The Callaway Chrome Tour X remains one of the highest-spinning premium golf balls available, but is that now limiting its appeal?
I’ve spent several weeks playing the new-for-2026 Callaway Chrome Tour X to see whether it improves on the 2024 model and how it stacks up against the rest of the Chrome Tour family.
Since Callaway launched the Chrome Tour range in 2024, the Chrome Tour X has been the model I most closely associated with my own game. While it was never my outright gamer, the 2024 version was one of the best golf balls I tested for my swing and a standout performer among the best high-spin golf balls and best premium golf balls, while also producing excellent results in our 2025 robot test.
That’s why it’s surprising to say the 2026 Chrome Tour X no longer holds that position.
This isn’t because the new model has taken a step backwards, or because my game has changed dramatically. Instead, it reflects how much the standard Chrome Tour has improved. Throughout this review, I’ll compare the 2026 Chrome Tour X to both its predecessor and the Chrome Soft , so you can clearly see where it now fits – and which golfers it will suit best.
Pros & Cons Ratings Specs Features
Pros Easy to launchVery high-spinning and great controlFlies straighter than the previous model Cons Durability dropped from predecessorFeedback not as good as I expectedFeels less versatile than the Chrome Tour
Durability
Versatility
Tee to Green Performance
Feel and Response
Construction 4-piece Cover Urethane Dimples 332 Feel Firm Flight High Long game spin Mid-high Short game spin High Color options White; Yellow Alternative models Triple Track; TruTrack Speed technologyAdvanced Seamless Tour AeroPrecision Tour urethane coverPrecision technology
There’s no doubt the Chrome Tour X will remain one of the most popular premium golf balls on the market, particularly among players seeking spin and control. However, during testing, I did uncover a few drawbacks, starting with its versatility.
Versatility – 3.5/5
Versatility is where I feel the Chrome Tour X has lost a little ground on the 2024 model.
This version feels more clearly targeted at a specific type of golfer – one who actively needs help generating spin. While that focus will appeal strongly to some players, it does mean the Chrome Tour X won’t suit as wide a range of golfers as it once did.
In contrast, the improvements made to the standard Chrome Tour have made that model the more adaptable option across different swing speeds and playing styles.
The X will be a great option for players who want maximum control and spin, particularly into greens, but I don’t see it suiting those golfers chasing extra distance off the tee.
Tee-to-Green Performance – 4.5/5
From tee to green, the Chrome Tour X delivers exactly what its name suggests: high spin, excellent control, and tight dispersion.
Iron play is where this ball truly shines. Into greens, the stopping power is outstanding, and distance consistency with mid- and long-irons is hard to fault. Golfers who value control on approach shots will love what the Chrome Tour X offers here.
However, the trade-off for all that control is distance. Off the tee, the Chrome Tour X consistently flew shorter for me than the standard Chrome Tour and was only comparable to the Chrome Soft, which is also a high-spinning ball. The ball flight was straight and reliable, but the added spin did cost me carry distance.
With wedges, I often found myself trying to take spin off the ball just to hit my normal numbers. That won’t be an issue for golfers who struggle to generate spin, but for naturally high-spin players, it may require some adjustment.
Feel and Response – 3.5/5
Feel and sound are the first things most golfers will notice with the 2026 Chrome Tour X, and it’s here where opinions are likely to be split.
The ball feels noticeably firmer and more clicky than both the Chrome Tour and Chrome Soft, and it’s also firmer than the 2024 Chrome Tour X. Testing on the putting green at Cleveland Golf Club, both my playing partners and I immediately picked up on the difference.
That firmer feel won’t bother everyone – some golfers prefer a more solid, audible strike – but I did find that feedback was slightly muted. Across the bag, not just on the greens, I felt I was getting less information back from each strike than I did with the previous model.
As a links golfer, I still prefer flying the ball into greens and stopping it quickly. The Chrome Tour X certainly allows you to do that, but the amount of spin it produces can make distance control trickier, particularly with wedges. At times, I had to work harder to gain a few extra yards or club up and hit a softer shot.
The upside is that even when doing this, the ball still spins enough to stop quickly. Golfers confident in controlling wedge trajectory will appreciate that consistency.
Durability – 2.5/5
For a premium tour-level golf ball, durability is adequate rather than outstanding.
During testing, the cover showed signs of wear sooner than I would have expected, particularly when compared to the previous generation. While this didn’t affect performance in any noticeable way, it did mean I was less inclined to keep the ball in play for extended periods.
This level of durability is fairly typical of high-spin tour balls, especially those designed to maximise control and greenside performance. Golfers who prioritise feel and spin over longevity are unlikely to be overly concerned, but it is something to be aware of given the premium price point.
Final Verdict: Callaway Chrome Tour X (2026) – 3.5/5
The 2026 Callaway Chrome Tour X remains an excellent premium golf ball, but it now feels more specialised than before.
If you need help generating spin and want maximum control into greens, this is one of the best golf balls you can buy. For those golfers, the Chrome Tour X delivers exactly what it promises.
However, players who already produce plenty of spin – or who prioritise distance and versatility – may find the standard Chrome Tour, or even the previous-generation Chrome Tour X, a better fit.
For my game, the firmer feel and higher spin meant the Chrome Tour X was no longer the standout option it once was. It’s still a ball I enjoy playing, but it wouldn’t be my first choice.
That said, this is a Tour-level golf ball that will remain hugely popular in the amateur game. I may have gone into testing with expectations that were too high, but viewed in isolation, the Chrome Tour X is still a very strong performer – just one that now suits a more specific golfer. We’ll be putting the Chrome Tour X through its paces on our launch monitor in the coming weeks and in our robot test later this year to see how it performs at different swing speeds from tee-to-green and how it stacks up against its rivals.
