With Callaway's 2012 irons out, I was excited to see how they have progressed on last year's impressive offerings.
We tested the new RAZR XF iron and RAZR XF Hybrid club. The XF is the premium iron for the RAZR range. Also on offer is the RAZR X Black formid-handicappers and the RAZR X HL which will help those new to the sport.
The RAZR XF iron is a high-precision, forged carbon-steel club, it has a distinctive black head and sole with a high-strength 455 Carpenter steel face. I play with Taylor Made 2.0 irons and love their look - RAZR XF's look is similar, especially the face and sole of the club.
The makers claim the new RAZR XF iron will provide distance, accuracy and forgiveness - after testing, I concur. My Taylor Made 2.0 gets a longer flight, but the RAZR XF performed strongly.
The Callaway has moved a lot of its weight back in the head and allows for a more consistent shot, but it also means there is a distinctive cavity section, which I found a bit too chunky at address and not what I expected for a forged iron.
The new RAZR XF iron had a slightly hollow feel at impact, and not a true feel of a sweet spot when struck well. If this is the only trade off from the cavity section, when you consider the forgiveness, the extra length and far greater consistency, I would seriously recommend this iron for handicappers aiming for single digits.
Also on trial was the RAZR XF Hybrid, which has a 21 degree loft. They feature a larger head design and added offset to deliver higher, longer and straighter shots. It took a while to get familiar with the offset face but once the adjustment was made it proved to be a worthy tool, especially as three irons are becoming less frequent in bags and hybrids are being used out of the rough. This club is worth a look.
I spoke with the team at Ellerslie Driving Range and they believe the new Callaway RAZR 2012 irons are now priced well to take on the Taylor Made and Cleveland irons that have prospered in the competitive $1200 to $1600 price bracket.
