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

My take

The Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway is an ultra forgiving and long fairway wood. I’ve gamed a few different fairway woods and finally landed on one that will stay in my bag. I am really impressed. I would recommend this wood to any mid to high-handicap player looking to maximize forgiveness. Low handicap players may want to look at the LS (Low Spin) version of the Rogue ST.

About the club I own

• Model: 2022 Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway Wood
• Loft setting: 15° 3 Wood
• Shaft type: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6.5
• Shaft flex: Stiff

About me

• Average score: 86
• Handicap: 15
• Experience: 5 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Typical ball flight: Slight Fade
• Golf ball used: Srixon Soft Feel
• Club swing speed: 95

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: June 2022
• Days tested: 20
• Where I’ve used it: Multiple courses and driving ranges. Also tested in simulator bays.
• Weather and wind conditions: All types of Georgia summer weather. Sunny and 95 to rainy and 75.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I have been looking for a new 3 wood for a few months now. I used to carry a 5 wood and just needed some more distance and a club that I could hit off the tee when my driver and I were not getting along. I was mainly focused on something that would be very forgiving on a missed strike.

Why I chose this club

I spent two hours in a bay hitting the Rouge ST, and I actually made up my mind in the first 10 minutes. It was very forgiving and felt so good off the face. I also picked up 20 yards over my 5 wood. I tested the TaylorMade Stealth, Srixon ZX, and the Callaway on the same day. The Callaway came out at the top in every category. An added bonus was that it looked so good down at the ball. That matte black finish is a thing of beauty.

What I love about it

• Distance: I am very pleased with the distance I get with my 3 wood. It fills the gap between my driver and hybrid very well.
• Forgiveness: Forgiveness is the #1 attribute of this fairway wood. I have hit it thin, fat, on the toe, and it still seems to fly the ball straight down the fairway. It takes a bad shot not to get a great performance out of this club.
• Feel: The feel is very nice at contact.
• Sound: This wood provides a very crisp sound at contact, just what one would want from their fairway wood.
• Shaft Feel: The shaft was fitted specifically for me and feels great.
• Shaft Performance: This is a very consistent shaft with my swing. It is designed for a nice consistent tempo.
• Aesthetic Appeal: I love the look of the matte black finish on top of the crown.
• Grip Feel: The grip is the GP MCC Midsize which I have on all of my clubs. I really enjoy the feel and the amount of grip I get in dry or wet conditions.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle has a very penetrating mid-high flight that I was looking for.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Workability: I can control ball flight just a bit but struggle to really shape shots with this wood. For those looking to shape the ball, I would look at the LS version or the Callaway Apex Utility Wood.
• Adjustability: No adjustments can be made on this wood, which is not a problem for me, but may be a deal breaker for some.
• Spin: On a good strike, the spin is perfect, but on a toe strike, one will see an increase in spin.

Best shot with this club

I have a par 5, the 1st hole at my home course, that I always struggle to hit the green on. However, I hit the best approach shot from a bad lie in the rough a few weeks ago that landed me on the green, 15 feet from the pin in two shots, leaving me with a 15-foot putt for eagle. So that was a great day!

Value for the money vs. other options

At $350, it is certainly a lot of money for a fairway wood, but I would say the value is certainly there for this club. If one wants a very similar, forgiving fairway wood, I would look at the Callaway Big Bertha.

Final verdict

Overall, this club is a winner that will stay in my bag for a long time. It offers everything I could want in a wood and has helped me drop strokes off my game. I really had to spend some time thinking of any negatives, which was hard to do. Anyone looking for a new fairway wood seriously needs to consider the Rogue ST Max in their search.