An Exclusive Talk About Callaway Chrome Soft Technology
Callaway is leading the way into a new era of golf balls thanks to their Callaway Chrome Soft offerings. Golfers no longer have to choose between exceptional distance or great feel and control around the greens. There’s even a brand new Truvis pattern ball to increase focus and visibility. To get the inside look at this game-changing technology, we had a conversation with Callaway’s Jason Finley, Global Director of Product Strategy, Woods and Golf Balls. Here’s our exclusive Q & A to deliver you that knowledge from the expert.
TGW: With Callaway Chrome Soft, you say golfers no longer need to choose between distance and feel. What advancements are in this golf ball that makes both possible?
Jason Finely: The key to the Chrome Soft Golf Ball is the SoftFast Core technology. The SoftFast Core gives the ball an extremely soft feel while also delivering lower spin in the longer clubs for longer, and straighter shots. Combine soft feel, low spin on longer shots, and high ball speed and you have an excellent golf ball.
TGW: Can you take us through how this golf ball performs from shot to shot out on the golf course?
JF: With the longer shots (woods and long irons), the Chrome Soft will spin less compared to a traditional multi-layered golf ball, which for many players translates to more distance. With the mid and short irons, because of the low compression, golfers are able to compress the ball even at lower club head speeds, leading to straighter, higher shots. And finally, around the greens, the soft feel and Tour Urethane cover maximizes feel, spin, and control.
TGW: Even Phil Mickelson has switched to a Callaway Chrome Soft golf ball. What has the response been like on tour?
JF: Players on Tour, and Phil in particular, have benefitted from the combination of dramatically lower backspin on longer clubs with exceptional control, consistency and spin around the green. For a short-game wizard like Phil and other Tour players, they really like the soft feel of the Chrome Soft because it reminds him of the feel of the balatas that he grew up playing with, but has the performance of a modern golf ball.
TGW: With a golf ball this soft, will golfers of all abilities notice improved performance?
JF: Yes, all golfers will immediately notice the different of the soft feel. From a performance standpoint, also yes, any golfer looking to lower spin on the longer clubs while maximizing spin and control around the greens will benefit from this ball. Our testing has shown that most golfers have too much backspin and sidespin with the driver in particular and the Chrome Soft will help greatly with that.
TGW: Which club will this super-low compression make the biggest difference with?
JF: You can feel the difference on all clubs. From a distance perspective, the biggest difference will be with longer clubs because the lower backspin will enable most golfers to hit it longer and straighter. The other area that golfers will see a big difference is with short irons because now they will be able to compress the ball at less than maximum speed. Compressing the ball leads to a host of benefits that maximize the performance of all of the layers of the ball.
TGW: Callaway just released a Chrome Soft golf ball with the Truvis pattern. Tell us a little about this model of golf ball. How did it come about and what are the benefits?
JF: Chrome Soft with Truvis Technology takes the same great performance of Chrome Soft and adds a proprietary visual technology to maximize your view of the golf ball. The red and white Truvis pattern is specifically designed for better focus and visibility. Golfers are also telling us that they love the feedback on spin that they are seeing on and around the greens, because you can actually see the ball checking, releasing, and rolling. This feedback really helps the golfer improve their short game control. And finally, to some the ball will actually look bigger as well.
TGW: Finally, if you were handing a Callaway Chrome Soft golf ball to a golfer who had never played one before, what’s the first thing you’d tell them to expect on their first swing?
JF: I would first tell them to brace themselves for the best feeling ball they have hit and then to be ready to walk a bit farther to get to their ball for the next shot.
