callaway ai smoke max d driver

[4cowboys]

Just curious if anyone is playing this driver, and what your thoughts are on it. seen some reviews on youtube, but not much on here about it. also compared to all the new releases. Thanks!

[4cowboys]

I guess not a popular driver?

[bcflyguy1]

I don't play it, but had some good success fitting it. Similar in most ways to Paradym X but the draw bias in the Ai Smoke is more pronounced.

[4cowboys]

On 3/25/2024 at 1:06 PM, bcflyguy1 said:

I don't play it, but had some good success fitting it. Similar in most ways to Paradym X but the draw bias in the Ai Smoke is more pronounced.

what was the spin rate like during your fittings? Thanks

[Anser]

On 3/25/2024 at 2:02 PM, 4cowboys said:

I guess not a popular driver?

 

The draw oriented clubheads don't tend to get much love here due to everyone being a + handicap on wrx but there are many non + handicaps who love em 🙂

[craz-e]

I actually got fitted into this driver during a recent full bag fitting. I have never had a draw based driver in my life but went for what gave me the best numbers.

 

Edited April 30, 2024 by craz-e

[JungleJimbo]

On 3/25/2024 at 9:44 PM, 4cowboys said:

Just curious if anyone is playing this driver, and what your thoughts are on it. seen some reviews on youtube, but not much on here about it. also compared to all the new releases. Thanks!

 

 

https://worldofwunder.callawaygolf.com/deep-dive-into-the-ai-smoke-max-d-driver-on-tour/

 

 

[winegr]

Great driver. Forgiving on heel strikes. With a bit of tinkering, maybe down a loft degree down or additionally stiff shaft can take a bit of the draw away. 
 

many will dismiss this driver, but it’s worth a try for people trying to avoid a right miss. Best for faders or heel strikers from my experience. 

[winegr]

I hit this driver again today. It is amazingly forgiving. Arguably the driver release of the year for me. Flies high. Loft down. 

[03trdblack]

I ordered one with the flat cog and await it's arrival. Other than the upright lie angle, it was fantastic when I tried it out. 

[lefty1978]

On 3/25/2024 at 9:44 AM, 4cowboys said:

Just curious if anyone is playing this driver, and what your thoughts are on it. seen some reviews on youtube, but not much on here about it. also compared to all the new releases. Thanks!

I gamed this driver for a few months. Great driver, nothing major wrong with it. I moved to the Qi10 LS to chase the almighty extra yards. The only issue with the Smoke AI Max D is the ball flight was high and I was losing yards on roll out. Other than that, it's a great.

[bking556]

My miss is usually a left pull (not draw) or a slice right. I play the Sim 2 Max 9 degree with a Velocore Blue 6S, launch is fine for me. I thought about maybe going to a 7S to help with dispersion. The weight shouldn’t be an issue at all, I’m active in the gym almost daily but I don’t get a ton of time to practice or play golf (once a week is usually max).
 

Could going to something like with at 10.5 with a Velocore Black be a good idea? Higher launched head but lower launching shaft to try and avoid the slice? 
 

Or possible an AI Smoke Max with the sliding weight? I know the best overall option is to get fit but that isn’t an option right now so I’m just looking for ideas.

Edited April 30, 2024 by bking556

[bcflyguy1]

53 minutes ago, bking556 said:

My miss is usually a left pull (not draw) or a slice right. I play the Sim 2 Max 9 degree with a Velocore Blue 6S, launch is fine for me. I thought about maybe going to a 7S to help with dispersion. The weight shouldn’t be an issue at all, I’m active in the gym almost daily but I don’t get a ton of time to practice or play golf (once a week is usually max).
 

Could going to something like with at 10.5 with a Velocore Black be a good idea? Higher launched head but lower launching shaft to try and avoid the slice? 
 

Or possible an AI Smoke Max with the sliding weight? I know the best overall option is to get fit but that isn’t an option right now so I’m just looking for ideas.

With those two misses, the only sure way to fix them is to get your path less out-to-in. Anything else is pure guess work.

[winegr]

3 hours ago, bking556 said:

My miss is usually a left pull (not draw) or a slice right. I play the Sim 2 Max 9 degree with a Velocore Blue 6S, launch is fine for me. I thought about maybe going to a 7S to help with dispersion. The weight shouldn’t be an issue at all, I’m active in the gym almost daily but I don’t get a ton of time to practice or play golf (once a week is usually max).
 

Could going to something like with at 10.5 with a Velocore Black be a good idea? Higher launched head but lower launching shaft to try and avoid the slice? 
 

Or possible an AI Smoke Max with the sliding weight? I know the best overall option is to get fit but that isn’t an option right now so I’m just looking for ideas.

If you slice I would definitely get the Max D vs Max. 

[Kale_m]

My buddy is a +2 hcp and he uses the max d. He loves it 

[dmeeksDC]

On 4/30/2024 at 4:45 PM, 03trdblack said:

I ordered one with the flat cog and await it's arrival. Other than the upright lie angle, it was fantastic when I tried it out. 

A few of us were hitting various heads and we all were impressed by the MAX D. The Johnny Wunder piece is worth reading. It is versatile — easy to hit a fade with the MAX D or turn it over. Not a hard left club at all. In fact, I found you can lean into a power fade and it won’t over cut. It does get the ball up. No problems with launching the 9 degree MAX D. 

[winegr]

I found that too. Just doesn’t have the top end ball speed for me. 2-3 mph down for huge foregivness. 

[dmeeksDC]

20 minutes ago, winegr said:

I found that too. Just doesn’t have the top end ball speed for me. 2-3 mph down for huge foregivness. 

Ball speeds are all close enough for me with all the heads but I don’t focus on that because I top out in the 150s regardless of the head. It is what it is. What I always seek is a driver that gives me a predictable stock shot with little effort. As auto-pilot as possible. I can see why those Tour pros like to set up the MAX D to hit a power fade. It’s a great club for that shot because it won’t go too much to the right. Kind of weird that a draw biased club is great for a fade but it is because it takes away the fader’s miss — that wipe to the right shot. 

[Climbhard]

Related.  10.5 Rogue max D set -1 / N.  to drop the launch and spin and open the face.  Shaft is AD DI.  I have never hit a straighter driver in my life. Everything is dead nuts, straight or I tee the ball up a little and bomb a soft draw. I’ve never hit a driver straighter or longer. Won me 200 bucks at PXG!

[Tom7]

I was a little surprised when my fitter recommended the Max D, but I love it. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to work the ball, but the balance is just right.

 

Currently playing a 9° with the Denali Black 70 6.5. My miss is a high fade that just keeps leaking right, and the draw bias seems to have erased that. Hit a nice gentle draw on perfect swings, then a playable fade when I miss it. Can't believe how predictable and consistent the Max D is.

[dmeeksDC]

1 hour ago, Tom7 said:

I was a little surprised when my fitter recommended the Max D, but I love it. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to work the ball, but the balance is just right.

 

Currently playing a 9° with the Denali Black 70 6.5. My miss is a high fade that just keeps leaking right, and the draw bias seems to have erased that. Hit a nice gentle draw on perfect swings, then a playable fade when I miss it. Can't believe how predictable and consistent the Max D is.

Congrats. Play it and keep us posted. There was an assumption that the Smoke MAX D replaced the Paradym X, but that is not how it matches up according to Johnny Thompson, the Callaway rep who fits the Tour players. 
 

I found this the most interesting point in the article above, when Thompson talks about fitting Bhatia. 
 

“JT: The Rogue ST MAX LS is a VERY unique club. We never really had an option in Paradym that had the same lie angle, MOI but low spin and draw CG.  Last year, we had no chance with him, not without an effort, we tried.  

This year, MAX D aligned perfectly with RST MAX LS, the only problem was he didn’t want to change anything at the start of the year.  His MAX D has been 2-4mph faster, more forgiving, and lower spinning, 10-15 yards longer but he had such an attachment to the RST MAX LS that it couldn’t break through.  Luckily a few rounds of below average driving for him created an opportunity to take a flier on Sunday at The Masters.  It went great and after practice days at Hilton Head Island, over the phone, he said…

 

“I’m sitting here wondering why I didn’t put this driver in 3-4 months ago.” — Akshay Bhatia

[mlp021]

How does AI Smoke Max D compare to the Paradigm X? 

 

Is the X more draw biased? Or is it a similar club --- it just gets there in a slightly different manner/way?

[bcflyguy1]

Draw bias more subtle in the X.

[this_is_golf]

I just bought a slightly used Max D. I’m excited to try it out because I fight the right side of the fairway. My only reservation is that it’s a 10.5* head so I’ll have to check the launch angle. 

[Cactus Jack]

Does the driver have a closed face or just internally weighted to draw?

[Rbsiedsc]

For someone who currently hits a push would this head be suitable for me to avoid the fadey miss? I have seen some reviews and the toe shots scare me as that is my face miss and i dread the duck hook. Its why I am looking more at the TD line

[STEWscot8]

For me it's the best driver i've ever had, perhaps the new ventus blue shaft is helping as well.

 

As a disabled golfer i have trouble turning my hands over so my miss is right, overall my driver setup works great this year.

[Cactus Jack]

Im very tempted to pick up a 9* head and crank it to 7* with a strong cog. If I could drop launch and spin while retaining the forgiveness, this club could be perfect. 

[bryanwmilburn]

I picked up a set of Paradym irons. Really want to just be much more of a “point and shoot” golfer this year. In the TD now and it’s ridiculously hot but just a bit Jekyll and Hyde good/bad. Love the idea of a single shot shape in a forgiving head with lower spin. Might give it a whirl!

[lefty74pgh]

I saw this driver in the store today and it looks really good. I’m currently playing a RST Max LS and looking to change. Was thinking of going Titleist TSR2 (They had a used one for $255) or wait for the new GT series, but after seeing the Max D in person and reading all the great reviews I may go with this route.