Callaway X-Tour Forged Wedge

Callaway's X-Tour wedges are a mixture of old and new, especially the models with the PM grind and MD grooves.

Callaway Golf built its position in the golf business on the strength of its Big Bertha woods. The company later became a force in the irons market, its Odyssey brand of putters is a top-seller, and its golf balls are gaining traction at retail.

Wedges, however, probably aren't what you think of in conjunction with Callaway. But the company's lead golf club designer is a fellow named Roger Cleveland - the founder of Cleveland Golf and designer of many classic wedges, like the enduring 588 line. The X-Tour wedges are the third line of forged wedges he has designed for Callaway. Is the third time the charm?

Appearance
Forget the swooping, rounded teardrop look of previous Callaway forged wedges. At address, the X-Tour wedges are unmistakably a Roger Cleveland design. The straight leading edge, the squarish toe, the high heel - the X-Tour forged wedges look nearly identical to the 588s and Vokey 200 series. That removes a serious stumbling block for tour professionals and other players who trust the look of familiar equipment.

The X-Tour wedges are available in two finishes. The Satin Chrome finish is very rich-looking and less prone to glare than a more polished chrome finish. The Vintage finish is a dark, non-reflective finish that will wear off and rust over time.

The X-Tour wedge I've been using has already lost most of its Vintage finish, which is to be expected. After two months, the finish is completely gone from the sole and lower face, and rust is moving quick on the upper half and back of the club.

Technology
The X-Tour wedges are forged from 1020 carbon steel, a very soft, mild steel alloy. This allows the wedges to be bent to custom lofts and lies fairly easily, and the soft metal also leads to great feel at impact. Many popular wedges, including the aforementioned 588s and other Cleveland Golf models, as well as the Titleist Vokeys and TaylorMade RAC wedges, are cast from stainless steel. Many people can't tell the difference between cast and forged, but some people find forging to have real benefits in terms of feel and sound.

While the X-Tour wedges have a look that looks back in Roger Cleveland's career, the design is very forward-looking. Among the eight different loft and bounce angle options are two special versions of the X-Tour wedges. The 58-11 and 60-11 models have the PM Grind and MD Grooves, two design elements that are quite distinctive.

Overall
A friend of mine says Roger Cleveland is to wedges what Fender is to electric guitars. Namely, the maker of fully functional, esthetically pleasing designs that produce the exact results players want. And while I'm a hack with both guitars and golf clubs, I think my man is right on with is assessment.

Callaway's X-Tour wedges are a formidable entry in the increasingly competitive premium wedge market. By refining the esthetics - and stealing a bit from his own design guide - Roger Cleveland has created a set of wedges that fits a player's eye like a comfy old pair of jeans. And with the PM Grind and MD Groove options, there are some significant new performance wrinkles to set the X-Tours apart from the crowd. I've enjoyed having the 58-11 model in my bag, and it's helped me hit some very satisfying shots. If you're in the market for new wedges and want to add some spin to your short game, try one of the X-Tour wedges with the PM Grind and MD Grooves.

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