Equipment
Boeing helps Callaway design aerodynamically-sound XR16 drivers
In the current driver market, golf equipment companies have a tall task — make drivers that are even longer and more forgiving than the ones currently available. Making things more challenging is that two very important factors in driver design, aerodynamics and forgiveness, have a somewhat inverse relationship; a longer crown improves forgiveness, but it is also generally less aerodynamically sound.
The major issue is that as a driver head moves through space, air wants to leave the crown as it passes over the face. That increases drag and decreases club head speed, a bad thing for distance. For Callaway, solving this problem meant working with aerodynamics experts at Boeing — the world’s largest aerospace company, which designs and engineers jets, spacecrafts and planes for NASA and the U.S. Air Force.
Related: What you need to know about Callaway’s XR16 and XR16 Pro fairway woods.
So the people who typically design wings to help airplanes fly through the sky were assigned the task of helping design golf clubs that make golf balls fly farther. The result was Callaway’s new XR16 and XR16 Pro drivers.
Turbulence from the raised crown makes airflow “stick” to the surface.
The new crown design on Callaway’s XR16 drivers features raised portions of titanium just behind the top line that help keep airflow tight to the surface, thus reducing drag and allowing golfers to swing the club head faster on the downswing into impact.
A close look at the crown of the XR16 driver head.
The aerodynamic improvements also allowed Callaway to stretch out the crown of the XR16 drivers, raising moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of a club’s forgiveness. The combination makes the XR16 drivers faster and more forgiving.
Changes inside the head include improvement to Callaway’s R-Moto technology, which debuted in Callaway’s Big Bertha Alpha 815 drivers. R-Moto is a supportive rib structure that allowed engineers to make the XR16 driver faces 9 grams lighter and 19 percent thinner than their predecessors. The result is more ball speed, regardless of where shots are contacted on the face, along with better launch conditions.
A look at the crown of the XR16 Pro driver, with a slightly different design than the XR16.
Another weight-saving tactic from Callaway was implementing a lighter, 8-1-1 Titanium body. It offered 2 more grams of discretionary weight compared to the original XR drivers, and while that doesn’t sound like a lot it can make the difference between flying a fairway bunker and being plugged in its lip.
Callaway XR16 Driver
Compared to the XR16 Pro driver, the XR16 has a bigger, deeper footprint for more forgiveness. The 460cc driver comes stock with a Fujikura Speeder Evolution 565 shaft, and several other premium shafts are available at no upcharge.
- In stores: January 29
- Lofts: 9, 10.5 and 13.5 HT options
- Price: $349.99
Callaway XR16 Pro Driver
The XR16 Pro is designed for better golfers. It’s lower spinning than the XR16, creating a more penetrating trajectory because of its lower CG and deeper-faced, 450cc club head. It comes stock with a Fujikura Evolution II TS 665 shaft, but several other premium shafts are available at no upcharge.
- Comes to retail: January 29
- Lofts: 9 and 10.5 degrees
- Price: $399.99
See more photos of the XR16 and XR16 Pro drivers, as well as comparison pics.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Memorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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ButchT
Mar 8, 2017 at 11:15 am
Dont try to confuse me with facts – it is fun to buy new clubs. Its like a second marriage, a triump of hope over experience!
lewis
Jan 8, 2016 at 4:06 am
Had a 10.5 tour issue pro driver in hand last night. It look and sat amazing. Didnt get a chance to hit it however the Pro who had it was loving it.
Dumbo
Jan 7, 2016 at 4:45 pm
Total farse. How many yards can you gain if you don’t hit center due to aerodynamic improvements? ZERO. Even if you do hit dead center at 115mph ss, can callaway empirically prove an increase in yardage vs. this same driver with these turbulators? What would that number be? 1 yard? 5?
EKR
Jan 7, 2016 at 10:35 pm
The Farce is strong with that one
dan360
Jan 7, 2016 at 1:28 pm
Ah Callaway…another attempt to recycle technology with a fancy big name to operate as best supporting actor.
Remember the Ruger Titanium?
Remember the Lamborghini carbon fiber?
Now the Boeing ‘turbulators’?
What’s next?
cb
Jan 6, 2016 at 5:06 pm
so callaway went to an aerospace company and found out turbulators help with club head speed, but ping found this out completely in house and a couple years ago. wonder which company is more revolutionary…
Steve
Jan 7, 2016 at 8:42 am
But can say it was developed by experts at Boeing? These guys make planes, PLANES! How dare compare it to a Ping.
Gareth
Jan 6, 2016 at 3:52 pm
To be fair, I own an x2 hot pro after the xhot. Can’t hit anything better than that, tried the XR, big Bertha etc, I actually bought one as a spare!!
Everyone finds THE driver that suits then eventually. don’t agree that these drivers outplay predecessors by 10 yards, only people find a head and a shaft that suit the swing more, due to readily available custom fitting?!!
fp
Jan 6, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Looks like a Ping, hits like a Ping, sounds like a Ping
Barry S.
Jan 6, 2016 at 12:07 pm
I have a prototype driver head designed by an iconic long driver who has passed. The head is F-17 aerodynamic and makes the new XR look like a Model T in comparison. Would love to show it to Taylormade or Callaway but from what I’ve heard they would probably steal the design and leave me high and dry.
Busty McGoo
Jan 6, 2016 at 10:05 am
So does this mean we’re officially done with the whole sliding weights bs they’ve been pushing for the last couple of years?
Numb-E
Jan 7, 2016 at 3:51 am
Different model entirely.
Busty McGoo
Jan 7, 2016 at 12:27 pm
I can see that it’s an entirely different model. Thus my question. If the sliding weights thing is so damn good, why didn’t the designers integrate sliding weights into into this model too? Or does that come later after they’ve convinced a lot of people to buy this model?
All these tech ‘advancements’ just make it more clear than ever, companies have hit a wall with current technology. Maybe PXG found something new recently, but has anyone actually seen their scores improve because they switched to the newest and latest driver? Also, have you actually tracked the distance of every drive to know you’re getting something more than you were before?
EKR
Jan 7, 2016 at 10:39 pm
Different model entirely. One line for adjustable weights, the other with a simpler set up.
For me, when I all of a sudden hit over a bunker I used to go into on a regular basis with the same swing same tee box same ball within the last 3 to 4 years in the same condition at the course, then yes I’m definitely getting something more.
Steve
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:36 am
This is it the final piece to my perfect golf swing. I was always telling everyone that my drivers werent aerodynamically enough and I was right. This driver is the break through I have been looking for. It has raised pieces that reduce drag, this is awesome. Should I buy this one or wait for the one with wings to be released? These guys keep raising the bar everytime.
ron
Jan 6, 2016 at 10:25 am
haha. nicely done.
Chuck
Jan 6, 2016 at 12:11 am
Tell that boy to ease up
christian
Jan 5, 2016 at 9:59 pm
I had a Vega DAF (Dual Air Flow) driver yeears before the other major OEMs thought about aerodynamics..Vega bought the airflow patents from Makser, the real pioneers of modern aerodynamic driver design. Remember many of my buddies teased me about the Vega claims, now they talk themselves blue about turbulators etc etc
Frank McChrystal
Jan 5, 2016 at 6:32 pm
True that.
Max
Jan 5, 2016 at 6:10 pm
Callaway making some great stuff in the past 3-4 years.
Love the looks and styling of all of their clubs lately.
moses
Jan 5, 2016 at 3:14 pm
What’s that good for? Maybe .25 mph at 100mph clubhead speed for about half a yard?
Anywho keep em coming!!! More drivers to buy for $150 at the end of the product cycle. 🙂
MP
Jan 5, 2016 at 2:26 pm
I played 4 drivers last year (M1, ALPHA, G30, D13) and they all had different characteristics, shafts and science behind them. Every time i switched i would hit the new driver long and straight. After a few weeks i was hitting it just like the old driver. Not sure i buy into all this science but i love tinkering even though i see very little benefit in the long term. My golfing buddy plays a 2009 Cleveland with very little science incorporated to its design and he hits it longer and straighter than any driver i have played. We both play to a 13 handicap with swing speeds around 106 mph.
Numb-E
Jan 7, 2016 at 3:53 am
Totally useless non-technical post, but do go on
Rob
Jan 5, 2016 at 1:53 pm
“It offered 2 more grams of discretionary weight compared to the original XR drivers, and while that doesn’t sound like a lot it can make the difference between flying a fairway bunker and being plugged in its lip.”
Sorry but no, 2 grams won’t make that kind of difference. Sorry but 2 paper clips worth of weight just can’t cause that much change.
Numb-E
Jan 7, 2016 at 3:53 am
Actually, it does.
Chuck D
Jan 5, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Callawaybulators!! Welcome to da party pal! I can’t imagine how much pressure the modern day club designer must be under.
Desmond
Jan 5, 2016 at 5:59 pm
Isn’t that “Callabulators”?
joe
Jan 5, 2016 at 1:09 pm
Callaway, the new TaylorMade.
Desmond
Jan 5, 2016 at 5:58 pm
It’s once per year. Last year, same time, the XR Series made its debut replacing the X2Hot.
Mat
Jan 5, 2016 at 12:18 pm
I spy Turbulators…
Chuck Hahn
Jan 5, 2016 at 11:29 am
A new driver from Callaway, I’m shock I tell you!!!
Leon
Jan 5, 2016 at 11:18 am
Great. Three months later, they will release another driver with design aided from Aliens on Mars
Desmond
Jan 5, 2016 at 7:13 pm
Next drivers are due in late August if the trend remains…
t-ball
Jan 6, 2016 at 11:09 am
I agree ! Seems Callaway, and Taylormade. are both on a ” New driver every 6 months ” cycle.
Mat
Jan 5, 2016 at 10:57 am
Will the increased lift help top the ball better?
Desmond
Jan 5, 2016 at 9:59 am
And I thought the XR Drivers of 2015 were too light! Wow. At least they got rid of the Project X shaft. Not a fan. The Fuji is a better shaft.