A few months ago, a group of forum members got a chance to head to California and more specifically Callaway Golf HQ for a trip of a lifetime. During that visit, they learned about the new Chrome Soft line of golf balls and immediately put them into play. Since that time the reviews have been posted on the THP Forum and you can read all of those here.
The Chrome Soft hits retail today and we wanted to dive in a little deeper to not only the technology that makes them different, but also what golfers should expect to see on the golf course. We chatted with Jason Finley, Director of Brand and Product Management about the specs, the story and most importantly the expectations of performance.
THP: Chrome Soft has been a huge success over the last few years for Callaway. 2020 is a fairly large change to the product, can you summarize some of the biggest differences people will see over the previous generation?
Jason Finley: What is so exciting with the new Chrome Soft in particular is that we have taken a product that golfers love and made everything about it better. We have taken all that everyone loves and improved upon it by making it longer, more consistent and higher quality. The big key to this that made it all possible is the investment we have made in our Chicopee ball plant. We would not be able to make the balls we are in 2020 without the improvements we have done in Chicopee.
THP: Both core and mantle have been redesigned, but for a lot of golfers, those changes are going to be seen rather than heard. What will they see from the new core and mantle while playing?
Jason Finley: The biggest key is that both balls will be faster but also each of the balls is designed to fit different types of golfers with more differentiation between our two balls than we have ever had. The different construction of having the mantle and core working together is what is going to drive not only the ball speed gains but also the total performance the two balls are providing.
THP: More spin around the green and less spin on full shots is the unicorn in some ways. Early testing by forum members says that Callaway has in fact nailed this. How different is it than previous offerings?
Jason Finley: This is all part of the optimization process that we are going through. Certain variables are so important to this – like the Larger inner core in the CS golf ball which is really helpful for that player type and the Dual Mantle working with the large single core in the CSX. It is also a part of our design philosophy for the Chrome Soft family of golf balls where we take more of an approach of stroked gain and how golfers who play each ball actually play the game and what they are looking for out of a golf ball.
THP: Recently a documentary aired on Callaway Golf and the Golf Channel talking bout the Chiopee plant. Learning about the investment being made over the last few years (yes years) has been staggering. How will this bring innovation and quality that is different than before?
Jason Finley: As we talked about before, all of these changes are not only allowing us to make a ball we have never been able to make before, but also dramatically improves the quality and consistency we are able to deliver in our golf balls.
THP: Callaway offers a lot of golf balls. Who do you think the Chrome Soft is best for?
Jason Finley: The vast majority of those who are BUYING golf balls are going to benefit most from Chrome Soft. It is going to be longer all around the golf course and provide tremendous spin and control around the green. The Chrome Soft and its lower compression will also be a more forgiving golf ball which will help to be longer around the golf course as a result of losing less speed on mishits.
THP: Triple Track, Truvis, White. How many choices exist for our readers?
Jason Finley: Depending on the ball, there are a lot of choices and we think that is good for golfers. Leading the way is Triple Track which is rooted in the science of Hyper Acuity and how our eyes work. This is aimed for the player to look for help with improving alignment. Truvis provides a unique visual alignment option for players looking for better focus and visibility and also some unique color combinations.
The new Callaway Chrome Soft hits retail stores today. Pricing is $47.99 per dozen. Are you going to try them? Have you tried them? Drop a note in the comments below and let us know your thoughts.
That CSX has checked up so fast on me that I’ve left myself short more often than not if I’m not being aggressive. I can play it to stop or roll out depending on how I align the face and position the ball in setup. I love this ball!
For a lower hitter like you, the spin and quick launch have to be nice. Well I mean that and you got to design your own, which is pretty cool.
This should be interesting.. I have played regular CS pretty much exclusively all of last year and just had great luck with it. Around the green it has more than enough spin to get hop and stop action. Durability is great on these balls.
Probably why I have 5 dozen sitting in the storage. Love the Truvis USA ball.
Back 9: Chrome Soft chicken wing – shot 38.
Clearly Chrome Soft is superior.
The 2018 ball didn’t win me over but the 2021 CSX has taken over in my bag
Curious why you choose CSX over CS?
I tried both at my last Club Champion fitting and the fitter recommended the CSX with the irons I had built (Orka RS10CB). In all honesty I think they were only a couple hundred RPMs different in spin for me. I like the softer feel of the CS in the short came and have several dozen of each that I put into play. I tend to get handsy with my irons and spin the ball too much which is why the fitter suggested the CSX.
Have you tried them with longer clubs or driver?
I haven’t looked at the numbers but I’ve played 2 rounds with each ball in similar (cold-ish) conditions and have the Arccos data. On average with driver the CSX is roughly 3 yards longer which isn’t anything. When looking at the best few drives with each there are 3 longer shots I can pull with both balls and the longest CSX ball is 10 yards longer than the longest CS ball. Averaging the longest 3 shots from each the top 3 CSX shots are just over 6 yards longer than the average of the top 3 CS shots. I don’t have a lot of data with fairways as I haven’t hit a ton in the 4 rounds I have played with these. I have hit a handful with the 2 hybrid with each and the best ball and the average with each are within 3 yards of each other. (longest ball with the hybrid comes from the CS). I feel I could easily play either ball and will continue to rotate between the 2 balls and watch the data.
Awesome stuff here
The next time I am there I am going to strictly range work to have more measurable distances. I have wanted to play golf the last few times.
These things are super spinny on full wedge shots. Long on drives. Didn’t get a good read on greenside play.
Feel is a ton better than last year’s.
I know some love the performance of the X version but I can’t get over how good the regular feels. I think I’m willing to give up a couple extra yards to get that feel across the whole bag.
Im with you on the regular as I love it. Depending on spin and speed, the X might be longer or not for a person.
I’m with you on this… I’d need to get on a monitor to rule one out
Good launch off the tee helps in the soft conditions, and the slightly softer feel is nice when its cold out.
I think that is part of it, feel is a definite important piece of which ball is chosen.
these were two well struck shots with the mystery ball I was testing
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these two are results with the CSX off the tee
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No contest imo.
Also I was a slow convert to the TripleTrack tech, but I’m a full on convert now. I had what was at least a 50’ putt for bogey on a par three and used TT to line up the putt. I will agree pace was as important as my line, but with TT helping me line up the putt I could concentrate on pace. I made the putt and @badolds was not surprised. TT is the real deal and it works.
Another thing I want to mention is the spin you can generate from this ball. The greens today were not receptive at all. Pretty hard and would take a special shot to hold anything. This was a pitch shot I hit from about 70yds and it one hopped and stopped. This same hole @badolds hit a similar shot and spun it off the green. Here is my result
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This was the same hole that @mikeg_74 nearly holed out from 70 yards I hit the same shot right up by the flag and zipped it back off the front of the green. When I play in wet soft conditions this problem becomes even worse with a few good shots per round ruined by spinning it back off the putting surface. This ball is so good for me otherwise it is a shame that I may have to move away from it. The 2020 Chrome soft performs about the same for me as the CSX except it is not quite as long off the tee and It does not bite quite as hard into the green which is good in my case. I cannot putt with anything other than a triple track ball and would miss it immensely on the tee box so its a two horse race between CS and CSX.
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This was a full pitching wedge that hit and ended up about a foot from the ball mark. I guarantee this shot with the CSX would have ended up farther from the hole and probably would be chipping instead of putting for birdie. I saw this same scenario all day with shots ranging from 70-170 yards, the ball hits and ends up close to the ball mark. I enjoy the feel of the Chrome Soft from driver thru putter. Other than the CSX being 5-10 yards longer from the tee and spinning more into the green they are interchangeable for me.
I will revisit the CSX in the hot dry summer months when the greens dry out and the extra spin will be helpful. I believe I am in the minority when it comes to creating too much spin on approach shots. If that is something that would help your game then I urge you to try the 2020 CSX.
However, if anyone wants some hot chicken Truvis, I did some product seeding around Swaneset Links course.
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Has anyone in here compared the CS line to the new ERC Soft?Just saw these aren’t availble until 2/25 ????I’m considering switching down so I can keep the TT which I love, but don’t grimace as bad each time I send one into the woods or the water
So I have seen two Social Media Posts about this ? and they have been quite complementary of it, one being from TXG.
Really interested to read about it.
Where can one purchase this? I didn’t think they were released yet?
I have a good supply of 2020 balls already so more than enough to start the season with.
Congrats man! Sounds like you may have found your gamer.
I haven’t seen those, but one of the store guys here had mentioned it a couple times. Were there any details in those posts, or just ‘it’s coming’ stuff?
It’s something that’s coming….Looks like some "Teaser" sleeves have made their way out to people.
I am super interested in getting my hands on this one!
I think the new tour ball launching soon (Junish, I think) is the CSX LS, so I doubt the 2020 CSX will go on sale, especially since they ran the big sale back end of November to December for $39.99/dozen.
The GMA guys have notes on it but obviously can’t say much right now besides…soon lol
yeah, i think you’re right. i don’t think it’s a replacement to csx, just a complement to their tour ball lineup. i love the csx so much, i just hate paying that much for golf balls. not a knock against callaway at all since most premium balls are in that range. just general b1tching by me haha
Yeah, I’m not a huge fan of paying that much either, but like you said pretty much all premium balls are in that range. I stocked up back when they had their sale for this year. Also very interested in the CSX LS. I love the regular CSX, but it its anything like the left dash, we going to be in business!
Yesterday I had a greenside chip shot and i caught the ball a groove low. Internally I thought it would run out but it hit the spot i wanted and while it looked like the result would be a thinned wedge shot, the ball checked and rolled right into the hole. Admittedly I got a little lucky, but the golf ball definitely helped me.
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Guess you pured that shot.
I had this happen with a ball I had used extensively for indoor club testing on GC Quad.