Callaway X tours

rodto3rd · April 21, 2006

any truth to rumors about 2nd gen model??

I was wondering if there is any truth to the rumors seen here if Callaway is actually planning on releasing a 2nd generation model of the X tours?? I would hate to spend the money if they were to be coming out in the next 6 months to a year.

sandy · April 21, 2006

Our rep. said they would hear something on a 2nd generation of the X-Tour irons at a summer/fall sales meeting (nothing visible on the tours only at the main fitting center for their pros) which would probably say late fall/early spring 2007 release. He didn't expect a gigantic change particularly with the success the staffers are having with this model---maybe a zero offset model. He said he thought it would be a non issue if Phil were to win the U.S. Open. Would be tough to get him to change anytime soon.

rodto3rd · April 21, 2006

Thanks Sandy. I was wondering, the only complaint I have been reading about the irons is 1. top line too big (but its a cally-what do you expect) and 2. the bounce in the 8-P is a little much. Good point about the Phil winning point, plus mid to late 2007 waaaaay to long to wait. Thanks.

sandy · April 21, 2006

Thanks Sandy. I was wondering, the only complaint I have been reading about the irons is 1. top line too big (but its a cally-what do you expect) and 2. the bounce in the 8-P is a little much. Good point about the Phil winning point, plus mid to late 2007 waaaaay to long to wait. Thanks.

Don't forget I don't think these were ever billed as traditional players irons (ala Mizuno etc.) with the cavity back undercut channel design they will never present a thin top line. They can hide it well with finishes and grindings but all they were trying to do (successfully in my opinion) was produce a traditional looking iron (face wise) at address with most of what they had learned game improvement wise over the years. Most of Callaway's ventures into traditional looking irons haven't been very successful. The original Bobby Jones blades in BeCu and Steel were a non starter. The 1990s version of the Bobby Jones blades also were underwhelming when compared with the S2H2 etc... They looked very traditional (except for the really short hosel--but really long ferrule) but you didn't dare hit one off center on a low 50s day OUCH your fillings came out. So until Hogan is kaput I don't think you will ever see a traditional skinny top line thin sole forging from callaway per se. Plus the X-Tours are selling very well again.

On in Two · April 21, 2006

Let's be clear about this. Is it the bounce or the camber that bothers you? The trailing edge of the sole is ground away so the effective bounce isn't that much more than many so called player's irons. I've had my 3-9 bent 2* strong so it evens lessons the bounce and I have had no trouble playing these from tight lies.

Oh and I just saw that X-Tour irons won more European and PGA Tour events than any other irons last year.

sigmamason · April 21, 2006

There is a picture of a blank x-tour floating on another site. It was being tested by a cally tour player and the rep had one in his hands.

From the pic, it seem as if the undercut cavity thing was filled in and the blade length seemed smaller.

Nothing was really mentioned other than it looked as if Cally was ready to make some changes to the X-Tour...

Big Ben · April 21, 2006

That would make perfect sense, these irons feel a bit clunky to me so filling in the undercut would resolve that feel thing. The blade also seems a bit to long as well. Those two changes would make me consider finally buying a set. Cally is under rated to me right now, I love my FT-3 Tour!

hardten · April 22, 2006

Compared to other players cbs the blade is shorter than most.After playing them a few rounds they don,t seem "clunky".Great sticks.

hardten · April 22, 2006

I called Callaway and they said the xtours should NOT be bent.I was thinking of stengthening lofts maybe 1 degree to help bring ball down.Who did your bending and is there anything one needs to know?I could have my Pro bend mine ,but I don,t want a problem and neither does he.

hardten · April 22, 2006

I have had 15 sets of OEM irons in last 10 years and I think both the top line and bounce comments are baloney.I doubt many of the concerns were made by guys who actually owned the clubs.But then again ,its all in the eye of beholder.Great irons,fun to play.

Johnny · April 22, 2006

I have had 15 sets of OEM irons in last 10 years and I think both the top line and bounce comments are baloney.I doubt many of the concerns were made by guys who actually owned the clubs.But then again ,its all in the eye of beholder.Great irons,fun to play.

Agreed. The x-tours are really fun to play. Very nice compromise. Top line has never bothered me and the length from heel to toe is very compact already.

topline does not bother me either...hoe to toe is very compact.. only sole width bugs me a little. I dont have the short irons ( I own 3-7 only) but I heard the PW is kinda awkward.

Overall good feel and quite forgiving...

DemolitionMan · April 22, 2006

I have had 15 sets of OEM irons in last 10 years and I think both the top line and bounce comments are baloney.I doubt many of the concerns were made by guys who actually owned the clubs.But then again ,its all in the eye of beholder.Great irons,fun to play.

Agreed. The x-tours are really fun to play. Very nice compromise. Top line has never bothered me and the length from heel to toe is very compact already.

topline does not bother me either...hoe to toe is very compact.. only sole width bugs me a little. I dont have the short irons ( I own 3-7 only) but I heard the PW is kinda awkward.

Overall good feel and quite forgiving...

I played them for six months last year. They were great irons at the time my game needed them. My swing was just all off with Z101s so I decided to go to a more forgiving iron just so I can eliminate that thought of doubt even though I know it's not the club. And it worked. So for a few months my iron game got back on track. But when I felt more confident and tried to hit some of my favorite high fades and punch shots from different lies, the X-Tours were not helping. I didn't want to mess around with shafts trying to get a feel back that I wanted or change ball flights, so I gave up on them. I know it's not the club, just something about the setup of them the way I like to hit punches and fades does not work for me, so I went to irons that did work for me.

I would still recommend them, but they are a touch on the thick side from front to back. I wouldn't want the gap in the cavity "filled" in, I would prefer they use less material and just weld the front and back together with no gap to reduce overall thickness at the sole. Then the clubs would be awesome. But that's just personal preference. I am not about to say Cally got it wrong, the X-Tours are an extension of many years of research and iron sets with their chambered cavity. They know what they are doing.

If I start losing confidence again in my iron game, I will probably go back to X-Tours.

On in Two · April 22, 2006

Who did your bending and is there anything one needs to know?I could have my Pro bend mine ,but I don,t want a problem and neither does he.

My fitter bent them and checked all of the lies to ensure they were within specs. The only sign they have been bent is a tiny little impression mark (about 2mm) on the back side of the clubhead. He told me that would happen before he bent them because the carbon steel is so soft. He's really good though. He's also the one who reshafted my FT-3 Tour and did an awesome job with it and that is no easy task with a multi material clubhead.

As for all this talk about the sole width, not being able to work them or hit punch, knock-downs and other shotmaking....if you compare these side by side with other 'player' clubs the effective sole is very near or smaller than the sole on those other clubs ie. Titeliests, TM LT2, MP's etc. The trailing edge of the sole has been ground and has very little effect on their playablity. I practice knock downs and trouble shots woth my 3, 4 and 6 irons routiunely at the end of each range session and these are the most workable irons I've owned. Very predictable and forgiving. Phil seems to be liking his too. :golfer: