Equipment

Callaway releases its softest ball ever, the Supersoft

Published

10 years ago

Jan 11, 2014

Callaway recently released a new golf ball, appropriately named Supersoft, which boasts a ball compression number of 38. The soft core and soft cover combine with HEX aerodynamics to produce a golf ball that reduces spin and adds distance.

Retail golf stores aren’t used to shelving golf balls with such a low compression number. Only the Wilson Duo golf ball holds up in comparison, with a compression number of 43 according to the PGA Compression scale. As a frame of reference, the Titleist DT Solo has a ball compression of 72 and the ProV1X’s number is 102.

“It’s easy to make a soft core, but it’s really difficult to make a soft core that is resilient, and we were able to do that with SuperSoft.” said David Bartels, Callaway Senior Directory, Golf Ball R&D. “Because the soft core is so resilient, it enables us to put a soft cover on it and still achieve really good ball speeds. The soft cover is great for feel and control around the green as well.”

The two-piece Supersoft ball has a core made of polybutadiene material and a cover made of trinomer blend material. The cover features a pattern of 332 geometries covering 100 percent of the surface area.

A dozen of SuperSoft Callaway golf balls sell for $19.99, and are available in both traditional white and optical yellow.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

13 Comments

Jason Levi

Jan 30, 2014 at 1:42 pm

I hit THE ball with THE wedges, and shortcut iris with a lot of backspin I assume that this ball being so soft William have more backspin. Am I right?

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Robert

Jan 29, 2014 at 4:09 pm

Funny how the article changed from DUO being softer than the Callaway. This changes my view of GolfWRX…. Im sure it has something to do with Callaway “deep pockets”. The Wilson DUO is still softer and better than the Callaway IMO.

Reply Report comment
- Zak Kozuchowski
  
  Jan 29, 2014 at 10:03 pm
  
  Robert and fmgolf64,
  
  As I stated previously, our original article got it wrong, mixing compression numbers from two different scales. The numbers in the current article reference the same scale, the PGA Compression scale, putting the balls on equal footing.
  
  Remember, compression is just a number, and doesn’t necessarily correspond to more feel or more distance.
  
  – Zak
  
  Reply Report comment
  - fms64
    
    Jan 30, 2014 at 7:55 am
    
    I am just curious as to the “two different scales” you are referring to. The original article claimed only one. I find it hard to believe that Golf WRX measured the balls on two different devices. So which measurement device was used other than hexcaliber? Atti, ADC, Instron, Riehle?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Zak Kozuchowski
      
      Jan 30, 2014 at 10:37 am
      
      By different scales, we don’t mean actual measurement devices. We mean the “PGA Compression” and “Majestix” scales, which are different compression tests.
      
      Here’s how PGA Compression is measured: Compression = 180 – (deflection in inches x 1000)
      
      Deflection is obtained when applying a 200 pound load on the golf ball. Here’s an example when deflection is 0.100 inches
      
      180 – (0.1 x 1000) = 80 PGA Comp
      
      If you have any more questions, you can email me directly at [email protected]
      
      Reply Report comment
[email protected]

Jan 29, 2014 at 2:09 pm

Interesting that the original article noted that the Duo ball was 6 points softer than SuperSoft. Curious as to the reason for the editing???

Reply Report comment
TJ

Jan 15, 2014 at 2:23 pm

I understand that the ball we choose is not just based on swing speed, but is there a range of swing speeds that would benefit from this ball? I understand its for slower swing speeds but how slow is slow enough?

Reply Report comment
storm319

Jan 12, 2014 at 9:58 pm

The compression numbers listed in this article look to have been taken from the wrong column (MPI rather than AVG) of the gbt.org test results. AVG column shows actual compression results that are converted into a 100 point scale which comprises the MPI column.

Most manufacturers reference core compression rather than overall compression as it makes the ball seem softer than it actually is. Unfortunately, core compression is not as helpful as overall compression as we hit the entire golf ball and not the bare core.

Reply Report comment
- Zak Kozuchowski
  
  Jan 16, 2014 at 9:59 am
  
  We’ve made a correction that puts the Wilson Duo and Callaway SuperSoft compressions on equal footing, the PGA Compression Scale.
  
  – Zak
  
  Reply Report comment
  - [email protected]
    
    Jan 29, 2014 at 4:23 pm
    
    Exactly how did you measure for the “PGA Compression Scale”. There are a number of different methods of measuring compression (and you mentioned the handheld “Hexcaliber” device in the original article). What equipment did you use?
    
    Reply Report comment
Jeff

Jan 12, 2014 at 7:29 pm

Just played this ball today and it’s very similar to the Wilson Duo. The difference is it doesn’t jump off the club face, especially on putts. Primarily for slower swing speed. Won’t find a better value from a Callaway ball.

Reply Report comment
Dalton

Jan 12, 2014 at 11:43 am

Will this play longer than women’s balls? Just thinking of how my mom always wants to drive our local course’s par 4.

Reply Report comment
- Grog
  
  Jan 15, 2014 at 11:47 am
  
  She should hit it farther then….
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

6 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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