Chrome is Callaway’s flagship golf ball franchise so I’m betting the new Chrome Tour Triple Diamond will receive most of the attention after the curtain comes down on all of their new golf ball releases.
But here’s a word to the wise for those of us who don’t possess “Tour-level” swing speed: Don’t sleep on the new versions of Callaway’s ERC Soft and Supersoft.
The mid-level, three-piece ERC Soft and entry-level two-piece Supersoft deserve their plaudits and remain integral to Callaway’s efforts in the ball category.
ERC Soft
I’m betting Ely Reeves Callaway, the late founder and CEO of Callaway Golf, would be pretty proud to have his initials on the ERC Soft golf ball.
Why? Nothing was more intoxicating to him than the feeling of a well-struck golf shot.
Since it’s positioned as a “complete performance” product, Mr. Callaway, who played a fair game himself, would have loved the ERC Soft.
Plenty long off the tee, this ball’s soft feel gives it a wide demographic runway of low- to mid-handicap players who might want to save a few bucks but still get some of those same performance benefits as those top-of-the-pyramid Chrome products.
AI influence
Using a new artificial intelligence tool, Callaway’s golf ball team began compiling data as far back as 2008 to build prototypes and a database for AI to start iterating initial designs. And they have taken full advantage of those millions of design iterations.
The first ERC Soft ball was launched in 2019. Starting its journey as a four-piece product, the ball had a dual core just like Chrome Soft X and was infused with a strong but flexible nanoparticle material.
Remember Graphene?
Added to the outer core, Graphene allowed Callaway to make the inside core bigger but also softer to generate more speed.
That original ERC Soft was positioned as a low-spin, high-speed distance ball with one significant difference: greenside spin that rivaled urethane products.
Fast-forward to 2025
Six years later, Callaway is calling this fourth-generation model “the best ERC Soft ever.”
That’s hardly a revelation—but the product does benefit from a combination of a Hyper Elastic SoftFast core, a high-speed mantle layer and a “Tour-level” construction platform tipped decidedly toward the Chrome franchise.
The end game of all that: added distance and more feel and control around the green.
Features and benefits
Hyper Elastic SoftFast core
With the sequel to the first Hyper Elastic SoftFast core from 2023, Callaway has gone slightly softer to enhance greenside feel for those shorter touch shots.
Hybrid cover
Callaway prefers “hybrid” to “ionomer” for the cover description but, by any label, this cover is significantly softer than the previous generation.
How much softer? Try 16 percent.
That provided the team some latitude to construct the ball for exceptional distance and soft feel while maintaining a high degree of durability.
Cover coating
Yes, Callaway has a coating on that hybrid cover.
Why? To add to the ERC Soft’s spin control. It’s a high-elongation paint called GRIP urethane. The coating’s main benefit is increased control on approach and short-game shots.
High-speed mantle
This might be the most intriguing feature of this product. AI played a key role, of course.
ERC Soft has a new high-modulus mantle that’s three times stiffer than that on the 2023 version. When the ball is compressed, the mantle layer acts as a spring for faster ball speeds and more distance with the driver and irons along with a high degree of wedge spin around the green.
Those qualities often run counter to one another.
Triple Track alignment
Callaway’s ERC Soft comes with the company’s popular Triple Track alignment. The blue/red/blue side stamp visual helps golfers focus on getting the right alignment on the green.
Whoops! I almost forgot: Truvis is back!
Pricing and availability
ERC Soft will come out in four configurations:
- White and yellow Triple Track
- White/Blue and Yellow/Black high-visibility Truvis
Retail is set for Jan. 31, 2025
Price: $39.99 per dozen
Callaway Supersoft
One of the issues for the Callaway Supersoft franchise is the same one that plagues Titleist’s golf ball team when it comes to Pro V1 and Pro V1x.
Consumers don’t want changes.
In the case of Supersoft, recreational golfers play it because, well, they like it. And they like it a lot.
Since the low-compression ball strikes a nice balance between affordable value and dependable performance, loyal Supersoft users would rather the Callaway golf ball team take a hands-off approach.
Especially since it’s a golf ball that works on a bunch of levels.
If Callaway had done absolutely nothing other than repackage Supersoft and add a color or two or turned it into a five-pack, Supersoft proponents probably wouldn’t have batted an eye.
Fear not.
Not only is the price of Supersoft being held in check, its fans are getting more ball speed and softer feel from advancements to the cover, core and construction.
HyperElastic SoftFast core
Callaway took a page right out of its ERC Soft playbook and used a HyperElastic SoftFast core for the next-generation Supersoft.
Why not, right? More speed for faster driver and iron speeds along with soft greenside control.
Hybrid cover
Supersoft’s new hybrid cover system enhances control on approach shots and short-game shots.
Pricing and availability
Retail availability is set for Jan. 31.
Callaway Supersoft will be available in the following configurations:
- White and yellow
- Red, green, pink and orange matte
- Splatter 360 red, blue and pink
Price: $24.99 (same as the 2023 model)
AKing
1 year ago
I just played 18 with the “new” Supersoft. I don’t notice much difference between it and the “old” ones. Further, it is a misnomer to say that this ball is a beginner ball. Over the past week I have shot 77, 75, 80, 80 with Supersofts. I am a 3.8 handicap and really like the ball. The lie is that a urethane ball is for better players. Personally I play for rollout on most all of my shots, always have. I do just fine with these. You can too. The ball you play won’t make you better, only practice will.