TEST: Callaway XR fairways and hybrids

These clubs gave our testers more options for long fairway shots, so what did they think about their performance?

MODELS AND SHAFTS PLAYED: Callaway XR 3-wood and 3-hybrid, both fitted with stiff-flex graphite shafts.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The 3-wood reminded me of the XR driver, although it’s slightly heavier than mine. My only concern is that I usually use a stiff-shafted 3-wood with a slight draw bias.

VERDICT: I hit plenty of shots with the Callaway XR 3-wood and it was just as impressive as the XR driver. I was able to swing it in the same manner and achieve the same powerful ball flight. I pushed a few shots with poor swings but none of the results were as bad as the swing would have indicated. For a club without my normal draw bias, I hit the 3-wood straighter than expected and five or so metres further than usual. Unfortunately, the XR hybrid wasn’t as beneficial for me. I liked it at address and all the attributes but didn’t seem to gel with it on the course. However, that could be the stiff shaft as I felt like I needed a bit more ‘whip’ through impact from a couple of lies in the rough.

WHAT I LIKED: The weight of the clubheads and the way both clubs looked, felt and sat at address.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Only the compatibility of the shaft. I’d like to have tried the hybrid with a regular shaft.

MODELS AND SHAFTS PLAYED: Callaway XR 3-wood and 3-hybrid, both fitted with stiff-flex graphite shafts.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: These are attractive clubs and they look even better at set-up. I like the black clubheads – they’re not distracting in any way – and the design and shape of both seems to put more of the meat of the clubhead behind the ball.

VERDICT: I hit the ball reasonably well with the Callaway XR 3-wood and hybrid, especially the hybrid – of the two that was the club I found I struck best and most consistently. The 3-wood felt good off the clubface at impact but it tended to slice to the right more than the hybrid did. I do slice the ball and perhaps I missed not having a 3-wood with more offset. The distance I hit the hybrid was solid, certainly longer than usual for me, which is saying something on a damp, soft golf course. But both were nice clubs to hit and the sensation at contact was exactly what any golfer would be after. One final point: the black clubheads create a nice contrast to the white ball at address.

WHAT I LIKED: The feel, and how the stiff-flex shaft suited me more than I thought it would.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: The way the 3-wood didn’t perform as well for me as the hybrid did.

FACTS & FIGURES

SUITABILITY: All golfers.

SHAFTS: True Temper’s Project X shafts are standard, LZ Fairway for the fairway woods and SD graphite for the hybrids.

LOFTS: Fairway woods come in 15°, 17°, 19°, 21°, 23° and 25° lofts and 19°, 22°, 25° and 28° for the hybrid range.

LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Only in the 15°, 19° and 21° lofts among the fairway woods and in all lofts except the 28° model among hybrids.

HOW MUCH?: $320 per fairway wood; $270 per hybrid.

CALLAWAY SAYS: “Callaway club designers started from scratch with the XR fairway woods, changing everything from the Face Cup to the shape to make golfers even longer than they already are. The revamped club design is led by a next generation Forged Hyper Speed Face Cup that’s up to 36 percent thinner, much lighter and has a bigger sweet spot. The result is increased ball speeds across the face for greater distance and 16 percent more forgiveness so the clubs are easy to hit. Callaway’s Internal Standing Wave design made it possible to deliver a 20 percent lower centre of gravity, 200rpm less spin and even more ball speed for more distance and versatility for any shot. The XR fairway woods also have a completely redesigned head shape, most notably a flatter leading edge and a higher toe.

“In creating the new XR hybrids, Callaway changed its entire approach in order to make a hybrid that’s easier to hit and longer. From the ground up, the R&D team developed a completely new Forged Hyper Speed Face Cup that increases ball speed for much greater distance and forgiveness at every impact location, even on off-centre hits. The head shape has been completely redesigned to reposition weight where it is most advantageous. This creates even more forgiveness and a centre of gravity that’s 46 percent lower than the X2 Hot hybrids were (and they were very long). Callaway’s re-engineered Internal Standing Wave provides the company’s club designers with a refined way to increase moment of inertia and still give the Face Cup the freedom to flex for more ball speed.”

Contact Callaway Golf on 1800 217 777 or visit www.callawaygolf.com