EQUIPMENT: Callaway, TaylorMade Debut 2021 Releases At Sentry TOC

It’s officially 2021 and, with the start of the Hawaii swing kicking off at Kapalua’s Plantation Course, it also means the unofficial debut of the 2021 production releases from Callaway and TaylorMade.

Indeed, new Callaway staffer Jon Rahm is wasting no time and is putting a prototype variant of Callaway’s soon-to-be-released Epic driver lineup, which has had images of the six different models—Epic Speed (in 2 different variations), Epic Speed DS, Epic Speed LS, Epic MAX and Epic MAX LS (low spin)—floating around on the internet recently:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Gappy Hilmore (@allgolfequipment)

Now while Callaway hasn’t officially released the details of what changes have been integrated into the new Epic Speed/Epic MAX models, but images of each variant has appeared on the USGA Conforming List and Callaway has released some trailers and, well, that’s where things get a tad confusing…

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Callaway Golf (@callawaygolf)

You see, the Jailbreak Technology (first introduced in the original GBB Epic back in 2017), has largely remained the same over the past four years: two bars positioned just behind the face that connect the sole and crown to help reduce distortion and energy loss at impact to, ultimately, increase ball speeds.

Well, as the images have alluded to, Callaway appears to making some drastic changes to Jailbreak, which has now evolved into the AI (Artificial Intelligence) Speed Frame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Callaway Golf (@callawaygolf)

Whereas Jailbreak was essentially two rods, the new Speed Frame technology appears to be a titanium “bridge” that looks to provide even more structural rigidity. And to help fortify and stabilize the entire head, it appears that in certain, select models, including both Epic Speeds and the Epic MAX LS , Speed Frame will have four instead of two mounting points.

Further noteworthy is that while Callaway in the past has alternated between adjustable weight tracks (GBB Epic, Epic Flash) and non-adjustable (Rogue, Maverick) driver design philosophies, the Epic Speed/Epic MAX lineup appears to throw that out the window and offer a combination of adjustable (Epic MAX) and non-adjustable (Epic Speed) drivers.

It appears then that Callaway is, arguably, taking a page out of TaylorMade’s book and offering the two different options so golfers can prioritize adjustability and forgiveness and high MOI, as has been the case with the M1 v. M2, M3 v. M4, M5 v. M6 and SIM v. SIM Max.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Gappy Hilmore (@allgolfequipment)

That said, the variability permeates into Callaway’s 2021 fairway wood lineup, which incorporate a Jailbreak AI (Artificial Intelligence) Velocity Blades, which look like more squared off pillars as opposed to the rounded Jailbreak bars that we’ve become accustomed to. Perhaps this is a forced design change due to the limited space in a fairway wood head, which Callaway explained is why the Jailbreak Technology didn’t appear in the fairway woods until the second-gen, Rogue models.

With the strict limit on how hot driver faces can be, Jailbreak Technology was one of the biggest developments in modern driver technology. That said, Callaway appears to have fully embraced the artificial design-led design with its metal woods going forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Gappy Hilmore (@allgolfequipment)

On the other side of the ring is TaylorMade with the SIM2. As the name implies, the new TaylorMade doesn’t appear to bring a revolutionary upgrade, as initial glances would lead you to believe that TaylorMade added some extra carbon to the sole and new paint and called it a “new” driver.

However, closer inspection reveals that TaylorMade might have made several little changes that come together and have a meaningful impact (and improvement) on performance. Very PING of TaylorMade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Weston Maughan Golf (@westonmaughangolf)

As the picture points out, the SIM2 will once again come in standard and MAX variants, but the interesting development is that it appears neither TaylorMade driver will feature an adjustable weight track for the first time since the AeroBurner back in 2015—that’s 6 years, or 9 TaylorMade models (depending on how you prefer to count).

Instead, it appears that both SIM2 models will feature front and rear weight adjustability which, as a result, may provide greater MOI at the expense of ball-flight (draw vs. fade, and high vs. low launch) adjustability. Additionally, the SIM will now feature a forged aluminum “cage” that, presumably, further builds on the Inertia Generator technology that was first introduced in the SIM to help provide more swing speed with increased MOI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Golf Monthly (@golfmonthly)

But perhaps most interesting in the above photo is the relocation of the injection port for TaylorMade’s Speed Injected Twist Face. To explain, TaylorMade previously positioned two ports just outside the center of the face where the injection was made. However, a closer review of Dustin Johnson’s bag from yesterday appears to indicate TaylorMade has removed the ports from the face and relocated the injection site to the toe-side of the club.

There are probably many reasons why, including that a face without two holes drilled into is probably less structurally sound than one without any holes, but perhaps it’s because TaylorMade can be more precise with the relocated injection site. Indeed, a few images floated around last year showing dissected SIMs that, well, didn’t exactly scream “manufacturing tolerances” with respect to the precision of the resin injection.

Regardless, the Callaway and TaylorMade have consistently found themselves among the top performers in the metal wood category despite having an annual product turnover. Thus, it logically follows that the 2021 models will continue to follow this trend. However, the question remains whether one will provide something that really separates itself from not only the prior model, but also the competition.

Cover Image via Instagram