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Let’s face it, golfers who don’t quite have Tiger Woods’ swing speed often have to make a choice: distance or feel. Balls that feel buttery soft off the clubface tend to fall a bit short off the tee and long irons. Conversely, balls that rocket off the driver can feel like rocks on approach shots, making it tough to control distance and spin around the greens.

Enter TaylorMade’s SpeedSoft Ink golf ball, a lower-priced, low-compression ball that TaylorMade pitches as the best of both worlds: soft feel without giving up ball speed. This roundup is based on published hands-on reviews, including the National Club Golfer video below, rather than our own on-course testing.

First off, let’s talk looks. The Speedsoft Ink comes in a vibrant, multicolored design that’s definitely eye-catching on the tee box. But flashy looks don’t win you points if the ball doesn’t perform. Thankfully, TaylorMade claims they’ve packed some serious technology into this affordable offering.

The key here is the construction. According to National Club Golfer’s review, the SpeedSoft uses a two-piece ionomer design: a soft inner core under a firmer outer cover, one that NCG notes is a lot firmer than the urethane cover on TaylorMade’s TP5. Golf Monthly reports a compression below 50. Low compression is aimed at golfers with slower swing speeds who want a soft feel at impact without losing much ball speed.

So, how does it perform on the course? Off the tee, both reviewers saw a high ball flight. NCG’s tester said the ball “certainly flew high” and that even off-center strikes still produced quick ball speeds. Golf Monthly’s tester found it climbed and spun a little more than he expected for a ball labelled as mid-launch. He said it wasn’t the longest ball he had tested, but it was “no slouch.” If you already hit the ball high, keep that in mind.

Distance is nice, but can this colorful ball handle itself around the green? Expect less bite than a tour ball. NCG saw the biggest drop in spin with wedges, but called the ball “by no means uncontrollable” and still got it to check on approach shots. Its verdict: it “doesn’t equal a TaylorMade TP5,” but at this price you wouldn’t expect it to. As NCG points out, few mid-to-high handicappers are spinning wedges back to the flag anyway, so for many golfers the trade-off may not matter much.

Worried that a soft ball will feel mushy on the greens? Both reviewers describe the feel as very soft, and NCG’s tester said it felt “amazing” off the putter face. Golf Monthly’s tester, who prefers a firmer, “clicky” feel, said the soft feel wasn’t for him. If you like a firm-feeling ball, try a sleeve before buying a dozen.

All in all, the published reviews suggest the TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink is a sensible option for mid-to-high handicappers who want a soft, high-flying ball at a lower price than a tour ball. It won’t match a TP5 for greenside spin, and the splatter graphics won’t suit everyone. Golf Monthly notes that plain white and yellow SpeedSoft versions are also available.

Sources: National Club Golfer, TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink review (Feb 19, 2025); Golf Monthly, TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink review (Mar 13, 2024).