New 2023 Wilson Duo Soft Golf Ball Review
This year Wilson released a new version of their softest golf ball. They are not just saying it is soft, they are claiming it is “the world’s softest golf ball”. The ball’s first version was initially released in 2011, meaning it has been around for some time. The new 2023 Wilson Duo Soft golf ball review will let you know how it was to play the newest version.
According to Wilson, the Duo Soft had a 35 compression a couple of years ago. This edition came out a touch firmer, with a compression of 40, again according to Wilson.
The ball has a core that is specially formulated for maximum energy return. What that should result in is a longer distance and an easier launch with less effort.
The official website also states that no other ball can match the soft feel of Duo Soft. That is a very bold claim to make. We will see if there is any truth to that. Additionally, this ball is engineered for fast ball speed and low driver spin. That combination should create a straight and long ball flight. We all know that ball manufacturers like to make all sorts of claims about their products. Sometimes they are a bit exaggerated and sometimes they are real. Therefore, let’s see on which side the Duo Soft ends up.
Who Is This Ball For?
There is no simple answer to this question, no matter what you hear. In theory, this ball should suit the best golfers with slower swing speeds. But it is never that straightforward, is it? Let’s say it is going to suit you better if you are somewhere in the slow to medium swing speed range.
Again, it depends on what you are looking for in a ball. If you prefer a softer feel, this ball could also work for you. In case the distance is what makes you happy, it could be a decent option as well. Also, it is a very good option for bargain hunters. This ball’s price is hard to beat by any competitor in the same category.
Let me also tell you in what case you should probably look past the Duo Soft. If your swing speed goes beyond medium and falls into the fast category, you might not get enough out of the ball. Furthermore, if you are looking for more spin on wedge and iron shots, you won’t get that either.
PROS
- Distance
- Price
- Soft Feel
- Straight Flight
CONS
- Low Wedges and Irons Spin
- Not Suitable for Fast Swing Speeds
On the Green
The experience I had with this ball on the putting surface was the best of all game segments. To start with, it felt very soft on each stroke. The feeling did not change for long or short putts, it was consistent. Controlling the distance turned out to be a not-so-challenging task. It did not take me long to adjust to stroking it.
When it comes to holding the line, the ball did a decent job. This goes both for long and short putts, whether I stroke it harder or softer. I have noticed that I was reaching the hole or going past it on most occasions. For that matter, it was happening more often than during my typical round. Finally, the alignment arrow did a decent job of helping me align the putts.
Around the Green
Chipping was a bit of a mixed bag with this ball. Let’s start with the feeling. As you can already guess, the ball felt very soft upon contact. No matter if the chips in question were bump-and-runs or higher trajectory ones. On higher chips, the ball would pop up in the air with ease, no matter how close to the green.
Overall, the short game was decent. However, there was one thing that I did not enjoy much. There is a very noticeable lack of greenside spin. I am perhaps being a bit too strict here. Understandably, it is not meant to have a lot of greenside spin, but I am just being honest with my opinion here.
Approach Shots
Again, because of the fact I do reviews on a par 3 course, every shot is an approach shot. Where do I start from? For someone who enjoys striking the ball, I have to say I did enjoy striking this one. There are a few positive things I have to point out. Firstly, it felt soft on each strike, in a good way.
The flight trajectory was high on average, exactly how the engineers had envisioned it. And, yes, it did go a long distance. However, at the same time, I had a slight issue with that. Most of the time it would go a bit too long, which led to it landing on the back of the greens. For some reason, I struggled with distance control, just couldn’t get a hang of it.
What the consequences of that were, most of the time the ball would just roll off the green. Even with the higher flight trajectory, it would not hold the green if landed too far back. Here is where I noticed the lack of spin the most. When I managed to land it around the front or middle of the green, it would be fine. But that happened only on a few occasions.
Durability
I have to say I am slightly disappointed with the durability. This does not mean whatsoever that the ball did terribly, but it maybe did a bit worse than expected. After one round on a par 3 course, it had a few marks and a couple of scuffs on the cover. The marks were mostly fine, but the scuffs did not look nice. Maybe it is just me, but I would expect a bit more in this department.
Appearance and Price
When it comes to appearance, this ball looks just average. It has the classic Wilson Staff logo above the “Wilson” writing, with the number in red below. The alignment arrow looks a bit too simple compared to other competitors. As far as Wilson golf balls go, I like the Triad appearance better than this one.
Here is a strong suit for this ball, its price. In the 2-piece ionomer cover category, it is hard to beat it. Additionally, these balls often go on promotions where you can get a good deal. Besides the classic white, the ball comes in yellow, green, orange, and red colors. This kind of variety with the price is a good combination.
Final Verdict
To summarize, this ball gives a decent value for money. No matter if you are a beginner, like a soft feel and long distance, or just a deal hunter, this ball could be for you. It will not give you a ton of workability, but it can suit you well if you simply want to enjoy golfing. For the price, you might as well just give it a try.
