This is NOT an anti-slice driver: The Rogue ST Max D with New Video!

Let’s just cut right to the chase, shall we?

The Rogue ST Max D had me intrigued the first time I hit it, Watch the Video!

If you notice, I used the words “Rope Hooks” to describe what I assumed would be the ball flight. It’s what I thought this thing was going to do because that’s what any driver with a “D” has done in the past. HOOK.

A few weeks ago, I decided to test an idea I had for quite a while. Find a driver that has one shot in it. That’s it. I live and die with the driver, and at this point in my life, eliminating variables is a key to happiness. In this case, it’s eliminating every other shot beyond the one I hit the most, a draw. In the same breath, I also wanted to truly mitigate the big miss I fear, which is a high block to the right.

I don’t fear the left side of the golf course, most players that draw it don’t. It’s the block to the right that scares the “you know what” out of us.

My current gamer is a Rogue ST 💎💎💎 (9.7@8.7, 199G, Ventus Blue TR 6X, No Tipping, 45 Inches, D4, -1/D). I fit into that driver nicely because the draw’s hold spin really well, and the start line is correct, slightly right of my target line. The one issue I have with it (and every other driver) is my driver swing path is 4-5 UP and 3-4 Out consistently; that’s a great recipe if I’m controlling the face and is AWFUL if I’m not.

So I got to thinking, what if:

I built up a Rogue ST Max D with the same head weight, same shaft, same length, same loft? What would the result be?

I like an open look at address, the Max ST head has a longer face to back size, it’s more forgiving, spins more, rotates less, BUT I have 10G of extra weight in the heel to ensure the face is square no matter how far out to the right I swing. AND IT SPINS!!

The Result?

Launch Data: Rogue ST 💎💎💎 (10 Shots all with a draw intent AKA stock swings) on #10 at The Farms in Rancho Santa Fe

Ball Speed: 163.9
Launch: 12.8
Spin: 2289
Carry: 283
Dispersion: 5/10 in the fairway right center, three right (20+ feet off the fairway), 2 in left rough.

Launch Data: Rogue ST Max D (10 Shots all with a draw intent AKA stock swings) on #10 at The Farms in Rancho Santa Fe

Ball Speed: 164.7 (Faster)
Launch: 13.1
Spin: 2397
Carry: 287
Dispersion: 6/10 in the fairway right-center, two in right rough -10 feet off the fairway, two on the left-center of the fairway

So what did I discover? Gain?

Yes, I got faster, longer, etc., but that’s not what I was looking for specifically. I wanted to hit tight draws with good swings and soft ones with bad ones. Look at the data. Even the swings that should have sent the ball into the right abyss with no spin were rewarded with shots just off the fairway. You can thank the stability of the Rogue ST drivers for that (Tungsten Speed Cartridge), AND that little extra help in the heel gives me a driver that eliminates pretty much everything I don’t want and enhances the shots I do want. There is a risk of a left miss with the Max D, but I know how to fix that. What I can’t fix (on the course) is the open face block.

Will it go in the bag?

Probably.

I cannot find a reason why it wouldn’t.

The funny thing is, since getting it, I have shown it to a lot of good players, and they see it, hit it, and scratch their heads. It shouldn’t make sense, but it does.

I don’t think there has ever been a “D” driver that has been this stable which turns this “anti-slice” idea into a better player’s point and shoot draw machine.

Happy accident? Who knows. Who Cares. I’m happy its here.

Rest assured; I will attempt to get some players on our TOUR staff to try it; I can’t wait to see that go down.

Swing right. Hit Draws. All Day. Yes Please.

LFG

JDub