There are many misunderstandings in the world of golf, but a common question is:

What aspects of golf ball development and production are consumers unaware of or misunderstand?

This is a common question for Dean, and today we have the answer:

1. Compression:
“People think they should play a low-compression ball to 'compress' it, but that's not true. All golfers compress the ball. Compression is just a design tool that helps us understand spin rates and has a small impact on the overall feel of the ball. Don't worry about compression; most balls today don't even have a rating because it's not important.”

2. Swing speed:
"In my opinion, players shouldn't choose a ball based on their swing speed. If someone chooses a lower compression ball for this reason, they're actually choosing a ball with a lower spin rate.

Think about it: If you can increase your ball speed by 0.5 mph with your driver, your 230-yard shot will now travel 231 yards. You gain only one yard (hopefully), but you now play the rest of the hole with a ball designed to have little to no spin.

And where do you need more spin? On the green! You need to choose a ball that suits your short game. Try various models within 70 yards, for chips, putts, etc. Then, forget about the driver. All of today's balls have a similar distance, but your shots on the green determine your score. Choose the ball that best suits your short game, not your tee shot.