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Today, I’ll be reviewing the Callaway Elyte X irons.
The Elyte X benefits from the same modern speed-maximizing technologies as the standard Elyte iron including a new Ai10x Face and Speed Frame.
However, as the game-improvement model in the Elyte family, it has a larger, thicker, more confidence-inspiring profile that is designed to deliver maximum forgiveness.
How do the Elyte X irons actually perform when put to the test? How do they compare to the previous generation Paradym Ai Smoke and the standard Elyte? Who are they best suited for? Are they worth putting in the bag?
Here’s what will be covered in the review:
Read on to learn what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
The Elyte X iron is a new release, so the ratings that are out there are currently limited.
However, it won a gold medal on the Golf Digest 2025 Hot List and enjoys wide praise from critics and consumers, with a 5/5 rating on the official Callaway store.
What People Like
- confidence-inspiring at address
- impressive turf interaction
- stable and highly forgiving
- fantastic looks
- fast off the face
- responsive & smooth impact feel
What People Don’t Like
- strong lofts can somewhat limit spin and trajectory
The Features
The Elyte X irons pack the same technologies as the standard Elyte, namely:
- Speed Frame: connects the topline to the body, adding stiffness to the body and supporting the thin face. This leads to more face flexion at impact and hence higher ball speeds.
- Ai10x Face: a new face technology that delivers ten times more control points than the Ai Smart Face of the previous generation, further enhancing performance across the face. This means higher ball speeds, tighter dispersions, and better optimized spin and launch.
- Tri-Sole Design: a sharper leading edge and chamfered trailing edge enable clean, efficient entry and exit from the turf. The mid section promotes forgiving and versatile turf interaction.
- Urethane Microspheres: work with the Speed Frame to dampen vibrations from the ball impacting the face.
The key differences that set the Elyte X apart are:
- a cavity-back construction (instead of a hollow body) designed to deliver maximum forgiveness across the face
- a larger overall profile including thicker topline, wider sole, and increased offset, all of which make for a more confidence-inspiring look at address and make the iron easier to hit
Stock Info
The Elyte X irons come in 4-SW (18°-54°). Sets and singles are available.
The stock shaft options are the Project X Denali Charcoal 55, 65 & 75 in graphite and the True Temper Vector 80 & 90 in steel. The stock grip is the Lamkin Crossline.
If you’re interested, more information on shafts, grips and other customizations can be found here.
Below are the specs of the Elyte X irons (click to enlarge):
The Performance
In the sections that follow, I’ll talk about my experience with the Elyte X irons. Let’s jump right in.
Distance
The speed of the Elyte X iron is tremendous. On average, there seems to be a fairly small but real jump in ball speeds of around 1-2 mph compared to the standard Elyte, which is consistent with Callaway classifying this iron as being the longest in the Elyte family.
I’ve said many times before that raw distance isn’t as important in irons as it is in woods, but nevertheless, it’s nice to feel confident that you can reach almost any green in two.
Forgiveness
The Elyte X irons are as forgiving as they are long. My field test suggests that the forgiveness is what you would expect from a super-GI iron, and Callaway classifies these irons as being the most forgiving in the Elyte family as well.
Ball speeds are very consistent across the face; during my session, they varied by no more than 5% or so, even on my worst mis-hits.
In addition, dispersions are impressively tight. This iron will do a lot for you in terms of keeping mis-hits on the green or just off of it.
Playability/Trajectory
The lofts of the Elyte X irons are a degree weaker than the standard model across the board. Having said this, launch angles are similar, likely due to the lower and more rearward positioning of the CG.
Spin is a little bit on the low side. Stopping power into greens is passable for higher handicappers but probably not sufficient for most better players; in fact, in my experience, this iron has the worst stopping power in the Elyte family.
At the same time, workability is rather poor. While the Elyte X is very well suited for getting the ball reliably towards the green on approach, it certainly is not a shot-shaper’s iron.
The Look
The Elyte X has a simple, traditional aesthetic that is nearly all chrome. This is enhanced by a textured region on the back of the iron, overlaid with some dark accent logoing, which gives it a modern touch.
This is the chunkiest iron in the Elyte family, with a thick top line, wide sole, and significant offset. The blade length is also a bit longer than the standard Elyte. It’s certainly one of the thickest game-improvement irons I’ve seen.
The oversized iron has more offset than any Paradym Ai Smoke model from the previous generation. The tri-sole design and other intricacies really make it feel like you’re playing a premium, well-made iron.
I appreciate the fact that the difference in size between the Elyte X and Elyte is substantial rather than marginal, but this kind of chunky iron generally doesn’t appeal to my eye. Nonetheless, it should inspire confidence in many players.
The Sound & Feel
The feel of the Elyte X iron at impact is, like the standard Elyte, solid with a touch of softness and explosiveness. There is a level of firmness to the strike (perhaps a touch firmer than the standard model) that is very satisfying when you make center contact.
Callaway’s urethane microspheres make a return this generation, and like the original Paradym, they help mute and quieten the impact sound.
While I found little difference in sound across the face compared to the standard model, the feel across the face is more consistent. This makes the experience of hitting the iron more pleasant on mis-hits, but it also means the feedback is less informative. However, you should still be able to discern the general area of ball contact.
The wider sole of the Elyte X is less conducive to digging into the turf. This sole performs very well out of a variety of lies but may struggle if the ball is sitting down in long grass.
Where To Buy These Irons Online
If you want a brand new set of (or individual) Elyte X irons with custom shafts, grips, lengths, lofts, lies, etc., definitely head over to this page on the official Callaway store.
If you want to find good savings, you can look on eBay. Alternatively, check out what’s available at Global Golf or PGA TOUR Superstore.
Final Thoughts
If you want the best in ball speeds, superior forgiveness, and a chunky game-improvement profile in your next set of irons, the Callaway Elyte X should be at the top of your consideration list.
The Elyte X is affordable for a modern iron, with a three-figure price tag for a full set.
It may not be the best when it comes to control, precision and spin, but it can be a game-changer for many high handicappers who struggle to reach or hit the green on their approach. And the sharp looks and exceptional feel only add to its appeal.
Are you interested in the Elyte X irons? Have you played them? What’s your experience? Tell us about it in the comments below.
