Abstract: A pressure compensating valve spool for a hydraulic flow control valve, the valve spool being slidably positioned in the valve for movement from a neutral position wherein fluid will flow through the valve to operative positions in either direction to provide fluid communication from a fluid inlet passage to one of a pair of cylinder passages, the other of said cylinder passages being in fluid communication with a tank passage. The valve spool includes fluid pressure compensating members positioned within each end of the valve spool to vary the fluid flow rate to the cylinder passages, the fluid flow rate being varied to maintain a constant pressure differential between the pressure in the fluid inlet passage and the pressure of the fluid in the valve spool.