TESTED: Callaway XR 16 driver

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Callaway XR 16 9° driver, fitted with a stiff-flex graphite shaft.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: This seems like a decent driver. I own a Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver and my first notion is that this model feels quite different. I don’t particularly like the crown markings and patterns, while the colour scheme doesn’t grab me, either.

VERDICT: The Callaway XR 16 driver performs better than it looks! The ball flight was higher than mine usually is, which was good as it delivered a trajectory I really liked. I definitely hit the ball ten to 15 metres further – it’s almost like the clubhead generated topspin that helped the ball go further. It’s hard to fault the accuracy, too, as I think I hit every fairway bar one. The XR 16 feels solid at contact. There’s a firmness to impact but it’s not so firm that it’s uncomfortable or daunting to strike. Impact is forgiving enough but perhaps not quite as much as the Big Bertha Alpha 815. I loved this driver – so looks can be deceiving!

WHAT I LIKED: The ball flight and the ease of using the XR 16, as in the lack of adjustability required with the clubhead features to hit it well straight away.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: The crown markings didn’t really suit my eye.

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Callaway XR 16 9° driver, fitted with a stiff-flex graphite shaft.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The clubhead sits nicely at address and feels good to swing. One thing I noted – and it’s something perhaps we overlook at first glance – is the grip. I don’t know if it’s thicker than normal but it feels good in the hands. I love the alignment aids on the crown. The design is flashy but it’s one of the better drivers to line up with. Your eyes are drawn in more than they are to a single dot, for example.

VERDICT: I set up the Callaway XR 16 for a draw and it drew nicely all day. If I aimed for a draw, the ball started where I aimed and then drew back perfectly. And if it didn’t draw it flew dead straight. There was definitely some forgiveness to the XR 16, as I managed to drive it about as consistently as I ever have. It’s not the longest club I’ve ever hit (but was still long enough), yet the consistency and accuracy made it one of the best drivers I’ve ever hit.

WHAT I LIKED: The appearance. The graphics help you align properly and build your confidence levels.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Not as long as others but was certainly accurate.

FACTS & FIGURES

SUITABILITY: All golfers.

SHAFTS: The XR 16 comes standard with a Fujikura Speeder Evolution 565 shaft; the standard offering in the XR 16 Pro is the Tour-proven Fujikura Evolution II TS 665 shaft. Or choose from Callaway’s extensive selection of shaft options to find the one that fits your swing.

LOFTS: XR 16 is available in 9°, 10.5° and 13.5°; XR 16 Pro comes in 9.5° and 10°. All models are adjustable between one degree lower and two degrees higher.

LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Yes, except for the XR 16 Pro 10.5°.

HOW MUCH?: $580 or $650 for XR 16 Pro.

CALLAWAY SAYS: “Callaway’s renowned research and development team worked closely with aerodynamics experts at Boeing to achieve a new threshold in ball speed with the XR 16 driver. By pinpointing the size and placement of the re-engineered Speed Step Crown, engineers saved weight and lowered drag. The result is an increase in clubhead speed and, in turn, more ball speed.

“The extreme forgiveness of the XR 16 driver was accomplished thanks to the larger, high moment-of-inertia shape with a stretched crown, and a lower and deeper centre of gravity. All that forgiveness leads to more ball speed at every impact location, which can add distance for golfers of all ability levels. Callaway’s next-generation R*MOTO Face Technology is nine grams lighter and thinner than in previous models, yet still stronger due to the use of new 8-1-1 titanium. The body is lighter, too, which leads to more ball speed across the entire face.

“Engineered for more advanced players who desire workability in their long game, the XR 16 Pro has a 450cc stretched head design, lower spin and a more neutral centre of gravity bias that is low and deep in the clubhead.”

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