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GX-7 X-Metal Review: More as Seen on TV Junk?
I’m sure most of you have heard this claim from the now famous GX-7 X-Metal commercial, “what if there was a club that combined the distance of your driver, the accuracy of your fairway metal, and the consistency of your 7-iron?”
Golf club infomercials have made a massive comeback in the last few years. Anyone who watches The Golf Channel regularly has likely seen the same ads over and over again. Each club promises to fix whatever ails your golf swing magically.
I decided to put some of the most popular ones on the market to the test, so I bought all of them.
In this post, I’ll dive into a little more detail on the GX-7 X-Metal Driver. Dennis Paulson exclaims, “this just might be the most important addition to your golf bag” in the commercial – my goal was to find out if this could be true.
The Bold Claims
Golfers are used to equipment companies making bold promises about their products, but the GX-7 commercials take it to new heights. Here are their claims (verbatim) from the website:
- Boost your driving distance consistency vs. your current driver (no more feast or famine fluctuations from hole to hole)
- Improve your accuracy by leaps and bounds (making the fairway’s center your personal domain)
- Turn even your worst miss-hits into decent shots (cutting down on those dreaded blow-up holes)
- Eliminate the need for separate swings (you can hit the GX-7 just like an iron)
- Help you keep up with (if not blow past) players who can swing faster than you (raising your confidence and lowering your scores)
If you’re in the minority and haven’t seen the commercial yet – here it is:
Not a Great Start
Granted, I am not the target market for the GX-7, but I wanted to try out the club to see what kind of results I got. I’ve tested a ton of equipment over the last several years and learned a lot about clubs from some of the best in the industry. I can tell you that many of the claims they make are very suspicious (before even trying the club).
So I ordered a GX-7 in a stiff flex to accommodate my swing speed of about 105 mph with my driver.
The GX-7 driver is not particularly impressive when you see it in person; it looks like a budget golf club. The face is huge at address, which does give it the impression that it is very forgiving. After my first swing, I felt my eardrums were going to burst. This thing is LOUD at impact.
After five swings, something started to rattle inside of the clubhead. I know the club was designed for golfers with slower swing speeds, but something popping loose almost immediately is probably not a good sign.
GX-7 Launch Monitor Data
I put the 14-degree GX-7 up against my Callaway Epic Flash Driver (12.5 degrees) using tees. Despite the commercial’s claims, I had very little hope it would outperform on any meaningful statistics. Here is the comparison that I saw:
| Club | Ball Speed (mph) | Total Spin (rpm) | Launch Angle (degrees) | Carry Yards | Total Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GX-7 | 142 | 2934 | 12.7 | 228 | 250 |
| Callaway Epic Flash | 152 | 2137 | 15.2 | 256 | 283 |
You could see that the GX-7 was no match for my driver on pretty much any statistic. I will say that the dispersion was a little tighter, but that’s to be expected since there was a significant difference in total distance. Surprisingly, I thought the club performed well for what it is, which is a 3-wood. These are pretty good launch numbers, and not far off from my current 3-wood (a Callaway XR Pro).
Using the club off the ground was a little less successful. The commercial claims that the GX-7 is as easy to hit off the turf as your 7-iron. I did not find that to be the case. It’s about as easy to hit off the ground as a 3-wood, which can be hard for many golfers. I don’t think there are any magical qualities in the GX-7 that will allow you to hit this better off the ground than any of the 3-woods from popular manufacturers.
The GX-7 is Not Garbage, But Certainly Nothing Special
In my eyes, the GX-7 is not an entire disaster. But the rattling piece inside the head after several swings did give me pause about the quality of materials used.
I don’t believe you’ll find it as easy to hit as your 7-iron because it’s a metal wood with a 43″ shaft. I also don’t think it will eliminate 4-5 bad drives a round; no club can promise that.
Based on what I saw, I think the company has manufactured a relatively forgiving 3-wood. Is it better than similar models from companies like Ping, Titleist, and Callaway? Probably not. But it’s not terrible.
Because the commercial makes such outrageous claims, I do think a lot of golfers will be disappointed after purchasing this club and realizing it’s not doing anything that special for them. If they had marketed this for what it is, then they likely would not have sold as many as they have over the last several years. Let’s face it; if they keep running the commercials, they must be making money. Running ads for a run-of-the-mill 3-wood would likely not generate too much revenue.
If you are interested in trying out the GX-7 X-Metal, you can purchase it on their site here. For what it’s worth, they do offer a money-back guarantee.
You can read about other golf infomercial products in this article I wrote.
I actually love the club. Maybe it’s just psychological, but I feel confident on the tee.
May I ask GX7 driver from where original? For example TS2 driver from titleist ..
Hey Jon Sherman
What’s up? I’m doing well. I have read your review about gx7 golf club. You are including more information about gx7. Most of the golfer follows your Article. Thanks
I purchased a GX-7 for my travel 1/2 set of clubs. In this role it replaces both driver and fairway wood. My Driver swing speed is 93mph. I find that on occasion I can match my Driver distance ( Cobra F9 set at 11.5 degrees) 220 yards, possibly more a reflection on my lack of skill with the Driver. It can go high if you tee it up and forward; straight but high. I found hitting it off the deck with a fade set up worked pretty well. It is a low penetrating trajectory and total distance 185 yards.
If you struggle with a Driver the GX7 is easy to use, but don’t expect Driver distanc every time.
I bought a GX7 driver and put 5 balls on the first tee in the pond on my first 5 swings. I emailed the company I bought in from and they told me to change my setup. I did and love the results. Straight down the middle with consistent 220 plus driver. It also performs well in the fairways. Had no problems since.
Thank you for the club test, I am using the ads to get through our long Wisconsin winters as an entertainment only fix, meaning I am not buying, but trying to get more out of my own clubs. Did you test the VIXA V12?
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Appreciate your honesty in reviewing this club. Not often reviewed with such pointed honesty. Some like to sugar coat the negatives
I bought thinking I’d find more fairways. Not only did that not happen but it was also shorter than my driver and 3 and 5 woods. It was quickly sold.
Same here with me. I bought it and wasn’t impressed! Used it at the range, and a couple rounds! Its not a bad club, but truthfully, I get better control and distance from my 3! I don’t hit driver because I slice it. Was doing the same with GX-7! 200$ for something I already have!
I tried it two times off the Tee and once of the fairway. Each time I hit ground balls .Not very happy with that and put it back in my bag!
I tried this club and does not perform as advertised. It is sitting in my garage. I can send it back to you if you pay the postage. I could not get my money back because I held onto the club past the guaranteed date. Otherwise I will put club in the trash.
I am a senior who plays to a 7 handicap but have been loosing distance over the past few years. I thought the GX-7 would help. The money back guarantee was the hook to give it a try. My first swing was a solid strike but I too was not impressed with the loud sound. I used an SC200 monitor to measure distance and it appears to result in shots that were 20 to 25 yards shorter than my current driver (an old Calloway Razor Hawk). Visually confirmed to be shorter. There wasn’t much difference in shot dispersion. So the main reason for trying this club didn’t pan out into more distance and improved accuracy. I tried to interest some of my higher handicap senior friends In this club, but they too found that their bad swings still produced less than impressive shots that were shorter than when they occasionally hit good shots with their regular drivers. So no sale and it is going back.
So, I injured my lat on my right side. (I’m right handed) And I was forced to stay off the course for what seemed an eternity! 4 weeks! Went to the range today and started off slow and easy with my PW working my way down to my 5 Iron. Although stiff, I was feeling pretty good and so far no pain. Afraid to injure myself maybe….I had trouble hitting my driver. It was embarrassing. As if I had lost my swing. And I was killing it with my irons. I pulled out the GX7 and normally don’t do too well with fairways. But started shooting 200-225 line drive’s off the mat. Straight as an arrow. I don’t always hit straight. 10 in row perfect. I felt like a pro. My point is that if u hit it like an Iron as they claim….you can get some distance out of this club. It was passed down to me and will be new go to club until I can hit a driver again. I am not a great player. But I have some good days. Today was one of them because of the GX-7. So thank you…
Please…if you’re a 10-handicap golfer, please stop reviewing the GX-7…it wasn’t designed for you. Go spend $700 on Ping’s finest and enjoy yourself.
However…if you’ve never broken 100 or if age is taking its toll on your game, then the GX-7 may be for you. I struggled for years with “professionally fitted” drivers that I simply couldn’t hit accurately. It doesn’t matter if you can drive 275 yards if your tee shot lands on the freeway. Then I took a chance on the GX-7, and it changed my game forever. I don’t have to learn some weird swing – I set the ball centered in my stance and swing like I’m holding a 7-iron. POW…right down the middle…over and over again. I’ve even developed a bit of a draw. I also bought the IRT-5 fairway woods (love them) and the XE-1 59 and 65 degree wedges. Played a round recently with a single-digit-handicap friend of mine who happened to be in town. On the third hole, he looked at me said “Who are you?” My game had improved so much he couldn’t believe his eyes.
Maybe you won’t get the same results as I, but for $199, its a cheap experiment.
…and if you can hit a $700 driver 300 yards and stay in the fairway…congratulations.
Exactly right Neil. I purchased the GX-7 and I love it. I am 68 years old and swing around 80 mph.
Hi Jon,
Glad I read your review on the GX7. I also purchased the just to see if there claims were even close. I came away with the same thoughts you had and I just maybe it might be me. So with that said I took advantage of there 100% guarantee and yes they due honor it for some skeptics out there.
Thanks
I’m a senior golfer now and for years I could not hit a regular driver off the tee, I couldn’t hit accurately and had no idea where the ball was going, if anywhere. I was using a 2 or 4 iron to tee-off with then I took a chance on the GX-7, and it changed my game forever. I can tee-off with confidence with the GX-7…I’m not looking for distance, but accuracy and the GX-7 does that for me. I would highly recommend this club to my senior friends.
I actually loved the club. I could hit it 220 yards, and it was more accurate then my Callaway driver. But… after about a year, the face cracked. I do accelerate pretty good so like the author says, it may be designed for the older golfer with slower swing speeds. I’m 70 but can still hit the ball pretty fast.
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I just tried out the CX-7 driver (14 degrees) today for the first time. I am pleased with it so far, as I played 18 holes today and every drive was nice. I did find that the distance is 10-15 yards less than my Calloway, but that’s a trade I will gladly make since the control is exceptional. The shorter shaft lets me us the same swing as with my irons, so I don’t have to master two different swings. I can even hit a draw at will with this. It is loud, but I think it sounds cool to hear the crack echoing, and it gets attention, so it’s a good thing it’s going into the fairway! If you want to hit the extra 10-15 yards, and hit a good drive 60% of the time, keep your big name big driver. I find the game more enjoyable from the fairway.
I purchased the GX and received a very scratched club on the bottom of the club. It looked like someone used it on concrete as the scrat he’s were so deep. I tried it on the range and first hit people around me turned to see what made that loud metallic sound. After about 10 minutes of hitting it and adjusting I found it to be consistently in the Fairway with good 3 wood distance. It’s not a pretty club lookung down at it and it produces an irritating high metallic noise, but off the tee it is it is controllable and has decent drive length with control.