Review: Callaway Paradym Driver
By Curated Experts
Bobby Funkhouser, Alan Gregory, Jess P., Logan Reese, Ryan Graybar, Austin Perry, Jason Starkey, Jason Hester, Alex Burdekin and Chris U
Callaway Paradym Driver
$399.99
$599.99
33% off
8 photos
The Curated Take
4.7/5
The Callaway Paradym Driver offers excellent distance and is forgiving, making it ideal for golfers seeking yardage and consistency. A 360° carbon chassis, AI-designed face, and Jailbreak technology ensure maintained ball speed even on off-center hits. The adjustable rear weight allows for fine-tuning ball flight. Although not the most workable, it can shape shots if needed. For a lower-spinning, more workable alternative, consider the Paradym Triple Diamond Driver. Overall, the Paradym offers a powerful, forgiving, and aesthetically pleasing option for those looking to enhance their game.
Ideal for
- A forgiving, stable driver that produces consistently accurate shots with distance that competes with other brands
- Easy to launch
- Great distance
- Sound and feel provide confidence off the tee
- Ideal for golfers needing higher launch and longer carry distance
- Adjustable rear weight allows for fine-tuning of ball flight
Not ideal for
- Not a very workable driver for anyone wanting to shape their shots
- Standard shaft length is 45.75", which might be too long for some players
Workability
This driver was not made to be workable. This driver was made for distance and forgiveness. If a player is wanting the Paradym driver but wanting a lower spinning and...Read more
When considering the workability of the Paradym driver, I have a confession to make. As a mid-handicapper, I only want the ball to go as straight and far as possible...Read more
Forgiveness
In multiple instances I hit this driver poorly. When I say poorly I mean missing the center of the face. Times that I hit the ball out on the toe...Read more
Most golfers don't often hit the center of the driver's clubface. Fortunately, the Callaway Paradym shines when it comes to off-center strikes. This tech-infused driver offers a 360° carbon chassis,...Read more
Feel
The feel of this driver at impact is very satisfying when I hit the sweet spot. I could tell when I hit a pure drive with it. The feel when...Read more
The feel on the face is powerful. It features a speed-enhancing face cup and a forged titanium face. I'm unsure about the science behind this design and material, but I...Read more
Sound
The Paradym driver did not have any weird or annoying sound when hitting it. Sounded very normal compared to other drivers on the market. I have never been a fan...Read more
They say that a component of "feel" is the sound generated when the driver impacts the ball. In this case, I agree, as the feeling when hitting the Paradym driver...Read more
Launch
I was very pleased with how easy this driver was to launch. Once I figured out what shaft worked best for my swing, I could launch the ball very easily....Read more
Distance
I was very impressed with the distance I was getting from this driver. Compared to my Callaway Epic Max LS driver, I was getting an extra 15 yards. This extra...Read more
As a 56-year-old guy who doesn't necessarily scream "powerful athlete" at this time in my life, I'm a bit of an anomaly. My swing speed tops out at 112mph, and...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Alan Gregory
About the drivers
- Model: Callaway Paradym Driver
Test conditions
- Where I’ve used it: I tested the Callaway Paradym driver in a hitting bay using GC Quad technology.
- How many times I've used it: 1
Expert Reviews of the Callaway Paradym Driver
Jess P. This driver is ideal for the golfer out there who is looking to add yardage to their game from the tee. The power is impressive. The launch is very high, which can help golfers who need more carry distance in softer course conditions. The driver is not only powerful and highly adjustable, but it is beautiful to look at. The combination of distance, forgiveness, and control will definitely be the draw of this club for tons of golfers.
Bobby Funkhouser This driver is great for anyone wanting a very forgiving driver that will also give great distance. I was very impressed by how straight my drives were going even when I was missing the center of the face. Hits out on the toe and in on the heel were still going straight and where I wanted them to go for the most part. The driver was also very easy to launch the ball up into the air. Distance was great for being a more forgiving driver!
Alan Gregory Using GC Quad technology, I tested the Paradym driver at a sporting goods store. I brought my gamer, the Cobra Radspeed XB, to compare. The model I tested had the stock Ventus TR Blue shaft, similar to my driver's HZRDUS RDX blue shaft. The head stands out, with an interesting mottled blue color with touches of bronze that features a 360° carbon chassis and a face framed with matte blue that contrasts the glossy crown nicely. I think some people may not like the distinctive look.
The Paradym has an adjustable rear weight to help with ball flight, whereas my Cobra has a fixed weight in the rear. The face is designed with AI technology and features upgraded Jailbreak technology, keeping the ball's speed up even on off-center hits.
The sound was in the sweet spot for me—a solid, somewhat dull thwack. The feel was stable and powerful. And one of the things that was superior to my driver was ball speed. That, combined with spin numbers averaging in the low 2,000s, gave me distances that exceeded my driver on average by eight yards, which is not insignificant. The dispersion was also slightly tighter than my Cobra.
The Paradym is the top driver I have tested in 2023. At nearly $600, the price will be too steep for some. This model is most suitable for low to mid-handicappers. I played off 13 and loved it.
Product Specs
| Gender | Men's |
| Club Type | Drivers |
| Used (Y/N) | No |
| Player type | Game improvement |
| Adjustability | Yes |
| Adjustability tool | No |
Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Workability
4/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 3 of 5 stars. This driver was not made to be workable. This driver was made for distance and forgiveness. If a player is wanting the Paradym driver but wanting a lower spinning and more workable driver, the Paradym Triple Diamond driver would be the way to go. If a player wants to add distance to their game and also hit straighter drives, this driver will be great.
Alan Gregory gave 4 of 5 stars. When considering the workability of the Paradym driver, I have a confession to make. As a mid-handicapper, I only want the ball to go as straight and far as possible and stay in play. I rarely ask my driver to hit a cut or draw. So, when I give the Paradym a "4" for workability, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. This driver is made for golfers searching for distance and consistency, not workability. It is a neutral, stable head, and I love that about it. Golfers seeking more workability in a 2023 Callaway driver should consider the Triple Diamond model. For the rest of us, the straight-flying Paradym is just fine the way it is.
Forgiveness
5/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 4 of 5 stars. In multiple instances I hit this driver poorly. When I say poorly I mean missing the center of the face. Times that I hit the ball out on the toe or in on the heel it was very forgiving and still gave me great distance. It was the same when I hit the ball high on the face or low on the face.
Alan Gregory gave 5 of 5 stars. Most golfers don't often hit the center of the driver's clubface. Fortunately, the Callaway Paradym shines when it comes to off-center strikes. This tech-infused driver offers a 360° carbon chassis, an AI-designed face, and Jailbreak tech that enhances moment of inertia, controls spin, and maintains ball speed. It also has an adjustable rear weight to help a bit with shot shape. I tend to hit high toe a lot, which can result in low-spinning draws (or worse, hooks). When I set this club up correctly, I saw longer, straighter shots with better spin numbers when hit high toe. It gave me the confidence to "swing my swing."
Feel
5/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 4 of 5 stars. The feel of this driver at impact is very satisfying when I hit the sweet spot. I could tell when I hit a pure drive with it. The feel when mishitting it was still pretty good. Mishits out on the toe and in on the heel still felt good compared to some other drivers I have tested recently.
Alan Gregory gave 5 of 5 stars. The feel on the face is powerful. It features a speed-enhancing face cup and a forged titanium face. I'm unsure about the science behind this design and material, but I know that the driver felt fast when striking the ball, and the ball speed was the best on average than any other driver I tried.
Sound
5/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 4 of 5 stars. The Paradym driver did not have any weird or annoying sound when hitting it. Sounded very normal compared to other drivers on the market. I have never been a fan of the sound that PING drivers have. Ping drivers are really the only driver that I have ever not been a fan of the sound.
Alan Gregory gave 5 of 5 stars. They say that a component of "feel" is the sound generated when the driver impacts the ball. In this case, I agree, as the feeling when hitting the Paradym driver during testing was powerful and fast, which was how I might describe the Paradym's sound when I hit it. This is a subjective category and one that I struggle to describe when hitting drivers. I liked the sound; it wasn't too hollow or high-pitched. It was a dullish pop kind of sound.
Launch
4/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 4 of 5 stars. I was very pleased with how easy this driver was to launch. Once I figured out what shaft worked best for my swing, I could launch the ball very easily. It was easy for me to hit the driver off the deck, which is rare for me.
Distance
5/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 4 of 5 stars. I was very impressed with the distance I was getting from this driver. Compared to my Callaway Epic Max LS driver, I was getting an extra 15 yards. This extra yardage is quite helpful for someone like me, who could be more confident when hitting my lower lofted irons.
Alan Gregory gave 5 of 5 stars. As a 56-year-old guy who doesn't necessarily scream "powerful athlete" at this time in my life, I'm a bit of an anomaly. My swing speed tops out at 112mph, and my "playing" swing speed averages around 103-104mph. So, I'm not chasing distance off the white tees. However, I won't say no when distance comes in a forgiving package. The Paradym was hands-down the longest driver I tested in 2023. The ball speeds were the best, and the launch and spin numbers were optimal for playability and distance. I was launching around 13-14° and averaging low 2,000s for spin. Ball speeds were in the mid-150s, and my smash factor was averaging 1.45 (this is impressive, considering I miss high toe quite often).
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Bobby Funkhouser This driver amazed me with how easy it was to launch. I was hitting consistent high bombs with it.
Alan Gregory When testing a few new drivers in 2023 at a local sporting goods retailer, I had access to their hitting bay and GC Quad. I started with my driver, the Cobra Radspeed XB, and progressed through a few other 2023 drivers. I like the Callaway look, so when I put it down by the ball, I thought it looked great. But what impressed me was what happened when I hit my first shot. The ball speed was 3mph faster than what I had seen from the other drivers. This wasn't a fluke, either, as it was an average 2mph faster than the other drivers I tested.
Why did you choose this product?
Bobby Funkhouser I chose this driver because I wanted something that was going to be forgiving but also give me great distance. There was also a lot of shaft options available when purchasing.
Alan Gregory I tested the Callaway Paradym driver, alongside the Ping G430 and TaylorMade Stealth2 drivers, at a local sporting goods store in their hitting bay that featured a GC Quad. I currently enjoy my gamer, the Cobra Radspeed XB, so I tried out new drivers more out of curiosity.
But, if I were looking for a new driver, I would have purchased the Paradym. First, I love the look, with the mottled blue paint job and the way the crown is framed with a matte blue, which offsets the glossy crown. For me, pairing the Ventus TR Blue stiff shaft with the Paradym was a great fit. I loved the club's feel and weight when I swung it, and when striking the ball, it felt really powerful. That feel translated to terrific ball speeds and optimal launch and spin conditions on most strikes. It also sounded great. So, the Paradym driver is the total package and was the one I felt the most comfortable hitting.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Bobby Funkhouser The price of this driver is similar to other 2023 drivers from top brands in the industry. The value is great because I am hitting more fairways with it.
Alan Gregory The Callaway Paradym driver is at the top of the price range for a stock driver setup at around $599. However, some of the other top driver models from the major brands are either right with it or not that much cheaper. If the Callaway Paradym is the best-performing driver for someone, as it was for me when I tested it against some of the other major brands, it may be worth the investment. The bottom line is if golfers want to save $50 to $100 on their driver choice, other quality drivers fit the bill. But, if the Paradym is their top choice and they want something that will perform for many years, then the cost becomes less of an issue.
What do you love about this product?
Bobby Funkhouser I loved how forgiving this driver is. Mishits out on the toe and in on the heel were still going a good amount of distance and in the direction that I wanted them to go.
Alan Gregory One word describes what I love most about the Callaway Paradym driver: speed. When testing this club against my gamer and other 2023 drivers, the Paradym produced the fastest ball speeds. As a 13-handicap golfer, I don't often hit the center of the clubface. With the Paradym, the speed across the face was consistently the best I saw from any driver, and it felt powerful.
How does the Callaway Paradym Driver compare to the Paradym X?
Logan Reese The Paradym and Paradym X Drivers from Callaway share most of the same qualities, but have some differences aimed at catering to a wider range of golfers. Compared to the Paradym, the Paradym X Driver is designed for golfers who slice the ball, as it has the most draw bias of any of the Paradym Drivers. It also has a slightly larger head from face to back than the standard Paradym. In conclusion, The Paradym X Driver is for golfers who fade/slice the ball, and are looking for a higher launch and slightly more backspin than the standard Paradym
Ryan Graybar The Paradym and Paradym X are two of the three new driver options Callaway offers in the 2023 line. These are the two more forgiving heads, while the triple diamond is the player's head for low handicaps who want a workable driver. The Paradym is the clubhead that will fit most players. It offers mid to high launch and lower spin in a very forgiving head. The Paradym features a sliding weight and an adjustable hosel. This puts it at the top of the class for maximum ball-flight adjustability. The Paradym, although inherently built for a neutral ball flight, is very easily adjusted to promote more of a draw or more of a fade. The Paradym X is the most forgiving clubhead for high-handicap players. This driver offers the highest moment of inertia in the Paradym line and is built with a draw bias to help players who tend to slice. This driver is also a little more stretched/square at address, giving it a very inviting appearance at setup. If someone wants adjustability and forgiveness, go with the Paradym. If someone wants forgiveness and help against a slice, go with the Paradym X.
Austin Perry I was fortunate to have the opportunity to complete extensive testing with all 3 Paradym drivers. The standard Paradym and the Paradym X aren't radically different drivers, but they are certainly for two different golfers. The Paradym will fit any golfer from scratch to about 15 handicap due to the adjustable hosel and the sliding weight track in the rear, while the X is aimed at the high handicapper who needs to find more fairways. The Paradym offers the most adjustability and mid-range blend of launch/spin/speed/forgiveness of the lineup. The X model, on the other hand, is an all-out forgiveness club; balls struck anywhere on the face seem to magically find the fairway. It is one of the straightest drivers I have ever hit.
Paradym
- Maximum adjustability allows it to be set up for fade or draw bias and a variety of lie and lofts
- Mid-high launch with mid-low spin makes it very long
- 460cc head and AI-designed forged TI face allow for excellent forgiveness
Paradym X
- Maximum forgiveness for golfers looking to hit more fairways
- Wider, flatter head shape allows for more perimeter weighting (forgiveness) and higher launch
- High launch with mid-high spin creates a stable flight that is less likely to curve in either direction
In conclusion, the Paradym X is a purpose-built forgiveness weapon for those who need it, and the Paradym is the mass-appeal driver that almost anyone can love.
Jason Starkey The Paradym X and the standard head are slightly different. First, the Paradym X. The X head is a draw biased head with some weight shifted to the heel of the club. This is good for the player that tends to push the ball right or has that typical miss. Although only slightly weighted to draw, this is the most forgiving of the heads. The standard head is still a very forgiving head. With the AI face, the mis hits to the toe and heel are not as punishing. The standard head features a moveable weight to adjust ball flight left or right up to 12 yards. This is a great option for the mid to low handicapper looking for specific ball flight.
What shaft options are available for the Callaway Paradym Driver?
Jason Hester Callaway has a wide range of stock shaft offerings for the Paradym family of drivers.
- For the high swing speed/lower launch player, the Project X HZDRUS Gen 4 Black would be a great choice
- For the player seeking a low launch and low spin, the Mitsubishi Kai'li White would work best for smoother transition players
- Lighter weight options include the Project X HZDRUS Gen 4 Silver, which comes in both 50 and 60 grams.
Alex Burdekin There is a wide assortment of different shaft options that will make a positive impact on any type of golfer's game. The "senior" flex shaft has a more flexible shaft with the MCA Aldila Ascent PL Blue 40. The average swing speed golfer looking for a "regular" flex can expect to have the mid-launch Project X HZRDUS Silver 50. If someone knows that their swing speed is between 95-105mph, there are options for the "stiff" flex option with Project X HZRDUS Silver 50 or 60, as well as a low-launch/low-spin shaft of the Project X HZRDUS Black 60. If someone is the type of golfer who is a heavy hitter with a fast swing speed, the Project X HZRDUS Black 60 is an option for this club. Any handicap golfer can improve their game with the different shaft options provided and cannot go wrong with this great club.
Chris U The Callaway Golf Paradym Driver can be purchased with several different stock or custom options. The stock graphite shafts to choose from are the:
- True Temper HZRDUS GEN 4 Silver 50 Regular or Stiff Flex
- True Temper HZRDUS GEN 4 Silver 60 Stiff Flex
- True Temper HZRDUS GEN 4 Black 60 Stiff or X-Stiff Flex
- Mitsubishi Kai'li White 60 Stiff or X-Stiff Flex
- Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 Stiff or X-Stiff Flex
Several custom shafts are available from several brands, including Aldila, AutoFlex, Fujikura, Graphite Design, KBS, KINETIXX, Mitsubishi Chemical, OBAN, Project X, True Temper, and UST. There are enough shaft options for every golfer to be able to use the Callaway Paradym Driver.
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Bobby Funkhouser
Golf ExpertAlan Gregory
Golf ExpertJess P.
Golf ExpertLogan Reese
Golf ExpertRyan Graybar
Golf ExpertAustin Perry
Golf ExpertJason Starkey
Golf ExpertJason Hester
Golf ExpertAlex Burdekin
Golf ExpertChris U
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