Callaway X Forged - Why No Love?

[fpyle3]

I played the X-Forged '13 on and off for several years before testing the '18 X-Forged. To me, the 13s look great at address, while there was something just a bit off with the 18s. I cannot really explain it, as I went in thinking I'd buy the 18s, but did not get along with them. YMMV

[Dan Drake]

> @Benkross said:

> The new Apex pros are so beautiful and more forgiving. Why not get all the help you can?

 

This is really the angle I ended up coming from. I really liked my X Forged and shot my personal best score with them in the fall of last year.

 

But, the Apex Pros look better to me, come with a "set" A wedge, are more forgiving, offer a tiddle more distance in the long irons, and are more forgiving overall. Other than sentimental reasons, there really wasn't a reason for me not to switch. Now, all that said, if you are a player who is a good ball striker (my #1 weakness), then they are fantastic clubs and the decision really just comes down to aesthetics.

[BlkNGld]

They look and feel great, even if they're too demanding for my game.

With Callaway releasing the Apex Pro dot, I suspect X forged production will wind down.

[drscott266]

> @fpyle3 said:

> I played the X-Forged '13 on and off for several years before testing the '18 X-Forged. To me, the 13s look great at address, while there was something just a bit off with the 18s. I cannot really explain it, as I went in thinking I'd buy the 18s, but did not get along with them. YMMV

 

Agreed, I never played anything but Titleist until I tried the X forged '18 randomly at a fitting. Ended up buying them based on the a couple mph of ball speed increase. Never been happy with them, and recently sold them. It could have been the shafts (PX 6.0) but I just never truly loved them, and have gone back to AP2's. IMHO they are a pretty forgiving, easy to launch players CB but if you want callaway why not get the Apex which is more like an AP2 type club and has more packed into it. I loved the simple look and blade size was ok with me, but the leading edge and hosel just looked too different to my Titleist eye.

[lordemsworth]

This was my experience. I hit the Xforged in a fitting and got ball speed increase. Wasn’t consistent with them. Really love the 78 AP2. First time I am saying that.

[54putts]

I just switched to XF 18 after playing Z765s for two seasons. I love them. Can’t say I notice a single difference in performance or feel. I like the way they look behind the ball slightly better than the Srixons. They are a single piece forged CB, just like any other, not much more you can say about them. If you like the look and it gives you confidence they will perform as well as any iron in that category. Agree with others, crowded market probably explains the lack of love.

[ChipNRun]

> @"Dan Drake" said:

> > @Benkross said:

> > The new Apex pros are so beautiful and more forgiving. Why not get all the help you can?

>

> ... Other than sentimental reasons, there really wasn't a reason for me not to switch. Now, all that said, if you are a player who is a good ball striker (my #1 weakness), then they _(X Forged)_ are fantastic clubs and the decision really just comes down to aesthetics.

 

Part of the problem the X Forged irons are having is the erosion of their market niche as the Players club.

Let's take the discussion back to the early 2000s, before Callaway and TaylorMade launched the great arms race in golf clubs. In that era, most companies would have a limited number of iron models, and revise them every two or three years. In the time, Callaway offered Players: X Forged / GI: X** Tour or Pro / SGI: X** (midlaunch) and Big Bertha ** (high launch). An odd model such as the Fusion would creep in on occasion.

 

During that time, I tried to hit both the X Forged 2007 and 2009 models. Most shafts were Royal Precision PX and Rifle models, often flighted. A bit embarrassing: lots of shoulder high line drives that never really got airborne. The X20 and X20 Tours flew much better. X Forged definitely a Players club.

 

The 2012 year was monumental, at height of Calla vs. TM arms race. Callaway dumps either six or seven iron models of the RazrX family on the market, with a RazrX Forged and the RazrX Prototype (C-watchers never could determine if this seventh Proto model was general market or special order only).

The 2013 year quieted down a bit. A new X Forged emerged with the X.Hot and X.Hot Pro models. With the new lightweight PX 95 shafts, I could actually get the X Forged.13 airborne! But, both its X.Hot brothers carried about 15 yards longer. The XForged and the X.Hot Pro end up as head-to-head competitors in the Players category on the 2013 Golf Digest _Hot List_ . The HL reviewer cited the X Forged craftsmanship and workability, but noted that the X.Hot Pro is also quite accurate _and_ flies longer.

 

@"Dan Drake" , this is what @Benkross is talking about. In 2019, it's the Apex rather than the X.Hot Pro that delivers superior performance to the X Forged.

 

Jumping to another sport, this is similar to why the Oklahoma football team quit running the Wishbone offense. The Sooner coaches realized that if you have the athletes it takes to run the Wishbone, you don't need to run the Wishbone. There's better ways to move the ball. Back to golf: it appears that the Apex is a better way to move the (golf) ball than the X Forged.