Callaway x22 Irons golf clubs review

The Clubs
First released in late 2008, the Callaway X-22 irons evolved from the X-20 irons. Following the successful X-Forged clubs, Callaway engineers have worked in close consultation with Tour professionals to produce a set of irons with the popular, thin top line and narrow sole and added bounce. However, there is no reduction in the size of the ball-striking area. The long irons are marginally heavier than their predecessors, aiding the production of a more penetrating ball flight. Callaway’s X-Series of irons, of which the X-22 is the 6th incarnation, have essentially laid down the industry performance standard for golf club manufacturers. Callaway appear to have continued this trend with the X-22 Series irons.

The X-22s are designed with the maximum possible peripheral weighting, allegedly producing a moment of inertia some 10% greater than their forerunners. Coupled with a low, ideally positioned centre of gravity, this means that the X-22 irons offer a greater degree of absolution for “off-centre” shots, whilst producing the best possible trajectory of ball flight. “Precision Notch Weighting” aids in the precise positioning of more weight to the perimeter of the club to generate a higher moment of inertia for greater forgiveness and stability whilst maintaining the centre of gravity position that produces ideal trajectories and feel. The X-22s also feature the modified “Tru-Bore” design, an advanced version of the original design. A polycarbonate plug at the end of the shaft leads to improved “feel” and performance as a result of less vibration. The clubhead shape features aspects designed for professional players, such as a thinner top line and narrow sole. However, Callaway has succeeded in combining such facets with an excellent visual appearance and a large sweet spot into a highly forgiving set of irons that can be played by a wide range of golfers of varying abilities. “VFT Technology” helps to increase ball speed from the clubface for additional distance, whilst the S2H2 hosel shifts weight from the club hosel to the perimeter of the clubhead. A 360 degree undercut channel further aids peripheral weighting by making the centre of gravity lower and further back in the clubhead, making for a bigger hitting area and a stable clubhead, adding even more forgiveness. The X-22s are available in both right and left handed models, with a choice of flexes in both steel and graphite shafts.

Reviews

“Forgiving” was the word most commonly quoted amongst reviewers of the Callaway X-22 irons, the majority of whom found the irons very easily, accurately and consistently. The X-22 irons were particularly well received amongst the mid to high handicappers amongst the reviewers. It has become fashionable of late for such golfers to replace the unforgiving long irons (3- and 4- irons) with easier to hit hybrids or the more lofted fairway woods. However, the majority of this group of reviewers found that the X-22 3- and 4-irons were easier to hit consistently than some 6-irons. Those players with a tendency to slice the ball found that the increased moment of inertia and hence resistance to twisting, along with a low centre of gravity, helped produce straighter, more high flying shots. Beginners found the “grip guides,” indicating the correct hand positioning very useful.

Despite the fact that the X-22 irons are essentially “game improvement” irons, the better players amongst the reviewers were also extremely impressed by their looks and performance. Whilst they are undoubtedly easier to hit, Callaway have ensured that the design of the X-22 irons will appeal to a wide range of players. By narrowing the top line and sole, the Callaway engineers have produced an aesthetically pleasing set of irons, without the sort of hefty, thickset looks that a more accomplished player may find offputting. Furthermore, with the reduction of the width of the sole, the X-22 irons offer a level of “workability” that competitors’ irons will find difficult to match, even allowing for the truer flight of modern golf balls. The Callaway X-22s have plenty of innovative features, but retain some of the familiar technologies of previous X-Series irons, such as the variable thickness clubface and S2H2 hosel. The appearance of the X-22 irons reflects their high quality with the sole notches supporting the impression of power and stability. The Callaway X-series of irons have always been high quality products and the latest offering is no exception (though reflected in the big price tag). A Tour version is also offered with a sleeker hosel, thinner top line and progressively narrower soles that allow even the top players a high degree of flexibility.

The GPS Golf Guru 4 GPS does everything except make the tea

As golf gadgets go the latest GPS Golf Guru 4 GPS has got to be one of those gadgets that most golfers would consider an object of desire. Golf gadgets are unfortunately pretty much ten a penny and most golfers are thoroughly bored with the endless useless ‘new’ idea to improve their game. The regular player’s golf trolley is now mostly bogged down with all the must have gadgets that end up being dragged around for the ride and not much else.

The GPS Golf Guru 4 GPS is something else entirely, yes it is true that it is a GPS similar to others on the market, but this is all singing and all dancing in fact you have to ask yourself, why didn’t someone think of all these extras before? For a start the GPS Golf Guru 4 GPS has a much bigger screen and at 3.5” it makes this GPS much easier to read than most of the competitors out there. The larger screen allows for a better display of the full colour golf maps, with aerial view and a distance tool that provides useful information on the distance to hazards and of course that all important pin! Golfers are able to calculate easily distance to different points on the course and also will allow for the best selection of club to play the hole. There is the ability to listen to music, view pictures and an auto mode that allows for all the vital information to be displayed without having to use the touchscreen during a round.

The GPS Golf Guru 4 GPS provides access to a huge database of golf courses totalling in excess of 20,000 as well as the option to download vital information entered during play to determine how improvement can be made or alternatively have been made. There is one application that is felt to be completely unnecessary, this is the option to view movies on the GPS Golf Guru 4 GPS – let’s face it not many golfers would have the time to watch a movie whilst on the golf course without of course upsetting the other players! The GPS Golf Guru 4 GPS is priced at around the £220 to £250 range, which for such a great golf gadget is cheap at half the price.

Let the CaddyAid GPS golf system bring out the Angel in you!

If you have spent the last few days glued to the television set watching the golf drama unfold at Augusta, and the final Maters play off which saw Angel Cabrera finally claim victory and his second major golf championship, then no doubt you are keen to get on the greens and start practicing for your green jacket.

To help you along the way to golfing victory, one of the must-have gadgets on the golf course now must be a CaddyAid GPS golf system. The CaddyAid GPS golf system is a useful tool to allow for calculating distances to practically any point on a golf course and will also display photographs of each hole on the golf course being played.

The CaddyAid GPS golf system will show you on the green the front and carry distances on the automated readout screen. The CaddyAid GPS golf system also features a full colour 3.5” display screen, which can provide flyover movie shots of the holes to be played, distance to the pin, shows lay up distances and with full GPS capability.

Golf is one of those areas that they just cannot stop thinking up new and often useless gadgets for, however the CaddyAid GPS golf system is not one of them. The CaddyAid is used by professional golfers and caddies which in itself bears testament to the usefulness of this product.

The CaddyAid is priced around the £300 mark, which admittedly isn’t cheap however the amount of use that a keen golfer will get from this product is staggering making it well worth the price tag. The CaddyAid comes with a MIO P360 GPS enables PDA, the cables and special holder, software, free course download as well as Windows Mobile. It is possible to download up to the minute information on most of the UK golf courses.

Bushnell range finder a god send for golfers!

The Ryder Cup has been responsible for a new wave of golfing enthusiasts with attendance figures, as ever, showing a marked spike after the historic Ryder Cup of 2008. However, how do the golfers of today find their range? How are they able to calculate the yardage to the flag?

While the use of caddies and pinpoint yardage cards is common place on the professional circuit it is not as easy for the amateurs, until now!

The Bushnell Golf Tour V2 Laser Rangefinder is set to give each and every golfer in the land the chance to at least find their range – whether they hit the spot is a different matter. The V2 Laser Rangefinder does not use the latest GPS, prisms or reflectors but relies entirely on a laser system which can estimate the distance to the flag to within 1 yard. This ensures that the device can be used on any golf course around the world.

So next time you step onto the golf course you will have no excuse for ‘getting the yardage wrong’ and will instead have more time to concentrate on actually hitting your shot. Does this mean we should see more Tiger Woods over the next few years? Well, that is a whole different matter for debate……

Sensoglove Golf Grip Training Aid

If we’re going to be frank about this, there are some crap golf training aids available that have no genuine reason for being useful. We’re not really sure whether the Sensoglove falls into that category or not but we know it looks pretty futuristic… sort of. In fact, it looks like something that would have been considered futuristic in the 1980s.

Regardless of its efficacy and value, the Sensoglove aims to improve your swing, as does any discerning training aid (it’s that or putting at any rate). It does this by working very specifically on your grip measuring how tight and the position of your hand, alerting you to any problem areas that you might be displaying as you swing.

Numerous sensors and a tiny onboard computer monitor, store, and analyse the data and as well as pointing out problems, the glove gives you a rating between 1 and 18. As you improve your grip using the Sensoglove, your grip rating should naturally improve and because you can continue to test it over and over again the theory is that the perfect grip will become second nature, your swing will improve, and you’ll get better golf, winning promotion and influencing those around you.

SensoSolutions SensoGlove

We thought we’d covered just about every type of deranged golf gadget conceivable right through to the automatic ball placer that puts your golf balls on your tee for you to save all the strenuous bending over and the like. The SensoSolutions SensoGlove offers to measure and analyse the grip you have on your club (sadly not on reality) and just how well you’re doing.

The SensoGlove creators appreciate that grip is everything when it comes to hitting the perfect shot. Poor grip means poor connection and can impact your swing, but the SensoGlove will analyse your current grip and give you feedback on how close you are to achieving optimum grip conditions.

The glove features sound effects and a graphical LCD display to let you know just how badly you’re doing but I suspect the chances of altering your grip mid swing because of the quick beep isn’t really that achievable.

The SensoGlove can be purchased online and will cost you just under £50. It’s sweat proof and weather proof design ensures that it will stand the many tests it will have to face in order to be considered golf course friendly and ensures you don’t fry your hand while playing in the rain, which is a bonus with any gadget.

The Digital Golf Score Keeper

Sometimes that small scrap of paper and chewed pencile can just be too cumbersome when you need to keep score in golf. So, instead, swap them with a stylus and a digital score keeper that also tells you the time and the ambient temperature in a nifty pocket sized gadget that proves you can turn anything into gadgetry.

At less than £15, the digital score keeper is actually quite a bargain and the perfect gift for golfers that take their Sunday afternoon stroll just a little too seriously. Not only does it keep score for four players over 18 holes but it records everything on one screen so you don’t need to spend five minutes every hole before teeing off while you navigate your way around an obstinately challenging menu system.

What’s even better than that, and better even than the golf ball shaped buttons, is the fact that it stores the scores for use later. Once bragging rights have been won and confirmed by everybody you know then you can clear this week’s score and go again in seven day’s time. Don’t worry, if you lose, you can conveniently delete the scores too.

Digital Golf Range Finder

To most of us, a caddy is little more than bag that holds your clubs, because we don’t enjoy the luxury of a professional caddy – somebody to pass you the right club, inform you of the hazards, give you the distance, and advise on your next shot. For us, we have to calculate distances from ball to hole using the traditional measure; “it’s quite far” or “that’s miles away”.

The Digital Golf Range Finder, which costs less than £20, calculates the distance from where you stand to the pin by using trigonometric calculations, or something. Anyway, because it knows the height of the flag, the Range Finder can then calculate your distance from the flag according to how small it appears in the range finder.

With a range of about 460 foot it should be useful at the local pitch and putt, at the very least. We suppose, although, haven’t tested it (yet) that it could be used for calculating artillery fire and the like during a water fight. Regardless of secondary uses, though, you’ll never have to guess how far away the hole lies and you won’t have any excuses for landing short or over hitting it.

Electronic Help Finding The Sweet Spot

The fabled sweet spot is something that we men (and a select few women) have been trying to find for countless generations, and on the rare occasion we do the result is a thing of true and exquisite beauty. Finding the sweet spot means you’ll drive harder and further and you’ll find the hole more often.

The (ahem) Golf Sweet Spot Finder locates the optimal spin axis of a ball enabling you to felt tip pen a line onto the ball so that you know where to hit next shot. The ball is rotated in a mechanized chamber and a small hole enables you to insert your felt tip nib and draw the line.

We’re not entirely sure of course restriction on the use of this kind of thing, and you may look a bit daft lining up your Sweet Spot Finder before every tee shot but perhaps you could carry a stock of readied balls with felt lines already drawn.

The Golf Sweet Spot Finder runs on battery power, though, so you could always nip behind the bushes to gain that extra edge. Imagine the look of envy when you’re hitting straight and hard, and putting more accurately.

Oh, and it includes a pen!

Take The Physical Exercise Out Of Golf Practise

You try telling a golfer that their preferred Sunday afternoon pastime isn’t a sport and requires no effort, and most will try and tell you it’s more than just a walk through the woods. After all, you have to bend over every now and again to put the ball on the tee and there’s the seemingly endless walk between shots. We haven’t even mentioned the strenuous lifting of golf clubs.

Well, fortunately, there’s a gadget that makes picking up and re-teeing the ball after practising your swing that little bit easier. The Hammacher Scheimer Automatic Golf Tee automatically puts a ball on the tee, without fail, so you can keep your stance and perfect your swing without all of that back breaking effort, leaning over.

What makes it an even better item for the golf lover is that it doesn’t need plugging into the mains, and indeed doesn’t require a power source of any type. Lower the lever with your club and the Automatic Golf Tee neatly and even proudly places the next ball onto the tee. It holds up to 35 balls and can be purchased for about £30 online so is much cheaper than a virtual swing machine.

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