Callaway AI Smoke driver opinions

bigshank

Won a brand new smoke 9.0 stiff yesterday haven’t had a chance to hit it. Wondering what you guys that have hit it think about this club? My buddy offered me $450 for it right away but I said I do want to try it first. I have the original Paradym and it’s pretty darn good. Difference much in the two? I’ve heard nothing but good about this club but I heard the same thing about the paradym when it came out. Just wondering before I go put marks on the face

Par4QC

bigshank Had the Paradym and had the Smoke TD. Not sure how the reg. Smoke will compare, but the TD was superior in all ways. imo. Distance, forgiveness, feel(yeah...OK...sound too). Different design also than the reg.. (450cc, deeper face)

BUT.....you know Cally will be coming out with their new one any week now. The Paradym has a lot less resale value than the Smoke And your buddy is not wanting that one😉. And you are really happy with the Paradym.

Then again, you are a member of GolfBuzz.🤔

colej

bigshank

If it were me I’d sell the new one and trade the old one in on a Ping G430 10k.

sloppytypist

Tried the 10.5* Very forgiving at the range, same performance as the Ping for me. Very dull thud sound, which oddly bothered me, because I should know better. Does the offer stand at $450 after you have hit it?

bigshank

sloppytypist Not sure if it still stands at all. We were at the bar after the tournament and he’d had quite a few.

sdandrea1

bigshank Not sure if it still stands at all. We were at the bar after the tournament and he’d had quite a few.

You may have missed your chance. 😉

I have a Paradym X and cannot imagine anything being better.

Baaab

IMO…..AI smoke better than the Paradym. I had the Paradym Triple Diamond the AI smoke in the Triple Diamond Max.

shokosugi

Baaab IMO…..AI smoke better than the Paradym. I had the Paradym Triple Diamond the AI smoke in the Triple Diamond Max.

I had the exact same experience with the TD Max. Compared to my Paradym TD, the TD max is longer and much more forgiving on any swing that is at least halfway decent.

So, here's what I would do....Sell the driver you won and buy a slightly used head and/or complete driver and do a little head to head testing with your paradym and keep the best one. Save money on getting a used one and use that money saved to buy another club!

CallMeAl

As Steve Miller said....

"Go On Take The Money And Run"

sdandrea1

If I had a buddy with a few drinks in him and cash in hand offering $450 for something I got for free, I'd have been running to my car with the $ in one hand and my car keys in the other.
🤣🤣

colej

sdandrea1

Think of all the deals you could get at PIAS for $450 🤔

KCee

I have the Ai Smoke Max and it's a great driver. Very forgiving. I had the Rogue ST Max before that and it was just as good for me. Maybe not quite as forgiving (possibly straighter), but close enough and it wasn't really an upgrade for me. I actually like the Max TD and Max D versions better, but they were not in stock and I had to go Max for the 2X trade-in deal.

Typhoon

Using the same shaft, loft and any other settings you usually won’t find any difference from one year to the next. It’s the 4-5 year gap that newer tech will show you a difference.

I get a kick out of people coming to me with a Stealth Driver and wanting to put the same shaft in a Qi10 thinking there will be a huge difference.

Par4QC

Typhoon Using the same shaft, loft and any other settings you usually won’t find any difference from one year to the next.

Not necessarily so. I have several of the same shafts, specs as close as I could get. Cobra tips, Callaway tips, mainly. I do change tips if I try a TM, Ping, Titleist, or even Srixon.
Heads will play differently in some respects. Feel & sound will also be different a lot of times. Distances......maybe eke out a few more yards with some, over just last year's.
Some may even be easier to hit center, using same shafts, over last season. This is huge diff for some and will add yardage. Also might have changed aerodynamics that allow a bit faster swing.

There can be differences over last year's😉. And who won't take 5-10 more(possible) yards? That's a whole club diff from the FW to green, for a lot of us.
jmo

Typhoon

Par4QC ....maybe eke out a few more yards with some, over just last year's.

Right, and when I have someone hitting last years and this years model and they “might eke out a few yards “…. It’s really not measurable unless one is a poor fit vs the other. It’s never worth the money to upgrade unless like I said there was a poor fit. The heads technologically from one year to the next are not game changing.

rsvman2

The driver is a lot more than $450 retail. Tell him $500 and it's his. Still a great deal for him.

And by the way, it actually IS a better driver than the Paradym, but not if you hit the Paradigm in the sweet spot a lot. In other words, if you tend to hit the ball all over the fase and you are looking for more consistency, you should keep it and try to sell the Paradym to your friend. Make sure he's good and drunk before you do it, though.

bigshank

rsvman2 haha I’m all over the place on the paradym but that’s a me problem. I’m just kinda happy to have a new driver. My expectations are not high. Always the hope of next year is gonna be my time 🤣

Par4QC

rsvman2 The driver is a lot more than $450 retail. Tell him $500 and it's his.

Actually not, it's now only $499. All companies have lowered prices(Ping??).

Plus, there are a lot of last year's drivers out there for $250-$150 or less right now.
(and I'm not buying😄)

sdandrea1

Typhoon The heads technologically from one year to the next are not game changing.

👍
I firmly believe that the main reason I'm so happy with my Paradym X is the Aldila Ascent 40 shaft.

bigshank

Thanks for all of the opinions I appreciate it. Winter time is here and should have my simulator up soon. I think I’ve decided on keeping this club and selling the paradym head only. I’ll have both shafts. I also have another light weight regular flex callaway shaft I can throw in with the paradym head. Fuck it club was free. I’m gonna beat the piss out of it

Par4QC

bigshank Biblical thoughts/phrasing.

Straight from the (new)GolfBuzz (old)FGI Testaments.😄