Five-time PGA Tour winner Sam Burns trusts the Callaway Chrome Soft X to take his powerful game from the tee to the green. This article isn't just going to tell you the name of his ball, we’re going to break down precisely *why* he plays it, what the technology inside does, and most importantly, help you figure out if a similar tour-level golf ball is the right fit for your game.
There it is, plain and simple. Since switching to Callaway equipment, Sam Burns has put the Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball in play. But for a professional at his level, this decision is anything but casual. He’s not just picking a ball that feels good, he’s choosing a piece of equipment that is meticulously engineered to complement his specific skills.
Think about Burns' game. He has plenty of power off the tee, ranking consistently high in driving distance. He is also a phenomenal iron player and one of the best putters on Tour. This combination requires a golf ball that delivers on multiple, often conflicting, demands:
The Callaway Chrome Soft X is designed to check all those boxes, making it an ideal weapon for a player with his blend of power and precision.
So what makes this ball perform the way it does? It’s not just marketing speak, the technology inside a modern tour ball is incredibly sophisticated. Let's look under the hood of the Chrome Soft X to understand how it delivers the performance that a player like Sam Burns relies on.
Modern golf balls are multi-layer marvels of engineering. Each layer has a distinct job, and when they work together perfectly, you get a ball that performs well in every phase of the game.
The "engine" of the golf ball is its core. The Chrome Soft X features what Callaway calls a "Hyper Elastic SoftFast Core." That’s a fancy name, but the concept is straightforward. The core is designed for one primary thing: to generate high ball speeds, especially with your longer clubs like the driver and fairway woods. When you compress the ball at impact with a high-speed swing, this core acts like a tightly wound spring, catapulting the ball off the face for maximum distance. For a powerful player like Burns, converting his swing speed into ball speed is the first step to gaining an advantage.
Between the core and the cover is a layer (or layers) called the mantle. In tandem with the core, these layers help control spin. With the Chrome Soft X, the mantle system works to keep spin low on full swings with the driver or long irons. Less backspin equals a more boring, penetrating flight and more rollout for added yards. However, it’s also designed to engage differently on shorter shots, working with the cover to create the spin you need to stop the ball on the green.
The cover is where you get your feel and greenside spin. The Chrome Soft X has a soft urethane cover. Urethane is the premium material for tour-level golf balls because it's soft enough to get "grabbed" by the grooves on wedges and short irons. This interaction is what creates huge amounts of backspin on chips, pitches, and approach shots. It's why you see pros hit shots that take one hop and stop on a dime. This soft cover also provides the buttery feel on and around the greens that confident putting demands.
Finally, a ball's performance is heavily influenced by its aerodynamics - the dimple pattern. The "Tour Aero" design on the Chrome Soft X is engineered to create a consistent and stable ball flight. The goal is to reduce drag for more distance while also creating a penetrating trajectory that isn't easily knocked around by the wind. For a pro playing in varying conditions every week, having a ball that flies predictably through the air is non-negotiable.
So, you put all that tech together. What does it actually feel like to play this ball?
One of the most confusing things for golfers is navigating brand families. Callaway's "Chrome Soft" lineup includes three distinct models, and choosing the right one is essential.
This is the original. It’s the softest-feeling ball in the family with the lowest compression. It's designed for a wide range of golfers, specifically those with moderate to average swing speeds who want exceptional feel and forgiveness. It spins less off the driver, which can help reduce hooks and slices, making it a straighter golf ball for many amateurs.
This is the tour-performance model. It's firmer and has higher compression than the standard Chrome Soft. It's built for players with faster swing speeds (think 105 mph+ with the driver) who already generate plenty of speed and need more spin and control, especially with their irons. It's a ball that allows for more shot shaping, or "workability."
The "LS" stands for Low Spin. This is the firmest and lowest-spinning ball of the three, particularly off the driver. It’s designed for a very specific type of player: someone with very a high swing speed who generates too much spin. If you're a high-speed player who struggles with the ball "ballooning" into the wind on you, the X LS is designed to turn that excess spin into more distance.
This is the real question, isn't it? Just because a ball is perfect for a PGA Tour superstar doesn't mean it's right for you. As a coach, my biggest message is this: fit the ball to your game, not the other way around. blindly playing the same ball as your favorite pro can hurt your game if it's a poor fit.
You might be a good candidate for the Chrome Soft X if you fit this profile:
Conversely, if you have a moderate or slower swing speed, you will likely benefit more from the standard Chrome Soft. Its lower compression will be easier for you to activate, resulting in better feel and more distance than you'd get from the firmer X model.
The best way to find out is to test them for yourself. Don't just hit them on the range. You need to see how they perform on the actual course. Here’s a simple process:
By the end of this process, one ball will usually stand out as the best overall performer for your game. It might be Sam Burns' ball, or it might be something completely different. The goal is to find the ball that gives you the most confidence and predictable results.
Sam Burns plays the Callaway Chrome Soft X because its balance of high-speed performance off the tee and high-spin control with his scoring clubs is a perfect match for his elite, powerful game. Choosing the right golf ball is one of the most important equipment decisions you can make, and it should be tailored to your swing speed and on-course needs.
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