Review, Callaway Tour Authentic X-Prototype irons, Black Gold X flex shafts.

[bradkv]

So, I ordered these last Wednesday, and I put in the order with Dynamic Gold X100 shafts. When they arrived Wednesday (that's a week turnaround for a custom order!!!) I was initially disappointed that they had put the wrong shafts in them. I called my pro (one of my closest friends) and told him there had been a mistake, and he told me not to worry about it, they would rectify it and send me another set or reshaft these at no cost, but told me to try them out first to see what I wanted to do. So, here's what I've found.

 

At address, these clubs set up better than any blade I've ever seen. They have a nice topline, not too thick and not too thin, and are very compact from heel to toe. These might be the smallest blade on the market, other than the Cobra Pro MB. Very little offset, which is expected in a blade, but some of the others I've seen appear to have more offset than these. Coming from the Nike VR blades, the offset is very similar, but these appear smaller and have a little thicker topline. The best part about these clubs, for me, is the soles. These are designed with some bounce, so if you're a picker, these may be wrong for you.

 

With the Black Gold shafts, these feel lighter than I'm accustomed to, which at first was a turnoff. However, they are effortless to swing. The first thing I noticed was the feel when swinging these. I can feel the shaft load at the top, and release at the bottom. I have tried the Project X shafts before, and with them, I can't feel load or release. Dynamic Golds, my shaft of choice for the last 19 years, have a feeling of load and release, but not as pronounced as these. To me, the Dynamic Gold FEELS stiffer, but the Black Gold PLAYS stiffer, if that makes sense. I guess the easiest way to describe this is with a comparison in ballflight. The Dynamic Gold shaft launches the ball on a lower trajectory, but is prone to ballooning a bit into the wind. The Black Gold gets the ball up quicker, but it flattens out quickly and carries the same distance for me.

 

I hit a 6 iron typically 185-190 yards. I took my Nike out for comparison side by side to the X-Proto, and it was 49* out, dreary and misty. VERY heavy air on my first range session. I would have waited for better weather, but I was chomping at the bit to hit these clubs. The Nikes, whether a result of the head or shaft, feel clickier. The Callaways are the softest forgings I've ever hit. Again, I don't know if this is the head or the shaft, but they feel exceptional. Distance is a wash...2 or 3 yards difference max. Forgiveness goes to the Callaway, especially on toe hits. I tend to lose a solid 15 yards from normal with the Nikes when I catch them on the toe, which is my normal miss. With the Callways, I lost no more than 10 yards, with a lower, reduced spin flight. Knockdown shots are always my end all be all for irons, as I play a lot of these shots on the course for distance control. I have never seen a club that produces the low, flat lasers that these Callaways produce. I was hitting 6 iron punches that got about 20 feet off the ground and carried 170 yards with no ballooning, and very little curvature. With my Nikes, every knockdown shot wants to curve a little bit left. Dispersion with the Callaways is ridiculous! I am a right to left guy, and like all right to left guys, my reliable draw can turn into a vicious hook at times. I never saw more than a 15 yard hook with the Callaways, but the Nikes can really get left on me quick.

 

Now, I'm not quite sold on the shafts just yet. I have to hit them on a calm, normal day to check the distances and make sure there is no ballooning, but after one very long range session, I'm certainly not expecting to see the worst. I hit down on the ball hard, and nothing drives me crazier on a golf course than seeing a shot get stood up and fall short. I feel like the comparison I've been able to make between my Nikes and the Callaways has eased my mind a bit. I saw more ballooning from the VR Blade with X100 than I did with the X Proto with Black Gold in poor conditions, I can't imagine calm conditions being any different.

 

With the recent price reduction of thses clubs, I feel that anyone in the market for a new set of blades would be making a mistake not considering these. They are beautiful to look at, feel exceptionally soft, and offer a good deal of forgiveness considering the fact that they are, indeed, blades.

[enka3ball55]

I ordered my Callay x-protos this past Tuesday with KBS Tour shafts and they are suppose to come in this Tuesday or Wednesday and i cant wait! great review and im sure that i will fall inlove with mine too! My brother plays a set of Adams blades with the black gold shafts in them and i have hit them and they do feel great but personally i fell inlove with the KBS tour shafts! i swear they are the smoothest feeling steel shaft on the market, atleast for me. the feel is amazing, so soft and sweet! i cant wait to see how they are in the Callys! I'm sure it will be amazing!