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Boeing helps Callaway design aerodynamically-sound XR16 drivers

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In the current driver market, golf equipment companies have a tall task — make drivers that are even longer and more forgiving than the ones currently available. Making things more challenging is that two very important factors in driver design, aerodynamics and forgiveness, have a somewhat inverse relationship; a longer crown improves forgiveness, but it is also generally less aerodynamically sound.

The major issue is that as a driver head moves through space, air wants to leave the crown as it passes over the face. That increases drag and decreases club head speed, a bad thing for distance. For Callaway, solving this problem meant working with aerodynamics experts at Boeing — the world’s largest aerospace company, which designs and engineers jets, spacecrafts and planes for NASA and the U.S. Air Force.

Related: What you need to know about Callaway’s XR16 and XR16 Pro fairway woods. 

So the people who typically design wings to help airplanes fly through the sky were assigned the task of helping design golf clubs that make golf balls fly farther. The result was Callaway’s new XR16 and XR16 Pro drivers. 

XR16Boeing

Turbulence from the raised crown makes airflow “stick” to the surface.

The new crown design on Callaway’s XR16 drivers features raised portions of titanium just behind the top line that help keep airflow tight to the surface, thus reducing drag and allowing golfers to swing the club head faster on the downswing into impact.

CallawayXR16

A close look at the crown of the XR16 driver head.

The aerodynamic improvements also allowed Callaway to stretch out the crown of the XR16 drivers, raising moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of a club’s forgiveness. The combination makes the XR16 drivers faster and more forgiving.

XRFace

Changes inside the head include improvement to Callaway’s R-Moto technology, which debuted in Callaway’s Big Bertha Alpha 815 drivers. R-Moto is a supportive rib structure that allowed engineers to make the XR16 driver faces 9 grams lighter and 19 percent thinner than their predecessors. The result is more ball speed, regardless of where shots are contacted on the face, along with better launch conditions.

CallawayXRPro16

A look at the crown of the XR16 Pro driver, with a slightly different design than the XR16.

Another weight-saving tactic from Callaway was implementing a lighter, 8-1-1 Titanium body. It offered 2 more grams of discretionary weight compared to the original XR drivers, and while that doesn’t sound like a lot it can make the difference between flying a fairway bunker and being plugged in its lip.

Callaway XR16 Driver

XR16DriverCallaway

Compared to the XR16 Pro driver, the XR16 has a bigger, deeper footprint for more forgiveness. The 460cc driver comes stock with a Fujikura Speeder Evolution 565 shaft, and several other premium shafts are available at no upcharge.

  • In stores: January 29
  • Lofts: 9, 10.5 and 13.5 HT options
  • Price: $349.99

Callaway XR16 Pro Driver

CallawayXR16Pro

The XR16 Pro is designed for better golfers. It’s lower spinning than the XR16, creating a more penetrating trajectory because of its lower CG and deeper-faced, 450cc club head. It comes stock with a Fujikura Evolution II TS 665 shaft, but several other premium shafts are available at no upcharge.

  • Comes to retail: January 29
  • Lofts: 9 and 10.5 degrees
  • Price: $399.99

See more photos of the XR16 and XR16 Pro drivers, as well as comparison pics.

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He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

36 Comments

36 Comments

  1. ButchT

    Mar 8, 2017 at 11:15 am

    Dont try to confuse me with facts – it is fun to buy new clubs. Its like a second marriage, a triump of hope over experience!

  2. lewis

    Jan 8, 2016 at 4:06 am

    Had a 10.5 tour issue pro driver in hand last night. It look and sat amazing. Didnt get a chance to hit it however the Pro who had it was loving it.

  3. Dumbo

    Jan 7, 2016 at 4:45 pm

    Total farse. How many yards can you gain if you don’t hit center due to aerodynamic improvements? ZERO. Even if you do hit dead center at 115mph ss, can callaway empirically prove an increase in yardage vs. this same driver with these turbulators? What would that number be? 1 yard? 5?

  4. dan360

    Jan 7, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    Ah Callaway…another attempt to recycle technology with a fancy big name to operate as best supporting actor.

    Remember the Ruger Titanium?

    Remember the Lamborghini carbon fiber?

    Now the Boeing ‘turbulators’?

    What’s next?

  5. cb

    Jan 6, 2016 at 5:06 pm

    so callaway went to an aerospace company and found out turbulators help with club head speed, but ping found this out completely in house and a couple years ago. wonder which company is more revolutionary…

    • Steve

      Jan 7, 2016 at 8:42 am

      But can say it was developed by experts at Boeing? These guys make planes, PLANES! How dare compare it to a Ping.

  6. Gareth

    Jan 6, 2016 at 3:52 pm

    To be fair, I own an x2 hot pro after the xhot. Can’t hit anything better than that, tried the XR, big Bertha etc, I actually bought one as a spare!!
    Everyone finds THE driver that suits then eventually. don’t agree that these drivers outplay predecessors by 10 yards, only people find a head and a shaft that suit the swing more, due to readily available custom fitting?!!

  7. fp

    Jan 6, 2016 at 12:15 pm

    Looks like a Ping, hits like a Ping, sounds like a Ping

  8. Barry S.

    Jan 6, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    I have a prototype driver head designed by an iconic long driver who has passed. The head is F-17 aerodynamic and makes the new XR look like a Model T in comparison. Would love to show it to Taylormade or Callaway but from what I’ve heard they would probably steal the design and leave me high and dry.

  9. Busty McGoo

    Jan 6, 2016 at 10:05 am

    So does this mean we’re officially done with the whole sliding weights bs they’ve been pushing for the last couple of years?

    • Numb-E

      Jan 7, 2016 at 3:51 am

      Different model entirely.

      • Busty McGoo

        Jan 7, 2016 at 12:27 pm

        I can see that it’s an entirely different model. Thus my question. If the sliding weights thing is so damn good, why didn’t the designers integrate sliding weights into into this model too? Or does that come later after they’ve convinced a lot of people to buy this model?

        All these tech ‘advancements’ just make it more clear than ever, companies have hit a wall with current technology. Maybe PXG found something new recently, but has anyone actually seen their scores improve because they switched to the newest and latest driver? Also, have you actually tracked the distance of every drive to know you’re getting something more than you were before?

        • EKR

          Jan 7, 2016 at 10:39 pm

          Different model entirely. One line for adjustable weights, the other with a simpler set up.
          For me, when I all of a sudden hit over a bunker I used to go into on a regular basis with the same swing same tee box same ball within the last 3 to 4 years in the same condition at the course, then yes I’m definitely getting something more.

  10. Steve

    Jan 6, 2016 at 8:36 am

    This is it the final piece to my perfect golf swing. I was always telling everyone that my drivers werent aerodynamically enough and I was right. This driver is the break through I have been looking for. It has raised pieces that reduce drag, this is awesome. Should I buy this one or wait for the one with wings to be released? These guys keep raising the bar everytime.

  11. Chuck

    Jan 6, 2016 at 12:11 am

    Tell that boy to ease up

  12. christian

    Jan 5, 2016 at 9:59 pm

    I had a Vega DAF (Dual Air Flow) driver yeears before the other major OEMs thought about aerodynamics..Vega bought the airflow patents from Makser, the real pioneers of modern aerodynamic driver design. Remember many of my buddies teased me about the Vega claims, now they talk themselves blue about turbulators etc etc

  13. Frank McChrystal

    Jan 5, 2016 at 6:32 pm

    True that.

  14. Max

    Jan 5, 2016 at 6:10 pm

    Callaway making some great stuff in the past 3-4 years.

    Love the looks and styling of all of their clubs lately.

  15. moses

    Jan 5, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    What’s that good for? Maybe .25 mph at 100mph clubhead speed for about half a yard?
    Anywho keep em coming!!! More drivers to buy for $150 at the end of the product cycle. 🙂

  16. MP

    Jan 5, 2016 at 2:26 pm

    I played 4 drivers last year (M1, ALPHA, G30, D13) and they all had different characteristics, shafts and science behind them. Every time i switched i would hit the new driver long and straight. After a few weeks i was hitting it just like the old driver. Not sure i buy into all this science but i love tinkering even though i see very little benefit in the long term. My golfing buddy plays a 2009 Cleveland with very little science incorporated to its design and he hits it longer and straighter than any driver i have played. We both play to a 13 handicap with swing speeds around 106 mph.

    • Numb-E

      Jan 7, 2016 at 3:53 am

      Totally useless non-technical post, but do go on

  17. Rob

    Jan 5, 2016 at 1:53 pm

    “It offered 2 more grams of discretionary weight compared to the original XR drivers, and while that doesn’t sound like a lot it can make the difference between flying a fairway bunker and being plugged in its lip.”

    Sorry but no, 2 grams won’t make that kind of difference. Sorry but 2 paper clips worth of weight just can’t cause that much change.

  18. Chuck D

    Jan 5, 2016 at 1:45 pm

    Callawaybulators!! Welcome to da party pal! I can’t imagine how much pressure the modern day club designer must be under.

  19. joe

    Jan 5, 2016 at 1:09 pm

    Callaway, the new TaylorMade.

    • Desmond

      Jan 5, 2016 at 5:58 pm

      It’s once per year. Last year, same time, the XR Series made its debut replacing the X2Hot.

  20. Mat

    Jan 5, 2016 at 12:18 pm

    I spy Turbulators…

  21. Chuck Hahn

    Jan 5, 2016 at 11:29 am

    A new driver from Callaway, I’m shock I tell you!!!

  22. Leon

    Jan 5, 2016 at 11:18 am

    Great. Three months later, they will release another driver with design aided from Aliens on Mars

    • Desmond

      Jan 5, 2016 at 7:13 pm

      Next drivers are due in late August if the trend remains…

    • t-ball

      Jan 6, 2016 at 11:09 am

      I agree ! Seems Callaway, and Taylormade. are both on a ” New driver every 6 months ” cycle.

  23. Mat

    Jan 5, 2016 at 10:57 am

    Will the increased lift help top the ball better?

  24. Desmond

    Jan 5, 2016 at 9:59 am

    And I thought the XR Drivers of 2015 were too light! Wow. At least they got rid of the Project X shaft. Not a fan. The Fuji is a better shaft.

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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