Golfers dream about hitting the ball farther and thirst for more yards off the tee and from the fairway. We love blowing it past our playing partners and hitting one less club into the green on approach shots than anyone else in our group.

“Nice shot Steve. What did you hit back there?”

“Thanks Jim, you too! I hit a 6-iron. What about you?”

“7-iron.”

While distance is sexy, consistency is, well … not. But Callaway has made $50 million worth of improvements and upgrades to its golf ball factory in Chicopee, Massachusetts, over the last few years to make balls that not only perform well but also deliver more consistency shot after shot, ball after ball. That work is at the heart of 2022’s Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X and Chrome Soft X LS balls.

As most golfers know, modern premium balls are constructed in layers, typically three, four or five of them. One of the hardest things to do from a manufacturing standpoint is to ensure each layer fits inside the other symmetrically. If the core is off-center, the ball will compress more on the side with more core material and create sidespin that will make the ball curve in the opposite direction. For example, if a player tees up a ball and the core is off-center to the right as it sits on the tee, the right side of the ball will compress more than the left and hook spin will be created, even if the driver’s face is square to the path at impact.

To ensure that all its balls have perfectly centered layers, Callaway is now using a 3D X-ray machine to scan each ball after it is produced. It measures the dimensions of every layer in the ball, including the mantle and cover, to make sure each is centered and the desired thickness in every direction.

Here’s are the other things you need to know about the Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X and Chrome Soft X LS balls.

Chrome Soft (2022), $49.99 per dozen

Callaway Chrome Soft (2022) Callaway Chrome Soft for 2022. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

Like the previous versions of Chrome Soft, the 2022 model is a three-piece ball with a urethane cover. However, this model has been given a new Hyper Elastic SoftFast core. While it maintains the same compression as the previous version for a soft feel, Callaway said this version’s core allows it to generate more ball speed with woods and long irons. Chrome Soft also has a new Tour Aero cover pattern that the company said creates less drag, so it is affected less by the wind. That combination helps lower spin with woods and irons. Callaway said that as a result, the new Chrome Soft is 5 yards longer than the previous version while maintaining high greenside spin and control.

Chrome Soft will be available in white, yellow, white with Triple Track, and white or yellow with Truvis.

Chrome Soft X (2022), $49.99 per dozen

Callaway Chrome Soft X (2022) Callaway Chrome Soft X for 2022. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

Jon Rahm used a Chrome Soft X to win the 2021 U.S. Open, and it is the company’s most-played ball on the PGA Tour. It is a four-piece ball with a large core, two mantle layers and a soft urethane cover.

The reality is this ball is extremely similar to the 2020 version. The spin profile has not been changed, but adding the Hyper Elastic SoftFast core helps it create slightly more ball speed.

Chrome Soft X will be available in white, yellow and white with Triple Track.

Chrome Soft X LS (2022), $49.99 per dozen

Callaway Chrome Soft X LS (2022) Callaway Chrome Soft X LS for 2022. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

This ball was new in 2021 and was created for players who wanted less spin but a firmer-feeling ball. Xander Schauffele used a Chrome Soft X LS to win the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Like the Chrome Soft X, this ball has a large Hyper Elastic SoftFast core to help it create more ball speed, surrounded by two mantle layers and a urethane cover. The formulation of the cover was updated to make it softer, so the grooves in wedges and short irons can grab it better for more greenside spin than last season’s Chrome Soft X LS.

Chrome Soft X LS will be available in white, yellow and white with Triple Track.