Regular vs Pro versions of woods

[GolfSpy MPR]

One of the clubs in my bag is a Callaway XR Pro hybrid (19°). Spoiler alert: I'm not a pro.

What I've come to learn in my time on this site is that there's no shame in playing clubs that help me play better golf. The turning point for me was the opportunity I had last year to review the PING G700 irons. While they're aimed at the very high-handicap player, my iron play has continued to improve using them. And it was absolutely fascinating to read @jacustomgolf's great results with a super-game improvement iron, even though he's a very accomplished player.

So I've been steadily working through my bag, working in more forgiving clubs in every slot. I've swapped in a couple of Cleveland cavity back wedges and I've seen good results in my recent short game numbers.

Next on my chopping block is (or might be) this XR Pro. As I've written here elsewhere, this club has a lot of distance overlap with my G700 4 iron. Indeed, the G700 is a 20° club, so seeing overlap there isn't a surprise. I carry both because they have different roles in my bag. The 4 iron is a very reliable tee club for me when the driver is misbehaving. But on most shots off the turf, especially out of the rough, I'd rather play the hybrid.

I've found a place where I can buy a new XR (non-pro version) in the same loft for a very good price. So here's the question for all of you: how much difference in forgiveness can I expect between a pro and non-pro version of a club? What's been your experience when you've tested them?

[edingc]

23 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

So here's the question for all of you: how much difference in forgiveness can I expect between a pro and non-pro version of a club?

One thing to keep in mind will be the effect on ball flight - launch angle and spin numbers, specifically. If I'm not mistaken, the pro versions are going to have more forward CG locations and will be lower spin for the majority of players. The forgiveness in a non-pro club likely comes from the CG being moved slightly further back, which should in turn increase launch and spin.

I guess what I'm getting at is if you hit the "pro" version well enough, you might not hit the "non-pro" version any better due to those differences. But you might! 

[revkev]

I would agree with edingc - you should expect a smaller platform, lower launch and spin rate with the "pro" version of that club - in fact there could be some higher caps who hit the "pro" better than the regular and similarly there might be some very good players who would be better off in the regular one - It's really about your particular swing characteristics. 

 

The other question is are you dead set on a hybrid?  If you hit the i700's well would you be a candidate for a crossover?  How about a fairway wood - the G410 7 wood is the bomb.

 

Just some thoughts

[SmoothG]

Usually the pro versions have a better shaft as well.  Are you gonna use the same shaft or take the "downgrade"?