Review: Callaway Elyte driver – the best yet from Callaway?

Callaway has kicked off the new year with the launch of its latest driver, the Callaway Elyte. Could this be the best Callaway driver yet? Let’s take a look…

Callaway says the new Elyte driver delivers, well, elite performance with new and improved aerodynamic shaping, an aerospace grade crown, and a new AI face design. 

The question, as always, is this: does it do what they say?

The first look

First things first, we have the stand-out new green, white and black colour scheme, which I think looks pretty good.

When you put the driver behind the ball, however, you’ll notice a matte finish on the crown of Elyte X – the most forgiving model and Elyte – the core model – which looks great, but the Elyte TD – Triple Diamond, the low-spinning, tour preferred model – is different and has a gloss finish. This was due to player feedback and preference from the tour.

The head shapes also catch the eye, with the Elyte TD being the more compact head shape and the Elyte and Elyte X being the two larger head shapes. All three have aerodynamic shaping to them which will help you swing it faster. 

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The Callaway Elyte Ai10X face produces fantastic forgiveness. (Credit: Callaway)

The Callaway Elyte X driver is the most forgiving in the new range. (Credit: Callaway)

The Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond is ideal for fast swing speeds. (Credit: Callaway)

The Elyte produces great forgiveness and will suit a lot of golfers. (Credit: Callaway)

The Elyte Max has a larger profile at address. (Credit: Callaway)

The Callaway Elyte is a great all-rounder. (Credit: Callaway)

The Tech

There are a few new tech additions in the new Elyte range, so bear with me…

Enhanced Aerodynamic Shaping

To kick us off, we have new aerodynamics across the three models with a slightly rounded and raised toe profile, which gives a streamlined shape. The improved shape is designed to maximise swing speed, with improved forgiveness and launch conditions whilst giving you reduced drag through the air.

Thermoforged Carbon Crown

What makes this new shape possible across all the models is an all-new Thermoforged Carbon Crown.

This is made from aerospace grade carbon fibre, which enables fast head speeds through shaping while optimising launch and spin. We saw the development of the Ai Smart Face last year but this has been improved so much. Callaway says it’s the brand’s “most advanced Ai face to date.” The new Ai10x Face delivers 10x more control points than the Ai Smart Face. It produces exceptionally fast ball speeds, tight dispersion, and optimises launch across the face. 

All of this new tech sounds great, but what has it actually done?

To break it down, the new aerodynamic shaping is 1.3mph faster through the air than Paradym Ai Smoke, which translates into 2.1mph more ball speed. The new Ai10x Smart Face acts as if it’s 11K MOI, delivering 19% tighter dispersion. On top of that, the new Callaway Elyte drivers are going to be seven yards further. 

With the three head options, the Elyte Triple Diamond is the low spinning option for the faster speed player with the adjustable weighting on the sole for faster speeds from the face. The Elyte delivers the best of both worlds in a larger head shape for more forgiveness with adjustable weighting, giving you great ball speed and distance. The Elyte X is the most forgiving model, with a 13g weight which you can move from neutral to draw bias to fix a slice.

The bunkered Verdict

I got to hit these in Sotogrande at Callaway’s launch event, as well as back home in the Trackman studio at Golf It! in Glasgow. The biggest stand-out both times was the dispersion consistency, particularly the downrange dispersion. For any golfer, that’s a massive boost to the confidence. 

The new Ai10x Smart Face helps the drivers feel great and forgiving, especially on off-centre hits. 

These drivers are undoubtedly longer, more forgiving and a bit quicker than the previous generation Paradym Ai Smoke. Don’t get me wrong, that was, and still is, a great driver. But the Elyte is just that bit better – as it should be.

The Triple Diamond was the model I was fitted into, and I loved it. Its low-spinning and compact profile works perfectly for me. But, when hitting the Elyte with its larger footprint, I found it was so forgiving and moving the heavier weight forward on the sole increased the ball speed, while still maintaining high levels of forgiveness.

The Elyte X is not aimed at somebody like me but as it offers the most forgiveness with a draw bias setting in an inviting large head shape, you’ll be able to control that pesky slice.

In all these models, you can expect plenty of those marginal gains that all add up to make a superior driver to what we’ve previously seen from Callaway.

It’s made this new Elyte driver range very appealing.

A ‘must try’ in 2025.

RRP: £569 Elyte & Elyte X £599 Elyte Triple Diamond

Available: 31 January , 2025

Check out the latest YouTube review to see for yourself.

More from the latest Callaway Elyte Range

Review: Callaway Elyte fairway woods

Review: Callaway Elyte hybrids

Review: Callaway Elyte irons – the best looking game improvement irons?

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