Well...here we are, I guess...(Callaway Elyte)

[onehopstopt]

11 minutes ago, POKeefe said:

Correct. It's frustrating to see a 9 yard gap from 4i to 5i and then a 15 yard gap from 9i to PW just because the manufacturer decided to create inflated lofts. All things being equal, club length and loft are the greatest drivers of distance and gapping. Sure, goo-filled irons do get you some extra ball speed and help with misses, but it doesn't change the gapping problem.

 

4 degree gapping at that point in the bag becomes pointless because if you don't have enough speed to maintain the gapping then you're also not going to have enough speed to get value out of those long irons. The vast majority of players who use GI sets should not be carrying a 4 iron. Most shouldn't carry a 5 either. That's why most GI sets can be purchased in 5-W or 6-W.

[DJDJ]

I just got fitted into elytes as well. I was hitting AI smokes and getting too low of a launch and not enough spin. I hit pings and mizuno jpx hm as well. I hit the elytes higher, further, with more spin (which I needed) and a better descent angle than my current set. The mizunos were close to the elytes in performance. The pings were terrible and sounded like banging sticks together. 

[DJDJ]

Hit them on the range….wow. Really liked them. Playing tomorrow so ill have a better idea of distance control afterwards

[mantan]

On 3/9/2025 at 9:25 PM, chern said:

After about a decade of convincing myself I did not need any help with my clubs and stuck with various sets of MB's, I bit the bullet and bought the core Callaway Elyte irons. They are the first set of GI irons that I think "look good" to justify the price. I did no fitting, went in cold to the store and bought everything stock off the rack. 

 

After a session in the trackman bay...I am rethinking everything. 

 

First photo is a driver (Elyte triple diamond with stock tensei black stiff 65 shaft) 

173.1 ball speed, 117.8 club speed, 314 carry, 333 total, 2359 spin, 48yd peak height, 5.4 up. 

 

Second photo is the Elyte core 7 iron - 80 gram regular (yes regular) stock shaft

201 carry, 204 total, 4971 spin, 50.8* land angle, 94.4 club speed, 0.0/0.0 path/face 

 

Third photo is the Elyte core 5 iron - again, 80 gram regular (yes regular) stock shaft

231 carry, 237 total, 3839 spin, 43.3* land angle, 98.3 club speed, 1.3/1.2 path/face

 

I am blown away. Whole set 5-AW was 14-15 yard gaps and remarkably consistent. 

 

I never thought I would play these type of clubs, specs - or stock (blasphemy!) anything. 

 

I guess tech has got that good? This is a joke. 

 

(I ordered the 4i (X), GW and SW in the truck on the way home...what have I become). 

 

I went through an iron fitting a couple of weeks ago. It was more just kicking tires as I had a huge Second Swing credit and could use it towards a fitting at their store here in Dallas.

 

I currently play (and love) the Srixon MKii ZX5s.  I went in wanting to try to the ZXi5s and ZXi4s as well as the Ping G440 iron and the Callaway Elytes.

 

The new ZXi5 were really good...but pretty much just like my current irons.  I got the best results from the Callaway Elytes.  We tried different shafts and I got the best dispersion and the Elyte HLs. I didn't realize until he told me afterward that we were using the stock KBS Max 80 shaft regular flex.  I'll admit, my ego questioned if that was the right fit. I took another few swings with it and got fantastic results.  We tried other brand/heavier shafts and they weren't as good as that combo.  The set is schedule to arrive tomorrow.

 

I'm excited to see how they do at the range...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 12 by mantan

[Ty_Guy]

This is great data! Biases keep great swings from diving into what you're doing.

 

If anything, I think the big takeaway is a good swing can play good golf with any club. 

 

I'm a lower ball hitter that is constantly trying to hit higher shots. I am swooning at these numbers.

[DJDJ]

2 hours ago, Ty_Guy said:

This is great data! Biases keep great swings from diving into what you're doing.

 

If anything, I think the big takeaway is a good swing can play good golf with any club. 

 

I'm a lower ball hitter that is constantly trying to hit higher shots. I am swooning at these numbers.

my flight height on these went up an average of 6 yards, no loss in distance, and spin went up 1500-2000 rpms which I badly needed.  Descent angle improved by about 8 degrees as well.

[NicholasP]

I can tell you I am fully committed to my std Elyte 5-PW for the season.  I have a few outdoor rounds in, and at least 30 sim rounds.  My findings compared to Bridgestone J38 CB's I have played for years are.....they are way easier to elevate, especially on thin strikes. My peak height is a little higher, but zero ballooning, and have been a real treat in the wind.  My dispersion has tightened, both front to back and left to right, less curvature on misses.  The feel and sound is probably the best I have experienced from what is considered a game improvement iron, previous iterations did not sound good to me, especially on mishits.  Subjective, but I love the look behind the ball, confidence inspiring without being huge.  They're surprisingly easy to flight, and do what I expect when trying to take something off of them.

 

My only concern is how they will play on firm/fast greens, but with my steeper descent angle and higher trajectory, my guess is I will be fine, and it's not like I am playing high end country club greens every round.  Really excited for the season with these, I can see them actually making a difference in my scores.

[herkyjerk]

  Elyte is the best looking Callaway iron in years.  They are gorgeous IMO.  Thank you Callaway for no green effects.  

[Pens #1 fan]

I think I'm going A.E.G. All Elyte Golf. Irons are definitely nice address and numbers are good. Plus I believe they are a little more forgiving than AI200. I was able to hit TD at range. Of course I hit it really well, no where close to my specs. But I fight toe strikes and left. If TD Max comes I’m all over it. 

[SwooshLT]

The design of the new Elyte core iron is very similar to the 2019 EPIC Forged , lofts are 2 degrees weaker I believe....the colorway is much better and despite not being a forged iron head, I'm hearing great things about the feel.....which is VERY important to me....I'm old and slow but currently play the 2016 Apex Pro with good success yet intrigued enough that I'll demo the core Elyte very soon 😀 

 

 

 

Edited March 22 by SwooshLT

[mantan]

On 3/11/2025 at 9:55 PM, mantan said:

I went through an iron fitting a couple of weeks ago. It was more just kicking tires as I had a huge Second Swing credit and could use it towards a fitting at their store here in Dallas.

 

I currently play (and love) the Srixon MKii ZX5s.  I went in wanting to try to the ZXi5s and ZXi4s as well as the Ping G440 iron and the Callaway Elytes.

 

The new ZXi5 were really good...but pretty much just like my current irons.  I got the best results from the Callaway Elytes.  We tried different shafts and I got the best dispersion and the Elyte HLs. I didn't realize until he told me afterward that we were using the stock KBS Max 80 shaft regular flex.  I'll admit, my ego questioned if that was the right fit. I took another few swings with it and got fantastic results.  We tried other brand/heavier shafts and they weren't as good as that combo.  The set is schedule to arrive tomorrow.

 

I'm excited to see how they do at the range...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the experiment didn't work out for me.  I struggled to groove the Elytes at the range. I think it was more the change in shaft than the clubhead.  It was 20 grams lighter than the shafts I played for years. 

 

I had multiple range sessions and two rounds and ended up going back to my old irons. The feel really good for a cast club. I wish I would have got them with different shafts. I used the Playability Guarantee and ordered some more Srixons.....

 

 

[30putts]

Have they solved the flier problem yet? If so might as well put some p790s in the bag

[CapeCodGolfer]

On 3/10/2025 at 4:04 PM, onehopstopt said:

 

4 degree gapping at that point in the bag becomes pointless because if you don't have enough speed to maintain the gapping then you're also not going to have enough speed to get value out of those long irons. The vast majority of players who use GI sets should not be carrying a 4 iron. Most shouldn't carry a 5 either. That's why most GI sets can be purchased in 5-W or 6-W.

 There should be an organization that standardizes club loft > number mapping so that manufactures can't continually strengthen the lofts just to convince us the new irons go further.

[chern]

11 minutes ago, CapeCodGolfer said:

 There should be an organization that standardizes club loft > number mapping so that manufactures can't continually strengthen the lofts just to convince us the new irons go further.

 

Do you test them often to show that the lofts are causing gapping issues or is that a response based on headline reading and assumption? Plenty of videos online recently from respected fitters showing why lofts are not relevant, nor is the stamping of the sole number. 

[chern]

On 3/10/2025 at 4:48 PM, POKeefe said:

Correct. It's frustrating to see a 9 yard gap from 4i to 5i and then a 15 yard gap from 9i to PW just because the manufacturer decided to create inflated lofts. All things being equal, club length and loft are the greatest drivers of distance and gapping. Sure, goo-filled irons do get you some extra ball speed and help with misses, but it doesn't change the gapping problem.

 

Plenty of videos to disprove all of this online from respected fitters? 

[chern]

3 hours ago, 30putts said:

Have they solved the flier problem yet? If so might as well put some p790s in the bag

 

The flier problem has been proven as a myth for about 4-5 years on YouTube from respected fitters. 

[CapeCodGolfer]

1 minute ago, chern said:

 

Do you test them often to show that the lofts are causing gapping issues or is that a response based on headline reading and assumption? Plenty of videos online recently from respected fitters showing why lofts are not relevant, nor is the stamping of the sole number. 

 

I don't think I've seen the videos you are talking about (would be happy to watch), but are you talking about the Bryson sort of comment about how a specific club needs to spin a certain amount to a certain height, regardless of how far it goes?  That makes a little sense to me I guess but I still think loft jacking is 99% for ego purposes/to sell more clubs to people based on distance.  And it just confuses everything when different club models have totally different lofts.  Its unnecessary.  

 

I'd say a PW should always have to have 44–48˚ of loft, even if over time or between different types of club models (hollow body vs baldes etc) the performance changes it would still simplify things IMO.

[Smokey227]

Has anyone compared these to the p790s yet? Would like to see that comparison.

[chern]

24 minutes ago, CapeCodGolfer said:

 

I don't think I've seen the videos you are talking about (would be happy to watch), but are you talking about the Bryson sort of comment about how a specific club needs to spin a certain amount to a certain height, regardless of how far it goes?  That makes a little sense to me I guess but I still think loft jacking is 99% for ego purposes/to sell more clubs to people based on distance.  And it just confuses everything when different club models have totally different lofts.  Its unnecessary.  

 

I'd say a PW should always have to have 44–48˚ of loft, even if over time or between different types of club models (hollow body vs baldes etc) the performance changes it would still simplify things IMO.

 

Several from TXG/Club Champion, multiple from Trottie, Wunder and Elite Performance. Matt (Blois) did one the other day too. "SGI vs" or model specific videos. What part about Bryson's quotes do you disagree with? CG goes down and back, ball flight goes up, land angle increases. What does the number of a club in a set - or other set - have to do with getting ideal numbers for you or anyone? Who cares about loft/spin if you're getting the right (or more) launch/land angle from 5-15 further per club more often with a wider range of strikes? Why would you or anyone see that as a negative or ego? Isn't it the opposite refuting it? 

[CapeCodGolfer]

1 minute ago, chern said:

 

Several from TXG/Club Champion, multiple from Trottie, Wunder and Elite Performance. Matt (Blois) did one the other day too. "SGI vs" or model specific videos. What part about Bryson's quotes do you disagree with? CG goes down and back, ball flight goes up, land angle increases. What does the number of a club in a set - or other set - have to do with getting ideal numbers for you or anyone? Who cares about loft/spin if you're getting the right (or more) launch/land angle from 5-15 further per club more often with a wider range of strikes? Why would you or anyone see that as a negative or ego? Isn't it the opposite refuting it? 

Of course that sounds great, but if it goes 10-15 yds further, and is also 2-4˚ stronger than before... it should be stamped 1 club number less.  Look the extreme conclusion to this is that say a PW goes to 34˚ and now you have 6+ wedges beyond that.

 

Its just my opinion and we might have to agree to disagree.

[DJDJ]

Love mine. They go so much higher than my old irons, just as straight and far. Shot a 71 today with them and hit the stick twice. It’s nice holding greens again 😊

[NosajNeelik]

8 hours ago, CapeCodGolfer said:

 

I don't think I've seen the videos you are talking about (would be happy to watch), but are you talking about the Bryson sort of comment about how a specific club needs to spin a certain amount to a certain height, regardless of how far it goes?  That makes a little sense to me I guess but I still think loft jacking is 99% for ego purposes/to sell more clubs to people based on distance.  And it just confuses everything when different club models have totally different lofts.  Its unnecessary.  

 

I'd say a PW should always have to have 44–48˚ of loft, even if over time or between different types of club models (hollow body vs baldes etc) the performance changes it would still simplify things IMO.

Bryson is the king of jacked lofts and inflated egos 

[PuffyC]

I love the look of these irons but I’m concerned with gapping. Has anyone done a full bag mapping with these? If so I’m curious what you found. The Elytes are almost 3 full clubs stronger than 90s specs so the distance isn’t surprising but the 5 degree gapping in the scoring clubs makes me raise an eyebrow.

[bellairemi]

I hit the Elytes today in a fitting today.  They certainly are an improvement over the AI Smoke irons - better looking, better feeling and they do have higher spin.  However the spin was still too low for me (I am not particular fast - I was swinging the fitting club at 83 give or take and I play a draw). 

 

The front to back dispersion was not good for me because I would get a knuckleball when the spin dropped a little lower.  The disperson circle of my current iron was less than 1/2 the size of the Elyte one.  While we could move the spin a little by changing the shaft, it was not enough to offset the fact that I sat pretty low on the spin profile on even my best shots.

[DJDJ]

15 hours ago, PuffyC said:

I love the look of these irons but I’m concerned with gapping. Has anyone done a full bag mapping with these? If so I’m curious what you found. The Elytes are almost 3 full clubs stronger than 90s specs so the distance isn’t surprising but the 5 degree gapping in the scoring clubs makes me raise an eyebrow.

I’m not having an issue. Around 10 yards per club. 9 to wedge on a normal swing is the biggest at 15 but if I happen to get in a gap there I choke up or swing harder which is a shot I’m good at due to growing up playing in 20 mph wind on average 

[roundersmitty]

Today I was at the sim with a friend who plays TEE c725 irons with PGI 70 shafts.  He told me to try them and I found the lighter shaft easy to control and ball flight was great.  My driver SS 100-105.  My current irons are New Level 623cb with Modus 105x and I get along with them well also.  Then on marketplace I see some Elytes 5-SW with PGI 70 shafts for $600usd…never seen the grass yet, so, like a true WRXer I picked them up to experiment.  I will need to get used to the lofts (my current set up is weak, 48* PW).  I’m thinking of bending the Elyte G from 51 to 52 and the S from 55 to 57 to eliminate need for a extra lob wedge.  Thoughts on this?

Edited March 26 by roundersmitty

[DJDJ]

I would hit them first on the course and in particular try some sand and chipping shots before eliminating a wedge you are comfortable with around the greens. A lot of times these are good for full shots but may or may not be around the green. My set stops at PW because I love my vokeys which make up the rest of my wedges.

 

what is your current set up?

 

[roundersmitty]

2 hours ago, DJDJ said:

I would hit them first on the course and in particular try some sand and chipping shots before eliminating a wedge you are comfortable with around the greens. A lot of times these are good for full shots but may or may not be around the green. My set stops at PW because I love my vokeys which make up the rest of my wedges.

 

what is your current set up?

 

My current set up is 44* 9i, 48* P, 52 bent to 53* and a 58*

[DJDJ]

are the 52 and 58 part of the same set as your irons or are they different, such as vokeys, clevelands, etc?

 

your plan could work assuming you are comfortable chipping with these around the green.  I'm super partial to my wedges so I'd have a hard time going away from them but this is your bag not mine 😀.  It also only really matters if you need the extra club somewhere else, or if you wanted to drop the 58 and add a 60 for some specialized shots.

[roundersmitty]

I found a mint set of Elytes 5-S 9irons with kbs pgi70 for cheap to experiment against my New Level 623cb forged with Modus 105x gamers.  The results….the Elytes never came close.  The distance loft for loft was similar.  The feel, height, spin, dispersion was way better with the New Level.   This is my last gi iron experiment. I am about a 6-8hdcp and a good, not great, ball striker.