Callaway Rogue Vs. Taylormade M4 Driver Comparison Overview
A lot of golf club manufacturers claim that they make the most forgiving driver; but forgiveness is not something that can be universally applied. In other words, one club that someone finds forgiving will be a nightmare for another golfer.
It’s all about you and the specific needs of your game. That’s why it’s always advisable to go in for a fitting. If that isn’t an option for you though, we have the next best thing: a side-by-side comparison of two very popular and beginner-friendly drivers.
Callaway Rogue Driver Overview
The Callaway Rogue driver is claimed to be very forgiving; but in a different way than the Taylormade M4 driver.
When we tested the Callaway Rogue driver, we noticed that ball speeds were minimally impacted when we made contact near the toe or toward the heel. The Variable Face Thickness technology used in the Rogue does a nice job of preserving ball speed on mis-hits.
It was producing more side spin than we like, however that is only to be expected from a driver in this category. We will say that the Callaway Rogue driver is surprisingly workable so we feel that it would be a good driver for both high and mid handicappers.
The Rogue will help you drive the ball further without finding the sweet spot but it won’t help you much in terms of accuracy. For that, we would direct you to…
Taylormade M4 Driver Overview
The Taylormade M4 driver is a great entry-level driver especially for players who are having trouble landing the ball on the fairway.
First of all, you should know that the Taylormade M4 does not play as long as the Callaway Rogue. While the Rogue produced average drives of 273 yards, the Taylormade M4 was producing drives of 264 yards on average.
However, the forgiveness emphasis of this driver has less to do with distance and more to do with accuracy. In general, our testers found it much easier to produce shots that followed a straight flight path with the Taylormade M4 than the Rogue.
This was due in part to the Twist Face technology which puts a slight curve on the face that corrects the ball on mis-hits.
The Taylormade M4 also produced more spin than the Rogue so be aware of that as well. We would recommend the Taylormade M4 to beginner players having trouble with slices while the Callaway Rogue is suitable for intermediate players who are learning to work the ball from the tee.
Callaway Rogue Drivers
In 20 Words Or Less
The Callaway Rogue driver combines lightweight design with impressive forgiveness and distance. This driver still has a lot to offer.
Taylormade M4 Driver
In 20 Words or Less
A great starting point for anyone looking for forgiveness and distance from the tee.
Callaway Rogue Driver – First Impressions
At first, the Callaway Rogue has a massive head and sweet spot. The club was actually designed by Boeing so you expect serious aerodynamics with this one.
The Rogue was also very lightweight. The triaxial carbon crown feels airy but the head still feels substantial at impact thanks to the strong perimeter weighting.
The driver has a super thin face but is also variable thickness which adds to the forgiveness of the driver.
Perimeter weighting in the sole and the heel of the club stretches the sweet spot and the Rogue is one driver that does a lot in terms of forgiveness, accuracy and distance.
If you struggle with a slice, the Rogue also comes in a D style which is more offset to reduce errant strikes.
The Sub Zero form is also for those with high swings speeds looking for maximum distance.
The Rogue doesn’t go as far as the Epic Speed, but the forgiveness is comparable.
Taylormade M4 First Impressions
The M4 driver looks great at point of address with a nice, beefy 460CC head.
Right away, the M4 looks great for beginners and high handicapper – or anyone with a slower swing speed in general.
We were also really impressed by the way this driver sounded and felt. You will find that the M4 really helps straighten out your drives as well. One of the caveats with this driver though is that launch angles were slightly lower when compared to the M6.
The M Family
Another worthwhile entry into the Taylormade M driver family is the M2 which is an extremely lightweight driver that features a multi-layer carbon crown and titanium body.
Callaway Rogue Selling Points
- Perimeter weighting
- High MOI
- Triaxial carbon crown
- Adjustable hosel
- Variable Face Thickness
- Forgiving design
Taylormade M4 Selling Points
- Speed Pocket
- Twist Face technology
- Very affordable
- Great sound
- Good feel
- Produces straight shots
Callaway Rogue – Who Are They For?
The Callaway Rogue driver would be a good choice for anyone who has grown comfortable with perimeter weighting.
We like the fact that the VFT face design couples nicely with the perimeter weighting. This combo makes for a very comfortable and forgiving driver.
However, the Rogue driver did not play as long as the Epic Speed which is pretty much what we predicted when we started out.
We were getting about 8-9 extra yards from the Epic Speed.
Still, the Rogue’s got it where it counts: good stability from the Jailbreak bars and a decent degree of forgiveness.
Surprisingly, it was also more workable than the Epic Speed
Callaway Rogue Family
The Rogue D Type is for the slicers among us. The is offset, giving the club a draw bias which can work to eliminate your slice.
The Sub Zero, leaves some of the forgiveness behind and it aimed at high swing speeds with good control over the driver, looking to squeeze more distance off the tee.
Distance: 95/100
Accuracy: 94/100
Forgiveness: 93/100
Feel & Control: 91/100
Overall Rating: 94/100
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Who is the Taylormade M4 Driver for?
The Taylormade M4 would make a great driver for anyone who is on a bit of a budget but still wants significant help with forgiveness.
Keep in mind though that if you really want to prioritize distance, the M4 played about 13 yards shorter than the Taylormade M6 driver on average.
The forgiveness of the M4 driver is at least on par with that of the Taylormade M6 driver though. And we actually think that the M4 sounds and feels better when you strike right on the sweet spot.
Also, it should be noted that the M4 is not so much for lower handicap players. The workability is minimal and if you have a faster swing speed, you might actually lose some distance with this driver.
Distance: 92/100
Feel & Control: 93/100
Accuracy: 92/100
Forgiveness: 93/100
Overall Rating: 92/100
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