Martin Hopley
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Callaway is slowly bringing all their latest driver technology for enhancing ball speed into fairways. With the Epic Flash fairway, you are getting all the same features you get in the Epic Flash driver, which has not been the case with recent launches.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

The Jailbreak bars are retained from the Rogue fairway and connect the sole to the crown to stiffen the chassis and increase ball speed.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

This sits behind the 455 Carpenter Steel Face Cup that wraps around the front of the club to improve speed on off centre hits.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

There is also a new OptiFit hosel that is now specific to the Epic Flash fairway.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

It is shorter and lighter so that it doesn't add weight and raise the CG point. It also means that you have the loft adjustability back from the original Epic fairway that you lost with Rogue.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

Having two rotating rings on the OptiFit hosel means that the shaft can be rotated and still have a Golf Pride New Decade Align Green grip in place, which has a ridge on the back for consistent hand position.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

However, the real story is the new Flash Face design on the back of the face insert. Like the driver face, it has been designed by a computer using Machine Learning.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

Callaway has invested $5m in a super computer to use Artificial Intelligence to create the variable face thickness pattern on their Flash Face inserts.

They tell the computer the parameters for legal and manufacturing limits and off it goes, going through thousands of iterations and learning from its mistakes.

The result is the design that you can see below, which is a collection of circles of various thicknesses and unique to this head.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

This is completely different from the more traditional design of a thicker section in the middle, and also the pattern on the back of the Epic Flash driver face.

The new design is like a face within a face and it is not only fast in the middle, but also faster lower down in the centre for those shots from the deck.

In testing it was delivering a higher level of ball speed, but really fairways are more about accuracy than distance. In this respect the Epic Flash fairway was very good, providing a solid sound and feel with a mid trajectory.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

I found it very easy to launch off the fairway and it felt a bit more alive than the original Epic fairway.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

The mid-sized head is a great look at address, with the new shorter hosel looking much stockier and less visually intrusive.

I am not sure about the visual of the curved line on top though as it doesn't do much for alignment. You can feel it is a little raised if you run your finger over it, so maybe this is the new Speed Step to help aerodynamics.

Callaway Epic Flash Sub-Zero Fairway Review

Like the Rogue range there is also a Sub-Zero version of the Epic Flash fairway for those who need to drop spin.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

There is a second weight in the sole closer to the face and a slightly more compact profile.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

The exterior of the face is also different, with groove lines going right across the full width.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

The Sub Zero is a bit harder to get going unless you have the club head speed. Therefore, I would think that most single figure players, who might have been tempted by the Sub Zero option in the past, will be fine with the standard Epic Flash fairway as its spin profile is very good.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway Verdict

As these things go, the Callaway Epic Flash Fairway is good value for money given what you are getting. It looks and sounds good and with a wide range of lofts up to 25°, you are sure to find the right one to suit your game.

There are other fairways around that don't offer as much, because with the Epic Flash you are getting adjustability, Jailbreak and of course the latest in face design technology.

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway

The combination of all the different technologies comes together well in a great looking head, which is a feat in itself. Unless you have an aversion to green, there is very little to dislike about the Epic Flash fairway, so add it to your test list.

Golfalot Rating: 5 stars
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Callaway Epic Flash Fairway Wood

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway Wood - Product Details

UK Launch01 February 2019
UK Launch RRP£269
USA Launch01 February 2019
USA Launch RRP$299
European Launch01 February 2019
European Launch RRP€329
Handicap Range
Low
High
GolferMens
Hand AvailabilityLeft, Right
Left Handed Lofts15°, 18°, 20°, 21°
Right Handed Lofts13.5°, 15°, 18°, 20°, 21°, 23°, 25°
MaterialSteel
Lie56°
Club Length43 inches
Swing WeightD2
AdjustabilityLoft, Face Angle
Shaft NameProject X Even Flow Green, Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue, Project X HZRDUS Smoke
Shaft TypesGraphite
Shaft FlexRegular, Stiff
Shaft Weight40g to 80g
GripGolf Pride New Decade Align Green
Number/Loft3+/13.5°, 3/15°, 5/18°, Heaven/20°, 7/21°, 9/23°, 11/25°
Manufacturer's WebsiteCallaway Website

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