Testing the New X-24 Hot Irons from Callaway

Spent an hour or so on the range the other day with Callaway’s new X-24 ‘Hot’ Irons. The marketing states that these are are designed to produce faster ball speeds across the clubface  – translation – increased distance from each club.

Unfortunately, the wind was blowing chairs over on this day so any real attempt to gauge distance was futile at best.  I did bring along an 8 iron of my own for a general comparison and didn’t really notice any discernable difference in carry – contrary to the statements of 20-30 yards difference in distance from Callaway spokesman and Toronto radio personality Dean Blundell. Sort of made me wonder what he’s carrying for wedges and or how he is managing that 20-30 yard gap in his scoring clubs.  Anyway, we all now know the difference between editorial and advertorial don’t we?

What I did notice was the dark matte finish that we are becoming accustomed to with wedges nowadays.  This new Stealth PVP (Physical Vapor Deposition) finish is technically there to reduce glare, though my guess is it as much about fashion as it is function, while VFT Face Technology and a 360-degree undercut channel combine to produce a precise centre of gravity and effectively create a larger hitting area.

I also noticed that the shaft is neither stiff nor regular and is instead a uniflex – somewhere in between the two.  This translated into a little extra kick, torque, flex, bend, whatever you’d prefer to call it which for me translated into a higher ball flight.  For those who are used to playing a regular shaft this singular option may actually result in decreased distance.  The word may is always the operative one as proper fitting / testing should be a part of any new purchase in today’s market.

Speaking of flex – the delightfully diminutive Trish Stratus was also on hand to demonstrate a few golf / yoga related stretches that, if performed correctly, would probably add a few extra yards to every shot.  I am not a Yoga type guy but I can say that I do see the correlations.

The X-24s definitely possess youthful aesthetics and were very forgiving.  Ball flight with the uniflex type shaft may be an issue for the low handicapper but for those in the mid range (to which these clubs are targeted) the ability to get the ball airborne more than likely outweighs the need or ability to control trajectory.  I also tend to find clubs with an offset to be more difficult to shape, but that should help with those who suffer from a slice.

Give them a look.  And give them a try.  It’s a nice club for players of all abilities from the company who certainly knows irons.

And no, Phil is not playing these – for now they are only available in right.

Press Release

Callaway Golf Company today announced the retail availability of the new Callaway® X-24 Hot™ Irons in Canada. The longest, most accurate irons in the history of Callaway’s hugely popular X-Series Irons, the new X-24 Hot Irons produce faster ball speeds across the clubface and deliver maximum distance throughout the bag.

Complete with a new Stealth PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) Finish that reduces glare, the new X-24 Hot Irons utilize Callaway’s proprietary VFT Face Technology, 360-degree undercut channel and a precise centre of gravity to create a large and effective hitting area for golfers of all abilities. The result is maximum distance while maintaining the same accuracy, even on off-centre hits.

“The X-24 Hot Irons are the latest evolution of our award-winning X-Series Irons, which have helped make Callaway the No. 1 Irons company in the game for the last 13 consecutive years,” said Dr. Alan Hocknell, Senior Vice President of Research & Development, Callaway Golf. “We recognize there are golfers looking for distance gains throughout their entire bag, and thus employed our core technologies and faster ball speeds into the design of X-24 Hot, a longer, more accurate set than any of their predecessors.”

Callaway developed the new X-24 Hot Irons for golfers who seek to gain distance not just with the longest clubs in their bag, but also when pulling out an iron on a long par-3 or flying the water to reach a par-5 in two. The stealth PVD Finish, which is the result of a cutting-edge process designed to reduce glare and produce a distinctive look that is darker than most irons. X-24 Hot Irons were also made with Callaway’s core technologies including S2H2®, Precision Notch Weighting and Modified Tru-Bore®, all working together to provide total performance for a wide range of golfers.

May Also be of Interest:

• Callaway Introduces RAZR XF
• Callaway’s Looking for an Edge
• Coming Soon from Callaway
• TaylorMade Introduces Burner 2.0 Irons
• Callaway’s RAZR Line features Forged Composite