Equipment
Callaway upgrades new Chrome Soft golf balls
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.
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.
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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- Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
6-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2011 (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Denali Blue 105 TX (3), Project X 6.5 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F), Callaway Jaws Raw (60-08C)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Mini DB
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy PistolLock 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.
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What are the driver and shaft combinations of the best golfers in the world? For gearheads, it’s an endlessly interesting question — even if we can only ever aspire to play LS heads and 7 TX shafts.
At this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, GolfWRX got in-hand looks at the driver setups of a wealth of players.
Check out some of the most interesting combos below, then head to the GolfWRX forums for the rest, as well as the rest of our galleries from New Orleans.
Rory McIlroy
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alex Fitzpatrick
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Daniel Berger
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees @9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Rasmus Hojgaard
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alejandro Tosti
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
Grip: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
James Nicholas
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (8 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Kevin Streelman
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Sang-moon Bae
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9+ @8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Russ Cochran
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD TP 6 X
Grip: Golf pride MCC Align 
MJ Daffue
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (10.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 65 TX
Grip: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord Align
Check our more photos from the Zurich Classic here.
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- Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Prototype (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Utility: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (3), Callaway X Forged (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 130
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S, 56-10S, 60-06C)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Ai One Milled Eight T DB
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Hojgaard in the forums.
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Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)...
Rory McIlroy WITB 2024 (April)
Rory McIlroy what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus...
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Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees...
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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.
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!
Brian K
Jan 21, 2016 at 9:10 pm
Tom Watson is using chrome soft soccer ball today in senior PGA.
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.
Jack Nash
Jan 20, 2016 at 2:09 pm
I switched from Pro V’s and have been quite happy.
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”
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
Andrew
Jan 19, 2016 at 8:08 pm
When does the original come down in price?
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
proshopboy
Jan 20, 2016 at 3:26 pm
Relaaaaax
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.
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.
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.
Fahgdat
Jan 20, 2016 at 10:25 am
Must be nice to be working for Callaway
Joe Duffer
Feb 17, 2016 at 7:22 pm
+1 Geez, give it a rest !!
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
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.