Another record release of new products from Callaway

Undaunted by the number of new products it launched in 2007, Callaway Golf has gone even further this season with a record-setting introduction of clubs and balls for 2008.

"This is the deepest, most robust new product lineup we've ever offered," said George Fellows, Callaway Golf president and CEO.

Callaway Hyper X driver

Overall, there are more than 30 new offerings in the Callaway portfolio, which includes Callaway-named products, along with Odyssey putters and Top-Flite balls and clubs. The introductions follow 2007, which itself represented one of Callaway's largest launches of new products, including three new drivers, three sets of irons and several Odyssey putters.

Among the notable Callaway items for 2008 are Hyper X and Hyper X Tour drivers, new Big Bertha irons, FT-i Squareway woods, FT i-brid irons, Tour i and Tour ix balls, X-Forged wedges and a new HX Pearl ball. There's also a wide selection of new women's clubs, along with a new X Junior set. There are four new lines of putters in the Odyssey lineup, along with a Marxman X-act putting wedge. The new Top-Flite fleet includes Gamer, Freak and XL-5000 balls, plus six sets of clubs geared for the recreational player.

"Technology is a major factor in the launch of new products," said Bill Knees, Callaway's senior vice president of marketing. "Callaway spends aggressively on research and development, and the company is a technological leader. When new products that perform better and will help golfers improve their games are ready, we want to make them available."

Callaway also is one of the major manufacturers stressing custom fitting. The company has supplied select retailers and golf pro shops worldwide with its OptiFit Fitting System. Using it along with a trained professional, golfers can test multiple variations of driver and iron clubheads and shafts, and then determine the right model and combination to best help their playing styles.

"The benefit of using OptiFit when golfers are buying clubs is simple: getting players into the perfect club for them," said Knees.

For those seeking the ultimate in customization, Callaway just began offering its new I-MIX Technology, which consists of a choice of different clubheads and interchangeable shafts. More than 1,600 shaft-head combinations are available overall, with pricing varied for each.

"No one's swing is the same from day to day," said Jeff Colton, senior vice president of R&D. "I-MIX Technology gives everyone the ability to quickly and easily customize their equipment, every time they play."

Here's a selected look at the latest from Callaway Golf:

X-Series platform

Hyper X and the Hyper X Tour are the two new drivers in the X Series of clubs, along with X-Forged wedges and new X fairway woods.

The 460cc all-titanium Hyper X drivers introduce Hyperbolic Face Technology. According to the company, HFT is strategic shaping of wall thicknesses to improve impact efficiency and produce a large effective hitting area for higher ball speed across the face.

Lofts for the Hyper X driver include 9, 10 and 11 degrees. Lofts for the Hyper X Tour model are 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 degrees.

The drivers are outfitted with 45.5-inch Fujikura graphite shafts optimized for the clubhead type.

In test sessions among a variety of golfers assembled by CBSSports.com, the Hyper X drivers were rated "very satisfactory." The clubs were particularly praised for a long and penetrating ball flight.

Suggested retail prices are $375 for the Hyper X model and $415 for the Hyper X Tour.

The new X fairway woods also found a consensus of approval from our testers.

The X woods have an upgraded Modified X-Sole, which lowers the leading edge for smoother turf interaction. With lofts of 15, 18 and 21 degrees, plus Tour 13 and Tour 15 models, list prices range from $250 to $275 per club, depending on type and shaft.

Fusion platform

Callaway's multimaterial Fusion series offers premium clubs infused with considerable technology.

Among the new Fusion clubs are an FT-i Low CG driver, FT-i Squareway woods, FT fairway woods and hybrids, and an FT i-brid set of irons.

The driver is an alternate to the original square-shaped FT-i driver, offering discretionary weight positioned lower and in the extreme corners, for an enhanced Moment of Inertia (MOI) stability factor on off-center hits and a more penetrating ball flight. Suggested retail price is a premium $675.

The Squareway woods are like they sound: square. They are meant to be a counterpart to the FT-i drivers. With an oversize head shape and enhanced MOI stability, the multimaterial construction combines a steel face, sole and body with a carbon composite crown. Lofts offered are 15, 18 and 21 degrees. List price is an equally lofty $375 each.

The FT hybrids combine a stainless steel face and body with a tungsten-infused sole. Draw or neutral weighting is available with lofts of 18, 21, 24 and 27 degrees. Suggested retail price is $250.

A set of FT irons represents an evolution of Callaway's original Fusion irons. The new clubs boast extreme perimeter weighting and a new head shape that should appeal to low- and mid-handicap players.

The FT i-brid irons are engineered as a fully integrated set transitioning from game improvement mid and short irons to the new low-numbered i-brid design. The clubs feature a lightweight titanium body, urethane SenSert in the rear to enhance feel and dampen vibration, and a heavy Tunite alloy to aid forgiveness.

Our testers provided "very satisfactory" reviews for the FT hybrids and irons, and recommended the FT i-brid set for players seeking a premium game improvement set. Reviews were mixed for the FT-i Squarewoods.

Suggested retail prices for the FT irons are $180 each with a steel shaft and $200 with graphite. List prices for the FT i-brids are $200 each with a steel shaft, $235 with graphite.

Big Bertha platform

There are newly reformulated Big Bertha irons in the series for men. For women, the Big Bertha series features a new driver, fairway woods, irons and a complete GEMS set.

The men's Big Bertha irons are regarded as super game improvement clubs. Nos. 3, 4 and 5 are i-brids meant to blend the control and accuracy of irons with the forgiveness, versatility and distance of hybrids.

The irons have extreme notch weighting to help provide greater MOI stability and and Variable Face Technology to maximize ball speed.

The scoring irons include approach, sand and lob wedges.

Suggested retail prices are $98 per club, or $784 for an eight-club set, with steel shafts, and $125 per club/$999 per set with graphite.

Callaway balls

Callaway Tour i ball

Tour i and Tour ix are the new premium performance balls in the Callaway arsenal. Other new balls include the HX Hot Bite and reformulated HX Pearl.

The Tour i and Tour ix balls are similar four-piece products. Both have a dual-core construction, with a soft inner core to enhance feel and a responsive tungsten-infused outer core. A high-density mantle layer is designed to work with the dual core to reduce driver spin and enhance ball speed for greater distance. A new urethane cover is slightly softer for the Tour i ball, slightly firmer for the Tour ix.

CBSSports.com testers rated the Callaway tour balls "excellent," and cited them for positive feel, trajectory, distance and workability. "As good as golf balls get," said one tester during an on-course session.

The HX Hot Bite is an update on the HX Hot, with a new soft cover and soft, high-resiliency core. It's a three-piece ball with an ionomer mantle to help reduce driver spin and increase ball speed.

The HX Pearl, targeted at women players, has a soft rubber core, resilient mantle and new, softer pearlized cover.

Suggested retail prices per dozen for the new balls are $55 for Tour i and Tour ix, $37.50 for HX Hot Bite and $32 for HX Pearl.

Click Here to view specs for new Callaway Golf clubs and balls