For years, Japanese manufacturer XXIO has been developing ultra lightweight clubs that cater to players with swing speeds of 90 mph or less, and within this new XXIO line for 2024, is a women’s range with specific technology to make it easier to hit the sweet spot time after time.
I tested the 22-degree 4-hybrid. I appreciate that I’m biased because I’m a fan of the color blue, so I was immediately attracted to the glossy dark blue crown and two-tone dark and light blue shaft. I also noticed that this is another brand supplying clubs with white headcovers, which are clearly all the rage, if not the most practical color to keep clean.
Interestingly, when comparing this hybrid with Callaway’s Paradym Ai Smoke MAX Fast hybrid, both have a comfortable swingweight, although the XXIO hybrid is approximately an inch shorter in length.
XXIO 13 sits nicely behind the ball, which is exactly what you want from this club, designed to instil confidence and help women play with ease from a variety of lies.
I found it effortless to swing this club and to pop the ball up into the air with noticeable speed. My ball striking was very consistent, even from fairly damp fairways and light rough.
For that reason I should give a nod to the ActivWing technology that has been incorporated into this new generation. It’s an airfoil shape that harnesses aerodynamic forces during the swing to maintain proper clubhead positioning during the downswing, so this helps guide the clubhead into the ideal position at impact.
Ultimately, ActivWing combined with an all-new BiFlex Face that acts as a strong frame around the clubface means that you can find the sweet spot more often, and I did!
The XXIO 13 is a very versatile and easy-to-use hybrid, and as one of the best women's hybrids on the market, it is worth considering if you have a gap in your bag.
