Pro V1 vs Chrome Soft

[DoubleDrops]

I’m looking for opinions on these 2 balls only- Pro V1 and Chrome Soft. Which do you prefer and why?

[SecondShot]

Pro V1 is firmer and longer for me. For me the Chrome Soft is too soft.

[Londoner]

Something with the chromesoft does not add up to me it feels like a soft ball but does not play like a soft ball.

My preferred pro v1 alternative is the Srixon AD333 tour (uk name).

[Pepperturbo]

Chrome Soft feels nice but it compresses too much for me, ProV not as much. So, between the two I'll stick with ProV as the ball I usually play when it's cold outside or in inclimate weather. Otherwise, my first love is ProV1x.

FYI, the ball Phil Michelson plays and many other tour players is not the same ball that's found in the LGS.

[Londoner]

How do they get away with that and why don't they market the one they DO play?

[Pepperturbo]

Phil's ball is like Tigers ball - 99% of the golfers couldn't play the ball so there's no market. Like the clubs used by tour pros, OEM's sell the name not the clubs specs that tour players use. Not many average Joe golfers can hit a 7-8* driver or 13* strong wood or 17* 2 iron.

To know what I mean, if you can get your hands on a Balata tour 90 ball, play 18 holes with it and see how you do. That ball and Professional 100 are the balls I learned the game with, both are difficult to control. Today, for different reasons most people would get no distance with either of them.

[Broke100]

I'm pretty sure that I loose Chrome Soft more slowly. From what I can tell, they feel better/softer. I'm a high handicap golfer.

[dmac4g]

Between the 2 choices, Pro V1 wins every day. Callaway did not help themselves with some of the production issues earlier this year. Hard to stand up there with the thought of; "is the core really in the center or is it squished to one side?"

[Londoner]

Ive played balata 90 , like hitting a marshmallow. What about the balls that they use would make them unplayable? Cover material? Compression?

[Pepperturbo]

Don't know cover material or compression, just most people don't have the swing speed and proper impact to compress the ball enough to spin them. That was true back with Professional 100, it was noticeably harder than Professional 90.

[bluedot]

According to the best testing (by Today's Golfer) the Chrome Soft is three yards shorter, three yards more crooked, and spins 500 rpms less off a wedge than a ProV1.

[nsxguy]

What are the markings on Phil's Chrome Soft ? I'd like to look it up on the conforming ball list.

TIA

[noodle3872]

Phil’s ball is the CSx Triple Track that is available at retail everywhere. While Tiger uses the B XS which is the same as the retail ball.

[GoGoErky]

Except tigers ball is the retail version of the b xs and phils ball has been offered at retail packaged as the csx triple track but callaway don’t really want to come out and say that especially after the mgs ball study.

[Stanks]

Phil’s ball is and has been notably compared to the harder X versions of balls because the spins them too much. These things are like rocks.

Tiger uses the BXS off the shelf model which is lower in compression and has a lot more spin but, is equally as fast of a ball.

Phil is notorious for switching and messing with equipment and balls are no different. He has changed special blended models.

[Pepperturbo]

I am not an equipment junky or ho so it doesn't surprise me to see his ball on the BS site. I just read it's promoted much like a novelty ball connected to Woods fundraising. I suspect his current ball isn't the same level of ball that he use to play. Years back tour guys that played with TW in match events made their frustration with TW's ball known.

TM now makes TW's exact irons/specs available to custom order. Given TW plays really weak lofts and older blade specs plus their cost, I doubt they will be actually used by many. They are more for collectors. Additionally, given most Tour players are required though sponsor contacts to test equipment, a lot of what is played on tour often is in some stage of prototype/development, so never makes it to retail.

 

[GoGoErky]

Depending on ones interpretation Tiger has played the same ball since Nike sponsorship. The ball was made by bridgestone for Nike and stayed that way for quite sometime, it was an easy switch to bridgestone for him because it’s been the same ball.

as for the tw irons I think many are playing them even if only as a backup set. They are weaker lofts than today’s irons and there’s a niche crowd that likes the 48* pw and lofts of that era. I’m sure some are going to buy just to collect but there’s probably more buying to play than collect.

[storm319]

Nike simply outsourced production to Bridgestone from ~2000 to 2011 when they switched to either Foremost (Taiwan) or Phantom (China). Nike actually had their own design team led by Rock Ishikawa (who previously worked for Bridgestone and now works for Callaway), so it was definitely not that simple (especially the RZN balls at the end of Nike’s tenure).

My guess is that Tiger tried every major OEM urethane ball, narrowed it down to what he would actually play as a starting point, and then let his agent handle the rest. While money would not be the primary motivator in this situation, it may have been a deciding factor along with the company’s promise to work on creating a ball that better fit his needs in the next cycle.

[LeftDaddy]

I’ve tried multiple versions of the CS over the years and wanted it to work for me, but I’ve given up on it. It doesn’t bite as much around the greens for me, balloons off the driver, and also yields an occasional “bomb” off the putter blade. I like the CSx better, but I still don’t consider it as good as the ProV family.

I don’t love the current ProV1. It is a great all around ball, and very “consistent” but isn’t necessarily the best at any one thing to me. I do, however, love the current ProV1x. It is long off the driver, very consistent, and bites the best of any ball except maybe the z-Star around the greens.

[Hougz79]

I’d go PV1 all day every day.

The best thing about CS/CSX is the Truvis. I actually really like the pattern. I have tried to like the ball and never really got it to work. PV1, Tour BX, and Z Star XV are my choices of game balls.

[Stanks]

They’re both amazing. I just wish you could take the truvis and slap it on a ProV1. I’m gonna get shit for that but, a man wants what he wants

[RobDMB]

How about the Prov 1 versus Chrome Soft X Triple Track? Is it correct there will be no new Prov1 for 2020 and it will carryover?

[GoGoErky]

Correct no Prov1 for 2020 since they are on 2 year cycles and come out in odd years with the latest version being this year release

[RainShadow]

For me this is how it has worked out on course:

ProV1: I like the feel putting and spin off the irons. Long off the tee, but...more likely to go sideways off driver on less than perfect strikes for some reason. A bit longer than the Chrome Soft, but not enough to overcome the sideways tee ball issue. ( I also like the Wilson Staff FG Tour, but have the same tee ball issue with it, just not as extreme)

Chrome Soft: Great all around ball for my game. Great feel off the putter, good wedge and iron spin/control and long off the tee, and seems to fly a bit straighter on slight mis hits with driver.

I could play ProV1 or 1x, but I get more consistent results with the CS. And The CS is better priced

Current Ball is B RXS, CS or FG Tour

Me: 58yo, 8-9 index, 90-95 driver swing speed. 150 7 iron.

[eric13]

I’ve found the CS to be softer (and perfect for my swing speed) than the V1.

[Sean2]

I prefer the ProV1x...for me it is more responsive around the green.

[craz-e]

I could play either to be honest they are both excellent balls. Chromesoft a little softer. I read the reviews on the chromesoft and it’s issues with QC which put me off them but after receiving another dozen as a gift and giving them a try have had no issues. The price is good too!

[Pulledabill]

Iove the ProV1 and like the CS.The CS works for me when its cooler out but is too soft for my liking when wsrm or hot out. Feels like mush. I feel like I can control the spin more with the ProV1.

[Ben Berube]

You guys are crazy. The Pros play the exact same ball we can buy. So many think Tour Issue gear is manufactured in some far off land completely seperate from retail. Wrong.

i know a couple who work for Titliest. Husband is on the Prov line and the quality control just goes deeper snd more exact when the Pros have their requests in. Same goes for the gear. But all comes from the same line as retail fellas. Its not 2002 anymore.

[Ben Berube]

Also try Tp5, hands down the best balls I have ever played. Otherwise I noticed loss of distance off the tee with CS/Pv1.