Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver: Full Review

Callaway’s new Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver has been in my possession for a few weeks, and despite the cold weather, I’ve managed to get a couple rounds of golf on it, and I finally am able to give a few thoughts on what the company’s newest big stick brings to the table.

Coming from the first generation TaylorMade Stealth, which has been the best driver I’ve used and has made me a fan of using driver off the tee (I’m usually more prone to a 3w), I was skeptical. The Stealth helped me drive the ball longer and straighter than ever, and the sound that accompanied some of the best drives in my golf career was second-to-none.

I couldn’t pass up the offer of a new driver, so I went for it. I even got a shaft in it that was fitted for me last year when I won a Paradym in my simulator league, which is something I cannot say for the Stealth, which I got stock and pretty much just rolled with.

First Thoughts

With any new club(s), there is an adjustment period. One thing I struggled with early was getting the ball up in the air with the Paradym, which is something I expected. I was hitting low, line drives my first few, but after I got the feel, the first nice shot I hit was a high draw over some trees that protected the right side of the fairway. The ball probably carried around 275 yards on the cold day I first played the Ai Smoke on, which was pretty good for me. 

One thing that initially stands out is the sound of the driver. The Stealth offers a unique “pop” sound, but the Ai Smoke almost sounds more solid and is comparable to a composite baseball bat, at least to me.

Even a couple of my buddies, who I play with regularly, commented on how awesome the sound of the Ai Smoke was.

The aesthetic of the club is also incredibly nice to look at and confidence inspriring.

I usually enjoy a matte-finish on my drivers like the TaylorMade Stealth offered, simply because I like the lack of reflection, but I realized I truly don’t mind what it looks like.

So many people have already commented on the straight-up-badassery that this driver offers in terms of looks, feel, performance and sound.

Shot Shaping, Versatility, and Customization

I managed to solve my slice last year for good. I was happy to say that from April of last year to the first round I played with the Ai Smoke, I didn’t slice a single drive. My streak was broken within a few holes on the Callaway driver, but I definitely needed to get used to the new shaft, a different feel, and a different driver.

I’m still adjusting, but I also remember during my fitting last year for the Paradym, that my fitter adjusted the weight to the “Draw” setting on that club head.

I went ahead and did that, and it helped even out some of the issue with keeping my club face open. Truly, this driver takes all of the extra work out of hitting driver. I know a lot of people find it challenging to hit the big stick, but this really does give me the feel

Final Thoughts

I really do like how the Ai Smoke has treated me thus far. Everything about it has been more than acceptable and it has been my favorite driver I’ve used in the past few years, perhaps even better than my first-generation Stealth that helped me reclaim my passion for hitting bombs off the tee.

Averaging longer distances and having less spin on tee shots has been a true game-changer. This club, along with the Tensei AV Blue shaft have helped me lower my ball flight, increase distance, decrease spin, and rediscover shot shaping thanks to how truly versatile and forgiving it is.