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By
Steve Pike,
PGA.com Senior Writer
03.28.2005
10:57 am (ET)
Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) will make its long-awaited entry into the forged irons market on Apr. 15, when it begins shipping its new X-Tour irons. The irons, according to Callaway, are forged in two pieces -- a notch-weighted, cavity-back design and a face plate design -- made entirely from soft 1020 carbon steel. The bodies of these irons are forged as one piece with the back cavity and face platform precisely milled to accept the face, which is laser-welded to the body. This design process, Callaway officials said, allows the X-Tour irons to incorporate their core technologies, a 360-degree Undercut Channel, Extreme Notch Weighting and a modified bore-through hosel. The X-Tour irons were designed by Roger Cleveland, Chief of Design for Callaway Golf. "It has been very exciting for me to work on Callaway Golf's first iron offering in a category that appeals to so many passionate and skilled golfers," Cleveland said. "I believe the X-Tour irons bring a new level of performance in shot-making that can be easily discerned and enjoyed by better golfers." The X-Tour irons have been played on the professional tours for the past few months. Phil Mickelson, for example, used them to win the FBR Classic and the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am; Annika Sorenstam used them to win the MasterCard Classic, Safeway International and Kraft Nabisco Championship; and Craig Parry won with them at the Heineken Classic in Australia. The X-Tour irons (suggested retail price $1,200 per set) come standard with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shafts in flexes of R300 (regular), S300 (stiff), and X100 (extra stiff). The standard set makeup is 3-iron through pitching wedge. Copyright 2005 PGA.com. All rights reserved.
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