When Callaway launched the Epic range there was no hybrid then, but one followed six months later and the Epic hybrid was worth the wait.
However with the Rogue range we don't have to wait as long, plus there are standard, X and a lighter W model to choose from too. All are based on the same principles and include the Jailbreak bars in the head for the first time in a hybrid.
This is made possible by the taller head of the Rogue hybrid than previous versions and the two bars join the crown to the sole just behind the face to make the steel structure more rigid and return more energy to the ball.
Sitting in front of the Jailbreak is a new Forged Face Cup that is 12% lighter and 7% thinner than their previous best to flex a little more and get the ball speed up.
The centre of gravity is kept lower by an Internal Standing Wave or 'weight pad in the bottom of the sole' to you and me to get the launch conditions right.
On the crown the modified Speed Step of the other Rogue woods is here again, but in this size of head will have a minimal effect on aerodynamic speed so it is more of a visual aid if you need one.
Compared to the Epic, there is no adjustable hosel on the Rogue hybrid and that also helps keep the CG and the price a bit lower too.
All models come with an Aldila Synergy shaft that comes in a few weights and it light and stable and suits the club well.
The standard Rogue hybrid is a mid-sized head that is a little longer and deeper than the Epic hybrid and similar in size to the Steelhead XR.
It has the forgiveness benefits of the larger XR OS hybrid but in a smaller package and the fixed hosel really suits it well.
Compare to the Epic on GC2 the larger head and faster face was generating more ball speed and despite the extra spin was going an extra 6 yards on average
It was also more accurate which you would expect from a larger head, so it just depends whether you are wanting a hybrid that is forgiving or one like the Epic that you can use to shape the ball a bit more.
Callaway's hybrid have really come on since the arrival of CEO Chip Brewer from Adams golf.
The high square toe that Adams pioneered is here and on many others in the market, but combined with the Jailbreak and the thinner Face Cup it really comes into its own here.
The Rogue hybrid was very easy to hit with a lovely sound and feel and will suit better players just as well as mid-handicappers as it is forgiving and stays just on the right side of turning into a fairway.
That versatility is reflected in the face that there is no pro version of the Rogue hybrid, but Callaway has created a 17° 2H head to cover this and go with the four other lofts that go up to 27° 6H.
I was pleasantly surprised by it and this hybrid was probably my pick of all the clubs from the Rogue range.
Callaway Rogue X Hybrid Review
Like the Rogue irons, the X version of the Rogue Hybrid is their bomber version.
The head is larger and deeper than the standard Rogue and combined with all the other tech means that it launches higher and faster for more forgiveness.
It's not a look I am a fan of as a lower handicapper as it looks more like a fairway than a hybrid, but it's not really for better players anyway.
The wider sole combines with the larger chrome bars that operate almost as rails to keep the head moving through long grass or soft turf.
The larger head changes the sound of the Rogue X a little so it is still pretty good, but maybe not as sharp as the smaller headed Rogue.
As you can see from GC2 the X version does give you that little extra distance, primarily from a lower level of spin at the same launch, although you would need to factor in the 1° stronger loft and a different shaft.
It comes in a very wide range of lofts from a 3H at 18° up to an 7H at 29°, which is the first time I think Callaway has gone this high in hybrids and ideal for those with an aversion to mid-irons.
Summary
Both the Rogue hybrid models bring Jailbreak into these smaller heads and whether it is has as much of an effect as in the driver is unlikely. However like the Speed Step on the crown, it's not going to hurt and it keeps the family set up.
The Rogue is a better looking, more mid-sized version of the other hybrids that Callaway does and with a reasonable price should be the pick of their range for those who want something cheaper and more forgiving than the Epic, but with a better sound, look and feel than the Steelhead XR.