Long, forgiving, and a high-ball flight – Callaway Ai-Smoke HL Hybrid Review

The Callaway Ai-Smoke HL hybrid is designed to be sweeter no matter where shots hit the face. My review finds out if it delivers.

The Callaway Ai-Smoke HL hybrid is packed with the same AI-assisted Swing Code technology as the brand’s new 2024 drivers. It’s taken a lot of time and research but the company has tracked and recorded the impact locations of 250,000 swings from all types of golfers across the globe. They’ve then cleverly used the data to task their super-computer with designing different faces to optimize the speed, launch, accuracy, and forgiveness of each of the three new Paradym Ai-Smoke hybrids. A move that creates the company’s most player-tailored hybrids ever.

Callaway says there are definite similarities in their AI and Swing Code story from drivers to fairways, hybrids and irons. But when designing some of what will be the best hybrids, which are hit from the turf much more often than the tee, there’s a huge difference in impact location. With misses generally being much more comparable to irons than drivers.

Like fairway woods, club golfers often but not always impact hybrid shots low on the face with a huge percentage of golfers (bar very elite players) chopping down on the back of the ball. So, the company says there’s a definite need for three different hybrid models to match their Ai-Smoke irons. A move that ensures a good hybrid fit no matter what your speed or ability. Here’s my guide on how to choose which Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke hybrid best suits your game.

What’s new and different about the Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke HL hybrids?

No Batwing or Jailbreak tech

MOI-boosting Batwing tech and ball speed-enhancing Jailbreak bars have been part of Callaway hybrids for several years. Both don’t make an appearance on the AI-Smoke hybrids.

The reason is the Callaway super-computer has got so good at optimizing faces for each model’s intended audience, that it’s now possible to build both technologies into the design of the springy-maraging steel face.

There’s thinking behind the face

Callaway has put in tons of work creating Ai-Smart Faces for their new Paradym Ai-Smoke drivers, fairway and irons. It makes perfect sense then to run the story through to the Paradym Ai-Smoke hybrids too.

Hitting irons and hybrids is all about finding greens, a key stat that allows golfers to lower their handicap. So, they targeted coming up with Ai-Smart Faces for each of the three different Ai-Smoke hybrids (and each individual loft within each family). All of which are based on the ability and typical impact location of the intended target golfer. Which in turn makes it possible to up accuracy and consistency.

The result means more shots end up on the green. But how do they do it? Well in exactly the same way as they’ve optimized the Ai-Smoke iron faces. By controlling spin rate and descent angle when shots don’t hit the center of the face. These are the smartest hybrids Callaway has ever created.

Expect a fairway wood shape

Before the original Paradym hybrid, Callaway designers used to create square-toe models, in much the same style as Adams. Thankfully the new Ai-Smoke models follow the blueprint of their bigger, wider body Paradym siblings. Expect a rounder, more fairway wood-shaped head, which is much easier to launch for maximum distance.

They’re adjustable

Modern hosel adjustability allows you to customize loft, face angle, and lie is great so long as it gets used. But you have to appreciate building the housing to accept a hosel adaptor ties up 8g of weight in a position you really don’t want it.

Where the Ai-Smoke fairway woods don’t all come with adjustable hosels the Ai-Smoke hybrids do, with the exception of the lightweight Max Fast which is fixed. This means you can dial in distance gaps, and tune launch to suit your own game, no matter whether the Ai-Smoke standard or HL family best suits your game.  

Which Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke hybrid suits your game?

Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke hybrid

RRP: $299.99

Lofts: 3H – 18° / 4H – 21° / 5H – 24° / 6H – 27° 

Stock shaft:

Project X Cypher 2.0, Mitsubishi Tensei Blue (Light), Mitsubishi Eldio (Women’s)

Stock grip:

Lamkin Crossline

The Max is the core Ai-Smoke model, so this head will fit the most amount of club golfers. For average and above-speed players it will be the most forgiving hybrid within the family, and will likely outstrip the others put together for sales. Expect a slightly larger footprint than last year’s Paradym hybrid, a model that was more aimed at the players’ market.  

The Ai-Smoke is a great fit for most club golfers, you’ll need to be comfortable with your speed and not naturally fight a slice. Expect a high launching, low spin neutral ball flight. Four lofts mean it’s possible to play hybrids all the way down to a 7-iron.

The AI-Smoke is a great alternative to the Ping G430 hybrid. Emphasis is focused on tightening front-to-back dispersion with optimized landing angles for excellent playability at reasonable speeds. Thanks to the tungsten weight set-up golfers can expect good distance too.   

Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke HL hybrid

RRP: $299.99

Lofts: 3H – 18° / 4H – 21° / 5H – 24° / 6H – 27° / 7H – 30° / 8H – 33°

Stock shaft:

Project X Cypher 2.0, Mitsubishi Tensei Blue (Light), Mitsubishi Eldio (Women’s)

Stock grip:

Lamkin Crossline

The High Launch (HL) has been designed to sit squarely alongside a set of Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke HL irons. The lofts are adjusted to make the model a solid replacement choice for long and mid irons in the bags of average-speed golfers. These are the very players who need to launch shots higher to maximize distance and stopping power.

Golfers should expect a larger profile and footprint than the standard model, a move that positions the center of gravity further from the face to help up launch and spin. A shallower profile with less face height ensures the model is super easy to launch at lesser speeds.

Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Max Fast hybrid

RRP: $299.99

Lofts: 4H – 21° / 5H – 24° / 6H – 27° / 7H – 30° / 8H – 33°

Stock shaft:

Project X Cypher 2.0, Mitsubishi Tensei Blue (Light), Mitsubishi Eldio (Women’s)

Stock grip:

Winn Dri-Tac 2.0

The Max Fast sits alongside the set of Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke Max Fast irons. This set is the perfect choice for golfers who generally suffer from a lack of speed. The lofts are adjusted to take into account the Max Fast weaker lofts making the model an easy replacement option for the Ai-Smoke Max Fast long and mid irons.

Expect a larger profile and footprint than the standard model. A move that positions the center of gravity further from the face to increase launch and spin in a bid to maximize distance and stopping power. I found the model to have a light and lively feel much like the Wilson Staff D300 hybrid, so just make sure you can time shots confidently.

I really like the shallower profile and less face height which maximize playability. A fixed hosel, 40g shaft and thinned grip can only help get shots airborne more easily. A very strong option for slower-speed players, many of whom will likely be senior-aged golfers.

Video: How does the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL compare to other leading 2024 hybrids?

Verdict: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL Hybrid

Callaway hybrids have come on in massive strides since the brand took the decision to revert to more fairway wood-type shapes with the original Paradym hybrids in 2023. To my eye and our test pro’s the profile and attractiveness of the new shape is much less intimidating and more inviting for regular club golfers to hit consistently well. I see the switch as being a really positive step forward for us here at TG as for two years now Callaway have featured among our very top-performing hybrids of the year.

I’m very much of the opinion that hybrids don’t need to be flat-out distance machines, instead, they need to fill yardage gaps between your longest fairway wood and iron and be able to flight shots higher, with more spin and a steeper descent angle than an equivalent long iron. And the results of our 2024 hybrid test spell out that the Ai Smoke HL is better equipped to do that than most.

Yes, the model, at 144.4mph ball speed and 231 yards carry distance was the fastest and 2nd longest hybrid we hit this year, but much more importantly it gave our test pro the high-hanging ball flight he adores. Compared to our test averages the HL launched and flighted shots higher so shots hit the green with a steeper descent angle which means long-distance approaches will jump on the brakes when landing on the dancefloor.

With significant differences between the Ai Smoke HL and its slightly narrower body sibling, I would urge anyone drawn to the franchise to hit both.  Yes, our data has the standard model down as offering up the smallest carry distance drop-off and shot area of our entire 17 model test, but it also flew significantly lower with a shallower descent angle. So much so our test pro was left doubting whether he’d made the right choice in opting to play the standard model ahead of the HL this year.    

Data comparison: How does the Callaway Ai Smoke HL compare to leading competitor hybrids in 2024?

Hybrid	Loft	Ball Speed	Launch Angle	Backspin	Height	Descent Angle	Carry Distance	Carry Distance Drop Off	Shot Area
TaylorMade Qi10	19°	143.2 MPH	11.5°	2669 RPM	27 YDS	35.5°	234 YDS (1)	14 YDS	949.2 SQ YDS
Callaway Ai Smoke HL	21°	144.4 MPH (1)	10.8°	3283 RPM	29 YDS	38.3°	231 YDS (2)	14 YDS	645.4 SQ YDS
Cobra Darkspeed	19°	141.8 MPH	9.3°	2651 RPM	21 YDS	31°	226 YDS (3)	18 YDS	586.8 SQ YDS
TaylorMade Qi10 Tour	19.5°	142.9 MPH	9.2°	3125 RPM	23 YDS	34.1°	225 YDS	18 YDS	801 SQ YDS
Callaway Ai Smoke	21°	142.2 MPH	9.9°	3270 RPM	25 YDS	35.9°	225 YDS	8 YDS (T2)	156 SQ YDS (1)
Titleist TSR 1	20°	143.8 MPH (3)	10.2°	3668 RPM	28 YDS	38.8°	225 YDS	21 YDS	735 SQ YDS
Titleist TSR 2	21°	142.6 MPH	10.5°	3359 RPM	27 YDS	37.4°	225 YDS	17 YDS	759.9 SQ YDS
Ping G430	19°	142.4 MPH	9.4°	3295 RPM	24 YDS	35.1°	224 YDS	17 YDS	554.2 SQ YDS
Titleist TSR 3	19°	143.9 MPH (2)	8.2°	3378 RPM	22 YDS	33.1°	223 YDS	25 YDS	387.5 SQ YDS
Cobra King Tec	19°	141.9 MPH	10.3°	3611 RPM	27 YDS	38°	222 YDS	21 YDS	720.3 SQ YDS
PXG 0311 Black Ops	22°	139.8 MPH	10.1°	3313 RPM	25 YDS	35.7°	220 YDS	20 YDS	380 SQ YDS
TaylorMade Qi10 Max	20°	140.7 MPH	12°	3782 RPM	31 YDS	41.2°	220 YDS	18 YDS	480.6 SQ YDS
Cleveland Halo XL	21°	142 MPH	10.6°	4739 RPM	30 YDS	42°	213 YDS	13 YDS	438.1 SQ YDS
PXG 0311 XF GEN6	22°	138.7 MPH	11.7°	4016 RPM	30 YDS	41.1°	213 YDS	7 YDS (1)	166.6 SQ YDS (2)
Wilson Dynapower	22°	139 MPH	10.6°	4164 RPM	28 YDS	39.8°	211 YDS	13 YDS	341.9 SQ YDS
Inesis 500	20°	140.2 MPH	10°	4407 RPM	27 YDS	39.9°	211 YDS	12 YDS	454.8 SQ YDS
MacGregor V Max	21°	132.8 MPH	10.5°	4587 RPM	25 YDS	38.9°	196 YDS	8 YDS (T2)	200.8 SQ YDS (3)
Average		141.3 MPH	10.3°	3607 RPM	26.4 YDS	37.4°	220.2 YDS	15.5 YDS	515.2 SQ YDS

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.

  

Callaway Paradym AI-Smoke HL hybrid

RRP: $299.99

Lofts:3H - 18° / 4H - 21° / 5H - 24° / 6H - 27° / 7H - 30° / 8H – 33°

Stock shaft:

Project X Cypher 2.0, Mitsubishi Tensei Blue (Light), Mitsubishi Eldio (Womens)

Stock grip:

Lamkin Crossline

Visit the Callaway website here