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GolfWRX Spotted: Callaway Epic Speed and Epic Max drivers on conforming list

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The rumored and much-discussed Callaway Epic Speed and Epic Max drivers are now officially on the R&A’s conforming list. (Expected to see them soon on the USGA Conforming Club List). The newly updated January 4 list includes the Callaway Epic Speed, Epic Max, and Epic Max LS (which is generally used to define Low Spin).

With the PGA Tour season about to start, and players gearing up with all the 2021 equipment, including the newest Callaway staff player Jon Rahm, it should come as no surprise to see them pop up on the list this week. In true Callaway fashion, there are a number of different versions that can be found, but judging by the names, some will remain as “tour only” options for now.

With these drivers now on the list, we can probably expect to see an official announcement soon along with a retail launch date.

Callaway Epic Max

Upon first glance, the Callaway Epic Max looks familiar, but when analyzed closely, there are a number of new things going on with the sole of the driver to make us believe Callaway has done some serious tweaking under the hood.

The first and most obvious are the four Jailbreak ports on the sole behind the face. Jailbreak was a revolutionary change in design for Callaway to help retain ball speeds around the face, and with the Epic Max, it appears that the company is doubling up on these support structures to add rigidity and increase stability.

The other new addition is the carbon toe portion of the sole. It’s safe to assume that the crown will continue to be carbon composite and this toe part is being used to save additional mass. The last time Callaway went to a carbon sole portion was with the original Epic, and it proved to be quite useful.

What we know for sure

The great thing about visual technology is that, well, it’s visible, and on the sole of the Epix Max we can also see

  • An adjustable sliding weight
  • AI Speed frame – to optimize the internal structure
  • Horizontal lines indicating that some of the Cyclone shaping introduced in the Mavrik line will also carry forward.

Epic Speed

The name is the giveaway for this club head, and based on the removal of the sliding weight track, which requires additional mass to support, the Callaway Epic Speed has been designed to absolutely optimize speed and boost MOI.

The head features the same four Jailbreak ports as the Epic Max, as well as the carbon composite toe. Replacing the sliding track is a single weight in the rear of the head, which is likely to be used to push weight low and back for added forgiveness while also allowing final swing weight adjustability.

Epic Max LS

The Callaway Epic Max LS looks to have all of the same technical attributes of the standard Epic Max but in a smaller package. It’s hard to tell from the black and white images but the telltale sign is the angle and radius from the hosel to the back edge of the driver with the Max LZ version (on the left) being less round and bulbous compared to the standard Max version (on the right).

The Epic wildcards

The wildcards spotted on the conforming list are the Epic Speed DS and Epic Speed LS.

They share the same technologies as the other drivers listed but with the noticeable exclusion of the four Jailbreak ports for two ports and adjustable front weight. Callaway is well known for producing tour only product for some of its staff players—most famously Phil Mickelson, and with the recent signing of the highly ranked Jon Rahm, it could be that one of the parts of his deal was that Callaway would do anything they could with drivers to make sure Jon was comfy with the new products.

They could also be special editions to be announced alongside the rest of the new line but it would seem a little odd that there would be versions with less face tech—only 2 Jailbreak pieces instead of four.

Conclusion

With the success of the 2020 Mavrik and the previous 2019 Epic Flash driver lines, Callaway looks to be progressing with a proven formula of building driving uniquely targeted to golfers’ needs by offering three unique heads to help find the best fit—seems pretty epic.

To see what other golfers are saying check out the GolfWRX forums.

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. stephen

    Jan 4, 2021 at 11:30 pm

    You all sound like haters just stay off the blog we really don’t want to hear it, just keep playing your 10 year old cheap clubs.

    • Ben

      Jan 5, 2021 at 11:05 pm

      Thank you for your comment. I feel exactly the same. I don’t understand why there are so many haters on the most Gear centric community leaving useless comments.

  2. Stacey Abrams

    Jan 4, 2021 at 10:01 pm

    Yeah, love the roll out of 5 and 6 drivers per model! Drives me nuts!!

  3. golfer

    Jan 4, 2021 at 8:56 pm

    Consumers have to stop buying the $550 dollar driver and $1500 set of basic carbon steel/chrome blades if we ever want the price to come back down. Buy Hogan, buy sub70, buy used. We drive every pricepoint with our wallets.

  4. MNW

    Jan 4, 2021 at 6:59 pm

    how about showing pics of the club from playing position??
    Who cares about the bottom.
    be like saying “Check out my New Corvette”
    then posting a pic of the under frame.

    • Golfer

      Jan 4, 2021 at 8:50 pm

      These are photos from the Usga conforming club database. They are only so players in the future and the usga can identify clubs. tough to do that from the crown view

  5. Joey5Picks

    Jan 4, 2021 at 6:13 pm

    Where are all the Taylormade haters chiming in about Callaway releasing a new driver that *may* make you longer, at the rate of $550/yard?

  6. simms

    Jan 4, 2021 at 4:26 pm

    I wonder if it starts at $500 or $550 maybe $599 this time…need to pay for those two new 50 cent jail break bars…

    • Desert Hacker

      Jan 4, 2021 at 9:21 pm

      HA!! And Mr. Jon Rahm’s contract. ?

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

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GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

 

 

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Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

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Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

  • Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
  • Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
  • Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
  • Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
  • Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
  • Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
  • Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
  • Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
  • Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

  • Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
  • Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
  • Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
  • Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
  • Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
  • Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
  • Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

  • Driver: Ping Max G440
  • Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
  • Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
  • Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
  • Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
  • Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

  • Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
  • Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
  • Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
  • Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
  • Wedges
  • Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase

  • Driver: Ping 440 LST
  • Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
  • Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
  • Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
  • Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
  • Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
  • Putter: Ping PLD Anser

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Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

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Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX

3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX

7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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