I'm reading about an increasing number of players who are still confused about golf ball selection. "I can't compress a Pro V1" or "I don't have the swing speed for a Pro V1x."

Forget swing speed as a way to select a golf ball. There are really only two types of golf balls - those covered with Urethane (that spin more) and those covered with Surlyn (that spin less). When they were introduced in the early 1970's, Surlyn covered golf balls were marketed correctly as balls that would not cut - as opposed to Balata covered balls. Some of you may remember teeing off with a DT Titleist (less spin, more durable) and then replacing it with a Titleist Balata ball (more spin) for your approach shot. 

Around the turn of the century, golf ball manufacturers were trying to find a ball that would perform like Balata around the green and be straighter and more durable off the tee. When those balls finally arrived on the market they were three-piece urethane covered balls. Remember cally Rule 35? One version was marketed as firm feel (red dot) and the other was marketed as soft feel (blue dot.) Other manufacturers followed but none marketed their balls with swing speed as a selection tool.

If you were the #2 or #3 golf ball manufacturer and you wanted to sell golf balls you would need a hook - a reason with the veneer of truth to convince players to try your product. Enter swing speed. But I believe Fordie Pitts provides the absolute best advice when he recommends that you find a ball that performs for you around the green with your wedges and short irons and then fit your driver to that ball.