Callaway Golf just announced the Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max driver, which should easily win Driver of the Year—in the “Most Letters” category.
It’s a mouthful.
It also risks introducing some confusion by way of the apparent contradiction between the Triple Diamond and Max nomenclature, though I’d be more inclined to argue that, character count notwithstanding, the name is entirely on the nose.
Neither 100 percent Triple Diamond nor 100 percent Max, the Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond driver sits somewhere between the two. Perhaps it blends the best of both, though I’m inclined to say it leans to the Triple Diamond side of the equation.
That assessment is based on the Triple Diamond Max’s front-to-back weighting system (10g/4g) and the fact that it’s the second most-played Callaway driver across worldwide tours.
So, yeah, Tour players have had access to the Triple Diamond Max all season long. We peons are just now being brought into the loop.
Once again, things that could have been brought to my attention YESTERDAY!
More on that in a bit.
About the Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max
The stock Triple Diamond (left) and the Triple Diamond Max (right)
From a shape perspective, Callaway says the Triple Diamond Max is an upsized, 460cc version of the standard Triple Diamond. Just one guy’s opinion here, but the Triple Diamond is the most eye-pleasing of the current Callaway options so I have no issues with a bigger one.
With the added size comes a little bit more forgiveness, albeit with a little bit more spin.
I’m also good with that.
The stock Triple Diamond has a pre-baked fade bias while the Max wants to draw a bit. The new Paradym Ai Smoke Max Triple Diamond is the most neutral of the three. I suppose that makes it a bit less workable but it feels like a sensible tradeoff for the added stability.
A bigger, more forgiving Triple Diamond with what you might call a slight spin penalty.
I’m not mad about it. Well, just a little.
The Bigger Picture
From retail release to retail release, it’s been just over five months since the founding members of the Paradym Ai Smoke driver family hit store shelves.
It’s a bit unusual, though not entirely unheard of, for a line extension to launch this soon after the initial release, especially since there aren’t any serious warning signs around sales or lack thereof.
You’re not getting a free fairway wood or a $50 gift card with purchase.
In the retail market right now, Callaway is No. 1 in the metalwoods category. By ranking, you can’t do better than that, but there isn’t a company out there that doesn’t want more.
That could help to explain the release and the timing.
Two Perspectives
From the consumer perspective, especially if you’ve already chosen between the Triple Diamond and the Max, I can understand a bit of frustration.
It would have been nice to have the choice when the drivers launched at the end of January (metaphorically, YESTERDAY).
I would have loved to have seen it sooner.
When Callaway fitted me for a Paradym Ai Smoke driver, I was somewhere in between Triple Diamond and Max and could have made a compelling argument for either.
Distance (so much distance): Triple Diamond
Straightness and Dispersion: Smoke Max.
I bet I wasn’t the only one.
On a 10-point scale, at the time, I would have rated the Triple Diamond a 10 for distance and an 8 for straightness and dispersion. The Max? A solid 8+ for distance and a 9.5 for straightness.
And, yeah, these numbers are almost entirely arbitrary as I’m intentionally leaving myself room to make a point.
Ultimately, we (the fitter and I) settled on the Triple Diamond because it was quantifiably longer and straight enough that I just couldn’t quit the distance, even if it meant opening the door to the occasional big miss right or a quick diving duck hook.
Full disclosure here: If you were in the same boat, I’d likely tell you that it doesn’t always make sense to trade away accuracy for distance, especially if you play on a tight course with a lot of OB, but that’s exactly what I did.
Do as I say …
Embrace the Compromise?
Conceding that you never really know what a driver is going to do until you hit it, if in that fitting moment Callaway had handed me Triple Diamond Max, my hunch is that splitting the difference (let’s say 9s for both distance and accuracy with a larger, more forgiving head), I’d almost certainly have embraced the compromise.
Kicking any frustration over the timing of the release to the curb, I’m embracing the hell out of it right now and can’t wait to see if the Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max (so many letters) can kick the stock Triple Diamond out of the bag.
Specs, Pricing, Availability
The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max driver is available in nine and 10.5 degrees. Both lofts are available in right-hand only.
The stock shaft is the Project X Denali Blue (60 grams, stiff and x-stiff). The stock grip is the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360.
Retail price is $599. Pre-sale begins May 28. At retail June 7.
For more information, visit CallawayGolf.com.
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