If you’re looking to take your golf game to the next level, perhaps switching to a new driver which is called ‘Elyte’ might just provide the inspiration that you need to lower your scores.
Named after Callaway founder Ely Callaway, the new Elyte range looks to combine a fast head shape with forgiving properties for the best of both world.
Who Is It Aimed At?
Not necessarily high-handicap golfers, but those who are looking for a little bit more forgiveness from their driver, as well as the possibility of draw-bias thanks to moveable weight.
I like the fact that this weight is moveable, because not every golfer who struggles to launch a driver or needs more forgiveness, is a slicer of the ball! It’s the largest and friendliest footprint of the three Elyte drivers that I tested, aimed at getting the ball in play more often.
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The Tech
The Elyte X is designed for golfers seeking maximum forgiveness and a high launch, with neutral and draw settings thanks to an adjustable 13g weight at the back of the head.
Despite having the largest footprint of the main Elyte range, Callaway have still worked to improve the aerodynamics of the head for better speed throughout the swing, providing a combination of forgiveness and launch.
This also works alongside a new Thermoforged Carbon crown, an aerospace grade carbon fibre that is again helping golfers to swing the club a little faster and gain a bit more speed.
Callaway have also improved their Ai face again this year, with the Ai 10x Face said to deliver ten times as many control points than the previous Ai Smart Face for better ball speeds, dispersion and launch across the face.
Callaway Elyte X Driver Review
Looks
When you put the Elyte X down by the ball you can see that it clearly has a bigger footprint than the standard or Triple Diamond models, with a more stretched-out shape towards the back of the head.
It is the same as the standard head in terms of the matte carbon looking crown, complete with a chevron logo and Elyte script in the heel which I have to say I did find a bit off-putting.
There is also a similar colour scheme to my old Epic driver and the overall look is a bit more simple and a bit smarter than the design on the Paradym Ai Smoke which was pretty loud.
Feel
The Elyte X seemed quieter than the other two heads at impact, and it felt like there was a bit less of a firm pop off the face too.
It was easy to hit and very stable off the face, although I didn’t feel like I was able to swing quite as quickly or freely, the overall package just seemed a bit bulkier to me.
Performance
Testing this driver both on the range and the course at Praia Del Rey I noticed that there was a bit of a two-way miss going with this driver. It wasn’t that I was missing left or right by a long way, but there wasn’t a consistent shot shape when in the neutral setting.
That’s not to say it wasn’t forgiving because it wasn’t massively offline and I think it will help you out on mis-strikes, but I struggled to call whether I was going to draw or fade certain shots because it just didn’t feel as workable.
On the GCQuad I’d say the performance was solid, although not quite reaching the heights of the standard or TD models.
I was really happy with the numbers, and if I’m comparing it to other ‘Max’ or ‘X’ heads I think it was really good, it’s just that the other models were really excellent.
An average ball speed of 134mph and average carry of 218 yards are similar to the yardages I would normally expect for a driver, so to see that from Callaway’s most forgiving head is really impressive.
On the golf course I felt like it was launching high nice and easily, whilst I found that I was catching it a little high on the face compared to usual although it still seemed to perform well.
Callaway Elyte X Driver Verdict
I was really impressed with the Elyte X as this is the forgiving option but it still offered plenty of distance and I think you’ll find lots of fairways with this driver.
It reminded me a lot of the Ping G430 Max head in it’s stability whilst still packing a punch, although it is a little more expensive too at an RRP of £569.
I’d say it’s a step up from the previous Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver both in terms of looks and performance too – I much preferred the Elyte model.
It completes a really strong range between the different heads which cater for everyone, with differences between each model without being too extreme.
Would I Use It?
I prefer the standard driver and my numbers with that were fantastic so I would pick that first as that was on another level! If that driver did not exist though, I would be happy to play the Elyte X.
