Callaway Steelhead XR Irons

I recently had an impressively lucky find during my thrifting adventures in a set of Callaway Steelhead XR irons. It’s been awhile since I’ve spent any time with this club, but I remembered them to be pretty impressive. As such, I thought a throwback review might be worthwhile for those that may still be interested in picking these up. The Callaway Steelhead XR irons are a game-improvement iron (GI) set designed for mid- to high-handicappers who prioritize distance, forgiveness, and ease of launch. First released in 2016, these irons have a reputation for their user-friendly performance.  The Steelhead XR was available in both steel and graphite shafts, and there was also a “player’s” counterpart in the Steelhead XR Pro for golfers seeking more workability and less concerned with a high level of forgiveness.

The Looks

Let’s not forget that the Callaway Steelhead XR irons are a game-improvement iron. Being so, they have bit of a larger footprint and some offset to them. Credit to Callaway, they did a good job not making these look like big thick shovels. They feature a fairly classic iron head shape with a slightly larger profile compared to traditional irons. This larger profile instills confidence at address, and the stainless steel construction offers a sleek and modern look. Though there’s nothing wrong with the chrome finish, the black finish of the Pro version would have looked pretty slick on these…

It’s important to note that compared to more player-oriented irons, the Steelhead XRs won’t win any awards for compactness. However, for the targeted mid-to high-handicapper audience, the larger profile can be seen as a benefit.

How Does it Feel?

There are major contributing factors to the feel of the Callaway Steelhead XR irons. First, it’s a thick perimeter weighted iron so they are forgiving and well balanced. There isn’t as much precision as you might find in a forged blade, but that’s not what these are designed for. The Steelhead XRs prioritize forgiveness over a firm, pure forged sensation. However, this also translates to a softer and more forgiving feel on mishits. Much less sting in your hands. Helping with that sting is the second contributing factor – the steel-infused polyurethane layer. This layer dampens vibration for a softer feedback and also plays a major role in the sound, which we’ll cover in the next section.

As far as actual feel at impact, the Steelhead XR is by no means unresponsive as the above might indicate. You won’t mistake it for a super pure forged blade, but you’ll be able to tell where you struck the face. There’s a little bit of a trampoline effect at impact with a hint of a rubber band snap. They definitely don’t have that “empty head” feeling that GI irons often have. There’s plenty of “grace” in the face, but it’s just a bit slappy, which isn’t unheard of for this type of iron.

How Does it Sound?

Much like the feel, the Callaway Steelhead XR iron’s sound is a bit “slappy”. This is pretty common for hollow body GI irons with a urethane filler. Without this filling, the tone at impact would be very metallic and possibly close to a fairway wood. So again, though it doesn’t sound like the nip of a blade, it’s a perfectly playable tone that won’t offend.

On-Course Performance

There are a lot of significant design elements contributing to the performance of the Callaway Steelhead XR irons. One key technology is Callaway’s 360 Face Cup, a design that expands the sweet spot across the face of the iron. This translates to longer distance both from the center of the face and on mishits. Additionally, the Steelhead XR irons have quite a bit stronger lofting. This is done to help with distance, but also to help with counteracting a low center of gravity (CG) which creates higher launch and spin.

That lower CG is caused by a bar of steel-infused polyurethane located low in the head. While this helps a lot with sound and feel, it also creates a higher launch angle. This essentially makes it easier for players to get the ball up in the air and carrying so they can achieve greater distances. However, the Steelhead XR irons have a progressive CG which means it’s strategically located in slightly different locations throughout the set. For instance, the CG is super low in the long irons making them a bit easier to hit in the air. The short irons have a higher CG location to help achieve more control, but you don’t need as much help with launch and spin in a higher lofted club.

It’s important to remember that the Callaway Steelhead XR irons are not designed for maximum workability. The focus here is on distance, forgiveness, and ease of launch. These characteristics are more likely to be the target audience’s overall concerns in these clubs.

Final Thoughts – Callaway Steelhead XR Irons

The Callaway Steelhead XR irons are a solid distance-oriented iron designed for mid- to high-handicappers. Their larger profile inspires confidence at address, and the feel is generous on mishits. While they may not be the most feel-oriented irons, they deliver playable performance focused on getting the ball in the air. This also helps golfers achieve greater distances. For golfers looking for a forgiving iron with a larger profile to boost confidence, the Callaway Steelhead XR irons are a solid option to consider.

Stock Callaway Steelhead XR Irons Specs

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