Equipment
Boeing helps Callaway design aerodynamically-sound XR16 drivers
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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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- Jason Day what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: TPT Driver 15 Lo
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 80 X
7-wood: TaylorMade Stealth (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 80 X
Irons: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (3, 4), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X Seven
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-10S, 60-04T), Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack (56-10 MID, 52-10 MID)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X Seven
Putter: TaylorMade Itsy Bitsy Spider Limited
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X (with Mindset)
Check out more in-hand photos of Jason Day’s WITB here.
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- Ludvig Åberg what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
7-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 9 X
Irons: Titleist 718 TMB (2), Titleist T200 (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour Hybrid 105 X (2), KBS Tour 130 X
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-08F, 54-10S, 60-08M, 60-04T), WedgeWorks Proto (60-10V)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey White Hot Versa #1
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos of Ludvig Aberg’s clubs in the forums.
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We have seen a few new mini drivers from the likes of Titleist and TaylorMade being tested out on tour recently. Now, Callaway looks to be jumping into the mix at the RBC Heritage. We spotted Christian Bezuidenhout testing out a new Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 mini driver on the range. We don’t have any details yet but the club clearly states “mini driver” on it, and the “340” could easily refer to how many CCs the head is.
What we do know is that this mini driver has a very similar design to the current Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 3-wood. The sole looks to be made from steel or titanium, not forged carbon like the Paradym Ai Smoke drivers. It has weights up near the face and at the back of the club. Callaway’s OptiFit hosel is also present on this driver to allow loft and lie adjustments, and if you look closely on the face, you can make out the “Ai Smart Face” text at bottom center. The crown looks to have the familiar carbon fiber weave and Ai Smoke logos we have seen on the current clubs.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke DUW
The other Callaway prototype that was spotted looked to be a little more of a traditional fairway wood — but with non-traditional weight placements on it. Callaway’s Paradym Ai Smoke DUW looks to have four adjustable weights on it — two on the sole, one on the hosel, and one on the toe. This hosel isn’t adjustable, and I would assume that is to save some weight from creating spots for the movable weights.
It is hard to tell from the photos, but the face looks to be a touch deeper than the traditional Triple Diamond fairways. This deeper face could be where the “DUW” name comes from. With three weights all pushed forward near the face this DUW has to be a very low spinning and launching head. The sole is made from metal and similar in design to the current Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond fairway woods as is the carbon crown.
- Check out more of our photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Jason Day what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees @10) Shaft: TPT...
Ludvig Åberg WITB 2024 (April)
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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!
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.
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?
EKR
Jan 7, 2016 at 10:35 pm
The Farce is strong with that one
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?
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.
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?!!
fp
Jan 6, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Looks like a Ping, hits like a Ping, sounds like a Ping
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.
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.
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.
ron
Jan 6, 2016 at 10:25 am
haha. nicely done.
Chuck
Jan 6, 2016 at 12:11 am
Tell that boy to ease up
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
Frank McChrystal
Jan 5, 2016 at 6:32 pm
True that.
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.
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. 🙂
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
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.
Numb-E
Jan 7, 2016 at 3:53 am
Actually, it does.
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.
Desmond
Jan 5, 2016 at 5:59 pm
Isn’t that “Callabulators”?
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.
Mat
Jan 5, 2016 at 12:18 pm
I spy Turbulators…
Chuck Hahn
Jan 5, 2016 at 11:29 am
A new driver from Callaway, I’m shock I tell you!!!
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.
Mat
Jan 5, 2016 at 10:57 am
Will the increased lift help top the ball better?
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.