FIRST LOOK: Callaway Rogue ST MAX Hybrid

• Callaway Rogue ST MAX hybrid leverage revamped Jailbreak design.
• Four models: Rogue ST MAX, ST MAX OS, ST MAX OS Lite and ST Pro
• Retail price starting at $279.99

With any full family release, you expect plenty of overlapping technology. That holds true with the Callaway Rogue ST Max hybrid which incorporate Jailbreak ST, Speed Tuned Tungsten weighting and AI Face Optimization as seen in the Rogue ST drivers and fairway woods.

In addition, this might be the first time a product has more models (four) than keystone technologies (three). That’s just a fun little fact you can break out during your next family Zoom call.

TRICKLE-DOWN TECH

Hybrids are still the mini-van of the golf equipment industry. They’re not sexy and probably never will be. But the beauty is in the utility and versatility.

Typically, by the time we’re talking about hybrids, it’s alongside a shorter list of new technologies as compared to inline fairway woods and drivers. It’s simply a matter of mass properties.

Hybrids have a smaller footprint which gives engineers less real estate with which to work. Moreover, the weight savings offered by expensive materials like carbon and titanium don’t pose the same potential benefits in a hybrid design. So ultimately companies look for opportunities where the technology is beneficial and the same (or similar enough) to those highlighted in the fairway wood and driver.

CALLAWAY ROGUE ST HYBRID FEATURES

As with the Rogue ST fairway woods, the Jailbreak ST in the hybrids creates a vertical stiffening effect within the body. Rather than batwing structures, Callaway uses mini speed frames placed at the internal junction of the face, sole and crown. Again, this alleviates any issues around structures (i.e., bars) that might impede face flex and thus ball speed.

The bronze tungsten weight bar is absent but the tungsten weight is not. Callaway positioned roughly 18 grams of tungsten inside the body and toward the toe. For the record, the previous Mavrik hybrid did not have any tungsten weighting.

The reason you can’t see it is that most golfers would incorrectly assume that a visual weight bar in that location would indicate a fade-biased design. Actually, Callaway placed the tungsten strategically as a counterbalance to the relatively heavy hosel. This prevents the CG from sitting too close to the heel and generating unwanted draw-bias.

Sidebar: I can appreciate Callaway’s desire to avoid unnecessary confusion by showing a visual technology that doesn’t do what many golfers might think it does. If so, then why include the Jailbreak ST text two USB-C looking indentations? Callaway has used similar visual cues on the sole of metalwoods to bring attention to the Jailbreak “bars” and, later on, Velocity blades. But Callaway purposely moved away from that version of Jailbreak. It would appear Callaway, on some level, wants golfers to believe that Jailbreak either is, or does, something that it no longer is or does.

Callaway uses a high-strength 455 stainless steel face cup material. In addition, the AI-generated design is built around a similar optimization as the Rogue ST fairway woods. Specifically, the charge is maximum performance on center-face strikes and maintain spin robustness and launch angles across the face. Callaway states that spin is improved by 130 rpm and launch angle by 1.5 degrees. The net result should be more consistent launch conditions over a larger percentage of the face.

FOUR ROGUE ST HYBRID MODELS

Again, similar to the Rogue ST fairway woods, the Callaway Rogue ST MAX hybrid is the middle-of-the-road option. It’s a standard iron-like shape with a lower leading edge without much camber. The toe line is squared off and the end of the score lines follow a vertical pattern. All things being equal, this model should prove to be the most popular at retail of the Rogue ST hybrid options.

The Rogue MAX OS and OS Lite are effectively larger, more playable versions of the standard ST MAX hybrid. They also feature the widest loft offerings, going from 3H through 8H. As the name indicates, the MAX OS Lite is, well, lighter. The swingweight on the standard ST MAX OS is D1. The ST MAX OS Lite is C4. It’s also three degrees weaker at each model. Callaway is positioning the MAX OS Lite as ideal for women and senior golfers.

(With that, if the 8H isn’t somehow publicly hailed as “The Ocho,” what are we even doing here?)

Some hybrids are more like fairway woods while others sit closer to direct long-iron replacements. In a bit of an odd naming twist, the Rogue MAX Pro hybrid is the more fairway wood-like option. With that, the Callaway Rogue ST Max Pro hybrid features more heel-toe camber and a shallower face. The score lines also look more like those on a fairway wood. Regarding performance, Callaway says the Pro model has a more neutral CG location which gives the golfer more control over shot trajectory and shape.

Specs, Pricing and Availability.

Callaway Rogue ST MAX hybrids are available in 18-, 20-, 23- and 26-degree models.

ST MAX OS and OS Lite are offered in six different lofts. The ST MAX OS is available in 19-, 21-, 24-, 24-, 27-, 30- and 33-degree lofts.

ST MAX OS LITE is available in 21-, 24-, 27-, 30-, 33- and 36- degree models.

The ST PRO is available in 18-, 20-, and 23-degree models.

Stock shafts include the Project X Cypher Black (Lightweight/Women’s – 40/50g), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue (50-, 60-, and 70-gram), and Mitsubishi Tensei AV White (60-, 70-, and 80-gram).

The stock grips are Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 and WINN Dri-Tac 2.0 (women’s).

Retail price for Callaway Rogue ST hybrids is $279.99.

Pre-sale begins Jan. 21. Full retail availability begins Feb. 18.

For more information visit Callawaygolf.com