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If you are struggling to launch modern drivers, the XXIO 14 could be the solution to getting further down the fairway
A lot of modern drivers are built to be low spinning, workable and have a compact shape. Not the XXIO 14 driver.
That sort of driver may be ideal if you generate plenty of speed. But for some golfers, that just isn’t the reality and they need something to launch the ball high enough to maximise distance off the tee.
XXIO has designed this driver to do just that. It looks to preserve ball speeds across the face, whilst being an easy club to swing thanks to its lightweight approach.
Talking of an easy swing, you might have seen Ernie Els, The Big Easy himself, donning the XXIO logo on his cap as part of his ambassadorial role.
To find out how successful it is in this regard, read our full XXIO 14 driver review to find out, as well as checking out the video review at the bottom – where I was genuinely surprised at how the ball reacted off the face of the driver.
What shocked me most about this driver was how it was able to produce ball speeds an carry distances that was on par with more tour-inspired options. This is while promoting a significantly more launch.
The ultra-lightweight shaft and forgiving head profile makes it easy to swing and to swing hard. It’s a driver that could make an immediate difference to your game off the tee.
PROS
Really high launch
Extremely lightweight and easy to hit
Forgiving and confidence-inspiring profile
CONS
Premium Premium price!
First Impressions
Compared to the compact, low-spin Triple Diamond driver, the XXIO 14 head is larger in profile, particularly towards the toe. This larger footprint is designed to increase forgiveness and inspire confidence at address.
I think it does both of these things extremely well. The shaft also feels extremely light in hand and yet still felt stable, without being overly loose in the swing. This was something I feared might occur in such a lightweight design.
NCG Review
To find out if the performance really does deliver and is up to scratch we tested it head-to-head against the Callaway Triple Diamond driver.
I have to say the results were more impressive than I was anticipating. Against the gamer Triple Diamond driver, the XXIO 14 produced similar, and at times slightly faster, ball speeds.
The carry distance increased by around 10 yards, while launch angle was approximately two degrees higher.
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Peak height increased dramatically. In one example, the XXIO driver produced a peak height roughly 30 feet higher than the Callaway. On average, the peak height was more than 20 feet higher.
This is all extremely impressive stuff. It shows that the quest for forgiveness and a more friendly profile of driver doesn’t necessarily have to mean a drop in performance.
I also find the trajectory off the driver face, and ball flight in general, to be completely different from what I am used to.
This is a good thing, I must stress. For golfers who have a slower swing speed to be able to produce that higher, more lofted ball flight will help to increase their carry distances.
NCG Verdict
I can’t tell you how much this driver seriously surprised me with its performance.
It didn’t just launch higher, it also matched or, at times, even exceeded the ball speed of a premium, low-spin tour-style model. This is while producing significantly more carry and a much higher peak flight.
A powerful combination if you are a golfer that has a slightly more moderate swing speed. It means more carry and more playable drives, particularly in cold or soft conditions.
Now to the elephant in the room – the price! At £750 it is the most expensive driver on the market and for most it won’t be an option.
However, for those who have gone through a steady realisation that they are losing yards as they get older and fondly remember hitting from 150 yard markers, instead of now having to hit from 160/170 yards plus, this investment might just enable you to regain those lost yards. For some, I appreciate not many, this might worth investigating.
