Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Vs Callaway Elyte Drivers Comparison Overview
Callaway have made some big and impressive claims about the new Elyte range of drivers and the ultimate litmus test for these drivers is going to lie putting them up against the previous model, the super impressive Paradym Ai Smoke.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Overview
Ai was the big selling point of the Paradym range of drivers with the new AI face which collected a ton of data from various golfers and optimized sweet spots all across the face for ultimate forgiveness in the drivers.
The driver also sported a new carbon crown and sole that increased club speed and in turn ball speed off the face.
It also reduced weight allowing Callaway to reposition the COG lower and further back for more distance and less spin.
The looks of the driver were really good with the cloudy carbon and sharp blue graphics with the carbon crown looking impressive at address.
There is a sliding tungsten weight at the back of the club to optimize it for your exact swing.
The driver delivered very impressive performance with good distance forgiveness and a tight dispersion. Let’s see how it compares to the new Elyte range.
Callaway Elyte Driver Overview
Starting off with the looks and the grey cloudy carbon is gone, replaced by a glossy black color but it is sporting the new Thermoforged carbon which is now lighter.
Callaway invested in a 3d printer to generate almost 100 prototypes of the new drivers and they claim to have reduced the drag on the downswing from the AI Smoke to increase club speed.
The sliding weight is now gone replaced by a 13g Tungsten weight which can slot into 3 different positions to optimize your ball flight.
The Ai face has also got more data to work with and Callaway claim 10 times more sweet spots on the AI10x Smart Face.
Besides that the face is a little more open in the Callaway Elyte, so if you do tend to draw the ball excessively, this should keep it more straight.
Callaway Ai Smoke Vs Callaway Elyte Performance.
The drivers were very close in testing. Callaway claim more club speed and a tighter dispersion and we did see that coming through.
We got almost 1mph more club speed and more ball speed with the Elyte but we also got slightly high spin rates.
There was a 3 to 5 yard difference in carry with the Elyte winning out on this one.
The dispersion was also slightly tighter with the Elyte thanks to a couple of rogue strikes out to the left and right with the Paradym.
Overall, very impressive drivers with the Callaway edging it just slightly.
Callaway Elyte Driver
In 20 Words or Less
Callaway have used a 3D Printer to reduce drag and an AI Super Computer to increase forgiveness across the face.
Taylormade Qi10 Driver – First Impressions
“The driver is less flashy than the AI Smoke and its an Epic green finish on the bottom with Thermograde Carbon on the crown.”
The driver may not look as premium as some other drivers but it sounds and performs amazing.
There are 4 options with the driver – the standard ELyte for most players, the Elyte X for max launch and forgiveness, especially for a slice. The Max Fast for slow swing speeds and the triple diamond for better players with less spin and more distance.
Callaway investing into a new 3d Printer that spit out almost 100 prototypes for this new driver. The big improvement, they say, lies in the reduction of drag from the old AI smoke and we did see a small increase in club speed during out testing.
Forgiveness is the other big improvement. Callaway have more data in the AI Super computer now and that means more control points across the face. It’s now called the Ai10X face as it has over 10 times more sweet spots along the face.
These new drivers are very forgiving to the point where you can almost always hit the fairway with any sort of decent strike.
The sliding weight has been removed from the Ai Smoke and there is a 3 position 13g Tungsten weight in its place to optimise the club for your particular miss.
Overall, a very impressive range of drivers for 2025 and beyond.
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Driver
In 20 Words or Less
“Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max has better speed across the face and a more solid internal frame. A Big Upgrade.”
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver – First Impressions
“The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max was instantly light and fast.”
I fell into a groove with it pretty quickly and found that I could use the entire expanse of the face and still find the fairway.
In fact, I had to work pretty hard to hit the ball heavy or thin enough to produce a significant decrease in ball speed.
The launch was pretty much where I like it: in the 10.5-12 degree window. And I found that I could work it just a bit lower or higher without much effort.
The performance of the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max has me really excited about what the entire Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke line and how to technology carries over between the range.
Callaway Elyte Driver Selling Points
- 4 Models Available
- Thermograde Carbon Crown
- Ai10x Smart Face with 10 times more sweet spots
- Back Tungsten weight with 3 positions
- Reduced Drag from Ai Smoke
- More Distance And Lower Spin Rates
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Selling Points
- Sliding track weight
- Full carbon filter chassis
- Internal titanium bracing
- AI-designed face
- Lightweight performance
Who is the Callaway Elyte for?
“With 4 Models available, the Callaway Elyte driver is for everybody who wants to play golf.”
With the increased accuracy of the face, the standard Elyte model will suit plenty of high, mid and even low handicappers.
If you struggle with a slice or have a slow swing speed Callaway have also got you covered. The triple diamond will be getting plenty of air time on this year as well.
The Ai10 face really does improve the consistency of this driver. Even when we hit the heel or toe in testing, the ball never went out of control and we always hugged the fairway on the left or right side, despite poor contact.
The ball sounds really good off the face too and in terms of speed and forgiveness, its right up there with the Ping G440 Max drivers.
More forgiving than the Taylormade Qi35 and slightly longer.
Distance: 98/100
Accuracy: 97/100
Forgiveness: 98/100
Feel & Control: 95/100
Overall Score: 97/100
Who is the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max for?
“The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max continues the legacy of forgiving drivers suitable for mid and high handicappers.”
The main benefit here is distance. When I swung out of my shoes, I was adding 10+ yards to my G430 Max driver distance. And it doesn’t take much to stay out of the rough because the face and body are designed to stay ridiculously stable on all kinds of mis-hits.
Callaway has really upped their game in terms of forgiveness so I have no reservations about saying that the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max is a great starting point for high handicappers.
Every golfer would benefit from the near-instant distance boost this driver provides and its sheer reliability off the tee. The Max will be used by most golfers but the Triple diamond is also available for the Elite players.
The Paradym Ai Smoke is a big upgrade from the Paradym and is definitely in the running for best driver of 2024.
Distance: 96/100
Accuracy: 97/100
Forgiveness: 96/100
Feel & Control: 94/100
Overall Score: 96/100
