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Callaway upgrades new Chrome Soft golf balls

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Few golf balls in recent memory have created the buzz of Callaway’s Chrome Soft, a category buster that the company dubbed “the ball that changed the ball” when it was launched in December 2014.

A bold claim? Yes. It can be argued, however, that the Chrome Soft went where no golf ball had gone before. Its three-piece design merged a low-compression core, typical of distance balls, with a urethane cover used on higher-compression tour balls.

The idea was to offer golfers reduced spin with their long clubs, which would help them create more distance, while giving them increased spin with their short clubs to help them get up and down more often. Maybe the biggest difference between the Chrome Soft and its competitors, however, was its feel. With a compression of 65, the Chrome Soft felt softer than the best-selling tour balls on the market. Its popularity also wasn’t hurt by its price of $37.99 per dozen, which was $10 less than Callaway’s going tour-ball rate.

For all those reasons, we rewarded the original Chrome Soft with our highest honor, a 5-Star Rating in our official review.

chrome-soft-ball-side-2016

Two dots after “Soft” differentiate the new Chrome Soft from the original.

Callaway’s Senior Director of Golf Ball R&D, Dave Bartels, says the new Chrome Soft golf balls are better for everyone, but skilled golfers in particular will benefit from the ball’s new four-piece construction.

Callaway’s testing with its tour staff revealed that the Chrome Soft’s large, low-compression core could create inconsistencies for golfers with their short irons. For that reason, Callaway created a new Dual Core construction, which uses a slightly firmer outer core to help golfers hit their short irons more consistent distances.

chrome-soft-cutaway-2016

Callaway’s Dual Core is shown in yellow (inner core) and red (outer core).

According to Bartels, most golfers won’t notice a change between old and new, but for those with the skills to discern if it was their swing or their golf ball that caused their 9 iron to fly 140 yards instead of 137 yards, the new Chrome Soft will make a difference. Better players with PGA Tour-level swing speeds should also notice a little more ball speed from the ball’s slightly firmer compression of 75, which can lead to more driver distance.

The new Chrome Soft golf balls, which are manufactured in the United States, will be in stores February 5 and sell for $39.99 per dozen.

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26 Comments

26 Comments

  1. J.T. Parker

    May 11, 2016 at 1:59 pm

    I loved the Pro VI x but and have switched to the Chrome Soft just because I really can’t tell any difference in the balls and the chrome soft is 10.00 a dozen less. Both are long and both check up great on the greens. Is there really any difference in any of the premium golf balls? I doubt it.

  2. mizuno 29

    Jan 22, 2016 at 10:39 am

    I’ve tried the new ball as well, its been really cold here so I don’t know that it flies further with the driver or not. The biggest difference I saw was the spin off the wedges was much better, not as inconsistent in the spin around the greens either. Good ball!

  3. Brian K

    Jan 21, 2016 at 9:10 pm

    Tom Watson is using chrome soft soccer ball today in senior PGA.

  4. Lee

    Jan 20, 2016 at 2:25 pm

    I do hope it’s not like the Chrome, I loved the original 3 piece Chrome then Calli superseded it with the 4 piece Chrome + which I personally didn’t like at all. That said in the grand design of things none of them are bad balls.

  5. Jack Nash

    Jan 20, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    I switched from Pro V’s and have been quite happy.

  6. Andrew

    Jan 20, 2016 at 7:30 am

    It says new and improved on the box. McBoob, why are you so upset. It’s a friggin golf ball.

    • Fahgdat

      Jan 20, 2016 at 10:27 am

      Because it ought to say, new and “changed”

  7. Busty McBoober

    Jan 20, 2016 at 12:45 am

    I was pissed when they got rid of the hex chromes. I was used to them and liked using them. Then came the Chrome Soft, and now the Chrome Soft. You’re marketing people are out of names? Or more likely an admittance that the previous CS ball wasn’t as good as advertised? Who upgrades a product but calls it the exact same name with no indication on the box of the new product? Lame.

    • Vito

      Jan 20, 2016 at 10:48 am

      It’s been the pro v 1 since the 90s. It seems to work for the other guys

  8. Andrew

    Jan 19, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    When does the original come down in price?

  9. proshopboy

    Jan 19, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    I have been fortunate enough to trial the latest version of the Chrome Soft. I can confirm that the ball performs even better than its predecessor. It still has the great feel off the club face but the biggest difference I have noticed is, it flies a little further with the driver.
    For people that have been using the original version, I seriously doubt that they will notice a huge difference in terms of feel. All marketing garbage aside, it is a seriously good golf ball that will suit a ton of golfers.

    • Fahgdat

      Jan 20, 2016 at 10:26 am

      You just said that, Callaway boy

    • CubbieinNC

      Jan 20, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      Is there a difference in how it feels off of the putter? That is my gripe with that ball it feels too soft and mushy I prefer a click with it.

      • mizuno29

        Jan 28, 2016 at 9:49 am

        No it still feels mushy!

        • Geno

          Feb 12, 2016 at 7:02 pm

          It feels more mushy, actually. Callaway should bring back their milled putters to go with it.

  10. ComeOnSense

    Jan 19, 2016 at 3:25 pm

    So… the ‘Ball that changed the ball” now got changed again?!!!!!!!
    When it’s going to end, you guys at Callaway need to make an appointment with Dr Phil.,
    and i don’t mean Phil Michelson.

  11. golfshopboy

    Jan 19, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    I have been fortunate enough to trial the latest version of the Chrome Soft. I can confirm that the ball performs even better than its predecessor. It still has the great feel off the club face but the biggest difference I have noticed is, it flies a little further with the driver.

    For people that have been using the original version, I seriously doubt that they will notice a huge difference in terms of feel. All marketing garbage aside, it is a seriously good golf ball that will suit a ton of golfers.

  12. Jason

    Jan 19, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    Kinda sucks really, I just started playing this ball in October. I really liked the super soft feel and the extremely soft sound of the ball. Making it 10 compression points harder is liable to change that…

    • 8thehardway

      Jan 20, 2016 at 9:53 am

      My exact timeline, experience and concern. I dumped the $20/dozen Duo – a great ball – without a second thought and now I’ll have to come crawling back, eat humble pie and agree to do the dishes.

      • Bozo

        Jan 21, 2016 at 3:14 am

        Dou best feel and distance/ badly victimized by cart paths

  13. Fahgdat

    Jan 19, 2016 at 1:58 pm

    Such a joke. They get people used to hitting the 3-piece version, and they realize it wasn’t that good a ball after all, so they come out with a 4-piece version at a slightly higher price. Huh? So it oughta be not called Chrome Soft, but Chrome Soft X. So since it’s a 4-piece and harder, it will launch higher than the previous version. Soooooo krazy

    • proshopboy

      Jan 23, 2016 at 1:49 am

      You need to relax a bit dude, you sound like a disgruntled ex employee.

    • Geno

      Feb 12, 2016 at 7:04 pm

      They first CS is a great ball. The real fear is that they wreck it.

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