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.
I got one out to somewhere between 270-280yds on Saturday (slightly uphill in damp conditions and based on yardages on my watch from the tee and subsequent distance to the green on a straight par 4) and was very happy with it
300yd drive is a very rare occurrence for me with my physical limitations, so don’t be posting all these big numbers and making us normal people feel bad
Seriously. It was hard to tell. I’d love if someone had captured my reaction, but I feel an exchange coming on.
That makes sense because the X spins more. I will be trying the CSXLS after this weekend.
I don’t ever have to worry about "zipped…back off the green" because I just don’t spin the ball much. Normally even a urethane ball will release forward slightly on all my shots when the greens are firm.
That said, a few times lately I’ve thought the Chrome Soft X was "zipping back" a lot after a full wedge shot. When I get to the green the ball has come back maybe a foot, foot and a half from the ball mark. Or sometimes it has just spun sideways a foot or two, not backward.
It’s kind of like my buddy who hits a big ol’ hook on just about every shot. If he accidentally hits one straight he says that’s his version of a slice. I’m so used to the ball bouncing forward, when it spins back 6" it feels like I’m backing the ball up like Greg Norman in his prime.
How do you feel the CSX compares to the Tour B XS?
I love the CSX, but my usual place doesn’t have them in stock, so I was considering the Tour B XS for a change (and they are slightly cheaper)
For me it’s as long as the B X everywhere, but offered the spin of the XS that I love into the greens.
I’ve been thinking about this trial move for a long time now, It’s just a hard move for me to make….
this is the main reason I have stayed on CSX. The distance I am seeing off the driver and irons compared to CS is hard to explain. I have never have a ball make that much difference for me. I don’t spin wedge/short game shots much, so the extra spin helps me a lot. Many said it’s firm off the putter, but honestly I think that is more the face/insert than the ball imo.
I have been the same, but in the other direction, so I might pick up a dozen of the B XS to try and then assuming I like what I see, I can have them as a backup option if I can’t get the CSX
So plan could be to use the Chrome Soft and Tour B RXS during the winter months when the greens are softer, then switch to the CSX and Tour B XS when things firm up again
It’s pretty wild honestly, the distance thing is real, and it’s tangible….and it blows my mind.
Oh heck, I forgot winter is coming, I’ve not even thought on winter golf balls hahaha
The CSX is just so good! I thought I would like the CSX-LS a little better, but after gaming the LS, the regular CSX is just a tad better for me. A little softer and just see a few more benefits overall.
Well here in the UK, September can be a very mixed month…..we had 25°C at 7pm last night whilst out on the course, then woke up this morning to rain and about 13°C when I left for work
Just go all in on the Chrome Soft and get the X version for the warmer months and the standard one for the winter – problem solved
Ponder approved. Do it, and report back.
Do the dang thang!!!
The Chrome Soft X has been my every-round ball for several months now and I like it. But the last few rounds I’ve had a handful of spin-back shots from, say, 80-90-100 yards when I go ahead and hit a full wedge instead of taking an extra club and swinging 3/4. Several feet of spin-back a couple times. Not quite Tour B XS crazy 9-iron spin but still more than I’m used to.
I don’t think it disqualifies the Chrome Soft X for me, I still find the overall performance very good. But it’s the only ball in recent years other than Tour B XS that does anything other than roll forward or stop where it lands. The spin-back thing weirds me out even if it’s just once every few rounds.
I vote CSX. In a landslide.
Seconded
Why didn’t you share this information with me? ?
This hurts my feelings! ???
Did you miss 2020? Only ball I played for that year. Right now I am on some ball testing but the CS is a great ball.
Actually I transitioned from Srixon q star tour into
Prov1x ……SQT didn’t spin enough around greens …..finding CS to give softness desired but no loss of distance or greenside spin…..
Only downfall with the light yellow on the eat ball is seeing it in the deep fescue around the green. The ball just doesn’t track as good as a yellow black travis ball.
View attachment 9027031
View attachment 9027032
View attachment 9027038
I think this is really cool. I also wonder what tolerance defines centered or not. The only people really testing, who kind of caught them napping back when, use ‘significant concentricity issues’ as their criteria. Whatever that means. And have said they haven’t found the old issues with any of the new stuff.
It seems pretty easy to tell which side of each though. I added super dramatic drawings to it to show.
Looks pretty good. Speckled. I like that.
*NOT dogging them, just talking. My last truck bed was noticably tilted, but ‘within tolerances’. And as someone whose work needs be pretty precise, I’m always curious what those tolerances are in things.
No idea as to tolerances. I don’t think/feel like performance was effected at all today. I used that ball for 18 holes. Cover durability is great for me being a slower swinger and sweeper.
Yeah I can’t imagine it would be enough to affect anything.
I’m playing CSX in the morning with the wife and a friend. Convinced him to try it after a while and he loved it today. He had been playing the LS since it came out and I didn’t think it was quite the right fit for him with how he’s swinging now. Going to be hard and fast so should be a good test.
That’s interesting, what made that change from what I thought was the BX line?
I adore the XS, and the whole B lineup, but the more I test, the more I see the CSX offers the same greenside spin as my XS, but it’s a noticeable amount longer.
This sounds familiar, and similar to what I’ve noticed as well. The CS isn’t a slouch around the greens by any means either!
The CSX remains the longest golf ball I’ve tested. It’s wild.
It’s such a good ball. It and the Snell MTB-X are the longest for me. Very similar characteristics as well.