Callaway Rogue ST Max Driver Review

Callaway has once again pushed the limits of speed and forgiveness with its new line of Rogue ST drivers by employing a design methodology that integrates real player data, Tour feedback, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and human ingenuity.

While artificial intelligence may have a futuristic ring, the Rogue ST is not Callaway's first attempt to put technology to practical use. The Mavrik and Epic Speed families that came before the Rogue ST were developed with the assistance of AI.

On the other hand, the new Rogue ST drivers are even more savvy and cutting-edge than before. The company is currently utilizing A.I. in various ways to increase factors like speed, forgiveness, launch, and spin and optimize these improvements for various players.

We have tested this fantastic driver and provided a detailed review. Keep reading for more!

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First Impression

This sleek and powerful club completely knocks golf balls off the tee box. It generates a low spin that slices through the air to propel your drives to maximum yardage, and it does all of this without sacrificing accuracy.

You get an immediate sense of how strong the club is from the grip up to the head when you handle it. Nothing about the Rogue ST Max gives the impression of being cheap. 

It is one thing to expect that the driver will be well-made, but it is an entirely different experience to grasp it and feel a sense of assurance in its construction.

Because it features a high launch and mid-spin profile, the Rogue ST Max is an excellent choice for the average golfer. You'll be able to hit more fairways and get the most out of each drive, thanks to the built-in semi-draw bias. It is essential to keep in mind that this bias is a semi-draw rather than a maximum draw.

Here's the product introduction video (1 minute 1 second) from Callaway Golf.

Looks

The previous Rogue release included blue as an accent color, but the ST MAX incorporates the dark orange that was seen in the MAVRIK line that it replaces. The driver's head is predominantly black, with an eye-catching pinstripe on the leading edge of the crown and a splash of color provided by the Tungsten Speed Cartridge located in the back of the club. The gorgeous round form and the sunshine-friendly matte surface are also very appealing to one’s visual senses.

The bottom of the Rogue ST MAX shows off a lot of technology, but it does it in an organized and streamlined fashion. The exposed carbon fiber weave beautifully complements the crown. The Jailbreak Speed Frame has always had our attention due to the visible ends. A visual reminder of an important internal component, which you would otherwise only learn about by reading about it, carries with it an allure of its own.

Sound and Feel

We think that the sound of this driver is much more pleasing to the ears than the sound of the previous year's Epic Speed, which we consider to be quite muffled at impact. 

This time around, when we used the Rogue ST MAX driver, we heard a "pop" sound at impact significantly more frequently than in the past.

The feel of this driver was notable for its stability, and it also provided a lot of satisfaction. It piqued our interest to the point where we wanted to keep coming back for more. Additionally, there was excellent feedback to be gained from the feel at impact, which is ideal for game-improvement players who are looking to enhance their skills.

Technology and Performance

This new Callaway Rogue ST Max is an incredible monster thanks in large part to a few important pieces of technology that were incorporated into its design. To begin, the body of the driver is constructed out of carbon fiber, and a massive weight made of tungsten has been positioned at the back of the driver in order to enhance launch and forgiveness, and contribute to an increase in the driver's moment of inertia (MOI).

One feature that is notably missing from the head, however, is any kind of changeable weighing or adjustability. However, you should note that this is a good sign. Having too much going on in the head area can increase the chances of something going wrong. 

The only change that can be made is on the driver's shaft, where you can alter the loft and add draw bias if necessary. These adjustments are the only ones that are available.

The face of the Callaway Rogue ST also contains a significant amount of technology. Callaway claims that the face, which was designed with the assistance of artificial intelligence, imparts lower spin while promoting maximum forgiveness.

Forgiveness

Callaway is not going to change anything that is currently providing them with success. They have been utilizing A.I. technology since the Epic Flash, and they have not altered this practice in any way with this driver.

They used artificial intelligence to help optimize spin, which resulted in a lower spin rate off the face of the club, which added even more forgiveness than in earlier models.

The utilization of a titanium unibody construction results in increased steadiness and a reduced height of the center of gravity, while the use of a patented Triaxial Carbon crown and sole enables us to reduce overall weight. This weight is repositioned in such a way as to promote forgiveness while maintaining a high launch and a draw bias of a moderate degree.

Who's It For

Since the Rogue ST Max is pre-set to have a slight draw bias, we believe it is the ideal choice for the typical high handicap player. This is because a minor rightward miss is one of the most prevalent types of missed shots.

A noticeable offset is another feature of the Rogue ST Max that contributes to the club's ability to produce more accurate shots.

Overall, it is quite simple to flip the club head of this driver over on the downswing, and all of that additional tungsten weight will really help your swing generate a lot of force.

Pros

• A CG that is low and deep gives a high launch and an extended carry for maximum distance.
• Dynamic responsiveness, you immediately recognize when you've reached the optimal point or as everyone calls it, "a sweet spot". 
• Unbelievably stable throughout the impact zone, rock-solid.

Cons

• No sliding weight for added personalization
• Larger clubheads can be a bit challenging for beginners and golfers with high handicaps to control.

Where to Buy 

You can compare the prices of the Rogue ST MAX Drivers on Callaway's official website, PGA Tour Superstore, or on Amazon.

Alternatives

If you are still undecided on Rogue ST Max, you may consider taking a look at the following alternatives.

Check Also: Callaway Big Bertha B21 Driver Review

Ping G425 Max

Titanium is used extensively in the construction of the Ping G425, which contributes to the club's robust and powerful feel. Titanium was used in the construction of both the crown and the body, while forged titanium was used to make the face. At the absolute least, then, we can say that this is a very long-lasting driver. However, when you are out on the course, you will see that the Ping G425 is extremely lightweight and reliable.

This driver's versatility is enhanced by a 26-gram tungsten rear weight that features three different positions: neutral, draw, and fade. The internal dragonfly bracing system, which allows the face to bend more and contributes to the driver's overall consistency, serves as the cherry on top of everything else.

The Ping G425 is an excellent option for a wide variety of players, not only those with severe handicaps or those just starting out in the game. Players who have a rapid swing speed will have no trouble unlocking the driver's huge distance potential with this club.

The lightweight titanium body structure of the Callaway Rogue ST Max is similar to that of the Ping G425. Both the dragonfly bracing system of the G425 and the Jailbreak bars of the Callaway Rogue ST Max serves the same purpose, which is to increase stability for the increased flex of the face. However, the dragonfly bracing system of the G425 has a different design and a different name than the Jailbreak bars.

Nevertheless, the Callaway Rogue ST Max was indisputably the more forgiving driver, and it was also more agreeable for our testers whose swing speeds were on the slower side. Because it sports a crown and sole made of carbon fiber, it is actually lighter than the Ping G425 model.

It's not often that we find a driver that outperforms the Ping G425 in practically every performance category, but that's exactly what happened this time. While the Ping G425 has a more satisfying feeling, the Callaway Rogue ST Max offers more speed, distance, and launch, making it more attractive to a wider range of players.

TaylorMade Stealth

With the introduction of the Stealth driver, Taylormade has exceeded itself in terms of the creativity of golf clubs.

The latest generation of TaylorMade Stealth drivers is something to behold in and of itself. By developing the world's first commercially viable carbon-faced driver, Taylormade completely overtook its competitors and established itself as the industry leader.

Carbon has been discussed concerning golf for a good number of years at this point. It is utilized primarily due to the high strength to thickness ratio that it possesses. It's quite light, yet despite that, it's somewhat rigid. Since several years ago, producers have been incorporating carbon into the crowns, soles, and several other components of clubs.

However, this is the first time any of us have come across the use of carbon in the building of a driver's face. The testing of this driver was simultaneously one of the most strange and satisfying experiences we've ever had. While maintaining a high degree of flexibility, it produces a sound and feels that are both deep and rich.

Callaway Rogue will provide greater distance in addition to a more satisfying sound. For golfers with high to mid handicaps, this is a driver that performs at the very top of its class.

The Stealth had a distinctive appearance on the course thanks to the game-changing Carbon Wood, and this driver performed exceptionally well thanks to the game-changing substance that it was made of.

Callaway Epic Max

When it comes to their overall performance, the Callaway Rogue ST Max and the Callaway Epic Max drivers are very comparable to one another in a number of different areas. After all, they are both game-improvement drivers that are produced by the same company.

The Callaway Epic Max was developed to assist golfers in increasing ball speeds without having to compromise their consistency.

It begins with a face made of titanium that is capable of a great deal of bending. Internal Jailbreak bracing arms, which are also featured in the Callaway Rogue ST Max driver, are responsible for maintaining the face's stability. The Epic Max has a weighting that is good and modest, and it also has a draw bias that is only slightly noticeable.

Again, the low center of gravity (CG) and the modest draw bias feel almost exactly the same as they do on the Callaway Rogue ST Max. In addition, adjustable hosels are included with both the Callaway Rogue ST Max and the Epic Max. There is, however, one significant distinction between the two: the center of gravity (CG) of the Epic Max may be adjusted with the help of a 16-gram sliding back weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following section discusses the frequently asked questions related to Callaway Rogue ST Max Driver. 

Final Verdict

The Rogue ST Max driver has an impressive amount of forgiveness and distance, but it comes at an extremely steep premium price.  This is a driver that is worth trying if you have trouble maintaining consistency and could use some assistance with distance.