The Callaway Epic brand is Callaway Golf’s pinnacle product. It is the most technologically endowed iron that Callaway makes. It was like a concept car that you could actually buy. The original Epic iron was introduced to much fanfare but earned limited success, not just because of its price, but because the body of the original epic was cast, it made fitting options limited.
That shortcoming was addressed with the new Epic Forged Irons. The soft 1025 carbon steel chassis can be bent any which way to accommodate even the most difficult of fits. But the Epic Forged Iron has other tricks up its sleeve.
This time around, there isn’t a pro version. Callaway is changing how it combines various technologies to achieve what it calls ultra-premium forged distance. The original Epic iron utilized an Exo Cage construction and stiffening internal design features which approximated Jailbreak technology.
The technology story of Epic Forged irons is really about the convergence of multiple technologies coming together in a single space, and Callaway’s efforts to maximize the impact of each different material.
Built with the idea of offering speed, forgiveness and shotmaking in one package, the Epic Forged achieves all that thanks to tech that is being used for the first time in a forged iron. Foremost of which is the Suspended Tungsten Core—the densest form of this heavy element. The issue with using this almost pure form of Tungsten is that it’s extremely hard to work with when using conventional construction methods. But Callaway worked it out and is using its patented Urethane Microspheres in the Suspended Tungsten core of the Epic Forged to precisely position mass creating the ideal center of gravity. This promotes controlled launch and spin, while allowing the face to flex as needed to create maximum ball speeds.
The forged 17-4 stainless steel face features Callaway’s venerable Variable Face Thickness technology. Not new by any means, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t effective. Built into the 360 Cup Face, the newly designed VFT pattern helps players achieve even more consistent ball speed and spin rates club to club. The reason this is so important: Callaway knows even average golfers want a club they can hit controlled shots with. A 7-iron isn’t any good if you’re not confident in the hitting the shot you want to.
Since the Epic Forged irons go all the way into a sand wedge, there were some design decisions to be made to on how to make sure the scoring and recovery clubs still offer forgiveness but with even greater consistency and feel. Starting at the approach wedge and going to the sand wedge, instead of using the 17-4 stainless steel cup face, Callaway engineers used a forged faceplate. Inside of these still-hollow wedges, they are using a resistance welding technique to precisely locate a MIM (metal injection molded) Tungsten weight to achieve superior trajectory control. Every iron is precisely designed to suit its purpose.
Epic Forged will be available in both right and left hand and comes stock with Aerotech Steelfiber FC or Mitsubishi Tensei AV Silver shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grips. A full menu of no upcharge custom shafts is also available.
The Epic Forged made waves on the Internet for the crazy distances some golfers were getting. 200-yard 7-irons were the norm and others were getting near-driver distances from the 4-iron. Which brings up the question—who is the Callaway Epic Forged iron for?
It’s price automatically dictates that only a few will want a full set of these hot rods. The golfer that’s lost distance or that never had it can make most of those losses up by bagging a set of these. Similarly, a better player can put a long iron or two in the top end of his iron set to bridge the gap between the irons and woods.
The irons are very easy to use and will appeal to golfers of all ability levels. The distances these things can send the ball are addictive and the height that they flight the ball allow the ball to hold greens. Are they worth the price of entry? Only you can say for sure but if you’re looking for high performance with a bit of exclusivity attached, then Callaway’s Epic Forged Irons might be what you’re looking for.
The Epic Forged Irons are available at Transview stores in Solaire, the Podium and at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s proshop.