callaway ai smoke max d driver

[4cowboys]

Just curious if anyone is playing this driver, and what your thoughts are on it. seen some reviews on youtube, but not much on here about it. also compared to all the new releases. Thanks!

[4cowboys]

I guess not a popular driver?

[bcflyguy1]

I don't play it, but had some good success fitting it. Similar in most ways to Paradym X but the draw bias in the Ai Smoke is more pronounced.

[4cowboys]

On 3/25/2024 at 1:06 PM, bcflyguy1 said:

I don't play it, but had some good success fitting it. Similar in most ways to Paradym X but the draw bias in the Ai Smoke is more pronounced.

what was the spin rate like during your fittings? Thanks

[Anser]

On 3/25/2024 at 2:02 PM, 4cowboys said:

I guess not a popular driver?

 

The draw oriented clubheads don't tend to get much love here due to everyone being a + handicap on wrx but there are many non + handicaps who love em 🙂

[craz-e]

I actually got fitted into this driver during a recent full bag fitting. I have never had a draw based driver in my life but went for what gave me the best numbers.

 

Edited Tuesday at 09:13 PM by craz-e

[JungleJimbo]

On 3/25/2024 at 9:44 PM, 4cowboys said:

Just curious if anyone is playing this driver, and what your thoughts are on it. seen some reviews on youtube, but not much on here about it. also compared to all the new releases. Thanks!

 

 

https://worldofwunder.callawaygolf.com/deep-dive-into-the-ai-smoke-max-d-driver-on-tour/

 

 

[winegr]

Great driver. Forgiving on heel strikes. With a bit of tinkering, maybe down a loft degree down or additionally stiff shaft can take a bit of the draw away. 
 

many will dismiss this driver, but it’s worth a try for people trying to avoid a right miss. Best for faders or heel strikers from my experience. 

[winegr]

I hit this driver again today. It is amazingly forgiving. Arguably the driver release of the year for me. Flies high. Loft down. 

[03trdblack]

I ordered one with the flat cog and await it's arrival. Other than the upright lie angle, it was fantastic when I tried it out. 

[lefty1978]

On 3/25/2024 at 9:44 AM, 4cowboys said:

Just curious if anyone is playing this driver, and what your thoughts are on it. seen some reviews on youtube, but not much on here about it. also compared to all the new releases. Thanks!

I gamed this driver for a few months. Great driver, nothing major wrong with it. I moved to the Qi10 LS to chase the almighty extra yards. The only issue with the Smoke AI Max D is the ball flight was high and I was losing yards on roll out. Other than that, it's a great.

[bking556]

My miss is usually a left pull (not draw) or a slice right. I play the Sim 2 Max 9 degree with a Velocore Blue 6S, launch is fine for me. I thought about maybe going to a 7S to help with dispersion. The weight shouldn’t be an issue at all, I’m active in the gym almost daily but I don’t get a ton of time to practice or play golf (once a week is usually max).
 

Could going to something like with at 10.5 with a Velocore Black be a good idea? Higher launched head but lower launching shaft to try and avoid the slice? 
 

Or possible an AI Smoke Max with the sliding weight? I know the best overall option is to get fit but that isn’t an option right now so I’m just looking for ideas.

Edited Tuesday at 10:32 PM by bking556

[bcflyguy1]

53 minutes ago, bking556 said:

My miss is usually a left pull (not draw) or a slice right. I play the Sim 2 Max 9 degree with a Velocore Blue 6S, launch is fine for me. I thought about maybe going to a 7S to help with dispersion. The weight shouldn’t be an issue at all, I’m active in the gym almost daily but I don’t get a ton of time to practice or play golf (once a week is usually max).
 

Could going to something like with at 10.5 with a Velocore Black be a good idea? Higher launched head but lower launching shaft to try and avoid the slice? 
 

Or possible an AI Smoke Max with the sliding weight? I know the best overall option is to get fit but that isn’t an option right now so I’m just looking for ideas.

With those two misses, the only sure way to fix them is to get your path less out-to-in. Anything else is pure guess work.

[winegr]

3 hours ago, bking556 said:

My miss is usually a left pull (not draw) or a slice right. I play the Sim 2 Max 9 degree with a Velocore Blue 6S, launch is fine for me. I thought about maybe going to a 7S to help with dispersion. The weight shouldn’t be an issue at all, I’m active in the gym almost daily but I don’t get a ton of time to practice or play golf (once a week is usually max).
 

Could going to something like with at 10.5 with a Velocore Black be a good idea? Higher launched head but lower launching shaft to try and avoid the slice? 
 

Or possible an AI Smoke Max with the sliding weight? I know the best overall option is to get fit but that isn’t an option right now so I’m just looking for ideas.

If you slice I would definitely get the Max D vs Max. 

[Kale_m]

My buddy is a +2 hcp and he uses the max d. He loves it 

[dmeeksDC]

On 4/30/2024 at 4:45 PM, 03trdblack said:

I ordered one with the flat cog and await it's arrival. Other than the upright lie angle, it was fantastic when I tried it out. 

A few of us were hitting various heads and we all were impressed by the MAX D. The Johnny Wunder piece is worth reading. It is versatile — easy to hit a fade with the MAX D or turn it over. Not a hard left club at all. In fact, I found you can lean into a power fade and it won’t over cut. It does get the ball up. No problems with launching the 9 degree MAX D. 

[winegr]

I found that too. Just doesn’t have the top end ball speed for me. 2-3 mph down for huge foregivness. 

[dmeeksDC]

20 minutes ago, winegr said:

I found that too. Just doesn’t have the top end ball speed for me. 2-3 mph down for huge foregivness. 

Ball speeds are all close enough for me with all the heads but I don’t focus on that because I top out in the 150s regardless of the head. It is what it is. What I always seek is a driver that gives me a predictable stock shot with little effort. As auto-pilot as possible. I can see why those Tour pros like to set up the MAX D to hit a power fade. It’s a great club for that shot because it won’t go too much to the right. Kind of weird that a draw biased club is great for a fade but it is because it takes away the fader’s miss — that wipe to the right shot. 

[Climbhard]

Related.  10.5 Rogue max D set -1 / N.  to drop the launch and spin and open the face.  Shaft is AD DI.  I have never hit a straighter driver in my life. Everything is dead nuts, straight or I tee the ball up a little and bomb a soft draw. I’ve never hit a driver straighter or longer. Won me 200 bucks at PXG!