Callaway X18 vs. X20 vs. X20 Tours

[Hackettsan]

I am looking to upgrade from my X-16's this year. I'm an average player and only get to play about a dozen times a year. Can anyone tell me if the X-20 tour would have any advantage over the X-20's? I've read reviews claiming "forgiving" but it seems they may be an advanced club for an amateur. Amazon has good deals on both.

[Wahoo]

  Hackettsan said:

I am looking to upgrade from my X-16's this year. I'm an average player and only get to play about a dozen times a year. Can anyone tell me if the X-20 tour would have any advantage over the X-20's? I've read reviews claiming "forgiving" but it seems they may be an advanced club for an amateur. Amazon has good deals on both.

The main differences are less offset and smaller heads on the tours. I would try both out and see which one you like better.

[WUTiger]

  Wahoo said:

The main differences are less offset and smaller heads on the tours. I would try both out and see which one you like better.

This past spring, I tested the | X20 | X20Tour | X22 | X22Tour | family against Ping G10 | I20 and Titleist AP1 | AP2.

Cutting to the Callaway results: * The two Tour versions had better feel - you could tell on impact if you had hit a poor, OK, or excellent shot. But, I was rebuilding my swing and shifting from S to R shafts, so I backed off the Tour versions for more "foregiveness." * X22 hit the ball about 3 yrs. farther than the X20, but price difference for the newer model wasn't worth it to me. * X20 hits ball OK, and you can fade or draw them a little if you set up right. Only problem: Heads are rather large, and below 7-iron tend to hang up in rough more so than my old set of Ping clones. X20 PW is fine, but other stock X20 wedges are rather klunky; I would avoid them. The X20s would be more forgiving, and you can fade or draw a little if you know how a swing works. Check out the fade and draw before you buy. The Uniflex shaft bridges R and S - it functions as an R for slower/partial swings, and an S for harder swings. As for the Tours... The X22 Tour has a higher Vertical Center of Gravity than the X20 Tour. This means the X22 would hit the ball on a slightly lower trajectory. If you get the ball up OK and want to be able to hit knockdowns, the X22Tour might be the way to go. For your situation - playing just a dozen times a year - the X20s might be the best way to go. Forgiveness, and easy to set up for shots. Just stay out of the rough!