This driver line’s versatility shined at ClubTest 2025
The Callaway Elyte driver comes in four variations.
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True Spec Golf‘s fleet of master fitters has seen it all when it comes to golf clubs and how they relate (or not) to players’ swings. But among the things they’re most closely monitoring for consumers: versatility, especially when it comes to drivers.
For this reason, when fitters assess a new line of drivers, they’ll look at which companies are delivering outstanding offerings not just with one club but across an entire line. Having three or four driver options helps golfers more easily find the right tech for their specific needs.
This year’s crop of drivers did not disappoint. At ClubTest 2025, which GOLF and True Spec conducted at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Ariz., late last year, True Spec fitters ran all the latest and greatest clubs through their paces, leaning on everyday golfers for insights.
Over the course of the coming months, we’ll be presenting all kinds of learnings and takeaways from our testing process, beginning by highlighting a driver line that stood out for its versatility.
But first a word on our testing process…
Why player testing is so valuable
When evaluating golf clubs, we tap into the expertise of our fitters. But player testing also is essential because it provides real-world performance insights that robotic or laboratory testing alone cannot capture. During our process, our True Spec Golf Master Fitters captured data from every tester and even tested all the new products themselves. While there is variability with using players with varying skill levels for testing, here are some reasons why player testing is beneficial:
1. Real-World Performance: Golfers use clubs in different conditions, including various weather, grass types and course layouts, which helps identify how a club performs in real-world scenarios.
2. Feedback on Feel and Comfort: Players can assess how a club feels in their hands, during the swing and at impact. Factors like weight distribution, grip comfort and feedback on miss-hits are crucial in club selection.
3. Variability in Swings: Unlike robotic testing, human golfers have unique swings, tempos and impact patterns. Player testing accounts for these variations, ensuring clubs perform well for a range of golfers.
4. Comparative Testing: By testing multiple clubs, golfers can compare them side by side and determine which suits their game best in terms of distance, forgiveness, accuracy and consistency.
What our testing revealed
In this ClubTest deep dive, we’re taking a closer look at a driver line that our fitters and testers both endorsed for its versatility: the Callaway Elyte family, which comes in four models for four different player types (Elyte, Elyte X, Elyte Triple Diamond and Elyte Max Fast).
Our testers admired the Elyte line for its something-for-every-golfer appeal. Of the core Elyte model, 12-handicap tester Jeff Smith said: “The feel was a great mixture of power off the clubface while still feeling forgiving. Felt like bottled power. Didn’t need to swing hard and ball exploded off the clubhead. Felt like I hit the dead center every time.”
Jerry Welker, a 17 handicap, tested the X model and noted the “instant pop off the clubface,” adding, “I need misses to be forgiven and this does the job.”
Of the Max model, Will Prue, an 18 handicap, said: “Sound and performance were best of the bunch. Forgiveness was better than I’m used to.”
What does the data say?
Much the same.
To better understand how the core Elyte model stacks up against Callaway’s 2024 core driver — the Ai Smoke Max — True Spec master fitters Kris McKormack and Carmen Corvino conducted a head-to-head Elyte vs. Ai Smoke test on a launch monitor. In the testing session, which you can check out here or in the video player at the bottom of this article, the Elyte showed gains of nearly 2 mph in ball speed and 8 yards in total distance.
“I also like to see the spin rate dropping just a little bit to create efficiency in the strike,” Corvino said of the 234 RPM dip.
Callaway Elyte Custom Driver
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How the tech works
The Elyte lineup includes not only drivers but also fairway woods, hybrids and irons — all geared to help golfers whether they are looking to increase distance, improve accuracy or gain more forgiveness.
Much next-level tech is at work in the Elyte line, but the headliner elements are the integration of Ai 10x Face Technology, which enhances ball speeds across more of the face, resulting in longer shots with more carry, and the Thermoforged Carbon crown, which enables an optimal CG location for low spin and high launch.
Another cool feature: the combination of carbon fiber and tungsten weight distribution, which increases forgiveness, making it easier to recover from mishits.
How to find the right driver for your game
While the Elyte series offers significant technological advancements, maximizing the clubs’ benefits still requires a proper club fitting. Custom fitting involves tailoring clubs to match an individual’s unique swing mechanics, body measurements and playing style. This process ensures that the equipment complements the golfer’s strengths and mitigates weaknesses. Benefits of custom fitting include:
• Enhanced Swing Mechanics: Properly fitted clubs promote better posture and alignment, leading to more consistent and efficient swings.
• Increased Confidence: Knowing that your equipment is optimized for your game can boost confidence, allowing you to focus on strategy and execution.
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