2011 - 2012 CALLAWAY GOLF IRONS SHOOTOUT REVIEW

2011 - 2012 CALLAWAY GOLF IRONS SHOOTOUT

RAZR X Forged v. RAZR X Tour v. Diablo Forged Irons Review

By Pete Pappas (TheGreekGrind)

On twitter @TheGreekGrind

And on blogspot at http://www.thegreekgrind.blogspot.com

APPEARANCE

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And pleasure or displeasure in iron appearance is a very subjective thing. Asking someone which iron looks better is like asking someone which color is better, red or blue?

Appearance is a lot about preference. Some people feel more confident with wider top lines. Others won't even look at an iron unless it has a thin top line. Large faces are preferred by some, but smaller faces are preferred by others.

So instead of writing about which irons look good, or best, I'm going to avoid giving my opinion about appearance, and instead comment on factual, verifiable differences between various appearance aspects of these irons.

RAZR X FORGED

IRON SIZE

The RAZR X Forged irons are probably the most traditional looking of the bunch with their thin top line and square toe.

They have the tallest face (profile) of the bunch, with 17 grooves on the 4 iron, and 19 grooves on the 8 iron.

They have the shortest heel to toe sole length (footprint).

TOP LINE

The top line is the thinnest of the group, though not quite as thin as a blade.

SOLE (Grind & Bounce)

The sole width is the narrowest of the bunch. It has the least camber (least sole width curve from leading edge to trailing edge). However it has a slightly beveled leading edge to soften an otherwise sharp leading edge, and also has a slightly beveled trailing edge as well (the Diablo Forged irons have a similar sole beveling). Finally, it has the most sole radius (most sole length curve from heel to toe).

The RAZR X Forged irons have more bounce than both the RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged irons.

The long irons (3 and 4), have 1 degree more bounce than the RAZR X Tour irons, and 2 to 3 degrees more bounce than the Diablo Forged irons. The mid irons and short irons (5, 6, 7, 8, and 9), have 2 degrees more bounce than the RAZR X Tour irons, and 3 degrees more bounce than the Diablo Forged irons. And the PW has 1 degree more bounce than the RAZR X Tour PW, and 2 degrees more bounce than the Diablo Forged PW.

OFFSET

There is very little offset in these irons, and the least of all irons compared.

FINISH

The finish is a satin finish, which reduces glare nicely, and also appears to be rather durable and not easily scuffed.

RAZR X TOUR

IRON SIZE

Although they're isn't technically an X series iron anymore, the RAZR X Tour irons reminded me a bit of the X-22 Tour irons in shape (in particular, the footprint shape from from toe to heel).

They have a more rounded look than both the RAZR Forged, and Diablo Forged irons, but are closer in shape to those than they are to the FT irons.

They have a shorter (profile) face height (with 13 grooves on the 4 iron, and 13 grooves on the 8 iron) than both the RAZR Forged, and Diablo Forged irons.

And they have a longer heel to toe length (larger footprint) than both the RAZR Forged, and Diablo Forged irons.

TOP LINE

The top line is a bit wider than the RAZR X Forged top line, but appears thin because it is beveled. Here we have our first comparison to the FT irons. Anyone who played those knows those irons also feature a beveled top line, giving it a narrower appearance.

SOLE (Grind & Bounce)

The sole is narrower than the Diablo Forged iron sole, but wider than the RAZR X Forged iron sole. It has the most camber (leading edge to trailing edge sole width curve). It has no beveled leading edge, but has a beveled trailing edge. Finally, it has the least sole radius (heel to toe sole length curve) of all the irons in this review.

The sole features the new RAZR X Technology fluted sole attachment (which fits partly on the sole, and partly into the lower cavity). The purpose of this attachment is to combine the playability of a narrow sole iron, with the forgiveness and launch benefits of a wide sole iron. And it works just as advertised (more on that later).

The RAZR X Tour irons have more bounce than the Diablo Forged irons, but less bounce than the RAZR X Forged irons.

The long irons (3 and 4), have 1 to 2 degrees more bounce than the Diablo Forged irons, and 1 degree less bounce than the RAZR X Forged irons. The mid irons and short irons (5, 6, 7, 8, and 9), have 1 degree more bounce than the Diablo Forged irons, and 2 degrees less bounce than the RAZR X Forged irons. And the PW has 1 degree more bounce than the Diablo Forged PW, and 1 degree less bounce than the RAZR X Forged PW.

OFFSET

These irons have slightly more offset than the RAZR X Forged irons, but less offset than the Diablo Forged irons (which has just a bit more), and even less offset than the FT irons.

FINISH

The finish is a brushed chrome finish, and does a good job of reducing glare. However the face outside the hitting area scuffs very easily. In that respect, it's similar to the double nickel chrome plated finish of the FT irons. Those also scuff very easily on the face outside the hitting area, as well as on the backsides, which usually happens when they move around in your bag.

Some people don't care about such scuff marks. And a few years ago, I was told by a locally renowned golf pro here in northeast Ohio (yes you can be a renowned golf pro in Ohio) "real players" don't use iron head covers.

Well I ignored his words, my FT irons are grateful, and as far as I can tell the head covers aren't hurting my game. No it's not Jimmy Hanlin!

DIABLO FORGED

IRON SIZE

The Diablo Forged irons appearance falls somewhere in between that of the RAZR X Forged irons and the RAZR X Tour irons, having both squared off and rounded looking aspects.

They have a shorter (profile) face height (with 13 grooves on the 4 iron, and 14 grooves on 8 iron) than the RAZR X Forged irons, but a taller face height than the RAZR X Tour irons.

They have a longer heel to toe length (larger footprint) than the RAZR X Forged irons, but a shorter heel to toe length than the RAZR X Tour irons.

TOPLINE

The top line is wider than the RAZR X Forged irons, but thinner than the RAZR X Tour irons (however as noted, the RAZR X Tour irons have beveled top lines which make them appear thinner, so some people might see the RAZR Forged irons as having wider top lines).

SOLE (Grind & Bounce)

The sole is wider than both the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour sole. It has less camber (leading edge to trailing edge curve) than the RAZR X Tour irons, but more camber than the RAZR X Forged iron. The sole is beveled on both the leading edge and trailing edge (like on the RAZR X Forged irons). Finally, it has more sole radius (heel to toe curve), than the RAZR X Tour irons, but less sole radius than the RAZR X Forged irons.

The long irons (3 and 4), have 1 to 2 degrees less bounce than the RAZR X Tour irons, and 2 to 3 degrees less bounce than the RAZR X Forged irons. The mid irons and short irons (5, 6, 7, 8, and 9), have 1 degree less bounce than the RAZR X Tour irons, and 3 degrees less bounce than the RAZR X Forged irons. And the PW has 1 degree less bounce than the RAZR X Tour PW, and 2 degrees less bounce than the RAZR X Forged PW.

OFFSET

These irons have more offset than the RAZR X Forged irons and RAZR X Tour irons, but less offset than the FT irons.

FINISH

The finish is a satin chrome, which reduces glare very well, and again makes them fall somewhere in between the RAZR X Forged satin finish, and the RAZR X Tour brushed chrome finish. It is durable and not easily scuffed.

[size=6][b]2011 - 2012 CALLAWAY GOLF IRONS SHOOTOUT[/b][/size]
[size=6][b]RAZR X Forged v. RAZR X Tour v. Diablo Forged Irons Review[/b][/size]

[font="Arial"]By Pete Pappas (TheGreekGrind)
On twitter [url="http://twitter.com/#!/TheGreekGrind"]@TheGreekGrind[/url]
And on blogspot at [url="http://www.thegreekgrind.blogspot.com"]http://www.thegreekgrind.blogspot.com[/url][/font]

[b][u][size=6]FEEL[/size][/u][/b]

[size=4]Feel is a difficult aspect to describe. And it means different things to different people. It will also vary when different balls are used.

All the irons in this review have elements of soft feel and click, but fall within a range of softest feel/muted click to firmest feel/loudest click.

Again, I’ll refrain from commenting on one feeling better than another. Instead I’ll just point out the similarities and differences between and among all the irons.[/size]


[size=5][b]RAZR X FORGED[/b][/size]

[size=4]The RAZR X Forged irons have a soft feel, with a compact, muted click to them. They are the softest feeling of the bunch. They have the most muted click of the bunch.

Surprisingly, the two forged irons in this review, these and the Diablo Forged, don't feel most alike. Instead, these stand alone in terms of being the softest feeling. The Diablo Forged irons and RAZR X Tour irons actually feel most alike in terms of softness and click.[/size]

[size=5][b]RAZR X TOUR[/b][/size]

[size=4]The RAZR X Tour irons have a soft feel as well, though not as soft as the RAZR X Forged irons. They have a louder click than the RAZR X Forged irons, but not as loud as the Diablo Forged irons.

What was most surprising was that they don't really have a typical cast feel to them. I found they are more similar in feel to the Diablo Forged irons, than they are to the cast FT irons (and for that matter, the retired X22, and X24 irons as well).[/size]


[size=5][b]DIABLO FORGED[/b][/size]

[size=4]The Diablo Forged irons have that soft forged feel, but also a louder click than you might usually find with forged irons. They aren't quite as soft feeling as the RAZR X Forged irons, but have a louder click than the RAZR X Forged. As mentioned, they are more similar in feel to the RAZR X Tour irons than they are similar in feel to the RAZR X Forged irons.[/size]

[size=6][b]2011 - 2012 CALLAWAY GOLF IRONS SHOOTOUT[/b][/size]
[size=6][b]RAZR X Forged v. RAZR X Tour v. Diablo Forged Irons Review[/b][/size]

[font="Arial"]By Pete Pappas (TheGreekGrind)
On twitter [url="http://twitter.com/#!/TheGreekGrind"]@TheGreekGrind[/url]
And on blogspot at [url="http://www.thegreekgrind.blogspot.com"]http://www.thegreekgrind.blogspot.com[/url][/font]

[size=6][b][u]PERFORMANCE[/u][/b][/size]

[size=4]Irons can look great, and feel awesome. But they have to perform above all else of course. Some aspects of iron performance obviously include distance, trajectory control, and accuracy. However a player’s ability or skill set (and type of ball) probably influences these aspects as much as different types of irons used does.

Again I won’t give much opinion about which irons are the most accurate or longest, which no doubt will have elements of individual ball striking, swing speed, and general ability influencing those aspects.

Instead I’ll try to focus more on the objective differences and similarities among and between the irons so that regardless of skill set, swing type, or ball used, the relative comparative results are generally what everyone who uses these irons can come to expect (with the results based as much as possible on the underlying objective factors).[/size]


[size=5][b]RAZR X FORGED[/b][/size]

[size=5][u]LAUNCH (CG & Spin)[/u] [/size]
[size=4]The RAZR X Forged irons have more traditional (and weaker) lofts than both the RAZR X Tour and Diablo Forged irons. For example, lofts on the RAZR X Forged 8 iron, 9 iron, and PW are 39, 43, and 47 degrees respectively. That’s 2 degrees weaker than the corresponding RAZR X Tour irons, and 4to 2 degrees weaker than the corresponding Diablo Forged irons.

Despite these weaker lofts, the RAZR X Forged irons are generally the lowest trajectory irons of the bunch, and their ball flight is the most penetrating. I say generally the lowest because the short irons launch somewhat higher than the RAZR X Tour irons, but of course have a full two degrees more loft.

The low launch and penetrating flight characteristics of the RAZR X Forged irons is due in part to them having the highest Center Of Gravity (CG) of all irons in this review. (These irons also have a CG closer to the face and hosel than the other irons in this review based on the numbers I got, and results on off center hits, in particular off the toe, as will be discussed below).

The RAZR X Forged long irons (3 and 4) launch slightly lower than the RAZR X Tour irons, and considerably lower than the Diablo Forged irons. They have the lowest spin rates of the bunch. And as mentioned, they have the most penetrating trajectory.

They descend from their peak height at a flatter angle than the descents of both the RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged irons. And they also have the lowest peak height of the bunch. (Compare later on, the Diablo Forged irons ball flight, which ascends and descends at the steepest angles, and also has the highest peak height).

The RAZR X Forged short irons (8, 9, and PW) launch lower than the Diablo Forged irons, but slightly higher than the RAZR X Tour irons (I attribute this to the weaker lofts). They have higher spin rates than the RAZR X Tour irons, but lower spin rates than the Diablo Forged irons.

They descend from their peak height at a somewhat steeper angle than the descent of the RAZR X Tour irons, but descend from a noticeably flatter angle than the descent of the Diablo Forged irons. They have a peak height slightly higher than the RAZR X Tour irons, and definitively lower than the Diablo Forged irons (which have by far the highest peak height and highest spin rate of all short irons).[/size]


[size=5][u]PLAYABILITY (Ease of Launch & Turf Interaction)[/u] [/size]
[size=4]Playability can mean numerous things to different people. It can refer to how forgiving irons are on mishits, and it can refer to how workable they are (I’ll cover both of those aspects below). However for the purpose of this section, I’m going to discuss playability in terms of ease of launch, and turf interaction.

By turf interaction, in particular I mean how the versatility of sole and club design minimizes the difficulties of uneven and trouble lies, so that swings still result in clean, solid contact on the ball. The lies discussed in ranking the irons will include downhill, uphill, sidehill, tight, and soft lies, as well as lies from the rough. So for instance, when I get to downhill lies, I’ll rank the irons according to which ones dug the least, and launched the easiest (since the main difficulties from downhill lies are digging, and low launch), and also note the club design features which were most important in the relative comparative results.

Reasonable people will value and weigh aspects such as bounce, camber, and sole width differently, according to their own preferences, swing styles, and skill sets (different angles of attack between two people for example, will likely result in different opinions on the value of bounce and camber in certain situations).

So if you find yourself disagreeing with the subjective weight I give to these different aspects of club design when ranking the irons by turf interaction, just use the relative comparative objective aspects underlying those rankings, to come to your own conclusions, based on how important you believe they are in the various lies.

The RAZR X Forged irons are generally the least easiest to launch in terms of CG location. One aspect in getting an iron to launch easily is to make sure the CG of the iron is below the CG of the ball. And so the lower the CG for any particular set of irons, generally the easier they are to hit in the air. (I say generally because launch will also of course depend on other things such how well the club is released through impact, and how much offset the club has, and of course how much loft the club has).

The CG on the RAZR X Forged irons is higher up the face than it is on both the RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged irons. Therefore all other things being equal, the RAZR X Forged irons won’t be as easy to launch as the others (in particular the long irons).

They might be better suited for those who don’t have any trouble launching the ball, or someone with a steep swing, like a digger, or someone who holds their release longer, late into impact. But this is not to say someone with a flatter swing for example, won’t be able to get these in the air.

Remember, this review is about relative comparisons between and among all the irons. So the RAZR X Forged irons just won’t launch as easily as the other irons in this review, which have a lower CG and will therefore have a comparatively easier ability to launch across all swing types.

The RAZR X Forged irons turf interaction is generally excellent, and they are more playable from a greater number of lies and trouble spots than the other irons in this review.

They have the most versatility from uphill, sidehill, and tight lies, as well as out of the rough, and therefore generally do a better job than the other irons in minimizing troubles from these lies. However from downhill and soft lies, they have the least versatility, and consequently generally aren’t as effective as the other irons in minimizing troubles from these lies.

I use the word generally, because in addition to the effect of club design on turf interaction, subjective factors like swing type also influence playability. For example, someone with a flat swing plane swing will be less likely to dig a sharp leading edge than someone with a steep swing plane.

From downhill lies and soft lies, the RAZR X Forged irons have a greater tendency to dig than both the RAZR Tour, and Diablo Forged irons. This is in part because they have the sharpest leading edge (even though beveled), narrowest sole and least camber of all the irons.

From sidehill lies on the other hand, they are the most versatile and least likely to bounce, because they have the most sole radius of all the irons.

From uphill lies and tight lies they have better turf interaction than the RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged irons, and are less likely to bounce off the turf, or hit thin shots. In particular, their narrow soles and low camber (in conjunction with their relatively low bounce) keeps the leading edge down and prevents the sole from bouncing, so you can pinch the ball easier, and hit with crisp contact.

Finally, out of the rough, the RAZR X Forged irons are the most versatile of the bunch. With the thinnest sole, sharpest leading edge, and smallest footprint, they cut through the rough better than the other irons, making them least likely to catch and drag, and in that sense are the most playable.[/size]


[size=5][u]FORGIVENESS (Sweet Spot & Loss of Distance) & WORKABILITY [/u][/size]
[size=4]The RAZR X Forged irons are the least forgiving of the bunch (in particular on toe mishits, and thin shots), but they are the most workable of the bunch. This shouldn’t be surprising since more or less forgiveness and workability often come at the expense of one another.

Again it bears mentioning, I am not saying these aren’t forgiving in any absolute sense. I’m merely saying, relative to the other irons in this review, they are the least forgiving. Many people (consistent ball strikers, and those who know when they hit the sweet spot) may find these have more than enough forgiveness for their game, while others (who have mishits more frequently) may not find them nearly forgiving enough.

When discussing forgiveness, aspects such size and place of sweet spot, loss of distance on mishits (hits not on the sweet spot), and resistance to twisting on off center hits (MOI) are often brought up. In general, higher MOI means the club is more likely to be stable on off center hits. And lower MOI means a club is less likely to be stable on off center hits.

The sweet spot on the RAZR X Forged irons is a little higher, more towards the heel, and smaller than the sweet spots on both the RAZR X Tour and Diablo Forged irons. They also have the lowest MOI of all irons in this review.

For shots struck on the sweet spot, the RAZR X Forged irons feel more solid and powerful than both the RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged irons. However there is more relative distance loss on mishits off the toe, fat shots, and thin shots with the RAZR X Forged irons, than with the RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged irons (attributable in part to the CG and sweet spot being higher on the RAZR X Forged irons, than they are on both the RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged irons).

Mishits off the toe, and thin shots, are particularly punishing (in some instances, more than a full club and a half length shorter for any given iron). However on mishits off the heel, the RAZR X Forged irons lose relatively less distance than both the RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged irons on similar mishits.

I don’t want to give much opinion in this review, but feel I need to in this instance. As much as I love these irons, in my opinion, if you tend to miss on the toe, or have trouble getting the ball airborne, the RAZR X Forged irons probably shouldn’t be your first choice among the irons reviewed here. The only way I’d recommend these to someone who normally misses on the toe, or struggles with launch, is if they could say that the appearance and feel of these irons makes them feel so comfortable and so confident, that their swing actually improves (reducing the likelihood of misses off the toe, and eliminating difficulties with launch).

For some people, appearance and feel are such significant factors in how well they hit their irons (even more important than how forgiving the irons are), that they actually become more comfortable and confident with less forgiving irons, and ironically better ball strikers. And these RAZR X Forged irons would certainly fit the bill with their fantastic feel and confidence inspiring appearance.

I’ve read a few threads on various forums, where people claim they actually hit players irons like muscleback blades better than any other kind of irons. And I don’t doubt this. However if you’re not the type of person who benefits from appearance and feel, as much if not more than from forgiveness, then these RAZR X Forged irons may not be the best choice of irons for you of the three here reviewed.

Finally, as mentioned, the RAZR X Forged irons are the most workable irons of the bunch. This is generally because they have the highest CG location and lowest MOI of all the irons, which makes shot shaping (trajectory control, and directional left and right spin manipulation) relatively easier (in particular for more skilled players) than it is with the other irons.[/size]


[size=5][b]RAZR X TOUR[/b][/size]

[size=5][u]LAUNCH (CG & Spin)[/u] [/size]
[size=4]The RAZR X Tour irons have stronger lofts than the RAZR X Forged irons, but weaker lofts than the Diablo Forged irons. For example, lofts on the RAZR X Tour 8 iron, 9 iron, and PW are 37, 41, and 45 degrees respectively. That’s 2 degrees stronger than the corresponding RAZR X Forged irons, and 2 to 0 degrees weaker than the corresponding Diablo Forged irons.

The RAZR X Tour long irons (3 and 4) launch slightly higher than the RAZR X Forged irons, and noticeably lower than the Diablo Forged irons. They have a higher spin rate than the RAZR X Forged irons, but a lower spin rate than the Diablo Forged irons. Their trajectory is more similar to the low flying and penetrating trajectory of the RAZR X Forged irons, than the higher soaring trajectory of the Diablo Forged irons.

They descend from their peak height at a steeper angle than the descent of the RAZR X Forged irons, but a flatter angle than the descent of the Diablo Forged irons. Their peak height is slightly higher than the RAZR X Forged irons, but noticeably lower than the Diablo Forged irons.

Meanwhile, the RAZR X Tour short irons (8, 9, and PW) launch lower than both the RAZR X Forged, and Diablo Forged irons. They also have lowest spin rates of all the irons.

The short irons descend from their peak height at a somewhat flatter angle than the descent of the RAZR X Forged irons, but descend from a noticeably flatter angle than the much steeper descent of the Diablo Forged irons. They have a peak height slightly lower than the RAZR X Forged irons, and definitively lower than the Diablo Forged irons (which as mentioned have by far the highest peak height and highest spin rate of all short irons).


[size=5][u]PLAYABILITY (Ease of Launch & Turf Interaction)[/u] [/size]
The RAZR X Tour irons are easier to launch than the RAZR X Forged irons, but still not as easy as the Diablo Forged irons are to launch. In part, this is because the CG on the RAZR X Tour irons is slightly lower on the face than it is on the RAZR X Forged irons, but certainly higher on the face than it is on the Diablo Forged irons.

The RAZR X Tour irons turf interaction overall is very good from all the lies. However they don’t quite reach the highest level of versatility from any particular lie. Again it’s important to note, I’m not saying in any absolute sense that the RAZR X Tour irons are not versatile or playable. They are very playable from all types of lies. But relative to the RAZR X Forged, and Diablo Forged irons, the RAZR X Tour irons are generally just not as versatile as these other irons (although in most lies they are more versatile than one of the other irons).

From downhill lies and soft lies, they are more versatile than, and not as likely to dig as, the RAZR X Forged irons, but are more likely to dig than, and not as versatile as, the Diablo Forged irons (based somewhat on them having wider soles than the RAZR X Forged irons, but not as wide as the Diablo Forged irons).

From uphill lies and tight lies, they are more versatile than, and less likely to bounce off the turf, or hit thin shots as, the Diablo Forged irons. However they are less versatile than, and are more likely to bounce off the turf, or hit thin shots as, the RAZR X Tour irons (based somewhat on them having narrower soles than the Diablo Forged irons, but not as narrow as the RAZR X Forged irons).

From sidehill lies, they are less versatile than both of the other irons, and more likely to bounce or hit thin or fat shots (based somewhat on them having the least amount of sole radius).

And finally, out of the rough, the RAZR X Tour irons are slightly more versatile than the Diablo Forged irons, but less versatile than the RAZR X Forged irons (the Diablo Forged irons have a sharper leading edge than the RAZR X Tour irons, however the RAZR X Tour irons have a thinner sole, and lower profile face).[/size]


[size=5][u]FORGIVENESS (Sweet Spot & Loss of Distance) & WORKABILITY [/u][/size]
[size=4]The RAZR X Tour irons are more forgiving than the RAZR X Forged irons, and when compared to the Diablo Forged irons, in some respects are more forgiving, and in some respects slightly less forgiving.

For example, the RAZR X Tour irons have a bigger sweet spot than the Diablo Forged irons (and bigger than the RAZR X Forged irons as well). This larger hitting area makes them more forgiving than the Diablo Forged irons in that regard.

However on mishits outside the sweet spot, the RAZR X Tour irons have slightly more relative distance loss than the Diablo Forged irons, and so in that sense, are somewhat less forgiving. In addition, the RAZR X Tour irons have a lower MOI than the Diablo Forged irons (but a slightly higher MOI than the RAZR X Forged irons).

The sweet spot is a little lower on the face, deeper, and more towards the center than it is on the RAZR X Forged irons. However it’s slightly higher on the face than it is on the Diablo Forged irons.

Shots struck on the sweet spot feel very strong, and very stable. When missing the sweet spot, the RAZR X Tour irons generally result in less relative distance loss than the RAZR X Forged irons, but slightly more relative distance loss than the Diablo Forged irons.

For mishits off the toe, on thin shots, and fat shots, there is noticeably less relative distance loss than the RAZR X Forged irons (which as mentioned are particularly punitive on mishits off the toe), and slightly more relative distance loss than the Diablo Forged irons.

However, for mishits off the heel, the RAZR X Tour irons have more relative distance loss than both the Diablo Forged, and RAZR X Forged irons.

Finally, the RAZR X Tour irons are generally less workable than the RAZR X Forged irons. However they’re noticeably more workable than the Diablo Forged irons controlling trajectory, while slightly less workable than the Diablo Forged irons moving the ball left and right. (As is about to be discussed, the Diablo Forged irons do a very good job of left and right ball shaping, in part due to their shorter toe to heel width).[/size]


[size=5][b]DIABLO FORGED[/b][/size]

[size=5][u]LAUNCH (CG & Spin)[/u] [/size]
[size=4]The Diablo Forged irons have the strongest lofts of all the irons in this review. For example, the lofts on the 8 iron, 9 iron, and PW are 35, 40, and 45 degrees. That’s 4 to 2 degrees stronger than the corresponding RAZR X Forged irons, and 2 to 0 stronger than the corresponding RAZR X Tour irons.

Despite these stronger lofts, the Diablo Forged irons are the highest trajectory irons of the bunch, and their ball flight is more soaring than penetrating (it is not ballooning for my swing, but could be for someone with a faster swing, tempo, or transition).

The high launch and soaring flight characteristics of the Diablo Forged irons is due in part to them having the lowest and deepest CG of all irons in this review. And as mentioned earlier, they also have most offset of all the irons in this review. Combined, that results in more shaft kick with these irons, more spin, and higher launch.

The Diablo Forged long irons (3 and 4) launch higher than both the RAZR X Forged irons, and RAZR X Tour irons. They have the highest spin rates of the bunch. And as mentioned, they have the most soaring trajectory.

They descend from their peak height at a steeper angle than the descents of both the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons. And they also have the highest peak height of the bunch.

The Diablo Forged short irons (8, 9, and PW) also launch lower than both the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons. They have higher spin rates than the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons.

They descend from their peak height at a steeper angle than the descent of both the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons. They also have the highest peak height of the bunch.[/size]


[size=5][u]PLAYABILITY (Ease of Launch & Turf Interaction)[/u] [/size]
[size=4]The Diablo Forged irons are the easiest to launch in terms of CG location. The CG on the Diablo Forged irons is lower on the face, and further back than it is on both the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons.

The Diablo Forged irons turf interaction overall is very good from all the lies. From downhill lies and soft lies, they are more versatile than both the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons. From sidehill lies, they are more versatile than the RAZR X Tour irons, but less versatile than the RAZR X Forged irons. And from uphill lies, tight lies, and out of the rough, they are less versatile than both the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons.

Again it’s important to note (in particular from uphill lies, tight lies, and out of the rough), I’m not saying in any absolute sense that the Diablo Forged irons are not versatile or playable. But relative to the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons, the Diablo Forged irons are generally just not as versatile as the others.[/size]


[size=5][u]FORGIVENESS (Sweet Spot & Loss of Distance) & WORKABILITY[/u] [/size]
[size=4]The Diablo Forged irons are more forgiving than the RAZR X Forged irons, and in most respects, also more forgiving than the RAZR X Tour irons as well.

They have a bigger sweet spot than the RAZR X Forged irons, but a slightly smaller sweet spot than the RAZR X Tour irons. This relative hitting area makes them more forgiving than the RAZR X Forged irons, but somewhat less forgiving than the RAZR X Tour irons.

However on mishits outside the sweet spot, the Diablo Forged irons have slightly less relative distance loss than the RAZR X Tour irons, and so in that sense are more forgiving (they also have less relative distance loss than the RAZR X Forged irons). In addition, the Diablo Forged irons have a lower MOI than both the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons.

The sweet spot is also notably lower on the face, deeper, and more towards the center than it is on the RAZR X Forged irons (it is also lower on the face, and deeper, than it is on the RAZR X Tour irons).

Shots struck on the sweet spot feel hot and stabilized. And when missing the sweet spot, the Diablo Forged irons still generally result in less relative distance loss than both the RAZR X Forged, and RAZR X Tour irons.

For mishits off the toe, on thin shots, and fat shots, there is noticeably less relative distance loss than both the RAZR X Forged (which as mentioned are particularly punitive on thin shots, and mishits off the toe), and RAZR X Tour irons.

However, for mishits off the heel, the Diablo Forged irons have more relative distance loss than the RAZR X Forged irons, but less relative distance loss than the RAZR X Tour irons.

Finally, the Diablo Forged irons are less workable than the RAZR X Forged irons in controlling trajectory and shot shaping. And while they’re also noticeably less workable than the RAZR X Tour irons controlling trajectory, they’re slightly more workable than the RAZR X Tour irons moving the ball left and right (in part due to their shorter toe to heel length). [/size]

2011 - 2012 CALLAWAY GOLF IRONS SHOOTOUT

RAZR X Forged v. RAZR X Tour v. Diablo Forged Irons Review

By Pete Pappas (TheGreekGrind)

On twitter @TheGreekGrind

And on blogspot at http://www.thegreekgrind.blogspot.com

SUMMARIES & ULTIMATE CONCLUSIONS

For easy reference, this is the place to find summaries ranking the 2011 CALLAWAY IRONS SHOOTOUT results. For each of the categories covered, there are relative ranking positions, illustrating the differences among and between all the irons.

In the event you skipped right to this section, and would like to know more about why the irons rank the way they do, the explanations and discussions comparing them, are in these various corresponding sections above.

Near the end of this section, I’ll also point out briefly why I think someone might choose one set of irons over another, and why one set of irons would perform better for a particular type of player than the others.

But before I go to the scorecard, remember this review hasn’t been about opinion. It hasn’t been about particular irons being better or worse, or longer or shorter, in any absolute sense. And that’s because individual swings, various shafts, and other factors make those comparisons in an absolute sense unfair without something more.

For example, the Diablo Forged irons give me my greatest distance. But that’s true for me, and my swing, its characteristics, strengths, and flaws.

Compare on the other hand someone with say just 5 more mph of club head speed, or who has a later release than I have. They’ll likely have more ball speed, more shaft kick, and probably more distance with the RAZR X Tour and RAZR X Forged irons.

Furthermore, that same higher swing speed, and later release, would also likely have an opposite effect on distance with the Diablo Forged irons, and actually result in a punitively higher trajectory, higher spin, and ultimately less distance.

That’s why relative comparisons were emphasized among and between the irons based on underlying objective aspects and design features. That’s your something more. So even if we disagree about the conclusions and rankings, you’ll be able to form your own conclusions and relative rankings for any category just by weighing the objective aspects in a manner that suits your game, and your strengths, and weaknesses, and tendencies.

I will say this however. No matter what your strengths, weaknesses, or tendencies, I truly believe Callaway has something for everyone this year. I’d even go so far as saying Callaway’s newest irons can do no wrong. All of them in their own right, are so good, that you really might be angry when your round ends because you won’t want to stop hitting them.

Yes. Really.

So with that said, on to the SUMMARIES & ULTIMATE CONCLUSIONS!

APPEARANCE

“It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances.”

~Oscar Wilde

FACE HEIGHT (Profile)

From Tallest to Shortest

RAZR X Forged

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

TOP LINE

From Thinnest to Widest

RAZR X Forged

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

SOLE LENGTH (Footprint)

From Longest to Shortest

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Forged

SOLE RADIUS (Curve of Sole Length)

From Most to Least

RAZR X Forged

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

SOLE WIDTH

From Thinnest to Widest

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

CAMBER (Curve of Sole Width)

From Most to Least

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Forged

BOUNCE

From Most to Least

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

OFFSET

From Most to Least

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

RAZR X Forged

FEEL

“When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad.”

~Abraham Lincoln

FEEL

From Softest to Firmest

RAZR X Forged

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

CLICK

From Loudest to Quietest

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

RAZR X Forged

PERFORMANCE

”An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.”

~Mae West

PERFORMANCE (LAUNCH)

“My swing is so bad I look like a caveman killing his lunch.”

~Lee Trevino

CG (Center of Gravity)

From Highest to Lowest

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

LAUNCH (Long Irons)

From Highest to Lowest

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

RAZR X Forged

LAUNCH (Short Irons)

From Highest to Lowest

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

SPIN (Long Irons)

From Most to Least

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

RAZR X Forged

SPIN (Short Irons)

From Most to Least

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

PEAK HEIGHT (Long Irons)

From Highest to Lowest

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

RAZR X Forged

PEAK HEIGHT (Short Irons)

From Highest to Lowest

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

DESCENT (Long Irons)

From Steepest to Flattest

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

RAZR X Forged

DESCENT (Short Irons)

From Steepest to Flattest

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

PERFORMANCE (PLAYABILITY)

“The only really unplayable lie I can think of is when you’re supposed to be playing golf, but come home with lipstick on your collar.”

~Arnold Palmer

EASE OF LAUNCH

From Easiest to Most Difficult

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

RAZR X Forged

TURF INTERACTION (Downhill Lies)

From Most Versatile to Least Versatile

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

RAZR X Forged

TURF INTERACTION (Uphill Lies)

From Most Versatile to Least Versatile

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

TURF INTERACTION (Sidehill Lies)

From Most Versatile to Least Versatile

RAZR X Forged

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

TURF INTERACTION (Tight Lies)

From Most Versatile to Least Versatile

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

TURF INTERACTION (Soft Lies)

From Most Versatile to Least Versatile

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

RAZR X Forged

TURF INTERACTION (Rough)

From Most Versatile to Least Versatile

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

PERFORMANCE (FORGIVENESS)

“It’s good sportsmanship not to pick up lost balls while they are still rolling.”

~Mark Twain

SWEET SPOT (Size)

From Biggest to Smallest

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Forged

SWEET SPOT (Location)

From Highest to Lowest

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

MISHITS (Toe)

Loss of Distance from Most to Least

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

MISHITS (Heel)

Loss of Distance from Most to Least

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Forged

MISHITS (Fat Shots)

Loss of Distance from Most to Least

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

MISHITS (Thin Shots)

Loss of Distance from Most to Least

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

PERFORMANCE (WORKABILITY)

“If profanity had an influence on the flight of a ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is.”

~Horace G. Hutchinson

TRAJECTORY CONTROL (Flighting)

From Most to Least

RAZR X Forged

RAZR X Tour

Diablo Forged

SHOT SHAPING CONTROL (Drawing and Fading)

From Most to Least

RAZR X Forged

Diablo Forged

RAZR X Tour

ULTIMATE CONCLUSIONS

I hope this has helped some people get a better understanding of how these various irons compare. And as mentioned as the season here in Ohio grows stronger, I'll continue to update this review with more specific performance and detail driven results (sometimes in narrative form deconstructing my actual rounds of golf, and other times just giving you just the actual numbers like carry and roll distances, spin rates, and dispersion ranges).

For now though to wrap it up, I’m just going to quickly give my opinion about why someone might choose one set of irons over another, focusing on what that particular set of irons does better for a certain type of player.

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE THE RAZR X FORGED IRONS OVER THE OTHERS?

These irons are probably best for someone who values trajectory control, penetrating ball flight, short game spin, and great feedback above all else.

They are the smallest and most traditional looking irons of the bunch, which will undoubtedly appeal to many players.

They are however also the least forgiving, and mishits will be punished more severely than with the other irons.

I’d recommend these to solid ball strikers, who like shaping shots, don’t need a lot of forgiveness, and demand feedback from their irons.

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE THE RAZR X TOUR IRONS OVER THE OTHERS?

These irons will probably appeal to the largest number of players because they do many things very well.

They give you some benefits of the RAZR X Forged irons, as well as some benefits of the Diablo Forged irons.

For example, you’ll get some of the workability and penetrating ball flight found in the RAZR X Forged irons, and also some of the forgiveness and distance found in the Diablo Forged irons.

I’d recommend these to players who want a little bit of everything in their irons. Workability, forgiveness, distance, and penetrating ball flight, you get it all with these irons.

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE THE DIABLO FORGED IRONS OVER THE OTHERS?

Easy launch, forgiveness, and distance probably sounds good to a lot of people. It does to me, and it’s why these are my favorite irons.

If you’re a low ball hitter, someone who struggles getting the ball in the air, or likes the kind of shot that soars in the air and then lands softly on a dime, then these irons are for you.

They are the most forgiving, and least punishing on mishits, so you don’t have to be an excellent ball striker to hit these well, and benefit from them. You also get a fair amount of workability with these irons if you’re so inclined.

I’d recommend these irons to players who need or desire forgiveness as a main quality in their irons, and who prefer or benefit from high launching shots.

Wow...probably the most detailed comparison/review that i've ever seen on WRX.
Thanks for taking the time!

WOW, had to use my first post to give credit! Not a Callaway player but fantastic narrative, structure and content.

What a review/comparison! Thank you for that...I think I will be looking at the Razr X Tours now. What a classy review

Wow. I, for one, am thoroughly impressed. Very well done and easy to follow. AND, I love my Diablo Forged too!

Thanks for the review......well done!

Thanks for an awesome review! I am playing the DF now but will go out and hit the Razr x tour!

wow... thats one heck of a review... thanks so much..

can you go and do it for the TMAG irons now? LOL

Very nice and detailed review thanks.

awesome review....

A very excellent review. One of the best I've read.

Being a current FT iron player, where would you rate the forgiveness and ball flight of the FT irons compared to the DEF and RHT irons?

Nice review. Getting me excited to get my new x-tours as soon as they are ready.

[quote name='Ryedhel' timestamp='1304104501' post='3196573']
A very excellent review. One of the best I've read.

Being a current FT iron player, where would you rate the forgiveness and ball flight of the FT irons compared to the DEF and RHT irons?
[/quote]

Hey Rye, I too enjoy playing the FT's still. I don't think they got the credit they deserved when they came out. I didn't include these in my testing, but I've played them enough to actually have visualizations still of ball flight and memories of feel.

Ball flight is generally lower than the Diablo Forged, but higher than the RAZR X Tours. They launch higher than the Diablo Forged, but have a lower peak height. I'm sure this has to do with the Diablo Forged irons spinning more.

I saw people write about these ballooning when they came out, but I never had that problem. I do however like high ball flight and benefit from it probably more than those who prefer more penetrating flight.

Still I'd say if ball flight was closer to one or the other, I'd say the FT flight is closer to the RAZR X Tour than the Diablo Forged irons. This despite having more offset than any irons in this shootout.

As far as forgiveness goes, you know how forgiving they are. Comparing them to the RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged irons, I'd have to say again they probably fall somewhere in between the two.

I have no numbers for these, but if memory serves me, these irons have a big sweet spot. So they might be forgiving like the RAZR X Tour irons in that regard. And in terms of mishits, I think they probably are more similar to the Diablo Forged irons, and so a little more forgiving than the RAZR X Tours in that regard.

The next time I pull these out, I'll take a RAZR X Tour, and Diablo Forged iron or two along with me, and hit some side by side by side shots, so I can be sure. But the memories of feel and ball flight I have in my mind now are pretty certain. I loved these irons when they came out, and still love them today.

Even if you decide to upgrade to one of Callaway's newer models, I'd say hold on to those FT's. They're like a trusty pair of sneakers.

[quote name='onetime19' timestamp='1304099742' post='3196414']
Thanks for an awesome review! I am playing the DF now but will go out and hit the Razr x tour!
[/quote]
I'll be curious to hear how you like the RAZR X Tours when you hit them, and how they compare to your Diablo Forged when you do.

[quote name='Sabre3' timestamp='1304104521' post='3196576']
Nice review. Getting me excited to get my new x-tours as soon as they are ready.
[/quote]
Prepare to be even more excited when you hit them for the first time. What were you playing before you ordered the RAZR X Tour irons? It'd be great to hear more about what you think of them once you put them in play.

[quote name='jwfgolfpro' timestamp='1304107281' post='3196665']
:clapping::clapping::clapping:
Thanks for putting the time and effort into a such a good review.

JWFGOLFPRO
[/quote]

Now if I could get that kind of applause while I was on the course playing, that'd be something!

Awesome review!

[quote name='golfware' timestamp='1304099418' post='3196389']
Wow. I, for one, am thoroughly impressed. Very well done and easy to follow. AND, I love my Diablo Forged too!
[/quote]
I hear you golfware. The Diablo Forged are my without a doubt the most favorite irons that I've played. Hope you and everyone else find this entertaining, informative, and helpful as the season goes on.

Best review I have read here. Well done.

Now, can you do a review comparing the AP2, AP1, Razr Tour and the Taylormade TP CB and MC, you will have covered everything off for me!!

This is quality.
Thanks mate!

Damn...now that's what I call a fricking review!

Well done, and may it serve as an instrument of instruction for those wishing to do future reviews.

Good job brother!

Great review. I wonder how the Razr X Tour compares to my X-22 Tours, they look very similar.

Excellent review, Cheers!

Great well thought out, planned and written review. I have taken pride in a few of the reviews I have done, but this is impressive. I am sure this will be a great bit of info to quite a few members. As you have stated the looks of things like top lines are subjective to the individual player. I find that the top line of the Razr X forged is way to thick especially in the short irons especially for those that are used to playing with a thin top line. Everything else about the Razr X Forged is terrific though. The sole grind is absolutley ideal for the digger driver type of player and just cuts through the turf so smoothly. The feel is top notch and on par with high end sets such as dare i say it Scratch and Miura. The irons are very easy to control and for the better ball strikers the X Forged provide a nice controllable and smooth trajectory macthed with great forgiveness.

Well done and +1 rep points for you

[quote name='One_Putt_Blunder' timestamp='1304147631' post='3197690']
Great well thought out, planned and written review. I have taken pride in a few of the reviews I have done, but this is impressive. I am sure this will be a great bit of info to quite a few members. As you have stated the looks of things like top lines are subjective to the individual player. I find that the top line of the Razr X forged is way to thick especially in the short irons especially for those that are used to playing with a thin top line. Everything else about the Razr X Forged is terrific though. The sole grind is absolutley ideal for the digger driver type of player and just cuts through the turf so smoothly. The feel is top notch and on par with high end sets such as dare i say it Scratch and Miura. The irons are very easy to control and for the better ball strikers the X Forged provide a nice controllable and smooth trajectory macthed with great forgiveness.

Well done and +1 rep points for you
[/quote]
Thanks One Putt. Yes I've read and enjoyed your reviews over the years. It's a great community here.

I think your point about the top line is well taken. It's why in part that appearance section I tried to just give details, and let people form their own conclusions. Some people find it a bit too thick, others will think it just right.

Agree with you on the sole design. Really well done by Callaway. I hope among other things, the length, width, and curve comparions are helpful to people who might be wondering about how exactly the sole designs compare.

[quote name='fr0sty' timestamp='1304143426' post='3197636']
Great review. I wonder how the Razr X Tour compares to my X-22 Tours, they look very similar.
[/quote]
Hi ft0sty, unfortunately I can't really give an opinion about comparative performance of the X-22 Tours, since I didn't play them. Over the recent years I've played the FTs, the X-22s, the X24s, the Diablo Forged, and now the RAZR X Tour, and RAZR X Forged.

Appearance wise however you're generally right on. The RAZR X Tour irons look similar in shape, in particular in their low profile face, and longer heel to toe footprint to the X-22 Tours. From an appearance standpoint alone, I think it's fair to say the RAZR X Tours look more like the X-22 Tours, than they do either the RAZR X Forged, Diablo Forged, or even the FTs.

If anyone I play with this season is hitting the X-22's and they let me give an iron or two a mash for a bit, I'll be sure to get some head to head work in with those and the RAZR X Tours, so I can give you more performance detailed comparions.

[quote name='The GreekGrind' timestamp='1304108862' post='3196716']
[quote name='onetime19' timestamp='1304099742' post='3196414']
Thanks for an awesome review! I am playing the DF now but will go out and hit the Razr x tour!
[/quote]
I'll be curious to hear how you like the RAZR X Tours when you hit them, and how they compare to your Diablo Forged when you do.

[quote name='Sabre3' timestamp='1304104521' post='3196576']
Nice review. Getting me excited to get my new x-tours as soon as they are ready.
[/quote]
Prepare to be even more excited when you hit them for the first time. What were you playing before you ordered the RAZR X Tour irons? It'd be great to hear more about what you think of them once you put them in play.

[quote name='jwfgolfpro' timestamp='1304107281' post='3196665']
:clapping::clapping::clapping:
Thanks for putting the time and effort into a such a good review.

JWFGOLFPRO
[/quote]

Now if I could get that kind of applause while I was on the course playing, that'd be something!
[/quote]
I have been playing DCi 981's for way to long now. Got fitted and it was between the cg-16 tours and X-Tours. Opted for the X-tours with the 1/4" longer shafts and just overall feel. I can't believe I am not going back to Titleist. Never thought I would play cally irons until now. Tried them against ap1's and jpx800 pros as well.