Are Callaway X-12 Irons Still Good? Are They Forgiving for High Handicappers?

Are Callaway X-12 Irons Still Good? Are They Forgiving for High Handicappers?  

“The Callaway X-12 irons have the sole of the Big Bertha line of irons but the body of a much more reserved, classic set of irons.”  

Without giving too much away too early, the Callaway X-12 irons are sort of the best of both worlds.

One of the things that concerned us about these irons though is that they are often billed as Big Bertha irons for better players.  

Does that mean they are supposed to be for lower handicappers? We wanted to find out for ourselves so we went out and tested the Callaway X-12 to see if they are still of any value to high handicap players. 

Are the Callaway X-12 Irons Still Good? 

“Like many Big Bertha clubs, the effective hitting area of the Callaway X-12 irons is seemingly endless.”  

Keep in mind that the Callaway X-12 irons came out all the way back in 1998. Since then, Big Bertha clubs have changed in terms of manufacturing.

But the spirit remains the same. The Callaway X-12 have nearly the same  feel and performance as modern Big Bertha irons.  

We were very surprised to realize this and as you will see in a subsequent section, we tested the Callaway X-12’s against modern Big Bertha irons. To say the Callaway X-12’s are still good would be an understatement.   

The fact that they keep up so well with modern Callaway clubs makes them a downright marvel. So what makes them so good after all these years? First of all the Callaway X-12’s feature progressive offset.   

That means that they open up more in the long irons and close up more in the short irons. This provides for a phenomenal level of all-around performance.

Our testers noted that the long irons in the Callaway X-12 set were very easy to hit with and that the short irons felt controllable and wieldy.   

In terms of distance, the Callaway X-12’s bring the heat. The average distance after three swings with the 3-iron clocked in at 198.2 yards.  

Are the Callaway X-12 Irons Forgiving for High Handicappers? 

“The weight has been carefully placed in the heads of these irons to promote control and forgiveness.” 

The Callaway X-12 features the now common 360 undercut channel which allows more mass to be positioned in the perimeter of the club head.

Our testers did notice that their errant shots were flying straighter; but still not straight as an arrow.   

However, errant shots were reduced across the board for our testers. This has to do with the large hitting area of the Callaway X-12 irons.

A lot of weight has been saved in the hosel and with the 360 degree undercut so that the sweet spot could be expanded out to the perimeters of the club heads.   

These are very inherent, design-driven forgiveness features which is a good thing considering that there aren’t a lot of superfluous or fancy forgiveness features included in the design of the Callaway X-12’s.   

They are basic; but they really help with forgiveness. Our high handicap testers really appreciated the pronounced offset in the longer irons while our mid handicap testers liked the controlled launch.  

Callaway X-12 Vs Callaway Big Bertha B21 Irons 

“The latest iteration of the Big Bertha irons see Callaway opting for  slightly heavier design and improved ball speeds.”  

The biggest difference between the Callaway X-12’s and the Big Bertha B21 irons is the weight. The Big Bertha B21’s just feel heavier in the hands which may or may not be a bad thing depending on the kind of player you are.   

Plus, the extra weight can be negated with the right shaft. Anyhow, the Callaway X-12 produced slightly less ball speed than the B21’s; but that didn’t always mean less distance.

Roll distance was actually better with the Callaway X-12’s which often negated any distance gains from ball speed offered by the B21’s. 

Callaway X-12 First Impressions  

“The Callaway X-12 irons have an almost archaic look compared to modern Big Bertha irons.”  

The cavity back has a more simplistic look and they certainly don’t look as beefy as the B21 irons at address. So we thought they might not be as forgiving; but that wasn’t the case.  

Callaway X-12 Selling Points 

• Cavity back design 
• 360 degree channel undercut 
• S2H2 hosel 
• Tru-Bore design 
• Progressive clubface offset 
• Thin sole 

Callaway X-12 Key Technology 

“The Callaway X-12’s lack modern technological features; but it really doesn’t need them.” 

360 Degree Channel Undercut: This feature allows more weight to be placed in the perimeter of the head.  

S2H2: The Short Straight Hollow Hosel design allows for more weight to be placed in strategic areas of the club head.  

Tru-Bore: A feature that greatly enhances the feel of these irons. Tru-Bore design allows the shaft to bore down deep into the heel.  

Progressive Clubface Offset: The longer irons have a more open stance so they are more forgiving on full swings. The short irons have less offset so you get more accuracy when you’re around the pin.  

Callaway X-12 Loft & Lie 

Club	Loft	Lie
1 iron	16	58.5
2 iron	18.5	59.2
3 iron	21	59.9
4 iron	23.6	60.6
5 iron	26	61.3
6 iron	29	62
7 iron	33	62.5
8 iron	37.5	63.5
9 iron	42	64.5

Who Should Buy the Callaway X-12 Irons? 

“The Callaway X-12 irons are still a great choice for mid to high handicappers.”  

Our high handicap testers raved at how manageable the long irons in this set are while our mid handicap testers really loved the lower flight and enhanced control of the shorter irons – a testament to just how effective progressive offset can be.   

It’s clear from our testing that the Callaway X-12 irons hold up remarkably well and still provide all-around performance and value for high and mid handicappers.  

Distance: 97/100

Forgiveness: 97/100 

Workability: 96/100 

Overall Performance: 97/100 

Value: 96/100 

Overall Score: 97/100

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