Rogue ST Max Irons- short club test

[Beakbryce]

Ok all you fun loving, 120 mph club head speed swingers, this is for you in another 35 years, and for all of you who don't swing that fast and who's swing now requires a modicum of technology.

Have you ever fallen in love with a club after only a few sessions? I do. It's not just an infatuation either, as I keep them for years and years. This was the case with my Callaway Steelheads. I bought them after they appeared on the Callaway pre-owned site based on the fact that they were an updated model of the X-12. I loved my X-12s for years. I love my Steelheads. 

Then, I got older and suffered through a few years of minor injuries that changed my swing. Irons became harder to hit. I bought hybrids. The end result was, whereas before I had great gapping, I suddenly had a gap between my 7 hybrid and my 8 iron. I needed an iron that went 140-145, another that went 130-135, and another that went 120-125 and that I could choke down on for 110. The 7 hybrid went farther than my 7 iron and the 8 iron had lost some distance and wasn't going but 135. No amount of practice could make that gap reasonable. I tried all kind of configurations, 7,8,9 and 7, 9, PW. Everywhere I turned, a big gap somewhere. What to do? I figured a 2 degree change in loft would go a long way to making things right, especially as newer generations of clubs and technology would also help.

So there I was, perusing my preferred site, Callaway pre-owned. But I felt the need to spread my wings so I also looked at Mizuno and Titleist irons because, well, they are reportedly pretty darn good clubs. I had hit both at demo days in the past and liked them. Looking for clubs that were 2 degrees stronger than my 8,9,PW. Saw a lot to choose from. A buddy had recently added a Rogue 3 wood which he loves. Slid on over to the regular Callaway site and noticed the Rogue ST Max irons were going for a bit of a song and dance. Huh, $114 an iron. Brand new. Golly gee whiz, what's their specs? 2 degrees stronger. Another $15 a club buys a graphite shaft. Surely that would help an old guy. Wait, they have a discount for military vets and I have points from previous purchases?

Out the door went the whole try, fit, then buy. They arrived in record time.

Loved the Callaway look. Little bigger than the steelhead, big top line, hidden cavity. Cool.

Range work, nay. I hate the range. Straight to the course. Where I had all kinds of trouble hitting them. What was I thinking?

Luckily, I had received a couple of Mizunos for the current Mizuno Long Game test. A driver and 3 wood that required I go to the range and get some test numbers. 

Took the irons for warm up. Changed my grip and stance a little. Hit a booming PW. Wait, what? That wasn't hard. 2 9 irons and 2 8 irons later, all good.

Of course, things aren't that simple. Took another play day to recapture those shots. They have fit right into the gapping I require, and I can step on them occasionally. Latest play day, let's just say I thought I pulled my 9 iron for an uphill 127 yard shot I figured was playing 135, flushed it, and as I was cleaning it, realized I hit the PW... 15 feet short of the pin dead on line.  Cool.

I have even had a few back up on the green. I guess new grooves really do work for you. 

Feel wise, I get the random clunk from a groove low, which doesn't matter as there is so much weight down in the bottom of the club, the ball just flies lower but just as far. I can live with that. They have a nice meaty sound.

Need to work on getting a little more height. Other than that, in the bag for many years to come.

8,9,PW with Tensei AV Blue shaft. Loft, lie, length, all standard. Get them while they are hot.

Edited July 31, 2023 by Beakbryce

[cksurfdude]

I'd demoed the OS version and yeah they're long vs other GI irons!

Glad you found a good gap filler that works well for you and good luck with them!

[zengineer]

I bought 4-AW in steel shafts after coming out of a 15 year break from golf. My old set were Callaway X-14 Steelheads, and while they didn't feel outdated I wanted a fresh start. Since the Rogue ST Max had been out a year already, I paid $800 new for the set of 8 irons.

I just plain love them.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

[Woong456645]

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