Callaway Rogue Fairway Wood Review
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What we say...
Callaway’s Rogue Fairway Wood features jailbreak technolgogy and boasts higher launch and lower spin
Jailbreak makes an appearance in a fairway wood for the first time in the Callaway Rogue Fairway wood. Combined with a new ultra-thin and springy carpenter 455 steel face, Face Cup technology, Callaway says this is the most effective speed-boosting package they’ve ever made.
A carbon composite crown and glued hosel free up weight in the Rogue Fairway wood, which is repositioned to create an ultra-low CG, high MOI package that makes them easy to launch and extremely versatile. Together, the two most effective speed enhancing technologies we’ve ever developed make Rogue the most powerful fairways we’ve ever created.
“The challenge was to make these technologies work together,” said Dr. Alan Hocknell. “That technological synergy is what makes Rogue Fairways an engineering marvel, and
an absolute powerhouse.”
According to Callaway’s lab rats it’s ultra-easy to launch from the turf, extremely versatile and the total package when it comes to fairways.
Callaway Rogue Fairway Review: You should know
2018s the first year Callaway introduce “Jailbreak” technology to fairway’s, and they reckon it promotes higher ball speeds from a larger portion of the face. A carbon crown frees up weight to reposition to increase MOI as well as promote a high launch with low spin. A speed step crown reduces drag improving airflow efficiency and you get a choice of shaft weights from 40g – 70g.
Callaway Rogue Fairway Review: We say
‘Jailbreak’ tech was a decent leap forward in terms of increasing and protecting ball speeds in Callaway’s Epic drivers last year, fact. For 2018 the tech’s included in the fairways and hybrids, but we reckon it’s a much bigger ask getting heavy steel body fairways to flex and rebound like a driver, particularly when you want golfers to see the gains on a launch monitor.
Our accurate hitting test pro’s 148mph ball speed was 2mph slower than the M4, but still good enough to make the top three fastest on test. Don’t get us the wrong we love the Rogue drivers, and the fairways are almost as powerful, but Rogue is a glued hosel fairway coming in for serious cash. A second longest average carry distance (236 yards tied with the Mizuno ST 180) is really impressive, and the appearance is a huge step forward over last years Epic which had a busy crown and appeared a bit open at address.
Callaway Rogue Fairway Review: Verdict
Everything Rogue this year comes in for serious money, but even considering the cost, the driver and fairway are comfortably within our top three favourites of the year. Experience tells us the choice of shaft weights is a huge plus, and means the Rogue can easily be set up for a huge range of swing speeds and ball flight/feel preferences.
Callaway’s Senior Vice President of R&D Alan Hocknell explains the tech in the Rogue woods…
➤ Jailbreak performs differently
Jailbreak for fairways and hybrids was a huge design challenge. Impacts on fairways and hybrids tend to be lower on the face, not out of the centre like a driver. Rogue fairways and hybrids launch higher, without adding spin, creating a flatter overall flight.
➤ Higher launch, lower spin
Both Rogue and Rogue Sub Zero fairways offer higher launch angles and reduced spin, but the Sub Zero really stands out for me technically. The centre of gravity is substantially further forward, so it launches higher but doesn’t add spin.
➤ Hybrids are different shapes
The standard Rogue shape is a slightly enlarged version of the Apex hybrid. It’s low spinning and offers an excellent blend of forgiveness, workability and versatility. Rogue X is unashamedly shaped like a miniature fairway wood; we call it a super-hybrid, dialled in for maximum distance.
➤ More loft options
We listened to insight from our tters and created a larger number of fairway woods. It helps with tting options and e ectively means we have ve 3-wood options all with slightly di erent loft and trajectory characteristics.
➤ No adjustable hosels
We decided the weight saving of not having an adjustable hosel bene ts positioning the CG and, maximising Rogue’s MOI for forgiveness. With more weight already positioned low in the hybrid heads there’s also no need for carbon crowns either.
