Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero Fairway Wood
Sharing a lot of design features from the successful driver lineup, the updated Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero fairway wood is a club well suited for lower handicaps. Through the use of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Callaway engineers designed a new face to increase ball speeds for more distance. Additionally, the Epic Flash Sub Zero fairway woods feature Jailbreak technology behind the face for added head stiffness which leads to more distance.
The Looks
Callaway has one of the best compact fairway wood profiles in golf. I’ve said it repeatedly ever since the original Big Bertha Alpha fairway wood. The Epic Flash Sub Zero is no exception. At address, the club head is smaller behind the ball with a shallow face, and the gloss black finish has a faint hint of the carbon crown peaking through. The Epic Flash Sub Zero has a black, green, and yellow color scheme like the rest of the Flash series. While most prominent on the sole, this scheme is present on the crown with “pinstriping” detail around the edge of the crown and a small Epic logo. This is something to consider if you’re into plain crowns, but it doesn’t bother me. Overall, Callaway delivered another great looking fairway wood and will attract many players on looks alone.
How Does it Feel?
Feel is the first indicator that told me the Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero fairway wood was indeed intended for the better player. While the new forged steel Face Cup and Jailbreak certainly add speed, the Epic Flash Sub Zero isn’t all that forgiving. There is a little leniency from the center of the face due to the Flash Face and Jailbreak technology, but you need to be consistently on that sweet spot for this club to feel pure. (That’s fair, this club is designed for players that can do that consistently.) When you hit one pure, however, the ball absolutely jumps off the face and feels great.
One thing Callaway points out is that the Epic Flash Sub Zero is designed for players with higher swing speeds. Following my testing, I agree based on a few things and one of those is feel. By utilizing Jailbreak in these fairway woods, Callaway made the head more rigid so more energy is transferred back into the ball. On a fast swing, the club feels very solid and responsive. As I said before, a good shot feels really hot. On the other hand, slower swings just flat out felt inadequate. To really get the feel of launching the ball, you need to have some strong speed in your swing.
I also want to point out that the shot feedback is incredible in this club. Every shot gives you an accurate response as to where you hit the ball on the face. For better or worse, you’re going to know exactly where you caught the ball on the face!
How Does it Sound?
Given how solid the Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero fairway wood feels, the sound was exactly what I expected. Well struck shots have a firm “whack” at impact that is modest and contained. It’s a very pleasant sound that better ball strikers tend to prefer. Clean picks off the tee sound like just that – a very clean “pick” at impact. Off the deck, that whack sound may have a little more “pop” to it if you take a little dirt. For a real player’s fairway wood, the Epic Flash Sub Zero has a very classic sound.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111.2 | 158.7 | 12.6º | 2834 | 256.3 | 277 |
I’ve already mentioned it, but the Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero is every bit of a ball striker’s fairway wood. If you have the game for it, there’s plenty of length and shot manipulation. The sole weights are interchangeable so you can move the heavier weight forward or back to control the CG. With the heavier weight forward, the flight is much more penetrating with a low launch. Interestingly, I didn’t find the spin to be all that low – albeit still good for a 3 wood. By moving the weight back, I was able to elevate the ball more with a more rising flight. I did see my spin rise a good bit, however. How you set the weights ultimately comes down to personal needs in a fairway wood. The weight in back gave me more control and easier launch, but the weight forward gave me more distance which is generally what I need in a 3 wood.
Final Thoughts
The Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero really is a great fairway wood, but it is the perfect example of why you need to get fit for your equipment. I’m imagining a lot of players really wanting the perfect compact head shape and traditional characteristics of the Epic Flash Sub Zero, but they won’t quite have the swing for it. However, if you are a lower handicap and a good fairway wood player, the Epic Flash Sub Zero is certainly worth exploring. I definitely believe the Epic Flash fairway woods are Callaway’s hottest yet and some of the best feeling woods they’ve ever made. The balance of distance and control are there as long as you have the swing for it.
Stock Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero Fairway Wood Specs
| Club | Loft | Length | Swing Weight | Stock Flex |
RH/LH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3+ | 12.5º-15.5º | 43″ | D3 | L, R, S, X | RH/LH |
| 3 | 14º-17º | 43″ | D3 | L, R, S, X | RH/LH |
| 5 | 17º-20º | 42.5″ | D3 | L, R, S, X | RH |
Callaway offers the following as stock shaft options:
- Project X Even Flow Green 40 Graphite
- Project X Even Flow Green 60 Graphite
- Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 60 Graphite
- Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 70 Graphite
- Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 Graphite
- Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 Graphite
What shaft did you use in the testing? Also, what was the length and loft? Thanks.
Everything was stock, shaft is in the pictures at the bottom.
Hi,
Do you think this version is way better than the epic sub zero?
Because I can have 50% of the previous version.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks
Hmm, honestly, I think it’s personal preference. In a lot of ways, I hit the original better in terms of dispersion, but I liked the feel and distance/performance more in the Flash. I know this answer isn’t super helpful, but that was my experience.