Callaway reveal new Steelhead XR irons and Hybrids

Callaway reveal new Steelhead XR irons and Hybrids

If you’ve been around golf for a while you’ll no doubt of come across Callaway’s X-Series irons before. They were about from the late noughties for over a decade and ran to at least 7 different series, but one model, the X14 was held closer to golfers hearts than most. Callaway reckon it was one of the most successful irons ever, so it’s no surprise they’ve taken inspiration from such an iconic model for their new Steelhead XR irons.

Make no mistake the Steelhead XR are aimed at the game improver and Callaway are happy to sing the fact from the hill tops. But what they’ve done differently this time is to include all the latest ball speed, forgiveness and distance enhancing tech they’ve learnt over the last 20 years and rolled it into a head shape much like the original X-14 Steelhead iron.

Click here for our video review of the new Steelhead XR range

There’s a new ultra-thin cup face. With narrower edges to allow the face to flex and release more freely at impact. Callaway say it borders on the .830 COR limit that applies to modern drivers so it’s exceptionally good at promoting more ball speed and carry distance particularly on off centre hits.

A bore-thru hosel (where the shaft runs through the head to the sole) was a huge feature of the original design and Callaway have come up with a redesign for the new model. They say a new modern “Hollow Bore Thru” removes ineffective weight from the hosel allowing their engineers to reposition mass to strategic areas of the head to increase MOI for more forgiveness. The tech doesn’t stop their either there’s also a new steel–infused polyurethane layer behind the lower portion of the face which absorbs unwanted vibrations so you get excellent feel and sound no matter where shots are hit on the face.

Expect to see the Steelhead XR’s appearing in golf shops from 2^nd September, for further information visit www.callawaygolf.com

Details:

RRP: £649 (s) £829 (g)

Availability: 3-PW, AW, SW, LW

Stock shafts: True Temper XP 95 Stepless (s) Matrix F15 (g)

There’s Steelhead XR hybrids too…

No new iron launch is complete nowadays without a matching hybrid to boot, as golfers naturally buy long iron replacements when getting fitted for a new set of irons. So whilst we can’t say the new Steelhead XR’s are based on an iconic former model, we can say they benefit from masses of technology to help you hit shots further more consistently.

Compared to the current XR hybrids the Steelhead’s are longer from toe to heel and deeper from face to back, which Callaway say is more forgiving and easier to launch from any lie. There’s a Hyper Speed Face Cup, which like the irons narrows at the edges to promote a faster release of power at impact for more ball speed and greater distance. A new Speed Step in the crown also improves airflow and aerodynamics to promote further head speed even from slower swings.

Details:

RRP: £199

Lofts: 3H/19°, 4H/22°, 5H/25°, 6H/28°

Stock shaft: Matrix F15