Three new Epic drivers from Callaway combine the latest artificial intelligence-designed Flash faces and Jailbreak Speed Frames rather than Jailbreak Rods for improved performance.
Fast Facts
Callaway Epic Speed driver
Jailbreak Speed Frame
Flash Face SS21
Cyclone Aero shape
Adjustable hosel
Larger carbon fiber crown
Toe partly carbon fiber
Standard lofts: 9º-10.5°-12°
Stock shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke IM10, Mitsubishi MMT, Project X Cypher
Stock grip: Golf Pride Align Tour Velvet Black
Available Feb. 18
$529.99
Callaway Epic MAX driver
Game-improvement category
Jailbreak Speed Frame
Flash Face SS21
Sliding perimeter weight
Adjustable hosel
Carbon fiber crown
Standard lofts: 9º-10.5°-12°
Stock shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke IM10, Mitsubishi MMT, Project X Cypher
Stock grip: Golf Pride Align Tour Velvet Black
Available Feb. 18
$529.99
Callaway Epic MAX LS
Better player category
Jailbreak Speed Frame
Flash Face SS21
Carbon fiber crown
Sliding perimeter weight
Adjustable hosel
Standard lofts: 9º-10.5°
Stock shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke IM10, Mitsubishi MMT, Project X Cypher
Stock grip: Golf Pride Align Tour Velvet Black
Available Feb. 18
$529.99
WYNTK:
The success in the marketplace of the Epic line of woods helped push Callaway to the top as the largest golf equipment company in the world. They reached that spot with innovative technology and savvy marketing as seen by their drivers selling the highest number despite intense competition from other very good club manufacturers.
Put simply, golfers would not buy Callaway’s clubs if they didn’t work.
The Epic family has new technology for 2021 and the most interesting is the revamping of the Jailbreak rods first introduced four years ago. The rods are now a frame, the Jailbreak Speed Frame, with horizontal components near the crown and the sole not just the vertical rods of previous designs. The head has stiffness in the vertical direction as it did the old rods but now also horizontally. This translates as more swing energy getting to the ball for more distance rather than having been wasted with excess deformation of the head at impact. Callaway tells me this results in overall crown deflection of 20% less than drivers without the Jailbreak Speed Frame.
Artificial intelligence software was employed to design the new Speed Frame for each of the three drivers as well as the Flash Face SS21 which is slightly different in each to target different types of players
Epic Speed according to Callaway is the “fastest Epic ever” promoting more ball speed and distance aided by the low-drag Cyclone Aero clubhead and weight savings of 16 grams using carbon fiber for the crown and a portion of the toe compared with titanium. Speed has the same forward center of gravity as the Mavrik model but with a higher MOI and higher launch. The mid spin launch and moderate draw bias are also similar.
Epic MAX is designed to have the most forgiveness on off center impacts with high launch while the adjustable perimeter weighting (17 grams) makes more draw bias possible. Callaway reports MAX has better aerodynamics than Mavrik and is meant for average golfers wanting better ball launch to increase the carry distance.
The Epic MAX LS is specifically for better players and has a very high MOI (8400+) raising the stability at impact. The 13-gram perimeter weight is adjustable but overall shot shape is neutral and MAX LS is the most fade-capable of the three models.
