The Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball is Callaway’s number one ball used across every professional golf tour. Callaway say it is the best option for fast swing speeds looking for tour-level control around the greens.
So how does the new Callaway Chrome Soft X perform? Find out in our 2023 Chrome Soft X golf ball review.
Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
The 2023 Callaway Chrome Soft X builds on the tour trusted technology Callaway already had in place.
It performs exceptionally well across all categories. You get a great balance of feel, distance and control. If you are after a tour-level golf ball, it is impossible to go wrong with this.
PROS
- Extremely consistent
- Tighter dispersion
- Don’t feel too soft
- Great short-game spin control
CONS
- Expensive
First Impressions
I have only ever played a Callaway golf ball once. It was in a foursomes match, and my partner was convinced that he could not play golf without using one, so for the sake of the game, I agreed to play his preferred choice. I didn’t like it enough to swap it out from my usual ball choice, but it was a few years ago now.
2023’s Chrome Soft X has piqued my interest as Callaway tour players have racked up a few wins already this year using it, and given basically every other club in my bag has changed, why shouldn’t I reassess my ball choice?
NCG Review
Callaway’s Chrome Soft lineup features three balls, the Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X & Chrome Soft X LS. Of the three models, the Chrome Soft X that I tested is supposed to have a high launch off the driver and feature the most spin with the wedges compared to the other 2 models.
The big tech story here is Callaway’s new Hyper Elastic SoftFast core, which despite being a lot of words, just means the ball is going to go further with the driver and feel better around the greens.
Now I should state testing golf balls is one of the harder product tests we have to do. The impact variables undoubtedly change every time you hit a ball, so you are not always comparing apples to apples. We can’t afford a robot to do testing with, but I have spent many years now working on my swing to be as robotic as possible, but sadly I am not quite there yet, so this is the best I can do.
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I started the test by hitting 50-yard wedge shots. This is a key shot for a golfer as we want to try and generate as much spin as possible with a short swing for maximum control when the ball lands on the green.
I am really happy with these results. Aside from one shot that didn’t spin much (probably due to a user error from a heavy strike), the high spin numbers on these shots are great. You do really want these shots spinning as much as possible, so to get up to near 10,000rpm means I can hit that shot that fizzes in low and grabs on the second bounce.
I really enjoyed chipping and putting with this ball. My complaint with the standard Chrome soft ball is that it feels too soft, personally, which then messes with my distance control. The Callaway Chrome Soft X is a firmer-feeling ball which felt great off the wedge and putter face. It sounded great too.
After short game, the next phase of testing was 7 irons. It was a calm day at Woodhall Spa golf club, so shots were pretty much unaffected by the elements. I couldn’t believe how consistent my front-to-back dispersion was. There are only 8 yards between the longest and shortest shots, which is incredible.
There were also only 15 yards between the furthest left and furthest right shots, which again is really solid and ideal for me on the golf course. The ball did launch pretty low for me, but with really consistent spin numbers, the ball flight was fine and I would have no issue stopping the balls on the green.
These numbers are remarkably stable, and I’ve not mentioned how long the shots were going. An average carry of 182.6 yards is longer than I usually hit the ball, and 128.6mph ball speed is quick. I can see why tour players are putting this in their bags.
The final part of the test was driver testing; This is what really you’re here to see.
After impressive numbers on the wedge and iron tests, I was pretty excited to see what happens with the driver. The ball feels great on impact when hitting a flag, so I had high hopes.
Aside from one weird shot that didn’t go very far at all, I am very happy with the numbers the Chrome Soft X produced. An average spin of 2377 is perfect for me, I don’t like it as low as 2000 or below, as with my shot tendencies, the ball just drops out of the sky on a miss hit.
An average 164.5 ball speed is excellent for me, and a 260 carry is exactly what I am looking for.
I have always tended to stay away from Callaway balls as I’ve found them to feel too soft, but the Chrome Soft X has completely changed everything for me, and is a genuine contender for what will go into my bag for the 2023 season.
It’s also worth noting that the Chrome Soft X is available in pure white, yellow, and with Triple Track technology (Callaway’s 3 lines). The triple track is great for players who struggle to line the ball up and will absolutely help a golfers aim.
Overall, this is clearly a great-performing golf ball. It performs exceptionally well across all categories. You get a great balance of feel, distance and control. If you are after a tour-level golf ball, it is impossible to go wrong with this.
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Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball review: The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £49.99 / $49.99
How do we test golf balls?
At National Club Golfer, we are passionate about producing accurate and thorough reviews and make sure our testing process is rigorous so we get a good understanding of how each club performs.
We headed to Woodhall Spa Golf Club to allow us to collect launch monitor data with our in-house TrackMan and Flightscope. We tested each golf ball on the putting surface and around the greens before collecting data on 50-yard pitch shots, with a 7-iron and with a driver.
What to consider when buying a new golf ball?
Feel
Golf ball feel is a personal preference. Different balls on the market will feel softer or firmer depending on their compression and structure. It is crucial to test balls when putting, chipping and hitting long game shots to check you like the performance across all areas.
Distance
How far you want to hit the golf ball is a crucial consideration when picking a brand and model. Getting the right compression relative to your swing speed and strike will help you get the maximum distance out of a golf ball. You also need to consider if getting maximum distance is important to you or if you would rather give up some yardage to gain in other areas.
Spin
Generally, lower handicappers are looking for a ball that spins more so they can get more control around the greens. In this case, getting a ball with a urethane cover is really important as it will give you the most spin and control.
Price
Not everyone wants to spend £50 a dozen on golf balls. When picking the right golf ball for you, you should consider how much you want to spend relative to what performance you want.
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