The name Callaway Steelhead might make you nostalgic because it was one of Callaway’s best releases. Yes, Steelhead is back in business again. Their new creation, the Callaway Steelhead XR Irons incorporate a proven 360 Face Cup technology combined into an iron shape which still performs terrific.
This fusion unlocks the key to wonderful performance for beginners or high handicappers who want a more forgiving iron. If you were once a Steelhead fan, then one thing you might want to acknowledge is that Steelhead XR is shaped based on steelhead X-14.
Our Review of the Callaway Steelhead XR Irons
The Callaway Steelhead XR is such an incredible game improvement iron which is undoubtedly proven as one of the easiest irons for higher handicappers to play.
This fine iron piece is extremely forgiving and easy to hit along with a confident look. Its shorter hosel saves weight which promotes MOI and moves CG horizontally to the center face creating a solid feel at impact and greater performance.
Things We Liked
- Extremely forgiving
- Ease of hitting
- Easy launch
- Long carry distance
- Lower CG leading to higher launch and greater ball speed
- 360 Face Cup increases COR
- Efficient flex of thin face allows extra speed
Things We Didn’t Like
- Limited workability
- Little to no feedback, you have to look at ball flight to know how good you hit
Key Features
- Steelhead XR employs Callaway’s next generation Face Cup Technology which increases ball speed and gains more distance.
- A steel infused Polyurethane layer is positioned behind lower face which absorbs any unwanted vibration and gives a better feel.
- The steel integrated in lower face adds weight to lower the CG which allows higher launch and greater ball speed.
- The hollow bore-thru hosel design saves significant weight which is repositioned strategically to promote more forgiveness.
Performance (4/5)
Steelhead XR irons are superb at constant performing. These irons are designed to have a high and easy launch with the long irons but a lower launch with high-spin in the shorter irons.
This fine piece offers a lot of distance potential. With the Steelhead XR, you can launch a higher flight followed by a softer landing. Which clearly means you can have more control over the distance gained.
Steelhead XR irons also help you to improve your performance by making distance more predictable and repeatable. Even on miss hits, the loss of distance is minimal.
The 360 Face Cup increases ball speed all across the face further allowing you to gain increase in distance. It also increases COR by 2.4%. At impact, the edges of its thin face flexes in an efficient way which allows extra ball speed.
A steel infused Polyurethane layer is positioned behind lower face to damp vibration. The weight of that steel is strategically positioned in the lower face cup creating a lower CG to promote easy and higher launch.
I personally recommend Steelhead XR for beginners or high-handicappers who want a forgiving iron.
Forgiveness (5/5)
Callaway Steelhead XR’s best feature is its forgiving nature. This extreme forgiving game improvement iron has the hollow bore through the hosel design which saves significant weight repositioned in strategic places in the head to allow more forgiveness and an easier launch.
Besides, Callaway’s 360 Face Cup provides larger forgiving area in the head. These technologies make the Steelhead XR best suited game improvement irons for high handicappers.
Playability (5/5)
Undoubtedly, the Steelhead XR is one of the easiest irons to play with for the higher handicappers. If you are a slow swinger, you will find it super friendly and it is also super easy to get out from trouble lies.
You will hardly face problems while handing fairway bunkers and light rough. Steelhead XR irons are comparatively easier to get the ball up in the air and fly straight.
Look & Feel (4/5)
The Steelhead XR is paired with the all new XP95 ST15 shafts from True Temper and at a 95g weight they feature a really nice stability. The head is longer with a thick top line. The cavity design is almost unchanged. The color is not too flashy but the Steelhead logo on the badge has a holographic sheen, which looks pretty attractive.
Callaway Steelhead XR’s face is hollow and the steel infused polyurethane layer dampens vibration at impact. As a result of which, you will get a great feel and sound at impact.
Since the sound and feel are almost the same over most of the face, you will hardly get any feedback. To determine a good shot, you must look up at the ball flight.
