Callaway Elyte Fairway Woods

If you were asked to name which brand was #1 in market share for fairway woods across global tours, would you have said Callaway? While here at THP our writers and community members have long lauded the playability of the brands fairways, you could still make the argument that they are in the shadow of the brands the drivers at the start of each release cycle.  

However, after this lineup of fairways, the spotlight is about to get a lot wider for Callaway. Elyte is here.  

An Elyte Evolution

It would have been not only easy, but also perfectly acceptable for Callaway to have made some subtle changes to the implementation of materials as well as AI face design on the new Elyte fairways and call it a day. After all, when you have arguably the hottest and most consistent fairway woods across a lineup from a fitting perspective, small improvements would be a feat unto themselves. But, we all know that isn’t how Callaway Golf operates.  

Rather than a simple evolution, Callaway is seeking to fully revolutionize the playability of their fairway woods. To do that, they are focusing on addressing the two key issues golfers have most with these clubs, strikes low on the face and struggles to make solid contact in general. While each head in the lineup utilizes all of the multi-material carbon fiber and AI driven design benefits, including the new Ai10x face, there are two main innovations that Callaway is using to remedy the aforementioned issues.  

Elyte Innovations

First and foremost, the “Tungsten Speed Wave” features 35g of floating tungsten placed low and forward in each Elyte fairway model, the goal here is to influence the flex of the face while not over-stiffening the sole. What this means is that not only do they generate more ball speed than the Ai SMOKE models, but on strikes low on the face internal testing shows balls speeds almost as fast as center strikes. Think about that, the ability to generate/retain that much speed on the main miss for most golfers with a fairway wood could be truly game changing. 

Next, and perhaps most exciting for this reviewer, Callaway R&D worked with their Tour staff to implement some Apex UW DNA into the Elyte fairways by way of the “Step Sole Design”. The UW has become legendary among amateurs and Tour players for its versatility, ease, and efficiency.  Much of that secret sauce sits with the sole step allowing the face to get to and through the turf without bouncing or skipping. This means less low strikes, more launch, lower spin, and higher speed. The design that they have implemented into Elyte actually decreases the sole/ground contact area by a staggering 57%.  

Of course, the real genius with Callaway is how they implement such technology into a variety of clubheads which each have a specific segment they are aimed at. With Elyte, there are five different heads. Yes, you read that right, five.  

Callaway Elyte Fairway Woods

Obviously, this is the option which will hit the biggest part of the bell curve and appeal to the needs of most amateurs. The Elyte is built to be fast, feature high MOI, low spin, and have a neutral bias overall. There are no sole weights to adjust, but the Opti-Fit adapter is present on the 3W and 3HL models.  

The Elyte head features a very balanced headshape with the 3W coming in at 169cc and featuring a Ai10x face that is certainly on the shallow side of things to make it playable from turf and tee. This model has the most options with 3 (15), 3HL (16.5), 5 (18), 7 (21), HVN (20), 9 (24) and 11 (27) with the 3, 5, and 7 also being available for lefties.  

Callaway Elyte Fairway Woods tech specs

Shaft options for the Elyte fairways are the Project X Denali Charcoal (60 – R/S, 70 – S/X) or Mitsubishi Chemical Vanquish PL (40 – R2, 50 – R2/R).  

Callaway Elyte X Fairway Woods

Callaway Elyte Fairway Woods X Model

The Elyte X is the replacement for the MAX D fairway woods within this release and with the 3W playing off of a larger 175cc footprint, it has the highest MOI of the lineup as well as the most draw bias.  

The Ai10x face is implemented into a shape that is all about confidence from the turf and the shallower face with previously noted footprint helps feed that. The X is offered in four lofts, 3 (15), 3HL (16.5), 5 (18), and 7 (21) with the 3 and 3HL utilizing the Opti-Fit adapter. Additionally, the 3 and 5 woods are also available in left hand.  

Shaft options for the Elyte X fairways are the Project X Denali Charcoal (60 – R/S, 70 – S), Mitsubishi Chemical Vanquish PL (40 – R2, 50 – R2/R), or Mitsubishi Chemical Elido (40 – L).  

Callaway Elyte MAX FAST Fairway Woods

The ultra-lightweight option, the MAX FAST is designed with easy speed and launch in mind. Everything about the design is done to save weight and optimize performance off the tee. There is no adjustability in the MAX FAST, but it does have a larger footprint with the 3W playing off a 180cc size.  

Callaway Elyte Fairway Woods

All of the face, shape, and material technology is in place here, its simply optimized to be as lightweight as possible through alterations like a carbon sole. The MAX FAST is offered in 3 (16), 5 (19), 7 (22), and 9 (25) with the 3 as well as 5 woods available in LH.  

Shaft options for the Elyte MAX FAST are the Mitsubishi Chemical Vanquish PL (40 – R2) and Mitsubishi Chemical Elido (40 – L).  

Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond Fairway Woods

Callaway Elyte Fairway Woods the triple diamond head

The Tour preferred shaped of the Triple Diamond is back with the Elyte weighted more neutral than previous versions while still using the deepest face of the entire lineup. The head does use a single forward weight screw to help move the CG lower and closer to the face to lower spin, increase speed, and keep workability. Add in the deep face, and the playability off the tee should live up to its predecessors.  

The Elyte Triple Diamond plays off of a 169cc 3W with 3 (15), 5 (18), and 7 (21) options available, the 3 and 5 will also be available in LH. Once again the 3W utilizes the Opti-Fit adapter for even further fine tuning to hit the gaps needed. 

Shaft options for the Elyte Triple Diamond are the Project X Denali Charcoal (60 – S) or Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Black (75 – S/X, 85 – S/X), or upcharge Aretera EC1 Blue (75 – S/X, 85 – S/X).  

Callaway Elyte Ti Fairway Woods

The crown and sole of the Callaway Elyte Fairway Woods

If you haven’t learned already, Callaway Golf is always good for a curveball or two in their lineup releases, and for Elyte it is the inclusion of a fifth fairway wood, the Elyte Ti. As the name suggests this is an all titanium design and is also, in fact, an all-new shape for Callaway. By blending the deeper face of the Triple Diamond with the footprint of the standard Elyte this is a best of all worlds design.  

Offered in 3 (15) and 5 (18) wood lofts in both dexterities as well as 3HL (16.5) in RH only, the Elyte Ti is designed to be extremely neutral in its shaping as well as bias while mixing low spin with more stability. The Opti-Fit adapter is utilized here, but so too is a dual weight screw (front and back) design on the sole which certainly brings some memories of the Alpha 816. What is the goal? To create a cannon of a fairway, specifically from the tee.

Callaway Elyte Fairway Woods tech specs

Shaft options for the Elyte Triple Diamond are the Project X Denali Charcoal (60 – S) or Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Black (75 – S/X, 85 – S/X), or upcharge Aretera EC1 Blue (75 – S/X, 85 – S/X).  

The Details

Callaway Elyte Fairway Woods on grass

It is safe to say that with five different options, the Elyte fairway woods should not only maintain Callaway’s claim to the throne for the category, but potentially grow it. The Elyte fairways will be available for pre-sale on 1/17/25 and will hit retail on 1/24/25 while the Elyte Ti won’t be in stores until 2/21/25. Price point on the Elyte, Elyte X, and Elyte MAX FAST will be $349.99 with the Elyte Triple Diamond at $399.99 and Elyte Ti $449.99. 

For more information, check out their website at www.callawaygolf.com.

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James is a staff writer for The Hackers Paradise along with being a professional educator. With his background in education James seeks to broaden his own knowledge while also sharing it with all those who share his passion for the game.