Callaway XR Steelhead Review

Although not the newest release from Callaway, the XR Steelhead is still an iron that is widely talked about and sold by Callaway. The reason behind this is the forgiveness and the simplicity of the XR Steelhead irons. If you are looking for something that performs well without you having to make any adjustments to your swing, the Callaway XR Steelhead golf irons are a great choice. Let’s take a look at what these clubs have to offer and whether or not we would recommend investing in them at this point in your golf career. 

Also Read: Callaway XR OS Irons Review

Features and Benefits of the Callaway XR Steelhead Irons 

For those that are new to the game of golf, it is vital to understand the features and benefits of a golf iron before it is purchased. Essentially you won’t be able to get the technology that you need if you are not aware of what the club has to offer. We know the Steelhead XR irons are forgiving, but there is more to this than just that. 

Distance

One of the technologies that Callaway is most proud of is the 360 Face Cup Technology. The 360 Face Cup will increase ball speed on hits that do not line up with the center of the clubface. If you happen to miss the center of the face, expect that you will still get a good ball speed. 

Also Read: Best Golf Balls for 70 mph Swing Speed in 2022

Most of the time, a missed shot can cause a loss of distance, but with the 360 Face Cup Technology, expect distance to be pretty strong even on those rough days. 

Look, Feel, and Sound

Shock Eliminator Technology helps reduce any unwanted vibration at impact. When you hit the golf ball with a Callaway XR Steelhead in your hands, expect that there will be a good feel. Feel can sometimes be hard to find in a game improvement cavity back iron. 

This Shock Eliminator Technology has turned into the Urethane Microspheres that we see in more modern golf irons from Callaway. However, when you break down the basic technology, there are quite a few similarities between the two. 

The top-down look of the Callaway XR Steelhead is a bit thick. The thicker look is supposed to be a kind of confidence-inducing design that will encourage golfers to get longer and straighter golf shots. If you are a golfer that likes a thinner cleaner look to your irons, the Steelhead XR will not be a fit. 

Forgiveness 

The Callaway XR Steelhead irons have a low center of gravity. This center of gravity helps to increase flight and produce an easy launch. The XR Steelhead was made prior to the concept of lowering iron loft to increase overall distance. 

More traditiona lofts mean that you will end up being able to get a higher ball flight, even if your golf swing does not always promote one. The higher flight, wide sole, and overall forgiveness found in the clubhead make this one of the more forgiving irons in the Callaway lineup. 

Shaft

Considering this is a game improvement iron, there is an option for both a steel and a graphite stock shaft for golfers. The steel shaft is the True Temper XP 95 Stepless. The True Temper XP 95 Stepless is still a very popular option from Callaway and is used in some more recent designs. 

The graphite shaft is a Matrix F21. For golfers that need the extra distance and are not quite as worried about control, the graphite shaft in the Callaway XR Steelhead is the way to go. Overall the graphite shafted irons will be priced a bit higher, but that is because of the cost to produce the graphite shafts. 

Pricing

The Callaway XR Steelhead is very reasonably priced. Golfers are not going to have to worry about the overall costs associated with these irons compared to some of the newest technology on the market. In fact, you will find that the Callaway XR STeelhead is an excellent deal. 

Of course, this is not going to be a perfect club selection for the lower handicap golfer that is looking for the most premium technology on the market, but most average golfers will see benefits from the Callaway XR Steelhead irons. 

Does Callaway XR Steelhead Perform Well?

The Callaway XR Steelhead will perform well, but it depends on what type of performance you are looking for. Golfers that are looking for a higher ball flight with plenty of forgiveness and distance will enjoy what the XR Steelhead has to offer. 

The Callaway XR Steelhead has a wide sole that will only increase overall launch and performance from the rough. Many golfers struggle with hitting shots out of the rough, and the XR Steelhead can make that a bit easier. 

However, not all things about the Callaway XR Steelhead are great. If you are looking to try and control ball flight, these irons are a bit tough to do it with. The forgiveness found in the Callaway XR Steelhead is enough to help you hit straight shots, even if you are not trying to. 

This means that the Callaway XR Steelhead ends up being a great option for the mid to high handicapper. Even the beginner golfer could benefit from the Callaway XR Steelhead irons. 

 Are Callaway Steelhead irons forgiving?

The Callaway Steelhead irons are forgiving, and that is partly because of their 360 face cup technology. The Face Cup technology was introduced on these Steelhead XR irons, and it has not gone away since. Even the much newer Mavrik irons are designed with Face Cup technology in them. 

The fact that you can get your hands on some of this technology at a significantly reduced price is a great deal. Golfers should pay attention to the differences between the newest release and the previous release of a golf iron. Sometimes the changes in technology are minimal and will encourage you to purchase the last version for a lower price. 

 Callaway Steelhead XR Irons Price

The pricing of the Callaway Steelhead XR Irons is very fair, considering the way that iron pricing has increased through the years. Sometimes you may have to purchase these irons individually as opposed to a complete set because they are no longer being produced by Callaway. 

You will not be able to purchase the Callaway XR Steelhead irons with a custom shaft, but they are still available, and you can always reshaft them after the fact. For a forgiving game improvement iron, the Callaway Steelhead XR Irons are a fair price that can work for a wide range of players and budgets.

Pros and Cons

There are both positives and negatives to the Callaway XR Steelhead golf irons. Like any other iron in the game, the Callaway is known for being great at certain things like forgiveness, but it lacks a bit when it comes to workability. 

Are Callaway Steelhead XR Irons Good for Beginners?

The Callaway Steelhead XR Irons are great for beginners. If you are new to the game and looking for some golf clubs that will make your transition into becoming a golfer a much easier one, the Callaway Steelhead XR irons are a great choice. 

Beginner golfers should look to start with just a few of these clubs. You will not need to purchase the pitching wedge, nine irons, eight iron, and seven iron to start. If those clubs work out, you can then start adding some extra options to your bag. 

Many beginner golfers do not need long irons in the bag, and they can instead put hybrids in for the longer clubs; this is typically a better set makeup. 

 Are Steelhead XR Irons Good?

The Callaway Steelhead XR irons are good. Can we tell you they are as good as the new Callaway Apex irons? Absolutely not. However, the Apex is a few years newer, and the improved technology really shows. 

However, not all golfers need brand new technology with high ball speeds and an impeccable feel. For the golfer on a budget that is looking for forgiveness, distance, and higher overall launch, the Steelhead XR irons are a great choice. 

 Conclusion

Hopefully, you now feel as though you can choose a Steelhead XR iron with complete confidence. Although these are not the latest release from Callaway, there is plenty of technology here to help take your game to the next level. The Steelhead XR has many components that Callaway stuck with moving forward with future releases. 

Anytime you can capitalize on this technology that Callaway found essential to keep around, you will be getting tremendous value. The Steelhead XR Irons was not created with artificial intelligence, but for the price they are offered, it is hard to expect too much more.