Callaway Announces Steelhead XR Irons
8/23/2016 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: Equipment Reviews
Callaway blends a signature shape you're sure to recognize with high performance features that promote feel, sound, and distance
Callaway has skills with steel. And as if their recent
success with irons (see the Apex family) weren't
enough to prove that, out comes the newest addition to
the XR family, the Steelhead XR Irons.
These modern marvels combine the shaping and playability that made the Steelhead X-14 (released in 2000) one of the most popular irons of all time. Callaway engineers paid special attention to some of the design aspects on the original Steelheads, including a slightly longer blade length, a slightly more rounded toe and the signature hosel-to-face transition.
"Of the many requests we get from golfers," says Callaway VP of R&D Dr. Alan Hocknell, "a frequent one is 'bring back the Steelhead.'"
You might say they've done it, but this is no replica set.
The X-14 set golfers asked Callaway to start making again, for example, didn't have the next-generation 360 Face Cup.™ The Face Cup on the Steelhead XR allows the edges of the ultra-thin face to freely flex and release at impact with greater efficiency. This results in increased ball speed and distance, especially on off-center hits. (The boost in face-speed is so significant that it’s hiked the COR close to the USGA limit.)
More speed and distance on mis-hits is made possible by the modern Hollow Bore-Thru hosel design, which allowed Callaway engineers to remove weight from the hosel and reposition it in strategic areas within the head.
The result is an increase in moment of inertia (MOI) for more forgiveness on mis-hits and a precisely- positioned center of gravity (CG) in the long, middle and short irons.
How does that work, you might ask, and what could it do for me?
Well, for starters the Steelhead XR long-irons feature an exceptionally low and far-back CG to make them easier to launch high and long. (Anyone who played X- 14 knows that the long irons were one of the nicest parts of the set.)
The middle-irons have an exceptionally low and mid- back CG to promote easy launch and keen control, while the short-irons have a low and mid CG to make it easier to strike lower, high-spinning shots when you're in attack mode.
Great feel and sound come from our new steel-infused polyurethane layer positioned low in the head, behind the lower portion of the face. In addition to absorbing unwanted impact vibration to promote a remarkably satisfying sound and feel at impact, it also helps lower the CG to promote faster ball speed and higher launch characteristics for more distance.
Callaway has strategically launched new products based on some of their most important brands. The Great Big Bertha is just one example -- the same club that helps average players hit longer, straighter drives helped Jim Furyk fire a Tour-record 58.
The Steelhead XR irons bring so much technology to the table that when they ship on Sept. 2, that Callaway is predicting a big hit. We don't disagree.
A FEW FACTS
AVAILABLE LOFTS: 3-LW
DATE AT RETAIL: Sept. 2
STOCK SHAFTS:
Steel: True Temper XP-95 (Stepless)
Graphite: Matrix F15
Pricing
$799 Steel/$999 Graphite
These modern marvels combine the shaping and playability that made the Steelhead X-14 (released in 2000) one of the most popular irons of all time. Callaway engineers paid special attention to some of the design aspects on the original Steelheads, including a slightly longer blade length, a slightly more rounded toe and the signature hosel-to-face transition.
"Of the many requests we get from golfers," says Callaway VP of R&D Dr. Alan Hocknell, "a frequent one is 'bring back the Steelhead.'"
You might say they've done it, but this is no replica set.
The X-14 set golfers asked Callaway to start making again, for example, didn't have the next-generation 360 Face Cup.™ The Face Cup on the Steelhead XR allows the edges of the ultra-thin face to freely flex and release at impact with greater efficiency. This results in increased ball speed and distance, especially on off-center hits. (The boost in face-speed is so significant that it’s hiked the COR close to the USGA limit.)
More speed and distance on mis-hits is made possible by the modern Hollow Bore-Thru hosel design, which allowed Callaway engineers to remove weight from the hosel and reposition it in strategic areas within the head.
The result is an increase in moment of inertia (MOI) for more forgiveness on mis-hits and a precisely- positioned center of gravity (CG) in the long, middle and short irons.
How does that work, you might ask, and what could it do for me?
Well, for starters the Steelhead XR long-irons feature an exceptionally low and far-back CG to make them easier to launch high and long. (Anyone who played X- 14 knows that the long irons were one of the nicest parts of the set.)
The middle-irons have an exceptionally low and mid- back CG to promote easy launch and keen control, while the short-irons have a low and mid CG to make it easier to strike lower, high-spinning shots when you're in attack mode.
Great feel and sound come from our new steel-infused polyurethane layer positioned low in the head, behind the lower portion of the face. In addition to absorbing unwanted impact vibration to promote a remarkably satisfying sound and feel at impact, it also helps lower the CG to promote faster ball speed and higher launch characteristics for more distance.
Callaway has strategically launched new products based on some of their most important brands. The Great Big Bertha is just one example -- the same club that helps average players hit longer, straighter drives helped Jim Furyk fire a Tour-record 58.
The Steelhead XR irons bring so much technology to the table that when they ship on Sept. 2, that Callaway is predicting a big hit. We don't disagree.
A FEW FACTS
AVAILABLE LOFTS: 3-LW
DATE AT RETAIL: Sept. 2
STOCK SHAFTS:
Steel: True Temper XP-95 (Stepless)
Graphite: Matrix F15
Pricing
$799 Steel/$999 Graphite
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