Callaway Epic Hybrid Review (2023 Updated Guide)

 

Callaway Epic Hybrid Review

The Callaway Epic Flash Hybrid was one of the longest and highest performing golf clubs Callaway had ever released.

The Epic Flash hybrid has lots of adjustability, plenty of workability, and potentially most importantly, a ton of distance.

Callaway used the best of their technology in this hybrid club.

The only question now is if this is the right golf club for your game.

In our Callaway Epic hybrid review, we will give you everything you need to know about the Epic Flash hybrid and whether or not it is for you.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

Loft: 18, 21, 24, 27 (3, 4, 5, & 6 hybrid)

Lie Angle: 57 to 58 degrees depending on the loft

Length: 39 inches to 40.5 inches depending on the loft

Swingweight: D2

Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Silver

Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Manufacturer: Callaway

Hand: Available in Left and Right Hand

 

1. Technology

At the time the Epic Flash hybrid was released, it was the most technologically advanced hybrid Callaway had ever put out.

The two main technological advancements featured in the Callaway Epic hybrid is the Jailbreak and the FaceCup.

The Jailbreak bars are two internal bars installed on the back end of the clubface.

The bars will work as a trampoline when the ball is hit.

The clubface will compress slightly, and the jailbreak bars will necessarily push the ball further down the fairway.

The Jailbreak technology has been a significant breakthrough for Callaway, and they have seen quite a bit of success with this.

The 360 Face Cup has been around for several years now.

The Face Cup is a specific shaping and design to the clubhead which helps players get much faster ball speed.

Ball speed will relate to more distance as well.

Overall, the Epic Flash hybrids are technologically advanced, and most of that technology is used to get players the distance they need.

 

2. Forgiveness

The Callaway Epic Flash is considered to be a forgiving golf club.

The hybrid will appeal to an extensive range of players because of its great playing benefits but the ability to feel and control the ball as well.

Part of the reason golfers feel they have improved feel and control with the Epic Flash hybrid is the MIMed Tungsten Weighting.

This weighting system on the Epic Flash features a MIMed tungsten weight which is perfectly placed in each of the hybrids.

The tungsten weight can optimize the center of gravity so that there is not just a high launch but control over the launch as well.

 

3. Shaft

The Epic Flash hybrid comes stock with the Mitsubishi Tensei AV Shaft.

This shaft is designed to help golfers who want a mid-launch and a mid-spin.

It’s essential to have a decent amount of spin on a hybrid shaft as most of the shots you hit with your hybrid will need to land on the green.

Certainly, the three hybrids may be used as a lay-up club for a long par five, but the six and five hybrids may be the club you are using to approach greens.

If you get a very low spin and low launch on these clubs, it will be impossible to stop them on the green.

Although it is nice to be near the green, it is not nearly the same as being able to stop your shot just a few feet from the green.

Callaway offers a lot of custom fitting options.

If you don’t like the Mitsubishi Tensei shaft; you can always look for a custom shaft option.

If you are worried about the quality of this golf shaft, don’t be.

The weighting, the feel, and the technology are all top of the line.

 

4. Distance

It seems like most of the technology in golf is just a race from one company to another to give players more distance.

Golfers crave distance and lots of it.

Certainly, the game is much easier when you can hit the ball a long way.

It’s even better when you also hit it straight.

With the Epic Flash hybrid, you can hit it both straight and long.

When it comes to the distance technology in the Epic Flash, the jailbreak bars are really what will help it be one of the longer golf hybrids on the market.

Another thing that works with the jailbreak bars is the ultra-thin clubface.

Clubfaces on golf clubs continue to get thinner because it has proven to be a great way to increase the distance a player can hit the ball.

Another thing that helps with the distance on these hybrids is the improved launch and ball flight.

Since you can use the adjustability on the club to fine-tune your launch and ball flight, you can get quite a bit of extra distance.

Remember that the longer the ball stays up in the air, the longer your total distance is going to be.

Another critical thing to remember is that hybrids are also designed to help golfers get distance out of a bad lie.

The Epic Flash hybrids are designed to help players get extra distance out of a bad spot on the golf course.

There is no question that you will hit the three hybrids further than you would hit a three-iron out of the rough.

 

5. Adjustability

All of our favorite hybrids are adjustable.

Purchasing an adjustable golf club is like getting more than one club for the price of one.

The only downside to a golf club with adjustability is that an adjustable hosel is heavier than a non-adjustable.

You will notice many golf clubs designed for slower swinging players are not adjustable.

The few grams they save by getting rid of the adjustable hosel will help lower the center of gravity and lighten the overall weight of the club.

The Epic Flash is not explicitly designed for the slower swinging player.

This hybrid has what Callaway calls the OptiFit 3 Hosel.

The adjustability is very easy to use, and it allows you to dial in your launch and your ball flight as well.

If you are a golfer who typically hits the ball too high, you can set the Epic Flash to work better for you.

When you first get your Callaway Epic Flash Hybrid, it makes sense to play with it for a few rounds without adjusting it.

When you see what your performance is like, you can make some subtle changes and see if it fits you better.

As great as adjustability is, it is not a miracle worker.

If you have a large slice with your longer hybrids, you will need to learn to sort that out before you can see if the adjustments on the hybrid will help.

 

Callaway Epic Hybrid Video Review

 

Who Is the Epic Hybrid For?

 

Now that you have a better understanding of what the Callaway Epic Flash hybrid is, it’s time to determine if it is the right club for you.

As great as the technology on a particular club can be, sometimes it’s not everything you need in your game.

Here are a few situations where the Epic Flash could be the right choice for a replacement for you.

 

1. Long Iron Replacement

If you are still carrying around a three- and a four-iron, it is time to let go.

These clubs are not performing to the potential you think they are.

So many amateur golfers refuse to get rid of their three and four iron because they say they hit them so far.

This is probably true, the three- and four-iron are capable of going a long way, but can they be trusted and relied on?

When you hit your three-iron well, can you do it consistently, nine out of ten times?

Can you hit it well out of the rough?

Usually, this is where players learn the three-iron in their bag has its limitations.

Luckily, the hybrids offer the perfect solution.

Hybrids can still give you that same distance (if not more), they can spin and land on a green, but they are much more forgiving.

Perhaps the most critical part of the hybrid is the ability to hit it out of an awkward lie.

Not all of your drives are going to end up in the fairway.

If you can take a shot with your Epic Flash and put yourself right back into play, that drive will likely not end up costing you a bogey.

 

2. Lack of Performance in Current Hybrid

If your current hybrid is not performing well, it may be time to upgrade to some newer technology like the Epic Flash.

If you are a mid handicapper, this golf club is truly made for you.

Higher handicappers with medium to fast swing speed will also enjoy the benefits of the Epic Flash hybrid.

Another group of players who have done well with the Epic Flash is the lower handicappers who want that longer distance on the hybrids.

Sometimes low handicap players want precision=type blades in the short irons, but when it comes to the longer clubs, they look for that extra distance and forgiveness.

The three and four hybrids in the Epic Flash line are a great choice even for the lower handicap player.

 

3. Better Set Makeup

Sometimes it may make sense to put the Epic Flash hybrid in your golf bag if you don’t currently have the best set makeup.

Sometimes golfers will end up having a large gap between their seven-iron distance and their long game clubs.

The five and six Callaway Epic Flash hybrids make great fill-ins for this portion of your bag.

You should be looking at the lofts you carry and the distances you hit and trying to make sure you don’t have larger than a ten-yard gap between clubs.

 

4. More Distance

There is no question the Epic Flash hybrids are long.

If your current technology is more than five years old, the Epic Flash hybrids will travel quite a bit further.

This should apply regardless of what your handicap is.

Most golfers are more than happy with any extra distance a golf club can give them.

 

What Is the Difference Between Epic Flash and Epic Flash Star?

 

The Epic Flash Star was released after the Epic Flash.

The Epic Flash Star hybrids are very lightweight.

This is one of the most lightweight golf clubs on the market.

They come with a lighter clubhead, a premium golf shaft which is only forty grams, and a lighter grip as well.

You may remember us saying the Epic Flash is excellent for the medium to fast swinging player.

It is not the best club for the slower swinging golfer.

The Epic Flash Star fills the need for the slower swinging player; the only problem is that it is costly.

The Epic Flash Star, when it was released, was several hundred dollars more than the Epic Flash.

Certainly, if you are a player who has started to lose distance because of age or health, this price difference may be worth it for you.

The club head of the Epic Flash Star has some additional features the Epic Flash does not have.

It has a Forged 455 Carpenter Steel construction which gives it some very high ball speeds and MOI.

The Epic Flash and the Epic Flash Star appeal to two different groups of golfers.

 

Is the Callaway Epic Hybrid Worth It?

The decision to put an Epic Flash hybrid in your bag has become easier in the last year or so.

These hybrids initially were released at a very high price, but this has started to drop.

Now that the pricing has come down, the Epic Flash hybrid is a genuinely great addition to your golf bag.

We have seen more and more people pulling their six iron out of their bag and putting in an Epic Flash hybrid.

With the increased ability to control launch and trajectory with this club, it’s worth going with something this reliable and high performing.