The new Callaway Rogue irons haven’t just moved the needle in performance terms: they are the needle.
And with four different Rogue models offering across-the-board ball speed and distance gains, and improvements in accuracy and feel, there is a Rogue iron to suit everyone.
WHAT MAKES CALLAWAY ROGUE IRONS SO GOOD?
360 FACE CUP AND VFT
The Callaway Rogue iron family has eked more ball speed out of the 360 face cup and VFT (variable face thickness) that Callaway introduced in the 2014 Big Bertha irons. But Callaway haven’t just repurposed the 360 face and VFT for the Rogue iron family; they have re-imagined the technology to boost the Rogue’s COR (coefficient of restitution) to driver-like levels. The 360 face cup, a thin rim around the Rogue’s clubface, is now more flexible to create an even greater deflection and spring-back of the clubface at impact, translating into faster ball speeds. And combined with the Rogue irons’ new VFT face, which is thinned out in strategic areas, off-centre hits that previously would have resulted in a furrowed brow and a trip to misery town, will now travel further and straighter.
URETHANE MICROSPHERES
We can hear you thinking: "I love my polymers as much as the next guy, but what exactly are urethane microspheres and what do they have to do with pounding the golf ball long and straight?" Well, a small slab of urethane, a type of artificial rubber, is wedged in behind the Rogue's clubface to improve the feel and sound by absorbing vibrations - which is particularly important given the Rogue’s thin and flexible face. The urethane is injected with thousands of tiny microspheres that can flatten out at impact to permit additional flex in the urethane, complementing, rather than disrupting, the Rogue’s clubface deflection and rebound. This additional flex maintains the Rogue irons’ COR and ball speeds - the net result is that urethane microspheres make Rogue irons sound and feel great, with no payoff in performance. Now we can hear you thinking "Sexy, sexy urethane microspheres".
TUNGSTEN MIM
Callaway Rogue irons get the MIM (metal-injection moulding) Tungsten weighting that is used in the premium Callaway Epic irons, for precise CG (centre of gravity) placement. With Tungsten having twice the mass of steel, the Tungsten weights are positioned progressively through the Rogue set: a low location in the long irons for easier launch and higher ball flight, rising to a higher position in the short irons for improved control. The ability to alter the CG so precisely in every Rogue iron in the set is only possible through Callaway’s MIM process, which bakes a fine powder of Tungsten at 2500C into an incredibly consistent and precise shape to fit snugly inside Rogue irons. And after you put Rogue irons into play for the first time, you’ll be guaranteed a few other MIMs* when you drill them straight down the middle.
*Monumentally Impressed Mate
ROGUE IRON MODELS x 4
CALLAWAY ROGUE IRONS - THE STANDARD
Callaway Rogue standard irons are the most versatile of the range, offering a well-balanced blend of distance, forgiveness and feel. The standard Rogue irons have a medium sole width and topline, and a progressive offset through the set means they are easy to hit long and straight. Rogue standard irons are available in 3-AW and can be fitted with a choice of premium shafts: True Temper XP steel shafts and Aldila Synergy 60g or 40g graphite shafts.
CALLAWAY ROGUE X IRONS - THE DISTANCE IRON
Designed for slow-to-medium speed swingers of the club, Callaway Rogue X irons are all about high ball speeds, low spin and a whole bundle of forgiveness. Featuring stronger lofts and longer shafts, Callaway Rogue X irons have been designed with distance in mind and are lighter in weight than the standard Rogue irons. Rogue X irons are also significantly wider than standard Rogue irons, which magnifies the effects of the 360 Face Cup and VFT technology for hotter ball speeds off the face. A wide sole, thick topline and a very low CG throughout the entire set makes launching the ball high and long an effortless exercise, while the offset is greater than the standard Rogue irons to increase the margin for error. A deeper back cavity is also prominent, particularly in the longer irons. Available in 4-SW, Callaway Rogue X irons can be fitted with premium KBS Max steel shafts or a graphite shaft from the Aldila range.
CALLAWAY ROGUE PRO IRONS - THE BETTER PLAYERS' IRON
Swing the pendulum 180 degrees from the Rogue X irons and you’ll arrive at the new Callaway Rogue Pro, the Rogue model for better players and faster swing speeds. A small and compact head is crafted with a thin sole, thin topline and negligible offset - these are irons made for consistent contact with a focus on workability. The Rogue Pro irons' more compact shape required slightly weaker lofts than the standard Callaway Rogue irons due to the intricacies of the 360 Face Cup and VFT. Shallow back cavities also mean forgiveness is not as easily obtained on off-centre strikes compared to the Rogue standard irons. Callaway Rogue Pro irons range from 3-AW and are supplied with lightweight True Temper XP stepless steel shafts.
CALLAWAY ROGUE WOMEN’S IRONS - FOR THE LADIES
The ultra-lightweight Callaway Rogue women’s irons are engineered to suit women but will benefit anyone chasing a boost in clubhead speed. Featuring a wide sole and a cavernous cavity back, the Callaway Rogue women’s irons will accelerate clubhead speeds with their lightweight multi-material construction and a 40g Aldila Quaranta graphite shaft. The Callaway Rogue women’s irons feature an ultra-low CG and are lofted to launch the ball high. Available in 4-SW.
CALLAWAY HYBRIDS
Callaway’s Jailbreak technology makes its debut in the Rogue hybrid range and the results have been worth the wait. Three new hybrid models join the Callaway line-up:
CALLAWAY ROGUE HYBRID
With Jailbreak technology stiffening the mid-sized Rogue hybrid’s body, the Hyper Speed face cup on the Rogue hybrid is seven per cent thinner and 12 per cent lighter for greater flex and release at impact. And yes, that translates into increased ball speeds and distance. The CG has been positioned ultra-low to make the Callaway Rogue hybrid a breeze to hit, but even better, the MOI has been boosted to make the Rogue the most forgiving hybrid Callaway have ever created. The Rogue hybrid is long and workable and, interestingly, there is no Pro version of the Rogue hybrid, which says a lot about the fact that the club will work for most players. An Aldila Synergy 60g graphite shaft is standard and the Rogue hybrid comes in lofts of 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H and 6H.
CALLAWAY ROGUE X HYBRID
A larger and lighter clubhead and stronger lofts make the Callaway Rogue X hybrid the choice for distance hunters. Featuring the same Jailbreak technology and Hyper Speed face cup as the standard Rogue hybrid, the Rogue X hybrid builds distance with a slightly stronger loft compared to the regular Rogue hybrid, and launches higher and faster with less spin. A 50g Aldila Synergy shaft is the standard offering on the Rogue X hybrid, which is available in 3H, 4H, 5H and 6H lofts.
CALLAWAY ROGUE WOMEN’S HYBRID
Just like the Rogue iron range, the Rogue women’s hybrid extracts performance out of slow swing speeds, with ultra-lightweight materials and loft configurations maximising distance. A lightweight 40g Aldila Quaranta graphite shaft gets the gig on the Callaway Rogue women’s hybrid, which is available in 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H and 7H.
Callaway Rogue irons and hybrids will be available at GolfBox on February 9.