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

My take

With a low launch and mid spin, the Callaway Epic Max Fairway is ideal for mid to low handicappers. It has helped me get more consistent off the tee with increased ball speed. The weight of the club head can be biased for a forgiving launch or for lower launch speed.

About the club I own

• Model: 2021 Callaway Epic Max Fairway Wood
• Loft setting: 15 deg
• Shaft type: Project X HZRDUS Smoke X-stiff (6.5) 80 gram low spin
• Shaft flex: X-stiff

About me

• Average score: 82
• Handicap: 11
• Experience 10 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right handed
• Typical ball flight: Draw, mid launch
• Golf ball used: Pro V1 or Callaway Chrome Soft
• Club swing speed: Fairway Wood, 90 mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: February 2022
• Days tested: 120 days
• Where I’ve used it: I used it on a simulator when I was fitted for it, and since purchasing it, I use it for every round I play now. I am based out of Charlotte, N.C., and consistently play Verdict Ridge Golf Club.
• Weather and wind: I have used it in sunny AZ, and during the cold winter months in NC, when it was raining and 50 degrees.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I wanted a better feel from my fairway wood, as I was hitting a TaylorMade Slider for about 5 years. I loved the club, but it was very light. I was looking for a club that feels heavier and has the launch speed I was looking for. I am big on how a club sounds and feels, and Callaway’s Jailbreak technology was the best technology I have come across, since it is more forgiving across the face, but also very playable!

Why I chose this club

I tested out three different fairway woods, this was the one club that gave me 140 mph ball speed, and a consistent draw off the tee. Both the feel and launch off the clubhead sold me. I can generate so much ball speed without having to feel that I am swinging out of my shoes! This was a great choice when compared to the TaylorMade Sim 2 or Titleist D2 for me, because of the great sound at impact and the feel when launching off the clubhead.

What I love about it

• Distance: Due to its light weight and Jailbreak face technology, my ball speed has increased by 10-15 mph and increased my distance by 10 yards.
• Forgiveness: Once again, the new engineered A.I. face technology gives this clubface a new level of forgiveness. While forgiveness has increased in this model, it is still a playable club for precision, so it will not be as forgiving as the Callaway Mavrik, since the Epic Max is designed to be forgiving and more playable in precision and consistency.
• Feel: The A.I. Flash Face Technology makes this a lightweight clubhead at impact for improving ball speed, which enhances the feel of the club. A.I. is a new design in the club head of each Callaway driver that is now 2 rods at the sole of the club. Simply put, this creates a faster rebound at impact, which increases clubhead speed and ball speed. This is great for feel, as distance will increase.
• Sound: The sound the club makes when it is hit on the center of the face is a very pleasing sound. Along with a fast launch off the face, the sound really helps make a difference in consistency as you will start searching for that perfect sound for a perfect shot! The crisp sound of speed is an amazing factor into why I love this club!
• Adjustability: This club has more than enough adjustability. It is set at 15 degrees standard loft with the option of +/- 1 degree and neutral, draw, or fade bias implemented as well. No adjustable weight on this wood.
• Shaft Feel: The HZRDUS Smoke 80 gram x-stiff is a great feel for this club head. With a heavier shaft, it is easier for me to come through the ball at impact with a light clubhead and really gain increased ball speed.
• Shaft Performance: The project X hzdrous smoke shaft is a great low spin shaft that helped me gain distance. The 80 g x-stiff fit my swing better where I am able to achieve the proper ball speed I want to get the distance out of it. This is a great shaft for low spin shots off the tee to get great distance.
• Grip Feel: I have the golf pride MCC plus 4 standard grip on my club. I just love the feel in my hand with golf pride and I love the double color look to help with my alignment and it looks visually pleasing when addressing the ball.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Workability: This club has a natural draw bias, and I find that I stay pretty consistent in a draw. The drawback for me is not being able to use this wood when I need a fade shot or a more neutral path to the hole.
• Aesthetic Appeal: It is a very simple color scheme, with an all-black-colored head when addressing the ball. Nothing fancy when looking down, or any arrows for better alignment.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle is typically low-mid for me, mostly due to the project X hzdrous smoke shaft that is a low spin and low launch shaft. I want a more mid-to-high ball flight, but the feel of the club has made me want to compromise.

Best shot with this club

I play in a weekend dogfight at a local golf course here in NC, Glen Oaks. Our group was playing well this day and we needed some big holes to finish up the round and be in the money. The 17th hole is a 400-yard dogleg right that is a 90-degree turn, lined by trees on both sides of the fairway. The safe play is to hit it 200 yards down before the turn, but then you will have a 200-yard second shot on an uphill lie. The other tee-shot option is to hit a high fade or draw over the trees — which is great if you can hit it high enough! I love the high draw I hit with this 3 wood, so I went for the risky shot. I lined up my draw and hit it pure over the trees with a draw to bring it back on the fairway. I had only about 100-yards in on my second shot, and birdied that hole, which helped us secure 2nd place!

Value for the money vs. other options

This club is well worth the money, in my opinion. I expect it to last long, and remain a favorite club in my bag, due to the great feel and launch. When comparing it to the Sim 2 or D2, the price tends to be consistently lower for the Callaway across the board. The investment is worth it compared to finding an older model in any major brand due to the Jailbreak technology, which is the main reason this club has such great launch and forgiveness.

Final verdict

I believe this club is a great club for mid-to-low handicappers looking for a consistent ball flight and ball speed off the tee. The feel of this club and the high ball speed created will increase distance and forgiveness. Callaway has really improved on their Jailbreak technology on the clubface, and their A.I Technology has changed the way to create increased ball speed.