2022 Callaway Rogue ST drivers (in-hand photos)

[GolfCsty]

I agree Callaway is getting crushed wrt marketing. But, is it the marketing department or the engineering department’s fault, neither, or a combination?

 

Jailbreak and Flashface have served them well and, at this point, are proven technologies. I should say all companies technologies are proven at this point.  Callaway has seen no need to deviate from a formula that has worked for several years. They’re probably a bit naive in sticking with a 5 year old naming convention but the tech works so just refine it, right? I’m sure that’s what the engineers were thinking. 
 

But Taylormade, even though carbon face isn’t original, is introducing a new technology, and Cobra, although I’m not up to speed on what they actually have coming, has Kyle Berkshire breaking ball speed records! I would think, for any mildly competent marketing department, these are softballs. Run them up against a company pushing 4 (flashface) and 6 (jailbreak) year old technology and it’s an easy home run .  

 

Callaway marketing department will surely learn some lessons from this but I’m willing to bet they won’t take all the blame when the company starts looking at who/what failed this year. 
 

 

Edited January 16, 2022 by GolfCsty

[eric61]

Callaway is going to get hammered by TM this year in sales, no doubt. 
 

But I really, really like the way the way the Rogue ST drivers look. I love the matte. Simple and clean is exactly what I’m looking for, and they’ve delivered it. Take the gold half-circle off the back, and they’d be perfect. They seem to have addressed my only real cosmetic complaints with last year’s Epic lineup, and the Epic Max LS was incredible for me.

 

My interest has been piqued by the reviews so far. Distance has been comparable. And what’s most notable to me is that reviewers are hitting the Max version — not the lower-spin versions. And a lot of them are finding launch and spin numbers that are comparable, if not even lower, than the Stealth Plus. Some of those reviewers have been mentioned already. 
 

That kind of performance plus a 26g weight at the back? Not having to go to the less-forgiving Max LS and TD models to keep spin in a reasonable range? Sign me up.

 

(…But who am I kidding, I’m a WRXer and am buying both.)

Edited January 16, 2022 by eric61

[third-times-a-charm]

Can someone pleassseee do or find comparison photos of the Epic Max LS and Rogue max LS

[eric61]

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

Can someone pleassseee do or find comparison photos of the Epic Max LS and Rogue max LS

Really interested in this as well. I think the Rogue ST Max LS is shorter front to back, in between last year’s Epic Max LS and Epic Speed. Would really like to see a comparison.

[me05501]

1 hour ago, eric61 said:

Callaway is going to get hammered by TM this year in sales, no doubt. 
 

But I really, really like the way the way the Rogue ST drivers look. I love the matte. Simple and clean is exactly what I’m looking for, and they’ve delivered it. Take the gold half-circle off the back, and they’d be perfect. They seem to have addressed my only real cosmetic complaints with last year’s Epic lineup, and the Epic Max LS was incredible for me.

 

My interest has been piqued by the reviews so far. Distance has been comparable. And what’s most notable to me is that reviewers are hitting the Max version — not the lower-spin versions. And a lot of them are finding launch and spin numbers that are comparable, if not even lower, than the Stealth Plus. Some of those reviewers have been mentioned already. 
 

That kind of performance plus a 26g weight at the back? Not having to go to the less-forgiving Max LS and TD models to keep spin in a reasonable range? Sign me up.

 

(…But who am I kidding, I’m a WRXer and am buying both.)

I’m not sure how all that adds up to TM crushing Callaway. 

So far there are two trends emerging in all the reviews:

 

- the Stealth and the Rogue are very close, with a possible forgiveness edge going to Callaway

 

and 

 

- The Stealth offers very little to entice for players who already own SIM2 

 

 

 

[eric61]

23 minutes ago, me05501 said:

I’m not sure how all that adds up to TM crushing Callaway. 

So far there are two trends emerging in all the reviews:

 

- the Stealth and the Rogue are very close, with a possible forgiveness edge going to Callaway

 

and 

 

- The Stealth offers very little to entice for players who already own SIM2 

 

 

 

The sales figures aren’t going to be close, even though both of those points are true.

[My2Dogs]

On 1/13/2022 at 5:22 AM, getitdaily said:

"Taylormade has opted for speed over MOI"

 

100% not true. The stealth and stealth+ are both better in forgiveness than sim. They are about the same as sim2 but with lower spin than sim2 models were (not hugely lower spin, but slightly). 

 

Where stealth will shine is off center strikes. It is their most consistent driver in ballspeed and spin across the face. 

 

idk about the rogue. Haven't seen it or hit it. It will perform. I almost put mavrik sz in the bag over sim. Had Callaway done something for high toe strikes not going 20 yds left then I would have. Callaway makes good product. Their release cycles are weird. But their stuff is good. 

 

But TM didn't sacrifice moi. Had Thomas moved the stealth slider weight to side then those left shots would have straightened out. He also noted that the kai'li shaft felt looser. That's more of why dispersion was what it was.

The other issue is price.  Callaway is coming in at a better price point.  Both are expensive but TM at $600 for the Stealth Plus is a high number.

 

if TM does crush Callaway- maybe Callaway will reduce their pricing and we all can get a new Rogue ST LS or whatever Rogue you like at even a better price.  LOL

 

seriously though, early sales may go TM’s way but the majority of golfers are going to look hard at the higher price point.  Especially with inflation and everything being more expensive.  The hard core guys and WRX’ers will of course buy right away but we really only make up a small % of the total number of people buying.  Now some of us make up a larger % than others😂.  

[PorkChopExpress]

Always thought Callaway sold more

they have more lines and cater to the high end Japanese market 

[dmeeksDC]

That Michael Newton review is impressive. Thanks @BirdieBob

 

On the club front, I am totally with @eric61, if I can match the performance of the Epic Max LS in the Rogue ST MAX, the most forgiving driver Callaway has ever made, and get a matte finish and get tremendous sound at impact, that meets my criteria to take a look. I like my Epic Max LS a lot. 
 

And don’t get me wrong, I am not skipping the Stealth. Overall, it looks sharp and it’s a TaylorMade driver. They know what they’re doing. Why not hit it? The thing is, I had this discussion with a fitter, who hooked me up with an OG SIM MAX to work out with over the winter. I mean, damn nice driver. Even with the stock Ventus Blue non-velocore shaft. It’s a beast. Maybe the Stealth is better.
 

Maybe it is, but maybe the Rogue ST MAX is better than all — for me. As much as I wish I needed a “better player’s driver,” I looked at my game in categories, in terms of how I can improve consistency to shoot lower scores. Accuracy off the tee is my No. 2 category I need to improve. I probably am best served by a driver for the masses, with the right shaft. We’re seeing unprecedented performance out of the most forgiving heads. I don’t feel like I’m leaving much on the table. 

As for sales, TM most likely sprints to the lead. That is the driver people are talking about. But I don’t know all the sales portals these companies use. In the U.S., over time, Callaway can reach a lot of customers with a vastly superior trade-in program that is trustworthy and easy to use, Top Golf to help, and an unbelievably powerful lineup of drivers, all of which cost less and one of which is standing out in the category that fits most golfers. I wouldn’t count them out. If the club performs, that gets known. 

 

[Morry]

Rogue is the Sleeper Driver of the Year

 

LS for me - others will match other heads

 

the low hype is the irony 

 

mark my words...as they say 

 

 

 

 

[My2Dogs]

5 hours ago, Morry said:

Rogue is the Sleeper Driver of the Year

 

LS for me - others will match other heads

 

the low hype is the irony 

 

mark my words...as they say 

 

 

 

 

Right now it’s the LS for me this year unless Cobra has something crazy 

Iike Bryson said.  The LS just looks good, is so forgiving from all the reviews but still is keeping up in carry distance, ball speed (close to TM), overall distance, spin and winning in dispersion.  Deadly combo! 

[ShortSticks]

Got to say I am warming up to the Rouge series of drivers. Not too high on the gold color accents, but could be worse (orange, green or that teal blue, yuk). May go Custom in neutral colors like silver or black if that is available and the cost is not too much more. Want to hit against my PING 425 MAX and see and see how the numbers stack up. With the same tungsten weight in the back the forgiveness should be similar.  If I can get a slight bump in ball speed and slight drop in spin then we may have a winner-winner-chicken-dinner.

 

I just can not do the Stealth in the first year. Maybe 2nd gen if there are not a lot of problems with the 1st gen, but that face is one only a mother could love and I just don't think it will hold up over time.

 

I also want to see the Cobra LTDx before I make any decisions on the year. I still have a Speedzone (Matt Black and Red) that I play from time to time that I still like, but the colorways of the Radspeed did not suit me enough for an upgrade. The LTDx looks better this year but I want to test it out first.

[GolfCsty]

Had to get a haircut today. A DicksSportingGoods is in the same shopping center so figured I’d go stop over and take a look at the Stealth. The racks, driver and fairway, for Stealth we’re empty. Not a single Stealth product, driver or fairway metal to put my grubby fingers on. Rogue ST hasn’t hit market yet but seems folks clamoring for Stealth are eating it up!

[tbone18]

28 minutes ago, GolfCsty said:

Had to get a haircut today. A DicksSportingGoods is in the same shopping center so figured I’d go stop over and take a look at the Stealth. The racks, driver and fairway, for Stealth we’re empty. Not a single Stealth product, driver or fairway metal to put my grubby fingers on. Rogue ST hasn’t hit market yet but seems folks clamoring for Stealth are eating it up!

The product doesn't hit stores until 2/4.  They should of had demos to test.

[GolfCsty]

2 hours ago, tbone18 said:

The product doesn't hit stores until 2/4.  They should of had demos to test.

I didn’t do my research before my last comment wrt release date. I guess Dicks has the rack out ahead of time. 2.5 weeks ahead is quite early but I suppose stranger things have happened. 

[Davethegolfer]

Another great review up from Peter Finch

[tbone18]

53 minutes ago, GolfCsty said:

I didn’t do my research before my last comment wrt release date. I guess Dicks has the rack out ahead of time. 2.5 weeks ahead is quite early but I suppose stranger things have happened. 

store inventory is showing up now and being held until the 4th.  All the Rogue ST demos should be in this week as well.

[ssfranny]

On 1/16/2022 at 3:36 PM, eric61 said:

Callaway is going to get hammered by TM this year in sales, no doubt. 
 

But I really, really like the way the way the Rogue ST drivers look. I love the matte. Simple and clean is exactly what I’m looking for, and they’ve delivered it. Take the gold half-circle off the back, and they’d be perfect. They seem to have addressed my only real cosmetic complaints with last year’s Epic lineup, and the Epic Max LS was incredible for me.

 

My interest has been piqued by the reviews so far. Distance has been comparable. And what’s most notable to me is that reviewers are hitting the Max version — not the lower-spin versions. And a lot of them are finding launch and spin numbers that are comparable, if not even lower, than the Stealth Plus. Some of those reviewers have been mentioned already. 
 

That kind of performance plus a 26g weight at the back? Not having to go to the less-forgiving Max LS and TD models to keep spin in a reasonable range? Sign me up.

 

(…But who am I kidding, I’m a WRXer and am buying both.)

Dunno where you think Callaway is gonna get hammered by TM this year.  From what Ive been seeing the Rogue ST Max is performing as much or better than the Stealth.   At least the reviews Ive seen on Youtube.  Not a fan of the gold but if its more forgiving and as long as my Epic FLash SZ sign me up.  Wish they did keep the slider though.

[ssfranny]

4 hours ago, GolfCsty said:

Had to get a haircut today. A DicksSportingGoods is in the same shopping center so figured I’d go stop over and take a look at the Stealth. The racks, driver and fairway, for Stealth we’re empty. Not a single Stealth product, driver or fairway metal to put my grubby fingers on. Rogue ST hasn’t hit market yet but seems folks clamoring for Stealth are eating it up!

Says who?  Clamoring for the Stealth?

[ssfranny]

On 1/16/2022 at 5:25 PM, eric61 said:

The sales figures aren’t going to be close, even though both of those points are true.

do you work in the golf industry?

[tbone18]

5 minutes ago, ssfranny said:

do you work in the golf industry?

I do work in Golf retail and as of yesterday my store location has only preordered 3 Stealth Carbon woods since the preorder date of 1/4.

[Ryancolts1988]

Tested both the Rogue and Stealth today. I am an average swing speed driver currently using a Cobra Radspeed (brought it in to baseline as well). For me the Rogue was slightly longer than the Cobra (5 yards), but more forgiving. Stealth was 10-15 yards shorter than the Rogue. With both in hand, the Rogue won in every category for me except the marketing story. Sound was confidence inspiring, easy to hit, accurate, premium finish and quality, and looks. The Stealth still kind of looks like an unrefined prototype, and the one at the fitting already had paint chipping off the metal above the carbon face. The gold on the Rogue is more subtle than I thought it would be, which is good, and the rest of the club just seemed durable and beautiful.

 

For me, the Rogue isn’t flashing telling some new story that is going to get people excited, but in trying all the new drivers last year and so far this year, it is the best one I have hit, and one of the best looking.

[jmc]

16 minutes ago, Ryancolts1988 said:

Tested both the Rogue and Stealth today. I am an average swing speed driver currently using a Cobra Radspeed (brought it in to baseline as well). For me the Rogue was slightly longer than the Cobra (5 yards), but more forgiving. Stealth was 10-15 yards shorter than the Rogue. With both in hand, the Rogue won in every category for me except the marketing story. Sound was confidence inspiring, easy to hit, accurate, premium finish and quality, and looks. The Stealth still kind of looks like an unrefined prototype, and the one at the fitting already had paint chipping off the metal above the carbon face. The gold on the Rogue is more subtle than I thought it would be, which is good, and the rest of the club just seemed durable and beautiful.

 

For me, the Rogue isn’t flashing telling some new story that is going to get people excited, but in trying all the new drivers last year and so far this year, it is the best one I have hit, and one of the best looking.

 

Which version(s) of the rogue did you hit?

[Ryancolts1988]

I hit the Max and Max LS. Max was the better fit for me. LS felt good, but didn’t suit my eye as well. The face is very flat, and appeared sharper edged and lower lofted, even at the same loft setting.

[Dsevans8]

Guys quick question for anyone who has gotten to hit or look at this drivers... On my Epic Max LS I feel like it sits fairly closed (maybe its the lie angle or whatever). Compared to my Mavrik Triple Diamond, which I feel like sits about as close to square as any of the Callaway drivers I have owned. I always feel like I have to turn down the Epic Max LS to -1 (maybe need to get a custom sleeve to go -2 degrees) to get it to sit a little more square (still not a perfect solution for me). I guess my question is how do these drivers look to the eye? Especially the Rogue Max LS and Rogue Triple Diamond, are they like the Epic Max line as far as how square they appear? So hard to determine with the pictures and haven't had the option to see them in person yet. Thanks for all your help.

[Hedgehog]

15 hours ago, Ryancolts1988 said:

Tested both the Rogue and Stealth today. I am an average swing speed driver currently using a Cobra Radspeed (brought it in to baseline as well). For me the Rogue was slightly longer than the Cobra (5 yards), but more forgiving. Stealth was 10-15 yards shorter than the Rogue. With both in hand, the Rogue won in every category for me except the marketing story. Sound was confidence inspiring, easy to hit, accurate, premium finish and quality, and looks. The Stealth still kind of looks like an unrefined prototype, and the one at the fitting already had paint chipping off the metal above the carbon face. The gold on the Rogue is more subtle than I thought it would be, which is good, and the rest of the club just seemed durable and beautiful.

 

For me, the Rogue isn’t flashing telling some new story that is going to get people excited, but in trying all the new drivers last year and so far this year, it is the best one I have hit, and one of the best looking.

Great findings, had the same feelings in my Stealth fitting it's very plain to look down on.. Can't wait to book my Rogue ST fitting.

 

Crossy has RST Max vs RST Max LS head to head:

 

 

Edited January 18, 2022 by Hedgehog

[coreyl]

Anybody know the in-store date for these?

[third-times-a-charm]

Which Rogue model is supposed to be like the Epic Speed/Maverik (standard)?

[jgreer1421]

Went to my local shop and was able to hit some ball today.....in Michigan, so snow on the ground, but covered/heated bay....no numbers to give, but was able to hit the Max LS.  It looks a little shorter front to back from the Epic, but still a really good shape and similar to the Epic Max LS, which is a good thing for me.....Sound seemed to be a little more muted compared to Epic, but it was really nice sounded, and seemed to have a little more pop to the face vs Epic......I hit quite a few balls to really give it a chance to suck........it didn't!!  Big fan for initial impressions..

[Richsgbox]

On 1/16/2022 at 3:27 PM, My2Dogs said:

The other issue is price.  Callaway is coming in at a better price point.  Both are expensive but TM at $600 for the Stealth Plus is a high number.

 

if TM does crush Callaway- maybe Callaway will reduce their pricing and we all can get a new Rogue ST LS or whatever Rogue you like at even a better price.  LOL

 

seriously though, early sales may go TM’s way but the majority of golfers are going to look hard at the higher price point.  Especially with inflation and everything being more expensive.  The hard core guys and WRX’ers will of course buy right away but we really only make up a small % of the total number of people buying.  Now some of us make up a larger % than others😂.  

Nailed. It. 

Even for a club ho, 600 for a driver and 430 for a fw is insane. Add an upgraded shaft at 250 per. Typically, I'd have my preorder in that this point. Now, I'm reading more and more into Rogue ST and others just to save a few bucks. I've played a TM driver and every release since '16 M1 to SIM2 and most recent 0811XT. I wonder at what price point will sales start to flatten and TM decides volume over margins.