The golf ball pattern wars are heating up – even if it’s mostly just two brands fighting them.
If you’re keeping score at home, we’ve got Truvis, Triple Track, Pix, Matryx, Stripe, MySymbol, Fade, Triple Track 360—and now TruTrack.
One of those is made up and it’s certainly possible I missed one or two other real ones but, regardless, it’s pretty wild that four of those have emerged in just the last month.
I suspect it won’t be long before we see more.
About Callaway Chrome Soft USA TruTrack
Today, we’re going to focus on Callaway TruTrack. It’s Callaway’s latest golf ball pattern and it will be available on Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X and Chrome Soft X LS.
What is Callaway TruTrack?
TruTrack is a refined Truvis pattern with just a hint of TripleTrack tossed in.
Let’s start with those Truvis enhancements.
First, Callaway changed the shape of the Truvis pattern from a pentagon to a hexagon.
I know. Absolutely huge if true.
The company looked at several options before settling on the hex pattern because, well, branding.
It does play well with the whole hex dimple thing, don’t ya think?
Jokes aside, having an even number of sides and whatnot, the hexagon pattern also provided more opportunities for parallel lines which is part of the TrueTrack alignment story.
More on that in a bit.
Golfers who like Truvis say it makes the ball look bigger and helps focus. Others play it just because it’s different.
The design has carved out a niche in the market but feedback from the original Truvis design suggests some golfers found the design too busy. So, as part of the Chrome Soft TruTrack golf ball package, Callaway reduced the number of shapes on the ball from 12 to eight.
Callaway also reduced the size of each of the now-hexagonal patterns to be a bit less “in your face.”
To my eye, the size differences are subtle but not unnoticeable.
Callaway TruTrack – Just a hint of Triple Track
The subtle Triple Track influence comes by way of an alignment striped side stamp that effectively replicates what many of us create with a Sharpie.
Call it MonoTrack, if you like.
When the two parts come together, it creates what I would describe as a well-defined alignment channel of sorts. The stripe is bracketed by the hex patterns which creates a bit of a Triple Track effect.
Potentially of interest, the layout of the eight hexagons creates alignment channels all over the ball, so if you like the framing created by the shapes but don’t like the stripe, there are multiple orientations that allow you to ditch the line and keep the rest.
Callaway Chrome Soft USA TruTrack – High Contrast Colors
Part of the science behind Triple Track are the high contrast colors (typically red and blue). The same visual cues are carried over to TruTrack where the contrast of the red and blue works to enhance visual feedback.
The idea is that, in addition to helping you line up puts, the pattern creates feedback in the short game and on the putting green so you have a better sense of how the ball is spinning and rolling.
I do like watching the patterns spin on short wedge shots.
Tour Validated
Tour validation continues to be both a theme and the challenge of anything other than white golf balls. Callaway’s Triple Track and TaylorMade’s PIX and MySymbol have been played on the PGA TOUR and, while it’s early, Callaway staffer Madelene Sagström has put the TruTrack in play.
Callaway Chrome Soft TruTrack Price and Availability
The first iteration of TruTrack is the flag-themed Chrome Soft USA TruTrack. It’s available on Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X and Chrome Soft X LS. A non flag-themed red/blue pattern will be available later this spring on the standard Chrome Soft only.
Retail price for the Callaway Chrome Soft USA TruTrack is $49.99.
Available now.
For more information, visit CallawayGolf.com.
bob
1 year ago
I like the stripes I can put on my ball with a Sharpie and those plastic half cap dealy for $2.00
Should the concentricity and quality of paint for balls with patterns be included in Ball Lab criteria? It might show which company has the best and most consistent alignment when using the markings. However, if Titleist ever did a ball with markings it would not matter if the markings were seriously askew, they would still get an ‘Average’ or ‘Good’ rating.