Early Monday morning, as 2024 was being ushered in across the United States, Callaway’s newest drivers were being added to the United States Golf Association’s List of Conforming Driver Heads. That means the USGA has tested the heads to ensure they meet equipment standards and comply with the Rules of Golf. Once added to the list, a driver head can be used by anyone in a competitive round or official event like this week’s PGA Tour event, The Sentry at the Kapalua Resort in Hawaii.
Callaway has not made any official announcement about the Paradym A.I. Smoke drivers yet, and there are 11 versions of the Paradym A.I. Smoke drivers now on the list, so some are almost assuredly going to be Tour-only models. However, based on the photos displayed on the USGA’s website, the descriptions and notes of the of the clubs and technologies Callaway has used in the past, we can make some educated guesses about the Paradym A.I. Smoke family.
- Forged Carbon. Callaway has been making drivers with carbon fiber crowns and sole panels for years, and in 2023’s Paradym drivers, the brand created a 360-degree forged carbon chassis that wrapped the material completely around the center of the head. Forged Carbon is printed on the sole of each driver, so it appears the Paradym A.I. Smoke will have a similar construction.
- Ai SMART FACE. We can’t see this in the USGA photos, but it is noted in the description of each club that on the face are the words “Ai Smart Face.” A few weeks ago, Odyssey, Callaway’s putter arm, released the Ai ONE and Ai ONE Milled putters, and in those clubs, Ai standards for artificial intelligence. Callaway has used artificial intelligence to help its designers create driver faces for years, so this could mean there is a new or updated face technology in the Paradym A.I. Smoke drivers.
- Triple Diamond = Low Spin. Starting several years ago, Callaway designated its low-spin drivers with Sub-Zero, but recently the company has used three diamonds or the Triple Diamond designation to signify that a product has been made for fast-swinging, elite golfers. Among the drivers now on the conforming list are the Triple Diamond, Triple Diamond +, Triple Diamond S and Triple Diamond Max. All of them except the Triple Diamond + appear to have two moveable weights, one forward and another back weight in the sole. In the past, this two-weight system has allowed players and fitters to be able to increase or decrease the spin rate and launch angle by swapping a heavy and a lightweight in the ports.
- Max = standard. There is no club simply labeled Paradym A.I. Smoke, each of the new offerings on the USGA list is labeled with an extra name, so it stands to reason that Max is the base model. We can clearly see a sliding weight in the back of the Max driver that should allow players and fitters to create a draw or a fade bias. The weight in the front of the sole is a different shape, so it won’t be swappable with the weight in the track. It is likely there to help fitters adjust the swing weight of the club.
- Max D = Draw. This club lacks the sliding weight in the back of the head that the Max has, but any time brands put a D on the end of a club’s name, it means draw. This driver has likely been designed to help golfers who slice.
- Max Fast. If the standard Max is a base model and the Max D has a draw bias for golfers who slice, the Max Fast is probably for slower-swinging players. Why do we think that? In the USGA notes it states that this club is offered in 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 and 12-degree options. Those higher lofts will not be practical for faster-swinging golfers, but players who struggle to generate speed often choose high-lofted drivers to maximize carry distance. Like the other Paradym A.I. Smoke drivers, the Max Fast has an adjustable hosel and unless it is different than other Callaway hosel systems, it will allow players to increase the loft by up to 2 degrees so that a 12-degree head can play with as much as 14 degrees of loft!
Here are several close-up looks at the different Paradym A.I. Smoke drivers.
Paradym Ai Smoke (Version 1)
The three diamonds on the sole of this club designate it as a Triple Diamond head,…
The three diamonds on the sole of this club designate it as a Triple Diamond head, which in the last has meant a product is for fast-swinging players who need spin reduction. (USGA)
Paradym Ai Smoke (Version 1) (LH)
This is the left-handed version of the Triple Diamond. (USGA)
Paradym Ai Smoke (Version 2)
This version of the PAradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond has a + sign after its name…
This version of the PAradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond has a + sign after its name and has only been tested in 9 and 10.5-degree versions. (USGA)
Paradym Ai Smoke (Version 3)
This version of the Triple Diamond has an S and appears to have a head that…
This version of the Triple Diamond has an S and appears to have a head that is either smaller in volume or shorter from front to back. (USGA)
Paradym Ai Smoke Max (Version 1)
The Paradym Ai Smoke Max has a sliding weight in the back that should help to…
The Paradym Ai Smoke Max has a sliding weight in the back that should help to create a draw or fade bias. (USGA)
Paradym Ai Smoke Max (Version 1) (LH)
This is the left-hand version of the Paradym Ai Smoke Max. Like the right-hand version, it…
This is the left-hand version of the Paradym Ai Smoke Max. Like the right-hand version, it was tested as a 9, 10.5 and 12-degree head. (USGA)
Paradym Ai Smoke Max (Version 2)
This club has both the Max and the Triple Diamond logos on the sole. (USGA)
Paradym Ai Smoke Max (Version 2) (LH)
Like the standard Max and Triple Diamond heads, it was tested in a left-hand version. (USGA)
Like the standard Max and Triple Diamond heads, it was tested in a left-hand version. (USGA)
Paradym Ai Smoke Max D
The Paradym Ai Smoke Max D has a single, non-adjustable weight in the back. (USGA)
Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (LH)
The Paradym Ai Smoke Max D was also tested in a left-hand version. (USGA)
Paradym AI Smoke Max Fast
Like the Paradym Ai Smoke Max D, the Max Fast version has a single, non-adjustable weight…
Like the Paradym Ai Smoke Max D, the Max Fast version has a single, non-adjustable weight in the back of the sole. (USGA)