New X-Tour wedge arrives

[Donald MacKenzie]

My long-delayed X-Tour 58° wedge (ordered in March) arrived last week. I can't believe how much it looks like a Vokey 200 series wedge. At address, the profile is almost exactly the same. Gone is the curved leading edge of the other Callaway/Roger Cleveland wedges and the overly rounded head shape (and the smaller size of the original CG Forged Wedges). Except for the grooves being spaced slightly farther apart, you'd think these wedges were from the same manufacturer.

The PM grind on the sole is distinctive, though. Lots of relief in the toe and heel, and the inverted sole is pretty cool. There's plenty of bounce (listed at 11°) at the back edge of the sole. But the way the center is hollowed out, it will be really easy to get the leading edge of the wedge down to the ball.

I played my first round with it yesterday and hit it a handful of times. I was using a HX Pearl ball (watch for the review coming up soon) and was able to stop the ball just fine, even out of the rough. The Mack Daddy grooves are pretty sweet. I wonder how they'll work with the urethane-covered balls I usually use. The wedge feels great, and I hit a couple nice 80-yard approaches with it. Anyone else using one of these yet?

[xian]

Slightly OT:

I look forward to your HX Pearl review. I'm very curious.

[Donald MacKenzie]

Xian: Quick version of the HX Pearl review: It's the HX Hot with slightly softer feel off the irons and wedges, and what appears to be glitter in the cover (you can see it in bright sunlight). I got plenty of distance with the ball, and it's very straight. A very good distance ball (HX Hot and HX Pearl both).

After three rounds with the X-Tour wedge, BTW, I like it. It really does spin the ball, and it's been good out of the bunkers and from the fairway. The Vintage finish is starting to wear off the sole and the face, and some rust has started to form in those areas and on the back of the club.