Welcome to GOLF. com's ClubTest Proving Ground, where our Managing Equipment Editor Jonathan Wall and Senior Equipment Editor Ryan Barath, along with our team of GOLF writers and editors, thoroughly test and evaluate the latest designs and groundbreaking technology in golf equipment. Our goal is to help players like you overcome any issues with distance gaps from 5-iron to driver. If you've experienced little difference between your 4- and 5-iron and mainly use your 4-iron as a "punch out" club, we understand the challenge you face in the 200-to-220-yard range. Last year, while stabilizing swing changes, you had two handicap goals: to get below a 10 handicap again and reach a 7 handicap. With these goals in mind, you were excited about the opportunity to get fitted at Callaway's training facility, where Jon Rahm fine-tunes his game. You admit to being a bit skeptical about club-fittings, as you aren't the type of golfer who constantly upgrades to the latest releases. However, after making a driver change to the Callaway Paradym last year and experiencing great results, you were open to the possibility of finding equipment to help accomplish your goals. During the fitting process, our gear expert Ryan Barath and your Callaway club-fitter questioned why you had two hybrids instead of a 5-wood. This made you realize that you had been putting yourself at a disadvantage by not considering a 5-wood. When you tested the new Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max 5-wood, you were pleasantly surprised by the noticeable difference in ball flight and distance compared to your hybrids. The higher launch and better spin rate made you wonder why you had resisted using a 5-wood for so long. Moving backward in the bag, you tested an Ai Smoke 4-hybrid, which outperformed your previous hybrids in terms of ball height and spin rate, allowing you to hold greens more effectively.

Although the distance increase was subtle, it was enough to meet your needs. Next, you reluctantly tested a new 3-wood, as your old Callaway XR had been faithful for almost a decade. However, the Ai Smoke 3-wood proved to be far superior, providing an additional 10-15 yards and a better spin rate. You made the decision to remove the XR from your bag, but it will still have a place in your garage for practice sessions. Lastly, when it was time to try a new driver, you initially questioned the need for it since you already loved your one-year-old driver. However, after just two swings with the Ai Smoke driver, even though they were mishits, you were convinced that it was the driver for you. These mishits still resulted in fairway shots at your old club's standard distance, and when you hit the ball solidly, the extra yardage gained was significant. The increased forgiveness of the Ai Smoke driver was what truly stood out to you during the fitting. In summary, the data from the fitting speaks for itself, but equally important to you was the comfort and confidence you felt with the clubs in your hands. As someone who doesn't frequently replace clubs, the Ai Smoke driver will be an exception to the rule for you. While uncertainty surrounds the future of A. I. , if it continues to assist in creating high-quality clubs like the Ai Smoke series, you are eager to see what the future holds. If you're looking to update your bag for 2024, we recommend finding a True Spec Golf fitting location near you and visiting Fairway Jockey for all your gear needs.