TylerC31

Intro: 
As someone who struggles with non-driver tee shots, I've tried a lot of different clubs on shorter, tighter tee shots that driver where driver isn't an option. My default ball flight is a draw, and I don't hit fades very well, adding an extra layer of complexity on dogleg rights. I was watching some guys on instagram one day and decided that I should try a utility iron off of the tee. After reading the MGS most wanted utility iron testing, I decided to go with the Sub70 699 pro as a highly-rated value option from a company I had been hoping to try out. 
My Game: 
As I said in the intro, I almost exclusively hit a draw. My club path is fairly inside the ball from growing up playing baseball. Driver SS hovers between 118-122 most days. I tend to hit the ball pretty high with more spin than I'd like. The courses I play in and around Athens, GA are either wide open and very long (UGA) or shorter and tighter at some of the local courses. The driving iron was aimed more at the local courses. 
My Order: 
I ended up choosing the 17* 2 iron laying 1* flat with a graphite HZRDUS black x-stiff shaft and a lamkin crossline oversize grip. The total ended up being $130 and I was told to expect custom orders to take 2 weeks. 
First Impressions: 
The club came well ahead of the estimated delivery date, arriving in a little over a week. The club came well-packaged in a box filled with a handwritten note from the owner, a ball marker, and some stickers. The club was bubble-wrapped and in perfect condition. The club itself is beautiful. It is a muted satin finish with clean lines. The club doesn't appear to be too bulky while standing over the ball. 
On the Course: 
As soon as I got the club, I had to go to the course and test it out. On the range, I immediately noticed the difference in ball flight the club gave me. The ball was a lower, left-to-right fade ball flight that complimented the rest of my bag perfectly. The club provides good feedback, as I could tell almost exactly where I hit every shot based on the feel. The sound is a muted thwack, giving the impression that the club head is very solid. It does not feel any heavier than a normal iron, as I felt like I could take an aggressive swing with it every time I stepped up. On the course, the club played exactly as it seemed it would on the range. The distance settled in somewhere around the 5-wood range off the tee, though this was with me taking very aggressive swings. The most notable performance aspect was that mishits from low on the face still did quite well, producing a very straight, low ball flight with ample run out, staying in the air long enough to help cancel out some of the mishit. The club has stayed in my bag for the past two months now and has consistently performed this way. Of note, the only time I use this club is off of the tee as I have not found myself in many situations where I would use this club from the fairway. 
Final Impressions: 
Overall, I would recommend this club as a great value option. I have not ever hit other utility irons to compare it to, but compared to the hybrids I have replaced with this club, this is perfect for someone who desires a more tee-oriented club that will not produce high hooks. For the price, I would be hard-pressed justifying other utility irons over this one, especially if it is your first time trying to put one in your bag. This club costs about half of what other highly-rated utility irons do and still offers quality club construction, good shaft options, and a large array of grips. Overall, this club lives up to the hype. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for this profile of club. 

Final Review: 
As testing is wrapping up, I want to post my final thoughts and the aggregated data that I promised before! 
Final Rating (Chrome Tour X): 9.5/10
                     (Chrome Tour): 9/10
Overall thoughts: As a user of the chrome soft X previously, I am unsurprised that I love the Chrome Tour X. I think the ball retains the flight and iron spin numbers of the previous generation while optimizing driver spin numbers and developing a more durable cover. It is an immediate switch for me. Though I have not yet run out of the test balls, I plan to make my next ball purchase the Chrome Tour X. Secondarily, I do think the Chrome Tour provides a real competitor to the ProV1. Now that the cover is improved, the similar launch and spin numbers to the ProV1 make it a worthy competitor. Though I will not be playing this ball for fit reasons, I think it was a great addition to the line. 
Aggregated Testing Numbers (50 shots per club)
Club                         Ball Speed      Launch Angle      Spin      Carry     Total Distance
Driver
Chrome Tour               174.3                  13.1               1964      302.5             311.4
Chrome Tour X           177.9                   14.1               2037      307.2             319.5
5 Wood 
Chrome Tour              155.6                  12.4               2343      265.1             273.4
Chrome Tour X           160.2                  12.9              2454      270.3             277.8
 
6 Iron 
Chrome Tour              132.0                  17.5              4894      195.6             203.8
Chrome Tour X           133.1                  17.7               5011       197.8             205.4
 
9 Iron 
Chrome Tour              116.4                  23.3              7577      152.3             153.8
Chrome Tour X           121.1                  24.1               7592      159.6             160.2
 
50 Degree
Chrome Tour              89.9                  29.2              8562      120.4             121.5
Chrome Tour X           91.1                  29.4               8767      120.8             121.7
 
Overall, both were great balls! The covers are 10/10 on both balls. The triple track remains a great visual tool for setting the proper start line. I think the wind performance is equal to the previous generation, which was top of class in my opinion. Although not a distinct upgrade in this area, avoiding regression while improving the cover and the core is a huge win in my opinion. I think Callaway has earned its spot as the second-leading ball manufacturer and I look forward to gaming the Chrome Tour X!

Final Review: 
As testing is wrapping up, I want to post my final thoughts and the aggregated data that I promised before! 
Final Rating (Chrome Tour X): 9.5/10
                     (Chrome Tour): 9/10
Overall thoughts: As a user of the chrome soft X previously, I am unsurprised that I love the Chrome Tour X. I think the ball retains the flight and iron spin numbers of the previous generation while optimizing driver spin numbers and developing a more durable cover. It is an immediate switch for me. Though I have not yet run out of the test balls, I plan to make my next ball purchase the Chrome Tour X. Secondarily, I do think the Chrome Tour provides a real competitor to the ProV1. Now that the cover is improved, the similar launch and spin numbers to the ProV1 make it a worthy competitor. Though I will not be playing this ball for fit reasons, I think it was a great addition to the line. 
Aggregated Testing Numbers (50 shots per club)
Club                         Ball Speed      Launch Angle      Spin      Carry     Total Distance
Driver
Chrome Tour               174.3                  13.1               1964      302.5             311.4
Chrome Tour X           177.9                   14.1               2037      307.2             319.5
5 Wood 
Chrome Tour              155.6                  12.4               2343      265.1             273.4
Chrome Tour X           160.2                  12.9              2454      270.3             277.8
 
6 Iron 
Chrome Tour              132.0                  17.5              4894      195.6             203.8
Chrome Tour X           133.1                  17.7               5011       197.8             205.4
 
9 Iron 
Chrome Tour              116.4                  23.3              7577      152.3             153.8
Chrome Tour X           121.1                  24.1               7592      159.6             160.2
 
50 Degree
Chrome Tour              89.9                  29.2              8562      120.4             121.5
Chrome Tour X           91.1                  29.4               8767      120.8             121.7
 
Overall, both were great balls! The covers are 10/10 on both balls. The triple track remains a great visual tool for setting the proper start line. I think the wind performance is equal to the previous generation, which was top of class in my opinion. Although not a distinct upgrade in this area, avoiding regression while improving the cover and the core is a huge win in my opinion. I think Callaway has earned its spot as the second-leading ball manufacturer and I look forward to gaming the Chrome Tour X!

Final Review: 
As testing is wrapping up, I want to post my final thoughts and the aggregated data that I promised before! 
Final Rating (Chrome Tour X): 9.5/10
                     (Chrome Tour): 9/10
Overall thoughts: As a user of the chrome soft X previously, I am unsurprised that I love the Chrome Tour X. I think the ball retains the flight and iron spin numbers of the previous generation while optimizing driver spin numbers and developing a more durable cover. It is an immediate switch for me. Though I have not yet run out of the test balls, I plan to make my next ball purchase the Chrome Tour X. Secondarily, I do think the Chrome Tour provides a real competitor to the ProV1. Now that the cover is improved, the similar launch and spin numbers to the ProV1 make it a worthy competitor. Though I will not be playing this ball for fit reasons, I think it was a great addition to the line. 
Aggregated Testing Numbers (50 shots per club)
Club                         Ball Speed      Launch Angle      Spin      Carry     Total Distance
Driver
Chrome Tour               174.3                  13.1               1964      302.5             311.4
Chrome Tour X           177.9                   14.1               2037      307.2             319.5
5 Wood 
Chrome Tour              155.6                  12.4               2343      265.1             273.4
Chrome Tour X           160.2                  12.9              2454      270.3             277.8
 
6 Iron 
Chrome Tour              132.0                  17.5              4894      195.6             203.8
Chrome Tour X           133.1                  17.7               5011       197.8             205.4
 
9 Iron 
Chrome Tour              116.4                  23.3              7577      152.3             153.8
Chrome Tour X           121.1                  24.1               7592      159.6             160.2
 
50 Degree
Chrome Tour              89.9                  29.2              8562      120.4             121.5
Chrome Tour X           91.1                  29.4               8767      120.8             121.7
 
Overall, both were great balls! The covers are 10/10 on both balls. The triple track remains a great visual tool for setting the proper start line. I think the wind performance is equal to the previous generation, which was top of class in my opinion. Although not a distinct upgrade in this area, avoiding regression while improving the cover and the core is a huge win in my opinion. I think Callaway has earned its spot as the second-leading ball manufacturer and I look forward to gaming the Chrome Tour X!

Final Review: 
As testing is wrapping up, I want to post my final thoughts and the aggregated data that I promised before! 
Final Rating (Chrome Tour X): 9.5/10
                     (Chrome Tour): 9/10
Overall thoughts: As a user of the chrome soft X previously, I am unsurprised that I love the Chrome Tour X. I think the ball retains the flight and iron spin numbers of the previous generation while optimizing driver spin numbers and developing a more durable cover. It is an immediate switch for me. Though I have not yet run out of the test balls, I plan to make my next ball purchase the Chrome Tour X. Secondarily, I do think the Chrome Tour provides a real competitor to the ProV1. Now that the cover is improved, the similar launch and spin numbers to the ProV1 make it a worthy competitor. Though I will not be playing this ball for fit reasons, I think it was a great addition to the line. 
Aggregated Testing Numbers (50 shots per club)
Club                         Ball Speed      Launch Angle      Spin      Carry     Total Distance
Driver
Chrome Tour               174.3                  13.1               1964      302.5             311.4
Chrome Tour X           177.9                   14.1               2037      307.2             319.5
5 Wood 
Chrome Tour              155.6                  12.4               2343      265.1             273.4
Chrome Tour X           160.2                  12.9              2454      270.3             277.8
 
6 Iron 
Chrome Tour              132.0                  17.5              4894      195.6             203.8
Chrome Tour X           133.1                  17.7               5011       197.8             205.4
 
9 Iron 
Chrome Tour              116.4                  23.3              7577      152.3             153.8
Chrome Tour X           121.1                  24.1               7592      159.6             160.2
 
50 Degree
Chrome Tour              89.9                  29.2              8562      120.4             121.5
Chrome Tour X           91.1                  29.4               8767      120.8             121.7
 
Overall, both were great balls! The covers are 10/10 on both balls. The triple track remains a great visual tool for setting the proper start line. I think the wind performance is equal to the previous generation, which was top of class in my opinion. Although not a distinct upgrade in this area, avoiding regression while improving the cover and the core is a huge win in my opinion. I think Callaway has earned its spot as the second-leading ball manufacturer and I look forward to gaming the Chrome Tour X!

Final Review: 
As testing is wrapping up, I want to post my final thoughts and the aggregated data that I promised before! 
Final Rating (Chrome Tour X): 9.5/10
                     (Chrome Tour): 9/10
Overall thoughts: As a user of the chrome soft X previously, I am unsurprised that I love the Chrome Tour X. I think the ball retains the flight and iron spin numbers of the previous generation while optimizing driver spin numbers and developing a more durable cover. It is an immediate switch for me. Though I have not yet run out of the test balls, I plan to make my next ball purchase the Chrome Tour X. Secondarily, I do think the Chrome Tour provides a real competitor to the ProV1. Now that the cover is improved, the similar launch and spin numbers to the ProV1 make it a worthy competitor. Though I will not be playing this ball for fit reasons, I think it was a great addition to the line. 
Aggregated Testing Numbers (50 shots per club)
Club                         Ball Speed      Launch Angle      Spin      Carry     Total Distance
Driver
Chrome Tour               174.3                  13.1               1964      302.5             311.4
Chrome Tour X           177.9                   14.1               2037      307.2             319.5
5 Wood 
Chrome Tour              155.6                  12.4               2343      265.1             273.4
Chrome Tour X           160.2                  12.9              2454      270.3             277.8
 
6 Iron 
Chrome Tour              132.0                  17.5              4894      195.6             203.8
Chrome Tour X           133.1                  17.7               5011       197.8             205.4
 
9 Iron 
Chrome Tour              116.4                  23.3              7577      152.3             153.8
Chrome Tour X           121.1                  24.1               7592      159.6             160.2
 
50 Degree
Chrome Tour              89.9                  29.2              8562      120.4             121.5
Chrome Tour X           91.1                  29.4               8767      120.8             121.7
 
Overall, both were great balls! The covers are 10/10 on both balls. The triple track remains a great visual tool for setting the proper start line. I think the wind performance is equal to the previous generation, which was top of class in my opinion. Although not a distinct upgrade in this area, avoiding regression while improving the cover and the core is a huge win in my opinion. I think Callaway has earned its spot as the second-leading ball manufacturer and I look forward to gaming the Chrome Tour X!

Final Review: 
As testing is wrapping up, I want to post my final thoughts and the aggregated data that I promised before! 
Final Rating (Chrome Tour X): 9.5/10
                     (Chrome Tour): 9/10
Overall thoughts: As a user of the chrome soft X previously, I am unsurprised that I love the Chrome Tour X. I think the ball retains the flight and iron spin numbers of the previous generation while optimizing driver spin numbers and developing a more durable cover. It is an immediate switch for me. Though I have not yet run out of the test balls, I plan to make my next ball purchase the Chrome Tour X. Secondarily, I do think the Chrome Tour provides a real competitor to the ProV1. Now that the cover is improved, the similar launch and spin numbers to the ProV1 make it a worthy competitor. Though I will not be playing this ball for fit reasons, I think it was a great addition to the line. 
Aggregated Testing Numbers (50 shots per club)
Club                         Ball Speed      Launch Angle      Spin      Carry     Total Distance
Driver
Chrome Tour               174.3                  13.1               1964      302.5             311.4
Chrome Tour X           177.9                   14.1               2037      307.2             319.5
5 Wood 
Chrome Tour              155.6                  12.4               2343      265.1             273.4
Chrome Tour X           160.2                  12.9              2454      270.3             277.8
 
6 Iron 
Chrome Tour              132.0                  17.5              4894      195.6             203.8
Chrome Tour X           133.1                  17.7               5011       197.8             205.4
 
9 Iron 
Chrome Tour              116.4                  23.3              7577      152.3             153.8
Chrome Tour X           121.1                  24.1               7592      159.6             160.2
 
50 Degree
Chrome Tour              89.9                  29.2              8562      120.4             121.5
Chrome Tour X           91.1                  29.4               8767      120.8             121.7
 
Overall, both were great balls! The covers are 10/10 on both balls. The triple track remains a great visual tool for setting the proper start line. I think the wind performance is equal to the previous generation, which was top of class in my opinion. Although not a distinct upgrade in this area, avoiding regression while improving the cover and the core is a huge win in my opinion. I think Callaway has earned its spot as the second-leading ball manufacturer and I look forward to gaming the Chrome Tour X!

Final Review: 
As testing is wrapping up, I want to post my final thoughts and the aggregated data that I promised before! 
Final Rating (Chrome Tour X): 9.5/10
                     (Chrome Tour): 9/10
Overall thoughts: As a user of the chrome soft X previously, I am unsurprised that I love the Chrome Tour X. I think the ball retains the flight and iron spin numbers of the previous generation while optimizing driver spin numbers and developing a more durable cover. It is an immediate switch for me. Though I have not yet run out of the test balls, I plan to make my next ball purchase the Chrome Tour X. Secondarily, I do think the Chrome Tour provides a real competitor to the ProV1. Now that the cover is improved, the similar launch and spin numbers to the ProV1 make it a worthy competitor. Though I will not be playing this ball for fit reasons, I think it was a great addition to the line. 
Aggregated Testing Numbers (50 shots per club)
Club                         Ball Speed      Launch Angle      Spin      Carry     Total Distance
Driver
Chrome Tour               174.3                  13.1               1964      302.5             311.4
Chrome Tour X           177.9                   14.1               2037      307.2             319.5
5 Wood 
Chrome Tour              155.6                  12.4               2343      265.1             273.4
Chrome Tour X           160.2                  12.9              2454      270.3             277.8
 
6 Iron 
Chrome Tour              132.0                  17.5              4894      195.6             203.8
Chrome Tour X           133.1                  17.7               5011       197.8             205.4
 
9 Iron 
Chrome Tour              116.4                  23.3              7577      152.3             153.8
Chrome Tour X           121.1                  24.1               7592      159.6             160.2
 
50 Degree
Chrome Tour              89.9                  29.2              8562      120.4             121.5
Chrome Tour X           91.1                  29.4               8767      120.8             121.7
 
Overall, both were great balls! The covers are 10/10 on both balls. The triple track remains a great visual tool for setting the proper start line. I think the wind performance is equal to the previous generation, which was top of class in my opinion. Although not a distinct upgrade in this area, avoiding regression while improving the cover and the core is a huge win in my opinion. I think Callaway has earned its spot as the second-leading ball manufacturer and I look forward to gaming the Chrome Tour X!

Final Review: 
As testing is wrapping up, I want to post my final thoughts and the aggregated data that I promised before! 
Final Rating (Chrome Tour X): 9.5/10
                     (Chrome Tour): 9/10
Overall thoughts: As a user of the chrome soft X previously, I am unsurprised that I love the Chrome Tour X. I think the ball retains the flight and iron spin numbers of the previous generation while optimizing driver spin numbers and developing a more durable cover. It is an immediate switch for me. Though I have not yet run out of the test balls, I plan to make my next ball purchase the Chrome Tour X. Secondarily, I do think the Chrome Tour provides a real competitor to the ProV1. Now that the cover is improved, the similar launch and spin numbers to the ProV1 make it a worthy competitor. Though I will not be playing this ball for fit reasons, I think it was a great addition to the line. 
Aggregated Testing Numbers (50 shots per club)
Club                         Ball Speed      Launch Angle      Spin      Carry     Total Distance
Driver
Chrome Tour               174.3                  13.1               1964      302.5             311.4
Chrome Tour X           177.9                   14.1               2037      307.2             319.5
5 Wood 
Chrome Tour              155.6                  12.4               2343      265.1             273.4
Chrome Tour X           160.2                  12.9              2454      270.3             277.8
 
6 Iron 
Chrome Tour              132.0                  17.5              4894      195.6             203.8
Chrome Tour X           133.1                  17.7               5011       197.8             205.4
 
9 Iron 
Chrome Tour              116.4                  23.3              7577      152.3             153.8
Chrome Tour X           121.1                  24.1               7592      159.6             160.2
 
50 Degree
Chrome Tour              89.9                  29.2              8562      120.4             121.5
Chrome Tour X           91.1                  29.4               8767      120.8             121.7
 
Overall, both were great balls! The covers are 10/10 on both balls. The triple track remains a great visual tool for setting the proper start line. I think the wind performance is equal to the previous generation, which was top of class in my opinion. Although not a distinct upgrade in this area, avoiding regression while improving the cover and the core is a huge win in my opinion. I think Callaway has earned its spot as the second-leading ball manufacturer and I look forward to gaming the Chrome Tour X!

On course testing: 
 
Today I took the new balls out on UNC Finley. I have had the chance to test them outdoors before, but today was consistently windy and these are easily the highest quality greens I have had the opportunity to use them on so far. I was playing in a threesome, so I didn't play two balls each hole this time, but I did try to make sure I used both for an equal number of par threes and approximately the same number of shots into the wind and with the wind for comparison. Today it was approximately 50* and the wind was around 10 miles an hour the entire day. 
 
Off the tee: The Chrome Tour X is a monster for me, no doubt about it. The ball feels like it's going a long way each time I hit it. On shots into the wind, I would say I lost around 15 yards. This is slightly better than I typically expect with a stiff wind coming in, so I  was happy with this. I felt like the ball resisted ballooning up and maintained the same trajectory throughout the wind, around 100 foot apex with a penetrating trajectory. The Chrome Tour performed well, too, though it continues to lack the pop that I get from the Chrome Tour X. In general, the ball remained around 5 yards shorter on the day, though the fairways were very soft and this difference may have been greater with firmer conditions. 
 
Approach: The Chrome Tour feels incredible off of irons. It is super soft and has a pleasing flight. I find a lot less difference in stopping power and distance with irons on-course, so advantage chrome tour here. Both balls landed soft and stopped quickly. I would say both balls were around a club shorter into the wind, which is around average for me in the wind conditions. So no major gains here, but I played my previous ball for wind performance so I'm happy with that result. 
 
Around the green: Though the Chrome Tour was softer, the Chrome Tour X stopped far quicker on equivalent contact. Though the fairways were soft, the greens were extremely hard and firm and it was important to be able to spin short shots around the green. I was pleased to see how well I was able to stop the Chrome Tour X on tougher greens today when I needed to. 
 
Putting: The Chrome Tour was nicer to putt with, soles because of its feel. In terms of actual performance, both balls rolled true. The triple track holds up well, though this is another feature I used on my previous ball so I am a fan of how it looks. 
 
Overall thoughts: the Chrome Tour X is still the ball for me, and I think it is an on-course upgrade for me. Though the differences can be harder to tease out on normal greens, the difference from the previous generation stood out on these excellent greens today. I will be making the switch the next time I buy balls. 

On course testing: 
 
Today I took the new balls out on UNC Finley. I have had the chance to test them outdoors before, but today was consistently windy and these are easily the highest quality greens I have had the opportunity to use them on so far. I was playing in a threesome, so I didn't play two balls each hole this time, but I did try to make sure I used both for an equal number of par threes and approximately the same number of shots into the wind and with the wind for comparison. Today it was approximately 50* and the wind was around 10 miles an hour the entire day. 
 
Off the tee: The Chrome Tour X is a monster for me, no doubt about it. The ball feels like it's going a long way each time I hit it. On shots into the wind, I would say I lost around 15 yards. This is slightly better than I typically expect with a stiff wind coming in, so I  was happy with this. I felt like the ball resisted ballooning up and maintained the same trajectory throughout the wind, around 100 foot apex with a penetrating trajectory. The Chrome Tour performed well, too, though it continues to lack the pop that I get from the Chrome Tour X. In general, the ball remained around 5 yards shorter on the day, though the fairways were very soft and this difference may have been greater with firmer conditions. 
 
Approach: The Chrome Tour feels incredible off of irons. It is super soft and has a pleasing flight. I find a lot less difference in stopping power and distance with irons on-course, so advantage chrome tour here. Both balls landed soft and stopped quickly. I would say both balls were around a club shorter into the wind, which is around average for me in the wind conditions. So no major gains here, but I played my previous ball for wind performance so I'm happy with that result. 
 
Around the green: Though the Chrome Tour was softer, the Chrome Tour X stopped far quicker on equivalent contact. Though the fairways were soft, the greens were extremely hard and firm and it was important to be able to spin short shots around the green. I was pleased to see how well I was able to stop the Chrome Tour X on tougher greens today when I needed to. 
 
Putting: The Chrome Tour was nicer to putt with, soles because of its feel. In terms of actual performance, both balls rolled true. The triple track holds up well, though this is another feature I used on my previous ball so I am a fan of how it looks. 
 
Overall thoughts: the Chrome Tour X is still the ball for me, and I think it is an on-course upgrade for me. Though the differences can be harder to tease out on normal greens, the difference from the previous generation stood out on these excellent greens today. I will be making the switch the next time I buy balls. 

On course testing: 
 
Today I took the new balls out on UNC Finley. I have had the chance to test them outdoors before, but today was consistently windy and these are easily the highest quality greens I have had the opportunity to use them on so far. I was playing in a threesome, so I didn't play two balls each hole this time, but I did try to make sure I used both for an equal number of par threes and approximately the same number of shots into the wind and with the wind for comparison. Today it was approximately 50* and the wind was around 10 miles an hour the entire day. 
 
Off the tee: The Chrome Tour X is a monster for me, no doubt about it. The ball feels like it's going a long way each time I hit it. On shots into the wind, I would say I lost around 15 yards. This is slightly better than I typically expect with a stiff wind coming in, so I  was happy with this. I felt like the ball resisted ballooning up and maintained the same trajectory throughout the wind, around 100 foot apex with a penetrating trajectory. The Chrome Tour performed well, too, though it continues to lack the pop that I get from the Chrome Tour X. In general, the ball remained around 5 yards shorter on the day, though the fairways were very soft and this difference may have been greater with firmer conditions. 
 
Approach: The Chrome Tour feels incredible off of irons. It is super soft and has a pleasing flight. I find a lot less difference in stopping power and distance with irons on-course, so advantage chrome tour here. Both balls landed soft and stopped quickly. I would say both balls were around a club shorter into the wind, which is around average for me in the wind conditions. So no major gains here, but I played my previous ball for wind performance so I'm happy with that result. 
 
Around the green: Though the Chrome Tour was softer, the Chrome Tour X stopped far quicker on equivalent contact. Though the fairways were soft, the greens were extremely hard and firm and it was important to be able to spin short shots around the green. I was pleased to see how well I was able to stop the Chrome Tour X on tougher greens today when I needed to. 
 
Putting: The Chrome Tour was nicer to putt with, soles because of its feel. In terms of actual performance, both balls rolled true. The triple track holds up well, though this is another feature I used on my previous ball so I am a fan of how it looks. 
 
Overall thoughts: the Chrome Tour X is still the ball for me, and I think it is an on-course upgrade for me. Though the differences can be harder to tease out on normal greens, the difference from the previous generation stood out on these excellent greens today. I will be making the switch the next time I buy balls. 

Testing Session 2: 5W, 50, On-Course Chipping and Putting
Today I had a good amount of time to test the balls, so I took the opportunity to hit some wedges and woods on the simulator before moving out to the course! 
Wedges: 
A lot of my findings from the driver testing held true here as well. The chrome soft x spun the most by a fairly significant margin, but had the same ball speed as the chrome tour x. The chrome tour x continued to be the lowest-launching, but had an excellent descent angle and ideal spin to stop on firm greens. I found that the chrome tour was approximately four yards shorter than both the tour x and the chrome soft x and also spun the leas (as it is designed to do!). The chrome tour launched slightly higher than the chrome tour x and produced lower ball speeds. Overall, the chrome tour x provided my ideal launch and spin conditions for real golf with these full shot wedges, a welcome development with the sometimes excessive spin the chrome soft x could provide on well-struck wedges. 

5W: 
I'm starting to realize that the chrome tour x starts to shine the harder it is hit. While it provides all the spin in the world with the short shots and mid-irons, when it is crushed with a driver or wood, it lives in the 2000 rpm range like clockwork. One area I could lose consistency with the chrome soft x was when I would hit lower on the face with the driver or wood and it would produce monster spin and lose ball speed. I simply did not have this experience with the chrome tour x, and I felt as if I knew how the ball would perform every time. Once again, it produced huge ball speed and appropriate long game spin. The chrome tour matched the chrome soft x in distance while producing lower ball speed and spin. 
 

On-Course: 
Today I broke out the test balls for some short game testing. It is hard to describe how happy I am with the chrome tour x. I love to hit low spinners around the green and from 50 in. Typically the ball will skip once or twice and then stop on a dime. I felt as if I could consistently get this result from the chrome tour x with a tight distribution and consistent results. The chrome tour was able to match inside 15 yards, but the farther from the hole I got, the more the difference in the balls showed itself as the chrome tour would leak just a little bit more. By no means was the chrome tour bad, but the chrome tour x was a monster. I could even rip back low bullet partial wedges from 50 yards with the chrome tour x if I really leaned on it, something I can not do with most balls. Again, the consistency of the wedge results was what stood out for both balls. I feel like they allowed me to open up my creativity and trust that the ball would respond to the swing put on it. The results of the putting matched my indoor feelings. The chrome tour had a very pleasing soft feel, with the chrome tour x also feeling good but firm. I think both balls have improved acoustics over the previous generation. 
 
I plan to get a full set of testing data, including the mid and short irons, on Friday. At that point the data set will start to expand and I will be able to provide cumulative data next week. I also plan to post images of how the balls have stood up to the hundred-plus swings each they will all have at that point. See yall then! 

Mid-Test Review
 
So far, I have been very happy with the new Callaway balls. As someone who previously played a similar Callaway ball (fit into by Ballnamic), I am not overly surprised that they've fit my game. I chose to use the previous ball because of wind performance, launch window, and flier prevention. I accepted that I would have a touch more spin than I truly wanted and accepted that as a consequence of the ball. I expected the same to continue with the new balls. What has been a pleasant surprise, however, has been the overall improvement in the quality of the cover of the ball and the optimization of the ball's properties at higher speeds. While I used to get overly high spin on my driver with the old Chrome Soft X, I've found that the Chrome Tour X is a much more consistent spin window, and one that is more appropriately in the 2100 rpm backspin range as opposed to the 2500+ I could get before. I also get a more appropriate spin value on wedges and irons. I used to have the problem of over-spinning full swing approach shots and leaving myself farther away than desired. I have found that the new balls stop and spin much more consistently and never excessively. That said, on partial wedge shots I still feel I have appropriate stopping power and do not experience my short shots leaking away from the hole. I have found that the things that drew me to the old ball, peak height, landing angle, wind performance, etc, have all stayed the same while the other numbers have optimized. I'm not sure it's really faster than the old ball, but it is not slower, so the reduced driver spin means the ball has gone 2-3 yards farther for me without other sacrifices. 
 
I have previously posted about the durability, but this is another area I really want to touch on again. One of the major reasons so many people have migrated to Titleist over the years is the perception of durability and quality. While I never thought my old Chrome Soft Xs had poor covers, I did not think they were as robust as Titleist balls. I believe that the new cover is top of class. I do not think there is a ball on the market with a cover that is better than this. It is definitively a top-quality cover and I want to make sure I commend Callaway for that. 
 
I have another review from on-course testing coming tomorrow, so be on the lookout for that! 

Mid-Test Review
 
So far, I have been very happy with the new Callaway balls. As someone who previously played a similar Callaway ball (fit into by Ballnamic), I am not overly surprised that they've fit my game. I chose to use the previous ball because of wind performance, launch window, and flier prevention. I accepted that I would have a touch more spin than I truly wanted and accepted that as a consequence of the ball. I expected the same to continue with the new balls. What has been a pleasant surprise, however, has been the overall improvement in the quality of the cover of the ball and the optimization of the ball's properties at higher speeds. While I used to get overly high spin on my driver with the old Chrome Soft X, I've found that the Chrome Tour X is a much more consistent spin window, and one that is more appropriately in the 2100 rpm backspin range as opposed to the 2500+ I could get before. I also get a more appropriate spin value on wedges and irons. I used to have the problem of over-spinning full swing approach shots and leaving myself farther away than desired. I have found that the new balls stop and spin much more consistently and never excessively. That said, on partial wedge shots I still feel I have appropriate stopping power and do not experience my short shots leaking away from the hole. I have found that the things that drew me to the old ball, peak height, landing angle, wind performance, etc, have all stayed the same while the other numbers have optimized. I'm not sure it's really faster than the old ball, but it is not slower, so the reduced driver spin means the ball has gone 2-3 yards farther for me without other sacrifices. 
 
I have previously posted about the durability, but this is another area I really want to touch on again. One of the major reasons so many people have migrated to Titleist over the years is the perception of durability and quality. While I never thought my old Chrome Soft Xs had poor covers, I did not think they were as robust as Titleist balls. I believe that the new cover is top of class. I do not think there is a ball on the market with a cover that is better than this. It is definitively a top-quality cover and I want to make sure I commend Callaway for that. 
 
I have another review from on-course testing coming tomorrow, so be on the lookout for that! 

Mid-Test Review
 
So far, I have been very happy with the new Callaway balls. As someone who previously played a similar Callaway ball (fit into by Ballnamic), I am not overly surprised that they've fit my game. I chose to use the previous ball because of wind performance, launch window, and flier prevention. I accepted that I would have a touch more spin than I truly wanted and accepted that as a consequence of the ball. I expected the same to continue with the new balls. What has been a pleasant surprise, however, has been the overall improvement in the quality of the cover of the ball and the optimization of the ball's properties at higher speeds. While I used to get overly high spin on my driver with the old Chrome Soft X, I've found that the Chrome Tour X is a much more consistent spin window, and one that is more appropriately in the 2100 rpm backspin range as opposed to the 2500+ I could get before. I also get a more appropriate spin value on wedges and irons. I used to have the problem of over-spinning full swing approach shots and leaving myself farther away than desired. I have found that the new balls stop and spin much more consistently and never excessively. That said, on partial wedge shots I still feel I have appropriate stopping power and do not experience my short shots leaking away from the hole. I have found that the things that drew me to the old ball, peak height, landing angle, wind performance, etc, have all stayed the same while the other numbers have optimized. I'm not sure it's really faster than the old ball, but it is not slower, so the reduced driver spin means the ball has gone 2-3 yards farther for me without other sacrifices. 
 
I have previously posted about the durability, but this is another area I really want to touch on again. One of the major reasons so many people have migrated to Titleist over the years is the perception of durability and quality. While I never thought my old Chrome Soft Xs had poor covers, I did not think they were as robust as Titleist balls. I believe that the new cover is top of class. I do not think there is a ball on the market with a cover that is better than this. It is definitively a top-quality cover and I want to make sure I commend Callaway for that. 
 
I have another review from on-course testing coming tomorrow, so be on the lookout for that! 

Mid-Test Review
 
So far, I have been very happy with the new Callaway balls. As someone who previously played a similar Callaway ball (fit into by Ballnamic), I am not overly surprised that they've fit my game. I chose to use the previous ball because of wind performance, launch window, and flier prevention. I accepted that I would have a touch more spin than I truly wanted and accepted that as a consequence of the ball. I expected the same to continue with the new balls. What has been a pleasant surprise, however, has been the overall improvement in the quality of the cover of the ball and the optimization of the ball's properties at higher speeds. While I used to get overly high spin on my driver with the old Chrome Soft X, I've found that the Chrome Tour X is a much more consistent spin window, and one that is more appropriately in the 2100 rpm backspin range as opposed to the 2500+ I could get before. I also get a more appropriate spin value on wedges and irons. I used to have the problem of over-spinning full swing approach shots and leaving myself farther away than desired. I have found that the new balls stop and spin much more consistently and never excessively. That said, on partial wedge shots I still feel I have appropriate stopping power and do not experience my short shots leaking away from the hole. I have found that the things that drew me to the old ball, peak height, landing angle, wind performance, etc, have all stayed the same while the other numbers have optimized. I'm not sure it's really faster than the old ball, but it is not slower, so the reduced driver spin means the ball has gone 2-3 yards farther for me without other sacrifices. 
 
I have previously posted about the durability, but this is another area I really want to touch on again. One of the major reasons so many people have migrated to Titleist over the years is the perception of durability and quality. While I never thought my old Chrome Soft Xs had poor covers, I did not think they were as robust as Titleist balls. I believe that the new cover is top of class. I do not think there is a ball on the market with a cover that is better than this. It is definitively a top-quality cover and I want to make sure I commend Callaway for that. 
 
I have another review from on-course testing coming tomorrow, so be on the lookout for that! 

Combined Updates 3 and 4: Durability Check-In and More Testing Numbers
Because of some simulator repair work being done by my apartment complex, I am a little late in getting my most recent testing session in. Fortunately I was able to do it last night and get some updates today!
First and foremost- durability check in. 
I've put A TON of swings on these at this point. Between pure testing sessions and just using the simulator, each ball has at least 125-150 full swings now, with another 50 or so greenside shots. In general, the new covers are in fact holding up better than the previous generation covers. I'll post a picture of them all side-by-side and then show the cover conditions of each. As a whole, the primary thing wearing down is the triple track paint. Because it still held up well enough to line up putts, this is largely inconsequential. The pain on the logos is another area showing wear for each ball, though this is another thing that matters much less than the actual cover durability. None of the covers look bad, I would just say that the new ones are better. 

Chrome Tour X
You can see here that the cover has held up remarkably well to a lot of full shots and wedges. There's a little wear in a single spot from a particularly steep wedge shot with newly-sharpened grooves, but otherwise is great. 

Chrome Tour
This cover is largely the same as the Chrome Tour X. Still, in general holding up quite well for the number of swings. 

Chrome Soft X
Despite hardly being bad, the cover is definitely more beat up than the others. I think the durability is just a touch less robust than the new model, so props to Callaway for producing a noticeable improvement in the cover. 

Bulk Testing Session:
 
Below are an aggregation of numbers from my latest testing session. This time around, I feel like I got a less noticeable difference in launch between the balls, but the speed difference still persists. My 6i spin numbers for the chrome soft x were weird so I will chalk that up to an outlier for now. The Chrome Tour X seems to have a much more ideal spin profile for my game than the Chrome Soft X I had used previously. Whereas I got slightly too much spin from the old model, the new Chrome Tour X seems to hit the sweet spot of spin where I don't balloon up as much/rip the ball back uncontrollably on greens. I believe this, in addition to the cover, will lead to improved performance in the wind when I take the balls outside next week. One final thing worth pointing out about the Chrome Tour X- I hit my highest ball speed since switching from my Cobra LTDx LS to the Paradym TD last year! I continue to see great speeds off the face with this ball, all coming out of nice windows. Still early in testing, but most certainly a ball I think I am going to go to full-time. 

Combined Updates 3 and 4: Durability Check-In and More Testing Numbers
Because of some simulator repair work being done by my apartment complex, I am a little late in getting my most recent testing session in. Fortunately I was able to do it last night and get some updates today!
First and foremost- durability check in. 
I've put A TON of swings on these at this point. Between pure testing sessions and just using the simulator, each ball has at least 125-150 full swings now, with another 50 or so greenside shots. In general, the new covers are in fact holding up better than the previous generation covers. I'll post a picture of them all side-by-side and then show the cover conditions of each. As a whole, the primary thing wearing down is the triple track paint. Because it still held up well enough to line up putts, this is largely inconsequential. The pain on the logos is another area showing wear for each ball, though this is another thing that matters much less than the actual cover durability. None of the covers look bad, I would just say that the new ones are better. 

Chrome Tour X
You can see here that the cover has held up remarkably well to a lot of full shots and wedges. There's a little wear in a single spot from a particularly steep wedge shot with newly-sharpened grooves, but otherwise is great. 

Chrome Tour
This cover is largely the same as the Chrome Tour X. Still, in general holding up quite well for the number of swings. 

Chrome Soft X
Despite hardly being bad, the cover is definitely more beat up than the others. I think the durability is just a touch less robust than the new model, so props to Callaway for producing a noticeable improvement in the cover. 

Bulk Testing Session:
 
Below are an aggregation of numbers from my latest testing session. This time around, I feel like I got a less noticeable difference in launch between the balls, but the speed difference still persists. My 6i spin numbers for the chrome soft x were weird so I will chalk that up to an outlier for now. The Chrome Tour X seems to have a much more ideal spin profile for my game than the Chrome Soft X I had used previously. Whereas I got slightly too much spin from the old model, the new Chrome Tour X seems to hit the sweet spot of spin where I don't balloon up as much/rip the ball back uncontrollably on greens. I believe this, in addition to the cover, will lead to improved performance in the wind when I take the balls outside next week. One final thing worth pointing out about the Chrome Tour X- I hit my highest ball speed since switching from my Cobra LTDx LS to the Paradym TD last year! I continue to see great speeds off the face with this ball, all coming out of nice windows. Still early in testing, but most certainly a ball I think I am going to go to full-time. 

Combined Updates 3 and 4: Durability Check-In and More Testing Numbers
Because of some simulator repair work being done by my apartment complex, I am a little late in getting my most recent testing session in. Fortunately I was able to do it last night and get some updates today!
First and foremost- durability check in. 
I've put A TON of swings on these at this point. Between pure testing sessions and just using the simulator, each ball has at least 125-150 full swings now, with another 50 or so greenside shots. In general, the new covers are in fact holding up better than the previous generation covers. I'll post a picture of them all side-by-side and then show the cover conditions of each. As a whole, the primary thing wearing down is the triple track paint. Because it still held up well enough to line up putts, this is largely inconsequential. The pain on the logos is another area showing wear for each ball, though this is another thing that matters much less than the actual cover durability. None of the covers look bad, I would just say that the new ones are better. 

Chrome Tour X
You can see here that the cover has held up remarkably well to a lot of full shots and wedges. There's a little wear in a single spot from a particularly steep wedge shot with newly-sharpened grooves, but otherwise is great. 

Chrome Tour
This cover is largely the same as the Chrome Tour X. Still, in general holding up quite well for the number of swings. 

Chrome Soft X
Despite hardly being bad, the cover is definitely more beat up than the others. I think the durability is just a touch less robust than the new model, so props to Callaway for producing a noticeable improvement in the cover. 

Bulk Testing Session:
 
Below are an aggregation of numbers from my latest testing session. This time around, I feel like I got a less noticeable difference in launch between the balls, but the speed difference still persists. My 6i spin numbers for the chrome soft x were weird so I will chalk that up to an outlier for now. The Chrome Tour X seems to have a much more ideal spin profile for my game than the Chrome Soft X I had used previously. Whereas I got slightly too much spin from the old model, the new Chrome Tour X seems to hit the sweet spot of spin where I don't balloon up as much/rip the ball back uncontrollably on greens. I believe this, in addition to the cover, will lead to improved performance in the wind when I take the balls outside next week. One final thing worth pointing out about the Chrome Tour X- I hit my highest ball speed since switching from my Cobra LTDx LS to the Paradym TD last year! I continue to see great speeds off the face with this ball, all coming out of nice windows. Still early in testing, but most certainly a ball I think I am going to go to full-time. 

Combined Updates 3 and 4: Durability Check-In and More Testing Numbers
Because of some simulator repair work being done by my apartment complex, I am a little late in getting my most recent testing session in. Fortunately I was able to do it last night and get some updates today!
First and foremost- durability check in. 
I've put A TON of swings on these at this point. Between pure testing sessions and just using the simulator, each ball has at least 125-150 full swings now, with another 50 or so greenside shots. In general, the new covers are in fact holding up better than the previous generation covers. I'll post a picture of them all side-by-side and then show the cover conditions of each. As a whole, the primary thing wearing down is the triple track paint. Because it still held up well enough to line up putts, this is largely inconsequential. The pain on the logos is another area showing wear for each ball, though this is another thing that matters much less than the actual cover durability. None of the covers look bad, I would just say that the new ones are better. 

Chrome Tour X
You can see here that the cover has held up remarkably well to a lot of full shots and wedges. There's a little wear in a single spot from a particularly steep wedge shot with newly-sharpened grooves, but otherwise is great. 

Chrome Tour
This cover is largely the same as the Chrome Tour X. Still, in general holding up quite well for the number of swings. 

Chrome Soft X
Despite hardly being bad, the cover is definitely more beat up than the others. I think the durability is just a touch less robust than the new model, so props to Callaway for producing a noticeable improvement in the cover. 

Bulk Testing Session:
 
Below are an aggregation of numbers from my latest testing session. This time around, I feel like I got a less noticeable difference in launch between the balls, but the speed difference still persists. My 6i spin numbers for the chrome soft x were weird so I will chalk that up to an outlier for now. The Chrome Tour X seems to have a much more ideal spin profile for my game than the Chrome Soft X I had used previously. Whereas I got slightly too much spin from the old model, the new Chrome Tour X seems to hit the sweet spot of spin where I don't balloon up as much/rip the ball back uncontrollably on greens. I believe this, in addition to the cover, will lead to improved performance in the wind when I take the balls outside next week. One final thing worth pointing out about the Chrome Tour X- I hit my highest ball speed since switching from my Cobra LTDx LS to the Paradym TD last year! I continue to see great speeds off the face with this ball, all coming out of nice windows. Still early in testing, but most certainly a ball I think I am going to go to full-time. 

Mine finally came in today! Like the others, the box was a mixture of chrome tour X and chrome tour, both in the triple track. 
First Impressions: 
The white box truly lives up to its name: the box was a plain white box with a hexagonal cutout teasing me with a triple track. Taking the lid off, I found more four white sleeves (a nice surprise, because I thought I would just get one sleeve!). The first sleeve I opened showed me exactly what I had been hoping for - the new chrome tour X. Because this is the closest analogue to my current ball, I have been itching to put them head to head. I went to my closet to grab a sleeve of the 2022 chrome soft X for comparison, happening to grab the number four sleeve. Wanting to minimize the extraneous differences in the comparison, I grabbed the number four sleeve of the white box balls and discovered that these were the chrome tours! Upon further inspection, it appears I was sent two of each, both in the triple track. 
 
Visual Comparison: 
Off the cuff, two big things stuck out. First, the new chrome tour and chrome tour x appear to be a purer white than the chrome soft x. I had never noticed it before, but sitting next to the updated ball, the 2022 version appeared to have more of an eggshell coloring. In contrast, the chrome tour and chrome tour x were as pure white as I've ever seen. 

 
The second thing I noticed was the triple track alignment. The color way remains the same, as does the spacing in the lines, but the edges of the alignment aid differ. While the old alignment aid consists of three distinct lines, each coming to an abrupt, square end, the new balls flow into a point, almost as if encouraging rolling into the hole. It's a subtle change, but one I am a fan of. The alignment seems gentler and encouraging without being a drastic change from the successful triple track alignment Callaway has used. In general, I feel that the triple track helps me square the ball to the target line better than any other alignment aid I have tested or drawn on my ball. I am glad to test the new ball with the aid because I would've drawn them on if not! 
 

Finally, I was eager to see the new cover dimple design. The hexagonal dimples have always been a Callaway staple, so I was interested to see if I could tell a difference while inspecting the balls. In general, I do not think the vast majority of people will notice on first glance. The ball still retains its distinctive appearance, one that I am a fan of. That said, I wanted to look closely and was able to see the intermixing of dimple patterns on the ball. While I have yet to take them outside and hit them in the wind, this is where I think the difference will be seen. 

It is worth noting, the white box balls have the old logo design, not the new one that Callaway has transitioned back to. I am indifferent between the two, but just something to keep in mind while reading the reviews. 
I am excited to take the balls out on the course. I had hoped to play a round today, but unfortunately the weather is quite wet in Chapel Hill. I plan on taking the balls to the simulator to begin to gather data. performance impressions coming soon! 

Testing Session 1: Putting
I had my first testing session yesterday, where I focused on putting. 
Alignment:
In terms of alignment, I ended up performing approximately the same with each ball. While I visually liked the new triple track better, each performed about the same for me at the end of the day. 
Feel: 
For me, the chrome tour was noticeably softer feeling than the chrome tour x and chrome soft x. It felt much softer off the putter face and had a pleasing feeling no matter the quality of the putter strike. Because I know the ProV1 is the target competitor, I dropped one down and rolled a few against the chrome tour. I think the chrome tour profiles favorably against the ProV1 and feels premium on the putter face. I felt as if the chrome tour x and chrome soft x felt approximately the same. If I were to identify a difference in the putter feel, it would be that the chrome soft x felt a touch clicky compared to the chrome tour x, though I would say that's just nitpicking differences because it certainly wasn't a massive difference. 
Roll: 
All of the balls rolled true. This is not shocking to me, as they have similar covers and the same putter was used for each. None felt as if they were more prone to skidding or skipping and all rolled exactly how they were struck, which was an encouraging result. 
 
Bonus: Driver numbers
I had a little bit of extra time, so I decided to hit some drives with each ball before leaving. The chrome tour and chrome tour x were compared against my gamer, the chrome soft x. I plan to use a spreadsheet to keep running results totals from each session to post at the end of each data session to help remove any random variance in results on a given day. As I start to test other clubs, I will post the running totals at the bottom of my testing sessions. I currently plan to use driver, 5 wood, 6 iron, 9 iron, and 50* wedge for full swing data. If anyone has anything else they'd like to see, drop a comment! Initial results are shown below:

While the chrome soft x had a larger total distance than the chrome tour x, the ball speeds and spin were the same. The chrome soft x launched a degree higher today and thus got a little extra carry. We will see if this is a long-term finding or if it is a one-off anomaly as we keep the data spreadsheet up to date. Both x models were approximately 3 mph faster than the chrome tour, which was an expected finding for me. Interestingly, the chrome tour launched a little bit higher than the chrome tour x, and the overall distance was similar despite equal spin and lower ball speed. All shots were similar strike profiles: 121 mph club head speed, 6 I>O, 2.5 face to path. I have the ball flights under the numbers to help show the similarities and differences in ball patterns, but I tried to only keep data from similar strikes to reduce any noise from my end. I hope to get a full set of data for each swing tomorrow, so stay posted! 

Testing Session 2: 5W, 50, On-Course Chipping and Putting
Today I had a good amount of time to test the balls, so I took the opportunity to hit some wedges and woods on the simulator before moving out to the course! 
Wedges: 
A lot of my findings from the driver testing held true here as well. The chrome soft x spun the most by a fairly significant margin, but had the same ball speed as the chrome tour x. The chrome tour x continued to be the lowest-launching, but had an excellent descent angle and ideal spin to stop on firm greens. I found that the chrome tour was approximately four yards shorter than both the tour x and the chrome soft x and also spun the leas (as it is designed to do!). The chrome tour launched slightly higher than the chrome tour x and produced lower ball speeds. Overall, the chrome tour x provided my ideal launch and spin conditions for real golf with these full shot wedges, a welcome development with the sometimes excessive spin the chrome soft x could provide on well-struck wedges. 

5W: 
I'm starting to realize that the chrome tour x starts to shine the harder it is hit. While it provides all the spin in the world with the short shots and mid-irons, when it is crushed with a driver or wood, it lives in the 2000 rpm range like clockwork. One area I could lose consistency with the chrome soft x was when I would hit lower on the face with the driver or wood and it would produce monster spin and lose ball speed. I simply did not have this experience with the chrome tour x, and I felt as if I knew how the ball would perform every time. Once again, it produced huge ball speed and appropriate long game spin. The chrome tour matched the chrome soft x in distance while producing lower ball speed and spin. 
 

On-Course: 
Today I broke out the test balls for some short game testing. It is hard to describe how happy I am with the chrome tour x. I love to hit low spinners around the green and from 50 in. Typically the ball will skip once or twice and then stop on a dime. I felt as if I could consistently get this result from the chrome tour x with a tight distribution and consistent results. The chrome tour was able to match inside 15 yards, but the farther from the hole I got, the more the difference in the balls showed itself as the chrome tour would leak just a little bit more. By no means was the chrome tour bad, but the chrome tour x was a monster. I could even rip back low bullet partial wedges from 50 yards with the chrome tour x if I really leaned on it, something I can not do with most balls. Again, the consistency of the wedge results was what stood out for both balls. I feel like they allowed me to open up my creativity and trust that the ball would respond to the swing put on it. The results of the putting matched my indoor feelings. The chrome tour had a very pleasing soft feel, with the chrome tour x also feeling good but firm. I think both balls have improved acoustics over the previous generation. 
 
I plan to get a full set of testing data, including the mid and short irons, on Friday. At that point the data set will start to expand and I will be able to provide cumulative data next week. I also plan to post images of how the balls have stood up to the hundred-plus swings each they will all have at that point. See yall then! 

Testing Session 2: 5W, 50, On-Course Chipping and Putting
Today I had a good amount of time to test the balls, so I took the opportunity to hit some wedges and woods on the simulator before moving out to the course! 
Wedges: 
A lot of my findings from the driver testing held true here as well. The chrome soft x spun the most by a fairly significant margin, but had the same ball speed as the chrome tour x. The chrome tour x continued to be the lowest-launching, but had an excellent descent angle and ideal spin to stop on firm greens. I found that the chrome tour was approximately four yards shorter than both the tour x and the chrome soft x and also spun the leas (as it is designed to do!). The chrome tour launched slightly higher than the chrome tour x and produced lower ball speeds. Overall, the chrome tour x provided my ideal launch and spin conditions for real golf with these full shot wedges, a welcome development with the sometimes excessive spin the chrome soft x could provide on well-struck wedges. 

5W: 
I'm starting to realize that the chrome tour x starts to shine the harder it is hit. While it provides all the spin in the world with the short shots and mid-irons, when it is crushed with a driver or wood, it lives in the 2000 rpm range like clockwork. One area I could lose consistency with the chrome soft x was when I would hit lower on the face with the driver or wood and it would produce monster spin and lose ball speed. I simply did not have this experience with the chrome tour x, and I felt as if I knew how the ball would perform every time. Once again, it produced huge ball speed and appropriate long game spin. The chrome tour matched the chrome soft x in distance while producing lower ball speed and spin. 
 

On-Course: 
Today I broke out the test balls for some short game testing. It is hard to describe how happy I am with the chrome tour x. I love to hit low spinners around the green and from 50 in. Typically the ball will skip once or twice and then stop on a dime. I felt as if I could consistently get this result from the chrome tour x with a tight distribution and consistent results. The chrome tour was able to match inside 15 yards, but the farther from the hole I got, the more the difference in the balls showed itself as the chrome tour would leak just a little bit more. By no means was the chrome tour bad, but the chrome tour x was a monster. I could even rip back low bullet partial wedges from 50 yards with the chrome tour x if I really leaned on it, something I can not do with most balls. Again, the consistency of the wedge results was what stood out for both balls. I feel like they allowed me to open up my creativity and trust that the ball would respond to the swing put on it. The results of the putting matched my indoor feelings. The chrome tour had a very pleasing soft feel, with the chrome tour x also feeling good but firm. I think both balls have improved acoustics over the previous generation. 
 
I plan to get a full set of testing data, including the mid and short irons, on Friday. At that point the data set will start to expand and I will be able to provide cumulative data next week. I also plan to post images of how the balls have stood up to the hundred-plus swings each they will all have at that point. See yall then!