Callaway Golf Chrome Tour, Chrome Tour X, and Chrome Soft Golf Balls Preview: First Look

Callaway Golf has announced their new line of Chrome Tour, Chrome Tour X, and Chrome Soft Golf Balls.  From cover to core Callaway believes these new balls will take performance to an entirely new level and become the new gold standard in golf ball performance.

Every detail in the 2024 Chrome lineup has been optimized, including the new Hyper Fast Soft Core, mantle designs, new Tour Seamless Aero package, and the cover formulation.  Each of these technologies are meticulously measured through industry-leading manufacturing, with over 100 million proof (data) points, for the most consistent performance.

The Goal to Make Chrome the Most Advanced Balls the World has Ever Seen

Some immediately noticeable differences from the Chrome balls of the past are new names on a few of the balls and entirely new looks.  And this was purposeful by Callaway because the new 2024 Chrome balls are really an entirely new product line top to bottom.  In fact, Callaway has said their goal with this new line is to create the most advanced golf balls the world has ever seen.

There's new aerodynamics, new inner and outer mantles, new cores and core formulations.  New technology in the Chrome balls comes from years of research, testing, and player input.  Nothing was left on the table.  Every detail was researched and explored.  And really the new Chrome line represents a complete overhaul of every component of the balls.

A Closer Look at Three Core Precision Technologies Across Entire Range of New Chrome Golf Balls

Speed, flight, and control.  These are the areas of focus with all new Chrome golf balls.  Speed from the HyperFast Soft Core, Flight from the Seamless Tour Aero, and Control from the High Performance Tour Urethane Soft Cover.

1. HyperFast Soft Core

The HyperFast Soft Core is a completely new rubber system and it's really all about generating more speed in the golf ball.  The entire golf ball is compressed on every full shot, and every layer contributes to the performance of your ball.

The core is a primary component that enables spin rates management though the bag, changes the feel of the ball, but ultimately the core is about ball speed.  If you have a slow core you have a slow golf ball.  And Callaway has made the new Chrome core faster than ever before.

The new base polymer (along with some other Callaway secret ingredients) has allowed Callaway to hit targeted ball compressions and other material properties (more Callaway secrets) to create a ball speed significantly faster than their previous Chrome balls.  For each ball in the line Callaway has created maximum ball speeds at a given compression.

2. Seamless Tour Aero

Seamless Tour Aero is something different than Callaway has ever done giving each new Chrome ball in the line its own uniquely designed aerodynamic pattern to provide stability and consistency through the entire ball flight.

Callaway wanted the aerodynamics of each ball to match the launch properties of the golf ball.  So for example a player might be using a low spin ball because they're already a high spin player or maybe they want to maximize distance at higher swing speeds.  But sometimes this comes at the expense of not hitting windows or trajectories that aren't ideal for various shots.

So Callaway analyzed air flow around the entire golf ball (important for both drag and lift).  Utilizing a 9-camera Top Toptracer system Callaway focused on each and every dimple of the ball over the entire ball flight of a shot.

Understanding what air flow does over each dimple allowed Callaway to manage their hexagon surface geometry with strategically placed spherical dimples.  The validated results (in computational simulated analysis and actual player testing) was optimized ball flights, maximized distances, and more consistency for both.  And all within each ball model (as each ball has its own model-specific pattern).

3. High Performance Tour Urethane Soft Cover

The new Chrome High Performance Tour Urethane Soft Cover across the board are softer than any of Callaway's previous ball models.  You'll get a softer feel but more importantly an increase in spin or decrease in spin (depending on what's ideal for the shot you're hitting) and also a consistency of this spin.

Callaway's design approach with the new cover was to generate more spin on shots into the green while also better managing spin with driver and long irons (where you want lower spin rates).

And on approach shots testing showed lower ball flights and more bite for even better control.  Yet at the same time because of a better connection between the ball and face there's also more consistent launch conditions with long irons and driver as well as less variation in dispersion.

Laying Out the Three New Chrome Golf Balls

We talked about the similarities among the three new Chrome golf balls.  Let's hit on and lay out some of the differences among them now as well.

Chrome Tour

The Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour balls will appeal most to better players.  Chrome Tour is going to be a softer feeling, more penetrating flight version of the old Chrome Soft X.  This ball has been in play on Tour for over a year as a prototype (named Chrome Soft X Dot).

Taking insights from players Chrome Tour was engineered to be more penetrating for greater distance and consistency into the wind.  But it was also designed to be softer on approaches into the green where many players equate softness with more feel and control.

The unique aerodynamic pattern and cover of Chrome Tour is built for consistently stable ball flights in any condition which will allow better players to aggressively go after shots with the benefit of added spin through the bag. 

Chrome Tour X

Chrome Tour X is for the best players who want speed and the ultimate control from their Tour Ball.  It provides outstanding distance, workability, and spin so you can experience your best performance from tee-to-green.

Chrome Tour X is going to be the fastest ball in the line throughout your bag (particularly with driver).  And let's be honest distance is a big part of the game.  Always has been, always will be.  The stories we tell our friends are often about the longest shots we've hit or clearing hazards on risk-reward shots.  Distance will always be showcased in the game and the gains are real and significant from Callaway testing.

This ball isn't a one-trick pony however as Chrome Soft X will also the highest spinning Callaway Chrome ball.  The overall ball formulation will allow better players to benefit from the greatest spin and workability to consistently hit precise iron and wedge shots.

Chrome Soft

This ball will appeal to the aspirational player seeing a Tour quality ball.  Keeping true to the heritage of who the balls is for, Chrome Soft delivers provide outstanding performance with faster ball speeds but similar spin profiles compared to the previous model.

Chrome Soft was made longer both in carry and overall distance tanks to the core and aerodynamic cover.  It's higher flying with higher peak heights than the previous model but at the same time also generates more total distance.

Chrome Soft will be the lowest (softest) compression, lowest spin ball in the line.   Comparatively Chrome Tour will be higher spinning and more firm feeling.  And Chrome Tour X will be the highest spinning and firmest feeling ball in the new line.

Comprehensive Visual Technology Options

Callaway will offer all new Chrome balls in a variety of designs.  So you'll have the standard ball in white or yellow.  And you'll also have alignment and roll feedback balls like the new Dagger Triple Track, standard Triple Track, 360 Triple Track, and TruTrack designs.

Chrome Tour, Chrome Tour X, and Chrome Soft will be available for purchase on February 2nd at a price of $54.99 per dozen.