Callaway Rogue Hybrid Review
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What we say...
Callaway Rogue Hybrid are the first to feature jailbreak technology, promising higher launch and lower spin
New hybrids accompany most new iron launches nowadays, as they’re such an integral part of buying a new set for club golfers. The new Callaway Rogue hybrid is the most powerful hybrid that Callaway has ever created. And it’s the first time ever that they’ve engineered their Jailbreak Technology from their drivers into a hybrid.
Both Rogue and Rogue X are the first hybrids to feature Jailbreak tech, and to maximise their impact in a smaller head Callaway has increased the face depth. It means every shot gets the full force of the clubface loading and rebounding energy back to the ball.
The synergy of Jailbreak and our Hyper Speed Face Cup (which has taken us
to #1 in the hybrid category) makes Rogue a pioneering achievement. Along with their
power, they are also super-easy to launch and versatile for the total performance package.
When and how to replace your 5-iron
Callaway Rogue Hybrid Review: You Should Know
Both Rogue and Rogue X are the first hybrids to feature jailbreak tech, and Callaway say to maximize the impact of the tech in a smaller sized hybrid head they’ve increased the face depth. It means every shot gets the full force of the club face loading and rebounding energy back to the golf ball.
Callaway Rogue Hybrid Review: We Say
Callaway Rogue products have featured heavily amongst the longest and fastest drivers, fairways and irons we’ve tested in 2018, so it goes without saying the hybrid’s are just as powerful. It came as no surprise Rogue produced all three testers fastest hybrid ball speeds.
But the difference between the other Rogue products we’ve tested which our testers fell over themselves to recommend, is how no tester really wanted to put a Rogue hybrid in their own bag for 2018. Looks are completely subjective, but none of our testers quite fell for the Rogue looks or beauty. Don’t get us wrong on paper they absolutely perform, it’s just the heads are big, wide and as attractively shaped as rain on a bank holiday weekend.
Callaway Rogue Hybrid Review: Verdict
We can’t not recommend Callaway Rogue hybrids as they’re amongst the very best performers within our test. But because they cost a pretty penny, and they’re not adjustable you’re going to need to love them to warrant the outlay, and for us on this occasion cupid just missed the mark. Looks are entirely subjective so if you can turn a blind eye to the Rogue’s wide body they’ll do you just fine.
Need help choosing hybrids? Wide body vs Narrow body vs Utility irons here
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 atter overall flight.
➤ Higher launch, lower spin
Both Rogue and Rogue Sub Zero fairways o er 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 o ers 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 different 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.
