Written by Michael VanDerLaan
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Going back to the Great Big Bertha, Callaway Golf has been known in the golf industry for their cutting edge drivers. Unfortunately, the last 10 years or so have seen a lot of hit and miss attempts with drivers by this heavyweight of golf brands.
In this detailed review, the guys at Golf Gear Advisor are going to take a deep dive into everything we found when we tested this newest addition to the Callaway arsenal.
Why Trust Us?
In the image above are the experts at Golf Gear Advisor. From left to right, that's Michael (me), John, and John VanDerLaan. And that big brown and gold thing in the middle is one of 4 NCAA National Championship trophies that lives in the VanDerLaan house.
I am the 2019 NCAA Individual National Champion, and was part of the 2017 team championship. I have experience as both a player and an instructor, and have a passion for learning about and growing the game of golf.
The younger of the two John's is the 2018 NCAA Individual National Champion, and currently a full member of the Korn Ferry Tour. John has made 48 cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour, as well as another 3 on the PGA Tour.
The older John is the reason the other 2 are professional golfers. Not only did he give the boys their first golf clubs over 20 years ago, he has spent countless hours learning everything he can and has become an expert in everything from equipment and strategy to the mental game of golf. His process is what has gotten John and Michael both to professional golf careers.
Now we have teamed up to help you improve your golf game.
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My Experience Using The Callaway Paradym Driver
There are three models of Callaway Paradym Drivers and I was able to secure all three for testing and review.
The Paradym Drivers are the Standard version, the Paradym X and the Paradym Triple Diamond.
The Standard Paradym is made for players of all skill levels and features high launch, low spin, maximum forgiveness and adjustability.
The Paradym X features extreme forgiveness with a high MOI and a draw bias. Best for beginners, high handicappers and golfers that struggle with a slice.
The Paradym Triple Diamond Driver is made for better players looking for a lower launch, low spinning driver with a neutral ball flight.
My favorite was the standard Paradym and here is what I found during my testing.
When I first got my hands on this driver I thought it was absolutely stunning looking. The dark blue crown and the contrasting black face color scheme looks great, but as we all know, looks just don't cut it with a new driver.
I was more interested in the launch angle and spin numbers to see how long and straight I could hit it. I'll admit it, I was also curious to see how it felt to change the sliding weight and how that affected the ball flight.
Here is what I found:
First stop was indoors with my favorite Trackman for some launch monitor testing, then I would take it outdoors to the driving range and then I played several 18 hole rounds at my favorite golf course.
I play this golf course very often and I know how far I hit my gamer driver here, so I was very surprised to find some new spots in the fairway, thanks to a longer carry distance.
Let's get back to the launch monitor.
After the first few swings, I liked the way it felt and the numbers looked really good. I had a launch angle around 14 degrees with low spin, around 2000 RPMs. Good numbers, but what really impressed me was the faster ball speeds, compared to my current driver, a Taylormade Stealth, even though my swing speed was the same. Clearly this face was hot!
I sprayed the face of the driver with some foot powder so that I could see where I was hitting the golf ball on the face, and I noticed that I got great ball speed, even on off center hits.
Next I went to the course for a range session before playing 18 holes.
On the range, I was able to see the high, neutral ball flight, which I really liked. I also noticed that it was a little more metallic sound than I was used to.
I started messing around with the adjustable weight and when I added draw bias, the shot moved from right to left. When I added fade bias, the shot moved gently from left to right. Very impressive. Being able to change your shot shape by just adjusting the rear weight is a game changer.
Callaway Paradym Features
The Callaway Paradym takes a leap into the frontier of composite technology. The goal is to minimize weight, maximize forgiveness, and flat out hit it farther. Let's talk about how they achieve that.
Innovative Design
There are a few features in the Paradym design that really lend the driver a great feel and solid forgiveness:
- 360 degree carbon chassis redistributes weight for maximum distance while being 44% lighter than a titanium chassis. Lighter = faster
- A.I. enhanced jailbreak system streamlines force distribution to capitalize on Moment of Inertia and create more forgiveness
- Speed enhancing face cup on titanium club face is designed for both speed and durability
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Premium Composite Feel
Composite drivers are new and a bit unproven, but they really do feel good. We could feel the difference in the weight of the club head as it was easier to swing than an all titanium driver.
The only downside of a lighter club head is that it can be less stable and harder to control. We feel that Callaway did a good job of stabilizing the club head through weight redistribution to combat this with the Paradym.
Player Performance Characteristics
At the end of the day, all of the technology and innovation is secondary to the way the driver performs. We have covered the increased speed and optimized forgiveness through A.I. enhancement and composite construction. So the other important aspects of performance are visual - you have to like how it looks - and adjustability.
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Visual Characteristics
One thing we really appreciate about the Paradym is the way that Callaway tried to make a driver that looks unique and forward thinking without making it "in your face" bright and angular.
To pile onto that, the Paradym maintains a high level of adjustability that is consistent with the best drivers on the market.
Shape
Some drivers are flat out ugly. Not the Paradym. With a well rounded chassis, symmetrical top view, and understated lines, the driver looks phenomenal.
In the past, Callaway has tried to play with shape for both the awe factor and various performance changes. With the Paradym, they have come back to what works and done it well.
Color and Design
It's hard these days to find a driver than fits into the middle ground of not too bright but not too traditional. We feel that the Paradym fits into this niche. Featuring deep blue camo with gold accents, there is some color to the driver without standing out too much in the crowd.
As far as design goes, the only surface feature that is different than a tradition driver is the sliding weight on the back of the driver that adds a little thickness to the trail side of the golf club. While this is a different feature that changes the appearance of the driver, it was incorporated well so that the visual difference is subtle and pleasing.
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Adjustability
Speaking of that sliding weight, that is just one of the adjustability features of the Paradym. By allowing you to move the weight back and forth from toe to heel, the Paradym allows you to customize your ball flight a bit.
More weight in the toe for more fade. More weight in the heel for more draw.
To pair with this, all Callaway drivers are equipped with an adjustable hosel that allows you to make changes to three different characteristics. The way it's designed can be a little confusing as to the way it impacts the performance of your driver, so make sure to do some research or consult an expert before making those adjustments.
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Price
The Callaway Paradym sits at a competitive-to-market price for an "off the rack" option. This is the same as drivers like the Titleist TSR and Taylormade Stealth models, so your choice is more a matter of personal preference and which one performs the best than it is a matter of budget.
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What We Like
What We Don't Like
Wrapping Up The Review
To sum up our experience with the Callaway Paradym driver, there are 3 things to say.
First, this driver looks phenomenal. It's not as monotone as the Titleist TSR or Ping G425, but also not outrageous and bright like the Taylormade Stealth. Callaway did a stunning job on the aesthetics.
Second, the carbon chassis of the club head is like a double edged sword. It provides the benefit of added club head speed - and therefore added distance - but also makes it more difficult to fully feel and control the face and head. The end result for us was a mix of incredible result when we hit it solid, but less solid strikes than other drivers.
And third, it is very customizable. Between the sliding back weight and highly adjustable hosel, there is a setting for just about any type of swing, making it a top choice for golfers with a slice.
The only real downside is the lack of guidance about how each adjustment setting affects the dynamic of the golf club.
All in all, the Callaway Paradym is a very good driver. It can be highly competitive with other top brands of golf equipment on the market, and it is certainly one of the best drivers for high handicap golfers.
Now it's time for you to pick one up and see if it will improve your golf game.
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