2021 Callaway Epic Speed, Epic Max, Epic LS drivers (in-hand photos)

[SwooshLT]

14 minutes ago, jeffrey r said:

The goodies have arrived!  10 days from ordering to receiving.  Can’t wait to hit these.  The IM10 60 6.0 I received is the mid launch version, as expected.  -3/4” on each shaft, and each driver weighs in right at D3 SW, so they definitely adjusted the sliding weight as I had requested.

 

I would say that quality control is a little lacking.  One of the adapters is a mess as you can see, and one of my grips was installed completely crooked.  I am sure they would fix these up, but not messing around with minor cosmetic stuff like this and something else getting messed up (though I might ask that they send me a new grip that I’ll install—correctly).

 

 

 

 

I just took 9* LS to range......I think I need 10.5 head

[third-times-a-charm]

9 minutes ago, SwooshLT said:

 

 

I just took 9* LS to range......I think I need 10.5 head

 

I went with the 10.5 because I know I can always turn it down to 9.5 if I need less spin and an open face - but I would hate to turn a 9 to 10 with a closed face.

 

Or use the Callaway green dot adapter and turn the 10.5 into 8.5 with a very open face.

[jeffrey r]

31 minutes ago, SwooshLT said:

 

 

I just took 9* LS to range......I think I need 10.5 head

 

Gotcha.  As I had mentioned, I had actually called to switch my order to the 10.5* LS head, but the change was never implemented.  I was OK either way, so not a huge deal.  I have utilized Callaway's 30 day return policy on multiple occasions to swap lofts or shafts, but not sure I'll really have the chance to figure this one out in time with the extent of snow still on the ground. 

 

That said, especially with the fade biased LS head, I am inclined to think that turning this up +1 or +2 would be better for me rather than turning down a 10.5* head to 9.5*.  We'll see--happy to have some new toys around, and just need this darn snow to melt.

[SwooshLT]

15 minutes ago, jeffrey r said:

 

Gotcha.  As I had mentioned, I had actually called to switch my order to the 10.5* LS head, but the change was never implemented.  I was OK either way, so not a huge deal.  I have utilized Callaway's 30 day return policy on multiple occasions to swap lofts or shafts, but not sure I'll really have the chance to figure this one out in time with the extent of snow still on the ground. 

 

That said, especially with the fade biased LS head, I am inclined to think that turning this up +1 or +2 would be better for me rather than turning down a 10.5* head to 9.5*.  We'll see--happy to have some new toys around, and just need this darn snow to melt.

 

 

From a short test , I hit it decently in +2 setting ......but to my eye , the more loft seems more appealing.......10.5* gbb epic looks "friendlier " ........LS definitely more forgiving than epic flash sub zero head.......different feel than either also.....can't wait to here your thoughts 

[SwooshLT]

51 minutes ago, third-times-a-charm said:

 

I went with the 10.5 because I know I can always turn it down to 9.5 if I need less spin and an open face - but I would hate to turn a 9 to 10 with a closed face.

 

Or use the Callaway green dot adapter and turn the 10.5 into 8.5 with a very open face.

 

 

I'm a pull-cutter with great accuracy but needing distance......I've tried 9* heads and the LS is close to being better launch than efsz but lower spin than gbb epic 

[jeffrey r]

30 minutes ago, SwooshLT said:

 

 

can't wait to here your thoughts 

 

Trust me, I can’t wait to hear my thoughts either, lol.  50 degrees here today, but still about a foot of snow on the ground needed to melt.

 

Weights can be removed and swapped out easily.  Seems my Max came with a 13g weight, and my Max LS came with a 9g weight.  192g total head weight (with weight) on the Max, and 195g total head weight on the Max LS.  If nothing else, this is to account for the D3 SW with the different shafts in each head.  I popped my Rogue White 60 stiff into my Max head, and it swing weighted around D0 so I’ll need to pick up some heavier aftermarket weights to be able to truly test that one out.

 

 

[SwooshLT]

8 minutes ago, jeffrey r said:

 

Trust me, I can’t wait to hear my thoughts either, lol.  50 degrees here today, but still about a foot of snow on the ground needed to melt.

 

Weights can be removed and swapped out easily.  Seems my Max came with a 13g weight, and my Max LS came with a 9g weight.  192g total head weight (with weight) on the Max, and 195g total head weight on the Max LS.  If nothing else, this is to account for the D3 SW with the different shafts in each head.  I popped my Rogue White 60 stiff into my Max head, and it swing weighted around D0 so I’ll need to pick up some heavier aftermarket weights to be able to truly test that one out.

 

 

 

 

Hold the phone!  I'm taking everything back......I tried another shaft in LS head.....set at N/S 9* ....... Tensei 65R 

 

Couldn't get decent launch at std with attas but it's good......

 

[jds101086]

Has it be confirmed anywhere if the sliding weight from the flash will work in the new Epic?

[SwooshLT]

10 minutes ago, jds101086 said:

Has it be confirmed anywhere if the sliding weight from the flash will work in the new Epic?

 

 

Evidently so! 

 

First weight is from GBB EPIC head;  the 2nd is from Epic flash sub zero head

 

 

[noskcaj]

I just got fit for this. I tried all three heads. The speed was the most optimal spin for me by far.  I’m coming out of an m6 that was too high spin. The head shape of the maxes was not to my eye. The last callaway driver I played was the xr16 pro. The maxes looked like those weird triangle shaped big Bertha drivers from a couple years ago. 

[jeffrey r]

51 minutes ago, SwooshLT said:

 

 

Hold the phone!  I'm taking everything back......I tried another shaft in LS head.....set at N/S 9* ....... Tensei 65R 

 

Couldn't get decent launch at std with attas but it's good......

 

 

 

Good news on the Tensei.  I have a 65 reg and 65 stiff around from CPO.  Good, steady shafts.  I always give those a run in my Callaway heads.  That's the thing when trying these out.  You never know what might work in a head--may need stiffer, may need softer.  May need lower launch, may need higher launch.  More spin, less spin.  Hard to know until you start hitting these outside.  I have some EF Riptides, Tenseis, Speeders, etc. to give a go if the MMT 60, IM10 and Rogue White aren't getting it done.

 

And thanks for the reminder on the Epic and Epic Flash weights.  I still have a bunch of those around, so I can use those to get SW dialed in while I am testing things out with different shafts in the new Epic heads.

[SwooshLT]

2 minutes ago, jeffrey r said:

 

Good news on the Tensei.  I have a 65 reg and 65 stiff around from CPO.  Good, steady shafts.  I always give those a run in my Callaway heads.  That's the thing when trying these out.  You never know what might work in a head--may need stiffer, may need softer.  May need lower launch, may need higher launch.  More spin, less spin.  Hard to know until you start hitting these outside.  I have some EF Riptides, Tenseis, Speeders, etc. to give a go if the MMT 60, IM10 and Rogue White aren't getting it done.

 

And thanks for the reminder on the Epic and Epic Flash weights.  I still have a bunch of those around, so I can use those to get SW dialed in while I am testing things out with different shafts in the new Epic heads.

 

 

🤠🤠🤠🤠👌👌👌💯💯

[GolfTurkey]

9 hours ago, mikey6866 said:

So in recap 18 k of actual shots hit is BS, but some board member you dont know stated he worked with them and they may not be as objective as they say and thats gospel.  I had to read this twice to realize that you were actually serious.

GolfTurkey is always serious

 

 

 

[me05501]

On 2/22/2021 at 10:17 AM, SwooshLT said:

 

exactly! The OEMs are never going to admit that they’ve reached the endpoint of performance improvement, if it hasn’t happened already. 
 

Their big challenge going forward will be creating new and innovative features that don’t make the products perform WORSE than their prior models. 

[Neo1]

i only have one round and two range sessions in with my Max LS 9 degree with MMT 60X and i'm seeing noticeable gains. i've drove it in spots where i've never been before and i'm not getting any younger lol. i would say people who are on the fence about going 9 or 10.5 in the LS should probably try 9 first. the head feels like an MOI driver but performs like a bomber...and i really didn't like the triangle look of the LS at first either, but whatever performs!

[SwooshLT]

26 minutes ago, 1putt2win2 said:

i only have one round and two range sessions in with my Max LS 9 degree with MMT 60X and i'm seeing noticeable gains. i've drove it in spots where i've never been before and i'm not getting any younger lol. i would say people who are on the fence about going 9 or 10.5 in the LS should probably try 9 first. the head feels like an MOI driver but performs like a bomber...and i really didn't like the triangle look of the LS at first either, but whatever performs!

 

 

I'm a low spin/lower launch guy and the 9* is gonna work for me! 

 

Great description btw .......much easier than epic flash sub zero for instance.....nice driver but pales in use of Max LS 

Edited February 25, 2021 by SwooshLT

[ShAMbotay]

All this praise of the Max LS is making me rethink my Mavrik TD setup with my Diamana X'17. is it really that much better? and is the 8.5 model of the LS available anywhere?

[MileHighGuye]

Is it true the max LS is fade bias?

[SwooshLT]

9 minutes ago, ShAMbotay said:

All this praise of the Max LS is making me rethink my Mavrik TD setup with my Diamana X'17. is it really that much better? and is the 8.5 model of the LS available anywhere?

 

 

I've talk to folks with Mavrik TD.......LS might be a shade straighter but it's built on the same premise except with adjustable weighting......

[gridironesq]

Order is in so the waiting begins.  
LS 10.5*, .5” under but asked for std swing weight, Smoke im10 50g 5.5 flex.  Found a way to get the 50% bonus trade in so took the plunge.  

[jds101086]

1 hour ago, ShAMbotay said:

All this praise of the Max LS is making me rethink my Mavrik TD setup with my Diamana X'17. is it really that much better? and is the 8.5 model of the LS available anywhere?

I'll tell you on Friday. I don't like being the guinea pig but the idea of slightly more ball speed and more fade bias made me pull the trigger. 

[Neo1]

43 minutes ago, bradleyguye said:

Is it true the max LS is fade bias?

doesn't feel like it to me... i found the Max LS was surprisingly easy to turn over for me. much easier to hit a "control" draw then the TSI3 i was using previous...but comparing to recent cally drivers i'm not sure. i have the original epic sub zero and i feel that head is more fade bias than Max LS. i've never even hit rogue, epic flash, or mavrik versions.

[ShAMbotay]

does the Max LS naturally have more or less fade bias than the Mavrik TD?

[Warrick]

I finally got a session in on the simulator, am quite pleased with the 9* Speed and MMT. This may unseat the 2016 GBB, but still need time on course.

 

nice sound and feel, seems very neutral. I could not do the MAX heads, just look too big to me, need snow to melt....

[jeffrey r]

I went into the archives, and found I still had a nice stockpile of Epic and Epic Flash weights in a broad range of weights.  Just what I needed, including some heavier weights.   Tested out and confirmed they seem to fit just fine in the Max heads, and did get the swing weight up nicely for my Rogue White 60.

 

 

[third-times-a-charm]

8 hours ago, ShAMbotay said:

does the Max LS naturally have more or less fade bias than the Mavrik TD?

 

Very few people have the Mav TD - any TD model - or have hit both recently. Gonna be pretty tough to find a comparison, but I thought someone posted a few pages back who did infact hit both. I can't remember.

[third-times-a-charm]

Wow mine's out for delivery today! 1 day from MX to FL.

 

I can take some photos side by side with my Mavrik standard if anyone wants and weigh them.

[juggernaut0629]

Crazy with shipping on these. Hybrid is being delivered today. Balls are on the way. Still waiting driver that ordered 2/5

[third-times-a-charm]

Okay well it’s here. I’m impressed. Every part of the build was 100%. Everything was aligned and no xtra glue or tape sticking out. Looked like a tour build! The swingweight is a perfect D3 And length 45” as well. Head is 184g and the weight is 12g - at 3/4 short I definitely thought it would need a heavier weight.

 

One weird thing I cant explain is that the combo comes out do D3 with the counterbalanced HZRDUS yellow but when I put in my ATMOS black it’s D1.5? Wouldn’t it be heavier? Can’t explain that one.

 

Here’s some photos for weight and my mavrik.

 

 

 

[jeffrey r]

48 minutes ago, third-times-a-charm said:

One weird thing I cant explain is that the combo comes out do D3 with the counterbalanced HZRDUS yellow but when I put in my ATMOS black it’s D1.5? Wouldn’t it be heavier? Can’t explain that one.

 

 

Congrats.  On the swing weighting, I don't know the real rhyme or reason of this stuff.  I swing weighted about 10 of my favorite shafts today with the Max and Max LS so that I am ready to test these out when the weather warms up.  I was targeting around D2-D3.  As an example, with the Max: Rogue White 60 R (13g weight); Rogue White 60 S (17g weight); Kuro Kage Silver 60 R (17g weight); EvenFlow Black 65 6.0 (16g weight).  Weights required for shafts in the Max LS ranged from 8g to 13g.