Callaway's Paradym has taken the golfing world by storm, with the driver winning six of the first eight events on the PGA Tour in 2023.
The new range promised a 'paradigm-shift' in performance, with a brand new construction aiming to optimise weight placement for huge gains in both ball speed and MOI.
The Paradym X is the most forgiving model in the range, designed to provide a high launch with a slight draw bias.
I put the 18° 5 wood to the test on the course at Stockport GC as well as collecting some numbers with the Flightscope Mevo+ launch monitor.
The Tech
There is an AI-designed Jailbreak Batwing structure, which is pushed to the perimeter of the head to help stiffen the body whilst still allowing the face to flex, to produce faster ball speeds.
A Forged Carbon plate in both the 3W and 3HL model helps to save weight in the toe of the head, which is redistributed to maximise both distance and forgiveness.
The addition of up to 25g of high-density tungsten can help to push the CG low and forward in the head, producing optimal launch and spin, with added speed to give you maximum distance.
Callaway also use AI again to optimise the face design, providing more speed, launch and spin. The face pattern is customised for each model, and works alongside the C300 maraging steel face cup.
The Paradym X fairway wood is built with a more upright lie angle and neutral face at address. The 3 wood is also adjustable, giving the user the ability to dial in the launch.
Callaway Paradym X Fairway Wood Review
Looks and Feel
As I said when I tested the Paradym X Driver recently, I love the look of the new Paradym range as I feel it's a big improvement on Rogue ST and this is no different with the fairway woods.
The new navy and grey colourway is very smart and I love the design on the carbon sole - it looks so premium.
At address, the fairway sits nicely behind the ball and the 18° had a nice rounded shape without looking too big or bulky. There's a hint of offset which should provide a bit of reassurance to those golfers who struggle with a slice.
The two-tone crown design looks very modern and I am a big fan of the white score lines on the face as well as the Callaway logo for alignment, in my mind it makes it much easier to centre the ball in the face.
It feels pretty powerful and fast off the face, with plenty of stability provided by the Jailbreak technology. I also felt like I could swing the club pretty quickly, as shown by my club head speeds during the testing section.
Performance
Before heading out on to the course I tested the Paradym X on the Flightscope launch monitor to see how it performed...
An average carry distance of 205 yards is right where I would expect it to be and is very similar to the numbers produced by the 19 degree hybrid I currently have in the bag.
Whilst my variation in strike cause some differences in carry distance, launch and spin rate I was actually pretty impressed with the consistency of the club during my testing. Fairway woods aren't the easiest clubs to hit well every time so there's always going to be a contrast between your good and bad hits but I didn't feel that it was too extreme with the Paradym X.
As you may expect from a fairway that had a slight draw bias I did find that I was missing shots consistently to the left by around 20 yards, which suggests that it may well do it's job if you want to try and quieten down your slice.
This was actually my first time testing a 5 wood and as soon as I started to hit it I could feel how easy it was to launch and how forgiving it was.
Having used this I can now understand why some people argue that higher lofted fairways are really underappreciated clubs in the amateur game, and I think that so many people could benefit from using them.
The smaller head and slightly more loft actually works to give you more confidence when standing over the ball, particularly when hitting from the fairway, compared to a 3 wood.
The flight was high and it felt effortless to get the ball up into the air. I did miss a couple of shots to the left during my testing, particularly off the tee, but for golfers who struggle with a slice and who are sick of trudging along the tree line on the right side of every hole, this could be a nice change.
Callaway Paradym X Fairway Wood Verdict
Fairway woods are probably the most difficult clubs in the bag to hit consistently but I actually really enjoyed testing the Paradym X.
A club like this could make life so much more easy for you, and could also work as a better alternative than a long iron or even a hybrid in some cases.
You only have to look at what's in the bags of the tour players each week on the professional tours to see that more and more of them are using these types of clubs, so if it's good enough for them then you should be able to benefit too.
The Paradym X really impressed me and I'd definitely be tempted to look at a 5 wood going forward. This model looks great, the numbers were impressive and it was so easy to hit, it's a winner all-round.
Would I Use It?
I'd love to try the standard Paradym Fairway without the draw bias because I loved the overall look and performance of this club.
Who Is It Aimed At?
This club is ideal for mid-to-high handicappers or even beginners who want easy launch, consistent performance and plenty of forgiveness whilst also helping to combat a slice.
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Callaway Paradym X Driver Review
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