The Soft Feel has what Srixon calls a “Soft EGG Core” – softer than the regular EGG core. The Soft Feel is a 2-piece ball with a “highly elastic” ionomer cover and 410 dimples.
We have been hitting and playing this ball a great deal of late. It is included in an upcoming comparison review of seven, low-compression balls. In that ongoing shootout, we have been hitting the Soft Feel against the Precept Laddie, the Maxfli Noodle, the Pinnacle Gold Distance Senior, the Wilson Spark. The Top Flite XL 3000 Super Feel and the Titleist SoLo. It is still too early to predict the winner of this extended shootout, but it is not too early to tell that no ball in the group is more likeable than the Srixon Soft Feel. This is one enjoyable ball to hit and play. (Check back in later in the season for final, shootout results.)
Like the Hi-Brid Tour, the Soft Feel has exquisite feel as one of its primary playing virtues. As is also the case with its more expensive sister, this ball leaves the clubface with a very sweet, little click that is simultaneously soft and responsive. It flies with a nice sense of energy.
The other primary virtue of the Soft Feel is its ability to produce fine distances for slower swing speed players. Overall distances in our shootout, and during play, have been quite good with the Soft Feel. It does not very often produce the ultra-long hits that some low compression balls can generate, but average distances have been first-rate. It may not win the softball distance shootout, but according to our results to date, it will not be very far from the lead.
The Soft Feel is a good, consistent performer that likes to fly straight. Its trajectories have been very appealing. This ball flies relatively flat with very fine penetration. Into the wind, it has done quite well. The Soft Feel’s trajectory may be a shade low for those players who need more carry to achieve maximum distances. They will probably benefit from the higher-hitting Pro UR, or other soft-feel balls such as the Top Flite XL 3000 Super Feel. The 3000 has shown a much stronger inclination to produce high, long draws of maximum distances.
The Soft Feel, as with other super-soft and low-compression balls, will be selected by players who are looking for easy distance coupled to a soft feel. Such players are generally willing to sacrifice green holding ability for these attributes. The Soft Feel will hold a green better than many, harder distance balls, but it is a lively ball that is not designed to bite, grab or spin back. In side-by-side play against the other Srixon balls, the differences were obvious. Where wedges and approach shots will grab and bite with the others, the same shots will run quite a few feet with the Soft Feel. On soft greens, however, the Soft Feel is not too bad. It’s going to roll after landing, but it certainly won’t run hot or bound away like some other distance balls. Reasonably good flops shots and soft lobs are possible with the Soft Feel.
Summary
This is a fun ball to play. It feels great and flies lively. Trajectories are relatively flat and of moderate height. The Soft Feel will run on a green, but not excessively so. This is a sweet ball that works very well with lower swing speeds, but many faster swing players will like it, as well. We’ll have more on the Srixon Soft Feel later in the season.
