Let me start by saying this is an unusual two-piece golf ball. Why is that, you ask? For a simple reason, it has an above-average compression rating. Multiple sources have it at 90. Other two-piece balls rarely come close to that. In the 2023 Callaway Warbird golf ball review I will let you know how it felt to play it.

I have never played any ball with such a high compression rate. For that reason, I had no expectations whatsoever on how this ball will behave on the golf course.

Who Is This Ball For?

Knowing this ball’s compression rating, you would think it is suited for players with faster swing speeds. I do not fall into that category, and I felt the ball worked just fine for my game. It could be because of the highly compressible core that Callaway mentions on their website. Now, the main target audience for this product is golfers looking for distance before anything else. It worked well for that.

As a two-piece golf ball, you should not expect any miraculous performance from it. That being said, it still does a good job all around. Besides the distance, its strongest suit is the price. It is the cheapest ball in the Callaway lineup which makes it attractive to budget golfers and especially beginners.

There are not many balls out there from major brands that perform decently at a low price. I can say this one does that. If you just started golfing and don’t want to stress out over losing an expensive ball, this could be for you. Callaway keeps releasing new versions which means it is reliable and does the job.

On the Green

If I would have to describe the putting experience with one word, I would say average. It just felt like my putts were all over the place to what I usually see. Nevertheless, that did not mean all were bad. There were some good ones, and even the misses were not too far from the hole.

The main issue was too much inconsistency. I was short, then long, then short again, and so on. It didn’t even matter what distance it was from. I simply couldn’t adjust to it completely. Even the sound was a bit clicky compared to other two-piece balls. Granted, that can probably be attributed to the higher compression.

Around the Green

The bump and run is my chip shot of choice. Therefore, I asses the ball’s performance primarily based on that shot. This ball did all right, but nothing more than that. Again, like with putting, the sound it was making was on the clicky side. Further, like with putting, I just couldn’t quite adjust to it.

It did not produce enough greenside spin so I had to land it shorter and let it release toward the hole. As I said above, it didn’t do too badly, but it wasn’t great either. Yes, you can make it work but do not expect it to do any miracles regarding chipping and pitching.

Approach Shots

As I like to repeat, the approach shots are essential here since I do reviews on a par 3 course. I am happy to say this was the most enjoyable part of the round. Let’s start with the sound. Surprisingly, it did not sound as clicky as it did with the other parts of the game. For the matter, it felt nice upon contact.

The distances were consistent with my usual ones, which was nice. It did a very decent job on mis-hits which were in line with my regular ones. The flight was medium to high with a tendency toward higher flight. That was helping the ball to stop on the green quickly. Consequently, it had more spin than I expected which contributed to the stopping power.

Durability

So far all the Callaway recreational ball new releases have shown very decent durability. It is the same case with this one. After a round on a par 3 course, there were only a few marks and scuffs visible. To be fair, the Supersoft and the Supersoft MAX have shown a bit better durability, but the Warbird is not far behind.

Appearance and Price

The ball has a very similar appearance to the Supersoft and the Supersoft MAX. There is no difference when it comes to the logo or the ball number. If you look further, you can see where the only difference is. While the alignment arrow is very similar, the difference is at the end of each side. Overall, a very simple and functional look.

If there is any category where this ball stands out, that is the price. It is very hard to beat. Warbird is the cheapest ball in the Callaway lineup and is among the cheapest balls among the big brands. This is something that will interest golfers on a budget as well as new golfers who could lose one here and there.

Final Verdict

For a ball that is among the cheapest ones on the market, this one did very well. It exceeded my expectations and showed good performance all around. Like every recreational ball, it has its limitations which does not make it a bad choice for golfers who do not mind that.

There are a lot of golf balls on the market. I have already mentioned some groups that could find value in it. Another group of players who could find it interesting is occasional golfers. This ball will do fine if you want to just go out there and play from time to time. For that price, there is not much that can go wrong.

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If a golf ball makes it to the third generation, something must be working well. In the 2023 Callaway ERC Soft golf ball review I will let you know how its third generation turned out. Let’s start with Callaway’s main marketing message for this ball. They say it is their longest ball with a soft feel and greenside control. Sounds promising already.

When it comes to the compression rating, there are various sources that have it from around 60 to above 70. The exact number often varies from ball to ball, but it is in that range. That places this ball somewhere between low and medium compressed balls, but still with a softer feel.

Who Is This Ball For?

This golf ball is in the, as I like to call it, middle golf balls category. That means it is a three-piece construction ball, but it is not a premium one used on tour. There are several balls in this category and all of them perform a bit better than the two-piece ones, but not quite like premium ones.

I would say there are two types of golfers who could play this ball. First, it could suit players who have been playing two-piece balls and their game is ready for the next step. Meaning, they now have more shots in the bag they can use and are looking for a ball that can help them do that.

Second, golfers who do not want to pay top dollar for premium balls, but are looking for some workability in the ball. The ERC Soft will give you a soft feel and more spin than two-piece balls. It will mostly benefit golfers with slower to medium swing speeds who are looking for a reliable golf ball at a middle-of-the-pack price.

On the Green

Putting was the area where the ball performed marginally better than in the other segments. That is not necessarily because of my personal display, but actually because of how the ball did itself. To start with, the sound was not as mellow as the Supersoft or the Supersoft MAX, but still on the mellow side.

It felt soft upon contact which was nice. Performance-wise, I found the pace control was very good with this ball. I didn’t need any adjustment, it worked from the get-go. No matter if the putt was long or short, it just held the line very well. The same goes for uphill and downhill putts. Only positive things when it comes to putting.

Around the Green

There is one important thing to know when it comes to shots around the green. My preferred shot is the bump and run. I will even not shy away from pulling the putter out of the bag, as soon as there is a chance. That being said, I did mostly bump and runs with this ball. It worked very well, even with short-sided delicate chips.

The ball had more greenside spin than the Supersoft or the Supersoft MAX. That is still less than the premium balls, but it gets the job done. Needless to say, the ball felt soft for both chips and pitches from shorter distances. Don’t expect it to check like premium balls, but expect it to do a solid job around the green.

Approach Shots

I always mention the importance of approach shots in my reviews, since I review the balls on a par 3 course. The first thing I will mention here is the feel. You have guessed it, this ball felt soft upon contact. That is when the contact was good, but even on mis-hits did not feel bad at all.

On average, the flight trajectory was higher. Along with a decent amount of spin, that helped with the ball holding the greens well. I felt there were no issues whatsoever when it comes to distance control. Overall distance was fine as well. Finally, I like to manipulate the flight trajectory and shot shape on occasion. The ball did well in both segments.

Durability

If I had to describe the durability, it would be average. There were no massive marks or scuffs, but there still were a few. I would perhaps attribute that to the hybrid cover which does contain some form of urethane. It was definitely playable for more rounds after this one. Durability gets a passing grade.

Appearance and Price

The ERC Soft is specific for one thing. It is the only ball in the Callaway lineup that comes only with the Triple Track Dagger alignment technology. That is perfectly fine especially if you are using one of the Odyssey Triple Track putters. It looks a bit busy around the logo area, but nothing too bad.

Price-wise it falls in the middle among direct competitors. It is less expensive than the Titleist Tour Speed or the TaylorMade Tour Response, but it is more expensive than the Bridgestone e12 Contact or the Srixon Q-Star Tour. For that reason, the price is just ok.

Final Verdict

After playing this new edition of the Callaway ERC Soft, I can just say it is an all-around solid performance golf ball. Besides that, the only thing is the price. Again, it is not too steep, but it is not low either. In the end, Callaway released a very good product that lives up to its standard. If the price is not an obstacle, I would recommend trying this ball.

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One thing separates this golf ball from all the other balls made by major manufacturers that are available on the market. It is an oversized ball. Does that make it legal? Absolutely. A golf ball can be larger in diameter if its weight does not exceed the maximum of 1.620 oz (45.9 g). In the 2023 Callaway Supersoft Max golf ball review find out how this larger ball did on the course.

It is a 2-piece ionomer cover golf ball which means it is primarily built for distance. Its compression rating is around 40, which is consistent with the previous model. Along with its cousin, the Supersoft, that puts it among the softest golf balls on the market. Now, enough with the introduction, let’s move on to the review.

Who Is This Ball For?

A couple of answers seem natural for this golf ball, but we’ll come to them shortly. To start with, this is a soft, two-piece, ionomer cover ball. It is built mainly for players with slower to medium swing speeds. I agree with Callaway that is best for slow-swing speed golfers due to its low compression rating.

It will not give you a ton of spin and the possibility to work it like a premium ball. But that is fine, that is not its main purpose anyway. Its main purpose is to go a long distance while being easier to hit. The oversized nature of this ball is one of its selling points. It is also something that separates it from the other balls on the market.

Now we come to the answer to the main question. It is actually what you would think. As I have mentioned above it is definitely a good option for players with slower swing speeds. More importantly, this golf ball is an excellent choice for beginners. Due to its size, it is easier to make contact with it. When you start golfing, nothing is more important than just hitting that ball.

On the Green

Since this is the slightly bigger version of the standard Callaway Supersoft, the putting experience was similar. On contact, it felt soft and made a very mellow sound. It didn’t take me a long time to adjust to it. This was a good thing since I regularly play balls that have a more than double compression rating and softer covers.

The ball was rolling well, particularly on long putts. There were no issues with holding the line and directing it where the putter was pointing. You would think that, due to its size, the hole gets smaller. But the size difference does not make any significant impact. Putting with this ball was definitely on the positive side.

Around the Green

This is a part of the game where you could potentially see the biggest difference compared to three-piece golf balls. That is mainly due to the lack of spin. You will notice it, especially if you are trying to go for a hop and stop play or if you are short-sided and need a flop shot. Luckily, I do not go for those shots too often.

In my case, it worked well enough since my go-to chip is the bump and run. It took some adjustment, but once I got the hang of it, it worked just fine. Lately, I have started to use the putter more often when closer to the green. When it comes to that situation, this ball did a decent job.

Approach Shots

On a par 3 course, where I test golf balls, every shot is an approach shot. That fact gives this category so much more importance. One of the things Callaway states for this ball is high launch. I did notice that this contributed to a higher average height trajectory. That is a good thing because it helps the ball to stop sooner on the green.

On lower trajectory shots that I sometimes use, the ball did ok. Because of the lower spin, I just had to hit it a bit shorter to give it time to stop. This is another area where the ball felt soft off the clubface. I have to say that the mis-hits were not so bad. My misses were consistent with my current performances on courses. Overall, it felt good hitting this golf ball.

Appearance and Price

As you could imagine, the Supersoft MAX is the carbon copy of the Supersoft just larger. The only little difference is that on the alignment arrow, it says “MAX” instead of “Supersoft”. By the way, that alignment is very helpful in case you do align your ball when putting. It looks as if you’ve done it with a sharpie.

Price-wise, this ball is among the cheapest ones out there in the soft two-piece golf ball category. The price is the same as for the regular Supersoft. However, it is only available in the standard white color whereas the Supersoft comes in multiple color options. Nonetheless, it is a very good value for money.

Durability

Like its smaller cousin, this ball has shown great durability. After a full round on a par 3 course, there were only a few marks and scuffs visible. I would place it among the category leaders when it comes to withstanding hit after hit. This adds to its value and makes it a very attractive option for golfers who do not want to overspend.

Final Verdict

To summarize, there are not many bad things to say about this golf ball. It performs exactly how you would expect from a two-piece low compression ball. With this product, Callaway tapped into a niche market where it can help golfers make better contact and gain confidence. At the end of the day, those are things that can help you enjoy golf more.

If you play the Supersoft or prefer low-compression golf balls, and need to improve contact, this could be an option for you. It can help you through the improvement period with less frustration on the course. Eventually, you can go back to a smaller golf ball or just keep playing this one. I can see this ball helping a lot of golfers to make their first steps. Good job for Callaway.

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This golf ball is one of the most popular among recreational golfers. In the very competitive two-piece ball market, it is possibly the most popular one. Despite its popularity, this is the first time I have tried it myself. I had a general idea of what to expect, but this 2023 Callaway Supersoft golf ball review will let you know how it all actually unfolded.

According to industry experts, the new Supersoft compression rating is around 40. That places it among the softest golf balls on the market. It has a lot of fans which makes it the most popular Callaway golf ball next to the premium Chrome Soft. Without further introduction, check below how the ball did on the golf course.

Who Is This Ball For?

There is one thing that immediately stands out when it comes to this golf ball. You guessed it, this ball is soft, very soft. It is not just in the name, it is a fact. What extreme softness means is that it is engineered with players swinging the clubs at slow to medium speeds in mind. That clearly doesn’t mean you should not play it even if you swing a touch harder.

Nevertheless, if you are a fast-swinging golfer, you might not get the same results as you would with a ball with higher compression. A softer ball usually means less short-game spin. In case you don’t care much about spin and like a nice feeling while hitting the ball, this could be an option. Another thing, the price is reasonable as well for golfers on a budget.

On the Green

As with every review, I will start from the green backward. My first impression when it comes to putting with this ball was positive. I probably do not have even to mention its softness upon contact with the putter. It produces a very mellow sound that is pleasant to the ear. Now on to the performance.

The things I noticed after a few putts were good pace control. It didn’t take me much time to adjust to the intensity I have to hit the ball on putts from various distances. On top of that, the ball was holding the line very well. This goes both for short and long putts. There were no bad points when it comes to putting.

Around the Green

Again, the first thing I noticed was how soft the ball fell off the clubface. With this ball that is a given any time you hit it. In general, chipping was on the positive side. That is probably due to the fact that the bump and run is my chipping style of choice. In that case, the lack of short-game spin does not come as too big of a challenge.

Once I adjusted to how hard I had to hit it for distance control, all was good. Less spin is more noticeable when it comes to higher trajectory chips and pitches. Those situations require a more precise landing in order for the ball to roll and stop at the right moment. It was still very manageable to obtain decent results around the green.

Approach Shots

Of all the shots, these are my favorite ones. It is mostly due to the fact I test golf balls on a par 3 course, meaning every tee shot is an approach shot. You can already guess it, this ball feels very soft off the clubface. No matter if you do a half-swing, three-quarter swing, or full swing, it just feels soft.

I was seeing pretty much the distances I usually reach. There was not much adjustment needed there. The flight trajectory was higher on average. That was helping the ball to stop on the green due to less spin. I did lose distance on a few mis-hits, which was more my error than anything else.

When it comes to shot manipulation, the ball performed well. I like to hit lower shots on some holes and that worked just fine. My misses were consistent with the regular ones. The flight direction was consistently on the straight side. I had a good experience hitting this golf ball.

Appearance and Price

The new Callaway Supersoft golf ball has not seen major changes when it comes to the look. It looks the same as the previous generation with a minor tweak to the alignment arrow design. Instead of one small arrow at the end of each side of the big line, now there are two. The alignment is very visible and helps if you use it before putts. A clean and simple look gets the job done.

The price was always one of this ball’s strong suits. It is not the cheapest ball out there, but its features and performance put it into the good value category. There is a lot of competition in the two-piece soft golf balls category and Supersoft always finds itself among the leaders. That fact speaks for itself.

It is available in white and yellow as well as in matte green, orange, red, and pink.

Durability

Since I haven’t played this ball before, as I mentioned earlier, I had no idea how durable it is going to be. I will just say I was impressed. Of all the golf balls I have tested until now, this one was among the best-performing ones. After a round on a par 3 course, there were barely any marks visible.

It might have something to do with the new Hybrid Cover, the engineers have done a great job. This definitely adds to its great value for money. If you get these golf balls, they will last long.

Final Verdict

Callaway has done a great job with one of its most popular golf balls. The Supersoft new generation has all the ingredients to become one of the best sellers once again. If you were loyal to the previous generation, you will most likely not be disappointed. In case you haven’t played it, and like a soft feel durable golf ball, it might be for you.

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