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For the first Ball Lab of 2021, we ’ re going back to the ball ( or at least a similarly named one ) that started it all. As the only high-compression offer ( which I ’ five hundred argue makes it the alone legitimate Tour ball ) in the Callaway ball lineup, the Chrome Soft X is going to be the better option ( among Callaway balls ) for the overpower majority of higher swing rush players .
That, of class, is only half of the floor. The more relevant view for today ’ s discussion centers around general quality. Our test of the 2020 Chrome Soft suggested Callaway had some work to do regarding the choice and consistency of its golf balls.
It is what it is .
The company has been upfront about those issues, likening the procedure of upgrading a functioning factory to changing the tires on a travel car. That ’ s a challenge, to say the least. Analogies aside, the larger decimal point is that we amply expected it was going to take some time for the benefit of the improvements to be realized .
so as you move through the results of the Callaway Chrome Soft X Ball Lab, keep a couple of things in mind. First, by all accounts, it ’ s easier to make a high-compression musket ball than a low-compression one. That means Chrome Soft X is a bite easier to manufacture .
irregular, Chrome Soft X came several months after Chrome Soft. Our samples were purchased roughly three months late than our Chrome Soft samples. That ’ randomness three months ’ worth of extra time to improve the factory .
Let ’ s find out what all of that means from a quality perspective .
About the Callaway Chrome Soft X
Like the standard Chrome Soft, the Callaway Chrome Soft X is a 332-dimple ball with a urethane traverse. According to Callaway, the Chrome Soft X can broadly be described as a mid-launch, high-spin ball. The spin profile most close resembles those of the TaylorMade TP5 and Titleist Pro V1x .
As with Chrome Soft and ERC Soft, the Chrome Soft X is manufactured in the USA at Callaway ’ s ball implant in Chicopee, Mass .
Callaway Chrome Soft X – Compression
There is possibly no more questionably stigmatize product in golf than the Callaway Chrome Soft X. With an average compaction of 95 on our gauge, it ’ second significantly firmer than the Chrome Soft ( compression measured at 75 ) and way ( means, way ) firmer than the 41-compression Callaway SuperSoft .
That ’ south 54 compression points from end to end. evening within the Tour testis category, Chrome Soft X offers slenderly firmer than median compression. As I ’ ve said countless times, Chrome Soft X is, by no reasonable metric unit, a easy golf ball .
once again, it is what it is .
Callaway Chrome Soft X – Weight and Diameter
- A single ball in our test sample exceeded the USGA weight limit of 1.620 ounces.
- A single ball in the sample also failed to meet our standard for roundness.
- While a couple of the balls in the sample flirted with the gauge, none failed to pass the USGA’s minimum allowable diameter test.
Having a ball not conform to the letter of the USGA rule is never good but it wouldn ’ metric ton be enough to disqualify the sample. While it ’ s not perfect, having two balls in the sample distribution come up short for burden and plumpness international relations and security network ’ thyroxine frightful .
Callaway Chrome Soft X – Inspection
Centeredness and Concentricity
We found some degree of effect centeredness and/or level concentricity issue in approximately 75 percentage of the balls in the sample though in most cases the issues were minor. The majority were a mix of inconsistent thickness and little layer incursions ( like the one in the core picture below ). Almost all of them were found in the out mantle layer. It sounds like a high number but minor imperfections that are unlikely to have performance implications are common across most brands .
What ’ sulfur possibly most encouraging is that while defects in eight percentage of the balls tested were significant enough to be flagged as badly, we didn ’ metric ton find any of the dazzling disasters found in the former generation .
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Core Consistency
Core color consistency was relatively consistent. We did find a few balls that were slightly paler than the lie but not meaning adequate to suggest a good problem. differently, the cores were clean and well-mixed. We didn ’ thyroxine find any many-sided chunks or anything else unusual or out of place .
Cover
Chome Soft X covers were excellent. We found no defects that warrant a note and thickness was generally undifferentiated across the sample .
Callaway Chrome Soft X Consistency
In this section, we detail the consistency of the Callaway Chrome Soft X. It ’ s a measure of how similar the balls in our sample distribution were to one another, relative to all of the models we ’ ve tested to go steady .
Weight Consistency
- Consistency (of weight) across our Callaway Chrome Soft X sample fell within the average range.
Diameter Consistency
- Diameter consistency relative to the other balls in our database also fell within the low end of the average range.
Compression Consistency
- Compression consistency across the sample was average as well.
- A single ball was flagged for having a significant variation across the three compression points measured. Cutting it open revealed a significant layer incursion which is the most likely explanation.
True Price
true Price is how we quantify the quality of a golf testis. It ‘s a projection of what you ‘d have to spend to ensure you get 12 good balls .
The True Price will constantly be equal to or greater than the retail price. The greater the difference between the retail price and the True Price, the more you should be concerned about the quality of the ball .
Callaway Chrome Soft X – Summary Report
To learn more about our test march, how we define “ regretful ” balls and our true Price measured, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page .
The Good
- There is some evidence to suggest Callaway’s factory improvements are having an impact.
- Quality is significantly better than what we found with Chrome Soft.
- Values for all quality metrics fall within the middle of the average range
The Bad
The majority of balls had at least one minor defect. In total, eight percentage of the sample were flagged as bad .
True Price
The True Price for the Callaway Chrome Soft is $ 53.99. That represents a 13-percent increase over the MSRP at the time of purchase ( $ 47.99 ). While that doesn ’ metric ton place Chrome Soft X among the category leaders for overall quality and consistency, it ’ s a solidly median leave that suggests the stigmatize ’ s investment in quality is starting to pay off .
Callaway Chrome Soft X
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$39.99
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Ball Lab Top Performers
Want to know which balls have performed best in Ball Lab testing then far ?
Check out :
- Titleist ProV1X Left Dash
- Titleist ProV1X
- Wilson Staff Model
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