Callaway have launched a new line of clubs for 2023 called Paradym. If you've got no idea what it means, then you're not the only one...
First of all, the Oxford Dictionary shows that it is normally spelt 'paradigm' and this means "a model of something, or a very clear and typical example of something".
This signifies a shift in Callaway's thinking in terms of design and maybe brand, moving away from the masculine names of Epic, Mavrik and Rogue.
There are three different heads in the range (Standard, X and Triple Diamond). In this review I will be focusing on the Triple Diamond. This head is the closest that you can get to the version that Jon Rahm will be using this year on tour.
The Tech
The Paradym drivers are said to provide new levels of distance thanks to a 360 Carbon Chassis and forged carbon sole which joins to the crown with one seal.
This forms a lightweight wrap around the structure of the head and is 44% lighter than titanium, and this weight saving allows mass to be moved to where it is needed most.
In the case of this head, there is a 14g tungsten weight at the front of the head to lower the launch, and a 2g weight at the rear to lower CG - these weights can also be flipped if you want to fine-tune your ball flight. The head is slightly more compact at 450cc and is designed to suit the eye of better players.
There is a new Jailbreak design with two becoming one, with the new wishbone-shaped bar's design and positioning said to increases ball speed and stability.
AI technology features across the whole design of this driver head, but especially in the titanium face and face cup, as well as the aerodynamic shaping that makes the Paradym Triple Diamond the company's fastest driver head ever.
Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Driver Review
Looks
As I mentioned in my review of the standard Paradym Driver the headcover reminds me of something that you'd see from the likes of XXIO, with a shiny blue and white complete with dashes of gold.
It's not my thing, but the good news with a headcover is you can always swap it out for one of your own.
The 450cc head has a deeper face and is more rounded than the D-shaped head of the standard Paradym. At address is the dark blue satin crown with a graphite matte grey face that wraps around the front of the head.
Unlike the standard model there is no Callaway arrow logo to help you centre the golf ball, while the face is also clean from any markings - so much so that Xander Schauffele actually has to add lines on with a white Sharpie...
It sits very neutral at address and the overall appearance is very slick, although personally I would've liked the markings that appear on the standard head to have carried over as it would help with alignment.
The sole has a dark blue marble effect which is said to be from the forging of the carbon, whilst there is a subtle wave design also which helps the aerodynamics.
Feel
The driver sounds like carbon in the sense that the noise is dull and thick, and it feels secure rather than speedy at impact.
Like past Triple Diamond heads, the ball doesn't flash off the face so that it feels thin and uncontrollable. The performance however was fast, so the sounds contradict my usual feels when it comes to the speed element.
It feels easier to hit than a Triple Diamond has ever done before. I remember the Epic Flash Sub Zero, which was impossible for me to get into the air. The launch is low and you still have to strike it well enough, but this is a beast that fast-swing elite golfers will be able to tame.
* Indoor Performance*
I tested the Paradym Triple Diamond on my Trackman 4 and found that ball speeds were high at an average of 134mph, whilst spin rates were right where I'd want them to be at 2400rpm.
It was higher spinning than lots of other LS drivers that I have tried over the last few years, but the difference between the lowest (2180) and highest (2770) was more consistent.
This is an important aspect to look at, as it shows that you're going to be able to predict your dispersion rather than having huge drop-offs from good shots to bad ones.
My distances were 206.8 yards carry and 238 yards total. This carry is a little shorter than the standard Paradym due to the lower launch and the lower peak height of 59 feet. The standout feedback from this session was the low ball flight that this club delivered.
On-Course Performance
Filled with confidence I headed to a quiet tee box at Stockport Golf Club, and then proceeding to miss fairways and hit poor shots more often than not, highlighting the difference between indoor and outdoor golf.
More layers and more consequences led to disappointing strikes, with my ball flight and distances varying. It's one of those clubs that is great when you're hitting it well, but if you start striking it badly you can lose confidence quickly.
Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Driver Verdict
I wasn't a huge fan of the name and looks of this driver but the Paradym has won me over at address, and the performance is everything that you would expect from a low-spin Triple Diamond driver.
Both indoor and outdoor testing proved that this head was not for me but I could still appreciate its capabilities with very quick ball speeds.
I like it when a company offers three types of driver heads and they all perform as expected, producing noticeably different performance in each model. Another positive was the spin which was consistently lower than average. Sometimes on these heads I can still get a high-spinning one, but I didn't when testing the Triple Diamond.
Unfortunately I do not hit the ball with enough speed to make the most of the characteristics of this driver but I can appreciate it is aimed at a player who does.
Now for the knockout blow. As cheap as the headcover looks the price tag is high, at an eye watering £599. This supports my theory of Callaway moving in a different direction and wanting to take over from PXG at the higher end of the market.
I can see Callaway giving these Triple Diamond heads to elite golfers, as young amateurs will not be able to afford them.
Would I Use It?
Maybe on a warm summers day with the head set to 10.5° and if I was swinging out of my boots! Who am I kidding, this only happens once a year so I need to be realistic...
The Triple Diamond does what it says it should - spins low, flies low - and that's not what I need. I much prefer the standard Paradym.
Who Is It Aimed At?
Elite golfers with exceptional strike accuracy and swing speeds of 100mph+. You need to be very accurate off the tee because there is a lack of forgiveness in this head. Channel your inner Jon Rahm, swing it fast and have plenty of money in the bank.
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