Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke HL Iron Review
Published: Last updated:
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At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
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Pros
- More golfers really should give HL irons a try.
- The lower profile head is super easy to launch.
- Additional loft will help you stop shots on the dancefloor.
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Cons
- If you are the target golfer I'm genuinely struggling to find a fault.
- RRP £899.99
What we say...
The Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke HL iron is designed for higher-handicappers and more moderate-speed players looking to tighten shot dispersion and improve scores. My review finds out if they deliver.
Callaway didn’t really compete in the core game improvement iron market in 2023. Their plan though is to hit back super hard with the Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke HL iron in 2024. Last year, thanks to the previous Paradym and Paradym X having forged hollow body constructions, both irons were positioned above the $1K/£1K threshold seen as the top-end entry point for many club golfers looking for new irons. The 2022 Rogue ST was also fading in its second year, so the brand suffered in the category where historically the largest sums of cash are spent.
Expect to see the cavity back Ai-Smoke HL feature among the best golf irons of 2024. But here’s my guide to deciding whether they suit you.
Everything you need to know about the Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke HL Iron
Less smarty pants, more smarty face
Callaway has put in tons of work creating AI-Smart Faces for their new Paradym AI-Smoke drivers, it makes perfect sense then to run the story through to the Paradym AI-Smoke irons too. That way the company has one clear, simple, and powerful story to tell no matter where you’re looking to spend your dosh in 2024.
Just as they’ve done with the Paradym AI-Smoke drivers, Callaway has studied the typical impact locations of various abilities of golfers, when hitting irons. They’ve come to realize the goal of designing iron faces is very different to drivers.
Hitting irons is all about finding greens, which is also the key statistic to golfers lowering their handicap. So, their target was coming up with an AI-Smart Face for each of the three different AI-Smoke irons (and each individual iron within each set) based on the ability and typical impact location of the intended target golfer, which in turn would make it possible to up accuracy and consistency.
Take the par 3 12th at Augusta National
The 12th at Augusta is a devilishly difficult hole to play. It measures just 155 yards, yet at The Masters the very top players regularly fly the green, come up short in the bunker, or occasionally land on the bank and trickle back into Raes Creek. Depending on where the flag is located there’s a landing area from front to back of just 14 yards (yet the green is 26 yards deep), which for many club golfers would be a really tough target to hit and hold. Callaway says their new AI-Smart iron faces tighten front-to-back dispersion no matter whether shots are mishit or not.
The result means more shots end up on the green, with less long, short, or in the bunker. But how do they do it? Well in exactly the same way as they’ve optimized the AI-Smoke driver faces, by controlling spin rate and descent angle when shots hit various different points across the face. These are the smartest irons Callaway has ever created.
How to choose which Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke iron suits your game
Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke iron
RRP: $999.99 / £899.99 (s), $1099.99 / £999.99 (g)
Construction: Cast hollow body
Category: Mid-Handicap Iron
Forgiveness rating: 3/5
7-iron loft: 28°
Stock steel shafts:
True Temper Elevate 85/95
Stock graphite shafts:
Project X Cypher 2.0 70/60/50 (Stiff, Regular, Light)
Mitsubishi Tensei Blue White (40 – Light)
Mitsubishi Eldio (Womens)
This is the model that targets being the best mid-handicap iron on the market. The AI-Smoke is for golfers who have enough club speed to take advantage of the hollow body fast-face construction. That means you’ll need to be swinging 7-iron at 78 – 80+ mph (and driver at 90+ mph), and enjoy looking down at a pretty streamlined topline and slightly longer blade length than Callaway has traditionally offered in this category.
Unlike the Apex 24 Pro and Paradym irons, the head is cast not forged, which allows the company to hit a more mass-market price point. Inside urethane microspheres dial down sound and up feel, where tungsten weight optimises forgiveness and accurately positions the center of gravity.
As you’d expect with what is a distance-focused iron the lofts are strong (the 7-iron is 28°) but they’re not quite as strong as the previous Rogue ST Max (27.5° 7iron), a clear indication of the march to ever stronger iron lofts is starting to slow.
Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke HL iron
RRP: $999.99 / £899.99 (s), $1099.99 / £999.99 (g)
Construction: Cast cavity back
Category: High Handicap/Moderate Speed Iron
Forgiveness rating: 4/5
7-iron loft: 30°
Stock steel shafts:
True Temper Elevate 85/95
Stock graphite shafts:
PX Cypher 2.070/60/50 (Stiff, Regular, Light)
Mitsubishi Tensei Blue White (40 – Light)
Mitsubishi Eldio (Womens)
Over the last 18 months, there’s been a significant swing away from manufacturers pitching their strongest loft irons as the best high-handicap irons available. In reality, these golfers generally swing slightly slower so they need more loft, not less to help maximize spin, shot height, descent angle and carry distance. With a 30° 7-iron loft the AI-Smoke HL follows that trend to the absolute letter.
The HL has been designed based on feedback from the brand’s fitters. As they’ve spotted how many modern-day golfers struggle to launch mid-irons high enough from the turf to maximize distance, which directly translates into shots not spinning enough, flying lower, and hitting the green at too shallow an angle to stop on the dancefloor.
Callaway says if you’re a golfer struggling for speed, it’s highly likely you’ll hit the hollow body, stronger lofted, AI-Smoke less far, than the HL, thanks to not being able to flight shots correctly. While this iron will also fly too high if you have too much speed. Expect larger, more offset heads and wider soles than the AI-Smoke hollow body iron.
Compared to the previous Rogue ST Max OS golfers can expect more spin and control, which through internal testing has also translated into tighter down-range dispersion, just as Callaway promised. See the model as an alternative to the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal HL and you’ll be thinking absolutely along the right lines.
Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke Max Fast Iron
RRP: $999.99 / £899.99 (s), $1099.99 / £999.99 (g)
Construction: Cast cavity back
Category: Mid – High Handicap/Moderate Speed Iron
Forgiveness rating: 4/5
7-iron loft: 31°
Stock steel shafts:
True Temper Elevate 85/95
Stock graphite shafts:
PX Cypher 2.0 70/60/50 (Stiff, Regular, Light)
Mitsubishi Tensei Blue White (40 – Light)
Mitsubishi Eldio (Womens)
Lots of enthusiastic senior golfers lose significant amounts of club speed as they age, if that’s you Callaway says the new lightweight Paradym AI-Smoke Max Fast iron will be right up your street. The Max Fast is very much an anti-loft jacking iron. Like the Paradym AI-Smoke Max Fast driver it’s designed to be super lightweight and lively.
Expect 40g graphite shafts, lightweight grips, and a weaker 31° 7-iron loft that can’t fail to flight shots properly no matter what your speed. It’s likely your 7-iron speed will be less than 70mph to get the best out of this iron. Personally, I’d see it as an alternative to the Callaway Paradym Star iron but with a much more attainable core iron price.
Callaway says the model is very forgiving, but it’s not a Big Bertha. The decision to play this iron comes down to a lack of speed as the model isn’t necessarily a super game-improving model. Which opens it up to quite a wide audience of slower-swing speed club golfers of various abilities.
Video: How does the Callaway AI Smoke HL compare to other leading 2024 High-Handicap irons?
Verdict: Callaway AI Smoke HL iron
Incredibly in the space of a few short years lofts in the High-Handicap/Moderate Swing Speed Iron category have loosened off substantially. It wasn’t that long ago Callaway’s entry into this category would also have had the brand’s strongest lofts too. Where today the HL is now a couple of degrees weaker than the mass-market Ai Smoke iron, and it’s much better for it.
Our test pro really enjoyed hitting this simple cast cavity back. The heads are a decent shape and size and unlike some previous Callaway game improver irons the top edge width does not completely dominate the look.
The model produced the fastest ball speed of the entire category, an impressive 2.8mph or 2.2% faster than our test average. While the model launched a fraction lower than our test average it managed to pull off the modern-day magic trick of spinning at good levels while peaking out higher and hitting the green at a steeper decent angle than average, so this would be a really playable iron on the golf course as shots will hit the green and stop quickly.
Throw in how the HL was the second longest hitting iron in the High-Handicap Iron category, plus at 6 yards it produced our joint smallest (tied with the Ram Wizard) carry distance drop-off and the 2nd smallest shot area and it takes no further explaining as to why the HL is among my three top-performing High-Handicap Irons of 2024.
Data comparison: How does the Callaway Paradym AI Smoke HL compare to leading competitor High-Handicap Irons?
| Iron | 7-Iron Loft | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Backspin | Height | Descent Angle | Carry Distance | Carry Distance Drop Off | Shot Area |
| Yonex Ezone Elite 4 | 125.6 MPH (3) | 13.9° | 4752 RPM | 28 YDS | 41.6° | 187 YDS (1) | 14 YDS | 219.8 SQ YDS | |
| Callaway Paradym AI Smoke HL | 30° | 127.4 MPH (1) | 14.8° | 5654 RPM | 32 YDS | 45.2° | 185 YDS (2) | 6 YDS (T1) | 103.8 SQ YDS (2) |
| Cleveland Halo XL Full Face | 29° | 123.9 MPH | 14.8° | 5079 RPM | 29 YDS | 42.2° | 184 YDS (3) | 13 YDS | 399.1 SQ YDS |
| Ram Wizard | 30° | 125.1 MPH | 14.4° | 5526 RPM | 29 YDS | 43.8° | 181 YDS | 6 YDS (T1) | 172.8 SQ YDS |
| Eleven | 31° | 127.2 MPH (T2) | 15.9° | 6454 RPM | 34 YDS | 47.4° | 180 YDS | 9 YDS | 169.2 SQ YDS |
| TaylorMade Stealth HD | 30° | 123 MPH | 15.8° | 5300 RPM | 30 YDS | 44.1° | 180 YDS | 7 YDS (T2) | 140 SQ YDS (3) |
| Cobra Air X | 31.5° | 123.6 MPH | 14.9° | 6053 RPM | 30 YDS | 44.8° | 176 YDS | 7 YDS (T2) | 53.2 SQ YDS (1) |
| PXG 0211 Z | 31° | 123.3 MPH | 15.5° | 6334 RPM | 31 YDS | 45.6° | 175 YDS | 15 YDS | 318 SQ YDS |
| Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal HL | 31° | 122 MPH | 16.5° | 6025 RPM | 32 YDS | 45.7° | 175 YDS | 14 YDS | 231 SQ YDS |
| Average | 124.6 MPH | 15.2° | 5686 RPM | 30.6 YDS | 44.5° | 180.3 YDS | 10.1 YDS | 200.8 SQ YDS |
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About the author
Simon Daddow – Today’s Golfer Equipment Editor
Simon Daddow is the Equipment Editor for Today’s Golfer. Having tested and played more than 10,000 clubs in his life, what he doesn’t know about golf clubs isn’t worth knowing.
He joined EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) as Equipment Editor in 2006 and has worked for both Today’s Golfer and Golf World. Working alongside our test pro Neil Wain, Simon has made todays-golfer.com the most reliable source for golf club testing.
Despite his youthful looks, Simon has played golf for more than 40 years and plays to a handicap of 10. A lack of club speed means he’s short off the tee, but very handy from 125 yards and in.
Simon’s job means he plays regularly around the world, and rates Kingsbarns as his favorite course. He uses a PXG 0311 GEN6 XF driver, TaylorMade Stealth 2 HL (15º), Ping G400 (20.5º), PXG 0317 X Gen2 hybrid, PXG 0311 GEN6 P irons (6–PW), Cleveland CBX2 wedges (52°, 58°), Ping 21 Fetch putter and a TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.
You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.
Product Information
Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke HL iron
RRP: $999.99 / £899.99 (s), $1099.99 / £999.99 (g)
Construction: Cast cavity back
Category: High Handicap/Moderate Speed Iron
Forgiveness rating: 4/5
7-iron loft: 30°
Stock steel shafts:
True Temper Elevate 85/95
Stock graphite shafts:
PX Cypher 2.070/60/50 (Stiff, Regular, Light)
Mitsubishi Tensei Blue White (40 – Light)
Mitsubishi Eldio (Womens)
Visit the Callaway website here
