It has been a bit since the last iteration of the Callaway X Forged irons. Today, multiple sets are coming out in the form of a player’s cavity and muscle back, but we are focusing on the Callaway X Forged CB.
Today they are announcing the latest version, the X Forged CB and MB and this post we are talking all things CB. In the video below, we explain the tech, take some swings and breakdown all of the data to give you a full understanding of look, feel sound and performance from the THP Tech Studio.
After watching that, what are your thoughts on the Callaway X Forged CB?
I really need to find these in a demo cart and try them out. I think I need more forgiveness but they look so good
Gonna take some shafts in to get tipped and gripped and hopefully remember to ask if they have XF CB demos.
It’s all over the map. Kind of crazy for how consistent the feel is. Or impressive.. Is that impressive of them?
At address these are marvelous, and overall shaping is well done IMO. The license plate on the back…wouldn’t stop me from buying but I feel they could have done better.
That’s really disappointing. The IO’s have been out for quite a while now, but I know a couple places here didn’t have them to try until the X Forged CB’s showed up. It’s a really nice pairing. I hope you get a chance to try it soon.
That’s crazy. Fargo Austads has the demo heads. If work brings you up this way, check them out.
I’m watching back the Drinks with Finley live stream and reading some of your comments on how dialed these were. I happen to agree, and for the foreseeable future, these irons will be in the bag and I am SO excited about it. The kind of accuracy I was able to produce between these heads and the Project X IO shafts (which I am also kind of in love with).
Anyone surprised?
that you finally made the correct choice? yes. you were starting to get to @JDax level of second guessing.
Can’t wait to hear your long term thoughts on them. Spring Golf will be there soon enough.
AWESOME choice! Should make for a great start to your year.
Where do we who guessed that exact combo in the predict thread collect our prize?!
Thought you were leaning Pros actually. The shots I saw you hit on the stream were pretty $$$ w/ em. Helped solidify my thoughts on em.
So yeah, you have me back on the fence. Feel on these is awesome besides the performance.
I was, because I think what they have accomplished there is spectacular and my Sunday night stream experience showcased them beautifully, however, what I was able to do last night was something else, I felt like.
I’ll let @Jman or @jdtox share their thoughts, but off camera I was comparing the two and the X Forged CB (especially without the live stream pressure) was simply on another level of precision… and there’s something going on there that is promoting some ridiculous distances as well.
I put it in the wrong thread because I didn’t really get it that this one existed, but I hit this 8i and was getting about 10 yards more distance over my 19s and a lot of straight balls. I liked the MMTs too.
it is funny. I got to hit the pros today for the first time. They are great, but I went back the x forged and they felt every bit as good, but up every bit the numbers and they are a solid one piece forging.. there is something super cool about the x forged.
I think that massive piece of tungsten right behind the center contributes to some serious energy transfer.
How did this work out for you? I note you just picked up some MB’s…
i couldn’t quite get past the offset and the sole/turf interaction didn’t feel right. balls kept going left on me.
There really is something to the weight positioning in them. Seems more neutral than some of the gear bias in others with tungsten positioned a little differently and creates a really accurate flight. I think some of the thoughts of them being long are a misrepresentation though, personally. The makers have said they’re not designed for distance, and not superior in distance to ones a couple people have mentioned seeing dramatic gains over. Fit over function maybe.
How you gushed about them, no, not surprised. I heard a different level of excitement when these came up in conversation.
According to the information they gave, correct.
Totally agree. It was fun for our thoughts on what he should play to change and evolve as the week went.
Could he play the Apex Pro? Clearly. But with his ball striking the X’s offer everything needed and then some themselves. I think as the season begins and he shapes into form, these are going to do unreal things, consistently.
Not even a little bit, as I’ve seen you stripe Cally irons in person
you were certainly more patient with them than I was. after about 1.5 rounds in, i was done. that offset was killing me.
I try to give things a fair shake and let the data speak, but now that’s it’s done, I’m so over it. Lol I honestly don’t ever want to see them again.
How does the performances vary against the pro’s? They should be a very similar classes iron for the same segment of golfer? Are the pro’s more forgiving and longer by design with the extra tech?
Can you post a pic of the playing address of the lower irons that really bother you? Maybe beside a set that suits your eye. Our local shop isnt going to get these in
I can in a little while. I posted one of the 7 next to the ZX7 7 in that thread that pretty much tells the story in general though. Pretty consistent difference throughout. Let me see if I can find it.
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That’s the x Forged 7 on the left ZX7 7 on the right. Similar throughout the short irons. All the irons, really. I can snap a few picks of something like the 9i next to some others later tonight.
just for me, these were shorter than the pro 21, and visually had a fair bit more offset. i just remember being very surprised by the xfcb and not in a good way. it didn’t look like an iron that would excite its target golfer. i haven’t actually put the xfcb side by side against the pro 21, but one of those irons got my blood flowing and the other was the xfcb. ymmv
I think the is one of the rare years where the tech iron(Apex Pros) look better than the other players irons(Apex MB and XFCB). I can’t think of many other lineups where that is the case.
I feel like I am fine with the ZX7… But ouch …i just cut my finger on that Cally sooo small and thin
Are we looking at the same iron? The Apex Pro 19 was smaller on top and bottom.
View attachment 8991443View attachment 8991444
Hopefully this gives you a better idea too, @MH .
Not that they’re not fine irons, just not for me, and kind of an odd player fit for the style. I do love some things about them. I think @JB called it early when he said the player profile is a bit niche.
Looking at zx7…
Thank you for the image though… Wow! Those Apex pro are tiny.
Yeah, I know. I just don’t/didn’t think the Forged look much smaller or thinner than them in the picture really, so the reaction threw me is all. Just a little shorter blade length and I think maybe fraction smaller top line. All in the eye of the guy/gal about to put a swing on them though. That’s what counts.
Yeah, they’re consistent. You might love ’em. Never know until you try.
Apex Pros
bleh that offset.
The 921 Tours don’t look like that, regardless of what the numbers say. I was actually thinking a little while ago that I want to take a picture of the X Forged CB next to the 921 Forged some time as an example of something.