Which has more draw bias?

The Epic Max leans towards a draw out of the box and lets you adjust shape with a sliding weight. For the Epic Speed, testers reported anything from a mild draw to a straight flight.

Which is more forgiving?

Both are praised for forgiveness and tight dispersion. The Max is billed as the most forgiving 2021 Epic, with a large, shallow-faced head built to keep mishits in play.

Which feels better at impact?

Testers described the Max as solid with a firm, muted sound. They found the Speed lively but stable with a muted, powerful sound, though edge strikes on the Speed can sound a little dull.

Callaway Epic Max Driver vs Epic Speed Driver

Do You Prefer Solid or Lively Feel?

Callaway

Epic Max Driver

2021 model

Release date: Feb 18, 2021
MSRP at launch: —

Epic Max Driver details →

Callaway

Epic Speed Driver

2021 model

Release date: Feb 18, 2021
MSRP at launch: —

Epic Speed Driver details →

Which to choose

The biggest difference is shot shape. The Epic Max leans towards a draw out of the box and has a sliding perimeter weight for tuning flight, so it is aimed at players who fade or slice. With the Epic Speed, testers split between a mild draw and a straight flight with no leftward drift. The Max also has a large, shallow-faced head, while the Speed has an aerodynamic shape with a carbon crown.

Both are 460cc with 10.5° loft and are praised for forgiveness and a muted sound. The Max feels solid and firm, and the Speed feels lively but stable. Some testers found the Max spinnier and shorter than its Epic siblings. The Speed's distance gains over recent drivers were real but modest.

Choose the Epic Max Driver if…

you fade or slice the ball and want a draw-biased, large-footprint head with a sliding weight to keep tee shots in the fairway.

Choose the Epic Speed Driver if…

you want a more neutral, aerodynamic head with a lively feel and an understated look, and you don't need help fighting a slice.

Common questions

Which has more draw bias?: The Epic Max leans towards a draw out of the box and lets you adjust shape with a sliding weight. For the Epic Speed, testers reported anything from a mild draw to a straight flight.
Which is more forgiving?: Both are praised for forgiveness and tight dispersion. The Max is billed as the most forgiving 2021 Epic, with a large, shallow-faced head built to keep mishits in play.
Which feels better at impact?: Testers described the Max as solid with a firm, muted sound. They found the Speed lively but stable with a muted, powerful sound, though edge strikes on the Speed can sound a little dull.

Written by golfclubase with AI from our summaries of published reviews and test videos and the makers' published specs (Oct 25, 2026).

Side by Side, Aspect by Aspect

Forgiveness: Both Keep Mishits in Play

Forgiveness is the Epic Max's main strength, and every source praised it. One reviewer called it the most forgiving of the three 2021 Epic models, with steady distance and dispersion across the face. In one testing video, heel and toe strikes still flew straight, and the tester called it exceptionally forgiving. Reviewers also rated the Epic Speed well here. One found ball speed stayed high across a wide area with tight dispersion. Another said mishits were penalised less than with his current driver, and one tester called it very stable and hit many fairways. Both score highly, but forgiveness is the defining trait of the Max, while for the Speed it is one strength among several.

Feel and Sound: Solid Max, Livelier Speed

The Epic Max was described as solid at impact. One tester compared it to hitting an anvil and said it never felt tinny. Another found center strikes solid and low-pitched but noticed misses clearly in the hands, with a hollower, weaker sound. The Epic Speed's feel was called explosive by one reviewer, and another found it fractionally hotter than his previous driver. Opinions on its sound were split. One reviewer heard it as muted, powerful and quieter than the Max, and another put it among the best drivers he had heard. One article, though, said it turned muddled near the edges, and one reader found it tinny. The Max feels firm and solid, while the Speed feels livelier and its sound divides opinion.

Looks at Address: Opinions Split on the Max

Reviewers disagreed about how the Epic Max looks. One found the large, shallow-faced 460cc head confidence-inspiring, and another liked its big footprint behind the ball. One article praised the black-dominant, simpler styling. Another tester found the heel-heavy footprint and busy sole design unappealing, which hurt his confidence. The Epic Speed's looks drew only praise. Reviewers liked its glossy carbon crown, which one said is cleverly hidden. Others noted a less rounded, more aerodynamic shape with toned-down graphics, and one described a stylish teardrop head in a green Epic colourway. The Speed's looks won reviewers over, while the Max's oversized footprint appealed to some testers and put off one.

Launch, Spin and Distance Compared

The Epic Max is designed to get the ball airborne. One reviewer found its spin consistent, and another thought mid-range spin suited his numbers. In one testing video, though, it was not a low-spin driver, and the extra spin cost some carry. One reviewer noted it is not Callaway's longest driver, and another measured lower ball speed than the other Epic models. With the Epic Speed, one reviewer found launch and spin ran low on the stock shaft until a different shaft raised both. Another found the standard head spun more than the Max LS. For distance, one tester called the Speed Callaway's fastest driver yet. The Max is aimed at players who need help getting the ball up, while the Speed's launch and spin varied with shaft and head choice.

Shot Shape and Adjustability

The Epic Max has a low, draw-biased center of gravity and a sliding perimeter weight. One tester pulled shots left with the 16g weight in the heel and found it easier to swing after moving the weight away from the heel. Another said it limits shaping shots in either direction. The Epic Speed was reviewed as having a slight draw bias from its carbon toe panel. In one testing video, early swings drew more than the tester wanted. That same reviewer noted the loft can only be turned down by one degree. The published lie is 59° for the Max and 58° for the Speed. The Max gives more room to adjust shot shape, while the Speed's draw bias comes from its built-in design.

Written by golfclubase with AI from what review articles and test videos said about each model, aspect by aspect (Oct 25, 2026).

Key differences

Lie angle: the Epic Speed Driver is 1° lower than the Epic Max Driver

Specs side by side

Epic Max Driver: 10.5°; Epic Speed Driver: 10.5° (US models).

	Epic Max Driver	Epic Speed Driver
Loft	10.5°	10.5°
Lie angle	59°	58°−1°
Head volume	460 cm³	460 cm³
Face material	Titanium	Titanium
Body material	Multi-material	Multi-material

Values are as published by the makers. Sources are listed on each model's page.

The Numbers, Visualized

Where They Sit Among Drivers

Compared with the reference club of every model in Drivers on golfclubase (US specs; 10.5° / 10.5°). The line is the full range, the band the middle half, the tick the median.

Lie angleEpic Max Driver 59°/Epic Speed Driver 58°

54°60°

Epic Max Driver ranks #14 highest of 97. Epic Speed Driver ranks #32 lowest of 97.

Head volumeEpic Max Driver 460 cm³/Epic Speed Driver 460 cm³

280 cm³460 cm³

Both rank #1 largest of 95.

What reviewers say

Epic Max Driver

What reviewers like

Very forgiving, with tight dispersion on heel and toe strikes
Solid, confident feel on centre contact
Firm, muted sound rather than a tinny click
Large head inspires confidence at address
Draw bias and sliding weight help fade and slice players

Watch out for

Limited shot-shaping for players who like to work the ball
Heel weighting can bring a left miss into play
Expensive, priced at the top of its category

Full overview of the Epic Max Driver →

Epic Speed Driver

What reviewers like

Holds ball speed well across the face on mishits
Tight dispersion that helps keep tee shots in play
Lively yet stable feel at impact
Muted, powerful sound on centred strikes
Understated look at address with a discreet carbon crown

Watch out for

Muted feedback may disappoint better players who want feel on mishits
Distance gain over recent drivers is fairly modest
Hosel only allows loft to be reduced by one degree

Full overview of the Epic Speed Driver →

Lofts and clubs offered

Epic Max Driver: 9° / 10.5° / 12°
Epic Speed Driver: 9° / 10.5° / 12°