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The Callaway X Forged Max irons are a slightly more forgiving, slightly larger X Forged. Still not a great choice for high handicappers, but they offer noticeably better performance on thin strikes.
Introduction
For the skilled ball striker, little differences can mean a lot. To make sure they’re giving the low handicap players exactly what they need in each iron, Callaway has paired the released of the 2025 X Forged irons with the X Forged Max. Featuring the same one-piece construction but with a larger, deeper cavity, the Callaway X Forged Max irons give players a little more forgiveness without sacrificing a traditional look and feel.
Looks
In the bag, the Callaway X Forged Max irons is obviously distinct from the standard X Forged. The X Forged Max has a deeper cavity that covers almost the entire club where the cavity of the X Forged is only on the lower half. This difference required that Callaway rearrange the branding, moving their logo to the toe and placing “X Forged Max” in the heel. Additionally, a slightly closer look reveals that the X Forged Max has deep pockets in the heel and toe that extend almost to the sole. What the two models have in common is a classic silver and black color scheme that will keep these irons from looking dated.
At address, the difference between the two models is noticeable. Side by side, the Callaway X Forged Max (above left) has a much thicker top line than the standard X Forged. It’s also longer from heel to toe with a slightly more rounded profile. On its own, the X Forged Max definitely looks like a players iron, but it’s not as traditional as the standard version.
Sound & Feel
Testing the Callaway X Forged Max irons side by side with the standard X Forged [review HERE], the two sets felt very similar. The X Forged Max has a medium soft, traditional feel, as you would expect from a one-piece forging. Using a premium ball, the sound is a quiet “click”.
In comparing the two, I noted that everything about the X Forged Max felt “turned down” compared to the X Forged. The feedback was present, but it was less obvious. The satisfaction of a pure strike was good but not as good. The sting of really poor contact was more muted, too. I’ll emphasize again that these are small differences, probably not discernible if the two sets weren’t tested back to back.
Performance
By and large, the Callaway X Forged Max irons did exactly what I expected them to. They’re the larger brothers of the X Forged, meaning that on the spectrum of control vs. forgiveness, they slides a little more toward the latter. Let’s dig into the details.
The biggest difference between the two X Forged models is the launch consistency. Per Callaway, the X Forged Max is “Mid” launch compared to “Low” for the standard X Forged [review HERE]. While there is a gap between between how high they launch on well struck shots, I don’t think it’s huge. The bigger difference is what they do with thin strikes. The X Forged Max takes those bottom groove shots and launches them significantly higher than its brother. If this is a common miss for you, the X Forged Max is going to produce much more consistent distance than the X Forged.
That improved launch consistency comes courtesy of a wider sole. Both models have the same Tri-Level Sole Design, but it’s impossible to ignore that the sole of the X Forged Max is much wider. This bigger sole helps lower the CG and reduces digging, but it also feels a bit clumsier during the swing. Zooming out, this is a medium-thin sole, but, compared to other players iron, it’s on the thicker side.
That brings us to the final topic – workability vs. forgiveness. Per Callaway, the X Forged Max is “Mid” in forgiveness and workability, where the X Forged is “Low” and “High”, respectively. I think this is an overstatement. If we’re talking about forgiveness in terms of ball speed retention or consistency, the Callaway X Forged Max irons are a bit better than their brother, but it’s not a big gap. You can still see the ball fall short of the green if your strike isn’t high quality. On the other hand, there’s nothing in the X Forged Max that will keep you from hitting a tight draw or low cut, unless you really don’t get along with the sole.
Conclusion
The Callaway X Forged Max irons don’t look or feel quite as good as the X Forged, but they’re a smartly designed set that will help skilled players transitioning toward or away from “true” players irons. While these are far from point-and-shoot, they offer a meaningful boost in consistency that will take some of the sting out on the days you don’t have your best swings.
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Callaway X Forged Max Irons Price & Specs
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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12 Comments
Matt, what an interesting review. Thank you for taking on such similar clubs and making fine distinctions between them – well written. The differences resonated because this is my ‘zip code’ for irons, somewhere right in where these clubs target. And well done Callaway, for addressing the market with precision, and with meaningful distinctions. More broadly, in a world with supply chain challenges, it seems like a rennaisance for golfers’ choice.
Matt, particularly when doing he’s to head comparison’s it would be great to get a sample set of your data. Swing speed, ball speed, spin, carry etc. In fact it would be nice to see a standard set for each iron review. Pick a 7 or 8 iron. I know you provide it often on woods. Just a thought
Love to see these in the US market..I have the older 2019 version of the x forged star irons, which were Japanese only for whatever reason…I think a moderately more forgiving, stronger lofted, easier launching version of their tour iron is a great idea. Not the high tech maybe of the typical distance/players CB in US releases, but the trade foe one piece forged feel benefits is a tradeoff some will love! Thanks for the review and the helpful comparisons.
Matt, spectacular review. A question for you: I currently play the Paradym X irons with regular flex elevate shafts. I bought the Paradym X irons because I found them to be more forgiving and even softer than the PXG 3011 XF Gen 5 irons I had been playing. I realize feel is subjective from person to person but, in your hands, would you find the X Forged Max irons to be as forgiving and as soft or more so than the Paradym X’s or the Callaway Apex AI 300’s? I passed on the Ai 300’s after seeing the low playability factor depicted for those irons on the “Maltby Playability Factor” site, whereas the Paradym X’s were rated far more forgiving. I very much appreciate your comments,
Glen,
I think that the X Forged Max will be substantially less forgiving than either of the sets you mentioned.
Best,
Matt
As someone that is very familiar with PING iron lineup, but not very familiar with Callaway irons and naming, what would these be comparable to in the PING lineup? It looks almost like it would be a blueprint S iron.
And (with whatever Ping iron you would compare these to), how do they stack up against that PING iron in terms of forgiveness? Thanks so much.
Will,
These are bigger than the Blueprint S, but that would be the closest comparison. These are nowhere near the i240 in forgiveness but pretty close in size.
Best,
Matt
Can I buy single irons. 5, 7, 9, PW. At what cost? Older high handy cap golfer.
Dan,
Yes, you can do that from the Callaway website or any Callaway retailer.
-Matt
Hi Matt
I am an ageing low handicap golfer and have just changed from PXG CBs to Callaway X forged 4 to PW, I am finding the 4 and 5 irons slightly more difficult to hit consistently and was considering either swapping them out for X forged max or Apex UT 2025 irons. What’s your thoughts?
Billy
Billy,
That seems sensible to me. Just make sure the distance gaps stay where you want them.
Best,
Matt
I just got my set of X Forged Max irons with Steelfiber i95 CW’s. From looking at them online I didn’t think I would like the look but fell in love when I saw them in person. The pictures made them look much thicker than they really are, they are extremely sleek and confidence inspiring. I have played Apex 19’s, 21’s and 200 AI’s in the recent years with a variety of Nippon 950NG, Modus Pro and Steelfiber shafts. The X Forged Max irons are far cleaner looking and so much softer than these previous “forged” models. I can’t recommend them strongly enough.