Callaway Xr Pro Driver Play It Again

Callaway XR and XR Pro Drivers: The AmateurGolf.com Review

02 Mar 2015
by Rusty Muzzle
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Callaway XR Driver Is Built For Speed

Even if y'all're Henrik Stenson, one of the longest and straightest drivers on bout, you lot ever strive to get better. Stenson, who's very particular about his equipment - he remains notoriously loyal to his Callaway Legacy Blackness irons - began using the visitor's XR nine-degree driver this year.

The new driver debuted this past January at the European Bout's Omega Dubai Desert Classic where Stenson finished tied for 13th place. For the week, the long-striking Swede averaged 304.5 yards (fourth best in the field) off the tee. For Stenson, swapping out his X2 Hot for the new Callaway driver was a seamless transition.

"This is kind of the same head shape, only information technology comes off a bit quicker and normally no 1 seems to be too bothered about a commuter that goes a bit further," Stenson told Golf Channel at a recent appearance on the television set prove, Forenoon Bulldoze. "I'm pleased with information technology, and I'1000 sure [Callaway] are too."

I had first seen the XR driver, which Callaway boldly proclaims is "built for outrageous speed" at the PGA Testify and I like what I saw. A simple matte crown, traditional head design and an authoritative sound at impact. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it once again for a proper test drive where I was able to striking both the Standard and Pro XR models.

So let me just put it out there, because I know you're dying to know - Callaway's new driver is fast. Menstruum.

Callaway's XR drivers feature the new R-Moto technology

Callaway's XR is the lightweight alternative to the company's flagship commuter, the Big Bertha Alpha 815. And by lightweight, I don't mean to say some sort of footstep downwards model. Stenson and other Callaway staffers are playing it for a uncomplicated reason - it performs. A number of cardinal technologies have been introduced to make the XR driver lightweight and fast.

• R-Moto Technology, which is besides available on the Big Bertha Blastoff 815, is a series of strips that connect the face up to the sole. The hollowed out cavity between these strips immune Callaway to reduce weight past as much as x percent. R- Moto, according to Callaway, does a number of things finer like improving energy transfer to the ball across the confront and lowering the eye of gravity.
• Internal Standing Moving ridge - a forward-leaning weight pad backside the face up that helps lower CG and reduce spin.
• Speed Step Crown is a geometric feature towards the front of the crown which, when combined with the aerodynamic caput shape, helps reduce drag and significantly improves club head speed.
• The OptiFit adjustable hosel has eight different loft and prevarication settings to fine-tune your launch weather condition.
• Maximum Shaft Load: the lightweight (50-gram) Project Ten LZ shaft at 46 inches long is engineered to deliver greater clubhead speed and produce maximum shaft load on the way down for greater energy transfer into the ball.

Callaway'due south Speed Step Crown improves club head speed

By comparison, the XR Pro driver has a few of import differences that are designed to entreatment to more than accomplished players without negating performance benefits golfers are looking for in a gild engineered for speed.

• Smaller, compact caput shape (440cc) replaces the larger, more aggressively-designed head on the standard model. XR Pro is more workable and features a cleaner look (no alignment aids on the crown).
• Instead of a Speed Step Crown, the XR Pro driver has what Callaway calls a Forged Composite Crown. The multi-material construction allowed engineers to lower the center of gravity by 53 percent and reduce spin by 300 rpm when compared to the company's X2 Hot which some players felt may have spun a little too much.
• The stock Project X LZ Pro shaft is slightly heavier (63 to 66 grams depending on flex) and is half an inch shorter than its standard counterpart. Fifty-fifty with these changes XR Pro driver still comes in at a D3 swing weight, much like the standard model.

Callaway's aggressive styling signals a need for speed

Performance

It's no suprise that the standard XR driver launched higher and spun more. Individual results may vary in testing, merely the standard model consistently produced nearly 4000 rpm of total spin and a launch bending of nearly xvi degrees for me.

In Callaway's contempo advertisements for the XR, the company claims that their driver volition generate up to 5 miles per hour of additional ball speed. My launch numbers revealed a consistent six mph of additional club caput speed when compared to my gamer and my longest bulldoze flew sixteen yards longer than any shot struck with either my current club or the Callway XR Pro. The only knock I take on the standard XR driver are varied results from shot-to-shot which may have had to practice equally much with the regular flex Project X LZ shaft than with anything related to the head.

While it does seem similar the standard model, with it's recipe of high launch and loftier spin, appears well-suited for mid-to-high handicappers or for players that don't generate high swing speeds, it's worth noting that Stenson paired his existing Oban Kiyoshi Tour Blue 60 shaft with the standard XR head and he'due south certainly not complaining.

The XR Pro driver's compact caput will entreatment to amend players

For what it'southward worth, the XR Pro (set to 12 degrees neutral and paired with the stiff- flex Project X LZ Pro) was an absolute creature in testing. As mentioned earlier, none of my drives with the pro flew every bit long equally my best shot with the XR Standard. But the pro model produced a consistent 1.45 nail factor along with 2600 rpm of total spin on average. It easily outperformed my gamer by ten to 15 yards. That may non seem like much on paper, but on the course that leaves me a full lodge-length shorter on approach shots.

For ameliorate-skilled players, the XR Pro offers a more penetrating ball flying. Shots off the guild launched at 13 degrees, sustaining a meridian hight of 19 yards (compared to 26 yards on the standard). On a course playing firm and fast, drives launched off an XR Pro will pretty much run for days. If that's what Callaway means past outrageous speed, sign me up.

Look and Feel

Both versions of the Callaway XR driver set up nicely at address. The matte black end on the crown will naturally cut down glare. Some players might find the subtle alignment assist on the standard model useful. Personally, I didn't find the Speed Step Crown at all distracting.

Callaway'southward racing-inspired design figures prominently on the club's sole. There'southward a lot of of crimson, white and blue happening; some people have already made comparisons of the graphics and colorway to BMW'southward M-Series of automobiles. If you're a BMW fan, I suppose that'due south a bonus and so. As for myself, I adopt to believe Callaway designers are big fans of Marvel, more specifically - Captain America. Either mode, I think Callaway did a fine task straddling a line betwixt bold and bombastic.

The XR driver, with information technology'due south emphasis on speed, generates a pretty substantial whoosh when swung. Although the lodge feels lightweight, the XR will definitely allow y'all know when you've made crisp, middle-faced contact with the ball.

Who's It For?

The Callaway XR driver ($349.99 MSRP for standard / $399.99 for pro) volition fit a wide range of golfers when yous factor in both models. Some players will benefit from the higher-launching standard edition, while others volition run across the virtually gains from the lower- spinning pro commuter.

If you've already been playing either the Callaway XHot or X2 Hot driver, the new XR model might offer a few more yards every bit Stenson himself has discovered. While I practice wish I could infringe Henrik's swing to reduce long par fours into pitch and putts, I'1000 more than than happy settling for his commuter. Chances are, and then will y'all.

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Source: https://www.amateurgolf.com/Content/14198/Callaway-XR-and-XR-Pro-Drivers--The-AmateurGolf-com-Review

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