Last year Callaway launched the latest iteration of the Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X golf balls. Immediate feedback from golfers on the THP Forum suggested that both balls were high in performance to go along with the tech story. Today a third member of the family is here called the Chrome Soft X LS (CSX LS).
Despite what is mentioned around the internet, distance is not just pure speed. That is one component of what you are looking for in a golf ball to create maximum length and consistency. Spin, launch angle and a number of other factors are included in this equation as well. For many golfers, choosing a ball starts at the green and works backwards, and while that equation works just fine, the difference between golf balls with full swings differ quite a bit (we saw 10 yards with an 8 iron). We tested this out in a recent video you can find here.
The Callaway golf ball line was already fairly robust, and at the top of that lineup was the Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X. On one end of this two ball spectrum you have low spin off the tee and solid speed and spin around the green, while on the other end of the spectrum you have one of the fastest golf balls on the market that is also higher in spin. Enter Chrome Soft X LS.
The Chrome Soft X LS is a 4-piece single core construction that is in some ways a compromise between the two. Although compromise is probably not the right word since there were no compromises used to create the CSX LS. What this offers is speed. Very fast speed while also maintaining low spin.
Large SoftFast core was designed to deliver high speeds, but not just with the driver, throughout the bag. The mantle layers are fairly unique in that the inner mantle is quite soft, while the outer mantle is more firm and together they create…you guessed it, SPEED! The CSX LS is then wrapped in a very thin urethane cover that in our testing is pretty darn durable.
As faster swinging golfers search for distance without the increase in spin, the CSX LS delivers that, yet makes no compromises around the green. Is low spin and distance throughout the bag necessary for everybody? No. In fact, many golfers will fit squarely into Chrome Soft or Chrome Soft X in the Callaway lineup. This third option is best suited for better players that are looking for spin reduction on full swings, especially with longer clubs such as off the tee, without losing control green side.
For those that wonder about the usage breakdown, it goes something like this. Chrome Soft is the number one selling tour ball from Callaway. Chrome Soft X is their most used ball on tour. While Callaway expects most tour pros to stay with Chrome Soft X, the initial conversion to CSX LS by a few has already taken place. Marc Leishman, Akshay Bhatia and Wesley Bryan all have made the switch to the lower spinning option.
Which one of the three options is best suited for you? Give us your thoughts below.
The Details
In Stores: March 18th, 2021
Cost: $47.99
Options: White, Triple Track and Yellow with Triple Track
I haven’t been able to use this ball yet but my buddy has played a couple rounds with it and his biggest criticism is the durability. Outside of that he seems to really like the ball so far.
@JohnnyCallaway is that you
Really good video. Lots of good information on expectations in a really informative and easy to understand delivery. Wunder was stroking a few of the drives too. Fun.
I’ll go ahead and be the Richard who points out that they showed an on screen data figure for every individual club-ball combination EXCEPT the LS with the wedge. Because this is the internet and regardless of if the other 99% of the video is solid, people will notice, find flaw, and pretty much invalidate the entire thing based on that.
it is interesting that the majority of the tour guys are play the standard x from what I have heard. But they are attacking tight tucked pins all day.
Good video, Gerritt was my fitter when I was there. Great Guy.
I was kind of surprise that the spin on the regular CS was so low, he must have a really good upward attack angle.
It checks well around the green. That continues to surprise me. I’ve had some clipped short irons and wedges that had noticeably less green stop though, and one today hit mid ridge and everything else I play would have come back down. It didn’t. Fine in that situation, but noticably different.
So I bombed a drive through the fairway into a really hard kind of thin lie with a good angle to the pin from 74y but a helping breeze. Decided in the Live Round thread to really test it out with what I call a Nebraska dart. Really low shot that takes a ton of spin to stop.
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It nearly backed up. I can do that fairly well with most firmer urethane balls, but that was impressive.
They’re a little hard. I noticed it more with the putter today than the first couple times. Wouldn’t bother me with an insert though. They don’t sound awesome off some irons and can make a loud driver even louder. A bunch of friends have been playing these the last week or so though and really enjoying the benefits for their game.
I did hit a couple bombs with the Speed driver that made me giddy. Iron distances and feel were good. Check around the greens seemed pretty solid, and there was nothing unappealing to me about the feel off the WH OG 1ws putter. Two balls left in my test sleeve so it will be in play again this weekend.
What about it off the tee and with irons do you not like?
Not enough spin for me. It’s crazy obvious visually on some drives, and the iron spin isn’t ideal. Less than I need for the shots I play. I notice it on the softer greens, and on the harder ones it’s really different. Crosses over the playability line where effects are exponential. Just not the right fit. Nothing against it in general though. Seems like a left dash with a better cover. I saw a durability comment. I haven’t seen an issue there for me in small sample, and I chew through balls. I usually notice that. :confused2:
No worries i know not every ball fits everyone. I was just curious where it lacked for you personally. Someone with your game will notice it more than others..
Same here on that front. I haven’t had any issue with the durability. Been in sand, dirt, hit a tree or two and the ball rarely had much of a mark on it. I’ve put 36+ holes each on two different balls before I lost them and I had no issues.
CS is a forgiving ball that is quite low spin at higher RPMs. Fast, good around the greens. Forgiving is the key
CSX is your ball for the players that like to move it around. Fast, optimal spin for workability and really soft around the greens.
CSX LS is low launch low spin but still has plenty of spin around the greens. Especially if you are a player that likes to play with loft around the greens IE higher softer.
I usually play AVX. I have a high ball flight and produce a good amount of spin. I found these to be 5-10 yds shorter and spun a LOT more on the greens. I was having to fly the ball much farther into flags due to the backspin they produced. Was getting between 8-12ft of backspin hitting wedges. Normally, with AVX, I’ll get a hit and stop or a backspin of a few feet.
These did not feel as soft around the greens as my AVX as well, though I feel the one-hop and stop was a little easier to produce. They putted fine, didn’t really have any opinion there.
I MIGHT consider using these in firm and fast conditions but I don’t see these taking a spot over the AVX or even Pro-V line.
So regarding your spin on the green comment, that is was these are designed to try to do (not saying they do for everyone). Callaway wanted to reduce the spin off of driver and full iron shots but try to keep the spin up around the greens which is why you’re seeing what you are there. They aren’t supposed to be super low spin across the board. At least that was the goal. The ball isn’t going to work for everyone, as others in this thread have shared. So I’m glad you have the AVX to keep working for you!
Yeah I definitely think it’s a feast or famine situation. Either it’s great for you or it’s not a good fit. I’m excited to get some on-course testing shortly.
I think I fall into this category. I was a higher spin player and needed to get that down. I went with the Epic Max LS Driver and I am really getting it going. The Callaway selector for me said regular Chrome Soft ball ( which I have played and liked ) but I had already picked up a dozen Chromesoft X LS to see how they would work not only in general but with the driver. My game is not at the point where I think I would notice a significant difference off irons or around the green or chipping as I know many of the very good players here can feel and see because of where their games are but I absolutely can tell the difference off the driver. This weekend I used them and some 2021 ProV1 X’s and Taylormade TP5X’s but even before we finished the front I knew the Chromesoft XLS was the ball for me. Its still in the forties/fifties here and the fairways are soft so not getting a lot of roll (but surprisingly im not getting my usual this time of year plugs or drives landing and going back a foot. Im still getting some roll and summertime distance. Cant wait to hit this driver with these balls in warm weather and good conditions. And they feel great off irons and putting as well. Like the new line of drivers I think as you said these balls are great for some and for others not a good fit but there is a ball for everyone. I think that is part of the beauty of the evolution of club and ball design the right fit is out there you just need to find it.
Around the green, I’m finding this to play very similar to the csx. It feels firmer no doubt. But, I’m hitting similar shots between them. Heading out into the 100 yard range, I’m seeing the same thing. Very similar performance. Off the tee, I feel like the csx ls is really hot off the driver. But, as a low spin player and just visually going off of what I’m seeing, it may be too low spinning off the driver for me. But, as the season goes on and I get more comfortable after 5 months off, I hope to see that change.
I needed to pick some balls up today. They had the csx and csx ls in stock. I went with what I know for now. But will continue to put the ls in play here and there and do a better test later this spring.
I’m interested in hearing what other AVX players have to say about this ball because, for me, this ball is closest a competitor has come to replicating the performance of the AVX for my game. I would have to play them side by side to definitely say one is better for me than the other, but I would happily put the LS into play.
Plus I like the triple track alignment feature. Can’t say it makes me any better but I do like it. ?
I thought it would be. I actually gave it another chance this weekend. I put it in play for a few holes and it just wasn’t for me. Again, this is not saying it won’t work for someone else wonderfully, it just didn’t meet the expectations I had for them (probably unfair on my part). I was excited, because I like callaway and I wanted to experiment with the triple track stuff.
I did ask him about ball as well. I’m generally a high spin player, and though I don’t have high club head speed, I never truly liked the Chrome Soft.
He immediately recommended the LS, which is great because that’s what I have been playing and have so far enjoyed.
Felt real good to know that a third party validated what i thought. ?
The ball is truly long off of irons for me. I don’t see much difference with driver, though. The challenge that I would have with it is the feel off of the putter. It feels so hard and clickie. I don’t know if it is the sound, but I also kept leaving it significantly shorter than the Pro V1s I had out as well. I thought that this could be a dream ball for me, but I don’t think that it is a good fit.
Do you find them to feel the same as the AVX?
Hard to say for sure since I didn’t have them side by side. LS a little firmer maybe?
To me, the AVX is much much softer feeling.
Thanks, from all the comments here saying the LS is a bit firm that’s what I was thinking. I find the AVX to feel fairly soft
They really are on two ends of the spectrum.
Yeah, they’re not really close. Potentially good alternatives to each other for someone who doesn’t like the feel of one though.
I thought you played left dash? I would think you’d like the LS, possibly better than them, if you’re still using them at all.
I was trying to find a ball to play all year and hold off using the Left Dash until the weather got warmer. That great drive on 17 reminded me so much of Left Dash. The other players in the foursome asked where that ball was all round. Thinking of picking up some Yellow LS on Amazon.
That would definitely make sense, given its spin profile.
It has been windy here so far and hitting a high ball with too much spin this time of year has been a killer for me. So far between the Chrome soft ls and the Epic Max LS driver they have made a huge difference for me. Cant wait for some good weather to see how this combo performs.
These balls are no joke for me…..they go straight and FAR off the tee. Doesn’t matter if it’s my 6 iron or my Driver I’m seeing huge increases in distance. Not just 5 yards but when struck well almost 20 yards.
But the best thing is that I’m not experiencing a big difference in my ability to hold greens from under 175 yards. I do notice a difference around the green but again not as much as I would have thought.
I have about 5 rounds with the LS, I’m going to keep teeing them up for at least another 5 rounds. I’ve liked the results so far except for the first round. I kept hitting it too far and put myself in bad spots. I know better now and my scores have improved.
Order a dozen yellow LS with Callaway Reward Dollars I had.
The posts here remind so much of Left Dash.
The benefit of LS is that I can get it in Yellow….
Lower spin than the Super Soft would be something