Meet the Callaway X Prototype Iron: A Japanese Masterpiece
Callaway has just dropped the X Prototype Iron. Made in Japan, very limited and already sold out! This combo set is the ultimate version of the already famous “X FORGED Iron,” but with some serious upgrades in manufacturing technology. If you thought the 2024 Japan Only X-FORGED Iron was impressive, this X Prototype takes it to a new level. We’re talking about a perfect blend of cavity back, half cavity, and muscle back irons crafted for pros and serious golfers.
Precision Meets Soft Feel—Made in Japan
A key highlight of these irons is their manufacturing process. Each head is forged in Japan using the massive Enomoto press, executing a single-strike forging that preserves the metal’s softness. Post-forging, the heads undergo precise CNC milling to achieve their final shape and aesthetic details. The milling marks are then polished away, resulting in a refined finish. This meticulous production is handled in Tochigi, Japan, by Sasaki Co.
Why the Combo Set is a Game Changer
What makes the X Prototype Iron stand out is its combo setup. The I#4 and I#5 irons are cavity backs, perfect for giving you extra forgiveness. Then, the I#6 and I#7 irons shift to a half-cavity design for a nice mix of control and feedback. Finally, the I#8, I#9, and PW are pure muscle backs, giving you that solid feel and dead-on precision when needed. It’s a well-rounded setup that gives you a little bit of everything. I must repeat that these are compact players irons fit for a tour pro and low handicap player.
Next-Level Forging Process
Unlike most forged irons, which are made on much smaller forgiving machines, this includes brands like KYOEI, Mizuno, Miura, and most other Japanese boutique brands that go through multiple strikes, the X Prototype is forged with a massive Enomoto press, which pounds 600 tons of pressure—just once! Then it’s brought milled down to its final shape and finally polished. The fewer strikes keep the carbon steel super soft, giving you that perfect, buttery vibrations at at impact. And since they’re CNC milled, the clubs have almost no variation.
Sleek and Sharp for Advanced Golfers
The X Prototype looks sleek and sharp at address, with less offset than the X FORGED Iron. It’s got that thinner top blade that better players love, and it just screams “pro-level gear.” This is it if you want a set that looks as good as it performs.
Smooth Turf Interaction with Tri-Level Sole
Like the X FORGED, this set features the Tri-Level sole design, but Callaway tweaked it for the X Prototype. The leading and trailing edges are chamfered, helping the club easily cut through the turf. That means better control and more consistent strikes, even from tricky lies.
SPECIFICATION
Number | I#4 | I#5 | I#6 | I#7 | I#8 | I#9 | PW | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head material | Forged mild steel (S20C) + high precision milling | |||||||
Club Length (inches) | 38.5 | 38.0 | 37.5 | 37.0 | 36.5 | 36.0 | 35.75 | |
Loft angle (°) | 23.0 | 26.0 | 29.0 | 33.0 | 37.0 | 41.0 | 46.0 | |
Lie angle (°) | 60.5 | 61.0 | 61.5 | 62.0 | 62.5 | 63.0 | 63.25 | |
Lineup | ▢: 7 club set (I#4-9, PW) |