Balls That Redefine Performance
No magical golf ball will straighten out its own flight, but ball manufacturers have created products that feel soft, travel long off the tee, and generate backspin around the green — for every player type.
BY SCOTT KRAMER — Spring 2018
Callaway Chrome Soft
Callaway Chrome Soft Graphene has been called the strongest material ever tested, even warranting a Nobel Prize. It’s infused into this ball’s core, to gain both speed and launch angle with low spin off the tee — for behemoth distance. Approaching greens, it bites quickly, and it feels soft the entire way. $45; callawaygolf.com PHOTO BY GREG MILANO
Titleist Tour Soft
Titleist Tour Soft Its large, soft core translates to responsive feel, fast speed, and plenty of distance off the tee. An ultrathin, four-material grafted cover surrounds that core for stop-on-a-dime wedge-shot backspin. $35; titleist.com
Wilson DUO Soft Optix
Wilson DUO Soft Optix Golfers long for soft golf balls that go far off the tee. This model accomplishes its industry-lowest 29 compression rating through advanced core and cover formulations, but it doesn’t skimp on distance or durability. $20; wilson.com
And Check Out This Cool Training Gadget
Gen i1
Gen i1 A Bluetooth-connected smart ball, weighs and feels like other golf balls. But it houses an embedded, nine-axis sensor that measures initial direction, speed, impact force, and ball rotation — relaying that data to a mobile device. It’s suggested for putting practice. $129; geni1.com