Diablo Forged

[MMouse]

After my round yesterday the Callaway rep was out for a demo day with all the clubs to hit.

I fell in love with the Diablo forged irons. They felt great and had great distane and control on them. The FT irons weren't bad either, but I loved the Diabo forged.

For those of you who are very familiar with a wide variety of clubs, any suggestions on a set that may give a similar feel/performance ( or better ) to these without the $1100 price tag?

[JML22]

Any used set within 15 years of age.
For a high handicapper, just get any cavity back shovel you can find for like 100-300 bucks
Nickent irons on clearance would be perfect if you can find a set.
New irons are meh, i'd rather buy a full set of wedges, driver, putter.
irons are just there to gap distances.

[soloredd]

I got my Diablo forged 2 weeks ago and couldn't be happier. Look at the X20 tour or even X22 tour. Seem pretty similar in my demoing.

[Nike Markiie]

yeah to avoid the 1100 dollar price tag don't buy them at Golfsmith, Dick's, etc. You should find a good deal somewhere online unless you need custom specs..

[Nike Markiie]

one other note.... my friend has them and loves his set.

[Shanks A Million]

http://cgi.ebay.com/CALLAWAY-X-FORGE...item3cadcdbe46
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Callaway-Gol...item439fb5b9ef
http://cgi.ebay.com/Callaway-2009-X-...item53e1b910a1

[Nike Markiie]

All of those look like top sellers. Good find Shanks

[Shanks A Million]

All of those look like top sellers. Good find Shanks

But they're the older X-Forged. In fact, they're better than Diablo forged. Diablo forged have stainless faces, the X-Forged are solid carbon steel.

[MMouse]

As a high handicapper, how well would the X-forged play to my game ( hypothetically of course )
When I was demoing the Diablo forged it was like butter. I could work the ball, consistent contact and distance.

I had looked at the X-forged but wasn't sure if they would allow much forgiveness for me.

[shades9323]

As a high handicapper, how well would the X-forged play to my game ( hypothetically of course )

Were you hitting off mats or grass?

[MMouse]

Grass at my home course driving range. It was Callaway demo day as well as the Men's Open. The rep was there with all the clubs, fitting system etc so I had the opportunity to hit a variety of clubs, but steered clear of the tour and the x-forged under the thought that they likely wouldn't work out for me.

After asking me some questions, the rep reccomended the Diablo edge, which I hit similar to my current Big Bertha's ( imagine that )

My playing partner who is quite knowledgeable about different clubs actually sought out the Diablo forged for me and brought it to me to hit.

The Diablo I was hitting was also fit more closely to my needs, haf inch shorter and 2 inches flat ( it was the rep's club )

[gmanuel25]

Grass at my home course driving range. It was Callaway demo day as well as the Men's Open. The rep was there with all the clubs, fitting system etc so I had the opportunity to hit a variety of clubs, but steered clear of the tour and the x-forged under the thought that they likely wouldn't work out for me.

Do some research and try several other brands and get fit (preferably a professional) who isn't so biased. Most people would not hand a 26 handicap an $1100 set of forged irons.

[tbjohnston]

In case it helps, I tried a whole bunch of irons and ended up picking the Diablo forged. I thought about matching them with other Callaway clubs (e.g. prototypes for the pw and 9), but stuck with the Diablo forged throughout. They are like rocket fuel for launch - consistent ball flight, great length, and can be worked, albeit not as much as a blade.
They were ideal for me because of the way the 4-, 5- and 6-iron behave (what I typically hit into 2/3's of our greens).

Prior to these, I used the X-16's, also by Callaway. I tried each of the models (X-18's, X-20's, etc.) and it never made sense to spend the money until these.

Only issue (aside from expense) is that because Callaway has made the clubs stronger, I have a gap between their PW and my 52-degree wedge, and need to figure things out.

Regarding affordability, if they are too much $ (they aren't cheap), if you are a better player, get the X-forged used; if you are a higher handicap, get the X-22's used. That said, the Diablo forged fit me better than either of those.

[Shanks A Million]

The X-Forged are not at all hard to hit, it's merely a myth. Callaway irons are remarkably forgiving, and have been for a long time. Maltby rates the X-Forged at 636. They are right around the TM R7s and Cobra FP irons in forgiveness. The Diablo forged are actually harder to hit than the X-Forged, at 543!

Believe it or not, Maltby puts the Diablo Forged in the Conventional category, but the X-Forged into the game improvement category.

[golfro]

The X-Forged are not at all hard to hit, it's merely a myth. Callaway irons are remarkably forgiving, and have been for a long time. Maltby rates the X-Forged at 636. They are right around the TM R7s and Cobra FP irons in forgiveness. The Diablo forged are actually

i saw that the other day.

interesting enough, they put the Ping S57 as game improvement as well.

[Shanks A Million]

i saw that the other day...very interesting.

Maltby, in my book, is trustworthy. His ratings have never steered me wrong. My father was having a lot of trouble playing, and he could barely get the ball airborne, so I looked up his irons. They have a negative MPF! -412. I gave him my Adams Tight Lies, and the next round, he hit everything very nicely, got the ball up, landed it softly. It was wonderful to see him happy with his game again. Of course, then he took out his tiny headed driver (which he won't replace) and drove the water 10 times, and I didn't realize it, but he had been using my golf balls, not the cheap ones I put in his bag!

[sean_miller]

Of course, then he took out his tiny headed driver (which he won't replace) and drove the water 10 times, and I didn't realize it, but he had been using my golf balls, not the cheap ones I put in his bag!

See - and people thought I made that up about sneaking balls to try and carry a water hazard!!

[tbjohnston]

Can't say that I argue with Maltby on this one - the X-16's are easier to hit than the Diablo Forged - they just don't reward a good swing as much.