CALLAWAY ROGUE ST MAX REVIEW

Callaway might not have the star-studded line up of TaylorMade these days on Tour but their latest Rogue ST driver is a star performer. We like the fact Callaway have kept things simple this year. No dramatic name change or some space age tech sheet that would leave a NASA scientistís head spinning. What they have done is call upon all the R&D and product feedback over recent years to form a club that harness all the good points. 

Performance
Unless you are Jon Rahm, you will more than likely spray the ball all over the face. Which is why I was the perfect Guinea Pig for this test. My swing speed is nothing to write home about averaging just over 103mph and I can get it out just over 270 yards on a good day. My issue, like many other weekend warriors is I have more bad days than good. So, unlike many tests you read that focus solely on max speed and yardage to polish those journalistic egos I wanted to see how effective a club could boost my poor shots, especially from the dreaded heal strike.

I opted for the Callaway Rogue ST Max for the test, as it was claiming to have one of the most efficient heads in the market right now. I tested 15 drives straight off with just two warm up shots. As that pretty much simulates my realistic rush to the first tee practice. As you would imagine the first five had the slowest swing speed of just over 101mph and one was straight out of the neck. My best was just over 104mph, so the speed was consistent.

My average drive was 264.7 yards with an average spin rate of 2,640rpm. Though it’s not going to provide me with a life as Tour player but the monthly medal win looks a little closer. My worst drive still totalled 258 yards and out of 15 drives 12 found the fairway. Two were in the rough and third was a borderline reload. 

The Models

Rogue ST Max D
Built for golfers who want maximum levels of forgiveness from their driver. It’s built for very high MOI, with a reduced face progression, and a more upright lie. Internal and external draw weighting have also been added, along with a generously stretched profile at address for maximum shot shape correction. It will not fix your slice but will improve your scorecard!

FLIGHT BIAS: DRAW /  SPIN: MID / LOFT OPTIONS: 9^o, 10.5^o, 12^o 

ROGUE ST MAX
Rogue ST MAX is Callaway’s highest MOI head with a slight draw bias that’s built for all levels of golfers. This is the best combination of distance and forgiveness in a Callaway driver. If you draw the ball the draw bias in the ST MAX could enhance the draw. So worth trying the ST MAX LS head and the same time but you might need to increase the loft in the LS head.

FLIGHT BIAS: SEMI-DRAW /  SPIN: MID / LOFT OPTIONS: 9^o, 10.5^o, 12^o 

ROGUE ST MAX LS
The Rogue ST Max LS is a high MOI head built for lower spin along with a stronger trajectory. Players can expect to see a more neutral ball flight, more workability, and lower spin characteristics compared to the Rogue ST MAX. Though it is aimed at low to mid handicap players it is all about the set up and could benefit the higher handicapper that struggles with spin.

FLIGHT BIAS: NEUTRAL /  SPIN: LOW / LOFT OPTIONS: 9^o, 10.5^o 

ROGUE ST TRIPLE DIAMOND LS
The Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS head is a low spin option for better players. It is the lowest spining out for the range with a neutral-to-fade bias in a compact 450cc head. Hardly surprising to see this model being played by Callaway’s staff players and more of a specialist club. Most amateurs wanting a low spin and forgiveness will most likely find the MAX LS a better fit.

FLIGHT BIAS: NEUTRAL /  SPIN: LOWEST / LOFT OPTIONS: 9^o, 10.5^o 

VERDICT
Probably the most stable driver  face in the market right now with very little drop off in performance. The ST MAX is the most forgiving and that semi-draw bias is a perfect fit for most golfers and a great starting point when getting fitted. If you are still struggling to fight that slice, the ST MAX D will speed the toe up and reduce the face angle through impact. If you are striking the ST MAX well but struggling to drop the spin rate to optimise your speed it is worth trying the LS head, but keep an eye on the launch angle. If you are a 9 degree loft in the ST MAX you might need to increase it for the LS head.

I’ve now swapped my reliable PING G425 gamer for the MAX LS in a 10.5^o head, as I’m getting slightly more distance across the whole face and neutralise my ball flight a little more. In addition I’ve been able to optimise my spin and launch.

The ST MAX range is not the longest but consistency is the key and I would high recommend it based on that alone.

Price: RRP $549

Pros: Consistency and classic looks
Cons: Price