Callaway Paradym Irons - 2023 Forum Review

[Golfspy_CG2]

9 minutes ago, Cameronpaulm said:

I just noticed similar names on the three tests that got announced today. Im not here to cause issues or anything of that nature. I'm new to the community and was genuinely asking. I respect golf spy for all they do and I will continue to learn the community. Sorry for causing any issues. I can delete my comment if you'd like. I really didn't even know it would be posted publicly. Like I said I'm new to all of this blog and my golf spy website. Apologies if I stepped on any toes. And congrats to the testers!!! I've demoed the paradygm irons they are in for a treat!! Love everyone

Fair enough!  Appreciate the clarification.   And to be honest, after 7 years on the forum, many of them spent as  Moderator or Forum Director, there are some similar names I still get confused with...so understandable. 

I do encourage you to read the thread on how to be come a tester.  But really it's very simple.   

• Complete you profile by adding an avatar pic to your profile, I think there are instructions on how to do that in that thread.  Doesn't have to be your picture, it can be a cartoon, your dog, your favorite golf hole, anything that kinda speaks to who you are. 
• Fill oout the WITB-Whats in The Bag signature, again there are instructions, but dont' hestiate to post it as a question if you need help, we have so many helpful members here who will give you a step by step how to.
• Start a conversatioon in a topic that interests you.  Such under Rules...It might be a great conversation starter to ask if people think Brooks should have been hit with a penalty for "giving advice" to Gary Woodland, or was he truly taking his glove off.   Anyhting alng those lines will get conversation going and we will all likely learn something from it.

Hopefully this will help and as you find your way around the forum, you'll be shocked at how many times you have found yourself posting and all of a sudden you aren't  such a new member anymore

 

[Golfspy_CG2]

4 minutes ago, MattWillGolf said:

All I know is if I get to thinking too much about the number on the bottom of the club, its gonna mess with me.  I'm also wondering if the shafts being 1 inch longer will have an influence on the distance I see with these irons as well. I'd have to defer to those with more knowledge on that one. 

Smart thinking on not thinking

Yes, the 1" in theory will add a slight bit of clubhead speed to your swing...as it has to travel a bit further to the ball.  Not saying it's going to increase it 3 or 4 mph, but maybe 1 mph which might equate to 3 to 5 yards.  But I have also seen it lead to less consistent impact which could negate the increased ball speed.   Hopefully if your fitter did a good job this was all taken into consideration. 

[Rickp]

37 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

Zack made a great point and shred an important thread for anyonhe to read that is interested in how to get involved in testing opportuities. 

And while I'm not in charge of selections anymore, but was for a few years.  I can safely say, having 38 posts in 3 years is not really considered "active" on the forum.  And while the the selection staff never makes total post count the number 1 priority, it is certainly factored in the equation.   For example of the Callaway irons, the OEM is making a $2,000 x 4 investment in provding these clubs for reviews.   MGS staff needs to be 100% confident that not only is the tester not going to take the clubs and never be heard from again, but will provide an indepth qualty review. 

You might ask, how can "my friend" ever provide a quality review if he's never given the chance to review.  That's a fair and great question.   Usually a first time tester or new member who is picked to test early on, will be selected for a test that isn't as high dollar of risk.  Maybe a golf ball review, or gloves or some training aid etc.     But there are also times where a brand new member--say less than 2 or 3 months--has proven over that short time he/she is committed to the forum and has established a confidnece in the moderator staff that they feel confident in selecting them for a test. 

All this is to say, if you or your friend is truly interested in testging, read that thread, get involved in many different sections of the fourm, don't just focus on one section, the more the user name appers throughout the forum, the more "known" it becomes to the staff and other members.

Hope this helps in addtion to the How to be a Tester thread. 

 

Well said Rob.

[GolfSpy SAM]

10 minutes ago, MattWillGolf said:

All I know is if I get to thinking too much about the number on the bottom of the club, its gonna mess with me.  I'm also wondering if the shafts being 1 inch longer will have an influence on the distance I see with these irons as well. I'd have to defer to those with more knowledge on that one. 

You'll probably be looking at, like, 250 with your 7-iron.  Something reasonable  

Psyched for you all to get them in-hand!

[cnosil]

3 minutes ago, GolfSpy_SAM said:

You'll probably be looking at, like, 250 with your 7-iron.  Something reasonable  

Psyched for you all to get them in-hand!

I tested the X as part of most wanted and they are definitely long; probably the longest of the GI clubs.   I have decent speed for my age and I was able to hit a few 7s out to 200ish.  My normal 7 is 170.   

[MattWillGolf]

Yes, 250 downhill with a wind at my back on a frozen lake. 

[TylorJudd]

Co Gray's to all testers! This should be good!

[Javs]

3 hours ago, cnosil said:

I tested the X as part of most wanted and they are definitely long; probably the longest of the GI clubs.   I have decent speed for my age and I was able to hit a few 7s out to 200ish.  My normal 7 is 170.   

A 200 yard 7 iron would just wreck my club line up. I hit my current PXG Gen 5 P 7 iron 165 to 172 depending on temperature and conditions. If the clubs we are testing go longer, then out goes a hybrid and in goes another wedge!

[MattWillGolf]

4 minutes ago, Javs said:

A 200 yard 7 iron would just wreck my club line up. I hit my current PXG Gen 5 P 7 iron 165 to 172 depending on temperature and conditions. If the clubs we are testing go longer, then out goes a hybrid and in goes another wedge!

 Based on some of the feedback I've I received so far, I may have to rethink my setup. It will be an interesting challenge. I also foresee the possibility of dropping my 19° degree hybrid as the 5 iron in this set is 21.5° which will make for an interesting test. And on the wedge front, I will have quite the gap from the AW to my SW. Could be an excuse to buy some new wedges. 

[Javs]

5 minutes ago, MattWillGolf said:

 Based on some of the feedback I've I received so far, I may have to rethink my setup. It will be an interesting challenge. I also foresee the possibility of dropping my 19° degree hybrid as the 5 iron in this set is 21.5° which will make for an interesting test. And on the wedge front, I will have quite the gap from the AW to my SW. Could be an excuse to buy some new wedges. 

I carry 17, 22 and 25 degree hybrids. With the lofts of the clubs in the testing the 22 and 25 are probably going in the closet. I also am looking at another wedge set up. Currently I have 50, 54 and 58. With the test set I could see needing 52, 56, 60.

[sirchunksalot]

Just finished reading the intros, and I've got to say you have all done a fantastic job. I'm excited to see how these irons work out for all of you. 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Always love reading intro’s. Good ones guys looking forward to the next few weeks and months of your testing endeavor

[MattWillGolf]

I just received a “love note” from UPS. “Out for Delivery.”

[MattWillGolf]

I am happy to report that the clubs have arrived safely. I will be posting an unboxing update later today.

[funkyjudge]

Guess what arrived on my front sidewalk about 45 minutes ago?  Yes, the Paradym irons!

Unboxing, in-bag photos, comments and observations, etc. added in my initial post, where I introduced myself; found at the following link -- 

I have also included a couple of those photos here:

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by funkyjudge

[MattWillGolf]

The clubs have been delivered and I just posted my unboxing update. 

[GolfSpy_BOS]

Love it!  The first equipment test of 2023 is officially underway! 

[Javs]

Just posted my update to the testing. This week was my unpacking and first impressions. Feel free to provide any feedback.

[sirchunksalot]

Great job on the unboxing photos so far! I feel like the Paradym line-up had gotten a lot of hype this year and it's going to be exciting to see how they perform for each of you.

[Triple_Putt]

Great updates guys, very excited to see how you like them! They definitely are nice to look at! Hopefully they feel as nice as they look

[Prodigal Duffer]

Great intros - looking forward to reading your reviews!

[mikeanthony]

Very curious to follow along on these upcoming reviews from you all. 

What are the initial impressions from the looks and setup behind the ball dept? 

[Javs]

1 hour ago, mikeanthony said:

Very curious to follow along on these upcoming reviews from you all. 

What are the initial impressions from the looks and setup behind the ball dept? 

If you read my updated review I have impressions and pictures you might like

[MattWillGolf]

I got out with the irons for the first time this morning. In a word long. For example, I had 135 yards to the center of the green and selected the PW. According to Shot Scope it went 146. I will have to get reacquainted with my distances. It’s a nice problem to have.

[ScramblinMan]

Thanks for the initial feedback. Your updates will be greatly appreciated because I am considering these irons to replace my Mizuno irons. Hit ‘em long and straight!

[mikeanthony]

1 hour ago, MattWillGolf said:

I got out with the irons for the first time this morning. In a word long. For example, I had 135 yards to the center of the green and selected the PW. According to Shot Scope it went 146. I will have to get reacquainted with my distances. It’s a nice problem to have.

Like you, I too, am an inch over standard with a 2° upright lie (I’m 6’3 but have short arms for my height) … along with your new Callaway’s, I truly believe the fitting is going to be of a huge benefit for you.

It’ll take some getting used and there will be an adjustment period, but you really will be all the better for it after a proper fitting. 

[MattWillGolf]

38 minutes ago, mikeanthony said:

Like you, I too, am an inch over standard with a 2° upright lie (I’m 6’3 but have short arms for my height) … along with your new Callaway’s, I truly believe the fitting is going to be of a huge benefit for you.

It’ll take some getting used and there will be an adjustment period, but you really will be all the better for it after a proper fitting. 

I am definitely in short arm category LOL. I am looking forward to dialing these in. I'm now a believer in getting a proper fitting. There is a high degree of probability that I will be purchasing the GW for this set as there is quite a gap between the AW and my SW. And I will either buy a new sand wedge or extend the shaft of my current SW by an inch as well. 

[funkyjudge]

First 18 Holes Played with Paradym Irons

I decided to put the Paradym Irons with HZRDUS Silver 75-S shafts in my bag for my final tournament (other than next week’s Tour Championship) on the winter golf tour yesterday. Initially, I was not going to play the Paradym Irons until I got a chance to hit them on a launch monitor, but since yesterday’s tournament really meant nothing in the overall scheme of things (I was already qualified for the Tour Championship and nowhere near contention for Player of the Year, and my league handicap has long been established at 15.1 and was not going to change), I decided to give them a workout prior to playing in my first club tournament this weekend.

We arrived at the course about an hour prior to our scheduled start time, giving me plenty of time to warm up on the range, and the irons showed a lot of promise on both the range and around the chipping green.

Here is a brief summary of my results and observations from my first 18-hole round with the Paradym Irons:

• They are very easy to hit and quite workable in both directions.
• Distances with all of these irons is extremely good and on-average about 5 to 7 yards longer than any irons that I own, with the exception of my Cobra King Forged Tec X set (the Paradyms actually did give me a couple extra yards vs those Cobras, particularly with the PW and AW).
• The Paradym AW is fantastic for short pitches and chip shots, and I managed to save a couple of pars on missed greens using the AW around those greens, plus a one-putt bogey on the first hole, where I was in “jail” off the tee and had to punch out sideways and then missed the green by 10 yards with my next shot, using a hybrid not one of the Paradym irons.
• Feel is “crisp”, but definitely not objectionable.
•  I have not carried a 5-iron in at least two years, but I took the 5-hybrid out of my bag and put the Paradym in instead. If I am going to be using and reviewing these irons, I might as well use all of the set! This was an excellent move, as the Paradym 5-iron proved to be a perfect layup club on two of the par 5s and was a great choice on a 190-yard par 3.
• Any fears that I may have had regarding whether the HZRDUS graphite shafts would be too stiff for me in S-flex proved to be unfounded; this flex is perfect for my 80-82 MPH iron swing.

More updates to follow as I get more experience with the Paradym irons.

 

[funkyjudge]

On 4/13/2023 at 12:54 PM, MattWillGolf said:

I got out with the irons for the first time this morning. In a word long. For example, I had 135 yards to the center of the green and selected the PW. According to Shot Scope it went 146. I will have to get reacquainted with my distances. It’s a nice problem to have.

You clearly have a bit more clubhead speed than I do! Although my 6 and 7 iron clubhead speed is about 80-82 MPH, I am in the low/mid 70s with a PW. I was getting about 120-122 yards with the Paradym PW yesterday, and 105-110 yards from the AW. For comparison, I usually expect about 115 yards (MAX) from a well-struck PW and 100-102 yards from an AW.

[JohnSmalls]

Congrats testers!  Pictures are looking good.  Enjoy the test!