Callaway X Hot

It's one of the most important clubs you'll own. We review 10 Hybrids and put them through the ultimate test with a PGA Pro and Protracer technology. Who comes out on top?

Callaway X Hot

Brand: Callaway
Hybrid:
X Hot
Category: Game improvement
R
RP: £149
Best price: £129
Loft:
19-degree
Lie: 58-degree
Length: 40.75"
Shaft:
X Hot Graphite

Summary: The updated Warbird soleplate has relief in the heel and toe to make the X Hot hybrid versatile from different lies. The Speed Frame Face creates incredibly fast ball speeds all across the face for longer, more consistent distance. This technology helps optimise the CG and offers more forgiveness for accurate shots.

Appearance: The matte grey crown with black face and industry-favoured low profile hybrid at address was beautiful but we would have preferred some sort of alignment aid. We missed the traditional Callaway chevron that we saw in the X Hot driver and fairway wood - a characteristic that worked well amongst the silent orange and grey colours at the top and bottom of the crown. We also thought the small amount of offset was off-putting. 3.5

Feel: While the white standard X Hot 70 shaft felt a little too light for our liking, the club provided a sweet sensation at impact and explosive feel off the face – a similar trait found in the X Hot iron, driver and 3-wood. A little head heavy than some of the others in this test. 7

Performance: Desired mid-to-high ball flight and very good distance, as expected, but we found it was particularly difficult to keep on line with many shots drawing to the left - slightly surprising for a game improvement hybrid. The heavy offset combined with sole weighting made it tough to hit a fade. 7.5

Verdict: We were a bit disappointed with this hybrid given the strength in depth of the X Hot family in previous club tests this season. While you certainly won’t be short of the flag with this hybrid, we found it was a little tricky to keep the ball on a leash. If you can get your head around the pronounced offset, and feel comfortable enough to pull the trigger without much alignment, you will no doubt enjoy this hybrid much more than we did. 18

Pro Verdict: The offset is somewhat of a distraction at address but that might come to suit the mid-to-high handicapper. Solid distance off the deck and two shots out the heel travelled much better than expected. It does lack the iron-like playability that some more skilled players want in a hybrid.

Andy

Total (yards)

Carry (yards)

Offline distance

1

219

200

14

2

220

203

9

3

212

198

12

4

219

188

13

5

217

202

15

Average

217

198

13

Charlie

Total (yards)

Carry (yards)

Offline distance

1

217

203

8

2

223

212

17

3

201

187

5

4

205

174

17

5

202

189

12

Average

210

193

12

Grant

Total (yards)

Carry (yards)

Offline distance

1

221

212

2

2

219

206

9

3

227

211

8

4

223

213

11

5

220

209

8

Average

222

210

8

Click here to continue reading...

��

Sponsored Posts