Callaway Irons by Year

By Coach Erik Schjolberg – Feb 23, 2024

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Callaway Irons Over the Last 5 Years

Paradym Ai Smoke: AI designed face improves distance and accuracy. Made for mid handicap players looking for a modern shape at address without sacrificing loss of distance and dispersion.

Paradym Ai Smoke HL: Optimized for a high handicap or senior player that needs help getting the ball in the air. A pre-worn leading edge prevents fat shots and poor contact.

Paradym Ai Smoke Max: Perfect for a mid to high handicapper looking for the most distance out of their irons. Sporting ½” longer shafts and an optimized face design to improve accuracy, the Ai Smoke Max gets the most out of your swing speed.

Callaway has really made a name at the top when it comes to drivers and fairway woods, but they are certainly no slouch in the irons department either. With the 2022 releases of the Rogue ST line, Callaway offers iron options for all comers. Pro for lower handicap, Max for mid, OS for high handicappers, and OS Lite for seniors.

2021 brought in new interactions of the high performance Apex series. The Apex lineup is geared towards low handicap and Tour players. Top pros like John Rahm and Xander Schauffele choose Apex irons for the consistency and work-ability.

Before 2021, Callaway alternately released a pro/tour line and a line for multiple golfers. In 2020 the releases of Marik and Big Bertha 21 offered a wide range of iron styles to suit many playing types.

Older models:

2019 saw renewed Apex irons and forged options for lower handicap players. This Apex line introduced a club face that enhanced springiness across the face, making it longer than ever before.

2018 and 2017 released irons sets of the same name and styling as the metal woods for those years. 2018 the Rogue lineup, and 2017 the GBB (Great Big Bertha) Epic line. The GBB Epic line was a game changer for higher handicap players.

Callaway Big Bertha Irons by Year

Big Bertha started as a driver model, but as a result of it’s popularity, the name quickly followed with irons. The name Big Bertha was taken from a German World War I howitzer, which received the nickname for its enormous size and power….

All things considered, it’s the perfect name for this series because they are indeed large and long. Perfect for higher handicap players.

The first Big Bertha irons were released in 1994, and featured a large face and large sweet spot. In 1997 Big Bertha irons featured tungsten and titanium for added distance.

From the early 2000s to current, the Big Bertha series has had a new release every two years. Each time promising more distance and forgiveness than prior models.

Callaway X Forged Irons by Year

The Callaway X Forged Irons by year – unofficially the X series started in 1998 with the Big Bertha X-12. Then continued with the Steelhead X-14 in 2000.

A few more iterations were released  over the years, but the first X Forged Irons were released in 2006. Callaway X22 irons year was 2008. And the next generation of the Forged set was in 2008/2009.

Newer generations of the Callaway X Forged Irons were released in 2013, 2018, and most recently the X Forged CB Irons in 2020. Callaway clubs by year has increased each year since.

The History of Callaway Irons

Callaway began their venture into golf clubs, irons in particular, in the late 80s. In 1988 releasing their S2H2 (short, straight, hollow hosel) technology. The irons were a hit, and Callaway doubled their sales.

With the aid of key tour professional staff players, Callaway became the number one seller of irons and woods in 1995. Since then, Callaway has stayed at the forefront of club making technology and competes with the best in the business.

Introducing tungsten, titanium, variable face thickness, and computer simulation in their iron making process has produced the longest and most forgiving iron options offered.

How Often Does Callaway Release New Irons

Callaway has had an alternate release method it has followed for the better part of two decades, which includes releasing every other year with both a players series and a game improvement series. Similarly, Big Bertha has also gotten on a two year release cycle since its inception in 1994.

Callaway finds itself as one of the top manufacturers in the golf business, and the first to use machine forging and computer simulation to make advancements in club making.

The innovation by Callaway has made it one of the best in the business since it’s rebranding in 1988. As a result of this, Callaway has increased it’s sales year after year since that time.

Other Irons by Year