It’s time to go Rogue, or perhaps as Callaway is phrasing it, “Think Speed. Go Rogue.”
After a release cycle away, where Callaway introduced the Mavrik lineup, Rogue is back, but if you are thinking it’s just another “off year release” that isn’t Epic, you might want to reassess that.
Callaway is pulling no punches here, and though the Rogue line may have a slightly different target in some respects than Epic, this is still them bringing all of their innovations to the table alongside some new ones.
What better place to start than drivers, so let’s get into it!
While the Rogue name is back, there is no denying a lot has changed. Where metalwoods are concerned, the name of the game is stability, and Callaway is utilizing its most extreme weighting technology combined with every other tech which they have pioneered and continue to evolve.
Foremost, every single club in the new Rogue lineup has a unique A.I. face which now takes even more parameters into consideration like speed, launch, and spin robustness through a new optimization formula which means an even more refined face. Make no mistake, Callaway is not at all exaggerating when they say no one is doing club design like they are, and no one is using A.I. like they are.
These drivers have the most extreme weighting tech the company has ever used in a driver, they are using a “Tungsten Speed Cartridge” which uses up to 26g of MIM’d Tungsten, and folks that is a lot of tungsten. This is placed at the very extreme edge of the driver in order to increase speed on off center hits through “ball speed robustness”, which is fancy for minimizing the loss when you miss. Of course, this also helps with making the head more resistant to twisting.
Each driver is also using the new “Speed Tuned Jailbreak Speedframe” which is like what was used in Epic, except more slender with the same balance and stiffness, though some priority is given to further stiffening the lower part of the head.
Finally, the shaping here is a departure from the Cyclone shaping of the Mavrik release, that has gone in favor of a more rearward CG through the use of a “low tail” which looks pretty familiar to be honest, but this does follow the current trend, so it makes a lot of sense to see. It doesn’t mean Cyclone was wrong, this is just a different way to make things happen. This is part of the unibody frame construction that takes from F1 in the notion of making as much of the head one piece as possible while keeping it smooth and thin. It is finished out in all the Rogue drivers with Triaxial Carbon on both the crown and sole.
Even bolder than the tech perhaps, is that Callaway is bringing four different drivers to the Rogue ST MAX lineup. Yes, four.
Callaway Rogue ST MAX D Driver
This one is the most draw biased of the four drivers, it is the club for those who tend to struggle with a slice and need as much shot shape correction as they can get. This naturally has a draw weighted CG and a closed face orientation with the largest footprint to provide the forgiveness, elevation, and directional correction that golfers need without excessive spin.
The MAX D comes in three lofts (9°, 10.5°, 12°) and utilizes the OptiFit adapter. All three heads are also available in RH and LH.
Rogue ST Max Driver Rogue ST Max Driver
Callaway Rogue ST MAX Driver
This is the “sweetspot” driver of the lineup which will fit the largest number of golfers in the segment. It does have a slight draw bias because, believe it or not, that is what most of us need, and this offers the best combination of forgiveness and distance. The Rogue ST Max has the highest MOI of the four models and is somewhat larger but designed to still fit the eye of even the most discerning golfers.
The MAX has three base loft options (9°, 10.5°, 12°) with each using the OptiFit adapter and being available in both RH and LH.
Rogue ST Max LS Driver Rogue ST Max LS Driver
Callaway Rogue ST MAX LS Driver
Ah yes, the Rogue which is aimed at the slightly better player, the golfer which wants to see the ball go right and left at times and can use a more neutral overall bias to do just that. The MAX LS maintains a very high overall MOI thanks to the Tungsten Speed Cartridge but also keeps a lower launch angle and spin rate than the MAX.
The MAX LS also uses the Callaway OptiFit adapter in two loft options (9° and 10.5°) which also are available in both RH and LH.
Rogue ST Max Triple Diamond LS Driver Rogue ST Max Triple Diamond LS Driver
Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS
Yes, for those who clamor with every single Callaway metalwood release, for this driver release, the Triple Diamond is a regular part of the lineup. Well, as regular as it can be. The Triple Diamond is a 450cc head making it the smallest of the four and has the lowest spin profile with the most neutral to fade bias of the four options. While it still offers all the design bells and whistles of the others, there is no doubt the Triple Diamond is for the smallest segment.
Availability here is in two lofts (9° and 10.5°) with the OptiFit adapter and in both RH an LH.
While it will come as no surprise, Callaway, through their internal and external testing, believes they have created four drivers that will each lead their specific segment in performance. A bold take, absolutely, but the crew at Callaway have never been short of confidence, which they typically back up well.
The Details
Standard shaft options are as follows:
- Lightweight/Womens – Project X Cypher Black (40g, 50g)
- Mid Offering – Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue (50g, 60g, 70g)
- Low Offering – Mitsubishi Tensei AV White (60g, 70g, 80g)
The Rogue ST drivers will be priced at $549.99 and hit retail on 2/18/22. Be sure to keep a keen eye on the THP Community as we will have a lot of feedback beginning today as 12 forum members already have these in hand!
45" crew!
I’m in it as well!!
To be fair to you guys, I didn’t even know I was in it until I got home and was taking pictures of the drivers for the initial thoughts writeup then I checked my fitting sheet and noticed Gerrit set me to 45"
Didn’t most of the pros quickly get into the epic line last year as well?
Just for giggles… : )
To be honest I am not 100% certain. They may have, but I don’t remember specifically who changed when. Although there were a lot of the Rogue ST in play at this event this past weekend.
I suppose 12º driver players like myself aren’t looking for reduced spin—is that it?
In any case, they seem to take the high tech approach very seriously.
It’s probably not all marketing.
They go into too much detail,
the build methods clearly raise the cost of the product, and I don’t believe that they’do that just for hype.
Plus the reviews tend to be good.
You can loft up the 10.5.
But I feel you my low launch brother…..
I’ve got 45”, 45.25”, and 46” with a 44” being built ? I’m on a lot of crews!
Me too. Only looking at driver and maybe fairways.
Static loft isn’t near as important as dynamic loft, which is related to shaft and CG of the clubhead. Playing a Max LS at 10.5° with a shaft like Ventus Red or Blue (or similar) will give you a higher launch since it has a deeper CG and softer tip or midsection to allow the CG to maximize dynamic loft
That is my plan. I picked up a Ventus Red after I broke my arm and my swing speed is a little slower.
I wasn’t able to launch it high enough with the Ventus Blue which I was fit into. Loo forward to hit these and find out which eliminates the left side the most.
Interesting.
Those of us who depend on published specs are at an apparent disadvantage over the monitor/simulator fitted players.
The Rogue ST Max is so freaking good!
The ability to find the sweet spot will be better!
also in the 45” driver crew.
I just dropped in a Velocity shaft for Thursdays round.
One of those orange-gold ones?
What would be the deciding factor between driver #1 head vs #2 head for you?
I’ve have had them either in the bag or available to toss into the bag.
I’ve just been reluctant to hit them on more than three or four wide open holes.
I’ve bought "strong 3s,"
which I still call 2-woods,
to use exclusively as drivers since they’re too strong lofted for me to hit from the fairway.
I’ve bought name brand "mini-drivers."
I’ve bought informercial brand dreck despite having a functional three digit IQ.
I always have a security blanket driving iron, or, with today’s strong lofts, a regular GI long iron that’s as good as one.
.
All because I don’t like to tee the ball up high and never want to play it further forward in my stance than inside my left heal.
Attempting what I call a "driver swing", I get shotgun dispersion on rifle-needed fairways.
But lately, there has been talk of certain clubhead / shaft combinations that would let me get away with pushing the tee down and using more of a regular fairway wood approach.
With the heavyweight tech that Callaway had been putting into recent wood models, complete with the price points to go with that tech, I must add,
I should really see if they’ve got anything high tech that would suit me.
It would mean leaving my comfort zone and not depending on "the Force" to help me pick something online.
I might have to go to the dreaded launch monitor/simulator.
I just need a starting point.
I’m good for irons, I’ve decided. I’ve even got a fix for the low bounce lob wedge dilemma, although it’s expensive.
But before my days are done, I should make my peace with the driver.
Sadly no, but if it ends up being driver for the year it will get that. I had blue one tipped and ready to go.
Spin. I like a high spin head and high launch for driver 2
I like it for driver one. Advice? Recommendations?
You’re killing me.
As a guy with major left issues, really the only miss I try to fit away from, should I just start with the TD?
The Max LS also sits a couple degrees open if you look at @Golfers Anonymous post in the beginning of the thread. If you want to fit the lefts even more, set the club in the -1 position, which opens the club a degree more. I fight the lefts too, and I ended up in the TD, but I just wanted to let you know there are ways to do it and you aren’t pigeon holed into one driver head!
There must be a PGATSS or a Golf Galaxy up near you where you could get fitted on a LM.
I had lot of left to right movement with the Max LS. I say start there and move on from there.
Just curious as to why you call them the dreaded launch monitors or simulators?
That is what @JohnnyCallaway told me, as I have the same issues.
Triple Diamond LS would be like the Sub Zero.
Bring the ventus to see if you can plug and play with a new head! ?
I’m in the same boat; hate the left miss but I’m saddled with it due to my in to out +5° AOA. With my Epic Speed TD in -1/N the ugly quacker is gone on all but the stupidest of swings which brings the toe into play. Otherwise, it’s micro draw, baby fade or a straight laser. While I liked the Epic Max LS, it sounded and felt terrible. My game plan is start Rogue ST TD LS first. If no good, Rogue Max LS is up. Lastly Rogue Max. Part of me thinks Max 9° set to -2/N could be insanely good
Because the non-Class A PGA pro purporting to fit me is usually some kid that I find annoying.
My fault more than his, I’m sure.
The world has changed and I either go with it or I don’t, I guess.
So I was fit by a non-Class A PGA professional that has been fitting the best in the world but I guess he isn’t very good in your eyes.
It is on you to go find someone that is going to do a proper fitting but it doesn’t sound like you want to do the work.
I am probably completely nuts because my tee game is the strongest it’s ever been, but I need to scratch this itch.
I feel the same about the Odyssey 11! What a great birthday present to myself right?
You won’t be disappointed. Its really good in my opinion.
To me it’s a better looking Ten, fixing the one thing I wanted changed about it (adding the WH face).
This is where I’m leaning as well.
Then you will love it!! It is very good!
If the Rogue Max LS can keep all the same launch etc. characteristics I had with the Epic Max LS, but give me more consistency…..it will be a home run.
I enjoyed the Epic Max LS, but when my swing was off….I seemed to spray it around. It was also oddly difficult for me to hit a consistent cut with. I could only hit my best drives with a slight draw shape. Not a bad thing, just odd that I couldn’t seem to trust a cut with it.
I know a lot of us just have sim numbers with a few of us getting on the course with it but if anyone has any questions for the GD guys, continue to ask away!
I am chomping at the bit to try one. With all the talk of launch with this driver, I need a little time with it to determine which loft is appropriate for me. Thus I’m trying to be responsible and not blind ordering an ST MAX.
Haha I should have clarified "jumping in" after they’ve had a chance to hit it. As I’ve mentioned, probably an annoying amount by now, I’d always self fit and have never been fit by a fitter before the GD. It always worked well enough. But after being fit and seeing what some of my teammates were fit in to themselves, I do hope that people try this out before choosing which model. Finding the right head and loft here is going to be important. But when they do, I can’t wait to hear about it!
If I knew my parents travel schedule (coming out to stay with me). I would have booked a free Callaway fitting (out door on trackman) in Tucson on 1/21! but I couldn’t pull that trigger yet….