Callaway XR Irons - THP Review

[Jman]

The release of Callaway's new XR lineup comes with much anticipation and hype. Much has been made about the tagline, "Built for Outrageous Speed", as the focus throughout the line is the generation of imcreased ball-speeds for golfers across the spectrum with the goal of increasing distance as well as forgiveness. Much like with the wood line, the irons too feature some hefty technological advances which Callaway is going all in on such as the continued integration of the 360-Cup-Face which they debuted with the Big Bertha irons late last year. With the XR's they serve to utilize that same premise of the cup-face and its spring like nature increasing the ball speeds all across the face but in a smaller and less SGI package.

THP was able to get the 5-PW setup of the standard XR Irons paired with the lightweight True-Temper Speed-Step 80 steel shafts for review.

Callaway on the XR Irons:

The XR Irons are the first high speed, cavity back, cup-face iron. The improved Cup 360 acts like a spring all across the face for outrageous ball speed that leads to increased distance.

Specifications:

IRON	LOFT	DEXTERITY	LENGTH	LIE	GRAPHITE SW	STEEL SW
3	18.0	RH/LH	39.5"	59.75	D0	D2
4	20.5	RH/LH	38.875"	60.50	D0	D2
5	23.0	RH/LH	38.25"	61.25	D0	D2
6	26.0	RH/LH	37.625"	62.00	D0	D2
7	30.0	RH/LH	37"	62.50	D0	D2
8	34.5	RH/LH	36.5"	63.00	D0	D2
9	39.0	RH/LH	36"	63.50	D0	D2
PW	44.0	RH/LH	35.75	64.00	D0	D2
AW	49.0	RH/LH	35.5"	64.00	D0	D2
SW	54.0	RH/LH	35.25"	64.00	D0	D2
LW	59.0	RH Only	35"	64.00	D0	D2

True Temper Speed-Step 80 (Steel)

MANUFACTURER	FLEX	SHAFT WEIGHT	TORQUE	KICK-POINT
True Temper	R	88	Low	Low
True Temper	S	89	Low	Mid

Project X SD (Graphite)

MANUFACTURER	FLEX	SHAFT WEIGHT	TORQUE	KICK-POINT
True Temper	4.5 Light	55g	High	Low
True Temper	5.5 Regular	55g	High	Low
True Temper	6.0 Stiff	58g	High	Low-Mid

In-Hand Images (individual iron angles in spoilers):

Cavity Undercut (in order 5 to PW):

Spoiler

5i:

Spoiler

6i:

Spoiler

7i:

Spoiler

8i:

Spoiler

9i:

Spoiler

PW:

Spoiler

 

[MWard]

I think you're gonna have a lot of fun with those James. Super forgiving because of the cupped face, a ton of launch, and solid distance. This'll be fun to follow

 

[StanTheCaddy]

Nice pics Jman! Looking forward to your thoughts on these irons.

 

[Tadashi70]

Xhot pro rewind, these should be good

 

[Jman]

Thanks fellas, they're surprisingly photogenic. Hope to get out tomorrow with them, Friday too maybe.

I must say though, to get it out of the way, Callaway's stock iron grips suck. Bad.

 

[Scarnici]

I agree on the grips James. I love the looks of these and the tech that's built into them is fantastic. I have been hitting the 7 iron for a few weeks now. First thing that jumped out to me was ball speed. At least 3-5 mph faster than I have been seeing with my current sticks. Tons of forgiveness. Just really easy to hit. Looking forward to your thoughts


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[coers]

Thanks fellas, they're surprisingly photogenic. Hope to get out tomorrow with them, Friday too maybe.

I must say though, to get it out of the way, Callaway's stock iron grips suck. Bad.

Why do the stock grips suck?? Not tacky at all or just hardened grips?

 

[Canadan]

As always James, your pictures capture everything. Very nice.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the irons and the new tech!

 

[kc720]

Very nice pics! Will be good review as always. These irons pack some serious technology and should benefit a lot of golfers.

 

[greggdrews]

I'm looking forward to hearing more on these. Especially how the gapping is between the PW and your current wedge setup.

 

[bogeyme]

These look great. Can't wait to read your "in game" review of them. I think I'm in love. :bulgy-eyes: I haven't fallen in love with a set of irons just looking at them since my X-22's.

 

[Jman]

Why do the stock grips suck?? Not tacky at all or just hardened grips?

For me they're traditionally slick and uncomfortable. Not a fan at all.

 

[Jman]

I'm looking forward to hearing more on these. Especially how the gapping is between the PW and your current wedge setup.

Will be carrying a different gap wedge, so not sure what all I'll say there. I'd definitely have to add a 3rd wedge as I usually do with a set that ends at PW, that or acquire the AW.

 

[mikedean441]

Great pics looking forward to hearing your feedback on these.

 

[PhillyV]

Looking forward to your input here James. Especially your comparison to a particular set of irons I'm gaming and you speak highly of

 

[emart2173]

Nice pics...lofts look to be the same as the 545s and the length of the 6i is .125 longer than 545 6i. The top line looks bigger than the 545. Is this the case or just the pic? If you vae the 545 still can you do a side by side on the 5i?

imtrigued by the XR line especially since I am probably going to,have two iron sets this year

 

[jlukes]

Nice pics...lofts look to be the same as the 545s and the length of the 6i is .125 longer than 545 6i. The top line looks bigger than the 545. Is this the case or just the pic? If you vae the 545 still can you do a side by side on the 5i?

imtrigued by the XR line especially since I am probably going to,have two iron sets this year

I've hit them side by side. Definitely beefier and more offset than the 545s.

The xr pro is a much better comparison to the 545. I saw similar distances, but wasn't a huge fan of the sound of the xr pros. Didn't have a chance to test forgiveness.

 

[Jman]

Nice pics...lofts look to be the same as the 545s and the length of the 6i is .125 longer than 545 6i. The top line looks bigger than the 545. Is this the case or just the pic? If you vae the 545 still can you do a side by side on the 5i?

imtrigued by the XR line especially since I am probably going to,have two iron sets this year

8i to 8i

Sure, bit more offset, little longer heel to toe, topline is bigger... But it's not as much as one might think IMO. Sure it's different, but these aren't as big as some make them out to be, immediately what I noticed right out of the box.

 

[jlukes]

Nice pics James. Definitely agree they are not "Bertha" big. Wouldn't classify the standard xrs as clunky by any means.

 

[emart2173]

Thanks James, agree with side by side the top doesn't look as big as it did in the other pics. Can't wait for your thoughts.

 

[jlukes]

Thanks James, agree with side by side the top doesn't look as big as it did in the other pics. Can't wait for your thoughts.

To be honest when they were all together in the demo bin with the xr pros it was hard to distinguish between the two.

 

[Chase]

Awesome photos dude

 

[mikeg_74]

Very nice looking irons. The offset doesn't look bad at all & I'm looking forward to your thoughts on these.

 

[IceyShanks]

Thanks for the comparison, they do seem a bit beefier.

 

[AMart]

Thanks fellas, they're surprisingly photogenic. Hope to get out tomorrow with them, Friday too maybe.

I must say though, to get it out of the way, Callaway's stock iron grips suck. Bad.

That's why I got the platinum/red NDMC with "chev" logo when I ordered the XR pros! No up charge.