“The GX7 Driver: Swing it like a 7-iron. Smoke it like a driver.”
So goes the claim of the GX-7 X-Metal in it’s infomercial, no doubt which you’ve come across if you’ve spent any time watching The Golf Channel in the past few years.
Golf club infomercials are on an upswing (pun intended), and each ad promises a new product that will magically fix any and all of your problems.
Being the curious golfers we are, we decided to put the GX-7 to the test and see if this club really is the magic wand it’s portrayed as in those as-seen-on-TV commercials.
Read on for our in-depth review of the GX-7.
What The GX-7 X-Metal Claims To Do
According to the GX-7’s infomercial and website, this club can:
- Give you better driving distance consistency compared to your current driver
- Significantly improve your accuracy
- Eliminate the need for separate swings (as the GX-7 can be hit like an iron)
- Close the gap between you and players with faster swings
Take a peek below if you’re one of the few who hasn’t seen the commercial yet:
GX-7 Driver Specs
The GX-7 X-Metal takes a different approach in the sense that it incorporates many different features from different types of clubs in an attempt to make this a more versatile club overall.
Let’s dive into each of these areas below:
Shaft
Instead of following the formula of “longer shaft + more flex = better clubhead speed = more distance”, the GX-7 offers a 43-inch shaft.
This shorter shaft length is intended to help less experienced players in the accuracy department, shortening the swing overall.
Frankly, this design choice makes sense for a hybrid club such as the GX-7.
Clubhead
Most drivers have a club head size of 460cc, as where the GX-7 has a 267cc club head – nearly half the size of a typical driver.
The smaller head offers a lower profile, which aids in increasing shot height due to the center of gravity being placed further back in the club head.
This is another uncommon choice, but it makes sense when you consider what the GX-7 is trying to be.
Loft
The GX-7 has a generous 14-degree loft, helping beginners get that additional lift they need to increase distance off the tee box.
The large club face and low profile make for a larger sweet spot which helps beginners and high handicappers control their slice.
Our Review of the GX-7 X-Metal Driver
To test the GX-7, we put it head to head with a driver and a 3-wood from some of the most trusted names in golf, with each of those clubs spanning lofts above and below where the GX-7 sits (the driver we used had a 11-degree loft, the 3-wood had a 16-degree loft). All clubs had the same flex to keep things even.
We kept the golf balls the same across multiple golfers and tracked data using a launch monitor.
It should also be noted that all golfers in this sample group had swing speeds ranging from 70mph to 90mph.
GX-7 X-Metal Performance
GX-7 Forgiveness
The GX-7 seeks to add more forgiveness by incorporating a wider profile and tighter loft than other fairway woods.
It also has a lower loft angle than those other fairway woods, attempting to mimic (mostly with success) the same launch angle you’d get from a driver.
Spin is reduced which also gives you straighter shots (although not as straight as a mainline fairway wood in our tests).
Overall, the GX-7 was a solid performer in the forgiveness department.
GX-7 Distance
In our tests, the GX-7 was outperformed in distance by the driver, which didn’t surprise us.
GX-7 Accuracy
The GX-7 X-Metal averaged nearly 5 yards closer to our target line than our driver and about 2 yards less than our tests with the 3-wood. This should be expected, though, since we’re sacrificing distance (as compared to our driver results).
GX-7 Launch Angle
The GX-7 produced roughly the same launch angle as our driver, but the driver had significantly less spin (close to 300 rpm less).
GX-7 Consistency
The GX-7 X-Metal was less consistent than our results from both our driver and 3-wood during testing, giving us much more fluctuation in carry distance and ball speeds than we would have liked.
GX-7 Usability
The GX-7 was easy to hit off the tee, supporting its claims. However, the GX-7 also states that it’s as easy to hit as a 7-iron off the ground, which is not what we found.
The GX-7 performed very similarly to a 3-wood in most of our tests, and that’s true for turf hits as well. It should be noted that a 3-wood isn’t exactly the easiest club to hit for beginners and high handicappers, so it’s fair to say that most golfers will find the same challenges with the GX-7.
GX-7 Feel
The GX-7 didn’t feel hollow or weak like some clubs in it’s category, which was a welcome surprise. Feedback on shots was smooth.
GX-7 X-Metal Looks
The GX-7 driver doesn’t exactly look like a high end golf club – in fact, it’s quite the opposite, with the GX-7 appearing to be another off-brand budget stick.
This is unfortunate, as other drivers within its price range certainly have performance and looks that surpass the GX-7. This was a missed opportunity by the manufacturer.
GX-7 X-Metal Build Quality
The GX-7 feels fine – just fine. Nothing jumps out when holding or swinging this club, which we think is a good thing overall.
One big concern is that we could hear something that came loose just bouncing around inside the club head after just a few swings during our testing. Not good!
One other note on build quality: the sound. The GX-7 has a SUPER loud sound at impact, so bring some earplugs along if you decide to give it a go!
Pros and Cons of the GX-7 X-Metal Driver
Pros:
- More forgiving than your average 3-wood
- Smaller club head for extra versatility
- Shorter club length provides better control and accuracy
- Easy to swing
- Extra loft gives it higher launches and longer carry distances compared to 3-woods.
Cons:
- Lacks consistency compared to the clubs it claims to replace
- Loud, displeasing sound at impact
- Dubious build quality
- Unimpressive looks
Our Final Verdict on the GX-7 X-Metal Driver
The GX-7 X-Metal is not bad, but it’s not great.
Ultimately, the GX-7 is a decently forgiving metal wood with a shorter shaft, which makes it easier to swing and control when compared to a driver or a standard 3-wood.
There are compromises everywhere in life, and the GX-7 is no exception. What you gain in control and accuracy is what you lose in distance.
That compromise holds true on quality – what you save in budget you’re going to trade off for in overall build quality and sound.
Let’s get a few things clear on what the GX-7 will NOT do:
- The GX-7 will NOT eliminate every bad drive from your game
- The GX-7 will NOT give you the same distance as your driver
- The GX-7 will NOT produce less spin than your driver or current fairway wood
What will the GX-7 do?
- Provide similar accuracy to a fairway wood
- Perform as a decently-forgiving 3-wood in your bag
- Offer increased control and accuracy compared to most drivers (caveat: you’re sacrificing distance here)
GX-7 X-Metal – Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GX-7 X-Metal driver good for a beginner golfer or high handicapper?
Most beginning golfers struggle with getting lift on the ball, and the GX-7 does help with this issue due to its increased loft. It also helps by making the GX-7 perform better for players with slower swing speeds due to the shorter shaft length.
Is the GX-7 X-Metal driver good for seniors?
Yes, the GX-7 will be a good choice for seniors who are seeing decreased swing speeds (again due to it’s shorter shaft length and forgiveness). Just be sure to choose the proper flex for your situation.
How does the GX-7 X-Metal compare to other drivers for the same price?
The GX-7 is a little tough to compare to other clubs at its price point, and we think that’s by design.
If we’re strictly speaking to comparison against other drivers, there are several other drivers we’d recommend.
The Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver, Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver, and TaylorMade RBZ Driver all come immediately to mind as superior drivers that offer excellent forgiveness and adjustability at this price point. (See our guide to the most forgiving drivers for more picks).
The tricky part is that the GX-7 is not strictly a driver, it’s really a metal wood that attempts to offer some of the same features as a driver.
When you start picking apart the GX-7 through the lens of a 3-wood, there are many other clubs that perform as well as – or better – within the same price point.
Is the GX-7 X-Metal a Driver or a Fairway Wood?
In our opinion, the GX-7 is a fairway wood that performs as an okay driver. It’s easy to hit off the tee and you won’t sacrifice too much distance, which is great if you’re just getting started.
Mid-handicappers and players with higher swing speeds would be advised to continue using their usual driver.
How does the GX-7 X-Metal perform on fairways?
The GX-7 claims to be as easy to hit as a 7-iron off the green, but we found this to be untrue. It’s a little tougher to get launch due to the increased loft as compared to your typical fairway wood, and we’d expect newer golfers to be a little disappointed with the GX-7 in this area.
What are some good alternatives to the GX-7 X-Metal?
The Cobra King F9 Speedback Driver, Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver, and TaylorMade RBZ Driver all come immediately to mind as superior drivers that offer excellent forgiveness and adjustability at this price point. (See our guide to the most forgiving drivers and our guide to the best drivers for high handicappers and beginners for more picks).
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed our in-depth coverage of the GX-7 X-Metal and that our research has helped you in learning more about this hybrid club. Please reach out to us with any questions or comments, and be sure to chime in with your experience with the GX-7 driver!
Looking for some good recommendations on drivers: check out our guide to the most forgiving drivers and our guide to the best drivers for high handicappers and beginners as well.