ed travisCallaway Golf made several new product announcements—14 to be exact–and here is a synopsis of the information about each. Over the next few weeks Golf Gear Weekly will bring you further review and analysis.
Drivers
Epic Flash and Epic Flash Sub Zero
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning used to design a wave pattern on inside of face to increase ball speed. Jailbreak internal rods limit crown flexing and sliding 16-gram weight helps correct ball left and right curvature. Sub Zero model also has an added fixed weight near the face to lower spin. Hosel is loft adjustable. Weight saved using T2C carbon fiber in crown moved to the body to raise MOI and forgiveness. Price is $30 higher than last year’s Rogue. $530 with choice of Project X EvenFlow, Project X HZRDUS Smoke or Mitsubishi Tensei AV shafts. At retail Feb. 1, 2019
Fairway Woods
Epic Flash and Epic Flash Sub Zero
Forged 455 Carpenter steel cup face has internal wave pattern similar to driver for preserving preserve ball speed on off center impacts. Jailbreak rods from crown to sole add impact energy to face to increase distance. OptiFit Hosel made shorter and lighter with saved weight used to lower the center of gravity for higher launch. Pricing is the same as Callaway Rogue fairway woods. $300 with Project X EvenFlow, Project X HZRDUS Smoke and Mitsubishi Tensei AV shaft options. At retail Feb. 1, 2019
Hybrids
Apex 19
For better players and Tour pros, a hybrid designed as a true long iron substitute with, for the first time, Jailbreak rods behind the forged cup face. Flatter face and flatter lie angles with black PVD finish. $270 each available Jan. 25
Irons
Apex 19
Forged players distance iron with urethane microspheres encasing MIM’d tungsten weight. 360 Face Cup in long irons. VFT face plate in short irons. Chrome and Smoke finishes available. $1,399 with Elevate 95 steel shafts & $1,499 with graphite shafts. In shops Jan. 25
Apex Pro 19
Forged Tour Performance iron with Advanced Distance Technologies. Low and mid lofts use 360 Face Cup, the first in a Callaway Tour iron, higher loft have variable face thickness. Urethane microspheres with MIM’d tungsten weigh. Both chrome and Smoke finishes available. Available only with steel shafts $1,399 and at retail Jan.25.
Wedges
PM Grind 19
Redesigned by Phil Mickelson and Roger Cleveland with micro-ridges between grooves at an angle of 20° to be parallel to target when wedge is opened to impart added spin. As with original PM Grind, grooves cover entire face from top of toe to sole and side to side. Has more offset and higher toe to aid shots from long grass. In shops Feb.15 priced at $160.
Putters
Odyssey Stroke Lab
Tip heavy graphite/steel shaft 40 grams less weight that is stiffer and lower torque. Saved weight added to each end of head with face using White Hot Microhinge face insert. $250 and in shop Feb. 8.
Odyssey EXO with Stroke Lab
Stroke Lab shaft on EXO multi-material head with milled aluminum exo-cage and perimeter of stainless steel has Stroke Lab weighting at ends. White Hot face with Microhinge insert. Face balanced and toe hang mallets at $350 in stores Mar. 29.
Odyssey Toulon
Deep cross-hatch groove, a diamond pattern, control sound and feel by channeling vibration. Small groove inside diamond pattern for better roll. Stroke Lab shaft available. At retail Mar.1 for $449.
Golf Balls
ERC Soft
Callaway reported testing that ERC Soft is longest ball they have ever made. Multi-material cover for softer feel and higher spin on scoring shots. Graphene infused core and skeleton. Three alignment lines encircle ball act as positive putting aid. ERC in memory of Callaway Golf founder Ely Reeves Callaway. Available Feb. 8 at $40 per dozen in either white or yellow.
Supersoft
Popular model Supersoft improved with new softer Trionomer cover and retaining Callaway’s lowest core compression. Low drag dimple pattern. Price per dozen is $23 and in stores Feb. 8.
Supersoft Magna
Oversized (conforms to Rules of Golf) with higher CG and MOI for slow swing speed players needing help for higher launch and lower spin. Feb. 8 at retail priced at $23 per dozen.