New Callaway X-Forged in Japan

[bardezart]

1 hour ago, TiScape said:

What happens to the obligatory GWRX “top line is way too thick”? Seems lately it’s all about the offset… I call that progress! 😊

😆 I’ve never been one to care too much about top line thickness. Too much offset looks a lot worse than a thick top line (imo) 

[TiScape]

2 minutes ago, bardezart said:

😆 I’ve never been one to care too much about top line thickness. Too much offset looks a lot worse than a thick top line (imo) 

And I’d say they typically travel in pairs. Haha

[third-times-a-charm]

"topline too thick"

"hosel transition is yucky"

"offset is .5mm too much"

 

=

 

"yeah she's a supermodel, but her elbows are too pointy"

[Avidswampthing66]

13 hours ago, radiman said:

Interesting.  I tried to find them, but it must have been on his story.  But, in the pics on the callaway japan site, they look pretty good. I suppose, we'll know more once people start getting them in.  

 

These are straight up FINE irons.

[TheMoneyShot]

On 4/18/2024 at 7:38 AM, HoFoSho said:

Just posted a new set in the BST 

Changed your mind already?

[Wardonation]

On 3/21/2024 at 5:47 PM, iNeedMoreGolf said:

Hard to beat this combo. Xforged18/apex mb 18

Pjx rifle 6.0

Yowzers

Those MB's were my best iron ever, now I am caught up in forgiveness stupid. The reality the sole on those MB's were perfect for me and the is real forgiveness. Shot my two best tournament rounds with those things 63,64

[HoFoSho]

18 minutes ago, TheMoneyShot said:

Changed your mind already?

Wrong set was sent to me 

[bardezart]

1 hour ago, Wardonation said:

Those MB's were my best iron ever, now I am caught up in forgiveness stupid. The reality the sole on those MB's were perfect for me and the is real forgiveness. Shot my two best tournament rounds with those things 63,64

I agree. Those blades were $$$$$ – worked my way down to a +3.7 using that exact combo set. Just can't practice as much as I used to since I left the industry so am also on the forgiveness train, trying to find the same feel/look as those MBs in a CB. 

[Wardonation]

25 minutes ago, bardezart said:

I agree. Those blades were $$$$$ – worked my way down to a +3.7 using that exact combo set. Just can't practice as much as I used to since I left the industry so am also on the forgiveness train, trying to find the same feel/look as those MBs in a CB. 

I play the King Tours now as they felt the best to me with max forgiveness BUT the sole is too big. Maybe you look at the TM MC or Cobra CB's... In hindsight I should have gone with the Cobra MC's as I love shaping of the Cobras. They are the closest in shape to those Cally MB's especially in the short irons. I have not likes Cally's iron shaping lately at all too rounded for my taste. I want to see these irons in person as I hear they are higher bounce.

[iNeedMoreGolf]

4 hours ago, Wardonation said:

Those MB's were my best iron ever, now I am caught up in forgiveness stupid. The reality the sole on those MB's were perfect for me and the is real forgiveness. Shot my two best tournament rounds with those things 63,64

Yepp. Just got some 23 p790 irons in december. Played my first round with them thinking im going to see distance a forgivness with nice feel. Wrong wrong and wrong. Felt absolutely terrible like rocks. Forgivness seemed worse. Turf interaction did not feel good. Distance was all over the place and couldnt get a feel for the club. Lacked swing feel. Not saying its a trash club but definitely not for me. Night and day between the xforged/mb 18. One of my best rounds also with the 18s. And yes for a blade... pretty forgivIng imo too.

[bardezart]

Will get some better photos in the next few days if no one else does, tearing them down and rebuilding to my specs but waiting on tip weights and ferrules. Overall a bit bigger than I was expecting – the short irons (8-P) are a hair larger than the current Apex CBs. Sole is much wider than the Apex CBs in the short irons. But offset and top line are in the same vein as those. Finish is fantastic. 

[Lemonde]

25 minutes ago, bardezart said:

Will get some better photos in the next few days if no one else does, tearing them down and rebuilding to my specs but waiting on tip weights and ferrules. Overall a bit bigger than I was expecting – the short irons (8-P) are a hair larger than the current Apex CBs. Sole is much wider than the Apex CBs in the short irons. But offset and top line are in the same vein as those. Finish is fantastic. 

Fantastic look at address

[Avidswampthing66]

4 hours ago, bardezart said:

Will get some better photos in the next few days if no one else does, tearing them down and rebuilding to my specs but waiting on tip weights and ferrules. Overall a bit bigger than I was expecting – the short irons (8-P) are a hair larger than the current Apex CBs. Sole is much wider than the Apex CBs in the short irons. But offset and top line are in the same vein as those. Finish is fantastic. 

In looks from address, they remind me of my old Z785's but with slightly thinner top line.  Really digging these irons.  May knock the Apex CB's out the bag if I can find a set 

[radiman]

4 hours ago, bardezart said:

Will get some better photos in the next few days if no one else does, tearing them down and rebuilding to my specs but waiting on tip weights and ferrules. Overall a bit bigger than I was expecting – the short irons (8-P) are a hair larger than the current Apex CBs. Sole is much wider than the Apex CBs in the short irons. But offset and top line are in the same vein as those. Finish is fantastic. 

Gorgeous! Thanks for the pics! Would love to see more if you get a minute. 

[bardezart]

Pulled and weighed everything last night and these heads are definitely only light weight spec in regards to the Japanese market. They were all right in line with my previous set of Mizuno 221s with the exception of the PW being light. 
 

PW-4, Mizuno head weights: 290, 279, 271, 265, 257, 251, 246

PW-4, Callaway head weights: 282, 281 (with 3g tip weight), 273 (with 2g tip weight), 265, 258, 252, 246

 

REALLY close. With dry assembly using the Modus 120x cut to +1/4” and an old split 50g grip, the 4-9i all weighed out just shy of D2 while the PW is D1. 

[bardezart]

8 hours ago, Avidswampthing66 said:

In looks from address, they remind me of my old Z785's but with slightly thinner top line.  Really digging these irons.  May knock the Apex CB's out the bag if I can find a set 

Having not even hit them yet I’m pretty certain they’ll kick the Apex CB out of my bag. 

[Avidswampthing66]

25 minutes ago, bardezart said:

Having not even hit them yet I’m pretty certain they’ll kick the Apex CB out of my bag. 

Yeah man I feel that.  

 

Let us know the differences.   I do really like the CBs but these look stunning and more like a true CB

[bardezart]

[iamthebeard]

Awesome comparison pics  @bardezart 

 

Looking forward to the full report on the feel and performance compared to the apex CB. As a xforged 18 user (still) ive been reluctant to switch to the CBs then these came out so really conflicted now. 

 

 

[PowerCobra98]

Great comparison pics @bardezart  It's always refreshing to see somebody who understands how to take address pictures correctly.

[Wardonation]

22 hours ago, bardezart said:

A little chunky for sure, wish they beveled that topline. thank for pics just awesome...

[Scott0000]

On 4/20/2024 at 10:33 AM, Wardonation said:

Those MB's were my best iron ever, now I am caught up in forgiveness stupid. The reality the sole on those MB's were perfect for me and the is real forgiveness. Shot my two best tournament rounds with those things 63,64

I've tried to buy up as many as these MB sets as I could.  Sole is so perfect for me.  Wildly forgiving for a blade.  Slightly higher bounce.  Wish they would do something like this again. 

[bardezart]

3 hours ago, Wardonation said:

A little chunky for sure, wish they beveled that topline. thank for pics just awesome...

Yeah how they shaped them through the set is interesting. The top line stays pretty consistent but compared to the Apex CBs the sole gets wider from 4 to W whereas the CBs get narrower. And the offset seems to be less in the long irons and slightly more in the short irons whereas the CBs are the opposite. 

[bardezart]

6 hours ago, iamthebeard said:

Awesome comparison pics  @bardezart 

 

Looking forward to the full report on the feel and performance compared to the apex CB. As a xforged 18 user (still) ive been reluctant to switch to the CBs then these came out so really conflicted now. 

 

 

 

I will say I've enjoyed the CBs in looks and turf interaction, they just feel hollow at times. I wasn't a fan of the some of the shaping of the 2018 X Forged but loved the feel. Hopefully this new X Forged line marries the best parts of both lines. Waiting on tip weights to show up from Golfworks and then assembling - hopefully by Wednesday as I'm playing 9 Thursday afternoon. 

[Avidswampthing66]

On 4/21/2024 at 10:13 AM, bardezart said:

Really appreciate this post 🏆

 

That is one of the best PW shapes I've ever seen.  Love the angular toe and overall shape.  I've been playing well with the CB's but, overall not a huge fan of the feel.  Curious how soft these will be

[Shaffer_C]

The CB's look better in every way to my eye. Would come down to feel.

[Avidswampthing66]

10 hours ago, Shaffer_C said:

The CB's look better in every way to my eye. Would come down to feel.

I love my CB's as far as looks and playability is excellent.  Truly great irons.   But, the feel is a little tough for me at times.  The feel is very firm.  Hit Blueprint S and the i530's today and they were actually softer feeling than my forged CB's.  Weird!

 

 

 

[bardezart]

13 hours ago, Shaffer_C said:

The CB's look better in every way to my eye. Would come down to feel.

They’re a bit of an odd set. The long irons, imo, look better than the CBs. And they look different down by the ball. I posted a picture of the 7i down by the ball and the top line looks quite a bit thinner than in the comparison photos. I think because they didn’t round it off it looks bigger/smaller depending on the light. 
 

But yeah I am anxious to get them built. Tip weights are taking way too long to show up 😑

Edited April 24 by bardezart

[radiman]

Looks like there are some in play at the Zurich.

 

 

[pjc]

On 4/22/2024 at 1:12 PM, bardezart said:

Yeah how they shaped them through the set is interesting. The top line stays pretty consistent but compared to the Apex CBs the sole gets wider from 4 to W whereas the CBs get narrower. And the offset seems to be less in the long irons and slightly more in the short irons whereas the CBs are the opposite. 

This has always been common with Japanese players irons, back when Srixon was very low key, I had a set of Z-TX irons and the design was basically like what is described here.  Tourstage irons were the same way.