Callaway Tour Authentic X Prototype Irons - Wow?!?

Alright. On December 22nd I got an X-22 Tour set. I hit these really well. These replaced some Mizuno blades (MP-62) of mine. There was no difference in distance between the 62s and the X-22s. My standard distances... I really like(d) the X-22's but missed my blades. So I just bought a set of Callaway Tour Authentic X Prototype Irons and got them yesterday afternoon. I got PX 6.0 flighted shafts, standard GP TV grips, 3-PW - same configuration as the X-22s.

First impression - these look really terrific! Now it's time to give it a rip. So, I peeled the plastic off of the head of the 6-iron, grabbed my X-22 Tour 6-iron and went outside. I have a crude little hitting area with net on my downstairs verandah where I warmed up. Then I went out on the course. (I live on the 9th hole - #9 is a 510yd Par 5).

I headed to where I would normally have 185 yards in (my Mizuno 6-iron was this distance). I took my X-22 and ripped two good solid shots. I was just a bit short. But I expected I might be - it is really cold here. Then I took my X TA Proto 6-iron and ripped a good solid shot. Bop ( I'll spare the flight characteristics, or the excitement I felt as I watched...) GIR . "Can I do that again, was that a fluke?" Second time... I took care to tell myself "...standard shot, don't get on it..." Bop - hit the green and rolled onto back apron. I'm thinking "This is money. Crazy... "

This morning I took the PW out, got on the ladies tee (I placed a flag in the ground next to where I hit so I could go to where the balls land, use my Bushnell scope and notate the precise distance) and hit 4 balls. Two landed at 149, one at 148, and one at 142. "Ok" I'm thinking "These things are long..." My normal PW is 138. These are 10-11 yards longer. A full club... I would guess that the 6-iron was also a full club longer (at least) than the X-22 6-iron.

I'm planning to visit my proshop today, get these clubs on their lie/loft machine and see if there's a physical difference. It seems there absolutely has to be.... if not, Callaway has done some serious engineering in these clubs.

BUT....getting extra length is not what I want, nor what I need. I know most people want extra length, but I digress. If there's no physical difference in loft and my other irons, I'll have to dial in my distances again, and boy is that a pain in the arse. It kind of concerns me that the PW is so darn long... Normally, a PW is a money club from 138 to 110, then my 56 goes from 115 down to 65, then my 60 starts at 85 down to 40 or so, then I'm chipping. Now I'll have this big gap in the wedge of 149 to 110.... I'll have to consider a GW now, then that introduces another club to my bag and I don't want that... Currently, with my set I have 15 clubs. Depending on what course I play I either remove my 5-wood or 3-iron. If I get a GW, I don't know what I'll do...

Below are the lofts as per Callaway dot com... You see that the increase the loft on the 6-iron thru wedge, by one (1) º.

X-22 Tour Irons
321º
424º
527º
630º
734º
838º
942º
PW46º
--------
X Prototype Tour Authentic
321º
424º
527º
631º
735º
839º
943º
PW47º

I'll update the post once I get the lofts physically checked.

Re: Callaway Tour Authentic X Prototype Irons - Wow?!?

alright. got back from the shop a little while ago. the lofts are dead-on with the manufacturer's specifications inserted below (again). i talked to the "golf smith" (not the store "golfsmith" ) for a while and told him about the vast difference in distance. he's an older fellow - in his late 60's and used to work for MacGregor for years and years - quite knowledgeable and proficient with his "Mitchell Lie/Loft machine"

Perhaps the reason for the extra distance, which we discussed adnasium is the CG on these clubs is lower which gets the ball up right away on a properly struck ball vs. Mizuno's for example, which CG is higher on the face.

X Prototype Tour Authentic
3 21º
4 24º
5 27º
6 31º
7 35º
8 39º
9 43º
PW 47º

Re: Callaway Tour Authentic X Prototype Irons - Wow?!?

You McIlroy_man... the shafts are identical to the X-22 Tours - Project X 6.0 Flighted. My Mizuno's are X100... distances between Mizzies and the X-22's are the same.

Re: Callaway Tour Authentic X Prototype Irons - Wow?!?

Yo Shanks... you probably already know this, but your 53° isn't a "weak sandwedge (Dohh!). It's called a "Gap Wedge." But a true gap is calculated between the actual loft of your PW (normally 46°) and the actual sand wedge (56°). The difference there is 10°, meaning a Gap Wedge for your set would be 5° from 46°, or 51°. If your PW is 47° (mine is) your gap should be 52°. 53° is too close to your 56°, where as you said " )."