New XXIO U5 17* Utility = Wow!!

[gocchin]

Well I've been struggling with hitting my woods. I have a steeper type swing geared towards iron play so I've always liked hybrids/utilites. I spoke to Chris a while back about getting an easy to hit utility wood with a lower loft and he suggested I try the the XXIO Utilities. I picked up the New XXIO U5 which is a 17* Utility coupled with a 41"XXIO shaft. While the head design is a beauty, I was a little concerned at first at how shallow the face was. After hitting a few balls with it my worries all but vanished. The design is superb and the shallow face makes it super forgiving and easy to get down under the ball. A super low center of gravity, plus weights towards the back, coupled with that shallow face makes balls rocket off the face and then fly on a mid trajectory with very good roll.

Japanese stock shafts in utilities and woods are typically light weight and a bit on the soft side but the XXIO MP400 shaft worked well with good feel and even a little bit of kick. The shorter than a FW shaft length really helps striking accuracy as well and I was only losing maybe 10 yards off my G-Field 16* 4 wood, but the XXIO being a utility will be more versatile and easier to hit. As usual this club is typical XXIO quality. I've used Srixon in the past but since I was looking for more forgiveness, I've turned to XXIO in the last couple of months and boy their stuff is superb. If you're a mid to higher handicapper, or just need forgiving clubs to help you out, look no further than any of the XXIO clubs. This one's going in the bag.

Now back to testing irons...

[Duffer19]

Hi T:

If this one works, please don't start fooling around with the shaft as you might gain some marginal distance if at all but could change the feel of the club completely.

[rbtlin]

Hello qocchin,

How do you compare this XXIO U5 to your Fourteen UT-106?

[Blader-X]

T,

Great to hear you've found a great utility for your bag. I actually am waiting for a TourStage X-UT to come in. I wasn't sure about the head shape, but the more I looked at it and the more I read reviews, I thought that you might be right and this might be the utility I'm ultimately looking for.

Nic pics as always, by the way.

B

[ajaykkr]

I just put a 2 iron in the bag.. have been using off the tee for long par 3s (high cut shot so it lands soft) and off the tee for short narrow par 4s (less than 380-390 yards) where it rolls and rolls.... middle of summer length... and I find it to be more accurate than my gfield hybrid. which was less accurate. i will get the distance, but could not ensure that it landed where i wanted it to....more variation

its been working for the last few rounds....

enough digressing, wouldn't a 5 wood be easier to hit than a 17* hybrid (even if you steeper angle of attack)...

so when you have hit this hybrid, would be interested in knowing how it compares to the 5 wood you had,

Edited June 24, 2007 by ajaykkr

[xxio]

Does the weight on the toe make it fade bias? How is the face angle?

I'm not really a hook machine but closed faces I can't get comfortable and hit pushes all day long.

[gocchin]

The weight helps stabilize any hits towards the toe. The face appears square to maybe a little closed. It is still easier to hit than the 5 wood I had. The XXIO has a shallower face and almost V like sole which so far has been good in any lie, also the shaft being shorter than even my 18* 5 wood makes hitting the sweet spot easier. XXIO specs claim that this club is good for 200-210 yards with 90mph driver SS. I'd be pretty happy with that. ^^

B, you should like the X-UT, as we discussed before, low trajectory and keeps the left side out of play. Hope it works out for you.