Comments on: Callaway Shipping X-20 and X-20 Tour Irons http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:22:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Morgan http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-14804 Morgan Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:01:01 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-14804 Last year I decided I was taking golf more seriously and really get after it. I sold my bass boat (see $4 a gallon gas prices) and set out to get the best golf clubs money could buy. I was not a great golfer, 98 or 100 was not uncommon for me. I'd only broken into the high 80's once. So I joined a club, bought a golf cart, rented a shed and started my hunt for new irons. It came down to X20's or Pings. Both great clubs, but it ended up being the X20's. I hit countless balls at the pro shop, inside as I live in Iowa and it was winter, awaiting spring. While it's easy to become comfy at the fake grass and same old surroundings and computer simulators telling you you're the next Tiger Woods (they are there to sell you product after all) I was ready for the real thing. It's now one full year later, dead of winter again, and my review of the X20's, not the pro X20's, is here. I now shoot low 80's on a regular basis. While I also bought a new driver, I can tell you the X20's easily took 10 strokes off my game. They are forgiving for a local hack like me, I rarely hit the sweet spot just right. But my X20's still hit it straight and nearly to target. When I do hit the sweetspot it's the shots that bring you back for more. While I rarely use the 3 or 4 Iron, the rest are very forgiving, way longer than my last set of hign end Wilsons and very SOLID at impact. No more vibrating hands, even on bad hits, and that gives me tons of confidence to just hit the ball. I paid $700 for my irons and they did everything that everyone said they would. Worth every penny and they'll be in my bag for 10 years easy. Last year I decided I was taking golf more seriously and really get after it. I sold my bass boat (see $4 a gallon gas prices) and set out to get the best golf clubs money could buy. I was not a great golfer, 98 or 100 was not uncommon for me. I'd only broken into the high 80's once. So I joined a club, bought a golf cart, rented a shed and started my hunt for new irons. It came down to X20's or Pings. Both great clubs, but it ended up being the X20's. I hit countless balls at the pro shop, inside as I live in Iowa and it was winter, awaiting spring. While it's easy to become comfy at the fake grass and same old surroundings and computer simulators telling you you're the next Tiger Woods (they are there to sell you product after all) I was ready for the real thing. It's now one full year later, dead of winter again, and my review of the X20's, not the pro X20's, is here. I now shoot low 80's on a regular basis. While I also bought a new driver, I can tell you the X20's easily took 10 strokes off my game. They are forgiving for a local hack like me, I rarely hit the sweet spot just right. But my X20's still hit it straight and nearly to target. When I do hit the sweetspot it's the shots that bring you back for more. While I rarely use the 3 or 4 Iron, the rest are very forgiving, way longer than my last set of hign end Wilsons and very SOLID at impact. No more vibrating hands, even on bad hits, and that gives me tons of confidence to just hit the ball. I paid $700 for my irons and they did everything that everyone said they would. Worth every penny and they'll be in my bag for 10 years easy.

]]> By: RYAN http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-13490 RYAN Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:25:48 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-13490 he all, been reading your posts..good info i was a 12 handy cap back in the early 90s havent played a lot since then last year i went out with an enlaw and found my swing that i once had ,,now i have vigor to go back on the course like old times so i decided to buy a new set of x-20 irons and the hyper x driver and fairway woods...my old set was tommy armmour eql they great at the time ,,i had only been playing about 9 months so they helped with the learning process..hope these will be a good choice what do yall think he all, been reading your posts..good info i was a 12 handy cap back in the early 90s havent played a lot since then last year i went out with an enlaw and found my swing that i once had ,,now i have vigor to go back on the course like old times so i decided to buy a new set of x-20 irons and the hyper x driver and fairway woods...my old set was tommy armmour eql they great at the time ,,i had only been playing about 9 months so they helped with the learning process..hope these will be a good choice what do yall think

]]> By: Phil http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-12614 Phil Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:57:18 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-12614 I have a set of x-20 tours with px 6.0 shaft. The pro talked me into the set and I am a little scared. I am about an 18 handicap and looking to improve. HELP I have a set of x-20 tours with px 6.0 shaft. The pro talked me into the set and I am a little scared. I am about an 18 handicap and looking to improve. HELP

]]> By: Bill http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-11763 Bill Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:28:18 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-11763 Last year I began the latest installment of the, "I'm going to find a better club this time" journey. I had gotten to a point with my old irons where I knew something was amiss. I had never been fitted and had read/heard of how this is necessary if you want to get better. So, in I plunged. I studied different brands, went to demo days, and finally decided that Callaway was going to be the brand of choice. I anxiously awaited the release of the x-20's. I had become a student of swings and studied my own and the dynamics of the swing itself. Anyway, what I found was that different companies have different standards about lie angle (one company's lie angle for a particular club is not the same as another-even Callaway is guilty). Nevertheless, the experiamnt had to be engaged. Statically, my measurements were that I needed a 2* up with standard length shaft. So, my experiment began with a 2* upright x-20 7-iron. This was very close and made a tremendous difference. I was amazed. But, dynamically, it was determined that the shaft was too short. The shaft was lengthened by 1/2". This was almost perfect. It is unbelievable when you can truct that you won't hit thin anymore. (It still haunts me.) But, that was the trick. So, the rest of my irons were obtained. I played the season and had some of the best ball-striking rounds ever! The x-20's have great feel and distance. And, you can spin when you need to. They do tend to draw a bit, but that is controllable. But, why do I love my x-20's? Wel, the rest of the story is this. I had a heart attack in November. As I was recovering, at every visit back to my doctor, I begged for and worked toward his release to once again play the game I love. When I finally was allowed, I found that I had lost a lot of strength which is normal for heart patients. But, I was determined to play again. It ws decided that I could try grpahite shafts. Well, you know how we golfers are. NEW stuff came out this year and I thought I would try some-with graphite of course. The new offerings from Cobra and Callaway looked appealing. The x-20's would have to earn their way back into my good graces. I tried out the Cobra s-9 with an Aldila VS Proto HL shaft and a new Big Bertha with graphite. I also, re-shafted antoher x-20 with a UST RV2. I also had a 5-iron x-20 with an Aldila NV. The Cobra felt awesome! The Big Bertha was aweful! It is shameful. It felt unbalanced and boardy. The x-20 with UST RV2 was very good. And, so did the NV shafted 5-iron. After much trial, it came down to the Cobra and the NV shafted x-20. And, the x-20's jsut felt better. So, I had my x-20's re-shafted with NV 85gram shafts. And, I can play again. The flight is a bit lower, but is longer more boring. And, I haven't regretted if for a moment. Last year I began the latest installment of the, "I'm going to find a better club this time" journey. I had gotten to a point with my old irons where I knew something was amiss. I had never been fitted and had read/heard of how this is necessary if you want to get better. So, in I plunged. I studied different brands, went to demo days, and finally decided that Callaway was going to be the brand of choice. I anxiously awaited the release of the x-20's. I had become a student of swings and studied my own and the dynamics of the swing itself.

Anyway, what I found was that different companies have different standards about lie angle (one company's lie angle for a particular club is not the same as another-even Callaway is guilty). Nevertheless, the experiamnt had to be engaged. Statically, my measurements were that I needed a 2* up with standard length shaft.

So, my experiment began with a 2* upright x-20 7-iron. This was very close and made a tremendous difference. I was amazed. But, dynamically, it was determined that the shaft was too short. The shaft was lengthened by 1/2". This was almost perfect. It is unbelievable when you can truct that you won't hit thin anymore. (It still haunts me.)

But, that was the trick. So, the rest of my irons were obtained. I played the season and had some of the best ball-striking rounds ever! The x-20's have great feel and distance. And, you can spin when you need to. They do tend to draw a bit, but that is controllable.

But, why do I love my x-20's? Wel, the rest of the story is this. I had a heart attack in November. As I was recovering, at every visit back to my doctor, I begged for and worked toward his release to once again play the game I love. When I finally was allowed, I found that I had lost a lot of strength which is normal for heart patients. But, I was determined to play again. It ws decided that I could try grpahite shafts.

Well, you know how we golfers are. NEW stuff came out this year and I thought I would try some-with graphite of course. The new offerings from Cobra and Callaway looked appealing. The x-20's would have to earn their way back into my good graces.

I tried out the Cobra s-9 with an Aldila VS Proto HL shaft and a new Big Bertha with graphite. I also, re-shafted antoher x-20 with a UST RV2. I also had a 5-iron x-20 with an Aldila NV.

The Cobra felt awesome! The Big Bertha was aweful! It is shameful. It felt unbalanced and boardy. The x-20 with UST RV2 was very good. And, so did the NV shafted 5-iron.

After much trial, it came down to the Cobra and the NV shafted x-20. And, the x-20's jsut felt better. So, I had my x-20's re-shafted with NV 85gram shafts. And, I can play again. The flight is a bit lower, but is longer more boring.

And, I haven't regretted if for a moment.

]]> By: Rich http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-11742 Rich Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:19:00 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-11742 On a recent business trip to San Diego I was able to have a club fitting at the Callaway headquarters in nearby Carlsbad. A great experience that I highly recommend to golfers of all caliber. I am a former club/teaching pro whose playing time has been extremely limited the last few years and haven't had new clubs in over 10 years. I thought this would be an objective way to find out which clubs that are available today fit me without the pro shop bias. For about an hour and a half I hit variations of many Callaway woods and irons, as their computers recorded every possible statistic of each swing and ball flight. Iron wise it came down to either the X-20 Tour or the X Forged. When hit on the sweet spot they were both about equal distance and control wise. Of course the X-Forged had a much better feel to it, as a forged iron should. The difference came with the off center hits. The X-20 Tour was more forgiving by between 4 and 9 yards on miss hits. That is what sealed the deal for me. I don't play as much as I would like to and would give up some feel for the chance to hit a more accurate shot. Now I just have to go to my local pro shop and demo the irons. I demoed the recommended woods and they were right on. I have hit a lot of woods, but never (and I mean never) have I hit woods with more distance, accuracy and ease then I did the FT-5 Tour driver, X-Tour 3 wood and FT Hybrid 2H. I found the driver on Callawaypreowned.com. Now I just have to find a way to afford the rest of them! On a recent business trip to San Diego I was able to have a club fitting at the Callaway headquarters in nearby Carlsbad. A great experience that I highly recommend to golfers of all caliber. I am a former club/teaching pro whose playing time has been extremely limited the last few years and haven't had new clubs in over 10 years. I thought this would be an objective way to find out which clubs that are available today fit me without the pro shop bias. For about an hour and a half I hit variations of many Callaway woods and irons, as their computers recorded every possible statistic of each swing and ball flight. Iron wise it came down to either the X-20 Tour or the X Forged. When hit on the sweet spot they were both about equal distance and control wise. Of course the X-Forged had a much better feel to it, as a forged iron should. The difference came with the off center hits. The X-20 Tour was more forgiving by between 4 and 9 yards on miss hits. That is what sealed the deal for me. I don't play as much as I would like to and would give up some feel for the chance to hit a more accurate shot. Now I just have to go to my local pro shop and demo the irons. I demoed the recommended woods and they were right on. I have hit a lot of woods, but never (and I mean never) have I hit woods with more distance, accuracy and ease then I did the FT-5 Tour driver, X-Tour 3 wood and FT Hybrid 2H. I found the driver on Callawaypreowned.com. Now I just have to find a way to afford the rest of them!

]]> By: Phil http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-11526 Phil Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:53:50 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-11526 I'm only a 10-capper, but I've played the X-Forged, R7TP's and Mizuno MP57's. The X-20 Tours are by far the easiest and most forgiving of the bunch and I have NOT lost any touch or workability due to the head size or anything else about the irons. You owe it to yourself to demo a set, or a 6-iron if possible. Plus.. Don't fall for the you must be a 5-10 handicap to play these. I have and know many people with higher handicaps playing these same irons. The standard X-20's will over exagerate a draw to a hook and the top line is significantly thicker. Phil I'm only a 10-capper, but I've played the X-Forged, R7TP's and Mizuno MP57's. The X-20 Tours are by far the easiest and most forgiving of the bunch and I have NOT lost any touch or workability due to the head size or anything else about the irons.

You owe it to yourself to demo a set, or a 6-iron if possible.

Plus.. Don't fall for the you must be a 5-10 handicap to play these. I have and know many people with higher handicaps playing these same irons.

The standard X-20's will over exagerate a draw to a hook and the top line is significantly thicker.

Phil

]]> By: Chris http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-11485 Chris Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:37:13 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-11485 I have Callaway X-12s, but I haven't played much the last few years. I recently started playing on a regular basis. I'm looking for more forgiveness (as well as distance if that is possible). Do the newer irons provide more forgiveness than the X-12s and which irons (any brand) should I consider? I've been looking at X-20s, Big Berthas, Ping G10s and Raptures & Taylor Made R7 CGB Max. I have Callaway X-12s, but I haven't played much the last few years. I recently started playing on a regular basis. I'm looking for more forgiveness (as well as distance if that is possible).

Do the newer irons provide more forgiveness than the X-12s and which irons (any brand) should I consider? I've been looking at X-20s, Big Berthas, Ping G10s and Raptures & Taylor Made R7 CGB Max.

]]> By: Chris http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-11440 Chris Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:37:29 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-11440 I have a general question. I have Callaway X-12s, but I don't play that often and am looking for more forgiveness (as well as distance if that is possible). My question is whether the newer irons will provide more forgiveness than the X-12s and which irons should be considered. I have a general question. I have Callaway X-12s, but I don't play that often and am looking for more forgiveness (as well as distance if that is possible). My question is whether the newer irons will provide more forgiveness than the X-12s and which irons should be considered.

]]> By: Chris http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-10912 Chris Fri, 16 May 2008 02:56:41 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-10912 Hmmm.... I play as a 5 handicap and used to play 690CBs. I know play X-20 TOURS. I was a bit embarrassed to play a club that does look a bit too game-improvement, but I can draw it, fade it, up, down, etc. Also, I am 10 - 12 yards langer with these. Maybe that's due to the Rifle Flighted, but I love hitting my 5 iron 205 - 210... I shot a one-under 35 the other day with these and hit 8 greens in regulation with these. They may not be traditional but they work. Hmmm.... I play as a 5 handicap and used to play 690CBs. I know play X-20 TOURS. I was a bit embarrassed to play a club that does look a bit too game-improvement, but I can draw it, fade it, up, down, etc. Also, I am 10 - 12 yards langer with these. Maybe that's due to the Rifle Flighted, but I love hitting my 5 iron 205 - 210... I shot a one-under 35 the other day with these and hit 8 greens in regulation with these. They may not be traditional but they work.

]]> By: Chris http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons#comment-10594 Chris Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:32:37 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/bag_drop/callaway_shipping_x-20_and_x-20_tour_irons/#comment-10594 I am a 2 handicap and i must say that the only callaway iron worth talking about right now is the x-forged. Everything else Callaway has put out has a huge topline and that includes the x-20 tours. There is no comparison, the x-forged has a much more solid feel and looks a lot better than anything else callaway has put out to the general public. I am a 2 handicap and i must say that the only callaway iron worth talking about right now is the x-forged. Everything else Callaway has put out has a huge topline and that includes the x-20 tours. There is no comparison, the x-forged has a much more solid feel and looks a lot better than anything else callaway has put out to the general public.

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