Callaway has just kicked off its 2023 season with the launch of the Paradym driver. Three Paradym models are available to suit your swing. They feature cutting-edge technology that improves distance, forgiveness, control spin, and more. I was able to test all three models and was impressed by the entire range. You can listen to the Club Junkie podcast below for a detailed review. Search GolfWRX Radio.
Paradym Driver
Paradym’s “standard” driver should be able to accommodate a broad range of golfers. This head is suitable for all levels of golfers, from high handicappers to tour pros. The look is great from the address. I also like that the gloss blue carbon fiber blends well with the matte-black front. The Rogue ST’s shape is also less stretched from the face to the back, and the transition from the hosel to topline is smoother and cleaner. My ear also hears a muted, lower-pitched “crack” sound when the ball hits the ground. You can feel the ball compressing off your face when you hit center strikes. The sound is slightly more louder and vibrates to the hands, reminding you that you may have missed the center. The Paradym’s ball speed is very good on center strikes. However, the driver can maintain high speeds even when the Paradym goes out on the toes or low heels. The ball flew straight and neutral, with only gentle draws. However, the ball would fall to the left when well-struck shots were made. The rear sliding weight can be used to adjust the bias of a driver. However, I felt the ball was very neutral. Launch is a mix of high/low spin and mid/high spin. With the Project X HZRDUS Silver shaft, range golf balls and 12.3 degree launch angle, I average a spin rate at 3,029RPM. The Paradym was very dispersed and it felt as if it wanted to go as far left as I did when I tried my dreaded hook swing.
Triple Diamond
The “players” head is smaller at address and shorter from face-to-back, but it still leaves enough footprint to let you feel confident that you don’t need to go on tour in order to reach it. It had a slightly louder sound than the Paradym, and a more metallic feel to it. The sound of the Triple Diamond was still muted and solid. You could feel the ball compressing off your face when you struck the center. Shots made outside the center received minimal vibration and noise. It was amazing how accommodating the Triple Diamond was with mishits. My session saw me average a 145.2MPH ball speed, and a 1.46 smash rate. Another surprising aspect of the Triple Diamond was the way it performed. Despite the fact that the driver is very easy to use, the Triple Diamond has a lot of power and is extremely playable. The head was 11.1 degrees at launch and spins at 2,929RPM using range golf balls. I noticed that the heavier weight of 14g was moved forward, which would decrease spin speed by 250RPM. However, it did not affect my launch angle.
Paradym
Paradym’s X head is the most flexible and has the largest footprint once it is set down. Even though it has a larger footprint, its shape is still proportional and has an overall cleaner appearance than last year. It’s a little more round at the back and less triangular, which I love. Although it launched at 14.6 degrees, the spin was still low at 2,998 RPM. The shots with the X were very high, with a slight draw. The X is easy to turn and provides a more gentle draw than some might expect from this driver. Paradym X was a good choice for me as I’m a natural draw player. It actually made the course more enjoyable.
Overall, I was very impressed by my initial Callaway Paradym driver testing. The performance was excellent, but the most striking thing was the consistency in the spin number for off-center hits. Hits to the head high, low, toe or heel did not result in spin numbers that were wildly high or lower than a center strike. Everything stayed within a few hundred RPM. It was not obvious at first. But, after the range I started to notice it. I then looked at the numbers and it stood out. It is best to add the Paradym as a driver to consider this year.
