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!
Consistency. Top end distance was good, on par with some others I have been trying. Where this one seemed to shine for me was elimination of a big miss and just be extremely consistent for the round.
I’m in the same boat as you on this.
Does yours have hot melt? I’m woneering if the ST Max has a left bias and if hot melt or a flat adapter would be the way to neutralize it…?
Not sure what they put in the food up there in MN, but it makes some strong swinging golfers don’t cha know. With those numbers he better be puttin that Rogue ST Max in the Bahg. @MattyD-MPLS he used your set-up right?! What was your shaft again I know you’ve probably said it 100 times.
But like the Ping, I’m thinking this one will stay in play even on not so sweet swings. That large amount of tungsten in back should help.
As to draw bias, the Epic Speed supposedly had some but I did not see it. Bigger heads are typically more difficult to square up, so I don’t mind a small amount of technical assistance.
I have the green dot adapter to make it 3* open. The flat adapter is also a good option now because you can get them.
He hit my set up a few times but he has the Mavrik driver with a similar shaft. He has the HZRDUS yellow in a lighter weight.
I have the HZRDUS RDX Smoke Blue 70TX.
Thanks. What was the big miss?
My big miss historically has been a high fade, that happens once or twice a round.
Doesn’t the green also flatten the lie?
Not that I know of but @vgolfman would if anyone would know.
I know @dacatalyst41 has both.
The Rogue is a slightly different shape and smaller at 450cc. It’s not much of a difference but you notice it side by side. In terms of forgiveness and performance on mishits, I’d say the the Rogue TD edges out the Speed TD, but that’s also on a narrower face in terms of width. I don’t think there are any significant distance gains but there are no concessions either in terms of performance and the lateral forgiveness was worth the jump for me. @Tenputt Any other questions, ask away.
I don’t have the epic Speed triple diamond unfortunately. I moved from the Epic Max LS
What did you see different? Had both ??? Epic Speed and Max LS. Decided to go max LS rogue, because I think the triple diamond would be too much stick. What did you see in comparison?
1- try Rogue ST ??? LS versus Max LS
2- get my attack angle up
Triple Diamond LS
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Max LS
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I need to work on club path, but overall very pleased with both driver heads. The Max LS was a bit less demanding than the TDLS. Love this driver.
Have you been able to compare it to the new Mizuno offerings, i know they just came out today, Bud maybe you early access?
if so what were your takeaways from each?
Thanks!
I believe so.
No reason for you to switch.
Nice job getting your AoA up.
What is the degree and cog settings on the Max LS?
9* head set to -1/N
Havent hit the Mizuno drivers.
Man, this is awesome. This is exactly the pair that I want to hit. Your attack angle is plenty up, nice work! And, thanks!
im not a master club fitter but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once, did you try the 10.5* head? Curious if maybe an uptick in spin from the 10.5* head would get the spin more efficient and help raise the carry yards.
i have access to other heads, and can tryout next Friday. I came from an Epic Max at 10.5, getting fit at the ECPC was told I needed to be at the opposite end of the spectrum from that ?
Because I did.
Epic Max to Rogue Ls is about as opposite as it gets. I’m guessing it was to bring down spin from the negative AoA. I want to try the 10.5 ( usually a 9*) in the LS and see if I can optimize spin bc the ball speeds I’m seeing are intriguing
Annnnnnnd……….
Which model?
I think I hit the LS. Can‘t remember hahaha
All I know is, aside from the trash can factory of mediocrity that is my current swing, I hit some great ones. and it sounds excellent.
And?
The epic speed ??? is also 450cc
That’s right..
But for real, I hit one there and it scared the hell out of me. Luckily the driver is all good! Another crazy night of accuracy with this thing. I was living slightly high and slightly toe side tonight…didn’t matter. Same distance, same fantastic dispersion. This line is nuts.
Now for some actual criticism. There was a reason I was fit in to the LS and that was to erase the right side of the course for me. There is some draw tendency with the Max head. The website says "Semi Draw" and I agree with that. At my N/S setting, the right side of the course is still in play. So much so tonight that I don’t think I hit more than two or three baby fades (which is the shape I play for) out of about 50 swings. It doesn’t hurt me on a simulator, but outside it could put me in to trouble if I’m expecting a slight fade shape. The LS sits more neutral and allows me to hit a fade when I want to.
In California with the Max, my normal fade was prevalent which worked wonders for me. But if I can’t trust that to happen every time, that’s when I may line up wrong and hit a slight pull when all I want to do is avoid the right side. I do hope I can try out the LS as some point and see what my shape would look like and hopefully can put my fitted specs against what I’m currently using and see if I can see a difference.
Still plenty of confidence right now though and nothing that would worry me yet. Just something I noticed tonight since my swing wasn’t as dialed as it was last week.
Its a Reel so we cannot embed.
THP Golf on Instagram: "Getting some course time in with the new @callawaygolf Rogue ST lineup of drivers. Which model are you into? Max, Max D, Max LS or 💎💎💎?"
http://www.instagram.com
Is this the simulator that shows you driver draw vs everything else? I remember you hitting fades on gcquad and talking about how your course sim shows draw. If so, I wouldn’t trust that data in any shape way or form.
Sorry I read your post as saying the Rogue is slightly smaller at 450cc
Course looks great but that club is ????
Same place but they redid all the lasers and sensor strips this year and everything is way more accurate regarding shot shape. Spin is another story though. But I have trusted the shape so far this season since it’s doing what I feel it should do on the strike most of the time
That’s good. Nice to trust the data more on shape. When you were fit did you have a chance to hit both the max ls and 3d ls? I am personally curious how those compare.
Not personally. I only hit the LS and Max. I know there’s been a lot of chatter for those other two though! @Tevenor was fit in to the TD but I know he swung LS too
Using my shaft in the head to head, my Speed TD 10.5° in -1/N had roughly 300 rpm more spin than Rogue TD 9° in N/S. My club is set up 2G front and 12G back. The Rogue had 4G in the front instead of a 6G. Rogue looked really good and even though I need more loft to bring spin up, it was at least equal in forgiveness. Dispersion favoured the right side of the grid but I could hit a baby draw if I wanted. That said, LS TD was super predictable in every sense. I’m hoping the club’s demo heads arrive this week so I can test the heads in lofts appropriate for my needs.
Is your Speed TD the LS model or simply Speed TD?