Callaway Steelhead XR Irons

Ely Callaway turned his Callaway Golf Company from USD5 million in 1988 to over more than USD800 million by 1997 once said: "Golf is about the occasional good shot". He made famous the Big Bertha models for both woods and irons and named it after the huge World War 1 German cannon because they have a bigger head. Callaway sold more than USD5 billion worth of golf clubs from nothing, far more than anybody else in the world has ever done. They also owned Odyssey brand putters. Their most controversial product was the ERC II (ERC stands for Ely Reeves Callaway, his name) driver which was banned in US competition. His philosophy was to make golf more enjoyable for the average golfer. 

Ely sold his winery and bought a small golf company called Hickory Sticks and changed the name to Callaway Hickory Sticks for USD435,000. In 1988, they introduce the revolutionary S2H2 concept - redistributing weight at the hosel to be used elsewhere and pushing the shaft straight to the club head. Back then, the driver was a golfer's most hated club because it is the hardest to hit, prior to the development of the Big Bertha by Callaway. It revolutionized the golf industry. By 1994, they introduced the Big Bertha irons and metal woods with the Warbird sole plate and hit record sales. 

Callaway has always been special for me because I started golf late and used a cheap set. As a beginner, it was as if it was impossible to hit a straight long shot with a driver. So I would often use a 4 or 5 iron instead which was only slightly better but did not help or improve my game much.  Somehow, someday I have to be using a driver but instead of jumping straight to a driver, I began with a 3-wood. My beloved late uncle Lam heard that I took up golf and struggled with a driver, so he gave me an used Callaway Warbird 3-wood. This No. 3 fairway wood became my de facto driver for teeing off and wow! Did it flew in a hurry. It set my mind thinking on why golfers kept changing clubs in their unquenchable thirst for excellence. It is not about the clubs, some folks would say, it is the swing. True to a certain extent. But if not for the friendlier clubs today, do you think you could enjoy golf the way it was? Bigger sweet spot, technology that enabled you to have that wee bit of a faster swing speed through shaft technology, etc. Thanks to the folks at Ping, Callaway and the rest you get to enjoy golf a bit more. Other than the swing, the key is always on suitability. You have to be using the right clubs with the right shafts. You should not be fighting with your clubs. It is with curious minds and thirst for knowledge and improvement which led Ely Callaway and Karsten Solheim (Ping) to create great stuffs for the golf world. So, I set upon increasing knowledge and understanding of golf equipment over many years of theory and practical lessons without re-inventing the wheels but to understand it.

The is how the Big Bertha Ward Bird looks like. On the the left a 3-wood and driver to the right.

This is exactly how a modern day driver looks like (in orange the Cobra Fly-Z, in the middle the Callaway War Bird 3-wood and on the right - Callaway War Bird Driver). 

There was a time when the Callaway X-14 irons were the rage among golfers.



The Callaway Steelhead X-14 was the most popular at the time.

Callaway Steelhead XR

They used to remake classic movies but these come with hits and misses. Usually the old and original ones are better. However, there are occasions where the new ones are as good if not better. Hack, I mean they also bring back old car models from the dead. Callaway have brought back the Big Bertha, the Warbird soles and the Great Big Bertha and now that we have mentioned "Steelhead", Callaway fans and those who have at one time used Callaway clubs will fondly remember some great classics such as the Warbird, Big Bertha and boy do you not know the Steelhead name that took the world by storm, well at least in Singapore, I knew that many used to be very familiar and fond of the Callaway X-12, X-14, X-16, etc. where the X-14 was king. Golfers back then were willing to purchase a second-hand used X-14 rather than new irons of other brands. There was a cult following. Ladies and gentlemen, the Callaway X-14 has gone through a rebirth and now returned as the Callaway Steelhead XR! Look at the back and look down at address and bingo! Nostalgia at its very best.

The club head is made of...steel of course that is why it is called the Steelhead. Another Callaway favourite, the S2H2 has returned where S2H2 stands for Short Straight Hollow Hosel. If you know it you are a Callaway fan or golf geek. Basically, this style of hosel usually feels very solid at impact. This is not just a trip down memory lane. We are talking about using the best of the old and adding the best of the new. Take the favourite old X-14, add the latest and the fastest 360 Face Cup that increases COR by 2.4% over the other standard XR to 0.825 where the legal limit for woods is 0.83. COR is short for Coefficient of Restitution where COR measurement is expressed as a number 0.000 (meaning all energy is lost in the collison) and 1.000 (meaning a perfect elastic collision where all energy is transferred from one object to another). In other words, no golf club can ever achieved a 1.000 COR.360 Face Cup allows the edges of the thin face to flex in a most efficient manner to impact and increase ball speed. As you know, ball speed enhance distance.

This club is created to stand out for forgiveness and performance where the face provides greater consistency to your shots and it is one of the most powerful and forgiving irons in the market. Callaway has modified CG location in each club positioning them in the best place for forgiveness and launch - lower down in the long irons and higher up in the short irons. These are clubs that even single handicappers could play.  

The club head is unique in that it looks more curvy and rounded overall. It is a high launch and low spin powerful club. Higher launch is needed if you want your shots to stick onto the green. This club also plays better if you have certain misses. The CG positioning is made with emphasis for repeatable shots. 

Beefy, frames the ball well at address, feels like a solid blast at impact, fun to hit, help is there whenever you need it, big sweet spot, like whole face is playable even when hit low, accurate and forgiving, plenty of oomph, gives confidence whatever the lie, straight shooter with a baby draw. You will hit these sticks longer than your older sticks with powerful and repeatable shots. They save mishits by still soaring, corrects slices and hooks, a great all rounder and you will be sure to have fun!

Look at it and you will see a lion among sheep.

Shaft is the NS Pro at 95g

Grip is better than the mundane typical black grip.

The 95g facilitates an easy swing as during the back swing, you could feel the weight and heft such that your downswing becomes an easy forward release of the club with sufficient lag resulting in a nice flight.

If you are looking for one of the best irons in the market to improve your golf game, look no further. Other than the Ping G, this is one you should try. As for me, these glorious sticks are going into my golf bag.

Fear not the weapons but the hands that wield it.
Golf as in life, play as it lies.