Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball Review

It's a great time for a Golf Ball Review and this time I am taking a look at a new interesting product, the Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball that was introduced this year and is gaining in popularity. The ERC is named after the company's visionary founder, Ely Reeves Callaway, and has some interesting features both inside and out that set it apart from other balls in it's class.

The ERC Soft is a 3 piece (core, mantle layer and cover) "hybrid" covered golf ball similar in construction to the 3-P Titleist Pro V1 and Bridgestone TOUR B RXS. The golf ball was designed to accomplish 2 main goals; to be long and soft. In fact, Callaway claims the ERC Soft Golf Ball is their Longest Golf Ball with Soft Feel (based on combined 7 iron and driver testing, with the latter being swung at 90 mph).

Now lots of ball claim they are long and soft, plus there is some subjectivity to the terms themselves. After all, one ball may feel "soft" to one golfer while another thumbs his or her nose at it in favor of the feel of their own brand/model. So let's take a deeper look at Callaway's new offering and what makes it so special (and perhaps a great ball for your game).

Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball Construction

Let's dive into the construction of the ERC Soft as it is a well thought out product by the R&D team at Callaway. As stated, the ERC golf ball is a 3 piece golf ball consisting of a high speed but low compression (SoftFast) core, a mantle or secondary layer around the core, and a soft but durable cast thermoset rubber cover (with some added spunk).

In ball design there is always a tradeoff. Due to the weight limit of balls as regulated by the USGA and R&A (1.620 oz), when you add something to the construction to enhance ball speed, durability or spin control, something has to be removed to stay within the weight requirement. So Callaway identified a material called Graphene that was recently discovered by two British scientists and found that when incorporated into ball core constructions, it offered incredible advantages in regards to tweaking ball properties while staying within the rules.

Graphene is incredibly strong and stiff, but also very flexible. And to say it is lightweight would be an understatement. In fact, if you spread a single layer of Graphene across a football field (53.3 X 100 yds), it would weigh less then 1 gram, yet be 200X stronger than steel! So Graphene has become an integral component of Callaway golf balls via their Graphene-infused Dual SoftFast Core. The Graphene reinforces the outer core so it withstands high impacts from the driver and increases ball speed, while allowing the inner core to remain lower compression for a softer feel and lower spin on the driver (a key to optimal distance).

Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball Cover

The cover of the ERC compliments the highly engineered dual core. Urethane is a great material for cover softness and spin, but it is not as durable as ionomer materials like Surlyn, the lightweight thermoplastic typically used in less expensive balls. In order to capture the qualities of both, Callaway incorporated polybutadiene, a form of synthetic rubber into the cover. Polybutadiene has been around for a long time and was one of the first elastomers to be invented. It has also been used in ball cores and covers for decades, but the ERC's blend (most likely with urethane) resulted in a hybrid cover with enhanced ball spin and durability. Quite a feat.

ERC Triple Track Alignment Technology

What the heck is that?! So here is where the engineers at Callaway went a step further in order to help you with your putting alignment. The ERC Soft is leveraging a phenomenon called Vernier Visual Acuity to enhance the ability of your eyes to detect small changes in alignment. Callaway worked with Carl Bassi, Ph.D. (University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry) to understand how to activate the "hyperacuity"' of the brain and thereby "extend" the limits of the anatomy of eyes.

Visual acuity is being used in various applications including gun scope technology and the military. The landing strips on aircraft carriers (right) enhance visual acuity by employing multiple visual guidelines to assist pilots in accurately gauging perspective and distance for the critical action of landing a jet on a "floating island".

For golf balls, a similar application of Visual acuity resulted in a very specific pattern of alignment lines on the ball that optimizes the ability of the eyes to achieve better alignment for more precise putting start lines. With the ERC, the resulting alignment pattern became known as the Triple Track.

The theory behind the Triple Track is that is helps the golfer align the ball better to the intended start line because the 3 line formation makes it easier for the eys/brain to eliminate the smallest line deviations. When these errors are removed, the result is true alignment, and if your putter face is square at impact when the ball leaves it, putts have a better chance of being holed.

Phil Mickelson had the Triple Track Alignment technology added to his Callaway Chrome Soft X ball and won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February (his 44th PGA Tour win). Combined with his added distance off the tee, the alignment system helped his 48 yr old eyes better utilize the confident putting stroke that has bagged 5 majors.

Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball Compression

Typically when an overall golf ball compression is reduced, you can say goodbye to distance. But over the past 10 years or so golf ball constructions and materials have become very sophisticated, delivering properties that "restore" some of the desired attributes like carry and overall distance. Case in point, the mantle or casing layer between the core and cover adds another variable that allows engineers to reduce or add spin and/or increase ball speed (which translates to more distance) in the finished product.

Also note that compression values have become less relevant over the years as the USGA does not regulate ball compression and there are various scales of measurement. Hence, the days of absolute 75, 90, or 102 compression ratings are long gone. However, to give you an idea of real world values, the compressions of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x are on the order of 90 and 100 respectively. The Callaway ERC Soft is closer to 60 compression. And you will notice that difference when you tee up the ERC Soft.

Impressions and Testing

The Callaway ERC Soft golf ball is available in both white and yellow which will please many golfers. Open a sleeve and you won't be blown away by some funky new dimple pattern. The ERC Soft Dimples (322 Hex pattern) is traditional looking without the garishness of newer product.

The ERC is a lower compression golf ball compared to other Tour balls and that is typcially accompanied by a slight reduction in ball speed. However, it launches higher thus achieving the desired "higher launch, low spin" requirement for today's game. So many golfers can expect 200-500 less RPM off the driver. This was actually a positive for my current driver set up as I tend to be a higher spin player.

And if you suffer from a lot of sidespin like a slice or hook you can also expect to hit more fairways. That reduced sidespin translates directly into more ball speed, which is the biggest factor affecting carry and total distance. So in essence you are adding back some ball speed that is lost to the low compression. A win win.

To get the most out of the ERC off the tee, make sure you are using a driver with enough loft (even though the ball tends to launch higher). When you do, distance off the tee will be comparable to the Pro V1 and Chrome Soft. For many 55+ golfers, your ideal driver loft may be closer to 12-13 degrees. If you find you hit your 3 wood (~15 degrees) similar distances to your current driver, then more driver loft is often in order if you are using 9.5-11). Consult your local pro or jump on a monitor to confirm.

Where you will really notice the difference is on the irons and there was an effect similar to the Titleist AVX ball. Carry distance was similar or slightly longer (1/2 club) than traditional Tour balls, depending on the club. The ascent angle or the angle that the ball hits the green was lower so this posed the threat of balls bounding off the green or taking extra hops or rollout to stop. But it was not an issue. Remember, even though the ERC doesn't have a traditional Tour ball soft urethane cover to help generate loads of spin, if has plenty of spin from the hybrid cover. Good things happen when you can flight a ball into a green with a flat trajectory and have it hop once or twice and stop.

 

ERC Soft Golf Ball Short Game Review

Let's quickly talk about Golf Ball Compression vs. Golf Ball Hardness. Compression can be defined as the relative resistance of the ball to being deformed. This is primarily related to the firmness of the ball's core and COR (coefficient of restitution). The mantle or casing layer around the core contributes to this too. This value is determined by a compression testing machine.

On the other hand, the hardness is actually a property of the cover of the golf ball. There are specific standards for hardness and different measurement scales. Golf balls are measured using a hardness gauge and report measurements using the "Shore D" scale. Basically, these gauges use a small metal point to puncture just the cover of the golf ball (through the paint) and the resistance to that puncture is recorded.

So when you chip and putt the Callaway ERC golf ball (or any other model), the feedback you get through your hands (and ears) is primarily hardness. This is why a 90-100 compression ball with a urethane cover will feel softer around and on the green than a 50 compression, plastic covered 2 piece ball. You are feeling the properties of the cover vs. the core and mantle layer.

 

Chipping & Putting the Callaway ERC Soft

The bottom line is that the ERC Soft performs similarly to the Pro V1 and Chrome Soft around and on the green. All three balls have similar low durometer covers that produce a soft feel off the wedges and putter. Since the dimples don't affect chipping feel off the club face, any visual differences between the Callaway ball and other Tour balls are to an individual's taste.

I rate putting feel on 3 sound levels, as sound relates directly to feel;

- a "snap" (harder balls, poor feel)

- a "knock" (decent feel and speed control)

- a "soft click" (great feel, ala urethane and hybrid rubber covers)

This ball rates a soft click and as stated, is comparable to the Pro V1. Distance control was also excellent. Putting feel is perhaps the most subjective aspect of the ball characteristics. If you like the feel and sound of urethane covered Tour balls then you will be right at home with the ERC Soft and it's hybrid cover. Of course the Triple Track Alignment system will be invaluable or a nuisance, depending on your experience. The good thing is that you have the option of turning the ball over on the green, hiding the track and putting traditionally!

 

Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball Price

So what's this new technology (and advertising) going to cost you? The Callaway ERC Soft costs just under $40/dozen. I've seen it on Amazon and even in Walmart for ~$38.95. For reference, the 2019 version of the Pro V1 retails for $47.99/dozen, although you can pick up the prior generation Pro V1 (and V1x) for about the same price as the ERC Soft. As stated, both balls have a 3-Piece Tour ball composition so the price follows suit.