WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Callaway Elyte hybrid lineup (Elyte, Elyte X, Elyte Max Fast) solves the challenge of unhittable lower-lofted irons with two key technologies. First, there are unique-to-each-model face designs, all based on thousands of average golfer swings. Second, and certainly no less informed by all that swing data, the company reengineered its adjustable hosel design to incorporate more flexibility in lie angles. The swing data suggested that the proper lie angle resulted in more face center impacts than any other fitting change.

PRICE: $300. Elyte: 19, 22, 26, 30 degrees. Elyte X: 18, 21, 25, 29 degrees; Elyte Max Fast: 23, 27, 31, 35, 39 degrees; all with seven-way adjustable hosel. Pre-sale: Jan. 17; available at retail: Feb. 7.

Elyte

3 COOL THINGS

1. The truth about lies. Everybody wants to engineer more distance and forgiveness into lower-lofted clubs, but everybody also knows that the best way to get the most distance is to contact the ball cleanly with the center of the face. Scott Manwaring, Callaway’s senior director of research and development, said one aspect of hybrid design hasn’t gotten the attention it should. It’s why Callaway’s team ended up changing the mechanics of its adjustable hosel to allow more freedom on lie angles. The new seven-way adjustable hosel, which uses a hidden extra washer, now provides plus/minus one degree loft adjustment with up to plus/minus two degrees of lie angle adjustment.

Elyte X

Elyte

“When you run a dendrogram analysis to figure out which things average players are most sensitive to in terms of performance, lie angle just consistently pops so high up there,” Manwaring said. “It really kind of makes sense when you think about the challenges of a longer club and still hitting off turf that lie angle would really start to influence shot direction.”

The lie angle changes are just one part of the fitting options package on the Elyte hybrid lineup. Having multiple models with different levels of forgiveness is one element of variability, but the full lineup of Elyte, Elyte X and even the ultra-lightweight Max Fast now includes 3- and 13-gram switchable sole weights in the heel and toe regions to tweak draw bias.

“We just wanted to provide a myriad of ways to solve the distance problem. You can adjust your lie angle to get there, you can adjust your loft, you can adjust your CG properties. It’s just a really versatile way to approach it.”

Elyte

2. Saving face. Much like the design efforts on the new Elyte drivers and fairway woods, the faces for the Elyte hybrids employ a more sophisticated variable face thickness design. Utilizing a new AI platform, the asymmetrical topological depths and valleys now are manipulated by 10 times as many points as in the past. The new patterns, tweaked to each model, not only creates more deflection for better and more consistent ball speeds across the face, they also work to tighten dispersion so that difference between longest and shortest hits is tighter.

Elyte X

3. Same questions, different answers. The three models in the Elyte family offer targeted ways to make long (and sometimes middle) irons no longer relevant or worthwhile.

The standard Elyte model is more of a mid-sized hybrid shape with a neutral flight. It pairs best with players who fit into Callaway’s Elyte and Elyte HL irons.

The more oversized Elyte X offers more of a natural draw flight with a built-in higher launch. Its lofts are a degree stronger than the standard Elyte hybrid. It pairs best with players who fit into Callaway’s Elyte X irons.

The Elyte Max Fast targets below average swing speed players with a distinctly lighter swing weight (C9 vs. D2 on Elyte and Elyte X) and a forgiving size and shape. A 40-gram shaft provides moderate speed players with more potential velocity, while the higher range of lofts (up to an 8-iron replacement) helps those players improve distance gapping not just in their long irons but well into the middle of the bag, as well. Like the others, the Elyte Max Fast matches the player profile of those fitting into the company’s corresponding Elyte Max Fast irons.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com