So I picked up a set of Callaway x-18's...

[expunge]

Why is everything long and straight?!

And my iron game has gained 20 yards..on each club.

How is that even possible? I have been playing Nike NDS since I returned to golf about 5 months ago and have always had a pretty consisten round. I played a normal fade with them which was fine for me. When I needed to hit them dead straight I could, fade no problem, draw...eh..you get the point. After picking up the X-18's at Golfsmith the other day every one of my shots has gained a massive amount of yardage. Every shot is dead on the money on the clubface. I don't get it? Is it just a new confidence?

Example...

Hole 3 at my course is a 158 yard par 3 from the tips which I usually play. I used to hit a 6 iron into the green and leave it short because it's an uphill right to left putt. With the X-18's I hit the 6 iron and put it over the back of the green. I pulled out an 8 iron and put it in the exact spot I used to put the 6.

Hole 16 is a 538 yard par 5. Usually it's a Hybrid off the tee to a spot before the creek because it's 270 carry to the creek. 3 wood to 120 and then a 9 iron in from there. I hit my PW and put it over the green. I guess I'm going to have to have my wedges bent to match the new lofts of my irons or something. I have a big hole inbetween the 46 PW and my 52 vokey now.

So what do you think it could be? A "you feel confident with your new sticks" or an actual improvement on distance with the irons. Every shot is straight and long now.

Also looking for opinions on the x-18's. I didn't get the pro model because they didn't have them in stock. I would have liked just a little less offset and a thinner top line but the 18's I have look great at address and are like butter when you hit them.

[mizzyfan]

I too had purchased the X-18. Found them to be a club easy to hit straight, but also had a high ball flight. And the higher ball flight may help in some added distance you are seeing. I had upgraded from a set of X-14's. Anyway, I did not find any extra distance with the X-18's, but since I was coming from a previous set of Callaways, they could have been similar lofts, etc. Unfortunately, I found a few things not to my liking about the X-18 - including more offset than my X-14's, a slightly thicker topline.

 

Just looking at a quick comparison of specs between the X-18's and the NDS, you will find that the NDS is a weaker loft than the Callaways. For example, here are some loft differences between the X-18 and the NDS

 

Iron / X-18 / NDS

 

6 iron / 29 deg. / 31 deg.

7 iron / 33 deg. / 35 deg.

8 iron / 37 deg. / 39 deg.

 

 

X-18 was a nice club, but unfortunately it was not what I was looking for at that time and made the switch to the Mizuno MX-23's and couldn't be happier.

 

Whatever it is causing you to hit the ball further, straighter, better... just enjoy it. They X-18's are a nice set of clubs.

[sfdoddsy]

One reason is because the lofts are different. The Nike NDS 6 iron has 31 degrees of loft, whereas the Callaway X18 has 29.

 

The other would be that you are hitting them straight. Straight is longer than a fade.

[expunge]

Lofts..good call.

 

Yeah, I don't really care what it is that is causing a nice straight shot. I am just going to try to get used to the distances and go with that.

 

I do like the nice high ball flight though, makes the ball stop on the greens much faster. I tend to be a hit it twords the pin kinda guy so it's nice to not have them roll off the back of the green. I was also using them with Pro v1's. I wonder when I switch back to my Nike Soft's if it's going to make any difference. Guess we'll have to see. Sweet..another excuse to go to the course

 

Thanks guys!