Callaway’s Rogue ST Pro hybrid is aimed at the better player, so how did we find it? Let’s take a closer look…
Callaway Rogue ST Pro hybrid review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
A great option for solid ball strikers looking to add a different option at the top end of the bag. Ball flight control is the big story here due to head design and weighting that allows greater command of trajectory and curve.
Probably not the club if you are looking specifically for long iron replacement or less slice, but a great option for the players who have historically stayed clear of hybrids due to the classic high spin, and high launch characteristics.
PROS
- Looks great behind the ball
- Neutral CG for increased workability
- Great turf interaction
- Solid in the wind with low spin design
CONS
- Not great for players who slice long irons
- Compact shaping may be intimidating for some golfers
Callaway Rogue ST Pro Hybrid review: First impressions
The Callaway Rogue ST Pro Hybrid is unlike every other market hybrid. It’s easy to see why good ball strikers are finally dropping the 2 and 3 irons and putting this in play, as with its compact head and shallow face, it looks brilliant behind the ball.
Callaway Rogue ST Pro Hybrid review: NCG verdict
This shape and sizing is noticeably different from the other hybrids in the Rogue ST lineup. It is more shallow at address and sits very compact behind the ball.
Unlike most hybrids on the market, when you stand over the ball, you feel like you will be able to flight the ball down and hit some fades.
I’ve historically tended to shy away from hybrids as most are designed to stop the ball going right, and with my bad shot going left, I don’t need more help hitting it that way. As soon as I put the club behind the ball, I knew this hybrid would perform differently.
I tested the 20-degree 3-hybrid and was very pleased with the results I got from the tee, the fairway and the semi-rough. The club’s interaction with the turf felt really nice, I never felt like I was going to dig the club into the ground like I sometimes do with hybrids. This is likely down to the new sole design featured on the Rogue ST Pro Hybrid.
In all situations, I got a very consistent flight and enjoyed the solid feel off the face. I didn’t once feel like the ball popped up on me with loads of spin, which I commonly see with regular hybrids.
This club would replace the 3-iron I normally carry and I would quite happily swap the club in and out of the bag depending on the course setup. On courses where there are a lot of elevation changes into the greens, or bunkers directly in front of the greens on long par 4s or par 5s this club would go straight in my bag.
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You can see that in 10 shots I hit one pull long and left, and one heel strike which finished short right, but the rest of the shots were very consistent. This tight front-to-back dispersion is essential for me as I wouldn’t play a club where I couldn’t reliably hit it a specific distance. For this, we can thank Callaway’s A.I. designed club faces, which are individually designed for each club to optimise launch and spin from all across the face.
As for distance I found the Rogue ST Pro hybrid was very similar in total distance to my 3 iron, although the flight characteristics are very different. As I generally hit the ball very low, my 3 iron shots spend plenty of time on the ground running at target.
The Rogue ST Pro hybrid gave me a consistent carry distance and shorter roll distance to add a new dimension to my approach play. I wouldn’t have to make any other adjustments to my bag set up if I wanted to add this into my bag for the day.
I also loved the Tensei AV White 85 HB graphite stiff shaft that comes as standard in the hybrid. The high kick point produces a low launch that I could trust to hit into the wind into a Par-5 or off the tee on a tight Par-4.
More from the Callaway Rogue ST line:
- Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons review
- Callaway Rogue ST Max fairway woods review
- Callaway Rogue ST Max driver review
Callaway Rogue ST Pro Hybrid review: The details
Available: Now
RRP: £249
Lofts: 18°, 20° & 23°
Stock shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei AV White 85 HB Graphite, Regular, Stiff, Extra stiff
More information: Callaway website
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