About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I purchased with my own money in March of 2022.

My take

The Callaway Rogue ST Max D Driver is an effective club for high to mid handicappers looking for a driver that is loaded with forgiveness and distance. On top of forgiveness, this club has a draw bias which will help with high handicappers looking to eliminate their slice and be able to finally hit that draw they want off the tee.

About the club I own/tested

• Model: 2022 Callaway Rogue ST Max D
• Loft setting: 9 Degree
• Shaft type: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 65
• Shaft flex: Stiff flex

About me

• Average score: 82
• Handicap: 10
• Experience: 10 years
• Right/Left-Handed: Right handed
• Typical ball flight: Fade
• Golf ball used: TP5x, ProV1x
• Club swing speed: 125 mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: March 2022
• Days tested: 90
• Where I’ve used it: I have used it in my bag for the last 3 months on the course and on the range. Mostly at Glen Oaks Golf Club in North Carolina and a few courses in Arizona like Sedona Golf Resort and Wigwam Golf Resort.
• Weather and wind conditions: I have used it in the Arizona desert with no wind; in North Carolina in the rain and windy conditions around 15 mph.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a club that is more forgiving off the tee but does not compromise distance. I typically tee off with a 3 wood or 5 wood. But instead I wanted a driver to create increased ball speed that would be longer than my 3 wood. I wanted a club with less of a fade off the tee as I have the tendency to always push it to the right.

Why I chose this club

The feel of this club and the forgiveness were what really sold me. I was able to consistently hit a nice draw off the tee. The sound of the club sounds like a pure driver with each swing, which increased my confidence off the tee. I was hitting a Sim Max before this club and was getting a fitting done for the Callaway Rogue ST Max D or the Taylormade Stealth. The new Stealth had a carbon face which sounded too dull for me. The Callaway Rogue ST Max D had a nice, always-powerful sound at impact.

What I love about it

• Distance: The continued work Callway does with their patented A.I. Jailbreak speed frame is the reason this driver is consistent in providing more distance. The Jailbreak speed frame is designed to disperse force across the whole face, increasing speed across the ball with each swing.
• Forgiveness: The Tungsten Speed Cartridge structure in this driver is set deep in the head. This means that the speed increases on off center hits, which provides maximum forgiveness.
• Feel: The Jailbreak Speed frame really increases feel at impact. Each shot feels powerful off the tee.
• Sound: Each sound pierces the air making it feel very powerful and improves confidence at the tee.
• Adjustability: The club can be adjusted to have a draw bias or neutral head. It also can change to plus or minus one degree from standard loft.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The matte finish is very soothing at impact and kind to the eye.
• Spin: This driver is inherently designed to create low spin, which is a continued part of Callaway’s A.I. speed frame design. This is true for me as I have been getting more roll out of my drivers and increasing my total distance.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Workability: Not very workable: the internal and external draw-weighting system biases a draw that is a consistent ball flight.
• Shaft Feel: This specific shaft feels a little light and is the stock Mitsubishi Tensei AV. The light feel at times makes me hook the ball more at impact.
• Grip Feel: Stock Callaway black grip. I prefer a midsize grip because it helps me with not gripping too tight and having a snap hook off the tee.

Best shot with this club

I was playing at Wolf Creek Golf Club in Atlanta, GA, while visiting a friend. I had a very solid front nine but was not able to drain any birdie putts. I wanted to build some momentum as it was a tight course and did not require a driver much. The 10th hole is a slight dogleg right with water aligning the right side. I knew I could hit a baby draw over the corner of the water and catch the hill to really put it close to the green. It was a 430-yard hole, and my driver was the purest I had hit in a while. I hit it exactly as I planned — cutting the edge of the water and rolling out to the middle of the fairway. I had about 120 yards to the tee; the distance I wanted where I was able to drop it at eight feet and finally make my birdie putt to get some momentum in my round.

Value for the money vs. other options

The price of this driver is definitely high (base: $549.99). I have been on a journey through multiple drivers. I was hitting a Titleist D2, Sim Max, then I hit a Ping G30 with no favoritism or consistency. I decided to finally get fitted and invest in a driver that feels good. Coming across this Callaway Rogue ST Max D was the best thing to happen to my driving game. It is definitely worth the money to add to the bag as it has everything any mid handicapper wants in a driver.

Final verdict

This club unlocks true forgiveness and distance. The sound and feel at impact alone can sell this club. It makes me very confident at the tee as all my shots have a powerful feel at impact.