This is Golfer Geeks’ Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver Review.
Summary: The Paradym Ai Smoke Max driver has explosive distance, loads of forgiveness, and adjustable ball flight with the movable sole weight. It’s more forgiving and feels better on mishits than the Paradym from last year.
In this review of the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max driver, I discuss my experience with the club, unique features and benefits, as well as customer reviews and potential alternatives.
- Stellar Distance & Forgiveness
- Launches ball high
- Adjustable
- Sound & Feel downgraded from the Paradym
Club Testers
Wes (Primary Tester)
- Average score: 73.2
- Handicap: +1
- Years of Experience/ Expertise: 28
- Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
- Typical ball flight: Fade
- Golf ball: ProV1x left dash
- Swing speed for this test: 118 (for this testing)
Jamie
- Average score: 85.9
- Handicap: 8.3
- Reviewing Clubs Since: 2015
- Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
- Typical ball flight: Draw
- Golf ball: 2024 Chrome Tour X
- Swing speed for this test: 97ish mph
Driver Specs
- Loft setting: 10.5 set to 8.5 degrees
- Shaft type: Project X HZRDUS Smoke IM10 60g
- Shaft flex: Stiff flex
How We Tested
Wes performed the main testing (the data you see below) on the 2nd hole of our golf course. We used premium Titleist ProV1x left-dash golf balls and the Garmin R10 launch monitor to collect data.
I took the Ai Smoke Max on the course for three or so rounds of golf.
Launch Monitor Data (Wes’s)
Club | Club Speed | Ball Speed | Carry Distance | Total Distance | Vertical Launch | Peak Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ai Smoke Max | 117 | 166 | 269 | 287 | *9.9 | 105 ft |
Performance Review of the Ai Smoke Max
Category | Grade |
|---|---|
Looks | B |
Sound/Feel | B+ |
Distance | A |
Forgiveness | A+ |
Flight/Playability | A |
Value | A |
Looks: (B) The basic head shape is unchanged from the Paradym. I prefer the dark blue crown color of the Paradym over the gray for the Ai Smoke.
Sound/ Feel: (B) The Ai Smoke has a hollow sound, and the feel isn’t as solid as the Paradym. Still good, but a downgrade in my book.
Distance: (A) Tons of distance on center strikes and slight misses with maybe a 3-5 yard difference between the two. You’ll lose more distance on bigger misses but still get more than you deserve.
Forgiveness: (A) Ample forgiveness with little loss of distance and no loss of direction on minor mishits. It saved a lot of my marginal swings. Just not the terrible ones.
Flight / Playability: (A) High and straight is the default with a decent swing. I was pull-hooking at first. I moved the sole weight from the draw position to the baby fade position and started hitting beautiful straight shots, baby draws, and playable pushes.
Value: (A) ~$599 – Expensive, just like all the others.
Ai Smoke Max Driver Overview & Why Consider It
The Ai Smoke Max is the Callaway driver that should appeal to the broadest range of golfers. (Ideal for “high handicap amateurs to tour pros” Callaway says)
- It’s got all the distance. Particularly noticeable when you miss the sweet spot.
- It’s got all the forgiveness.
- Plus, it’s got added shot-shaping adjustability with the sole weight (which I took full advantage of).
Why consider the Ai Smoke Max: You’re a solid driver, but still want the benefits of a forgiving and hot driver. Plus, the ability to dial in shot shaping with a sole weight.
The Ai Smoke Max grew on me. I didn’t like the lighter head and more hollow sound when i first hit it. I was/am a large fan of last year’s Paradym drivers.
But the more I hit it, the more I like it.
Our Experience with the Ai Smoke Max
Wes says the Ai Smoke Max is more forgiving and has a better feel on mishits than last’ year’s Paradym.
We don’t have an x-stiff shaft for Callaway drivers (yet), so we couldn’t max out the Ai Smoke Max’s performance. Still, we thought it performed really well..
All my testing took place on the golf course over about three rounds. I switched it out with other drivers I was testing – the Qi10 drivers and the new Darkspeed drivers.
I first pulled-hooked a few drives with the Ai Smoke Max because my swing was out of sequence. My drives straightened out for the most part once I got that figured out. They straightened out the rest of the way when I moved the sole weight from the draw position to just past the neutral position towards the fade setting.
I just had to make a full turn and sync up my swing after that for a bunch of nice drives.
Who is the Ai Smoke Max for?
We agree with Callaway. The Ai Smoke Max does a lot of things really well. Loads of distance, forgiveness, and adjustability to fit most swings.
Low handicaps: (Yep) Wes is an elite-level driver and a +1 handicap and could easily put this driver in play. Test, test, test.
Mid handicaps: (Yes) Great club for you. You should test it.
High handicaps: (Yep) Definitely worth testing.
Potential Alternatives
The
The Cobra Darkspeed X is a particular favorite of mine. Like the Ai Smoke Max, it’s loaded with forgiveness and distance. But it has a better sound and feel. It’s also ~$50 cheaper. (full review coming soon)
We still like the Paradym from last year. It has ample distance and forgiveness with better sound and feel on center contact than the Ai Smoke Max. Plus you’ll get a deal this time of year.
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Best Sound & Feel
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Maybe Hottest
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Best Bargain
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4.9
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4.8
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5.0
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~$549 new
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~$599 new
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~$499 new
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Similar distance & forgiveness. Movable sole weights to adjust launch and spin. |
Similar distance & forgiveness. No adjustable sole weights. |
Similar distance & forgiveness. Better sound and feel on center contact. Not as good on off-center hits as the Ai Smoke Max. |
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Similar distance & forgiveness. Movable sole weights to adjust launch and spin.
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Long & Forgiving
- Looks great at address
- Plain cosmetics
Similar distance & forgiveness. No adjustable sole weights.
- Long & Forgiving
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Premium Looks
- Not a significant upgrade over the Stealth 2
Similar distance & forgiveness. Better sound and feel on center contact. Not as good on off-center hits as the Ai Smoke Max.
- Flat Out Gorgeous
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Solid, Long & Forgiving
- Pricey
Customer Reviews
100% of buyers would recommend the Ai Smoke Max to a friend. It has an average rating of 4.9/5 out of 16 reviews at callawaygolf.com.(1)
Final Verdict on our Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver Review
In General, we recommend the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max driver for you if:
- You enjoy a driver with a lot of forgiveness of the.
- You want plenty of help with launch and carry.
- You want more ability to shape your ball with a sole weight.
- You don’t spin the ball excessively with your driver – robbing you of distance.
My #1 suggestion is to get your hands on it before you buy. Either at your local golf store or take advantage of Global Golf’s Utry trial program. I use it and recommend it.
Thanks for checking out our Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max driver review and let us know how they work for you.
- Stellar Distance & Forgiveness
- Launches ball high
- Adjustable
- Sound & Feel downgraded from the Paradym
