Equipment
Callaway offers BIG distance in a smaller package with Steelhead XR Pro irons
In August, Callaway launched a new set of irons called Steelhead XR that had many golfers feeling sentimental. The shaping of the irons was inspired by the company’s X-14 irons that were released in 2000, one of the most popular models in company history.
The Steelhead XR irons have proven to be a success, and are considered one of the longest-flying game-improvement irons currently available. They’ve done so well, in fact, that Callaway is introducing a new design called the XR Steelhead Pro. The new irons promise all the distance of the Steelhead XR irons, but have a “Pro” design that uses less offset.
Callaway Steelhead XR (silver) and Steelhead XR Pro (black) irons.
Like the Steelhead XR irons, the Pros use Callaway’s 360 Face Cup Technology, which allows the edges of the iron faces to flex more at impact to promote more ball speed and distance – particularly on off-center hits. They also have what Callaway calls a “modern Hollow Bore-Thru” hosel, which company engineers used to remove weight from the hosel of the irons and place it in different areas to fine tune the performance of each individual iron.
The Steelhead XR Pro irons (left) have thinner soles.
For example, the long and middle irons in the set have a low, rearward center of gravity (CG) that helps golfers launch shots higher and with more consistency. The short irons and wedges have a higher, more forward CG that promotes the lower-launching, higher-spinning shots golfers desire from short range.
The Steelhead XR Pro irons (right) also have thinner top lines.
To improve sound and feel, the XR Steelhead Pro irons use a steel-infused polyurethane layer that’s positioned behind the lower part of the club face. Deemed a “snubber” by the Callaway R&D team, the layer acts as a shock absorber to give the thin-faced cast irons a feel that rivals that of Callaway’s Apex CF ’16 irons, which are forged.
Along with their reduced offset, the Steelhead XR Pro irons have a Black PVD finish that makes them appear smaller than the Steelhead XR irons at address. They’ll be in stores February 17 and sell for $899 for eight irons (3-PW or 4-AW, steel shafts only).
Related: See more photos and what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Steelhead Pro irons in our forum.
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Mike
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Well with my 85 to 90 MPH swing speed, I play the game improvement standard XR Steelheads fitted for my swing, which are superb for my 12 handicap, I doubt I could hit these Pro irons with the same consistency of my Standard set, your correct in your assessment JD lol
Cody
Jan 24, 2017 at 6:17 pm
Might want to update that release date. It is 3/3 per Callaway’s website
Joshuaplaysgolf
Jan 24, 2017 at 2:22 pm
I would love to know where the BIG difference comes from. Is this the taylormade ‘label the loft of a 6 iron as an 8 iron and call it the longest 8 iron ever’ claim, or are there real technological advances here? Some actual specs on the clubs would be helpful.
Mark
Jan 24, 2017 at 2:44 am
I can see the 50 degree going into my bag to augment the standard Steelhead irons. These look great and I like the darker finish as well. Callaway are on a roll.
cgasucks
Jan 23, 2017 at 9:00 pm
15 years ago this model would’ve been their top of the line player’s club (except that the lofts are a few degrees stronger)..
Rock Chalk JayHawk
Jan 23, 2017 at 5:53 pm
I like my standard Steelhead XR irons. I was hoping they had a pro version when I got them, but after seeing these, I’m not missing out on anything.
TEX
Jan 23, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Yall realize these Pros are a hair more offset than the Apex pro ( .010 in s shorter irons and .025 in longer) Thats pretty dang good if you ask me.
Hmm
Jan 23, 2017 at 12:06 pm
So the head isn’t smaller? It just “looks” smaller because of the black finish (granted there IS a thinner top line…) Meh.
David Mcfarland
Jan 23, 2017 at 12:02 pm
Sorry pal if your an 11. You still need game improvement irons. Get off your high horse!
James G
Jan 23, 2017 at 9:41 am
I think one reason they have a Pro version may have to do with price. Apex are over 1000 bucks. These aren’t
John
Jan 23, 2017 at 10:17 am
Exactly. $1000 seems to be a threshold that most people don’t like to go over.
JGOLF
Jan 23, 2017 at 9:14 am
Why make a “Pro” iron within a game improvement line? If someone is “Pro” caliber, they probably want to be hitting something smaller, softer, and more expensive…….like the APEX line. I don’t get it. Maybe it’s just bad marketing by calling it a “Pro”.
LD
Jan 23, 2017 at 9:44 am
I would guess good ball-strikers who have lost some swing speed due to age or injury, and still want smaller heads with less offset.
Also, why would anyone want to buy something just because it is more expensive?
JGOLF
Jan 23, 2017 at 10:03 am
Because usually there is value there to offer for the increase of price. I am not trash talking Callaway by any means……I just don’t get it. I play some Callaway clubs and like them a lot. I used to be a 20 handicapper and now an 11, and once I could get away from game improvement irons, I was really excited to buy players irons. I just figured that once someone’s ball striking was good enough, they would prefer players irons and not game improvement.
LD
Jan 23, 2017 at 11:10 am
I didn’t think you were trashing Callaway, I was just taking a guess at which golfers these irons are aimed at. I wouldn’t call them “game improvement” with the small heads and little offset. I would call them “hot players irons”. Someone who can consistently strike the center of the club face, but want a little help hitting longer shots with their slower swing speed.
Richard
Jan 23, 2017 at 11:40 am
Right on LD! Those clubs are a nice fit for me and will be in my bag!