Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls Review
Published:
-
At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
-
Pros
- Very soft golf balls will please many golfers
- Strong off the tee for golfers with swing speeds under 100mph
- Accurate and long if you have the intended swing speed -
Cons
- Not much better than cheaper alternatives
- Other models in the Chrome Soft range perform better and are more popular among Tour players
What we say...
Callaway’s lowest-compression premium golf balls loved by amateur golfers and Tour professionals
Being one the biggest names in golf, Callaway are extremely well-known for their golf balls. Whenever discussing the best golf balls, or any piece of golf equipment for that matter, it’s very rare that Callaway are left out of the conversation.
The majority of golfers will be familiar with Callaway’s Chrome Soft golf balls. It’s very likely you’ve been and bought a dozen (or more) of these golf balls – or found one out on the golf course. Most people’s reaction when first trying these golf balls is “Wow, that felt really soft”. Soft feeling is an attribute of many Callaway golf balls, but it’s particularly prominent with the Chrome Soft’s.
Callaway’s reputation within the golf balls market has grown massively in recent years. They now own over a 20% share of the golf balls market in the US, which is very impressive considering no brand other than Titleist has passed 14% for years.
With Callaway’s Chrome Soft golf balls being such a popular option and having such a good reputation, what is it about these golf balls that makes them so desirable?
Key tech
Precision technology
The precision technology used in this golf ball helps you to find more fairways while sustaining ball speed resulting in longer distance and tighter dispersion.
Construction optimization
By using a new Hyper Elastic SoftFast Core, Callaway have been able to produce Tour-level spin, control, and speed from every club in the bag.
New tour aero
Incorporating a new tour aero design delivers a consistent ball flight in a wide range of conditions.
Who uses Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls?
Callaway have a whole host of golfers playing with their golf balls. However, there aren’t many Tour players who opt for Chrome Soft – they lean more towards Chrome Soft X or Chrome Soft X LS. It’s only known to be the ball of choice for Solheim Cup winner Gemma Dryburgh and PGA Tour player Maverick McNealy.
It’s very unique for a Tour player to use Chrome Soft because of the low compression rating (75) for a premium golf ball and them being best suited for golfers with driver swing speeds south of 100mph. Regardless, it hasn’t stopped the Scottish national or Stamford graduate from rising through the ranks.
Which Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls should I use?
Callaway offers three golf balls within their Chrome Soft range – Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X, and Chrome Soft X LS. Chrome Soft’s were first introduced in 2015 and since then their popularity has grown exponentially, mainly among amateur golfers. Chrome Soft golf balls are loved by amateur golfers because they are premium golf balls that can suit most club golfers due to the 75 compression rating.
If you have a quicker swing speed and have no issue compressing the golf ball, then you may want to check out one of the other two models in the Chrome Soft range.
Callaway’s Chrome Soft X is their most represented golf ball in professional golf because it suits golfers with quicker swing speeds, having a compression rating of 100. This ball is designed to travel far off the tee, but like all the golf balls in the Chrome Soft range, dispersion, control, and feel are very important.
If you struggle with generating too much spin off the tee, you might benefit from making the switch to the Chrome Soft X LS. This ball is the least forgiving in the Chrome Soft range, but around the green it performs as well as the others, if not slightly better. You just have to make sure you swing fast enough and well enough.
Callaway Chrome Soft review: Robot golf balls test verdict
| Driver 85mph Swing | Callaway Chrome Soft |
| Ball speed (mph) / Launch angle (º) | 123 / 13.7 |
| Backspin (rpm) | 2,544 |
| Carry (yards) | 194.1 |
| Driver 100mph Swing | |
| Ball speed (mph) / Launch angle (º) | 144.2 / 12.4 |
| Backspin (rpm) | 2,541 |
| Carry (yards) | 241.4 |
| Driver 115mph Swing | |
| Ball speed (mph) / Launch angle (º) | 164.4 / 11 |
| Backspin (rpm) | 2,084 |
| Carry (yards) | 291.7 |
| 7-Iron | |
| Ball speed (mph) / Launch angle (º) | 106.1 / 22.1 |
| Backspin (rpm) | 4,964 |
| Height (feet) | 90.6 |
| Descent angle (º) | 46.5 |
| Carry (yards) | 149.5 |
| Wedge | |
| Backspin (rpm) | 7,225 |
| Shot area (sq yds) | 21.1 |
| Carry (yards) | 106.1 |
| Average shot area | |
| Averaged over driver, 7-iron and PW | 38.3yds sq |
The Callaway Chrome Soft perhaps exceeded our expectations but it doesn’t win any awards. As expected it’s one of the longest golf balls for an 85mph swing speed – due to the 75 compression. Callaway does aim this ball at golfers who swing slower than 100mph so it does meet their intentions.
With a 7-iron and wedge the spin is very mediocre and falls short of the Tour-preferred Chrome Soft X. The Chrome Soft is accurate and long for golfers with the intended swing speed but for golfers with a similar swing speed, Callaway’s ERC Soft is a great option – and it’s cheaper too.
See it how compared to the other 27 golf balls we put through their paces in the robot test.
Callaway Chrome Soft availability
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to the number of variants the Chrome Soft’s are available in. They do still cater to the traditionalists who like a plain white or yellow golf ball, but they also offer the more eccentric Triple Track, 360° Triple Track, Truvis, and TruTrack – these models help with alignment and visibility. The balls are numbered as standard from 1 through 4.
You can purchase Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls practically everywhere golf equipment is sold at an RRP of £50 / $55 per dozen; not the best value for golf balls that are being caught up by the bet amateur-level golf balls.
READ NEXT
– Bridgestone Tour B RXS golf balls review
BECOME A TODAY’S GOLFER MEMBER: Unlimited access to premium content and exclusive rewards!
About the author
James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer
James Hogg is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com.
He has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.
James previously worked for American Golf alongside his studies as part of the sales and fitting team. Having worked in golf retail for seven years he has all the skills and knowledge necessary to review and recommend the perfect equipment for golfers of all abilities and has a strong knowledge of putters, golf balls, and golf apparel, including trousers.
Despite nobody else in James’ family playing golf he took a keen interest as a teenager which saw him become a junior member at Saltburn Golf Club, North Yorkshire. Since returning to Teesside in 2022 James has joined his home course, Cleveland Golf Club. His handicap index is 4.7 thanks to consistent distance off the tee.
Away from golf, James enjoys a multitude of sports, specifically watching Formula 1, American Football and Horse Racing. He’s also a proud supporter of Middlesbrough FC, likes cooking and reading travel literature.
James uses a Callaway Mavrik SZ Driver, Callaway Mavrik SZ 3-Wood, TaylorMade Stealth UDI 3-iron, Ping i210 Irons (4-PW), Cobra King Snakebite 50° Wedge, Mizuno S23 56° and 60° Wedges, TaylorMade Spider X Putter and a TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe golf ball.
You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.
Product Information
Callaway Chrome Soft
RRP: £50 per dozen | VIEW UK OFFER | $55 per dozen | VIEW US OFFER
Construction: 3-piece with urethane cover
Compression: 75
Colors and models: White; Yellow; Triple Track; 360° Triple Track; Truvis; TruTrack
