The Callaway X Hot utility club has a familiar look to it, but it contains a lot of new technology. Foremost is the Speed Frame face that allows a hot steel face insert to be welded onto the face frame for faster ball speeds.

Certainly the face felt a little hotter at impact as the ball flew relatively high but with quite a penetrating flight. The ball speed was higher than previous models so Callaway have delivered here.

The X Hot utility is aimed at mid to high handicappers and the offset on the hosel is reasonably large which will help with the forgiveness. The start of the face did seem a long way from the hosel though and the gap took a bit of getting used to. At address the head looked very clean and there was no alignment aid which may concern some.

One of the other aspects to the increased speed is the weight of the X Hot utility. Callaway have added a nice light Project X Velocity shaft that is excellent quality and very stable without being too stiff or heavy.

The sole of the X Hot is more curved than before which does make the club easier to hit from a variety of lies. Callaway liken it to a modern warbird sole but we think that is stretching it as the warbird was a little more contoured. However, the X Hot sole is one of the best in the market and a welcome development as it makes it more playable.

Overall the Callaway X Hot utility is a quality club that will give game improvers help with getting the ball up and out all lies from long range.