WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Gearheads are very familiar with the name X Forged. Introduced in 2007, Callaway’s cavity-back model was immediately adopted on tour and earned a spot in Phil Mickelson’s bag. Recreational golfers took note of the usage trend and followed suit when the iron eventually made its way to retail.
The iron went through several iterations in the coming years before giving way to Apex TCB. X Forged eventually resurfaced, in 2023, as a Japan-only offering before returning globally after an increase in usage on the PGA Tour.
PRICE & AVAILABILITY: The new irons cost $379.99 each ($NZ459.99) and are available at retail stores from July 25.
3 Cool Things
1. Japanese roots. In most instances, PGA Tour usage is the driver of better-player products. But not in the case of X Forged. The version being offered was initially designed with direct feedback from pros on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.
“[We needed] a shape that [was] desired by our JGTO players as well as the Japanese market,” said Ryan Ritchie, Callaway’s manager of R&D, irons and hybrids. “We took a year to review the market and look at some of the most classic timeless forged irons and to take those design aesthetics and really rewrap them into what we believe is the best-shaped iron for the Japanese player.”
Made from a single piece of 1020 carbon steel, the standard X Forged boasts a compact profile for the more accomplished player. The higher toe and hard edges are in line with other Japanese forged irons.
And with feel taking on extra significance at the JGTO level, extra mass was placed behind the impact location to improve the sensation when club meets ball.
2. Super sole. The tri-sole sole geometry found on practically every recent Callaway iron design is something that tends to get overlooked by weekend golfers. It’s a subtle change that originated with the original X Forged and helps improve how the club goes through the turf.
“In Japan, the grass that they have there is different than what it is in North America or Europe,” said Ritchie. “The grass tees the ball up more, so they needed something that would go through the turf quickly, but also not get stuck in the ground, because it’s hardpan under the grass. You need something that goes fast.”
Take a closer look at the leading edge and you’ll notice material was removed to keep the sole from digging into the ground in an inefficient manner.
While the design has benefits for courses in Japan, Ritchie noted it also works well in North America and around the world.
“It was initially designed for courses in North America, so it plays all over,” he said.
3. Double dip. Unlike previous versions of X Forged that featured a singular model, Callaway opted to create a players-distance Max version made from the same 1020 carbon steel as the standard head.
The Max boasts a larger cavity back, more offset, and a “mid-compact profile” that makes it playable for mid-handicappers. A slightly wider sole helps lower the centre of gravity to induce a higher launch angle, too.
Having a slightly larger profile to go along with the standard X Forged also allows golfers to build a blended set if they require more forgiveness and workability at the top of the bag.
“What you’ll see is the heel and toe pockets kind of stand out,” Ritchie said. “There’s this mass behind the target location. Those are all parts of the design that were required to hit some of our performance objectives.”
