It is time to review the slightly rebranded Callaway distance golf ball, the 2025 Warbird Distance Plus. If you are wondering what the rebranded part is, I will give it away. They added “Distance +” to the name; that’s it. Now, I am not sure if this is to make it clear this is a distance ball since the previous version was too. Interestingly enough, the text on the putting alignment still reads just “Warbird”.

In a few words, it is built for maximum distance off every club. They also state that its high-energy core is highly compressible to unlock more potential at any swing speed. Perfect, that finally opens the door for a variety of players with different swing speeds. Granted, it did before, too, but it is nice when a company states that. I certainly believe any swing speed (except fast ones) can find suitable balls in different compression categories.

Additionally, Callaway describes it as a reliable and durable ball. The design promotes a high launch and long carry with an impressive feel and control to complement that distance. Very promising, indeed. Despite the usual promotion, there is not too much hype as we see for some other balls. Let’s find out how this affordable distance ball did on the course.

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On the Green

I would categorize the feel and sound as mild. It does not feel overly soft, but at the same time, it is not hard either. The same goes for the sound it produces on long and short putts. There was no instance when I heard anything clicky, no matter the putt.

Now, about the performance itself. I had a successful putting round; therefore, I will share the credit with the ball. From the get-go, I adjusted to its pace, which led to several second tap-in putts. Also, there were a couple of long ones that dropped in. But more importantly, no three-putts, which is always satisfying.

Around the Green

Here, as is the case with many two-piece ionomer balls, there is an evident lack of greenside spin. This was most evident on one hole when it rolled way past the hole. Granted, it missed the landing spot by a few feet, but ideally, it would have stopped sooner.

The lack of spin was present on different kinds of chips. Starting from my go-to bump-and-run to a higher chip with a softer landing. The feel and sound were, again, mild as it was the case with putting.

Approach Shots

I review balls on a par 3 course, so every shot is an approach shot.

Even though I did not give control a high rating, I was pleasantly surprised by it on a few holes. There was a bit more spin than I had anticipated. In combination with a consistently high flight trajectory, it helped the ball to stop fairly quickly after landing on the green. It was not comparable to premium balls, but still not bad.

This is a true distance ball that does what it was built for. I had no problems whatsoever reaching my numbers, and a few times it went further than anticipated.

The mis-hits were fairly manageable, and the fight was as straight as it gets. Sometimes I try to shape shots when I test balls, but I did not do it this time. In any case, this ball is not built for that.

I will admit it, it felt good to hit it. On a lot of shots, I noticed a slightly popping sound, nothing too loud. There was one or two mis-hits when it produced a clicky one, which is fine. When it comes to feedback on shots, there was not a lot of it. Overall, it was a decent striking experience.

Durability

I am not sure what to make of durability. There were only a few spots with visible damage on the ball. However, one of the spots left a nasty-looking scuff. I would say it still showed a decent level of durability, despite that.

Appearance and Price

Unlike the ERC Soft, which I mentioned in the opening paragraph, this ball has a very minimalistic appearance. There is the classic Callaway logo with the ball number, plus a very modest yet effective putting alignment. That putting alignment slightly changed, for the better. Now it looks more modern, and I like it more compared to the old one. The bottom line, it has a simple and clean appearance.

The price for this ball is simply hard to beat. At $19.99, it can’t get much cheaper. I mean, of all the major brands, this is as affordable as it gets. So, if you are on a tight budget, here is a good option. Also, it tends to go on promotions, like get two dozen for $35.

My Verdict

This time, I will remember this is a true distance ball. The last time I reviewed it, I did not know what to make of it. I could not find the compression rating, but from what I read, it might have been reduced. That could explain the milder feel and sound.

Would I put this ball in the bag? No, I would not. Nothing personal against it, but it is not what I am looking for in a ball. I prefer more spin and control combined with a lower flight trajectory. Nonetheless, that does not take away from a very decent distance golf ball.

With an affordable price for a dozen balls, I would recommend it if you are considering trying it.