Callaway - Next Utility Iron?

[thechrisgibbs]

Hey everyone,

I was trying to purchase a custom-built X-Forged Utility 2 Iron. I hit the demo in a few different shaft options at PGA Superstore and settled on a Tensei White X-stiff. When I went to have them build it for me, they said the 18* option was out of stock at Callaway (wasted 45 minutes I'm never getting back). I have tried to find an aftermarket shop that could build the club for me with that shaft, but they all wanted me to pay for the shaft even though it's an option through Callaway. 

Are there rumblings around the next Callaway utility iron being released? I called Callaway and they said they are not going to restock the X-Forged UT in 18* or 21*. 

Guess I'll stick with my Mizuno or TM driving iron this season on windy days. I liked the Srixon a lot when I hit it, but they don't offer alternative shaft options. New Mizuno is bulky and the Ping is too clicky. The T200 was not quite forgiving enough and the U series Titleist was basically a hybrid.

[GolfSpy_APH]

20 minutes ago, thechrisgibbs said:

Hey everyone,

I was trying to purchase a custom-built X-Forged Utility 2 Iron. I hit the demo in a few different shaft options at PGA Superstore and settled on a Tensei White X-stiff. When I went to have them build it for me, they said the 18* option was out of stock at Callaway (wasted 45 minutes I'm never getting back). I have tried to find an aftermarket shop that could build the club for me with that shaft, but they all wanted me to pay for the shaft even though it's an option through Callaway. 

Are there rumblings around the next Callaway utility iron being released? I called Callaway and they said they are not going to restock the X-Forged UT in 18* or 21*. 

Guess I'll stick with my Mizuno or TM driving iron this season on windy days. I liked the Srixon a lot when I hit it, but they don't offer alternative shaft options. New Mizuno is bulky and the Ping is too clicky. The T200 was not quite forgiving enough and the U series Titleist was basically a hybrid.

Nothing that I have seen or heard of, but worth noting Cobra and Ping are other options and both have adjustable hosels.

[thechrisgibbs]

2 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Nothing that I have seen or heard of, but worth noting Cobra and Ping are other options and both have adjustable hosels.

Full disclosure, I think the Ping is without doubt the coolest club in that category right now. Two things prevented me: The hosel is distractingly large and the sound is terrible off the face. Sounds like my sons plastic golf set hitting a ball. The old Ping didn't sound like that. Sad the acoustics weren't considered more with the G25. 

PGA didn't have the Cobra to test. They basically pointed me to the Club Champion (I'm cheap and don't want to pay for a fitting when I know what numbers I'm looking for).

It just seems crazy that Callaway isn't restocking their driving iron if they don't have something in the pipe for this year. The X Forged was on the 21 Most Wanted list. Wondering how long the life cycle is for Callaway.

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 minute ago, thechrisgibbs said:

Full disclosure, I think the Ping is without doubt the coolest club in that category right now. Two things prevented me: The hosel is distractingly large and the sound is terrible off the face. Sounds like my sons plastic golf set hitting a ball. The old Ping didn't sound like that. Sad the acoustics weren't considered more with the G25. 

PGA didn't have the Cobra to test. They basically pointed me to the Club Champion (I'm cheap and don't want to pay for a fitting when I know what numbers I'm looking for).

It just seems crazy that Callaway isn't restocking their driving iron if they don't have something in the pipe for this year. The X Forged was on the 21 Most Wanted list. Wondering how long the life cycle is for Callaway.

 

What about Callaway pre-owned?  

[thechrisgibbs]

Just now, GolfSpy_APH said:

What about Callaway pre-owned?  

I've been scouring the internet for the Tensei Shaft and an 18* head for the X Forged Utility. I think it is pricing itself out at this point though. The shaft has a $100 resale value and the used club is still sitting at $200 for a decent shape one. Was just hoping someone had heard an inside scoop on Callaway!

[richk9holes]

I'd keep checking Callaway pre-owned if I were you. Right now there's 3 or 4 of the 18° but they don't have the shaft you want.

There is a 24° with that shaft I noticed.

[thechrisgibbs]

16 minutes ago, richk9holes said:

I'd keep checking Callaway pre-owned if I were you. Right now there's 3 or 4 of the 18° but they don't have the shaft you want.

There is a 24° with that shaft I noticed.

 

Their used website is fantastic. I've looked on 3Balls, GlobalGolf, 2nd Swing, etc. I can get an 18* with just the basic shaft options, but that's not getting me more height or less spin than my Mizuno MP 20 HMB 2 iron.

[richk9holes]

8 minutes ago, thechrisgibbs said:

Their used website is fantastic. I've looked on 3Balls, GlobalGolf, 2nd Swing, etc. I can get an 18* with just the basic shaft options, but that's not getting me more height or less spin than my Mizuno MP 20 HMB 2 iron.

Another thought for you, I recently bought a sub70 699u. I'll have a full report once I get it in hand, but the reviews on this forum were surprisingly good for a club that starts at $90.

I customized shaft and grip and bumped the price to $110.

They have a demo program where you can try out one of the 19.5° for basically shipping/restocking.

Update: I just checked their site, CK blue tensei shaft as an option but not the white. It's possible they are just out of stock on the white series.

Edited March 27, 2023 by richk9holes
Additional information

[thechrisgibbs]

10 minutes ago, richk9holes said:

Another thought for you, I recently bought a sub70 699u. I'll have a full report once I get it in hand, but the reviews on this forum were surprisingly good for a club that starts at $90.

I customized shaft and grip and bumped the price to $110.

They have a demo program where you can try out one of the 19.5° for basically shipping/restocking.

You know, that's a pretty good idea too. I also love testing things, and if all I have to do is pay shipping costs, it's probably worth trying out sub70. That's a big reason I don't buy D2C brands is because I want to know the numbers before I buy.

[richk9holes]

It's a pretty cool program for people who like to test stuff out. I think there's a 699/U combo you can demo a utility and an iron, but since you are looking low loft trying the 19.5° is probably the way to go.

I've heard they're very responsive, so Who knows they might find the shaft you want.

[Fred Mitchell]

On 3/27/2023 at 11:55 AM, thechrisgibbs said:

Full disclosure, I think the Ping is without doubt the coolest club in that category right now. Two things prevented me: The hosel is distractingly large and the sound is terrible off the face. Sounds like my sons plastic golf set hitting a ball. The old Ping didn't sound like that. Sad the acoustics weren't considered more with the G25. 

PGA didn't have the Cobra to test. They basically pointed me to the Club Champion (I'm cheap and don't want to pay for a fitting when I know what numbers I'm looking for).

It just seems crazy that Callaway isn't restocking their driving iron if they don't have something in the pipe for this year. The X Forged was on the 21 Most Wanted list. Wondering how long the life cycle is for Callaway.

 

Did you hit the Ping G425 crossover or the I425 crossover , try the other .

 

[thechrisgibbs]

7 hours ago, Fred Mitchell said:

Did you hit the Ping G425 crossover or the I425 crossover , try the other .

 

Funny that you mention this, I googled the iCrossover and what PluggedIn Golf put under sound and feel, described my issue with the G425:

“Sound & Feel

For players seeking an iron replacement, the sound of the PING Crossovers has been a weakness.  That is no longer the case with the new iCrossover.  For me, this is easily the best sounding Crossover yet.  It’s medium in volume, producing concise “snap” at impact.  The sound is medium in pitch without any ringing or hollowness.”

 

Now just have to find a place that carries a demo club of it.

 

[Fred Mitchell]

19 minutes ago, thechrisgibbs said:

Funny that you mention this, I googled the iCrossover and what PluggedIn Golf put under sound and feel, described my issue with the G425:

“Sound & Feel

For players seeking an iron replacement, the sound of the PING Crossovers has been a weakness.  That is no longer the case with the new iCrossover.  For me, this is easily the best sounding Crossover yet.  It’s medium in volume, producing concise “snap” at impact.  The sound is medium in pitch without any ringing or hollowness.”

 

Now just have to find a place that carries a demo club of it.

 

let me know how it turns out, Judging bu your clubs now the I probably fits you better anyway.

 

[Bob Pegram]

On 3/27/2023 at 9:59 AM, thechrisgibbs said:

I've been scouring the internet for the Tensei Shaft and an 18* head for the X Forged Utility. I think it is pricing itself out at this point though. The shaft has a $100 resale value and the used club is still sitting at $200 for a decent shape one. Was just hoping someone had heard an inside scoop on Callaway!

Why not buy it with the best wrong shaft, get it pulled, get the correct one installed, and then sell the pulled shaft? It is a nuisance, but you would get some of the money back to pay for the shaft you want.

[richk9holes]

10 minutes ago, Bob Pegram said:

Why not buy it with the best wrong shaft, get it pulled, get the correct one installed, and then sell the pulled shaft? It is a nuisance, but you would get some of the money back to pay for the shaft you want.

Funny enough (or spooky data tracking?) sponsored email came to my inbox today, Grips4Less, the exact shaft in question the very first listing "sale $100 marked down to $80" MCA tensei white xstiff  

[thechrisgibbs]

7 minutes ago, richk9holes said:

Funny enough (or spooky data tracking?) sponsored email came to my inbox today, Grips4Less, the exact shaft in question the very first listing "sale $100 marked down to $80" MCA tensei white xstiff  

Honestly, that is pretty spooky haha. I'll be on Grips4Less in about... right now.

20 minutes ago, Bob Pegram said:

Why not buy it with the best wrong shaft, get it pulled, get the correct one installed, and then sell the pulled shaft? It is a nuisance, but you would get some of the money back to pay for the shaft you want.

This is probably the play. The 'best wrong shaft' is probably going to be an over-saturated Project X shaft though. Good callout though. We have enough club fitters that would do that here.

[Bob Pegram]

10 minutes ago, thechrisgibbs said:

Honestly, that is pretty spooky haha. I'll be on Grips4Less in about... right now.

This is probably the play. The 'best wrong shaft' is probably going to be an over-saturated Project X shaft though. Good callout though. We have enough club fitters that would do that here.

I bought a set of Callaway RAZR X Forged irons several years ago on the Callaway pre-owned site. They had Project X shafts. I bought the set with those shafts because I knew they sell for the most on Ebay. I pulled the Project X shafts and reshafted the heads with the graphite shafts I wanted that were in my old irons. I used to work for a fitter and have the equipment to do it myself. By the way, the heads were the ones Furyk used to shoot 58. I didn't find that out until I had the irons for months. I love the irons.

[richk9holes]

Saw this today, did you ever find that 18°?

 

 

[thechrisgibbs]

1 hour ago, richk9holes said:

Saw this today, did you ever find that 18°?

I actually pulled the trigger on a Mizuno MP 20 with a Graphite Design shaft. Feel is pretty awesome. With this shaft, I'll also be able to sell it when another 2 iron that comes out piques my interest.

[richk9holes]

That's awesome