Price
$164 per iron
Callaway Quantum Max
Price
$164 per iron
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matt martian photography
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Why We Like It
- A new 360-degree undercut construction creates more deflection thanks to a deeper cupface that extends farther toward the trailing edge of the sole.
- A weight bar pushes the center of gravity low and forward without inhibiting flex on the sole flange to maximize speed on shots hit low on the face.
- The tri-sole’s leading-edge chamfer is higher off the ground to improve ball speed and launch. It does this by accommodating the typical hands-forward iron address position, reducing leading-edge dig and raising the likely impact location on the face.
- The company continues its use of urethane microspheres (tiny air bubbles encased in glass within urethane) to improve feel.
- Top 5 in Performance, high-handicaps
- SPECS: 7-iron: 29 degrees; PW: 42 degrees
what our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted explosive ball speeds with a high, penetrating launch and impressive carry, plus tight dispersion and reliable gapping. The head is compact and well‑proportioned, inspiring confidence at address; many praised its balanced weight, easy launch, and forgiving performance so mis‑hits stayed on line. Center strikes deliver a pure, solid feel and strong feedback. One recurring caveat: the impact is noticeably loud/metallic. Overall, standout consistency, forgiveness and controllable trajectory.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted explosive ball speeds and very high launch without sacrificing distance, with shots that jump off the face. Panelists praised its compact, players-like proportions, easy-to-hit forgiveness and remarkably tight dispersion and consistent gapping. Feel at center is soft and impact feedback is clear; when struck well carry is top-notch. One downside: Some impacts sounded louder.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted a loud, dynamic club that delivers eye‑catching distance and a crisp, metallic click on well‑struck shots. It sits confidently behind the ball—longer, thin topline, rounded toe and tapered sole—and feels super‑balanced. Extremely forgiving: mis‑hits keep energy and stay on line, with a roomy sweet spot and consistent launch. One drawback: It could accentuate a fade.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
I found it real challenging to control my left-to-right shot shape with these clubs. Even when I hit it well, it wanted to accentuate my fade. I simply could not correct it during the swing process.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
I had a hard time being consistent from shot to shot with this club. On one swing, I'd catch too much turf, and on the next I'd hit it too thin. So getting the club in the right place consistently proved a little challenging for me.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
What I appreciate about this club was its consistency and forgiveness. I found it easy to find the center of the clubface, and even on mis-hits the dispersion was not too wide. While it was a bit louder with a firmer feel than some other models, it was hard for me to hit poor shots with it.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Nice feel overall. One thing I noticed is that when I hit a ball I felt was going to go far, it was on the thin side. The feedback was that it should have gone farther and it didn't.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Good weight distribution and balance. Looks more like a blade than a game-improvement iron at address. If you like that, then this club may be for you. Not a huge sweet spot, but when you hit it, the feel is very mushy.
SEE ALL (23)
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
I found it real challenging to control my left-to-right shot shape with these clubs. Even when I hit it well, it wanted to accentuate my fade. I simply could not correct it during the swing process.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
I had a hard time being consistent from shot to shot with this club. On one swing, I'd catch too much turf, and on the next I'd hit it too thin. So getting the club in the right place consistently proved a little challenging for me.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
What I appreciate about this club was its consistency and forgiveness. I found it easy to find the center of the clubface, and even on mis-hits the dispersion was not too wide. While it was a bit louder with a firmer feel than some other models, it was hard for me to hit poor shots with it.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Nice feel overall. One thing I noticed is that when I hit a ball I felt was going to go far, it was on the thin side. The feedback was that it should have gone farther and it didn't.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Good weight distribution and balance. Looks more like a blade than a game-improvement iron at address. If you like that, then this club may be for you. Not a huge sweet spot, but when you hit it, the feel is very mushy.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Some of the highest ball speeds I hit today. Very explosive off the face. Smooth, effortless power. It launches the ball very high, but not enough to sacrifice any distance.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
It's a solid club that feels very pure when you hit it across the face. Generates a little higher ball flight than others, but the carry distance is still top-notch. Dispersion is minimal.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
For a while I thought I was hitting a players club, as it's perfectly proportioned and has very little offset. It's a loud crack at impact, with a little too much feedback in the hands. Decent ball speed off the face without too much spin.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
They look and feel very easy to hit, but when you don't hit them well, you lose a lot distance. Good shots are very well-rewarded, especially in height. Impact feels soft, but the ball still leaves the face like a bullet.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
Really forgiving, but with massive distance and power. I felt like I had the entire clubface to work with, so long as I hit the grooves somewhere. Easy to go target hunting with these.
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
A well-designed club with a longer topline and rounded toe that sits nicely behind the ball. The firmness on good strikes is really evident and gives a reassuring click sound—a little on the metallic side, but nonetheless rewarding of a good shot.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
Everyone on the range is going to turn and look to see who just hit the ball. No. 1, because it's loud; and No. 2, because it's going right where you want it to go with tremendous distance. You can feel the dynamic energy transfer from the sweet spot to the ball at impact.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
I found the head to be very bulky. Even so, the ball didn't pop off the face. It was like a muted ball projection; much less intense than some other clubs in this group.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
A little bit of offset gives you some confidence. It doesn't look like it's difficult to launch. Center hits deliver nice, consistent trajectory. There's no ballooning.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
The look was a little chunky to my eye, but the club was extremely forgiving. It produced straight shot after straight shot. Trajectory was a bit lower than I desired.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
It's not the longest club, but my distances only varied three to five yards per club, so very consistent. Deep, pleasant whipping sound. Not a fan of the thicker sole and topline.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
Behind the ball this club really inspires confidence. Super-balanced with a thin topline and tapered sole. Effortless distance with mis-hits that maintained their energy and stayed on line. Just real easy to hit with great sound and feel.
Anand
43, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Good gapping across all clubs. Not the longest, but if you don't care about distance, and you care about consistency and forgiveness, then this club will surely work for you.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Good launch and forgiveness, exactly what i'm looking for in an iron. What became really difficult for me to get over was the loud sound. It sounded like I was hitting a rock. You could hear it all over the range. Good performance, but not good acoustics.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
This club was extremely forgiving. I felt no matter where I hit it on the clubface, I still got a similar ball flight and path. Dispersion was tight. You can really tell when you're hitting the sweet spot on these clubs, and you can feel the ball compressing off the face as well.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
I really like the dimensions of this club. From heel to toe and top to bottom, everything works. You can't help but feel confident standing over the ball, and the results match that. On good swings, my goodness the ball just takes off and seems to stay in the air forever!
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
This is a really focused, purposeful, efficient club. The ball hits its line quickly and penetrates through the air with no waste whatsoever. Light, compact and very easy to hit. Its consistency is its real hallmark in that dispersion was very tight in terms of distance and location.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
A pretty good club once you get used to it. The ball jumps right off the face, and you can control it a lot more than some other irons in this category. I also like that it's not so big.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
I found it real challenging to control my left-to-right shot shape with these clubs. Even when I hit it well, it wanted to accentuate my fade. I simply could not correct it during the swing process.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
I had a hard time being consistent from shot to shot with this club. On one swing, I'd catch too much turf, and on the next I'd hit it too thin. So getting the club in the right place consistently proved a little challenging for me.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
What I appreciate about this club was its consistency and forgiveness. I found it easy to find the center of the clubface, and even on mis-hits the dispersion was not too wide. While it was a bit louder with a firmer feel than some other models, it was hard for me to hit poor shots with it.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Some of the highest ball speeds I hit today. Very explosive off the face. Smooth, effortless power. It launches the ball very high, but not enough to sacrifice any distance.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
Really forgiving, but with massive distance and power. I felt like I had the entire clubface to work with, so long as I hit the grooves somewhere. Easy to go target hunting with these.
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
A well-designed club with a longer topline and rounded toe that sits nicely behind the ball. The firmness on good strikes is really evident and gives a reassuring click sound—a little on the metallic side, but nonetheless rewarding of a good shot.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
Everyone on the range is going to turn and look to see who just hit the ball. No. 1, because it's loud; and No. 2, because it's going right where you want it to go with tremendous distance. You can feel the dynamic energy transfer from the sweet spot to the ball at impact.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
The look was a little chunky to my eye, but the club was extremely forgiving. It produced straight shot after straight shot. Trajectory was a bit lower than I desired.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
It's not the longest club, but my distances only varied three to five yards per club, so very consistent. Deep, pleasant whipping sound. Not a fan of the thicker sole and topline.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
Behind the ball this club really inspires confidence. Super-balanced with a thin topline and tapered sole. Effortless distance with mis-hits that maintained their energy and stayed on line. Just real easy to hit with great sound and feel.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
I really like the dimensions of this club. From heel to toe and top to bottom, everything works. You can't help but feel confident standing over the ball, and the results match that. On good swings, my goodness the ball just takes off and seems to stay in the air forever!
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
This is a really focused, purposeful, efficient club. The ball hits its line quickly and penetrates through the air with no waste whatsoever. Light, compact and very easy to hit. Its consistency is its real hallmark in that dispersion was very tight in terms of distance and location.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Nice feel overall. One thing I noticed is that when I hit a ball I felt was going to go far, it was on the thin side. The feedback was that it should have gone farther and it didn't.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Good weight distribution and balance. Looks more like a blade than a game-improvement iron at address. If you like that, then this club may be for you. Not a huge sweet spot, but when you hit it, the feel is very mushy.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
It's a solid club that feels very pure when you hit it across the face. Generates a little higher ball flight than others, but the carry distance is still top-notch. Dispersion is minimal.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
For a while I thought I was hitting a players club, as it's perfectly proportioned and has very little offset. It's a loud crack at impact, with a little too much feedback in the hands. Decent ball speed off the face without too much spin.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
They look and feel very easy to hit, but when you don't hit them well, you lose a lot distance. Good shots are very well-rewarded, especially in height. Impact feels soft, but the ball still leaves the face like a bullet.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
I found the head to be very bulky. Even so, the ball didn't pop off the face. It was like a muted ball projection; much less intense than some other clubs in this group.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
A little bit of offset gives you some confidence. It doesn't look like it's difficult to launch. Center hits deliver nice, consistent trajectory. There's no ballooning.
Anand
43, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Good gapping across all clubs. Not the longest, but if you don't care about distance, and you care about consistency and forgiveness, then this club will surely work for you.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
Good launch and forgiveness, exactly what i'm looking for in an iron. What became really difficult for me to get over was the loud sound. It sounded like I was hitting a rock. You could hear it all over the range. Good performance, but not good acoustics.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
This club was extremely forgiving. I felt no matter where I hit it on the clubface, I still got a similar ball flight and path. Dispersion was tight. You can really tell when you're hitting the sweet spot on these clubs, and you can feel the ball compressing off the face as well.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
A pretty good club once you get used to it. The ball jumps right off the face, and you can control it a lot more than some other irons in this category. I also like that it's not so big.
NO REVIEWS
There are no tester reviews here.
Range Results
We tracked 20,000 shots through player testing and then had them analyzed by our team of scientists. These graphics reflect the relative performance our players saw for each club in the category.
A Skeptic’s Guide To New Golf Equipment
From the Manufacturer
Callaway Quantum Max
Quantum Max inspires confidence with powerful speed, consistent carry, and forgiving performance across the face — all in a clean, modern shape that helps golfers hit more solid shots and score with control. The Modern 360° Undercut Cavity is designed to deliver faster ball speeds, higher launch, and more forgiveness across the face, thanks to its advanced two-piece design with extreme perimeter weighting and a fully exposed undercut for added flex where golfers need it most. The Progressive Tri-Sole Design promotes cleaner, more consistent contact across the set, with a reengineered sole geometry that adapts from long irons to wedges for smooth turf interaction and efficient speed retention — even on heavy strikes.
CLIFF ENDSLEY
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