Equipment
Callaway launches new Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X, Superhot balls (2018 PGA Show Demo Day)
“The ball that changed the ball” is back.
Callaway announced new Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X balls for 2018, as well as a retooled Superhot, which it is offering in some bold colorways.
See all of our photos from the 2018 PGA Show Demo Day here.
Chrome Soft
Callaway promises innovation at every level with the new Chrome Soft. That starts with a new Graphene Dual SoftFast Core. The company touts the new Chrome Soft as a fast, soft, high launch, low spin ball. But let’s dig a little deeper.
According to Dr Alan Hocknell, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Callaway, Graphene is an “atomic-scale honeycomb lattice made of carbon atoms and was first produced in a laboratory at the University of Manchester in 2004 by Russian-born scientists, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, who went on to be awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work.”
The material is stronger than diamond and 200 times stronger than steel, however, it’s also elastic and can be stretched a substantial amount. It sounds like Callaway thought the material was interesting and decided to see how to incorporate it into a golf ball, which is cool.
“We had to assess which part of our golf ball we could mix it with to get a strength advantage and where in the golf ball we would want it…We looked at various parts of the golf ball and the functions of each, and we quickly decided that if we were going to use a material that made any part of our golf ball substantially stronger it would be in the outer core, because its role is partly to allow the inner core to be soft. What we wanted to produce was an outer core that was much stronger, effectively a thinner but stronger ‘crash helmet’ for the inner core and that would allow us to make the inner core bigger.”
“If you think of this inner core as the engine of the golf ball, the inner of the new Chrome Soft is now bigger and softer because it is protected by the stronger outer core, which allows us to pump up the speed, pump up the spin-reducing characteristic of the soft core, and still retain the soft-feel benefits.”
Hocknell says the new Chrome Soft is similarly, well, soft to the original ball. However, feel around the green is crisper and there is a “clickier” sound on those shots. As expected, the new ball features higher ball speeds and lower spin on driver shots relative to the previous incarnation.
Chrome Soft balls are also available in yellow and Callaway’s Truvis pattern. $44.99/dozen.
Chrome Soft X
We’ll let Dr. Hocknell explain the reworking of Callaway’s tour ball for higher swing speeds.
“The X ball has undergone the bigger transformation of the two…In the new 2018 Chrome Soft X we have dramatically reduced its spin profile through the bag so, in many ways, it is similar to the standard Chrome Soft ball of 2017, but what you will find now is a firmer overall feel, while still retaining excellent spin properties around the green.”
“The differences between both golf balls are mostly focused on feel and then if you have a swing speed in the higher ranges – roughly 105mph and above – you might be an ideal candidate for the X, as its increased firmness will convert more driver head speed to ball speed, compared to standard Chrome Soft.”
Superhot
Callaway is also releasing a new version of its three-piece Superhot ball ($29.99/dozen). The new Superhot features improved aerodynamics for low drag and optimal lift, according to the company. Additionally, Callaway is introducing Superhot Bold colors in matte red, yellow, and orange.
See all of our photos from the 2018 PGA Show Demo Day here.
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Whats in the Bag
Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T100 (3-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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Equipment
What’s the perfect mini-driver/shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Jack Nash
Jan 24, 2018 at 1:08 pm
However, feel around the green is crisper and there is a “clickier” sound. Isn’t that “clicker” sound code for skull or shank? 🙂
Ollie
Jan 23, 2018 at 6:01 pm
Soft… supersoft… forgiving… mushy… feel… forgiving feeeel… more spin… more money… more of everything good …. 😛
Joey5Picks
Jan 23, 2018 at 3:31 pm
Chromesoft used to be about $32. Now they’re $45? I’ll pass and stick with the Kirkland Signature.
Uhit
Jan 23, 2018 at 1:26 pm
I’ll give it a try, to see, if it is at least as good as the Chrome+…
…the Chrome Soft was a step backwards in my book.
However, I don’t really think that it can beat the OnCore Elixr, or the B-XS, but who knows yet?
nyguy
Jan 23, 2018 at 12:39 pm
guess I should order a few boxes of the 2016 chrome…..