Drivers aren’t the only club that got the Epic makeover, Callaway’s new fairway woods, Epic Speed and Epic Max, are also significant improvements on previous models. Similar to the drivers, the fairway woods got a revamped Jailbreak system, but with their own unique design. Instead of a Speed Frame, Epic fairway woods utilize what Callaway calls “A.I. Velocity Blades,” which is quite possibly the coolest name of any golf club tech feature. The new fairway woods will be available for pre-order on January 26, with a retail date of February 18.

But still, why not just use the same system for both? Well, it’s not that simple as Hocknell explains. “We have a very different design problem than we do with the drivers, the materials are different, the face is a lot shallower than in the driver… and we also have variations in impact locations.”

As the good doctor notes, Callaway has once again implemented Face Cup technology into the woods, which promotes needed flex. So, how do you horizontally stiffen the face at impact while also incorporating technology that delivers advantageous flex for faster ball speeds? It’s not an easy task, and that’s perhaps why Callaway used Artificial Intelligence to help resolve the conundrum.

“The blades are wider apart than in the driver, or in previous versions of Jailbreak in a fairway wood, and that allows us to still have that vertical stiffening effect but allow the face cup to flex in the hinge areas at the face to crown… we wanted to make sure that effect is still prominent,” says Hocknell.

In addition to Jailbreak, the Epic woods lineup uses Flash Face SS21 made from forged C300 maraging steel. Like the driver models, each face in the fairway woods is uniquely engineered to correspond with loft and clubhead shape for greater performance optimization.

Epic Speed

 Designed with the better player in mind, Epic Speed woods deliver less spin than Mavrik, while the more forward CG offers faster ball speed. If you’re a solid player who wants to work the ball both directions, this model should be in your bag. But regardless of how good you are, you’re not immune from the odd miss-hit, which is why Epic Speed’s sweet spot is an astonishingly 36% larger than the Mavrik.

Is it for me?

This is the club for lower-handicap golfers looking to move the ball, and will benefit from having less spin.

Epic Max

 Coming in an oversized head, the Max model helps the player who struggles to get the ball airborne with their fairway woods, while also promoting a draw bias to straighten out the slice miss.

Is it for me?

Bigger clubheads yield more confidence. Mid to high handicap players who need a go-to fairway finder or something they can advance the ball with from a variety of lies will most benefit from this model.

Epic Speed is available in 3+ (RH), 3 (RH/LH), 4 (RH), 5 (RH/LH) and 7 (RH/LH) wood models.

The Epic Max is available in 3+ (RH), 3 (RH/LH), 5 (RH/LH), HW (RH), 7(RH/LH), 9 (RH) and 11 (RH) wood models.