Callaway X-Tour "T" Grind

[easyyy]

Any thoughts?

Found these Pics on Ebay and thought I would post them. Any thoughts?

Things that I would want to improve the design of the X-Tours is less bounce and a thinner sole. I wonder if this would do it for me. Looks like there are a few sneaking out early. Here are some Pics from Ebay auction closed early for 1350.00 ...

[plus1]

yah, these are an awesome set with a very playable leading edge grind ie the LE Grind or the T Grind. This should make the iron cut through the turf much easier, make getting out of the deep stuff easier, and basically suit the more aggressie swinger!

[tylerbrowder8-4]

looks like the grind on the 690.mb's

 

:)

[CRutherford]

I think this is a big improvement to the Xtours. IMO, the sole is one of the things that kept them out of my bag. That and they're not Titleist! This new design actually looks a little kwoked lol.

[provgolf]

thst sole design has been around for 18 months or longer on tour issue x tours. i have owned several sets of them. while they do make the iron somewhat more playable, it does not reduce the bounce that much or create a thin enough sole to cure the problems most have complained about.

[ScottWS33]

Are these the same as the X-Tour T that the Mickelson, Campbell etc use?

[JGalls]

I have a set of these and I'm absolutely loving them. The odd thing is that I'm a sweeper and fit me very nicely. Apparently the grind can benefit both types of swingers. The regular retails just had too much bounce IMO.

[InTheHole!]

Just out of curiousity, would this T grinf X Tours be Tour issued only at this time, or are the retail sets being offered now with a T grind as pictured?

 

Thanks for the insight.

[Reegs9966]

Mine are at the golf club hospital getting reshafted. I'll have a review up in a few days.

[sandy]

I've had a chance to play several different grinds of the X-Tours (all were marked with the T on the hosel). Flat wider sole--less bounce, "thinned"sole with back edge grind, top line thicker, top line with more relief than production. I can't for the life of me tell any difference between the sole grinds particularly out of the rough. When you have a sole that is that wide by design you can grind it all you want but the basic width is still there to interact with the grass. Of the five others that tried these irons none could tell the difference without looking at the three sole grinds. Only the less bounce sole grind got one comment about it seemed to dig more than the other two. The top line grinds only got comments on looks not performance since the amount of material removed was insignificant.

 

If you want a thinner sole buy a set of traditional forged blades, don't try to achieve the same thing with X-Tours. You can feel the difference between a traditional set and X-Tours out of very heavy rough---definitely less drag.

[provgolf]

the irons referenced on ebay in the first post are not the newer T stamp model like above. they are a much older grind that has been around for 2 years or more. the newer T stamp model has similar aspects, but even the ones shown above appear to have a wider sole than the leading edge grind x tours i have owned and the ones on ebay in the first post. i have had a few new T stamp models and they all had different girnds, but none were exactly like the ones in the 1st post.

[sandy]

It would be fun to list all the variations of T stamped X-Tours. I've seen flat sole (minimal bounce), 2 versions of sole reduction, thicker top line, thinner top line, chopped/rolled heel, and a sort of scotch blade toe grind. That would be 7 versions at least---any others I am missing???

[Golfdog]

I like the T revised sole a lot. I am more shallow through impact and I find the reduction in bounce to be a very good thing. More narrow sole design is also nice. Makes a very good design even better IMHO.

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe it's just the pic, but those soles look WAY wider than the ones on my X-Tours.

[provgolf]

It would be fun to list all the variations of T stamped X-Tours. I've seen flat sole (minimal bounce), 2 versions of sole reduction, thicker top line, thinner top line, chopped/rolled heel, and a sort of scotch blade toe grind. That would be 7 versions at least---any others I am missing???

 

i have also had constant 2mm offset throught out the set, no offset, minimal offset throughout the set and progressive offset, all w/ different sole/topline configurations, similar to the ones listed and otheres, cannot remember all of them

[InTheHole!]

These X Tours with the leading edge grind (and trailing edge grind) are ground at the factory prior to chroming right? I would hate to have a set of irons with the leading edges rusting away!

[sandy]

Most of the custom grinds I have seen come finished from Endo in Thailand. Any that are custom ground here would definitely have an inferior replate job done on them due to recent regulations from EPA (to my knowledge the iron factory still hasn't reopened after it's proposed move to grand junction, colorado HHMMMMM). For Tour players it wouldn't matter---just polish the rust off or play them raw. I've seen a lot of ratty looking X-Tours in bags so this might be what is being done.

[InTheHole!]

Most of the custom grinds I have seen come finished from Endo in Thailand. Any that are custom ground here would definitely have an inferior replate job done on them due to recent regulations from EPA (to my knowledge the iron factory still hasn't reopened after it's proposed move to grand junction, colorado HHMMMMM). For Tour players it wouldn't matter---just polish the rust off or play them raw. I've seen a lot of ratty looking X-Tours in bags so this might be what is being done.

 

sandy, thanks for the info. I would be looking to try these X Tours with a leading edge grind and less bounce, but I'll prob not pay $$$ for irons with a rusting leading edge!!

 

Being in a tropical country with high humidity, anything in a raw finish will rust plenty quick....

[Reegs9966]

Just got my Xtours out for their first test drive. My grinds look just like those in the 1st post of this thread. Leading edge grind. However, not the same set. Mine say forged in black and have no T stamp.

 

In comparison to retail, these seem to have a narrower sole towards the heel. Minimal to no offset. The grind on these acts to lessen the effective bounce. Just fine for tight fairway lies for me. Really performed well. Still getting used to the topline and cavity sight at setup but, obviously, it's a major improvement over past Cally models.

 

Not as sexy as some Lehaman's or Nike splits but, I like the extra forgiveness. They're in the bag for the foreseable future.

 

Also, really suprised by the Black Golds. Soft stepped X's didn't play as stiff as I thought they would. I switched from a couple years straight of soft stepped X100's and these feel a little more flexible to me. Overall, very smooth with a good kick.