This year, Callaway golf has come on strong with their new line of RAZR Fit and X Hot products. So far in the X Hot family they have introduced both standard and Pro versions of the driver, fairway woods, hybrids and irons. Taking things a step further, they are now introducing a deep face version of the X Hot Fairway that they are calling the X Hot 3Deep. In addition to the new wood, Callaway has updated it’s tour level ball with the new HEX Chrome+. Odyssey Golf (Callaway’s putter line) has also introduced a new product line with the Tank putters which aim to give ultimate stability.
Fairway Wood
The new X Hot 3 Deep was initially designed just for the tour, and in fact was born out of Phil Mickleson’s need for a fairway wood that gave him more versatility. He wanted something that he could hit equally well off of the tee and from the fairway and this is the club that Callaway came up with. However, due to the popularity of the club, Callaway is making it available in stores starting in April.
The 3 deep, as the name implies, features a deeper face which helps to move the center of gravity of the club higher up into the head, helping out players who hit it high on the face. The club is available to righties and lefties in a 13° model. Righties will also be able to obtain a 14.5° model. The new 3 deep comes with the same stock shaft as the X Hot Pro fairway wood (the Project X Velocity) and comes with a standard length of 43.5″.
HEX Chrome+ Ball
Also being updated by Callaway is their tour level ball. The new HEX Chrome+ is the latest in the Chrome family of balls and Gary Woodland has already put a version of it into play on tour. While it has many similarities to balls previously released by the company, Dave Bartels, the Senior Director of Golf Ball R&D says that it is “hands down the fastest Tour Ball we’ve ever designed at Callaway.”
The new ball features a 4 piece design comprised of a single-piece core, a dual mantle system and a soft yet durable cover. Callaway says that the core is extremely resilient and this leads to greater distance over a wide range of clubs and swing speeds. The two piece design of the mantle allow for increased ball speed and less spin; this is especially true off of the tee and leads to longer drives. The cover is made from a proprietary thermoplastic urethane (TPU) blend giving the soft feel that better players expect on and around the green while still having excellent durability characteristics.
With this ball, Callaway has continued it’s use of the HEX dimple pattern which reduces drag and promotes a stable, penetrating ball flight that holds its line in the wind.
The ball will be available in stores at a price of $35.99/dozen.
Odyssey Tank Putters
The newest addition to the Odyssey’s stable of putters isn’t just the same old models with new finishes or face inserts. The focus on the new Tank putter was to create a putter with a higher moment of inertia (MOI) to give maximum stability. According to Austie Rollinson, the principal designer for the company, the increased MOI in the new Tank putters give the user much of the same benefits that were seen with an anchored stroke but without the putter actually touching the body.
To increase the MOI, Odyssey used a heavier head (400 grams) along with a counterbalance weight and heavier shaft (150 grams). The increased weight helps to quiet the hands during the stroke. The new flat stick comes in both conventional lengths (34 and 36 inches) as well as slightly longer than conventional (38 and 40 inches). Using the counterbalance weight, each length has a slightly different balance point so that it is similar to that of a standard putter giving golfers a similar feel. Compared to standard putters, the two shorter length models are 19% heavier and have a total club MOI that is 34% higher. The longer version is 32% heavier than a standard putter with a MOI increase of 109%. In addition to the added stability, the Tank also promotes more of a pendulum stroke.
The new putter also features and updated White Hot insert. This insert has been one of the company’s most popular and they have made it even better with a more consistent feel and sound. The new putter will be available in stores starting on April 12, 2013.