When it comes to gear, 2019 is turning out to be the year of the clubface—and Callaway’s latest follows suit.
“Flash Face,” is the key ingredient in Epic Flash, which was developed with the help of a super computer and artificial intelligence. And, as you’ve likely guessed, the focus is on making a clubface that generates ball speed gains.
“It is about maximizing ball speed and making your best shots better,” says Evan Gibbs, Callaway’s director of metal woods. “This is a breakthrough just like our Jailbreak technology was a breakthrough.”
The driver is already capturing some attention among tour pros, with Kevin Na, Maverick McNealy, and John Daly all using it at the end of the 2018. And you can expect to see it in Canadian Adam Hadwin’s bag this year.
“They are picking up significant ball speeds,” Gibbs says.
Faster Than Humanly Possible
It sounds like a sci-fi movie—company buys a supercomputer to create a great new product using machine learning. The supercomputer goes through thousands of iterations of the new product before it finds a breakthrough. But this isn’t science fiction—this is exactly what Callaway did in creating Epic Flash.
“The question was whether we could design a face that would have a similar effect on ball speed that Jailbreak had,” says Gibbs.
Jailbreak was Callaway’s technology that showed up in the initial incarnation of its Epic driver and connected the crown to the base, resulting in more energy being transferred to the ball.
In the instance of Flash Face, Callaway’s supercomputer went through 15,000 versions before landing on one that decoupled COR and CT. Coefficient of restitution (COR) is essentially a measurement of how hot the clubface is, while CT (characteristic time) was introduced by the USGA in order to measure the elasticity of the clubface. Callaway says Flash Face allows it to increase COR without impacting CT, which results in ball speed gains of 1 to 2 miles per hour faster than Rogue, the company’s most recent driver.
Key technologies
Flash Face
Callaway says Flash Face is essentially an elaborately-mapped face with dozens of ripples running from the heel to the toe that work together to elevate the COR and increase ball speed. Callaway used artificial intelligence, which it says is a first in the industry, to create the unique forged “Flash Face.” The supercomputer took four weeks to come up with the appropriate configuration. “It would take 35 years for your desktop computer to come up with the same result,” Gibbs says of the machine learning that went into crafting the clubface. He adds that coming up with a breakthrough on the clubface was just the start—determining how to mass manufacture it was also a challenge to overcome. “How do you model it and how to you make it? Those were questions we needed to answer,” Gibbs says.
Jailbreak
The key technology in Callaway’s original Epic driver continues to be a significant factor in Epic Flash. Jailbreak’s bars stiffen the crown and the sole, making the face return more energy through the driver.
Adjustability
Armed with a 12-gram sliding weight (and offered in the low-spin Sub-Zero model for the first time), the driver can readily be configured for draws and fades.
Forgiveness
Following on the improvements made in Rogue, Callaway is offering a low-spin driver that still provides a high moment of inertia for more forgiveness.
Epic Flash Fairway
Featuring the new Flash Face technology, the fairway woods use Carpenter 455 steel that incorporates Face Cup, a standby in Callaway fairways. The result is high COR across the face—so even if you don’t get it square, you’ll get lots of distance. Jailbreak is part of the story here (following on its introduction into Rogue fairways), and there’s a new lighter OptiFit hosel, making the drivers easily customizable. “You’re seeing a lot of the same technology we had in the driver,” Gibbs says of Callaway’s latest fairways.
Who’s it for?
Anyone who wants longer and straighter—that’s the story behind Epic Flash. Callaway is on a roll, becoming one of the industry’s leaders, and its research and development team are showing how the company keeps reinvesting in its technology. Callaway’s claim of 2 miles per hour of ball speed (and in some instances more) means at least four more yards on the average drive.
Trade-In Bonus
Trade-In and Trade Up! Between January 11-March 3, when you trade-in your existing eligible Callaway products (last generation Epic, Rogue, 2016 Big Bertha OS Irons, 2016 APEX products), you’ll receive an extra 50% trade-in value towards new Epic Flash products. See in-store for details.
Callaway Fitting Days
A Callaway Fitting Expert will be visiting Golf Towns across Canada to fit you in the latest Callaway products. Find an event near you.