As always, this Callaway driver is packed with fun features and technology that will get the golf equipment junkies like me salivating. All across Callaway’s website, there is talk of the ‘EXTRAORDINARY SPEEDS’ that this new driver will bring.

Speed is obviously the big buzzword in golf right now because speed equals distance, and all of the statistics point to hitting the ball long being a key feature in scoring low. Callaway has attempted to jump on that bandwagon with the Epic series, including the Max LS - but how has it done so?

Callaway aficionados will recognize a lot of the stuff going on in this club. First up is the continuation of Callaway’s ‘Jailbreak’ technology, an internal structure within the golf club that stiffens the club and makes it more stable through impact, allowing better transfer of clubhead speed to ball speed.

Jailbreak has been used before, but now it’s designed by artificial intelligence to get the best possible results. This, according to Callaway… well, I’ll take the words right out of the horse’s mouth (golf jargon incoming…), shall I?

Callaway claims that: “previous Jailbreak architectures stiffened the body in the vertical direction. This structure improves stability in horizontal and torsional direction for increased ball speeds across the face”. Essentially, this new, robot-powered version of jailbreak is better and more stable, producing higher ball speeds and greater distance.

The AI has also been utilized to design the ‘Flash Face,’ the interesting modulation of the golf club’s impact zone to get better off-centered strikes. This is similar to what many manufacturers use nowadays, such as Taylormade’s ‘Twist Face,’ and is just about crunching the data and figuring out spin rates and speed drop off on each point of the face.

The AI then runs those numbers and figures out how to use varying thickness across the face to make those numbers as consistent as possible no matter where you hit it - a pretty neat trick! Callaway’s driver faces are built from “super strength titanium” to promote speed, forgiveness, and consistent spin rates.

If you liked the last bit of jargon, get ready for this one: Callaway states that their “proprietary Triaxial carbon covers a larger portion of the crown and toe, leading to weight savings of over 13 grams vs. titanium”.

This sounds terrifying but is basically just saying that the clubhead is multi-material construction, just like most other driver types out there. The weight saving allows them to position that weight elsewhere, creating a deeper center of gravity and higher moment of inertia, all of which contribute to a very forgiving golf club.

In terms of customization, the Max LS has adjustable perimeter weighting to allow you to set up for whatever shot shape you desire, apparently giving up to 13 yards of shot shape correction to allow you to excellent tune your ball flight.

Look, I’m not the biggest fan of Callaway drivers, usually in the cosmetics department. But man, does this Epic range look good. Sleek and classy, with mostly blacks and greys but just a hint of dynamic electric green, it mixes Callaway’s usual exciting flair with a slightly more toned-down look.

This LOOKS like a driver for a serious golfer, and it’s amazing how much that can inspire confidence in your game. Unlike a lot of the ‘Low Spin’ models of drivers, the Epic Max LS isn’t that much smaller than its higher spinning sister. It’s slightly taller and slightly less deep than the regular Max, but apart from that looks very similar.

This makes it a really appealing club for golfer’s just about breaching the range of wanting a Low Spin model, but perhaps it might put off the more elite level golfers looking for that traditional shape.

The Epic Max LS is aimed at mid to low handicappers who want higher speed, lower spin, and more forgiveness - which, to be honest, who doesn’t? And it does deliver.

These clubs feel, sound, and look great - they’re great to swing, and they’re great to smack drives with. That might feel like a simplification, but it’s important! Having a driver that you’re desperate to get into your hands is key, and the Epic Max LS makes you want to let the big dog hunt as much as possible.

The Max LS is the lowest spinning and also the lowest launching driver in the Epic range. This should appeal to golfers with high swing speeds who tend to struggle with the ball ballooning up into the air because of the amount of energy they’re transferring through the ball.

However, if - like me - your swing speed hovers around the 100mph mark, and your ball flight is slightly lower naturally, this driver might not be for you, as it might just not pop the ball up high and far enough to make all the technology worth it.

It is worth noting, though: this is one of the least dramatic low spin versions out there. While other manufacturers' versions (The SIM2 Max, the TSi4) are absolute brutes that are impossible to control but hit the ball a mile, the Epic Max LS is much more reserved. It still has that level of forgiveness and still gets the ball up in the air - though this does mean its capabilities as a weapon of mass destruction launching balls for miles are slightly reduced.

Overall, it’s a great club if you’re hovering on that range between wanting a low spin driver but not being ready to commit to something a bit harder to control. The Epic Max LS offers you a taste of the power that low spin technology can offer while still holding your hand just enough to make it great fun and easy to hit.