Review: Callaway XR Packaged Complete Golf Set
Published on 07/27/2023 · 3 min readCurated Golf Experts share their experience with using the Callaway XR Packaged Complete Golf Set. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.By Golf Expert
Jorge Arteta
9 photos
The Curated Take
4.0/5
The Callaway XR Packaged Complete Golf Set is designed for mid-to-high handicap golfers, offering ease of use, forgiving irons, and quality design. Featuring graphite shafts, a high-performance putter, and irons designed for game improvement, these clubs provide satisfying feedback, particularly on well-hit shots. The set includes a golf bag, irons, woods, a driver, and a putter, and is ideal for those seeking a comprehensive game-improvement package.
Ideal for
- Designed for mid-to-high handicap golfers
- Best for those who want value and performance
- Best for those who want a complete set of matching clubs
Not ideal for
- Not for the advanced player
- Not for those who want specialized clubs
- Not for those who want adjustable woods
Forgiveness
These are game improvement irons with a cavity back design to help with forgiveness on mishits, higher launch, and distance. There is very little feedback on the hands during off-center...Read more
Spin
These clubs have an adequate spin on the woods and irons. The wedges do not provide much greenside control or spin. These being game improvement clubs, the focus is on...Read more
Feel
I was pleasantly surprised at the feel of the clubs. When I hit the sweet spot, it feels like a thud, but in a good way. I feel the ball...Read more
Sound
I like the sound that the irons make on a good shot. It is muted, soft, yet satisfying to hear. It feels as though I hit the ball well. The...Read more
Distance
These clubs hit the ball pretty straight. They don't offer much workability from left to right, but these clubs aren't supposed to do that. Made for mid-to-high handicap golfers, these...Read more
Expert Reviews of the Callaway XR Packaged Complete Golf Set
Jorge Arteta The Callaway XR Packaged Complete Golf Set is designed for the mid-to-high handicap golfer. This set offers a high level of performance. I like how easy the clubs are to hit. The irons have plenty of forgiveness, yet when hit in the sweet spot, they provide smooth feedback without vibration from mishits.
The look of the clubs is high quality and does not feel cheap. These are not for advanced players or those looking for specialized wedges. The woods and driver are not adjustable, but these are well made and instill a quiet confidence at address.
These are worth a look for those who want a complete game improvement set of golf clubs. They provide value and performance in a matching set that includes a golf bag, irons, woods, a driver, and a putter.
Review Ratings
Forgiveness
4/5
Jorge Arteta gave 4 of 5 stars. These are game improvement irons with a cavity back design to help with forgiveness on mishits, higher launch, and distance. There is very little feedback on the hands during off-center hits. The clubs are made to absorb the sting of a bad shot and still help the ball stay straight. The thicker top line is not very distracting at address but instills confidence.
Spin
3/5
Jorge Arteta gave 3 of 5 stars. These clubs have an adequate spin on the woods and irons. The wedges do not provide much greenside control or spin. These being game improvement clubs, the focus is on forgiveness and ease of hitting, not spin. I found that the wedges are better at bump and run shots than trying to spin chip shots around the green. The driver is neither a low spin nor a high spin face; it just does the average spin, which helps keep the ball straight and not launch too high.
Feel
4/5
Jorge Arteta gave 4 of 5 stars. I was pleasantly surprised at the feel of the clubs. When I hit the sweet spot, it feels like a thud, but in a good way. I feel the ball stick to the clubface a little longer than other clubs, and the set seems to provide feedback that I hit a good shot. Sometimes I wish I would have less "cushion" when I hit the ball, but overall, the clubs feel good for a game improvement set.
Sound
4/5
Jorge Arteta gave 4 of 5 stars. I like the sound that the irons make on a good shot. It is muted, soft, yet satisfying to hear. It feels as though I hit the ball well. The woods have a "thwack" kind of sound that is a bit distracting at first, but then I started looking forward to hearing that sound because then I knew I hit the ball well. When I don't hear it, I know I didn't get the sweet spot. While sound is very subjective, it is good to hear.
Distance
5/5
Jorge Arteta gave 5 of 5 stars. These clubs hit the ball pretty straight. They don't offer much workability from left to right, but these clubs aren't supposed to do that. Made for mid-to-high handicap golfers, these clubs provide forgiveness and hit the ball long. They seem to pop off the clubface, and I feel like I strike the ball well. It is fun to see the ball go straight and far.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Jorge Arteta I was on the ninth hole, a par 4 dogleg left. It was a fairly tight fairway, and I wanted to get it past the bunker that was about 245 yards. If I cleared it, I would have a straight shot onto the green. The wind was coming into me, and the ground was wet, so I wouldn't get much roll. When looking at the driver, I liked that there wasn't any adjustability. The driver felt light yet stable, even with the wind on my face. "When it's breezy, swing easy" is the thought that crossed my mind. Some golfers try to swing faster, and all that does is create more backspin; hence, the ball won't go as far. I got up to the tee box, and my practice swing was smooth and controlled. It felt right, and that's what I wanted to do. As I started my swing, my only thought was, "Stay smooth." Keep my shoulders level to keep the ball low, and I just let it go. The sound of the ball at impact was just right, and I could feel a complete follow-through to the end of my swing. The ball's trajectory stayed low as I had envisioned, and the smooth swing took care of the rest. It didn't seem like there was any wind as the ball went past the bunker and into the right center of the fairway, just where it needed to be to get a good approach shot. What a feeling, the driver performed well, and I finished the hole with a par. It was a memorable tee shot, indeed.
Why did you choose this product?
Jorge Arteta I was looking for an easy-to-hit set that offered all the clubs needed in an organized set with a golf bag. I liked that everything matched, including colors, grips, and the look at address. The set has six iron-through sand wedges with the same look, and I don't feel like I hit some other clubs mixed in with these.
I also chose this product because of the quality materials. The shafts are graphite throughout the set. The driver is a 460cc head with a premium feel. The set does not feel cheap by any means. The game improvement irons are made with maximum forgiveness, high launch, and distance as the key benefits. The cavity back design minimizes bad shots from mishits, and the wide sole on the irons offers smooth turf interaction.
I feel comfortable with this set. The woods feel sturdy and roll through the grass easily. So well balanced and easy to hit, and I like the alignment aid. Overall, I am pleased with this set and recommend it to any mid-to-high handicap golfer looking for a complete set.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Jorge Arteta The main competitors are the TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite and Cobra Fly XL sets. The Callaway XR set offers 12 clubs. TaylorMade offers 11 or 13 clubs, and Cobra offers 10 or 12 clubs. They are all close in terms of what they offer for the value. The Callaway and TaylorMade sets are designed for the mid-to-high handicap player and made with quality materials. The Cobra set is more for the newer or beginner golfer and is made well.
One difference between the Callaway and TaylorMade set is the type of golf bag. The Callaway set offers a stand bag, which I absolutely prefer, and the TaylorMade set comes with a cart bag, which means there are no legs for it to stand on its own. This may or may not be a deal breaker for some, but it sure makes a difference if someone walks the course or visits the driving range often. It's just easier with a stand bag. The TaylorMade and Callaway are similarly priced, depending on whether they choose steel or graphite. The Cobra set is a few hundred dollars cheaper but is made more for newer or beginning golfers.
I think the Callaway offers a solid value for the performance and build of the clubs.
What do you love about this product?
Jorge Arteta I really love that everything matches and feels uniform. Some golfers have mixed bags and different grips and brands of clubs, which works for many players, but I enjoy the same grips, feel, and look of matching clubs. I also like the game improvement design of the set. The irons are especially forgiving, provide a high launch, and mishits are minimized with the cavity back form. I love that the driver, woods, and hybrid are non-adjustable and ready to be hit without distractions. Although adjustability could help some golfers, sometimes it's nice just to get up there and hit the ball with no other decisions to make. Including an Odyssey putter is just an advantage because it is a very good putter that is balanced, has a good weight, and has a soft face. The golf bag is a regular size and offers many pockets, and I love the legs and that it is a stand bag. Overall, I think this is a perfect set for the mid-to-high handicap golfer.
Jorge Arteta
Golf Expert1 Reviews
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