Callaway Reva golf ball review
What’s new? How much does it cost? And how does it perform? Hannah Holden brings you the low down on the new Callaway Reva golf ball
The Callaway Reva golf ball is designed specifically for women who want to improve their distance, ball flight and consistency.
It has an oversized construction to help players with slower swing speeds launch the ball higher. The oversized core and low spin profile are designed to help maximise distance.
So how does the new Callaway Reva ball perform? Hannah Holden put it to the test to find out.
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Callaway Reva golf ball review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
This is an excellent golf ball for slower-swinging golfers who don’t need all the tech a top-of-the-range golf ball provides.
The Reva comes in at an excellent price point and offers soft feel, strong consistency and more distance for golfers with slower club head speeds.
PROS
- Great for slower swinging golfers
- Bigger size is great for consistency
- Great value for money
CONS
- Only suits one group of golfers
First Impressions
Given the oversized nature of the Reva golf ball, I was interested to see what it would look like at address, but actually, it is pretty hard to tell by eye that this has a larger diameter than a standard ball.
One thing that did catch my eye was the glitter shimmer finish to the ionomer cover, I also really liked the light blue colourway they have used for the packaging and ball detailing.
NCG Review
Some cheaper golf balls on the market are known for their harsh feel around the greens, this could not be less true of the Reva golf ball, which feels remarkably soft off the face around the greens. I would say it doesn’t spin as much on short shots as a urethane golf ball but if you don’t generate spin on chips and pitch shots you aren’t really losing out here.
Interestingly the dispersion was very consistent with 7-iron. I think this comes down to the larger size of the golf ball.
The theory behind the tech is pretty simple, the larger size makes it easier to hit the middle of the face. This means the centre of gravity of the club stays below the centre of the ball, helping you launch the ball higher.
If you have a slower club head speed and want to get more heights on your shots, this could be the perfect option. More height gives you more hang time which means you could also get some more distance, that’s hard for anyone to turn down.
The bigger ball is also designed to go straighter. This is because it spins less, helping you keep your shots on target more often.
This was also slightly left bias compared to other golf balls I tested on the same day. This is definitely beneficial for the majority of the golfing market.
When we got to driver I was again really impressed with the consistency. I would say they weren’t the longest for me, but I think that is because my swing speed is faster than this product is intended for so I was compressing the ball too much.
Overall, this was a really consistent golf ball. I loved the soft feel around the greens and how easy it was to hit. I can see how playing a ball like this would help higher handicappers play more consistently.
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Callaway Reva golf ball review: The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £29 / $24.99
More info: Callaway UK / Callaway US
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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Hannah Holden
Hannah Holden is the Equipment and Instruction Editor here at National Club Golfer. If you’re looking to improve your game, by changing your golf swing or upgrading your golf equipment she’ll have the answers.
As well as writing lots of features and reviews you can find her on our YouTube channel giving you insights on the latest rules, clubs and tips to improve your golf game.
Hannah is a member at Alwoodley golf club. You will either find her here or driving up and down the country playing in a variety of elite amateur events.