Callaway Paradym X Irons Review – Expert Tested

This is Golfer Geeks’ Callaway Paradym X irons review.

I’m an avid golfer, 8ish handicap on my way to a 2 (been a 5.6) and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015.

Summary: Callaway Paradym X irons are a solid choice for most mid-handicaps and some high-handicaps. They offer a good combo of forgiveness, distance, help with launch, and a touch of playability.

In this review of the Paradym X irons, I discuss my experience with the clubs, their unique features and benefits, customer reviews, and potential alternatives. 

About Jamie

I’m an avid golfer, with an 8ish handicap on my way to a 2 (I’ve been a 5.6), and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015.

• Handicap: 7.8
• Expertise: reviewing clubs since 2015
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Typical ball flight: Mid-High Tight Draw
• Golf ball used: ProV1x, ProV1

Paradym X Iron Specs (Set Tested)

• Set: 4 iron – pitching wedge
• Iron Shaft: True Temper Elevate MPH 85
• Shaft flex: Stiff flex

Club	Loft	Lie	Length
4	18.5*	61*	38.875″
5	21.5*	61.5*	38.25″
6	24.5*	62*	37.625″
7	27.5*	62.5*	37″
8	31.5*	63*	36.5″
9	36*	63.5*	36″
PW	41*	64*	35.75″

How I Tested

One round on the course and one session on my launch monitor. I figured them out pretty quick.

7-iron Launch Monitor Data

Club Speed	Ball Speed	Carry Distance	Vertical Launch	Peak Height	Spin
79	119	185	15*	60.7 ft	3815

Performance Review

Category	Grade
Looks	B+
Sound/Feel	B
Distance	A
Forgiveness	A
Flight/Playability	B
Value	B-

Looks: (B+) They’re attractive and look hittable and forgiving. The heads are the perfect game improvement size. They’re thick, but not elongated. The blue badge and tungsten insert in the cavity look cool, too.

Sound/ Feel: (B) “Clicky” sound and feel. But I could tell when I really caught it and when I didn’t.

Forgiveness: (A) Ample, but you need at least a semi-decent swing to get good results.

Flight / Playability: (B) They’re made to go high, far, and straight. But, I was able to shape them to my liking – which is a slight draw.

Value: (B-) ~$157/club. Not the most expensive, but on the higher end. See other options for the game improvement clubs.

My Experience with the Ai Smoke Irons Set

Launch Monitor Sessions – 1
Rounds of Golf – 1

I’ve tested a few irons from the Paradym family at this point, so I knew what to expect from the Paradym X irons – and I wasn’t far off…at all.

Straight to the course with them I went.

I don’t think I’ve ever tested irons with such light shafts, so I was a bit worried about these. 85 grams is light…very light. My everyday shafts are closer to 130grams, mucho difference.

I severely hooked the first few shots of the round. (I hate saying goodbye to brand new Pro V1s).

I straightened this out by the 5th hole and got to experience what these irons could do.

I was in the fairway and had 185 yards to the middle of the green. I pulled the 6-iron, which has the loft of a strong 5-iron.

I hit the ball right at the pin, but I hit a little more towards the toe than normal. I came up about 3 yards short of the green.

I dropped another ball. I hit this one solid, on a lower flight, with a draw, and finished in the middle of the green.

My shots went basically straight from this point on.

These irons are long and forgiving, but not crazy long nor crazy forgiving.

Honestly, I expected more distance out of them. I expected them to be hotter.

To be fair, I didn’t hit many great shots – so I likely didn’t experience all the distance they had to offer.

Who are the Paradym X irons for?

I’d say from an 18 handicap down to a 12ish.

Low handicaps: (Nope) Check out these.
Mid handicaps: (Yep) They’ll make the game easier for you, but still have playability.
High handicaps: (Maybe) Worth testing if you’re knocking on the door of mid handicapdom.

Potential Alternatives

Callaway Ai300 Irons – Better performance. Better feel and sound. About $43 more per club.

Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal irons – Better performance. Best feel and sound in the sport. Better price.

Titleist T350 irons — Better performance. Better feel and sound. About $43 more per club

FAQs

Customer Reviews

Can’t believe it, but there are none at Callawaygolf.com.₍₁₎

Final Verdict

The Paradym X irons hit their mark and are solid game-improvement irons.

They want to go high, they want to go straight, and they’ll cover for a lot of marginal swings.

They’ve got:

• Good distance.
• Good forgiveness.
• The elevate the ball well with good carry and hold greens well.

As usual…

My #1 suggestion is to get your hands on them before you buy. Either at your local golf store or take advantage of Global Golf’s Utry trial program. I use it and recommend it.  

Thanks for checking out our Callaway Paradym X irons review and let us know how they work for you.