50 Words or Less
The Callaway Epic Speed fairway wood has a great shape and loads of distance. Very good forgiveness. Strong off the tee and turf.
Introduction
2021 has shown itself to be a banner year for fairway woods. From the big names to the up-and-comers, OEMs are releasing some of their best long game tools in years. I tested the new Epic Speed fairway wood to see if Callaway could retain its spot as an elite FW maker or if it’s getting passed by.
Looks
The Callaway Epic Speed fairway wood looks great at address. Its size is average, maybe a touch above, but it has a very slight pear shape that gives it more visual appeal. The face is taller than Epic Max fairway wood [review HERE], just a hint above average overall, but it’s not so tall that players will worry about hitting it off the turf.
In the bag, the Epic Speed is a mini version of the Epic Speed driver [review HERE]. A slash of silver with the “Speed” moniker bisects the sole. One difference that sharp viewers will pick up is that the driver has dots on the sole denoting the location of the Jailbreak Speed Frame. The fairway wood has two small ovals because it uses Jailbreak Velocity Blades instead.
Sound & Feel
As the players fairway wood in the 2021 Callaway line up, the Epic Speed has a predictably quieter impact sound than the Epic Max. The tone is slightly above average in pitch, and it has the metallic character that most expect from a fairway wood.
Feedback through the hands is excellent with the Epic Speed FW. I was never in doubt about where the ball met the face. The quieter impact sound dampens the audio feedback slightly, but you will hear a clear difference between a flushed shot and a poor strike.
Performance
It didn’t take many swings for the Callaway Epic Speed fairway wood to reveal itself as an absolute rocket launcher. From the outset, the ball speed was excellent, and the launch and spin were low, producing penetrating ball flights. As always, it’s important to note that I’m a low launch, low spin player, especially with fairway woods, so most players will not hit the Epic Speed quite as low as I do (which is a good thing).
As the fairway wood for the stronger player, the Epic Speed is being offered in more conventional lofts than the Epic Max. In addition to the 3, 5, and 7 woods, Callaway has a 3+ at 13.5 degrees and a 4 wood at 16.5. In looking at my numbers, I think I would likely see my best carry distances from the 4 or 5 wood Epic Speed.
Callaway states that the Epic Speed fairway wood has a “Slight Draw” bias (the Epic Max has a definitive “Draw” bias), but I found it to be fairly neutral in my testing. Good swings produced shots without much curve, and I was able to bend shots to the right without exaggerated effort.
Finally, the aforementioned Velocity Blades do a good job of keeping the Epic Speed from being a “players only” offering. While the forgiveness is not as high as the Epic Max, the Epic Speed does a good job of retaining ball speed on mishits. There’s a clear gradation as you move toward the edges of the face – small misses go almost as far as pure strikes, and truly ugly contacts still go farther than they deserve to.
Conclusion
If you need your fairway wood to go a long way, check out the appropriately named Callaway Epic Speed. This is a distance monster with a great look and surprisingly high forgiveness.
Visit Callaway Golf HERE
Callaway Epic Speed Fairway Wood Price & Specs
Matt Saternus
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Holy bejesus. 264 fairway Wood. No driver needed lol
Love Callaway product they’ve looked after me in a couple issues over the years above and beyond. Good review.
The Epic Speeds are a favorite – My 3 and 5 are Mizuno ST-Z, which I enjoy, but I wanted a 7 wood to bag at times, and gosh, Callaway has the ticket – 7 wd in Riptide 70 at -.5 inch stock length. Straight, slight draw at times and high … and long. Sweet sound and forgiving. Not too large. What’s not to like? Nothing. Put it on your demo list.
Jerry we’ve got the same clubs and couldn’t agree with you more! The 7 wood hits absolute monster bombs. I love the trajectory. I wasn’t confident hitting my hybrid so I had seen an article regarding 7 wood and I went and tried it out and now I’m bagging it.
Matt-
Thanks for the review.
I’m trying to decide between the Speed 4 wood and the Max 3 wood. I’m curious about your definition of “stronger player”. My driver swing speed is between 95-108, I play to about 11.5 and I’m a decent to above average ball striker.
I like a little loft (mid-ish) and am curious if you’d lean toward the Speed 4 wood over the Max 3 wood.
I appreciate your input and thanks again for the great review.
Merlin,
My best advice would be to get a fitting and compare the results of both. Between those two clubs, you’re not only varying the loft but also the model (launch/spin characteristics) and forgiveness, plus the look is substantially different.
Best,
Matt
Got it thanks Matt
What do you think had more forgiveness this or the TSi3
Michael,
I think the Epic Speed is more forgiving.
-Matt
Is there a notable difference in forgiveness between this model and the max?
Scott,
There’s a difference, but how much that difference matters is trumped, in my opinion, by the size and shape difference.
Best,
Matt
I’m a big fan of Callaway golf clubs. I own a few of their clubs and have never been disappointed. The Epic Speed Fairway Wood is no exception. It’s a great club for those who want a little more power
I’m having some issues getting my epic speed 3w to get decent height. It has a 7g weight in the head. Do you think going with a lighter weight would help? My older 3w is razr fit extreme and I have no problem with carrying 230 – 240 yds. Thank you for your time.
R.X.,
It could go either way. On a robot, a heavier back weight would promote higher launch, but you’re not a robot. You might find the lighter weight easier to swing or helpful in making better contact.
Best,
Matt