Equipment
Callaway Chrome Soft X LS golf ball: A low spin addition to the Chrome Soft lineup
Callaway is setting out to deliver maximum distance and premium low spin performance with the release of its all-new Chrome Soft X LS (low spin) ball for 2021.
The new ball has been specifically developed for players who not only want the extra distance available by lowering spin—but who also seek to hit low launching, higher spinning shots with their scoring clubs to attack pins.
The four-piece ball is built around a single core, dual mantle layer system designed for speed and paired with a proprietary urethane cover to maximize control along and optimize aerodynamics for consistency in flight, according to Callaway.
Callaway Chrome Soft X LS: Technology and features
To make a golf ball longer, it needs to retain as much energy from impact as possible—and soft golf balls don’t do that as well as harder ones. The more a golf ball deforms during impact, the more energy is lost, and in the simplest form, it won’t go as far.
To be able to produce a soft distance ball (it’s called the Chrome “Soft” after all) Callaway wraps the softer inner mantle with a highly resilient firm outer layer. It’s kind of like coating a marshmallow with chocolate—the inside maintains its soft properties but is now coated in a layer of hard chocolate. To round out the poor food analogy, let’s call the final coating of sprinkles the urethane cover.
The end result is a ball that produces less spin on shots at the highest speed and with more direct force caused by lower lofted clubs while still being able to maintain high spin and soft feel on shots hit around the green and at lower speeds.
The final part of the equation is the ability for engineers to optimize the ball’s aerodynamic performance at lower spin rates and the highest speeds. If you have ever hit a shot high on the toe only to watch it fall from the sky, then you have experienced what happens when a ball doesn’t spin enough to maintain lift.
The Chrome Soft X LS keeps the proven Hex dimples shape, but on a granular scale, the dimple depths and dimensions have been altered to produce a penetrating and stable flight.
Price and Availability
The new Callaway Chrome Soft X LS ball will be available starting March 18 and will retail for $47.99 a dozen in White, Triple Track, and Tripple Track yellow.
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- Michael Block what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” (9 degrees @7.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @14.25)
Shaft: 2024 Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
5-wood: TaylorMade M5 (19 degrees @17)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 70 TX
Irons: TaylorMade Stealth UDI (4), TaylorMade Proto (5-9)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI Hybrid 85 X (4), Project X 6.5 (5-9)
Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 (46-09SB, 60 [unconfirmed]), TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 (52-09S, 56)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
See the rest of Michael Block’s WITB in the forums.
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- Brooks Koepka what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” (10.5 degrees @9.75)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D Limited 60 TX (44.5 inches, tipped 1 inch)
3-wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
Irons: Nike Vapor Pro (3), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-9)
Shaft: Fujikura Pro Tour Spec 95 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore Tour Rack Raw (46-10 Mid), RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (52-10 Mid, 56-10 Mid, 60-6 Low)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (46), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (52-60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5.5
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord (Midsize)
Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond
Check out more in-hand photos of Brooks Koepka’s clubs here.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/13/24): Full set of ‘Tiger Slam’ clubs
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a full set of ‘Tiger Slam’ clubs.
From the seller: (@CaymanS): “During the year of recovery from leg surgery that never quite healed, I was bored. One thing led to another, and I ended up gradually building/acquiring the individual pieces to complete a set of “Tiger Slam” clubs. They are what Tiger played to win 4 consecutive majors, which nobody has ever done. This is not an exact replica of course, but something close that fit me to play a few times per year and experience what Tiger did. But my bad leg, 4 shoulder tears, and age prevents me from the ball-striking needed to enjoy these to their fullest. They may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially since the driver and fairway shafts are regular flex and most players good enough to play these will need to change them, but it’s not a perfect world. I am not a historian on this stuff, but my research indicates these are the same models Tiger used, with slightly different specs to fit me.
Full set $1,600, or…
…a donation for a Pro Kids fundraiser, or…
Driver: $70
Fairway: $250
Irons: $1,100
Wedges: $100
Putter: $350″
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Full set of ‘Tiger Slam’ clubs
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Michael Block what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” (9 degrees @7.5) Shaft:...
Brooks Koepka WITB 2024 (May)
Brooks Koepka what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” (10.5 degrees @9.75) Shaft:...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25) Buy here. Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Buy here. Shaft:...
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Brian
Mar 3, 2021 at 9:26 am
Their counter to the AVX finally??
Shooter
Mar 3, 2021 at 2:13 pm
AVX was the counter to chrome soft. This is a tour variant that was made for public release. Closer to the left dash end of the spectrum.
Tour BX
Mar 2, 2021 at 10:39 pm
Hey Bridgestone, look, another YELLOW option…
d
Mar 4, 2021 at 4:24 pm
yes bridgestone, lets get some yellow
Chuck
Mar 2, 2021 at 11:24 am
Thanks for this, Ryan. Interesting product, and an interesting review from you.
As always, one of the most informative pages from any golf website or any golf magazine is the annual review and charting of spin rates and launch angles of various leading retail golf balls. For the 99.9999999% of us who buy golf balls based on anecdotal experience and word of mouth, rather than lengthy launch monitor testing with every ball on the market.
But moreover, it is good to see once again how it is that equipment manufacturers can continue to refine and develop lower-spinning (off driver) golf balls that essentially allow elite players to swing harder, and produce more distance, even when the Ruling Bodies’ ball testing specifications remain static.