Callaway Steelhead XR Fairways - Back to the Future

[Mr. Desmond]

Some of us remember the original Steelhead fairways of the late '90's, and it was Callaway's best selling fairway with a rounded sole profile and unique sole design to power through various conditions and a deep face. Step forward 20 years and Doc Hoc and Callaway R&D bring you the modern Steelhead.

Callaway has updated the sole design for efficiency through the turf, given it their latest cup face, and a J36 Carbon crown to move COG low to launch the ball with its deep face. It's also priced $50 less than its Epic fairway. The J36 crown is not as light as the more expensive Epic crown, which also has adjustability. The Steelhead XR's are glued hosels coming in regular models of 3,5, 7 and 9 wds; and the + models, which are 13.5 and 16 for better/tour players.

I've spent 4 rounds and several range sessions with the 5 wood and recently acquired the 3 and 7 woods. Fun clubs with distance. Not really game improvement but can be - it's a fairway for all player types.

I found the Steelhead XR is designed for real life course conditions --  from ease out of the rough and fairway, and a monster off the tee with that deep face. Haven't tried a bunker yet. The rounded sole and deep face matters. Doc Hoc said this fairway is not driver DNA like their other fairways, but fairway DNA - meaning it is meant for various conditions and lies.

Address: set it down and club sits square. Pick it up and and you may close it. The deep face has a good amount of bulge from heel to toe but the white painted grooves give you the center position.

Feel/Sound: HIgh metallic, pleasing crack, hot feel.

Deep face: tee it high, let it fly - forget shallow face misgivings off the tee, this deep face makes it easy and long off the tee. Long, long. Don't know about Epic long, but as you know, people react differently to different heads. I found them long with a smile on my face. Demo.

Shaft: Tensei Fairway Shaft (it is not the driver shaft) is softer/smoother at both ends than the Tensei driver shaft. The profile is based on the Blueboard shaft - mid launch/mid spin smooth. The 56-59g 55 seems to hold up to most swings and is fine off the deck. No ballooning. After swinging the 5 wd for 3 weeks and 4 rounds, all I can say is that I'm having fun with the club.

Performance: Off the fairway, I earn a high mid to lowish high trajectory depending on speed and swing. I am just an R flex and I'm getting 220+ off the deck in decent conditions and warm temps, and more off the tee. It is excellent, comparatively speaking, out of the rough than your normal fairway. This is more of a total distance club than a carry monster. Ball takes off like a rocket on a mid to mid high trajectory, descending shallow, and then rolls. I drove a 265 par 4 a couple of times at Pacific Grove (okay, so that hole had some downhill features). Earned max 230 with roll with the 5 wd, in warm temps, 70-90F, slightly downhill or flat conditions. Against a strong ocean wind, I was getting 200 with a lowish trajectory. Hiit a few tee shots that ended up at 260-270 in favorable conditions. It is a total distance club. Mishits - fats go lower and roll far, face turns over and ball rolls left at end, thins go lowish, straight, far - dependent on dry conditions. Very forgiving if you are looking at the deep face, rounded sole, and wondering about launch.

Again, Steelhead is not a GI fairway in the sense that it does not appear overly large at address, ballon, spin too much, or launch too high in my experience - it's like a piercing high mid to lowish high rocket launcher that rolls.

I ended up also buying the 3 wood in the 55g shaft - it flat out launches off the tee like a driver's flight - arcs a bit and descends slowly. Off the deck at 15 degree, I am earning a mid flight with great roll. Bought the 7 wd in the 65g shaft and it is also a monster. Was concerned about the 65g bringing flight down, but in the 7 wd, it gets up. I think the 5 wd, if you were buying only one, is an ideal fairway. I am a tweener in terms of flex with a 95 driver speed. But I opted for R flex, and find the club controllable, not a lot of spin, no ballooning. I would not go "caveman" on shaft. The Tensei 55 will fit most players in the lower lofts. See www.callaway.com to build a club and see many no upcharge shaft choices.

What I've heard about the + fairways (13.5 and 16), is that they are meant for the better/tour player - weight is a bit more forward, flatter lie angle by 2 degrees, neutral to fade bias, tough to turn over. Watch the shaft choice - may want the 55g here.  The + are too much club for me, but for others, it's what they want.

Fun club. Check them out if you are looking for a versatile fairway.

Picture - you see a comparison of the Steelhead XR at the top versus the XR16.

Edited August 1, 2017 by Mr. Desmond

[Groucho Valentine]

I used to game those big Bertha steelhead 3 and 5 wood back in my junior days. Wish i still had them. I was using a titliest 975J driver back then tho. Another great old club. If these new ones are anything like the old ones then i co-sign this review..lol