The Callaway Epic, the company’s most successful driver franchise since the introduction of the Great Big Bertha in 1995, looks to have three new models on the verge of being introduced to start the new year.
On Monday, the company added the Epic Speed, Epic Max and Epic Max LS on the weekly report of conforming drivers released by the USGA and the R&A. That would make the clubs eligible for use in this week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions on the PGA Tour, including by new Callaway signee Jon Rahm.
While the company is not making any public statements on the three models for the time being, images on the ruling bodies’ websites reveal some similarities and differences between past Epic models and the three models themselves. In total, there are 11 versions of the three models on the conforming list, including left-handed versions—an obvious key addition given the company’s lead endorser is Phil Mickelson.
This would be the third generation of Epic drivers, starting with the GBB Epic and GBB Epic Sub Zero in 2017. Those drivers introduced an internal structure of vertical bars behind the face that joined the crown and sole. Known as “Jailbreak,” it was designed to concentrate flexing in the face by holding the crown and sole firm.
Those were followed by the Epic Flash and Epic Flash Sub Zero in 2019, two drivers that introduced the company’s artificial intelligence design technology. Through the input of heavy computing power, the faces were redesigned with non-traditional and asymmetrical face thickness patterns to optimize both on-center and off-center flexing.
It appears all three new Epic drivers feature some kind of A.I. component and a version of Jailbreak. All three drivers include the phrases “Jailbreak” and “A.I. Speed Frame” on the sole. Unlike past models with Jailbreak technology, instead of two small circles toward the front of the sole, many of the versions (but not all) now show four. Of the three main versions, only the Epic Max and Epic Max LS feature a channel with a sliding weight in the rear perimeter.
All three models also show the phrase “Flash Face SS21” on the face. “Flash Face” was first used to describe the company’s A.I. face design.
The Epic Max versions on the conforming lists come in three lofts (9, 10.5 and 12 degrees). The Epic Max LS also placed three lofts on the list (8.5, 9, 10.5). The Epic Speed’s multiple versions include a range of lofts (8.5, 9, 10.5, 12).
This marks the third time in the last four years the company has launched three versions of a flagship driver, following last year’s Mavrik, Mavrik Sub Zero and Mavrik Max line and 2018’s Rogue, Rogue Sub Zero and Rogue Draw.