Callaway's new line of X Hot Drivers and Fairway Woods promise blistering ball speeds and distance gains.
Distance gains of 13 yards with the new driver (vs. its RAZR X Black) have been achieved with a host of design and engineering advancements that makes the new X Hot driver fast, hot and more lightweight than their predecessors. Callaway employed its fast Speed Frame Face Technology that increases ball speed, saves weight and optimizes stiffness and stress distribution across the face for more efficient energy transfer. The new face technology promotes more - and more consistent -- distance, even on off-center impact. Also, by decoupling the face performance from the rest of the driver head, Callaway is able to boost ball speed without sacrificing optimum trajectory. And a tighter curvature face on the X Hot Driver (relative to the RAZR X Black Driver) offers a look at address preferred by better players, along with consistent sidespin and dispersion to promote accuracy.
The all-titanium head in the new X Hot drivers utilizes the thinnest casting technology ever used to create a lighter swing weight and overall configuration, a combination that benefits most players in terms of head speed and distance. Another benefit of the new, thin casting technology to the golfer is the inclusion of Draw Bias Progression, which changes the amount of draw bias depending on the loft, allowing golfers to better control sidespin and tune their shot shape.
Callaway's X Hot driver also features the adjustable OptiFit Hosel, which gives players three options to adjust the face angle - Open, Square or Closed. This helps improve accuracy and trajectory while allowing golfers to dial in their preferred look at address.
The Standard X Hot driver will be available in 9.5-, 10.5-, 11.5-degree models and a 13-degree HT-model, and will feature a lighter overall club weight and a lower swing weight than the X Hot Pro model. At 460 cc, it also features attractive crown decals and an alignment Chevron on the matte grey-colored crown.
The X Hot Pro driver, which has a slightly smaller headshape at 440 cc, will be available in 8.5-, 9.5- and 10.5-degree models and feature slightly more open face angles than the Standard version.
Both versions of the new driver will have a suggesgted retail price of $299 US.
In addition, Callaway is bringing a new line of fairway woods that aim to deliver the hottest, most versatile and most complete fairway woods in golf. The Forged Speed Frame Face Cup made of high strength Carpenter 455 stainless steel is 40 percent thinner than last year's model with a 90 percent larger sweet spot. As a result it produces significantly hotter responses all over the face, and does so with superior launch conditions.
A novel proprietary wave-shaped weighting design inside the club head called the Internal Standing Wave produces a markedly low CG that delivers more ball speed and lower, more consistent backspin, resulting in longer, more consistent distances from everywhere on the course.
The Modern Warbird Sole of the new clubs are designed for improved performance from a variety of lies allowing for more dynamic shot shaping and a decidedly more useful fairway wood.
The Standard X Hot Fairway Wood will be available in a 3-Wood, 4-Wood, 5-Wood, 7-Wood, 9-Wood and 11-Wood and features slightly longer length shafts and more upright lie angles. The X Hot Pro Fairway Wood will be available in 13.5-, 15-, 17- and 19-degree models. Both versions will be available at a suggested retail price of $229 US.
X Hot and X Hot Pro Irons & Hybrids
In the continuing quest for distance, Callaway sets out to deliver measurable gains with its new, aggressive X Hot and X Hot Pro Irons.
Callaway incorporated a Deep Undercut Cavity Design which allowed them to precisely position the Center of Gravity (CG) and move the most compliant part of the face – the hottest part – lower, where more golfers make contact with the ball. Also, for the first time, Speed Frame Face Technology from its drivers have been incorporated into its X Hot Irons, optimizing stiffness across the face for more efficient energy transfer. This produces more ball speed and consistent distance, even on off-center contact.
Rounding out the X Hot Irons is the Feel Management Technology, a dual material medallion that fine tunes sound by promoting a crisp, dynamic feel at higher ball speeds. The stock shaft offering is a True Temper Speed Step 85 Lightweight Steel Shaft.
For the more discerning golfer, the X Hot Pro Irons have been designed with an explosive blend of power, feel and pinpoint shot-making. This re-engineered stainless steel iron features new J-Face Dynamics, a face technology that combines precise face thickness control and undercut depth to deliver the power and feel that skilled golfers prefer.
The X Hot Pro Irons also feature Callaway's 20-degree Close Spaced V Grooves, which are typically reserved for forged player irons, but have been included in this club to offer up to 1000 rpm more backspin out of the rough (in comparison to its predecessor) making it Callaway's most precise grooves.
The X Hot Irons will be available at a suggested retail price of $699 US (steel) and $899 US (graphite). The X Hot Pro Irons come with a suggested retail price of $799 US (steel) and $999 US (graphite).
To compliment the new distance-promoting irons, the X Hot and X Hot Pro Hybrids provide the distance and forgiveness of a fairway wood with the accuracy and control of an iron, making them a great replacement for long irons. Available with a Project X Velocity stock shaft, the clubs feature a thin Speed Frame Face for significantly higher CT and faster ball speeds as well as a modern Warbird sole plate relieved in the heel and toe for enhanced versatility from a variety of lies.
The standard X Hot Hybrid will be available in a 3, 4, 5 and 6 while the X Hot Pro model, which features a smaller footprint often preferred by better players, will be available in 16-, 18-, 20- and 23-degree models.
Both X Hot Hybrid models come with a suggested retail price of $179 US.