Your swing speed is about 85 mph. You aren’t the slowest swinging golfer, but you’re far from the hardest. At this point, you’re frequently asking yourself how to generate more distance, and aren’t afraid to do a little experimenting to find it.
Aside from costly club upgrades and even more money spent on lessons, there are small tweaks you can make to find that ten extra yards that makes getting home on every par 4 possible. The easiest? Finding the right golf ball, the best golf ball for moderate swing speed. Making this switch puts you in a place to succeed as you work out the other kinks in your game.
But where do you start your search for the best golf ball for 85 mph swing speed? You start here.
At A Glance: Our Top 6 Picks for Golf Balls For 85 Mph Swing Speed On The Market In 2024
- Best Golf Balls: TaylorMade Tour Response
- Runner Up 1: Bridgestone e12 Speed
- Runner Up 2: Vice Pro Soft
- Best Premium Golf Balls: Snell MTB Black
- Best For Short Game: Titleist Tour Soft
- Best Value Golf Balls: Srixon Soft Feel
IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
---|---|---|
Best Golf Balls | TaylorMade Tour Response
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Runner Up 1 | Bridgestone e12 Speed
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Runner Up 2 | Vice Pro Soft
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Best Premium Golf Balls | Snell MTB Black
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Best For Short Game | Titleist Tour Soft
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Best Value Golf Balls | Srixon Soft Feel
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Best Golf Ball for 85 mph Swing Speed: TaylorMade Tour Response
PROS
- Affordable
- Perfect 70 compression for 85 mph swing speeds
- Easy distance
- Lots of spin around the greens
- Three pieces
CONS
- Only two color choices
The TaylorMade Tour Response is the best golf ball for those with an 85 mph swing speed. The Tour Response is a 70 compression ball designed to help players get more distance and better feel.
As you may well know, TaylorMade has the TP5 line of golf balls that are designed to help players that need tour like performance. If your swing speed is around 85, chances are the TP5 series is going to be a poor fit for you.
What we love about the Tour Response is that you will get some of the very same benefits of the TP5 in a more affordable and extremely responsive golf ball.
The TaylorMade Tour Response has a much better spin than other similar golf balls on the market. If your chips need some helping sitting and staying on the green, this ball can help.
Another important factor with the Tour Response is durability. TaylorMade used a crosslinking chemical reaction technology when they created this ball.
It helps golfers that tend to cut the ball, and it also produces less drag as the ball flies through the air.
Overall you will have a hard time finding a better golf ball for the players in this category.
What customers think about TaylorMade Tour Response golf balls:
In terms of the best golf ball for 80-85 mph swing speed, you’ll see these are on the more expensive side. Golfers know this, but still choose to buy them over the over choices for a reason. When you’re talking the best golf ball for average swing speed, people are willing to spend a little extra cash for the Tour Response, citing the distance gained, feel around the green, and ability to shape the ball.
Runner Up 1: Bridgestone e12 Speed Golf Balls
PROS
- Active acceleration mantle
- Very high ball speeds
- Lots of roll from the driver
- Low drag
CONS
- Not our favorite for greenside performance
The Bridgestone e12 Speed is an excellent choice in the impressive Bridgestone golf ball lineup. Like many of the other balls that Bridgestone currently has on the market are the e12 Speed feature an Active Acceleration Mantle.
This is essentially a material used in the center of the ball that helps to increase ball speed and velocity as well. If you are looking for distance ball, this is one of the best golf balls to choose from.
The Bridgestone e12 Speed is a 75 compression ball that features the Delta Wing Dimple pattern. Delta worked with Bridgestone to help create a pattern on the golf ball that will fly through the air with much less drag and plenty of speed.
The fact that this ball so easily takes off from the clubface is the reason they called it the Speed.
Bridgestone is very serious about golf ball fitting. They create many different models of golf balls to appeal to all different swing speeds.
For golfers seeking distance that need a low spin off the tee, the Bridgestone e12 Speed is going to be the perfect choice.
What customers think about Bridgestone e12 Speed golf balls:
Distance and control. The average mid-handicap golfer reports that they have more success gaining distance and hitting fairways with the E12 Speed than they do the Tour B X or E6.
When you can keep the ball in the fairway and hit a 7-iron instead of a hybrid, your scores are lower. That’s the opportunity presented by the best golf ball for 85 mph swing speed Bridgestone has to offer. Pick the model that fits your game, don’t try fitting your game to a ball.
Runner Up 2: Vice Pro Soft Golf Balls
PROS
- 3 piece design
- Lots of spin and control
- Alignment lined
- Lots of distance for mid swing speed
- Durability
CONS
- Not the cheapest of the Vice golf balls
The Vice Pro Soft is a golf ball built for those with swing speeds less than 95mph. When a company specifically targets a swing speed, you know you will find exactly what you are looking for from the golf ball.
We like the performance from both the tee and the green with this medium compression golf ball.
The Vice Pro Soft is a three piece golf ball with a cast urethane cover. The cover on the ball is also very thin. With a thin cover, golfers will have much more control and flexibility around the greens.
This is one of the best golf balls for the better player with an 85 mph swing speed. Golfers that like to spin or work the ball around the green will find great success with the Vice Pro Soft.
On the Vice Pro Soft, you will see an alignment line that will help you set your golf ball down the right way each time. Whether you need a bit of help lining a ball up on the green or off the tee, the Vice Pro Soft can help.
In addition, you can purchase this ball in three different colors. All our years playing the game, the red golf ball still seems a bit hard to see; however, the neon lime is a great choice. You certainly won’t lose too many of those!
What customers think about Vice Pro Soft golf balls:
Vice is a brand golfers gravitate towards because they’re “fun.” With a wide selection of colored golf balls, players enjoy having their pick of red, green, blue, and other colors. Besides that, these seem to be a favorite of those with lower swing speeds than most. We like this as an option for golfers whose swings are slowing down, not new golfers who are improving each time out.
Snell MTB Black
Best Premium Golf Balls For 85 mph Swing Speed
PROS
- Urethane cover
- Great short game feel
- Mid compression balls
- Durable and soft
CONS
- Not as much spin on the green as we would like
Snell is not a name that you hear that much about when it comes to the best golf balls on the market. However, they have some really great choices if your game fits within their product offerings.
This Snell MTB Black is a tour caliber golf ball that is ready for both the green and the tee.
Snell keeps their marketing and their packaging simple, but their golf ball is filled with impressive technology. This is a three piece construction that has a urethane cover.
Of course, the Urethane is going to help get extra control and performance when hitting chips and pitches around the green.
Although the compression on this ball is about 7 % lower than the previous version, it is still a perfect match for those with an 85 mph swing speed. This lower compression helped players get a much lower spin off the tee and more distance on their drives.
A golfer with a swing speed of 85 mph does not have a slow swing. Of course, it is not quite tour level, but there is no reason that players with this speed can’t get tons of distance and ball speed.
The Snell is designed to bring out the best in your golf game.
What customers think about Snell MTB Black golf balls:
Consider yourself a weaker long ball, but great short game player? So do most of the people using Vice Pro Soft balls. Golfers like this as a ball they can control on all types of shots and spin around the greens. You don’t hear as much praise about this being the best golf ball for average swing speed off the tee, but you certainly do about for 100 yards and in.
Titleist Tour Soft
Best For Short Game
PROS
- Great short game spin
- Good feel with the short irons
- Nice distance off the tee
- Low drag
CONS
- Still only a two piece ball
If you have been around the game of golf for a while, you may remember the old Titleist NXT golf balls. The Titleist Tour Soft may remind you of this golf ball, but it has quite a bit more technology than the previous Titleist models.
One thing that is worth noting right off the bat is that the Tour Soft is a two piece golf ball. Typically speaking, for a golf ball to have excellent short game performance, it is usually three or more pieces.
The new cover on this Tour Soft sets this Titleist golf ball apart and makes it one of the best golf balls for the 85 mph swingers.
The Tour Soft has a large core built for distance; however, the new 4CE cover is ultra thin and extremely responsive.
This ball will give performance similar to the Titleist Pro V1 for those that don’t have the swing speeds necessary for true tour golf balls.
This is going to be one of the higher priced two piece golf balls on the market. However, when it comes to performance and scoring on the greens, the price is going to be worth it.
What customers think about Titleist Tour Soft golf balls:
For years, there were Titleist Pro V1’s and Titleist NXT’s. Back in 2018, Titleist rebranded the NXT line to Tour Soft. But, they’ve stayed true to the goal of providing a quality ball for the average golfer. After five years, they’ve made a few tweaks and settled in on a formula that pays attention to distance but really promotes control for average golfers. As a result, the Tour Soft is frequently described at the best Titleist golf ball for 85 mph swing speed.
The distance bump is there. However, the responsiveness and control from the rough is what separates this model from other balls designed for average swing speeds. No more running your ball through the green with an 8-iron. The oversized Fast Core and Thin 4CE Grafted Fusablend Cover gives you a fighting chance to stop the ball, from even the worst lies.
Some customers have found out the hard way that Titleist does in fact make different golf balls for different types of golfers. The is the best Titleist golf ball for 85 mph swing speed, not 110 mph. The soft cover that benefits many has an adverse effect on those with too hard of swing speeds. This group will damage the ball without hitting trees, cart paths, etc. Mid-speed swings work with this ball, top-speed swings do not.
Srixon Soft Feel
Best Value For 85 mph Swing Speed
PROS
- Great short game spin
- Medium compression
- Good for an average swing speed
- Low drag simple design
CONS
- Ball flight can get a little high
The Srixon Soft Feel is one of the best choices if you are looking for a value golf ball. The thing about the Srixon Soft Feel golf ball is that they are priced low, but they have a tremendous amount of performance.
Many low handicappers will admit to the Srixon being their back up ball if they run low on a tour golf ball in their bag. The Srixon really does a great job of emulating everything that a tour level golf ball does, even though it is just a two piece ball.
The Srixon is a medium compression golf ball that works for beginner golfers up to the seasoned veteran.
The low driver spin combined with the extremely soft feel around the greens truly make this soft golf ball one of the best choices in the game.
What customers think about Srixon Soft Feel golf balls:
If you’re in the 80-85mph swing speed crew, you’re always looking to add distance. The Srixon Soft Feel seems to be that missing piece. Some golfers report added control and better feel when putting, but the one thing that consistently comes up is distance. And no, not as a result of changes to their swing of anything of the sort, just the golf ball. The ball has a little more “pop” than most and you’ll notice it the first time you put one in play.
What to Look for When Buying Golf Balls For 85mph Swing Speed?
Now that you have the best possible choices for the 85 mph swing speed, it’s time to narrow down which of these is going to be the best for your golf game.
There are a few questions that are worth considering before you make your final decision.
Does Swing Speed Matter When Choosing A Golf Ball?
It is very important to choose a golf ball that matches with your swing speed. Golfers with a slower swing speed will not be able to compress a ball the same way that golfers with a faster swing speed can.
This will result in considerably less distance and come up short of what the player needs. Typically speaking, if you have a slower swing speed, you need a low compression golf ball. This will allow the golf club face to compress the ball and get better ball flight and distance as well.
You will know almost instantly if you start playing with golf balls that are not the right compression golf balls. They will likely feel hard and difficult to control.
Finding out your swing speed is easier than ever. Most local golf club retail stores will have a machine that will give you your driver speed within minutes.
What Is The Importance Of Low Spin Off The Tee?
Low spin off the tee helps players to get the distance that they need. With low spin, you can get your drives to roll quite a bit further when they land.
The low spin also helps to control ball flight a bit as well. If you are a player who happens to slice the ball and put side spin on it, the low spin can help straighten out your shots.
Hitting the golf ball straight off the tee is not easy. There is a tremendous amount of speed involved, and you need a ball that can help you manage and control your speeds to get the ball headed in the proper direction.
Around the greens, you are going to want a ball that has high spin rates. Sometimes golfers have to choose between distance and spin to find a ball that works for their game.
Does The Dimple Pattern On A Golf Ball Matter?
The more you shop for golf balls, the more you will see the emphasis that is placed on the dimple pattern of the ball. Every company on the market comes up with a different dimple pattern that they think will benefit their customers.
You may have heard of the Callaway Hex dimple. These are hexagonal shaped dimples on the golf ball. Other companies will use a dimple in dimple technology. The idea behind the responsive dimple pattern is that it can help players to have less drag and more lift on their golf shots.
The proper dimple pattern reduces the impact of wind and keeps the ball cutting through the air and on its track to the hole.
You will have a challenging time choosing a golf ball based on the dimple pattern alone. Choose something that has a dimple pattern designed to correct the weaknesses in your game.
What Is The Difference Between A Premium Ball and A Value Golf Ball?
A premium golf ball and a value golf ball are often priced considerably differently. Premium balls are usually over thirty-five or forty dollars, and the value balls tend to be quite a bit lower.
Some golfers swear they can only use tour level balls, and others will only use the value type.
The biggest difference that you will notice between these two types of balls is the number of pieces. The more pieces a golf ball has, the more expensive it is going to be.
By adding extra layers to a golf ball, it adds feel and it adds spin to the shots. This is what makes it possible for players to get the performance that they need.
For instance, if you look at a two piece TaylorMade golf ball or the five piece TP5, you will notice a large difference in price. The TP5 gives golfers tons of feel and spin around the green, but it is not easy on the wallet.
Depending on the type of golf rounds you play, and how determined you are to score low, the premium ball could be a good investment.
For the most part, you won’t see that much of a difference between premium and value type golf balls unless you are a low handicapper.
What Golf Ball Brands Have the Best Reputation for Golfers with a 85 mph swing?
Someone once told me this about TV’s. You’re better off getting a premier model of a lesser-known brand than you are a lower-level model of a top brand. I think this is true for golf balls.
Brands like Snell and Srixon live in this mid-tier level. They are reputable brands and cater to the person looking for the best golf ball for 80-85 mph swing speed. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Finding a company where you’re the target demographic? The person who they’re designing their products for?
This is not to say the big dogs like Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway don’t do a great job providing golf balls for those with average swing speeds. They do. It’s just that Snell and Srixon are doing everything they can to elevate the games of average golfers everywhere. That counts for something.
If you’re looking for a little more variety, we’ll throw Bridgestone and Vice into the mix too. They both make great golf balls for those with moderate swing speeds but are also trying to grow their imprint in the tour-level golf market.
What are Some Budget Options for Golf Balls for a 85 mph Swing?
For budget options, Srixon and Bridgestone jump out immediately. With each company producing tour level balls as well, they keep a decent price gap between their best golf ball for 80-85 mph swing speed and the balls they produce for low handicappers.
The one thing we need people to understand is that there is a big difference between the cheapest golf ball and best budget golf ball. If we wanted you to have the cheapest golf ball, that’s an easy recommendation. But we’re interested in golf balls where their value exceeds their price instead.
The Srixon Soft Feel and Bridgestone E12 are both quality balls that can be used by a wide variety of golfers, most likely with swing speed spread of 75-95. Adding to that, lesser skilled players will have an easier time controlling them than most models. Going deeper, more skilled players will be able to manipulate these two choices more than other options at the same price point.
Which Golf Balls Should Be Avoided If You Have a 85 mph Swing?
Do not fall into the trap of more expensive is better. Unlike with many things, you do not want to use what the pros are using if you’re an average amateur. Avoid the Titleist Pro V1, Titleist AVX, TaylorMade TP5, Callaway Chrome Soft, Bridgestone Tour B, and anything else geared towards players with swing speeds over 100mph.
These are the great balls. They just aren’t the ones for you. There are too many good choices when you’re talking about the best golf ball for 85 mph swing speed to fall in the trap that is buying the best stuff if you are not the best player.
Don’t buy blade irons if you struggle with consistent contact and shot shape. Don’t play the tips if you aren’t going to break 80. Don’t buy tour golf balls if you swing 85 mph. The alternatives to each of these will suit you better long term and you will have more fun.
Conclusion
When you find a golf ball that works for your game, it can truly help you save strokes. All of the years I have spent playing in golf tournaments, I rarely changed the golf ball I played.
Finding something that works with your swing speed, committing to it, and learning how to use it are very important ways to succeed.
For golfers with an 85 mph swing speed, the TaylorMade Tour Response is the best golf ball. You will get plenty of distance, great feel, and incredible spin from this three piece golf ball.
Don’t hesitate to give these golf balls a try this year; you will be pleasantly surprised by the performance they offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you increase your swing speed if it is 80-85 mph?
Golf is a funny game. Some people swing hard naturally, and others do not. But, for the time being forget that.
Increasing your swing speed is an issue you can look at from multiple angles. Immediately, improving your physique is a great place to start if you want to increase swing speed. Getting more flexible provides the ability to rotate without giving up balance. Being stronger is just that. A stronger person can exert more targeted energy with less effort.
The real hack for learning to swing harder? Take lessons and improve your mechanics. Too often you’ll see golfers wasting energy and movement in their swing that prevents them from generating swing speed. It’s an expensive endeavor, but taking lessons is a proven commodity.
A golf professional will make a major impact in building a swing that improves as you do. And contrary to popular belief, that might mean making your swing smaller and shorter. There are way more golfers that succeed with a swing like John Rahm’s than John Daly’s.
If you’re looking for the best results? Combine all these things together. Work out, stretch, and let a professional guide you through the mechanics. This will enable you to increase your swing speed and add distance with every club, no matter your ball choice.
Are premium tour-level golf balls suitable for an 85 mph swing speed?
To put it simply, not really. Premium tour level golf balls are designed for golfers with swings speeds over 100 mph. Anyone using them with a lower swing speed less will not reap the full rewards they offer. Tour-level balls won’t really hurt you, but with a better alternative, why would you want to play them?
Getting a bit more technical, a golfer is unable to compress the golf ball to the point they’re optimized for. It even goes the other way too. A tour-level player using a golf ball designed for golfers with low swing speeds loses significant distance and control.
Golf ball manufacturers have advanced to the point where there is a golf ball for everyone. Take advantage.
For those with swing speeds in the 80’s, you’re luckier than you realize. Most of the best golf balls for average swing speeds are cheaper than the tour-level models from the same company. In other words, that ball you sliced into the trees only costs $3.50 instead of $5.00…not that it’s much comfort.
Related articles:
The 7 Best Golf Balls For 95-100 Mph Swing Speed