Callaway Warbird Review

The Warbird has been in the Callaway line for decades and the reason is simple: it goes. The core is hot, the cover is a tough ionomer, and the hexagonal dimple pattern keeps drag down through a high flight, so for a swing above ninety miles an hour it carries with balls costing three times as much and usually beats the other budget models on total yardage. It is durable too, which matters at this price, and it shrugs off the cart path strike that would scar a urethane cover.

What you give up is everything inside a hundred yards. Greenside spin is minimal, so a pitch lands and keeps going, and any shot you need to stop quickly has to be played with the ground rather than with the ball. The feel follows from the construction: firm, loud off the putter, and short on the feedback a better player uses to judge pace. That is why the overall grade sits where it does rather than higher, because scoring is not something this ball helps with. As a first ball, a scramble ball or a ball for a course that eats three a round, it is very hard to argue with. As a ball to shoot a number with, it is not one.