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

[norcaltrojan]

Im curious about how much lower launching the Speed TD will be than the Max LS. I preferred the square setup of the Max LS over the Speed but the 9' Max LS turned down to 8' w Ventus Black 7X demo I've been playing still launches it high. 

[noodle3872]

On 3/3/2021 at 1:28 PM, third-times-a-charm said:

So after my response above, I got bored and made this chart.

 

Self explanatory - I think - but the colored fading lines show commonality between heads and how much. 

 

This chart is not how I’d rate the drivers. Left to right order;

Mavrik SZ, Max LS is lower spin and has similar forgiveness as EF SZ TD, Marvik is less forgiving and spins more than Speed, Mavrik Max and Epic Max. 

[noodle3872]

10 hours ago, Warrick said:

Damn, am I the only one who bought the Speed?

Nah, I got a Speed too.  Love it!

[dodgyman]

I got the speed as well. I think the difference of the head shape and face depth really plays to personal preference vs  all out performance. I could have easily games the Max LS, but I just love how the speed looks and sets up so much better.

[golfboy1]

I just got an Epic Speed 9 degrees with a Hzrdus 6.0... it felt good in the net and I was stuck between a few drivers will let you know.. it reminds me of old, classic looking and feeling head...

[AzSuperHack76]

Just got my second round in with the Max LS 10.5. Love it, long, straight and forgiving. Easier to hit and somehow more forgiving than the Ping 425 Max. Love the sound and feel of it as well. Just a solid driver. 

[SwooshLT]

On 3/4/2021 at 10:27 PM, noodle3872 said:

Nah, I got a Speed too.  Love it!

 

 

DON'T SLEEP ON DA SPEED! 

[caniac6]

I hit the Epic Max yesterday, and it was very impressive.

[jeffrey r]

8 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

I hit the Epic Max yesterday, and it was very impressive.

 

We are getting close to real golf here with the weather warming up, but I've put a lot of swings on the Epic Max indoors over the past couple of weeks.  Same with the Max LS. 

 

I really hope it translates to the course, because I am incredibly impressed with the Epic Max.  I am talking like 100 swings, and I don't know that I've hit one drive with the Epic Max indoors that did not feel flush and end up with a good result.  The Max LS, terrific in its own right, is slightly less forgiving, and you can see that and feel that when you put a less than stellar swing on it.  The Epic Max just seems to hit on the screws every time. 

 

Like I said, hope it's that good out on the course when I get going soon, and the Max LS will get some reps on the course as well.  Not writing that one off.

[norcaltrojan]

Interesting that the Max LS with Ventus Black 7X is $750 from Peoples but $880 on the Callaway website. People's has the head valued at $400 + $350 Ventus upgrade while Callaway has the $350 upgrade off the $520 retail price. Somehow the "stock" shafts being worth $120 seems like a bit of a stretch (especially when you don't get both included)

Edited March 9, 2021 by norcaltrojan

[Warrick]

I finally got on course today with Speed, definitely more promise the Mavrik, going to go with a little heavier weight next time out. It was first day of season, so put some crap swings on it. I like the sound and feel, just still seemed light.

[swing33]

For you guys that have tested and now played some of these driver heads, what's the thought on the stock shaft offerings? Particularly the Rogue white 130 versus the PX im10 and the Mitsubishi MMT?

[fishn]

17 minutes ago, swing33 said:

For you guys that have tested and now played some of these driver heads, what's the thought on the stock shaft offerings? Particularly the Rogue white 130 versus the PX im10 and the Mitsubishi MMT?

And maybe the Tensei blue too, anyone tried that? I, like swing33, am considering the rogue white, im10 but also the tensei blue. I think for me rogue or Tensei in reg or im10 in 50 gram stiff. Thanks 

[bcflyguy1]

I'm still trying to find information on what the EI profile for Smoke iM10 Mid looks like. I've swung it some and from that I really have no educated guess as to what other shafts it might be similar to. I have had more success in fitting others with it than I expected to though.

 

 Mitsubishi MMT is Mitsubishi's classic blue profile executed with different materials. Very smooth EI curve and linear loss of stiffness from handle to tip. Comparing MMT to Rogue White, I'd say they're quite comparable overall, but Rogue White being a soft mid design means that they'll feel and load a bit differently. Rogue White may be stiffer in the handle and MMT will be stiffer in the midsection, while their tip stiffness is pretty similar.

[SwooshLT]

4 minutes ago, fishn said:

And maybe the Tensei blue too, anyone tried that? I, like swing33, am considering the rogue white, im10 but also the tensei blue. I think for me rogue or Tensei in reg or im10 in 50 gram stiff. Thanks 

 

 

I'm in tensei 65R blue AV 💙.......smooth and stable 

[bcflyguy1]

6 minutes ago, fishn said:

And maybe the Tensei blue too, anyone tried that? I, like swing33, am considering the rogue white, im10 but also the tensei blue. I think for me rogue or Tensei in reg or im10 in 50 gram stiff. Thanks 

If you've had success with Tensei AV Blue in the past, best to stick with it. It's still available at no upcharge in Callaway woods.

[swing33]

22 minutes ago, bcflyguy1 said:

I'm still trying to find information on what the EI profile for Smoke iM10 Mid looks like. I've swung it some and from that I really have no educated guess as to what other shafts it might be similar to. I have had more success in fitting others with it than I expected to though.

 

 Mitsubishi MMT is Mitsubishi's classic blue profile executed with different materials. Very smooth EI curve and linear loss of stiffness from handle to tip. Comparing MMT to Rogue White, I'd say they're quite comparable overall, but Rogue White being a soft mid design means that they'll feel and load a bit differently. Rogue White may be stiffer in the handle and MMT will be stiffer in the midsection, while their tip stiffness is pretty similar.

Stiffer midsection would indicate that it’s probably a little lower launching, correct?

[bcflyguy1]

9 minutes ago, swing33 said:

Stiffer midsection would indicate that it’s probably a little lower launching, correct?

Any time you’re comparing one shaft to another in this fashion, the only correct answer is “perhaps.” The different feels that come from different EI profiles and torque values etc. etc. cause many people to deliver the club head differently and in ways one wouldn’t necessarily expect. I see this play out in fittings all the time; until you test drive a shaft for yourself, you really cannot predict what difference (if any) it might make to your launch conditions and your overall performance. The differences in launch and spin from marketing materials for one shaft to the next might play out when robot tested, but adding in the human element and all the variables that brings turn all that upside down and sideways.

[norcaltrojan]

1 hour ago, swing33 said:

For you guys that have tested and now played some of these driver heads, what's the thought on the stock shaft offerings? Particularly the Rogue white 130 versus the PX im10 and the Mitsubishi MMT?

I can speak to the Rogue White 130 X. The shaft feels robust but with full swing the counterbalance really makes it feel more active. Overall profile is smooth and feels similar but slightly softer than Tensei Pro Orange. For me it was really hit or miss and felt like I had to time it right which isn’t what I’m looking for.  

[bcflyguy1]

Rogue White is not a smooth profile, it’s a “soft mid” design which is a very common design. The term “smooth profile” doesn’t refer to the way a shaft feels, but rather is a descriptor for shafts that lose stiffness from handle to tip in a very linear fashion. Diamana Blue and Hzrdus Black are examples of what a smooth profile actually is.
 

That’s not what Rogue White is, and also not what Tensei Pro Orange is either. Pro Orange is a unique combo of soft handle with a quite stiff mid and tip. The mid on Rogue White being much softer than in TPO is what made it feel more active to you, not the counter-balancing because they are both counter balanced.

[SwooshLT]

Most of you won't remember this but the Epic Speed is very reminiscent to probably my all-time favorite drivers: the 330cc R510 non-tp circa 2003

 

Obviously more technology and a larger head but man , is this very close to that feel and address position.  This makes me very happy for a possible Renaissance 

[fishn]

12 hours ago, bcflyguy1 said:

If you've had success with Tensei AV Blue in the past, best to stick with it. It's still available at no upcharge in Callaway woods.

I have not tried it, just read good things about it. Currently have an 815 with a Fubuki ZT stiff shaft and looking for something with a lot more feel. Thanks for your comments, guys. I know getting fit is best but not sure I will get that done. 

[lefthack]

Wrong thread, lol

Edited March 9, 2021 by lefthack

[bcflyguy1]

1 hour ago, fishn said:

I have not tried it, just read good things about it. Currently have an 815 with a Fubuki ZT stiff shaft and looking for something with a lot more feel. Thanks for your comments, guys. I know getting fit is best but not sure I will get that done. 

Been a while since I looked at what the Fubuki ZT EI profile looked like, had to blow the dust off it...LOL. Kidding aside, the ZT is a fairly linear or smooth profile so something like Tensei AV Blue will be similar enough that you have a decent chance of getting on well with it.

[Lobber]

13 hours ago, swing33 said:

For you guys that have tested and now played some of these driver heads, what's the thought on the stock shaft offerings? Particularly the Rogue white 130 versus the PX im10 and the Mitsubishi MMT?

I have the LS with MMT 70 Stiff.  Don't care for the shaft at all.  I have an aggressive move towards the ball and it just doesn't hold up.  No where close to the Tensei White imp.  Fortunately I have an Oban Devotion which I installed and am getting better results.  The head itself is a bomber and easy to hit.  

[bcflyguy1]

18 minutes ago, Lobber said:

I have the LS with MMT 70 Stiff.  Don't care for the shaft at all.  I have an aggressive move towards the ball and it just doesn't hold up.  No where close to the Tensei White imp.  Fortunately I have an Oban Devotion which I installed and am getting better results.  The head itself is a bomber and easy to hit.  

It's not close to the Tensei White because it's not designed to be that. Two very different profiles designed to be optimal for different swing types.

Did you test drive the MMT before buying?

[bogeypro]

On 3/3/2021 at 3:28 PM, third-times-a-charm said:

So after my response above, I got bored and made this chart.

 

Self explanatory - I think - but the colored fading lines show commonality between heads and how much. 

 

I think it's incorrect.  You're saying more forgiving equals more spin.  I don't know that I agree. 

Edited March 9, 2021 by bogeypro
Correction

[sociojeje]

Just ordered IM10 50 6.0 just to try it out. I know it isn't the type of shaft I am looking for but just wanted to experiment. Will report after trying it. 

[bogeypro]

On 3/4/2021 at 10:49 AM, Warrick said:

Damn, am I the only one who bought the Speed?

I have one on order after my fitting this weekend.  The shape is much better than the others to my eye. 

[third-times-a-charm]

10 minutes ago, bogeypro said:

I think it's incorrect.  You're saying more forgiving equals more spin.  I don't know that I agree. 

 

Technically it's all incorrect....every single swing is different lol. Then again that would imply 'stock specs' from OEMs are incorrect as well as anything can happen, generally, when someone hits a club.