Callaway ERC Soft

[erock9174]

Figured I'd start a thread for this new ball.

According to Callaway:

 

 

What do I need to know about ERC Soft? This ball is an extraordinary achievement: it’s incredibly long AND it’s designed for soft feel, and increased control around the green.

 

How did you do that? This is an exceptionally high level of performance for a distance ball, and it’s made possible by our groundbreaking new Hybrid Cover. The incredibly soft multi-material cover promotes fast ball speeds for long distance through the bag, and great feel. And around the green it’s engineered to create noticeably higher spin for excellent control, allowing you to play aggressively on approach shots and in your short game.

 

What else stands out about this ball? It’s loaded with groundbreaking technologies, including our largest Graphene-infused Dual SoftFast Core, an innovative technology we introduced las year in Chrome Soft. The high tech core maximizes compression energy for extremely fast ball speeds, while also promoting low spin off the driver and high launch for longer distance.

 

And what are these lines on it? We’ve introduced NEW patented Triple Track Technology that utilizes Vernier Acuity Precision, the same visual technology used to land planes on aircraft carriers. Triple Track Technology helps to improve alignment compared to a regular side stamp alignment aid.

 

I want this! When can I get it? ERC Soft is available online and at retailers around the country starting on 2/8.

 

[erock9174]

[Konklifer]

I like that there's no chevron.

 

"We’ve introduced NEW patented Triple Track Technology that utilizes Vernier Acuity Precision, the same visual technology used to land planes on aircraft carriers."

 

Sounds like Boeing's influence has carried over to golf balls.

[jesusdelallata]

I’m looking forward to trying this ball out.

[storm319]

Looks to be the new highest priced surly covered offering on the market at $40 per dozen. According to the USGA list it is a 3-piece with 1 cover so that along with the dual softfast core reference leads me to believe that this has a 2 core, 0 mantle, surlyn cover construction like the legacy NXT Tour.

 

Below is a snippet from MGS about the cover which leads me to believe that the cover does not contain any urethane:

 

 

"Callaway's cover starts with a Surlyn base, but adds several proprietary ingredients to both increase ball speeds (on short irons/wedges) and spin. Because urethane has different grades, Callaway claims the cover of the ERC Soft can outperform several competitors which elect to use lesser versions of urethane."

[tbowles411]

Allegedly it falls between a surlyn and urethane using a graphene material. If mere mortals like myself can get this ball to spin and stop dead at a lower price point, this will sell pretty darn well.

[erock9174]

Everything I’ve been reading is it’s essentially an Avx but with better greenside spin.

[erock9174]

I asked if this ball will launch lower than a Chome Soft (similar to how the AVX flies lower than the ProV and V1x) and a Callaway rep answered and said this ball flies higher than the Chome Soft but has less spin.

[GolfChannel]

I asked if this ball will launch lower than a Chome Soft (similar to how the AVX flies lower than the ProV and V1x) and a Callaway rep answered and said this ball flies higher than the Chome Soft but has less spin.

 

So it's a TP5x?

[erock9174]

I asked if this ball will launch lower than a Chome Soft (similar to how the AVX flies lower than the ProV and V1x) and a Callaway rep answered and said this ball flies higher than the Chome Soft but has less spin.

 

So it's a TP5x?

 

Maybe performance wise? but not construction wise. Tpx is 5 layers and Urethane coated.

 

The ERC is 3 layers with a hybrid cover that Is being reported to spin closer to Urethane than surlyn.

 

 

[arbeck]

My guess is that this is more competition for the project(a), qstar tour, and wilson duo pro. I'm curious to see how it performs next to those balls, as they're the ones that might be using the lower grade urethane that Callaway is referencing. Of course it has to outperform those balls, as they're all cheaper.

[cristphoto]

If it is $40 a dozen per a previous post it’s a non-starter for me. Too many other good urethane balls available at that price. Callaway may be trying to fill the void of the NXT-Tour.

[double or triple?]

My guess is that this is more competition for the project(a), qstar tour, and wilson duo pro. I'm curious to see how it performs next to those balls, as they're the ones that might be using the lower grade urethane that Callaway is referencing. Of course it has to outperform those balls, as they're all cheaper.

 

More than likely, it's a direct competitor to titleist AVX

[arbeck]

My guess is that this is more competition for the project(a), qstar tour, and wilson duo pro. I'm curious to see how it performs next to those balls, as they're the ones that might be using the lower grade urethane that Callaway is referencing. Of course it has to outperform those balls, as they're all cheaper.

 

More than likely, it's a direct competitor to titleist AVX

 

Possibly, although saying it has higher launch than the Chromesoft put it in a different class than the AVX. The AVX really lowers launch and spin quite a bit. This seems to mostly be lowering spin and keeping launch high, which is what those other balls are supposed to do.

[MixedBag]

From MGS:

"Combat analogies aside, Callaway enters 2019 as the clear #2 in the ball category and riding a wave of positive momentum, which it hopes to continue with the launch of three new balls, one of which is a new addition to the Callaway’s Soft line of balls and positioned to go head-to-head with the Titleist Tour Soft. "

[elwhippy]

#2 where? Srixon is #2 after Acushnet across the UK and large areas of Europe.

[Landy]

Hello does anyone know the compression on this ball? Thank you

[spartanglfr]

This ball and the Titleist Tour Soft balls are NOT urethane cover balls.

[juggernaut0629]

Everything I’ve been reading is it’s essentially an Avx but with better greenside spin.

 

AVX is a great ball IMO

[lil'mike]

Everything I've been reading is it's essentially an Avx but with better greenside spin.

 

AVX is a great ball IMO

 

^^^^^ I agree!

[erock9174]

Hello does anyone know the compression on this ball? Thank you

 

60

[Landy]

Hello does anyone know the compression on this ball? Thank you

 

60

 

Thank you

[Landy]

Hello would you compare this ball to the Bridgestone Tour B RX?

And how does it fit in with the Chrome Soft since it has almost the same compression?

Thank you

[storm319]

Hello would you compare this ball to the Bridgestone Tour B RX?

And how does it fit in with the Chrome Soft since it has almost the same compression?

Thank you

 

This new ERC Soft has some kind of ionomer blend cover so it will spin less than just about anything with a urethane cover. However, the Tour B RX has one of the hardest urethane covers on the market.

 

As for compression, keep in mind that there is no industry standard nor do OEMs even measure the same thing (some measure the whole ball other just the core), so you cannot rely on those figures for cross company comparison.

 

As for Callaway comparison, they have stated the 2018 Chrome Soft at 75 and the X at 94, however not sure if that is core only or overall not what they are testing with.

[storm319]

1:09 "It's not a mixture of urethane and surlyn together..."

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pllKr8EThws

[deepred]

If it is a Callaway it is probably a direct copy of some other companies ball.

[SwingBlues]

Everything I've been reading is it's essentially an Avx but with better greenside spin.

 

AVX is an extraordinary ball, thats coming from someone who hates Titleist balls & products. So, -IF- it drives low and long like the AVX, its got my attention but I'll wait for the reviews. The 2018 Chrome SoftXs were a disappointment, over priced and really not even on Par with my 16 or 17 XVs. Right now though, the new TP5X could be scorcher if it's anything like my unicorn Red/LDP balls, we shall see :)

[tdk8180]

Petra approved balls...Ill take em

[ode1]

1:09 "It's not a mixture of urethane and surlyn together..."

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pllKr8EThws

 

What do you think the other material is that's mixed with surlyn? Or is this just marketing, like fusablend, etc. Racking my brain, only other material that comes to mind is ceramic which volvik has used.

[storm319]

1:09 "It's not a mixture of urethane and surlyn together..."

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pllKr8EThws

 

What do you think the other material is that's mixed with surlyn? Or is this just marketing, like fusablend, etc. Racking my brain, only other material that comes to mind is ceramic which volvik has used.

 

I would imagine that the added ingredients are inconsequential otherwise there would be a more detailed marketing story about it just like the Graphene. Heck, Bridgestone literally focused a marketing cycle around watering down their core formulation (hydrocore).