Equipment

Callaway offers BIG distance in a smaller package with Steelhead XR Pro irons

Published

7 years ago

Jan 23, 2017

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).

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16 Comments

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

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Cody

Jan 24, 2017 at 6:17 pm

Might want to update that release date. It is 3/3 per Callaway’s website

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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.

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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.

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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)..

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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.

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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.

Reply Report comment
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.

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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!

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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

Reply Report comment
- John
  
  Jan 23, 2017 at 10:17 am
  
  Exactly. $1000 seems to be a threshold that most people don’t like to go over.
  
  Reply Report comment
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”.

Reply Report comment
- 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?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - 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.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - 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!
        
        Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

38 mins ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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