Callaway goes Rogue! Epic’s follow-up has arrived with the new Callaway Rogue driver & Rogue fairway woods
By Jon Levy
You knew it was coming. Eventually, at least.
No golf club manufacturer stays stagnant, after all, or they’d never stay front and center with the fickle consumer.
Never mind technology does continue to advance – often contrary to public belief – and equipment companies do often have significantly improved product to showcase when they launch something new.
But, still. A follow-up product, just a year after Jailbreak technology and Epic pushed Callaway to the No. 1 driver in the game?
The naysayers are probably already screaming, “You’re telling me that “game-changing” club I JUST bought is now obsolete?”
Judgement and that issue aside, let’s focus on the facts of the new Callaway Rogue driver and Rogue fairway woods that are, according to Callaway, more refined versions of the Callaway Epic and legitimately improved golf clubs.
Callaway Rogue vs. Callaway Epic
Callaway Rogue Overview
GOLFTEC’s recent trip to Carlsbad for a sneak peek at Rogue included time with Callaway’s Dave Neville, which is highlighted in the videos below and includes a telling line that perhaps sums up the entire story of Rogue compared to Epic:
“We spent so much time working on Jailbreak itself and getting that to work,” said Neville, in reference to Epic, “that we didn’t have time to optimize the face.”
So, there you go.
Jailbreak was a new technology in golf and, like many advancements in golf equipment, it takes a lot of trial and error to make something work from both a mass production and cost standpoint. That means, with the demands and timelines of a company like Callaway, and the mere challenge of making the product work from a production standpoint, there was room to grow with Epic but it had to wait.
The bottom line with Rogue is that Callaway tweaked a few more variables since Epic to optimize weight in the head and increase MOI across the face on off-center hits and increase forgiveness. So it’s easier to hit and longer than Epic, especially considering the sum of the parts when you take into account those off-center hits.
A few other highlights of the Callaway Rogue driver and woods line include:
- The Rogue Draw driver, which provides 21 more yards of draw bias versus Rogue
- The Sub Zero driver, highlighted by 14-gram and 2-gram weights that can be positioned to kill 400-500 rpm of unwanted spin for the high-spin, high-swing-speed golfer
- Rogue and Rogue Sub Zero fairway woods, which are the first fairways to feature Jailbreak technology – an addition Callaway noted they’re very excited about
Callaway Rogue Key Details
Jailbreak bars that are 25 percent lighter
The technology behind Callaway’s Jailbreak – two titanium bars behind the face that reduce deflection of the crown and sole and increase ball speed – has improved from a new hourglass-shaped that is 25 percent (3 grams) lighter.
A new variable-thickness face
The Callaway Rogue employs an enhanced X-Face VFT that strategically thickens and thins strategic areas of the face to promote higher ball speed on off-center hits.
Callaway’s largest Triaxial Carbon crown
The Triaxial Carbon crown in the Callaway Rogue – an extremely thin and light fabric that maintains strength and frees up discretionary weight that can be distributed strategically throughout the club to improve MOI and CG location – is Callaway’s largest in a driver to date. This means more weight has been distributed to the head’s perimeters for even more MOI and forgiveness.
A new Boeing Speed Step
A leading feature in Callaway’s XR driver, Callaway again worked with Boeing to refine their Speed Step technology and implement it into Rogue for improved airflow over the leading edge and faster head speed.
A more forgiving 460 cc head shape
Rogue features a larger address footprint than Epic, due to added weight savings of the Triaxial Carbon crown, hourglass shaped Jailbreak bars and an elimination of the sliding weight track that was employed in Epic.
Callaway Rogue Bottom Line
The Callaway Rogue offers bona fide technical improvements over Epic.
This may be hard for some to believe, since the hype and frequent launch cycles prevalent in golf can make consumers leery when such a successful club is replaced just a year later.
But if you think about it in terms of Epic’s technological breakthrough (Jailbreak) opening up new avenues for improvement that weren’t previously possible, it may start making more sense. Kind of like an iPhone OS release that has a few bugs until the fixes arrive in the next update – that’s basically the takeaway with Callaway Rogue over Callaway Epic.
When it comes to new golf equipment, though, the only way you’ll truly get past the marketing vs. performance argument is to be a naysayer yourself and let the demonstrated performance of the club dictate your opinion.
So that means to get out there and demo one that’s fit correctly to your own swing and specs! Only then will you know if it’s a better product.
Because, after all, shouldn’t we save our own hype until we’ve had anecdotal experiences, at the very least?
Demo and purchase the Callaway Rogue at your local GOLFTEC!
VIDEO: Callaway Rogue Driver Review
VIDEO: Callaway Rogue Fairway Woods Review
In-Hand Photos: Callaway Rogue driver & Rogue fairway woods
FEATURES & BENEFITS
Callaway Rogue driver
Jailbreak effect for enhanced ball speed
Combined power of Jailbreak Technology and X-Face VFT Technology that promote high ball speed and long distance.
Triaxial Carbon crown and new head shape for increased MOI
Largest ever carbon composite crown surface area in a Callaway driver and new high-MOI shape with larger address footprint combine to increase stability and forgiveness.
Boeing Aero Package
Callaway worked with Boeing to improve Speed Step technology by redefining the geometry of the leading edge to improve airflow to promote faster head speed.
Premium shaft selection at multiple weights
Choose from 40g, 50g, 60g, 70g and 80g weights by Aldila and Project X.
Retail starts at $499.99 and Rogue hits shelves Feb. 9.
Callaway Rogue Draw driver
Jailbreak effect for enhanced ball speed
Combined power of Jailbreak Technology and X-Face VFT Technology that promote high ball speed and long distance.
Draw-enhancing external and internal weighting
Added weight in the heel moves the CG inward, enhancing gear effect on open-faced impacts to minimize slice-spin or promote draw-spin.
Boeing Aero Package
We worked with Boeing to improve Speed Step technology by redefining the geometry of the leading edge to improve airflow to promote faster head speed.
Triaxial Carbon crown and new head shape for increased MOI
Largest ever carbon composite crown surface area in a Callaway driver and new high-MOI shape with larger address footprint combine to increase stability and forgiveness.
Premium shaft selection at multiple weights
Choose from 40g, 50g, 60g, and 70g weights by Aldila and Project X.
Retail starts at $499.99 and Rogue Draw hits shelves Feb. 9.
Callaway Rogue Sub Zero driver
Jailbreak effect for exceptional ball speed
Combined power of Jailbreak Technology and X-Face VFT Technology promotes high ball speed and long distance.
Triaxial Carbon crown for increased MOI and lower spin
The largest carbon composite surface area ever in a Sub Zero model; its light-and-strong composition saves weight that’s redistributed to increase MOI and align the CG with the neutral axis to lower spin.
Interchangeable weights for increased spin- and trajectory-control
Two interchangeable (2-gram and 14-gram) weights to adjust spin rate and launch angle. Put the 14-gram up front to lower spin, or in back for higher launch and increased MOI.
Industry-leading Boeing Aero Package
Callaway worked with Boeing to improve Speed Step technology by redefining the geometry of the leading edge to improve airflow to promote faster head speed.
Premium shaft selection at multiple weights
Choose from 50g, 60g, and 70g weights including the Aldila Synergy, Project X EvenFlow, and Project X HZRDS Yellow.
Retail starts at $499.99 and Rogue Sub Zero hits shelves Feb. 9.
Callaway Rogue fairway woods
Jailbreak Technology and Face Cup for the first time in a fairway wood
Two innovative technologies work together to promote fast ball speed across a large part of the face for consistently long distance.
Easy to launch on a strong, straight flight
Ultra-low CG location and high MOI make Rogue fairways easy to hit and exceptionally accurate.
Triaxial Carbon crown for distance and forgiveness
Weight saved by the light, strong crown is repositioned in the head to promote high launch/low spin and increased MOI.
Boeing Aero Package
Callaway worked with Boeing to improve Speed Step technology by redefining the geometry of the leading edge to improve airflow to promote faster head speed.
Industry-leading selection of shaft, weight and loft options
Multiple premium shaft brand and weights – 40g, 50g, 60g, 70g, and 80g. Lofts include 3+ / 13.5°, 3 / 15°, 4 / 17°, 5 / 19°, Heaven Wood / 20°, 7 / 21°, 9 / 23°, 11 / 25°
Retail starts at $299.99 and Rogue fairway woods hit shelves Feb. 9.
Callway Rogue Sub Zero fairway woods
Jailbreak Technology and Face Cup for the first time in a fairway wood
Two innovative technologies work together to promote fast ball speed across a large part of the face for consistently long distance.
Low-forward CG for low spin and long distance
5-gram weight screw in the sole’s front helps position CG low and forward to lower spin for long distance.
Triaxial Carbon crown for distance and stability
Weight saved by the light, strong crown is repositioned in the head to minimize spin and increase MOI.
Boeing Aero Package
Callaway worked with Boeing to improve Speed Step technology by redefining the geometry of the leading edge to improve airflow to promote faster head speed.
Industry-leading selection of shaft, weight and loft options
Multiple premium shaft brand and weights – 60g, 70g, and 80g. Lofts: 3+ / 13.5°, 3 / 15°, 5 / 18°
Retail starts at $299.99 and Rogue fairway woods hit shelves Feb. 9.
