re not regularly attempting low, checking wedge shots, sacrificing some greenside spin may be perfectly reasonable in exchange for:
$25 pricing + durability + soft feel.
That’s the value proposition.
21. Sound & Feel Scorecard
SpeedSoft’s defining characteristic is feel.
Here is how that translates throughout the bag:
| Club | Feel | Sound | Softness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Compressed / cushioned | Deep thud | ★★★★½ |
| Fairway Wood | Soft / responsive | Muted | ★★★★½ |
| 7-Iron | Very soft | Dampened | ★★★★★ |
| Wedge | Cushioned | Muted click | ★★★★★ |
| Chip | Extremely soft | Quiet | ★★★★★ |
| Putter | Very soft | Muted cushion | ★★★★★ |
Overall Feel Rating:
★★★★★
If your number-one golf-ball priority is softness, SpeedSoft deserves serious consideration.
22. Is SpeedSoft Too Soft?
For some golfers:
Yes.
Feel is subjective.
Some players interpret soft as:
- Smooth
- Comfortable
- Premium
- Controlled
Others interpret it as:
- Mushy
- Dead
- Unresponsive
- Lacking feedback
A player accustomed to:
- TP5x
- Pro V1x
- Z-STAR XV
- Chrome Tour X
may find SpeedSoft dramatically softer than expected.
Try a sleeve before buying multiple dozen if you normally prefer firm Tour balls.
23. Putting Performance
SpeedSoft produces an extremely muted putting sensation.
This can be particularly pleasant with:
- Milled steel putters
- Firm-faced blades
because the ball softens the overall impact sensation.
Pair it with an already soft insert, however, and some golfers may find the combination almost too muted.
There is no objectively correct answer.
Putting feel is personal.
24. SpeedSoft Ink: Golf Ball Meets Street Art
SpeedSoft isn’t only interesting mechanically.
TaylorMade also used the platform to push one of golf’s most unusual visual designs.
Enter:
SpeedSoft Ink.
Instead of a conventional alignment stripe or plain coloured cover, Ink uses splattered graphics distributed around the golf ball.
The result looks closer to:
street art
than a traditional golf-ball marking.
25. What Is SpeedSoft Ink?
TaylorMade developed Ink as a high-visibility alternative to conventional white and yellow golf balls.
Different editions use vibrant splatter-style graphics in colours including:
- Blue
- Green
- Pink
- Red-themed designs
- Special-edition combinations
The underlying golf ball remains SpeedSoft.
The difference is visual.
26. Is Ink Just Cosmetic?
Mostly—but the graphics can provide practical benefits.
The irregular high-contrast pattern can make the ball:
- Easier to identify
- Easier to distinguish from playing partners’ balls
- More visible in certain rough conditions
- Easier for some golfers to track in flight
It can also create useful visual feedback when putting.
As the ball rolls, the graphics move visibly across the surface.
That can help you observe whether the ball is rolling smoothly.
27. Can SpeedSoft Ink Help Alignment?
This is more subjective.
Ink doesn’t function like a conventional:
straight alignment line.
Instead, its graphic pattern provides multiple visual reference points.
Some golfers find that liberating.
Rather than obsessing over perfectly aligning a line with the target, they simply:
look → aim → putt.
Others prefer the precision of a traditional sidestamp or drawn line.
So Ink is best viewed as:
visibility + personality + alternative visual feedback
rather than a conventional alignment technology.
28. The Personality Factor
Golf equipment can sometimes take itself very seriously.
SpeedSoft Ink doesn’t.
And that’s part of its appeal.
The golfer TaylorMade is targeting may not care whether their ball is used on the PGA Tour.
They may care more about:
- Having fun
- Recognising their ball instantly
- Playing something different
- Enjoying the game
Ink allows golfers to inject some personality into their equipment without changing the underlying performance characteristics.
For casual and younger golfers in particular, that can be surprisingly appealing.
29. Is SpeedSoft Ink Easier to Find?
Depending on conditions:
Yes.
High-contrast graphics can stand out effectively against:
- Rough
- Fallen leaves
- Brown grass
- Mixed vegetation
But visibility is highly individual.
Some players track yellow extremely well.
Others prefer white.
Some find multicoloured graphics easier.
Your eyesight and course conditions matter.
30. Durability: A Major SpeedSoft Strength
One advantage of ionomer is durability.
SpeedSoft’s cover should withstand ordinary play extremely well.
Compared with thin premium urethane covers, ionomer generally handles:
- Trees
- Bunker shots
- Wedge grooves
- General abrasion
very effectively.
This matters for the target player.
31. Why Durability Matters for High Handicappers
A golfer shooting 95 or 105 may encounter more:
- Trees
- Paths
- Bunkers
- Thin wedge strikes
- Rough
than a Tour professional.
A delicate cover that marks easily isn’t necessarily ideal.
SpeedSoft’s tougher ionomer construction makes practical sense.
And if you eventually lose the ball?
At around $25 per dozen, the financial pain is much smaller than losing a $55–$60 Tour ball.
32. SpeedSoft Value Proposition
This is arguably one of its strongest features.
At approximately:
$24.99 per dozen
SpeedSoft costs less than half the price of many premium Tour balls.
Consider a golfer losing:
two balls per round.
Over 20 rounds, that’s:
40 golf balls.
The price difference between a $25 dozen and a $55 dozen becomes substantial.
For golfers who lose balls regularly, premium urethane may not provide enough practical benefit to justify the additional expense.
33. Who Should Play TaylorMade SpeedSoft?
SpeedSoft is particularly well suited to:
Moderate-Speed Golfers
Especially players around:
75–95 mph driver speed
who want comfortable feel and useful distance.
High-Handicap Golfers
Players who prioritise:
- Distance
- Durability
- Value
- Straightforward performance
over Tour-level spin manipulation.
Soft-Feel Golfers
If your primary requirement is:
“I want the ball to feel really soft”
SpeedSoft should be on your shortlist.
Budget-Conscious Golfers
At roughly $25 per dozen, it offers excellent value from a major manufacturer.
Golfers Who Lose Balls
Losing a SpeedSoft in the lake hurts considerably less than losing a premium Tour ball.
Golfers Who Like Visual Designs
The Ink series provides one of the most distinctive aesthetics in golf.
34. Who Should Avoid SpeedSoft?
Consider another ball if:
❌ You want maximum greenside spin
❌ You regularly manipulate wedge trajectories
❌ You demand Tour-level short-game control
❌ You prefer firm feedback
❌ Maximum driver ball speed is your overriding priority
❌ You are a high-speed player seeking precise spin optimisation
❌ You play extremely firm greens requiring maximum stopping power
Those golfers should probably consider a urethane-covered model.
35. Is SpeedSoft Good for Seniors?
Potentially:
very much so.
Many senior golfers prioritise:
- Comfortable feel
- Useful distance
- Easy launch
- Affordable pricing
SpeedSoft delivers all four.
However, age itself should never determine golf-ball choice.
A 70-year-old swinging at 105 mph has very different requirements from another golfer of the same age swinging at 75 mph.
Fit performance—not birth certificate.
36. Is SpeedSoft Good for Women?
Again, gender doesn’t determine golf-ball fit.
But SpeedSoft’s combination of:
- Soft feel
- Moderate compression
- Easy launch
- Value
can make it an excellent option for many moderate-speed golfers, regardless of gender.
37. Is SpeedSoft Good for Beginners?
Yes.
In fact, beginners may be one of the strongest target groups.
A beginner often needs:
- Affordable golf balls
- Durability
- Comfortable feel
- Adequate distance
They don’t necessarily need:
- Maximum wedge spin
- Five-layer construction
- Tour-level trajectory control
Paying $55+ per dozen makes little sense if several balls disappear every round.
SpeedSoft provides a much more rational entry point.
38. SpeedSoft vs TaylorMade Tour Response
Tour Response is the logical upgrade.
| Attribute | SpeedSoft | Tour Response |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 2-piece | Multi-layer |
| Cover | Ionomer | Urethane |
| Feel | Extremely soft | Soft |
| Driver Distance | Good | Very good |
| Greenside Spin | Low | High |
| Durability | Excellent | Very good |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Best For | Value/feel | Performance/value balance |
Choose SpeedSoft if:
You prioritise:
price + softness + durability.
Choose Tour Response if:
You want:
more wedge spin + urethane control
without paying full TP5 prices.
For improving golfers, Tour Response may represent the natural next step.
39. SpeedSoft vs TaylorMade TP5
These are very different products.
| Attribute | SpeedSoft | TP5 |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 2-piece | 5-layer |
| Cover | Ionomer | Urethane |
| Compression | Sub-50 | Significantly firmer |
| Feel | Extremely soft | Soft Tour feel |
| Driver Performance | Good | Elite |
| Iron Control | Good | Excellent |
| Wedge Spin | Low | Very high |
| Shot Shaping | Limited | Excellent |
| Price | ~$25 | Premium |
| Target Golfer | Recreational | Performance-focused |
SpeedSoft wins:
value and softness.
TP5 wins:
overall performance and control.
But asking which is “better” misses the point.
They are designed for completely different golfers.
40. SpeedSoft vs Callaway Supersoft
This is arguably the more natural comparison.
Both target golfers wanting:
- Very soft feel
- Low compression
- Good distance
- Affordable pricing
- Durable covers
| Attribute | SpeedSoft | Callaway Supersoft |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Extremely soft | Extremely soft |
| Construction | 2-piece | 2-piece |
| Driver Spin | Low | Low |
| Greenside Spin | Low | Low-to-moderate |
| Distance | Good | Good |
| Visual Options | Excellent | Excellent |
| Price | Value | Value |
This is a comparison that should largely be settled through personal testing.
Feel, flight and price may ultimately decide it.
41. SpeedSoft vs Srixon Soft Feel
Another direct rival is Srixon Soft Feel.
Both are aimed at golfers wanting:
softness + distance + value.
| Attribute | SpeedSoft | Srixon Soft Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Extremely soft | Very soft |
| Compression | Sub-50 | Low |
| Cover | Ionomer | Ionomer |
| Driver Spin | Low | Low |
| Distance | Good | Good |
| Greenside Spin | Limited | Limited |
| Visual Styling | Ink available | Traditional |
| Value | Excellent | Excellent |
Golfers who want the absolute softest sensation may lean toward SpeedSoft.
Those preferring a more conventional look may favour Soft Feel.
42. SpeedSoft Performance Scorecard
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Soft Feel | ★★★★★ |
| Driver Distance | ★★★★☆ |
| Ball Speed | ★★★★☆ |
| Driver Spin Control | ★★★★½ |
| Iron Distance | ★★★★½ |
| Iron Control | ★★★½☆ |
| Wedge Spin | ★★½☆☆ |
| Greenside Control | ★★★☆☆ |
| Putting Feel | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★★ |
| Visibility – Ink | ★★★★★ |
| Value | ★★★★★ |
| Overall | 4.3/5 |
The lower wedge-spin score shouldn’t be viewed in isolation.
This is a:
$25 two-piece ionomer golf ball.
Judging it against a $55+ urethane Tour ball purely on wedge spin misses the purpose of the product.
43. SpeedSoft’s Performance Triangle
The easiest way to understand this ball is through three characteristics:
FEEL
★★★★★
Extremely soft.
DISTANCE
★★★★☆
Very competitive for its intended player.
GREENSIDE SPIN
★★½☆☆
The major compromise.
That is SpeedSoft in three numbers.
44. Launch-Monitor Testing Protocol
If you’re considering SpeedSoft, compare it with your current ball using three clubs.
Driver
Measure:
- Ball speed
- Launch
- Spin
- Carry
- Total distance
- Dispersion
7-Iron
Measure:
- Ball speed
- Launch
- Spin
- Carry
- Peak height
- Descent angle
50-Yard Wedge
Measure:
- Launch
- Spin
- Carry consistency
Then take both balls onto a real green.
The wedge test is where you’re most likely to see the biggest difference between SpeedSoft and a urethane alternative.
45. The Real Question: Do You Need More Spin Than SpeedSoft Provides?
This is ultimately how I would make the buying decision.
Ask yourself:
Do I routinely play low checking pitches?
Do I need to attack firm greens?
Can I control wedge spin intentionally?
Do I notice how quickly my golf ball stops?
If the answers are mostly:
No
then paying significantly more for urethane may provide limited practical benefit.
But if the answers are:
Yes
then SpeedSoft’s short-game limitations become much more important.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the compression of TaylorMade SpeedSoft?
TaylorMade positions SpeedSoft as a sub-50 compression golf ball, making it one of the softest balls in its range.
Is TaylorMade SpeedSoft a two-piece golf ball?
Yes. It combines TaylorMade’s PWRCORE with an ionomer cover.
Does SpeedSoft have a urethane cover?
No. It uses an ionomer cover, which improves durability and helps control cost but produces less greenside spin than premium urethane.
How many dimples does TaylorMade SpeedSoft have?
SpeedSoft uses a 332-dimple Extended Flight pattern designed to promote efficient aerodynamic performance.
Is TaylorMade SpeedSoft good for slow swing speeds?
Yes. Its soft feel and competitive distance characteristics make it particularly interesting for slow-to-moderate-speed golfers.
Can a 100 mph golfer play SpeedSoft?
Absolutely.
There is no 100 mph barrier. However, faster golfers should compare it with firmer alternatives because they may generate additional speed and more desirable spin characteristics from another ball.
Is SpeedSoft good for high handicappers?
Yes. Its combination of durability, soft feel, low spin, distance and affordable pricing makes it particularly well suited to many high-handicap golfers.
Does TaylorMade SpeedSoft spin around the greens?
It produces some greenside spin, but independent testing shows it spins considerably less on short wedge shots than premium urethane-covered balls.
Is SpeedSoft good for putting?
Golfers who like very soft putting feel should enjoy it. The ball produces a muted, cushioned impact sensation.
What is SpeedSoft Ink?
SpeedSoft Ink uses colourful splatter-style graphics instead of a conventional plain cover. The underlying performance characteristics remain those of the SpeedSoft platform.
Is SpeedSoft Ink easier to see?
For many golfers, yes. Its high-contrast graphics can help with ball identification, flight tracking and locating the ball in certain types of rough.
Is TaylorMade SpeedSoft good in the wind?
Its relatively low-spin characteristics can help reduce excessive ballooning, although actual wind performance depends heavily on the golfer’s launch conditions.
Is SpeedSoft longer than TP5?
Not universally. TP5 is a premium performance ball with a much more sophisticated construction. SpeedSoft’s achievement is providing competitive distance for its target golfer at a much lower price and dramatically softer feel.
Is SpeedSoft better than Callaway Supersoft?
Neither is universally better. Both occupy a similar soft-feel/value category. Direct testing is the best way to compare their feel, flight and distance for your game.
Final Verdict: Should You Play TaylorMade SpeedSoft?
TaylorMade SpeedSoft succeeds because it understands its target golfer.
This isn’t a golf ball trying to convince a scratch golfer to abandon TP5.
It isn’t trying to produce maximum wedge spin.
And it isn’t trying to win a Tour ball technology contest.
Instead, TaylorMade asked a much more practical question:
Can we make an extremely soft golf ball that still provides enough speed and distance for the everyday golfer—and sell it for around $25?
The answer is:
Yes.
PWRCORE allows TaylorMade to push compression below 50 while retaining surprisingly useful full-swing performance.
The ionomer cover provides:
- Excellent durability
- Low spin
- Affordable manufacturing
- Consistent performance
And SpeedSoft Ink gives the product something many golf balls completely lack:
personality.
The compromise is short-game spin.
There is no escaping that.
When you move from driver and full irons to 30- and 50-yard wedge shots, a premium urethane ball will generally provide considerably more friction and stopping power.
The question is whether you actually need it.
For a 20-handicap golfer losing two balls per round, the difference between:
$25/dozen
and
$55+/dozen
is substantial.
And if that golfer isn’t routinely playing high-skill checking pitches, paying twice as much for additional wedge spin may make little practical sense.
That is why SpeedSoft is such an interesting ball.
It doesn’t provide everything.
But what it does provide is extremely well matched to the golfer it was designed for.
Buy TaylorMade SpeedSoft If You:
✅ Love extremely soft feel
✅ Have a slow-to-moderate swing speed
✅ Want good distance without premium pricing
✅ Prefer relatively low driver spin
✅ Want a durable golf ball
✅ Lose several balls per round
✅ Are a beginner or high handicapper
✅ Prefer a muted putting feel
✅ Like the distinctive SpeedSoft Ink graphics
✅ Don’t require Tour-level wedge spin
Look Elsewhere If You:
❌ Need maximum greenside spin
❌ Regularly play low checking pitches
❌ Want Tour-level iron and wedge control
❌ Prefer firm, responsive feel
❌ Have a high swing speed and prioritise maximum ball velocity
❌ Regularly play very firm greens
❌ Want a premium urethane cover
TheRightGolfBall.com Verdict
Overall Rating: 4.3/5
Feel: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Distance: 4/5
Greenside Spin: 2.5/5
Best For:
Budget-conscious recreational golfers with slow-to-moderate swing speeds who prioritise extremely soft feel, useful distance and durability over maximum greenside spin.
SpeedSoft isn’t a budget TP5.
It shouldn’t be.
It is something arguably more useful:
a golf ball designed specifically around the priorities of the everyday golfer.
And for even more information the right golf ball for your game then make sure and try out our golf ball selector app which will help you narrow down the best golf ball for you.
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