Callaway FT-iQ and FT-iQ Tour reviews
Review Date: 20th November 2008
Callaway FT-iQ & FT-iQ Tour drivers review
Price: £379.00
Following on from their FT-i driver, the new Callaway FT-iQ range promises to be longer, straighter and more workable. It achieves this.
>> Video: Callaway FT-iQ driver review
>> Blog: Callaway FT-iQ driver
>> News: Callaway FT-iQTM and FT-iQ Tour first look
Design and Tech Benefits
Callaway FT-iQ driver video review
Inspired by a fighter plane and a supercar, the Callaway FT-iQ is the company's next generation square driver. The futuristic head is made from a combination of materials a carbon composite, titanium, aluminium and a dense metal alloy. This lightweight design means that 18% of the club's weight is made up of the external weight unit (that you can see attached to the back of the head).
The head shape has been made more aerodynamic, which helps to increase clubhead speed for added distance and the centre of gravity is lower and deeper. The standard model has draw weighting to help minimise slices while an FT-iQ Tour version is also available with neutral weighting in the head.
Get the full list of Callaway reviews on Golf Monthly
Golf Monthly Verdict
The original Callaway FT-i was undoubtedly one of the straightest drivers the Golf Monthly team had ever seen. The criticism was that it lacked distance. This modified shape promises to be more aerodynamic and we certainly noticed the extra yards. We reckon the modified shape is also better to look down on and the weighting helps square the face at impact. The Callaway FT-iQ is not a driver for those who see shaping the ball as a priority, but the majority of players will be impressed by the straight drives it helps to produce.
Where next?
Galleries:
- Gallery: Callaway X Forged irons, Callaway X22 irons and Callaway X22 Tour irons
- Gallery: Callaway Big Bertha Diablo and Callaway FT-9 driver
News:
- Callaway FT-5 Driver powers Alvaro Quiros to the longest driver on tour
Reviewer: Paul O'Hagan
User reviews
Add your reviewOctober 12 18:14
Mr B Reuben
Welll this driver certainly worked for me! finds the middle of the fairway about 90% of the time and has added that extra few yards. I have now added a 'Squareway' 3 wood to keep it company. I have to say that both these clubs have given me more confidence and actually got me amongst the prize winners at a recent 4 ball better ball open I entered.
December 04 22:07
Tom
I've been playing golf for 2 years now and have had a FT IQ for about 5 months. I have come down from 26 to 18 hdc in that time, and this stick has had a big part in that. If you hit a big hook or slice it won't cure it, but this also means you can shape the ball to some degree.
It looses about 20-30 yards on my last driver (TM CGB max) and you can't feel a thing. However I'm usually on the fairway and feel confident with it on the tee. At address it doesn't look as big as other big brand drivers in the same catagory, and was very easy to get use to.
Callaway have also fitted a very good stock shaft, which is a big part of any driver.
Basically, if you want a good distance drive and to be playing your second shot from the fairway most of the time. Give this a go.
December 12 18:59
peter walker
I have seen the future and it is square.
I know we might bemoan the lack of shot shaping in the pro game, but generally speaking for the vast majority of us recreational golfers the only shape we are looking for is straight and high. So we should be taking advantage of everything that helps us towards this.
Right from set up the FTiQ helps. With those straight edges you cant help but line the clubhead up properly. And on top of that you get what Callaway have always been good at, clubs that are easy to swing and fun to use.
So why havent square clubs taken off more? Well the looks can take a bit of getting used to. Also the good ones have been expensive and there have been some awful cheap ones made from low-end manufactures jumping on the bandwagon.
But the extra investment is truly worth it. We keep coming back to play golf because of the good shots we hit during a round, and these clubs will mean more good shots.
I just cant wait till they start producing square hybrids also.
May 24 14:21
Terry
I have been using a FTIQ Tour 10 degree regular flex Driver for 6 rounds of golf now and it plays great! It took a little getting used to as upon address to the ball on the tee, I had to close the face a few mm, but now every drive is going straighter and a good 30 to 40 meters farther than I have ever been able to hit before.
If I open the face a couple of mm I can get a slight fade to the right, but, I cannot hook the ball left. This driver really is proving itself to be so easy to aim and shoot with the drives going very, very, straight.