Budget balls still have a job. Supersoft versus Tour Soft — I compared the ones people actually finish, not the ones they lose and do not care about.
Not every golfer needs or wants a $54/dozen urethane ball. For recreational players, beginners, and golfers who lose a lot of balls, the budget two-piece category matters more than the premium tier. The Callaway Supersoft and Titleist Tour Soft are the two best-known options in this space, both built around low compression for easy distance and forgiving feel.
Callaway Supersoft
The Supersoft has been one of the best-selling golf balls in the world for years, and the reason is straightforward: it’s genuinely easy to hit far. The ultra-low compression core (38 compression, among the lowest in golf) compresses easily even for slower swing speeds, generating surprising distance for a ball at this price point. The ionomer cover keeps the cost down while still providing reasonable durability.
The trade-off is short game spin — the Supersoft doesn’t generate the greenside control of a urethane ball, so delicate chips and pitches will release more than a premium ball would. For full-swing distance and an easy, soft feel off the putter, it performs well above its price point.
Price: ~$22/dozen
Titleist Tour Soft
The Tour Soft is Titleist’s entry into the low-compression budget category, designed to bring some of the brand’s quality reputation to a more accessible price point. The compression is higher than the Supersoft but still soft relative to Titleist’s premium offerings, and the ionomer cover with a soft Tour Soft compression core produces a ball that’s forgiving without feeling cheap.
The Tour Soft’s greenside performance is a notch above the Supersoft — not urethane-level spin, but more controllable than the Callaway in delicate short game situations, which matters for golfers who are improving and starting to need more precision around the greens.
Price: ~$25/dozen
Head to Head
Distance: Callaway Supersoft. The ultra-low compression produces more distance for slower swing speeds specifically.
Short game control: Titleist Tour Soft, marginally. Better feel and control on delicate shots than the Supersoft.
Feel off the putter: Both are soft; preference is close to a coin flip.
Durability: Comparable. Both ionomer covers hold up well to regular play.
Best for: Supersoft for golfers who prioritize maximum distance and don’t need much short game spin — often beginners or golfers focused on getting the ball in play. Tour Soft for golfers who want a budget ball with slightly more short game capability as their iron and wedge play develops.
The Bottom Line
Both are excellent budget options that outperform their price point. The Supersoft is the more pure distance play; the Tour Soft gives up a little distance for a bit more short game feel. For most recreational golfers, either is a meaningful upgrade over generic range balls, and the price difference between them is small enough that personal feel preference should decide it.