New Callaway Chrome Soft XLS 22 Ball

[youngwaldo]

New Ball Callaway staffers like Xander Scauffele, Marc Leischman, and Sam Sounders are already playing. 
It produces  higher ball speed with reduced spin and low launch.  Have to try it and compare it to my PROV1 and TP5. 
 

WK

 

Edited November 19, 2021 by youngwaldo

[noodle3872]

Is this a 2022 ball or the 2021 released Chrome Soft X LS? I thought for 2022 the name Chrome Soft went away. 

[Ed Settle]

I’m wondering if that’s a tour only version of last year’s ball. I do not know for a fact, just speculating

[noodle3872]

Yeah, the CS and 22 make me think this could the new ball in disguise. Too early to reveal the new ball name. 

[GHIN n Juice]

The number 1 reason I’ll never play a ball from Callaway.  Every few years they randomly change the name and then I have no idea where to start.  Pick a name and stick with it.

[noodle3872]

1 hour ago, GHIN n Juice said:

The number 1 reason I’ll never play a ball from Callaway.  Every few years they randomly change the name and then I have no idea where to start.  Pick a name and stick with it.

Kinda hard to blame Callaway in this instance when the term “soft” has been characterized as slow in ball speed, lacking distance and bad manufacturing by golf chat sites and their golf ball competition. I highly doubt you’ll have a hard time picking a parallel ball from the new line considering the new balls will share some characteristics of the outgoing balls. 

[cardigan]

Conforming list has that ball as well as Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X versions with similar markings.  That LS does not have a yellow version with those marking on the list while the others do.

Edited November 19, 2021 by cardigan

[youngwaldo]

On 11/19/2021 at 1:53 PM, noodle3872 said:

Is this a 2022 ball or the 2021 released Chrome Soft X LS? I thought for 2022 the name Chrome Soft went away. 

New for 2022

 

Wk

[cardia10]

On 11/19/2021 at 3:16 PM, GHIN n Juice said:

The number 1 reason I’ll never play a ball from Callaway.  Every few years they randomly change the name and then I have no idea where to start.  Pick a name and stick with it.

Kind of like Titlieist randomly switching the Pro V and X a few years back...

[kwainio]

Apparently they're sticking with the Chrome Soft name but revamped the ball. New core, construction etc. etc.

[NRJyzr]

On 11/19/2021 at 2:16 PM, GHIN n Juice said:

The number 1 reason I’ll never play a ball from Callaway.  Every few years they randomly change the name and then I have no idea where to start.  Pick a name and stick with it.

 

Personally, I think it's worse when they don't change the name, but change the characteristics, and you have to try to track the model years based on different side stamps.  It's easier if the name were merely different.

 

[Fairways_and_Greens]

On 11/19/2021 at 12:16 PM, GHIN n Juice said:

The number 1 reason I’ll never play a ball from Callaway.  Every few years they randomly change the name and then I have no idea where to start.  Pick a name and stick with it.

Lol.

[noodle3872]

On 11/23/2021 at 4:51 PM, kwainio said:

Apparently they're sticking with the Chrome Soft name but revamped the ball. New core, construction etc. etc.

Exactly! I reached out to Jason Finley and he confirmed the model name Chrome Soft isn’t anywhere. 

[cardigan]

I still haven't seen anything besides the one thread someone started back in September that would indicate a name change.  Even though he seemed very certain that he had credible information, I'd need to see some other sources say the same thing before I put any stock in it.

[noodle3872]

13 hours ago, cardigan said:

I still haven't seen anything besides the one thread someone started back in September that would indicate a name change.  Even though he seemed very certain that he had credible information, I'd need to see some other sources say the same thing before I put any stock in it.

When Jason Finley, head of Callaway's ball department, says Chrome Soft is still the name, take it to the bank.  

[Londo]

I heard that the new version addresses some of the cover issues that the previous model had (durability). If so, that is a game changer, I will definitely be trying these if/when they come to market

[Wardonation]

I finally found my ball after the 15 Prov1X. I have been searching over and over and settled on the 21 CSX. I hope they do not mess with it too much, fixing the cover though would be great. The ball spins enough for me and flights my wedges lower which for a picker is awesome.

[Roc-A-Fella_1]

I wish they went with Chrome Soft Hard. 

[jmorrow020]

I played and stocked up on the 21 LS so I am hoping that the 22 is improved. The only thing that bugged me about the last one was the durability. Flushed wedge shots would literally fold the cover onto itself causing massive cracks and scrapes. From what I've heard this shouldnt be a problem anymore. But time will tell. I'll be ordering some first thing when they are launched. 

[Abh159]

12 minutes ago, jmorrow020 said:

The only thing that bugged me about the last one was the durability. Flushed wedge shots would literally fold the cover onto itself causing massive cracks and scrapes.

 

I'm a Bridgestone ball guy, but someone gave me a dozen CSX a few weeks back so I tested them out last week mainly just out of curiosity. I literally went through 3 balls in the first 5 holes due to durability alone. Two I had to toss after they cover shredded from a greenside bunker shot, and the third I had to toss after the cover shredded following a 3/4 gap wedge approach into a green. I went back to my Bridgestones after that.

 

Overall I thought the ball was fine. It launched slightly higher than I would want and spun a bit more than I'd like, but man that durability issue is a serious problem. No was I could play that ball regularly. If I did I'd be going through half a dozen each round without actually losing any...

[jmorrow020]

1 minute ago, Abh159 said:

 

I'm a Bridgestone ball guy, but someone gave me a dozen CSX a few weeks back so I tested them out last week mainly just out of curiosity. I literally went through 3 balls in the first 5 holes due to durability alone. Two I had to toss after they cover shredded from a greenside bunker shot, and the third I had to toss after the cover shredded following a 3/4 gap wedge approach into a green. I went back to my Bridgestones after that.

 

Overall I thought the ball was fine. It launched slightly higher than I would want and spun a bit more than I'd like, but man that durability issue is a serious problem. No was I could play that ball regularly. If I did I'd be going through half a dozen each round without actually losing any...

 

The only ball that came close for me last year was the Srixon Z Star XV. But it was a little too spinny on iron shots for me, and off the tee just a tad shorter. The CSXLS was just perfect. It was so predictable. The cover just sucks. I've got a rejects bucket at home with probably 3 dozen balls that I wouldnt play in a round, but they are nice to have as a shag bag for short game practice, or balls that I hit on the range before I get to the first tee box so I can see what's actually going on vs. a range ball. Really hoping the '22 version is a better cover. that's my only complaint about them. 

[tsecor]

hopefully this isnt like hitting a rock like the last model

[Tupperwolf]

I had a sleeve of these and left them at the shop and someone made off with them.  Oh well.

[RightHandRough]

Curious to try this vs the dot next season provided they're both readily available. As a high spin player off all clubs it's great to have these options showing up more. 

The original as said above was good, but going through a sleeve or more a round due to wear and tear when I rarely lose a ball is kind of a bugger.

[cw1209]

Looks like the Chrome Soft '22 balls are out now. Ordered a box of CS XLS yesterday. Spy is saying that the new ball is 5 points softer in compression and now similar to CS X. Also hearing they worked on addressing the cover durability issue. Tour adoption suggests that the new XLS is a solid ball. Last Callaway ball I played was Hex Black. Will be trying this ball out against BX and - V1x. 

Edited January 29, 2022 by cw1209

[belh22]

Tour bx and this one will be a great comparison 

[phizzy30]

Currently gaming last year's model.  I alternate between the CSX LS, MTB-X and left dash.  CSX LS is def low launch and spin and very firm.  Doesn't spin enough with irons at times for me, but checks every other box. 

[jml4]

Want to get a bit more time on these, but picked up a dz of both the CSX and the XLS to compare against the TP5.

 

Got a round in today and played XLS on front 9, CSX on back. Putter feel for all three felt pretty similar to me. Off driver, I really felt like the XLS gained a bit distance-wise. I am a high launch player, and this one seemed to fly same height as TP5, but never felt like it ballooned at all. Short game was not amazing outside of holing out a 26 yd pitch (with the XLS) but spin felt a bit more prominent than my TP5. On the 26 yd hole out, the XLS went high traj, one hop and hit stick and dropped in. On a clean struck short game shot, the XLS does feel really good.

 

I will say the durability is still a concern to me and why I've never seriously stuck with a Chrome soft. The XLS held up but had noticeable black marks from contact with club face, and a bit of the triple track paint chipped off from point of contact. I'm not one to ditch a ball just because of this, unless it's really scuffed up but I've not had that type of condition after a few holes with the TP5. The Chrome Soft X durability felt even worse. Had multiple cuts that fold over on itself from wedge shots. Tough pill at $50/dz.

 

Right now, partly due to how I played front vs back, the XLS seems to be the standout for me. Combined with the CSX crappy durability, it seems like it works well. Hoping to get more rounds with them and get on a monitor to see actual numbers.

Edited January 31, 2022 by jml4

[KhiloD]

my CSX LS are showing up today and I have an hour on the Quad on Thursday booked. Can't wait to see how they perform vs last gen X and X LS. Really hoping for more durability!

[Viper4225]

10 hours ago, jml4 said:

Want to get a bit more time on these, but picked up a dz of both the CSX and the XLS to compare against the TP5.

 

Got a round in today and played XLS on front 9, CSX on back. Putter feel for all three felt pretty similar to me. Off driver, I really felt like the XLS gained a bit distance-wise. I am a high launch player, and this one seemed to fly same height as TP5, but never felt like it ballooned at all. Short game was not amazing outside of holing out a 26 yd pitch (with the XLS) but spin felt a bit more prominent than my TP5. On the 26 yd hole out, the XLS went high traj, one hop and hit stick and dropped in. On a clean struck short game shot, the XLS does feel really good.

 

I will say the durability is still a concern to me and why I've never seriously stuck with a Chrome soft. The XLS held up but had noticeable black marks from contact with club face, and a bit of the triple track paint chipped off from point of contact. I'm not one to ditch a ball just because of this, unless it's really scuffed up but I've not had that type of condition after a few holes with the TP5. The Chrome Soft X durability felt even worse. Had multiple cuts that fold over on itself from wedge shots. Tough pill at $50/dz.

 

Right now, partly due to how I played front vs back, the XLS seems to be the standout for me. Combined with the CSX crappy durability, it seems like it works well. Hoping to get more rounds with them and get on a monitor to see actual numbers.

 

 

That's disappointing to hear about the durability. Which felt softer off the putter face - CSX or CSX LS?

 

Thanks!