The Difference Between Callaway X18 & X18R

Callaway designed its line of X18 irons with specifications catering to golfers of a novice to intermediate skill set. In addition to the X18 irons, there are also a "refurbished" models called X18R irons. These two clubs have almost an identical design except for one primary difference that allows X18R's to be less expensive to manufacture and purchase. Also available are the X18 Pro Series irons which have more in common with the original X18 irons than the refurbished ones.

  1. X18 and X18R Iron Heads

    • Callaway designed both the X18 original and refurbished model with deep cavity back and an undercutting sole that spreads the perimeter weighting and widens the sweet spot. This forgiving feature makes the clubs ideal for novice and intermediate golfers but less so for experienced players as the bigger sweet spot comes at the sacrifice of distance and workability. Both club heads extend into a hosel joint that links the shaft and head together and it is in this hosel joint where the two models differ.

    Difference Between Models

    • As with many Callaway irons, X18 has what is called a bore-thru hosel. This means the shaft of the club extends straight through the hosel joint and club head all the way to sole. Bore-thru heads have a very unique feel and are much more difficult to alter or reshaft. Refurbished X18 irons (X18R) have a regular hosel joint, whereby the shaft ends at the base of the hosel and does not extend into the club head to the sole. For this reason, X18R irons do not offer the unique feel of a bore-thru shaft and are less expensive to manufacture and purchase.

    Benefits of Original X18 Irons

    • The bore-thru shaft of an X18 iron actually works to muffle the reverberating sensation that travels up the shaft and into your hands when striking an off-center shot. This can give a golfer more confidence in not fully recognizing just how poorly he hit the ball as well as give the appearance of having more control over the ball and his connection to it through the club. This may sound disingenuous or meaningless, but golf is an extremely mental sport and efforts to play down the extent of a miss-hit can be beneficial.

    Benefits of X18R Irons

    • While the original X18 may have a gentle feel, it is extremely subjective and only you can decide if the minor advance in feel for poor shots outweighs the considerable amount of money you can potentially save. Also, you should consider that maybe the uncomfortable feeling of a miss-hit is what drives you to correct them, and perhaps ignoring that sensation could be detrimental in the long run.