Callaway X-tour

Just to round off a couple of recent threads. Craig Parry, the winner of this year's Heineken Classic (with acknowledgements to Mr Change for providing commentary on the play-off) is using the Callaway X-tours. Given Phil Mickleson's runaway success at the moment maybe there is something about these clubs?

Anyway, there's a link on his website to a picture of them (assuming they are the ones he actually uses). They look like a regular X18 but with much less depth to the cavity.

http://www.craigparry.com/clubs.htm

There's also the benefit of a few no-nonsense tips on the site as you would expect from straight-talking Craig, good on ya mate.

Pictures for these isn't unusual.. There's been pictures around for a long time.

http://www.golfrewind.com/showthread...ghlight=x-tour
http://www.callawaygolf.com/EN/Feature.aspx?feature=10

Well, there are 4 things about the X-Tours:

1. The cavity is very shallow, like the Titleist CB sort of depth. Pro's don't need caves ...
2. They are not cast like the other Callaway irons. Therefore, they are softer and feel better for the pros.
3. There is no offset
4. The club head is a bit smaller.

It's all built around the pro tour requirements. I should be able to get my hands on set in a few weeks ... I hope. I have a friend you uses them.

A quick question to appease my curiosity. I understand about how the pro's don't need (or want) a cavity, use forged for better feel and a smaller clubhead. What about offset? I know that many "game improvement" clubs have an offset but what does it do?

They look like Fusions without the insert.


Im a bit disappointed I was expecting a more trad looking club. They look ok and from the top they are nice enough. Just a shame they still look like the X-18/Fusion/Big Berthas from the back. I had a shot of the X-18 pro series recently BTW, pretty good but even with the slightly smaller head a bit too unwieldy for me. I might try and blag a shot of the X-tours tho.

D.

Just a point to add,

Thoses who know me will be aware that I love Callaway irons, mainly the pro series because they are less offset, less cavity and quite a bit thiner on top.


My point is that teaching pro and all the users on this site including me know that the alot of pros use different irons/heads, as Teaching pro says No offset, none or very little cavity, even thinner top line, different metal.. etc etc etc..............My point is why oh why don't they sell the actual clubs the pros use with different shafts??????


Ian.

I currently play X-16 Pro Series irons and am quite dissapointed with them in terms of shot making ability. I tried the X-Tour irons on the driving range today, hitting 4 Iron, 7 Iron and PW. I have to say that the feel of these irons are a lot better than the X-16s I play and I was able to work the 7 Iron (draw or fade). I did not really try to work the 4 Iron as my swing has not recovered from winter hiatus. I have to say that I like these irons.

Well, the better feel and workability come from 2 things: far less cavity and they're forged rather than cast. Despite what everyone says, there IS a HUGE difference in between a forged and cast feel in educated hands. No doubt about it ...

Yeah, if I was offered a Staff contract from Callaway, I'd use them and that's saying a lot from a 'blades only man', I liked them very much. I managed to work them very nicely which I found quite difficult with the X-18's.

I must say, when I heard about the X-Tours, I was expecting a sort-of semi blade like the Mizuno MP32's, not a 'Tour' version of what we've been seeing for 12+ years from Callaway. Maybe 1 day...

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