Fast, long, and forgiving? Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke Iron Review

The hollow body Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke iron is designed for mid-handicappers looking to tighten shot dispersion and improve score-ability. My review finds out if they deliver.

Callaway didn’t really compete in the core game improvement iron market in 2023. Their plan though is to hit back super hard with the impressive Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke iron in 2024. Last year thanks to the previous Paradym and Paradym X having forged hollow body constructions both irons were positioned above the $1K/£1K threshold seen as the top-end entry point for many club golfers looking for new irons. The 2022 Rogue ST was also fading in its second year, so the brand suffered in the category where historically the largest sums of cash are spent. Expect to see the hollow body AI-Smoke feature among the best irons of 2024, here’s my guide to deciding whether they suit you.

Everything you need to know about the Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke Iron

Less smarty pants, more smarty face

Callaway has put in tons of work creating AI-Smart Faces for their new Paradym AI-Smoke drivers, it makes perfect sense then to run the story through to the Paradym AI-Smoke irons too. That way the company has one clear, simple, and powerful story to tell no matter where you’re looking to spend your dosh in 2024.

Just as they’ve done with the Paradym AI-Smoke drivers, Callaway has studied the typical impact locations of various abilities of golfers, when hitting irons. They’ve come to realize the goal with designing iron faces is very different to drivers.

Hitting irons is all about finding greens, which is also the key statistic to golfers lowering their handicap. So, their target was coming up with an AI-Smart Face for each of the three different AI-Smoke irons (and each individual iron within each set) based on the ability and typical impact location of the intended target golfer, which in turn would make it possible to up accuracy and consistency.

Take the par 3 12^th at Augusta National

The 12^th at Augusta is a devilishly difficult hole to play. It measures just 155 yards, yet at The Masters the very top players regularly fly the green, come up short in the bunker, or occasionally land on the bank and trickle back into Raes Creek. Depending on where the flag is located there’s a landing area from front to back of just 14 yards (yet the green is 26 yards deep), which for many club golfers would be a really tough target to hit and hold. Callaway says their new AI-Smart iron faces tighten front-to-back dispersion no matter whether shots are mishit or not.

The result means more shots end up on the green, with less long, short, or in the bunker. But how do they do it? Well in exactly the same way as they’ve optimized the AI-Smoke driver faces, by controlling spin rate and descent angle when shots hit various different points across the face. These are the smartest irons Callaway has ever created.

How to choose which Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke iron suits your game

Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke iron

RRP: $999.99 / £899.99 (s), $1099.99 / £999.99 (g)

Construction: Cast hollow body

Category: Mid-Handicap Iron

Forgiveness rating: 3/5

7-iron loft: 28°

Stock steel shafts:

True Temper Elevate 85/95

Stock graphite shafts:

Project X Cypher 2.0 70/60/50 (Stiff, Regular, Light)

Mitsubishi Tensei Blue White (40 – Light)

Mitsubishi Eldio (Womens)

This is the model that targets being the best mid-handicap iron on the market. The AI-Smoke is for golfers who have enough club speed to take advantage of the hollow body fast-face construction. That means you’ll need to be swinging 7-iron at 78 – 80+ mph (and driver at 90+ mph), and enjoy looking down at a pretty streamlined topline and slightly longer blade length than Callaway has traditionally offered in this category.

Unlike the Apex 24 Pro and Paradym irons, the head is cast not forged, which allows the company to hit a more mass-market price point. Inside urethane microspheres dial down sound and up feel, where tungsten weight optimises forgiveness and accurately positions the center of gravity.      

As you’d expect with what is a distance-focused iron the lofts are strong (the 7-iron is 28°) but they’re not quite as strong as the previous Rogue ST Max (27.5° 7iron), a clear indication of the march to ever stronger iron lofts is starting to slow.     

Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke HL iron

RRP: $999.99 / £899.99 (s), $1099.99 / £999.99 (g)

Construction: Cast cavity back

Category: High Handicap/Moderate Speed Iron

Forgiveness rating: 4/5

7-iron loft: 30°

Stock steel shafts:

True Temper Elevate 85/95

Stock graphite shafts:

PX Cypher 2.070/60/50 (Stiff, Regular, Light)

Mitsubishi Tensei Blue White (40 – Light)

Mitsubishi Eldio (Womens)

Over the last 18 months, there’s been a significant swing away from manufacturers pitching their strongest loft irons as the best high-handicap irons available. In reality, these golfers generally swing slightly slower so they need more loft, not less to help maximize spin, shot height, descent angle and carry distance. With a 30° 7-iron loft the AI-Smoke HL follows that trend to the absolute letter.

The HL has been designed based on feedback from the brand’s fitters. As they’ve spotted how many modern-day golfers struggle to launch mid-irons high enough from the turf to maximize distance, which directly translates into shots not spinning enough, flying lower, and hitting the green at too shallow an angle to stop on the dancefloor.

Callaway says if you’re a golfer struggling for speed, it’s highly likely you’ll hit the hollow body, stronger lofted, AI-Smoke less far, than the HL, thanks to not being able to flight shots correctly. While this iron will also fly too high if you have too much speed. Expect larger, more offset heads and wider soles than the AI-Smoke hollow body iron.

Compared to the previous Rogue ST Max OS golfers can expect more spin and control, which through internal testing has also translated into tighter down-range dispersion, just as Callaway promised. See the model as an alternative to the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal HL and you’ll be thinking absolutely along the right lines.

Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke Max Fast Iron

RRP: $999.99 / £899.99 (s), $1099.99 / £999.99 (g)

Construction: Cast cavity back

Category: Mid – High Handicap/Moderate Speed Iron

Forgiveness rating: 4/5

7-iron loft: 31°

Stock steel shafts:

True Temper Elevate 85/95

Stock graphite shafts:

PX Cypher 2.0 70/60/50 (Stiff, Regular, Light)

Mitsubishi Tensei Blue White (40 – Light)

Mitsubishi Eldio (Womens)

Lots of enthusiastic senior golfers lose significant amounts of club speed as they age, if that’s you Callaway says the new lightweight Paradym AI-Smoke Max Fast iron will be right up your street. The Max Fast is very much an anti-loft jacking iron. Like the Paradym AI-Smoke Max Fast driver it’s designed to be super lightweight and lively.

Expect 40g graphite shafts, lightweight grips, and a weaker 31° 7-iron loft that can’t fail to flight shots properly no matter what your speed. It’s likely your 7-iron speed will be less than 70mph to get the best out of this iron. Personally, I’d see it as an alternative to the Callaway Paradym Star iron but with a much more attainable core iron price.

Callaway says the model is very forgiving, but it’s not a Big Bertha. The decision to play this iron comes down to a lack of speed as the model isn’t necessarily a super game-improving model. Which opens it up to quite a wide audience of slower-swing speed club golfers of various abilities.

Video: How does the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke compare to leading competitor Mid-Handicap Irons?

Verdict: Callaway Paradym AI Smoke iron

It’s really hard to fathom that Callaway didn’t have a mass-market cast game improvement iron option in 2023, as back then their focus was the Paradym which traded off being a TaylorMade P790 alternative. Having learned the error of their ways and the effect their decision had on reducing iron sales last year their thinking has dramatically changed for 2024.    

The cast, hollow body, and strong loft AI Smoke are aimed squarely at mid-handicap players and game improvers who won’t entertain spending more than $1K/£1K on a set of irons. And from what I’ve seen it’s a cracking option for golfers who possess a decent degree of club speed.

Thanks to producing the fastest ball speed (130.6mph) of the entire 2024 Mid-Handicap Iron category while being just a single yard back from posting the longest 7-iron carry I can safely say the AI Smoke is a very powerful beast in the right hands. The whole idea of the club’s hollow body and fast face is that shots launch higher with less spin, so the ball travels further. But what’s really encouraging to my eye is how the Smoke produced bang-on-average launch, spin, and descent angle numbers so shots aren’t just flying like low-spin bullets, that won’t stop on a green.

To my eye, the AI Smoke isn’t the most attractively shaped or desirably designed iron in the mid-handicap iron market. But our test pro is using the 4-iron as a powerful long iron option this season, which has to say the model can do a job for any golfer who boasts decent amounts of speed to launch the strong lofts high enough from the turf. Those who don’t check out the more lofted AI Smoke HL and lighter AI Smoke Max Fast instead.        

Undoubtedly there will be critics that hold up the AI Smoke’s 18-yard carry distance drop-off as the drawback of using uncontrollable modern, fast-face, hollow body irons. But remember our data is created using a a test pro. Club golfers at lesser speeds are likely to see smaller differences between on and off-center hits, and our second most accurate iron in the category (the Ping G430) boasts similar thin, fast face tech too.

From what I’ve seen I have zero reservations in naming the AI Smoke among my best four Mid-Handicap Irons of 2024.       

Data comparison: How does the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke compare to leading competitor Mid-Handicap Irons?

Iron	7-Iron Loft	Ball Speed	Launch Angle	Backspin	Height	Descent Angle	Carry Distance	Carry Distance Drop Off	Shot Area
TaylorMade Qi	28°	129.2 MPH (3)	15.6°	5065 RPM	33 YDS	44.2°	198 YDS (T1)	12 YDS	267.6 SQ YDS
PXG 0211 XCOR2	28°	130.1 MPH (2)	13.6°	5057 RPM	29 YDS	41.8°	198 YDS (T1)	16 YDS	193.6 SQ YDS
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke	28°	130.6 MPH (1)	14.5°	5311 RPM	32 YDS	43.4°	197 YDS (3)	18 YDS	552.6 SQ YDS
Wilson Dynapower	27°	127.8 MPH	15°	4910 RPM	31 YDS	42.7°	195 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	196.8 SQ YDS
Cobra Forged Tec X	27°	127.7 MPH	13.9°	4872 RPM	29 YDS	42.1°	191 YDS	9 YDS	360 SQ YDS
PXG 0311 XP GEN6	27°	126.2 MPH	13.7°	4726 RPM	27 YDS	40.8°	190 YDS	20 YDS	470 SQ YDS
Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal	28.5°	127.6 MPH	14.9°	5748 RPM	31 YDS	44.2°	190 YDS	13 YDS	243.1 SQ YDS
Srixon ZX4	28.5°	126.4 MPH	14.7°	5030 RPM	30 YDS	43.1°	189 YDS	22 YDS	594 SQ YDS
Ram FXT		126.1 MPH	15.4°	5395 RPM	31 YDS	43.7°	189 YDS	13 YDS	161.2 SQ YDS
Cleveland XL ZipCore	29°	125.1 MPH	14.6°	4719 RPM	29 YDS	41.8°	188 YDS	15 YDS	210 SQ YDS
Ping G430	29°	125.8 MPH	14.9°	5117 RPM	30 YDS	43.3°	187 YDS	7 YDS (2)	110.6 SQ YDS (2)
Inesis 500		125.1 MPH	15.6°	5456 RPM	31 YDS	43.5°	187 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	181.6 SQ YDS
Titleist T350	29°	125.5 MPH	14.3°	5159 RPM	29 YDS	42.6°	186 YDS	11 YDS	167.2 SQ YDS
Cobra Darkspeed	27°	126.7 MPH	12.4°	5298 RPM	26 YDS	40.7°	186 YDS	8 YDS (T3)	129.6 SQ YDS
Takomo 101	30°	123.8 MPH	14°	4784 RPM	27 YDS	40.8°	184 YDS	4 YDS (1)	52.4 SQ YDS (1)
Yonex GS i-Tech		125.2 MPH	13.8°	5373 RPM	28 YDS	42.2°	184 YDS	21 YDS	611.1 SQ YDS
Vega Mizar Plus	30°	125.4 MPH	14.3°	5858 RPM	29 YDS	43.8°	182 YDS	22 YDS	420.2 SQ YDS
Sub 70 699	31°	124.1 MPH	13.3°	5847 RPM	27 YDS	42.1°	179 YDS	11 YDS	154 SQ YDS
MacGregor V-Max		118.3 MPH	17.5°	6305 RPM	31 YDS	45.3°	171 YDS	8 YDS (T8)	121.6 SQ YDS (3)
AVERAGE		126.1 MPH	14.5°	5265 RPM	29.5 YDS	42.7°	187.9 YDS	12.9 YDS	273.5 SQ YDS

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About the author

Simon Daddow – Today’s Golfer Equipment Editor

Simon Daddow is the Equipment Editor for Today’s Golfer. Having tested and played more than 10,000 clubs in his life, what he doesn’t know about golf clubs isn’t worth knowing.

He joined EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) as Equipment Editor in 2006 and has worked for both Today’s Golfer and Golf World. Working alongside our test pro Neil Wain, Simon has made todays-golfer.com the most reliable source for golf club testing.

Despite his youthful looks, Simon has played golf for more than 40 years and plays to a handicap of 10. A lack of club speed means he’s short off the tee, but very handy from 125 yards and in.

Simon’s job means he plays regularly around the world, and rates Kingsbarns as his favorite course. He uses a PXG 0311 GEN6 XF driver, TaylorMade Stealth 2 HL (15º), Ping G400 (20.5º), PXG 0317 X Gen2 hybrid, PXG 0311 GEN6 P irons (6–PW), Cleveland CBX2 wedges (52°, 58°), Ping 21 Fetch putter and a TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.

You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.

Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke iron

RRP: $999.99 / £899.99 (s), $1099.99 / £999.99 (g)

Construction: Cast hollow body

Category: Mid-Handicap Iron

Forgiveness rating: 3/5

7-iron loft: 28°

Stock steel shafts:

True Temper Elevate 85/95

Stock graphite shafts:

Project X Cypher 2.0 70/60/50 (Stiff, Regular, Light)

Mitsubishi Tensei Blue White (40 – Light)

Mitsubishi Eldio (Womens)

Visit the Callaway website here