Things have always been a bit of a mixed back when it comes to Callaway Golf Apparel, and much of that has simply been due to finding the path which with they wanted their clothing to evolve. Though after getting some pieces from the most recent lineup in hand, I think it is safe to say there has been much more than simple evolution.
For me personally, there has historically been a bit of a sizing issue with Callaway Apparel, but I am happy to say that their decision to broaden their line with Big and Tall as well as Slim offerings has also meant that the standard choices have found a happy-medium in sizing. Gone is the boxy nature that was so prevalent, and instead there is now a much more middle of the road sizing which now allows the materials to stand out perhaps as they always should have.
Morgan Babbitt and I were able to get a plethora of pieces in hand to take a closer look at the changes the brand has undergone both on the men’s and women’s side of the spectrum.
2023 Callaway Men’s Apparel
Rather than just one or two pieces, this year we were able to get eight pieces in hand on the men’s apparel side of things for Callaway and I came away thoroughly impressed. With four polo’s, two pair of shorts, and two outerwear/layering pieces this was a sampling that seemed to really show that Callaway has addressed their sizing issues and have sought to have options for all types (standard, big and tall, slim).
All four of the polo’s were admittedly a lot more fun than I expected out of Callaway Golf, not only in that they are pattern driven, but that the patterns are actually on the fun side of things, particularly the All-Over Micro Conversational and Trademark Ombre Chev Polo’s pictured above. The All-Over features fun martini glasses while the Trademark is simply a much more geometrically driven design than I remember from Callaway. Both of these fit into the more “current” trend of things visually while being a pretty “standard” fit that avoided being boxy for me (wearing a L). The three-button plackets lead very well done collars and let the Opti-Dri and SwingTech material designs show out well. These are the more expensive of the polo’s at $98.00 (left picture) and $78.00 (right picture) but they are also the higher end feeling blends of the four.
That said, the SwingTech Ventilated Heather and Chevron Foulard polo’s pictured just above (left and right respectively) at $68.00 each did not leave me wanting in any significant area. Both shirts utilize the breathable Opti-Dri and SwingTech materials, with the Foulard using Callaway’s ECO design (30% recycled polyester), and the Ventilated polo having the Cooling tech built in. Both showcase a three button placket as well, though to my feel the collars are less structured and certainly seem best designed for the heat. Fit was slightly wider than the previously discussed polo’s, but still a world better than what I had to this point known from Callaway.
As for the bottoms, I was pleased that Callaway sent in two different inseam and material styles to try out. The navy Everplay Stretch Horizontal Texture shorts ($78.00) are absolutely killer with the lines being super fine to allow blending with all sorts of tops. More than that, they remind me of some of my favorite lightweight shorts (Ultimates) but with better quality in the stitching. The middle-of-the-road 9-inch inseam is a nice touch as well. On the other side, the new Stretch Solid Pro-Spin shorts ($68.00) are a 9-inch inseam which fit a little shorter than that to me and showed a little more leg, but not obnoxiously so. These are the more traditionally weighted pair despite having the higher (95%) polyester content and the “active waistband” with its “gripper” which internally keeps the polo tucked nicely.
The first outerwear piece I received was the Crossover Performance Hybrid Collar Pullover which hits at $72.00 and frankly, is much more a long sleeve shirt than what I would call a pullover. Also, yes, “hybrid collar” is another way of saying a modern blade-style collar which works really well on this piece, but in a much more casual manner in my opinion than on the golf course. The double knit fabric with SwingTech built in means it has some weight to it but is also swing friendly. Wearing it as a pullover over a traditionally collared shirt didn’t work well, so that leaves this one the only question mark for me.
Finally, the rock star of what we were sent in my opinion, and while I know it will make the traditionalists heads explode, the Quarter Zip Mixed Media Tech Hoodie is an absolute show stealer. The OptiDri and SwingTech base also features Aquapel which actually repels liquids, and it works well. The fit of this one is absolutely killer and it wore well for me both on and off course, at $89.00 it isn’t the cheapest, but it is incredibly versatile and fun.
2023 Callaway Women’s Apparel
The ladies line shared a lot of similarities to the men’s with some bold patterns and a more tailored fit. We received two skorts, a short sleeved polo, a sleeveless polo, and a hoodie. The pieces could actually all be mixed and matched together which was nice, but we will break it down into two outfits we will call the camo and the subdued.
The camo outfit consists of their Multi-Color Camp Wrap Skort ($84), Sleeveless Multi-Color Camo Polo ($78), and a ½ zip Multi-Color Camo hoodie ($98). This outfit is not for the traditionalist, this outfit is colorful, and bold, and will not be missed when you are on the course. It’s also fun, vibrant, and eco-friendly as mentioned in the men’s apparel above. I found all the pieces to run true to size. Everything was super lightweight, breathable, and incredibly comfortable, making it great for layering for those rounds that start off a little chilly and then get warmer as the day progresses.
As you can imagine, the subdued outfit is much more, well…subdued. This one consisted of the Callaway Color Block Golf Skort ($84) and Color Block V-Placket Golf Polo ($68). The skort was the simpler design of the two pieces. It is mostly navy with a little pink on each side and a tiny splash of white. Nothing crazy or ostentatious here, just a simple, comfortable, everyday golf skort that can be worn with many colors. We received an XS for the Camo skort and a size small for the Color Block, and I found the small just a tad too big, whereas the XS (my usual size) fit perfectly, so I would say this style was also true to size. The Color Block V-Placket Polo might push the envelope a little but overall it’s still a nice, clean, two toned designed. I loved that it had no zipper or buttons in the neckline, however I will note that if you have larger arms, this might be a little snug and you might want to consider sizing up.
Overall, I enjoyed everything that was received, and I think it’s a really great mix of fun and familiar to please just about everyone.
The Details
The new spring 2023 lineup options from Callaway are available now both through Callaway directly as well as golf retailers everywhere. With the improvements seen it certainly makes things much more interesting in the segment. Will it be enough for you to go out and give Callaway Apparel another look? Jump into the conversation and let us know below or right on the THP Community.
