Callaway Golf's line of X-series irons has always been ridiculously easy to use. I remember my first round using a set of Callaway's earliest X-12s a decade ago and having grown up using blades, the switch to something that actually helped me get the ball in the air, was a genuine revelation.
When I recently tested the sixth incarnation - the Callaway X-22 irons - I couldn’t help but feel the same way. The word 'forgiving' doesn't really do the clubs justice; such is the ease with which the ball can be dispatched into a pin-seeking trajectory.
Many mid-handicappers have been put off buying a full set of irons because of a growing tendency to ditch long the longer irons in favor of the easier-to-hit hybrids or the more lofted of the fairway woods. But with the Callaway X-22 irons there's a real case for sticking with those usually uncompromising 3- and 4-irons, especially when they are no more difficult to hit than the 5- or 6-iron.
With Callaway's engineers claiming they have managed to increase the MOI (resistance to twisting) by 10% on the previous X iron, Callaway also refined the 360-degree undercut channel to place more weight low down in the head. The result, I discovered, is a consistently higher ball flight on those shots that have traditionally been intimidating with a tendency for a weak slice for the average player.
A nice extra touch is the presence of guide markings on the grips to indicate the optimum hand position.
But before consigning the X-22 irons to the area marked 'game improvement clubs', the better player should stop to consider a few crucial facts. These are no shovels; they might be easier to hit, but Callaway has broadened the X-22 irons' appeal by narrowing the top line and avoiding the sort of chunky appearance that might deter a more accomplished player.
And by reducing the width of the sole Callaway engineers have ensured a degree of workability that some rival irons won't be able to replicate, even with today's straighter-flying golf balls.
While the Callaway X-22 irons I tried are stuffed with new ideas, some the familiar technologies, such as the variable thickness face and the distinctive S2H2 hosel, remain. And in keeping with the high-tech approach, the Tru-Bore tip is now made of polycarbonate to help reduce vibration through the shaft.
The appearance is high-quality, too, with the notches on the sole reinforcing the suggestion of power and stability. The Callaway X-series of irons have always been about high-quality product and the 2009 line-up is no exception. In addition to the standard set, a Tour version also exists with a sleeker hosel, a thinner top line and progressively narrower soles that offer the best players a higher degree of flexibility.
