Callaway X Forged Custom Order lengths all over the place! (RESOLVED)

Well I was excited to get my clubs in yesterday and was a bit disappointed with them when they came in. Ordered plus 1/2” throughout. They came in all over the place. Swing weight was supposed to be D5. Not very confident that it will be correct with the lengths and gaps so far off.

4- 39”

5- 38 3/8”

6- 38”

7- 37 3/8”

8- 37”

9- 36 1/4”

P- 35 7/8

Have already called my pro to contact Callaway for resolution.

I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that Callaway's custom club department in Mexico would do something like that.

(Yes, I am a little triggered that an American company can't even have their clubs assembled somewhere in the US)

paging Ekelly -- since he brings pitchforks to the TM backorder thread, can't wait to see what he says here.

Wow, that seems very odd for Callaway. I wonder what the heck happened there? You should call Callaway yourself and ask them WTH!

Wow, that seems very odd for Callaway. I wonder what the heck happened there? You should call Callaway yourself and ask them WTH!

They are not exactly "all over the place" for length. The 9-iron is a bit short and the rest are within a small tolerance of a steady 1/2" club to club length progression. There's no way you are placing your hands within a 1/8" range every time you pick up a club so that sort of difference is meaningless.

I agree an 1/8” by itself isn’t much. It’s the fact that there are multiple inconsistencies with the largest being a 3/4” gap between 8-9 iron. And really why is it acceptable at all. I’m spending $1000+ on these clubs, QC should be better. Anyway they are replacing the 9 and wedge.

I have never had an order from Callaway show up correctly the first time. Never. Once had a set of irons show up with three different shafts, multiple wrong length, wrong grips, entirely wrong club, etc. I just factor it into the delivery time at this point.

I live near the Morton Golf Superstore and when I discussed it with them, they just told me that Callaway has no quality control. Said they were far worse than any of the other major manufacturers.

They’ll fix everything, but it’s disappointing to sit around waiting for your new stuff and have it show up this way. Especially disappointing if you live somewhere with a short season.

Callaway will make it right but it doesn't exactly surprise me. I ordered some stock CF16's a few years back and the lofts were off on every club up or down 2 degrees and the swingweights were pretty far off too.

Well I was excited to get my clubs in yesterday and was a bit disappointed with them when they came in. Ordered plus 1/2” throughout. They came in all over the place. Swing weight was supposed to be D5. Not very confident that it will be correct with the lengths and gaps so far off.

4- 39”

5- 38 3/8”

6- 38”

7- 37 3/8”

8- 37”

9- 36 1/4”

P- 35 7/8

 

Have already called my pro to contact Callaway for resolution.

These are actually spot on for Callaway with the 9 iron a bit of an outlier. Callaway measures and accounts for the grip butt cap so they cut 1/8” short on the shaft to accommodate for this. Are you measuring with the grips on or off? I would guess off based on your measurements. Callaway measures total lengths with grips ON.

They have a proprietary measuring system (which I don’t necessarily agree with) and it doesn’t align with nor as their standards across the industry. Lie angle can also influence length and my guess is you are slightly upright (correct?).

Well I was excited to get my clubs in yesterday and was a bit disappointed with them when they came in. Ordered plus 1/2” throughout. They came in all over the place. Swing weight was supposed to be D5. Not very confident that it will be correct with the lengths and gaps so far off.

4- 39”

5- 38 3/8”

6- 38”

7- 37 3/8”

8- 37”

9- 36 1/4”

P- 35 7/8

 

Have already called my pro to contact Callaway for resolution.

 

These are actually spot on for Callaway with the 9 iron a bit of an outlier. Callaway measures and accounts for the grip butt cap so they cut 1/8” short on the shaft to accommodate for this. Are you measuring with the grips on or off? I would guess off based on your measurements. Callaway measures total lengths with grips ON.

 

They have a proprietary measuring system (which I don’t necessarily agree with) and it doesn’t align with nor as their standards across the industry. Lie angle can also influence length and my guess is you are slightly upright (correct?).

A spec like "plus 1/2" is only meaningful relative to their standard length, measured in their standard way. In my experience no two manufacturers agree to the very last millimeter about how to measure the length of a club. It's all relative to their own internal measuring methods and specs.

Well I was excited to get my clubs in yesterday and was a bit disappointed with them when they came in. Ordered plus 1/2" throughout. They came in all over the place. Swing weight was supposed to be D5. Not very confident that it will be correct with the lengths and gaps so far off.

4- 39"

5- 38 3/8"

6- 38"

7- 37 3/8"

8- 37"

9- 36 1/4"

P- 35 7/8

 

Have already called my pro to contact Callaway for resolution.

 

These are actually spot on for Callaway with the 9 iron a bit of an outlier. Callaway measures and accounts for the grip butt cap so they cut 1/8" short on the shaft to accommodate for this. Are you measuring with the grips on or off? I would guess off based on your measurements. Callaway measures total lengths with grips ON.

 

They have a proprietary measuring system (which I don't necessarily agree with) and it doesn't align with nor as their standards across the industry. Lie angle can also influence length and my guess is you are slightly upright (correct?).

That was my interpretation. His method of measuring may have a systematic difference of around 1/16" compared to Callaways. In which case all the clubs except 9-iron are plus or minus a tiny bit from nominal and someone screwed up cutting the 9-iron.

Well I was excited to get my clubs in yesterday and was a bit disappointed with them when they came in. Ordered plus 1/2” throughout. They came in all over the place. Swing weight was supposed to be D5. Not very confident that it will be correct with the lengths and gaps so far off.

4- 39”

5- 38 3/8”

6- 38”

7- 37 3/8”

8- 37”

9- 36 1/4”

P- 35 7/8

 

Have already called my pro to contact Callaway for resolution.

 

These are actually spot on for Callaway with the 9 iron a bit of an outlier. Callaway measures and accounts for the grip butt cap so they cut 1/8” short on the shaft to accommodate for this. Are you measuring with the grips on or off? I would guess off based on your measurements. Callaway measures total lengths with grips ON.

 

They have a proprietary measuring system (which I don’t necessarily agree with) and it doesn’t align with nor as their standards across the industry. Lie angle can also influence length and my guess is you are slightly upright (correct?).

They were measured with grips on. Supposed to be plus 1/2” and 2 degrees upright. Also swing weight at d5.

2* UP will do it. That accounts for the missing 1/8” right there.

I’ve also had problems with Callaway lengths this year. I measure with a Mitchell Bench Ruler, the industry standard. I sent them back, they said they were spot on - offered to fix or extend. My issue is I couldn’t understand how hey were arriving at the measurements that they did but that I’d need to add 1/8” to my standard spec in order for them to spec out without callaway.

Oh and on swingweight - good luck. They’ll just build the clubs with no regard to swingweight. They don’t have varying weight heads for retail.

Well I was excited to get my clubs in yesterday and was a bit disappointed with them when they came in. Ordered plus 1/2” throughout. They came in all over the place. Swing weight was supposed to be D5. Not very confident that it will be correct with the lengths and gaps so far off.

4- 39”

5- 38 3/8”

6- 38”

7- 37 3/8”

8- 37”

9- 36 1/4”

P- 35 7/8

 

Have already called my pro to contact Callaway for resolution.

 

These are actually spot on for Callaway with the 9 iron a bit of an outlier. Callaway measures and accounts for the grip butt cap so they cut 1/8” short on the shaft to accommodate for this. Are you measuring with the grips on or off? I would guess off based on your measurements. Callaway measures total lengths with grips ON.

 

They have a proprietary measuring system (which I don’t necessarily agree with) and it doesn’t align with nor as their standards across the industry. Lie angle can also influence length and my guess is you are slightly upright (correct?).

They were measured with grips on. Supposed to be plus 1/2” and 2 degrees upright. Also swing weight at d5.

 

2* UP will do it. That accounts for the missing 1/8” right there.

 

I’ve also had problems with Callaway lengths this year. I measure with a Mitchell Bench Ruler, the industry standard. I sent them back, they said they were spot on - offered to fix or extend. My issue is I couldn’t understand how hey were arriving at the measurements that they did but that I’d need to add 1/8” to my standard spec in order for them to spec out without callaway.

 

Oh and on swingweight - good luck. They’ll just build the clubs with no regard to swingweight. They don’t have varying weight heads for retail.

Oh and on swingweight - good luck. They'll just build the clubs with no regard to swingweight. They don't have varying weight heads for retail.

This is just disappointing when dealing with custom clubs in the 1k+ range. Other companies use different weight heads, tip weights, weight ports, etc. to dial in the swingweight.

Try another brand.... I've had two sets of new JDM Bridgestones in the last 5 years and every single club has been dead solid perfect in length and SW. The irony is that I've been playing my 8 through PW at 8-iron length (post delivery). It's virtually impossible to bring that wedge down to the SW without porting it somehow. It's all worked out fine anyway.

Try another brand.... I've had two sets of new JDM Bridgestones in the last 5 years and every single club has been dead solid perfect in length and SW. The irony is that I've been playing my 8 through PW at 8-iron length (post delivery). It's virtually impossible to bring that wedge down to the SW without porting it somehow. It's all worked out fine anyway.

I would wager before you go that SW will be way off. I had a custom set of Ping 55's ordered at D5. The only thing D5 was the build sheet. Not a single club was even D2. My stock X Forged...not a single one weighed as much as the spec sheet says on the web site. Club Champion then built them to D5 perfectly. From now on I have decided I am not going to worry about SW, except to throw on some lead tape when I want it heavier. It is too annoying to pay what we do and not get what we should so I am sticking my head in the sand on this one.

Hope yours are correct though for sure!

I have heard stories like this with every OEM, it’s not just confined to Callaway. What is the point of getting fit if the specs are off? And, there is no good reason they should be.

The OEMs probably figure that amateurs are so inconsistent that the specs being off won’t make much difference. It’s also cheaper to build clubs that don’t go through a rigorous QC process.

In any case, it’s disappointing.

I have heard stories like this with every OEM, its not just confined to Callaway. What is the point of getting fit if the specs are off? And, there is no good reason they should be.

 

The OEMs probably figure that amateurs are so inconsistent that the specs being off wont make much difference. Its also cheaper to build clubs that dont go through a rigorous QC process.

 

In any case, its disappointing.

Since the vast majority of new club purchases are still "off the rack", I guess most manufacturers just don't care. In ordering clubs for customers, I have found that over the years, even though they do botch a few here and there, PING has always been the closest to spec of the specced out sets for customers I've ordered. Callaway, TaylorMade...even Titleist...no real point in trying to order custom specs it seems. Virtually no one will adjust swingweight for custom lengths, and often times the lie/lofts (if ordered with custom specs) aren't consistent through a set. I've had this experience with every vendor I order from, but again, I've found PING to be closer to desired spec more often than not. Followed closely by Mizuno. Haven't done enough of Srixon or Bridgestone (the other 2 manufacturers I carry) to be able to tell on them.

I have heard stories like this with every OEM, its not just confined to Callaway. What is the point of getting fit if the specs are off? And, there is no good reason they should be.

 

The OEMs probably figure that amateurs are so inconsistent that the specs being off wont make much difference. Its also cheaper to build clubs that dont go through a rigorous QC process.

 

In any case, its disappointing.

 

Since the vast majority of new club purchases are still "off the rack", I guess most manufacturers just don't care. In ordering clubs for customers, I have found that over the years, even though they do botch a few here and there, PING has always been the closest to spec of the specced out sets for customers I've ordered. Callaway, TaylorMade...even Titleist...no real point in trying to order custom specs it seems. Virtually no one will adjust swingweight for custom lengths, and often times the lie/lofts (if ordered with custom specs) aren't consistent through a set. I've had this experience with every vendor I order from, but again, I've found PING to be closer to desired spec more often than not. Followed closely by Mizuno. Haven't done enough of Srixon or Bridgestone (the other 2 manufacturers I carry) to be able to tell on them.

It's disappointing when you spend that kind of $$ on something custom and it doesn't show up the way you thought it would.

Been there many times myself.

I started building my own and doing club work 15 years ago partly due to this, and partly as a hobby.

Now when I want something "new" - I just grab heads or whatever I can get a deal on and then build to MY specs.

Just sharing my experience. In the end, I really only trust my work these days.

Hope either Callaway or your pro or fitter can sort it out for you. Good luck my man!

I'd have to say I'm disappointed in Callaway as well with my X Forged set.

It took about two weeks before I got my custom order in hand. They only made it about 3 months before I had a head come loose.

The purpose of fitting and custom ordering mass produced is to get them with a different set of specs. If you want "blueprinting" or to have everything fit and finished to some arbitrarily high degree of precision you'll have to pay someone to actually do that. It's not a service offered by mass-market OEM's.

Imagine you went into a department store and they didn't carry Dockers in your 34 by 32 size. So you go online and order a pair of 34 by 32 Dockers. That's what you'll get. They won't be tailor-made pants exactly to your precise measurements, they'll simply be a mass produced pair in size 34 by 32. Not tucked here, let out a bit there, snug up the crotch a little. Just factory pants in 34 by 32.

Same thing when you order "plus 1/2 and 2 up" from Callaway. They'll send you mass-produced clubs bent and cut to a different spec than the ones in the store. Not more precisely built, not with custom tip weights, just factory clubs that are a different "size".

There's a reason people play Club Champion $1,800 for a $1,000 set of irons. That reason is exactly your dissatisfaction with Callaway.

The purpose of fitting and custom ordering mass produced is to get them with a different set of specs. If you want "blueprinting" or to have everything fit and finished to some arbitrarily high degree of precision you'll have to pay someone to actually do that. It's not a service offered by mass-market OEM's.

 

Imagine you went into a department store and they didn't carry Dockers in your 34 by 32 size. So you go online and order a pair of 34 by 32 Dockers. That's what you'll get. They won't be tailor-made pants exactly to your precise measurements, they'll simply be a mass produced pair in size 34 by 32. Not tucked here, let out a bit there, snug up the crotch a little. Just factory pants in 34 by 32.

 

Same thing when you order "plus 1/2 and 2 up" from Callaway. They'll send you mass-produced clubs bent and cut to a different spec than the ones in the store. Not more precisely built, not with custom tip weights, just factory clubs that are a different "size".

 

There's a reason people play Club Champion $1,800 for a $1,000 set of irons. That reason is exactly your dissatisfaction with Callaway.

Pure garbage. This is hilarious. If that's the case why do they offer it?

The purpose of fitting and custom ordering mass produced is to get them with a different set of specs. If you want "blueprinting" or to have everything fit and finished to some arbitrarily high degree of precision you'll have to pay someone to actually do that. It's not a service offered by mass-market OEM's.

 

Imagine you went into a department store and they didn't carry Dockers in your 34 by 32 size. So you go online and order a pair of 34 by 32 Dockers. That's what you'll get. They won't be tailor-made pants exactly to your precise measurements, they'll simply be a mass produced pair in size 34 by 32. Not tucked here, let out a bit there, snug up the crotch a little. Just factory pants in 34 by 32.

 

Same thing when you order "plus 1/2 and 2 up" from Callaway. They'll send you mass-produced clubs bent and cut to a different spec than the ones in the store. Not more precisely built, not with custom tip weights, just factory clubs that are a different "size".

 

There's a reason people play Club Champion $1,800 for a $1,000 set of irons. That reason is exactly your dissatisfaction with Callaway.

 

Pure garbage. This is hilarious. If that's the case why do they offer it?

A 1/2 inch long isn't a high degree of precision either. Get out of town.

Because people want to order different "sizes" of clubs. His clubs are indeed (approximately) two degrees more upright and (approximately) 1/2" longer than off-the-rack irons he could have bought in the store.

A 1/2 inch long isn't a high degree of precision either. Get out of town.

Just so.

Measuring length is club building 101. OEMs should be expected to get those right.

Well, the 9-iron was just plain wrong for sure.

I just doubt that the second set he gets will be exact to the extent that not a single club comes up (by his measures) 1/8" longer or shorter than he expects to see. Seems highly unlikely from what I've seen of mass-produced golf clubs.

These companies do not consider having one club 1/8" short and other 1/8" long to be a QC failure.

P.S. I certainly could not swear in court that I never accidentally grip a club 1/8" too far down the shaft.

The purpose of fitting and custom ordering mass produced is to get them with a different set of specs. If you want "blueprinting" or to have everything fit and finished to some arbitrarily high degree of precision you'll have to pay someone to actually do that. It's not a service offered by mass-market OEM's.

 

Imagine you went into a department store and they didn't carry Dockers in your 34 by 32 size. So you go online and order a pair of 34 by 32 Dockers. That's what you'll get. They won't be tailor-made pants exactly to your precise measurements, they'll simply be a mass produced pair in size 34 by 32. Not tucked here, let out a bit there, snug up the crotch a little. Just factory pants in 34 by 32.

 

Same thing when you order "plus 1/2 and 2 up" from Callaway. They'll send you mass-produced clubs bent and cut to a different spec than the ones in the store. Not more precisely built, not with custom tip weights, just factory clubs that are a different "size".

 

There's a reason people play Club Champion $1,800 for a $1,000 set of irons. That reason is exactly your dissatisfaction with Callaway.

Then shouldn’t OEM’s just tell the consumer, “we don’t offer custom specs like you’re asking for”? Be up front and honest about it.

Sell sets as heads only to builders and refer all custom build requests to Club Champion, Cool Clubs, etc...

If they aren’t willing to do it right, just let the customer know. Don’t accept the order and give the customer something they didn’t want.