Short Iron Body and Face Technology
The i-brid pitching wedge, with 44 degrees of loft, is made of a titanium notched cavity-backed body that encases a Callway TPU SenSert, made from a molded thermoplastic urethane material. The insert fits behind the club face and dampens vibrations and enhances comfort.
Weighting System
The Callaway i-brid pitching wedge's large, game-improvement sole is fitted with two Tunite (mixture of tungsten and nickel) weight inserts near the toe and heel. Each helps keep the center of gravity low and toward the center of the club face, enhancing the sweet spot. The design, which Callaway calls Advanced Fusion Technology, increases the moment of inertia (MOI), helping high-handicappers keep the club face aligned and square at impact.
Stiff Shaft Options
Stiff shaft options for the i-brid iron line include a variety of steel and graphite products. Off the rack, stiff-flex i-Bbid irons are available in the Callaway FT i-brid Graphite shaft. Stiff steel flexes are available as custom fittings with shafts from Royal Precision (Rifle, Project X) and True Temper (Black Gold, Dynamic Gold, Dynamic Gold w/Sensicore, Dynamic Gold SL and True Temper TX90). The Callaway CG M75i Tour Graphite shaft is also offered in a stiff flex as a custom option.
Function and Workability
The i-brid 44-degree pitching wedge is an extremely comfortable club to hit. Its sole, lie and bounce pinch the ball well and produce nice trajectories with exceptional spin. The game improvement characteristics and strong loft make the club play more like an 8- or 9-iron. From the fairway, players with stronger swing speeds will fare better with a steel stiff shaft, while slower, higher handicappers will like the soft feel and low kick point of a graphite shaft, which makes the club a bit easier to square up at impact.
Pricing
Callaway i-brid irons are far from average, economy game-improvement clubs. Sold individually, the i-brid pitching wedge is available in the $160 to $190 range, depending on shaft selection and dealer buying power. Dealers are parting with complete i-brid sets from $975 to $1,500. Expect to pay more for a custom shaft.
About The Author
Jim Hagerty is a freelance writer and journalist. In addition to the hundreds of Web-based articles to his credit, he's a staff writer for "The Rock River Times," where he covers arts and entertainment, outdoors and human interest news events. Hagerty holds a Bachelor of Science in public relations and journalism from Northern Michigan University in Marquette.
