CALLAWAY XR 16

£289

www.callaway golf.com Lofts: 9° / 10.5° / 13.5° Stock shaft: Fujikura Speeder Evolution 565 Adjustable hosel: Yes How much loft change: -1/+2° TECH: Callaway worked with aerodynamic experts to create a high-speed head design with low drag to help you increase club and ball speeds. A next generation R-moto face and bigger footprint head increase MOI from every impact location.

WE SAY: The XR’S head looks longer from front to back than from toe to heel and it’s this streamlined, stretched shape that lends itself so well to improving aerodynamics and forgiveness. The XR put in a strong performance in 2016 and it did exactly the same this year, which says it’s a decent option for reasonable money. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of Callaway’s new Epic drivers, but it’s a very, very solid club at almost half the price. That makes it a great option for us.

VERDICT: Aerodynamics play an ever-increasing role in driver design and our testing’s shown the tech is just as effective at higher swing speeds as it is at slower tempos. For us, matching extra speed with forgiveness is the key to the XR 16’s appeal.