Callaway Rogue Irons Review: We Tried Them (Amazing)
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Jake was a competitive golfer for over a decade dating back to the days of being the Captain of his high school golf team. He has played more than 200 courses across 32 different states in the US. Now semi-retired, Jake continues to golf 3-4 days a week with a current 2 handicap, gives golf lessons to his friends and family, and provides a wealth of knowledge to Golf Circuit from his competitive playing days. Jake combines practical expertise with technical knowledge to create golfing strategies and training techniques for both beginners and scratch golfers.
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The Callaway Rogue ST Irons recently made their debut on the market for 2022. We were anxious to test this iron after the original Rogue.
If you remember correctly, the original Rogue irons were a great seller for Callaway; they had really good distance technology and a low penetrating ball flight. The problem was the feel, and the sound was lacking a bit.
However, we are a few years removed from that, and the new Callaway Rogue irons have changed things up a bit and made some big impacts on the market. Let’s take a look at what we found when we took the time to test the Callaway Rogue irons.
Callaway Rogue Irons Main Features
- Designed to be the longest iron ever from Callaway
- Impressive game improvement technology
- Tons of speed and forgiveness
- Flash Face Cup technology continues
- Higher ball speed than the previous Rogue
- Addition of the high-speed 450 Steel face
- Artificial Intelligence used to create the clubhead
- More Urethane Microspheres than previous Rogue irons
- 62g of high density tungsten!
The Callaway Rogue irons are not the same as the original Rogue irons; in fact, we found them to be a bit more of a mix of the MAVRIK (Read Our Callaway MAVRIK Review Here) and the Apex. Here are a few of the main features and technologies you can expect.
Loft Of The Callaway Rogue Irons
The Callaway Rogue Irons have pretty standard loft. Looking at the loft chart below, you can see the loft for each club in the set.
| Iron | Loft |
|---|---|
| #4 | 18.5° |
| #5 | 21.5° |
| #6 | 24.5° |
| #7 | 27.5° |
| #8 | 32° |
| #9 | 36.5° |
| PW | 41° |
| AW | 46° |
| GW | 51° |
| SW | 56° |
Callaway Rogue Irons Key Technology
When a manufacturer like Callaway releases a new set to the market, we have to ask ourselves what about it makes it different than previous versions. Is there enough here to have us make the switch?
Luckily with the Callaway Rogue irons, we saw some significant improvements, enough to make this a club that is worth hitting. Our review talks about the Callaway Rogue ST Max standard model, but there is a Rogue ST Pro and also a Rogue ST Max OS to check out as well.
AI Face Optimization
When Callaway started using Artificial Intelligence to create its golf irons, it completely revolutionized what we expect from the center of gravity. Instead of the center of gravity being the same in each of the golf irons, it moves depending on the loft of the club.
This is where the optimization comes in. You don’t have to worry quite as much about adjusting from one club to the next; Callaway has done that for you.
So if you have always wished that your 7 iron was just a little more forgiving than your 9 iron, you are in luck with the Rogue ST Max irons.
Tungsten Weighting Technology
Tungsten is a golf club buzz word in 2022. The more Tungsten you can manage to get in a club head, the more you will be able to push those clubs out the door. Golfers have learned that Tungsten means performance, both distance, and forgiveness.
However, from a technology standpoint, we have learned that Tungsten in the clubhead allows for repositioning of weight and a movement of the center of gravity to a more optimized position.
With the Rogue ST Max, you will get 62g of high density tungsten. This is 260% more Tungsten than was found in the Mavrik irons.
In fact, it’s hard to even figure out how they go this much Tungsten in a club head!
450 Steel + Flash Face Cup
The Flash Face Cup is not new technology, as it has been featured in the last few releases from Callaway. However, it is a new technology combined with the new 450 Steel high strength face.
The combination of the two technologies has led to an incredible increase in speed and forgiveness in the golf club head. If you are looking for more distance, this is the longest one in the Callaway lineup for the time being.
Urethane Microspheres
Urethane microspheres have been a good technology improvement for Callaway. These microspheres have made the overall feel of the club considerably better while allowing golfers to still get that fast speed off the face.
The hollow club head of these cavity back irons can allow for a really thin face. This thin face promotes some great distance. However, the problem becomes the way the club sounds and feels.
Without the Urethane Microspheres, the Rogue would have a rough feel. However, instead of including these microspheres just in the bottom of the club head, in the new Rogue ST max, they extend past the sixth groove.
This is a noticeable difference for those that were concerned with the feel of the original Rogue.
Options For All Players
Another essential feature of the Callaway Rogue ST irons is that there are options for all players. It really doesn’t matter if you are trying to break 100 or 80; there is a club in this Rogue ST lineup that will likely work for your needs.
Callaway Rogue ST Irons Pros/Cons
As with all new releases to the market, there are both positives and negatives to consider. The Callaway Rogue irons feature more positives than negatives, but let’s take a look at a few of the things that stood out during our test.
Pros
- Very long iron, some of the longest we have seen in 2022
- AI Optimization
- Great spin rate consistency
- High ball speeds
- Better feel than previous Rogue irons
- Optimized center of gravity and increased Tungsten
- Better sound than the original Rogue ST irons
Cons
- The Club head is a bit large; it takes some time to get used to
- Thick top-down look
- Workability in the Rogue ST Max is not great
Who Should Play Callaway Rogue ST Max?
Now that you know the specifics of the Callaway Rogue ST Max, it’s time to understand who should use these clubs.
There are a few groups of players that will benefit from the Rogue ST Max the most; these include the mid to high handicappers, players seeking more distance, and golfers that struggle with launch and consistency.
Mid To High Handicappers
The Rogue ST Max is, without a doubt, a game improvement iron. If you are a player struggling with total distance and overall control of your golf shots, the Callaway Rogue ST Max will step in and help you succeed.
In addition, high handicappers that are working on breaking 100 can benefit from the improved consistency of the Rogue ST Max.
Distance Seeking Golfers
These golf irons are long.
They have lower lofts but also have improved center of gravity, so the result is plenty of forgiveness and ball flight, even though the lofts are lower. You will be impressed with the overall results.
Golfers That Struggle With Launch
If you find yourself having difficulty getting the ball up in the air, the Rogue Pro ST makes it considerably easier to get it up in the air.
The overall launch is quite high, even though the lofts on these clubs are low.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few questions golfers are asking about the new Callaway Rogue irons. A set of irons will make up most of your golf bag, and it’s crucial to ensure you are comfortable with their technology before purchasing.
u003cstrongu003eWhy did Callaway stop making Rogue irons?u003c/strongu003e
Callaway stopped making the original Rogue because technology had improved, and it was time to move to something a bit more advanced.u003cbru003e u003cbru003eAs AI has increased overall performance for golfers, golf manufacturers will stop making outdated clubs and release the latest and greatest releases to the market. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThe new Rogue irons are even more advanced than both the original Rogue and the Mavrik.
u003cstrongu003eWhat handicap are Rogue irons for?u003c/strongu003e
The Rogue ST irons are for the mid to high-handicap golfers. The Rogue ST Pro is for the lower handicap players, and the Rogue ST Max OS is for the higher handicappers and beginners. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThe Rogue ST Max is the standard set built for the mid-handicap average golfer.
u003cstrongu003eAre Rogue ST Pro irons forgiving?u003c/strongu003e
Rogue ST Pro irons are very forgiving, and they help players to increase the overall distance that they can get on the golf course. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eWith the Rogue ST Pro irons, you will notice high ball speeds and increased ball flight. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eIf you have not updated your irons for several years, the technology in the Rogue ST Pro will stand out as being superior.
u003cstrongu003eIs the Callaway Rogue or Mavrik better?u003c/strongu003e
The Callaway Rogue ST is better than the Mavrik as it has advancements in ball speed, overall distance, and forgiveness. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eIn addition, the new Rogue ST is also better than the original Rogue series that came out several years ago. Technology has come a long way since this release.
Final Thoughts: Are The Callaway Rogue Irons Worth It?
If you are looking for a new game improvement set of golf irons in 2022, the Callaway Rogue ST must be on your list.
The original Rogue brought to the market some distance capabilities we didn’t know where possible, but the Rogue ST will tie it all together.
Expect great forgiveness, pure feel, improved sound, and some of the longest distance you have seen from a Callaway golf iron.
