One-piece soft iron forging for thorough pursuit of forgiveness and a thick, soft feel
The X FORGED iron series, released last year, was a huge hit, but it's true that being a single piece of soft-iron forged cavity iron posed its own challenges. Is there a way to create a model that's easier to hit while maintaining the same sharp look and superb feel? The X FORGED MAX irons are one of Callaway's new answers to this challenge. The key feature is the sophisticated technique of CNC-machining small pockets into the toe and heel of the back face. This makes it easier to launch the ball and more resistant to mishits, while the center remains thick, preserving the comfortable, soft feel. Seven irons are available, ranging from I#4 through I#9 and PW. The cut glass-like X accenting the design is also noteworthy.
■CNC machined toe and heel pocket cavities
Like the X FORGED and X FORGED STAR irons, the X FORGED MAX irons are forged from a single piece of soft iron (S20C) and feature a cavity back construction. However, the X FORGED MAX irons incorporate a previously unseen innovation aimed at creating a more forgiving model than the X FORGED and X FORGED STAR irons. The stepped section of the lower back face has been CNC machined to create small pockets on the toe and heel sides. This results in a low and deep center of gravity, making the irons more resistant to mishits and easier to launch the ball into the air. Furthermore, the center of the stepped section remains thick, without creating a pocket, preserving the soft, comfortable feel that is characteristic of forged soft iron when hit in the center.
■ A sharp yet reassuring appearance
The X FORGED MAX Irons have the same head size and offset as the X FORGED Irons, improving forgiveness while maintaining the control performance required by players using soft-forged irons. Meanwhile, by removing the chamfer on the face side of the top blade that was present on the X FORGED Irons, the clubhead has a moderate thickness, giving it a reassuring appearance.
Semi-wide tri-level sole design
The sole features the tri-level sole design, which is familiar from the X FORGED irons and X FORGED STAR irons. The pockets in the toe and heel create excess weight, which is reflected in the sole's width, creating a semi-wide sole. This results in a low yet semi-deep center of gravity, making it easier to hit with a higher trajectory than the X FORGED. The leading edge features a comb-shaped chamfer, while the trailing edge is chamfered evenly from toe to heel, allowing for a smooth swing even with the semi-wide sole, greatly contributing to easier ball control.
■A cut glass accent typical of Japanese models
This is a trustworthy design, and in response to this, the X FORGED MAX Irons incorporate a Japanese-style design. The letter X is engraved on the toe side of the lower back face, and is treated to resemble the cut-out pattern seen in Kiriko (cut glass). It serves as an eye-catching accent within the overall sharp design.
The loft is set to be one degree steeper than the X FORGED irons.
The X FORGED MAX Iron lineup consists of seven clubs: I#4-9 and PW. I#4 and I#5 will be sold individually, while I#6-9 and PW will be sold as a five-club set. The loft is one degree steeper than the X FORGED irons, with I#7 at 32 degrees. Two types of steel shafts are available.
