Speed Regime Line from Callaway

December 19, 2013: Ever since Phil Mickelson made public display of gratitude towards Callaway, one question is repeatedly asked to Dave Bartels, Callaway’s senior director of golf ball R&D, that should golfers be using the same ball Mickelson currently plays if they have a slower swing speed than the five-time major winner?

While it may be fun to use the same ball as Mickelson, Bartels noted that golfers may not get the most out of a tour-level ball if they have a slower swing speed. Instead of making a lower-compression ball for players with slower swing speeds, Bartles and the rest of Callaway’s golf ball R&D team went to work on designing three tour-level balls with completely different constructions for different swing types.

“The Speed Regime golf balls have been designed aerodynamically to perform the best for each golfer,” Bartels said. “These are the most advanced tour balls in our lineup. Each ball has the best materials, spins the best around the green. These are true tour-level balls designed for golfers of all speed types.”

Callaway’s new Speed Regime ball line comes in three different versions — SR-1, SR-2 and SR-3.

The SR-1 is a four-piece ball that’s designed for driver swing speeds of less than 90 miles per hour. The ball features the company’s multi-layer dual core construction that combines a soft inner core and firm outer core for optimal spin separation, distance and control. The construction allows the ball to produce less spin with the driver and more spin around the green. To keep the ball in the air longer, Callaway added a refined HEX pattern that optimizes low speed lift for more carry and distance.

The SR-2 is a five-piece ball that’s designed for players with driver swing speeds between 90 and 104 miles per hour. Unlike the four-piece SR-1, the SR-2 has a dual mantle with a fifth layer that produces increased ball speeds and reduces spin off the driver for extra distance. The HEX pattern was engineered to have the best balance of low drag at high speeds (at the start of flight), and added lift at the end of flight as the ball is descending.

The SR-3 is a five-piece ball that’s geared towards golfers with driver swing speeds over 105 miles per hour. Callaway said it expects SR-3 to be the ball most players on the PGA TOUR use next year. It features the same dual mantle as SR-2 with a HEX pattern that reduces drag at high speeds, without sacrificing low speed lift. Minimizing drag allows the ball to have a more boring trajectory for increased distance and control.

All three balls also feature Callaway’s Duraspin cover, a proprietary formulation that is specifically designed for each ball and offers a soft feel with greenside spin. SR-2 and SR-3 also have a soft ionomer layer that makes each ball feel softer than previous Tour-level balls Callaway’s produced.

The entire Speed Regime ball line will be available in January for $48 per dozen.