Compression is probably the most misunderstood measurement in golf ball design.
Many people have no idea of what compression is and what it means. In the early days of golf, the term compression was originally used as a measurement for golf ball quality. It was actually used to reference the tightness of the windings around the center core of a three piece ball - the tighter the windings, the better the ball performed. This created a long-standing perception that compression affects golf ball distance and performance. Because golf ball technology uses newer heat-resistant threads with newer and better winding equipment for three piece balls, golf ball compression has become merely a condition of feel.