I Can't Believe How Easy This New Hybrid Is To Hit From Every Lie

There are three hybrid models in the new Quantum family from Callaway. There’s the standard Max, the Max OS and the Max Fast which is a lighter, easier to swing model aimed at golfers with slow or moderate swing speeds, making it an ideal hybrid for seniors.

The tech story behind the Quantum Fairway Woods and Hybrids is that they have been built with a clear focus on speed, easy launch and all-round playability. This has been achieved through a ground-up redesign, with the key technology being Speed Wave 2.0, which positions mass low and forward to boost ball speed while producing dependable launch characteristics. Enhanced face flex, especially on low-face strikes, helps maximise energy transfer on the most common miss.

A refined Step Sole Design reduces resistance through the turf, encouraging cleaner contact and more consistent strikes from a variety of lies. Completing the tech package is a next-generation Ai-Optimized Face, engineered to maintain ball speed and performance across the hitting area.

The first thing I noted after unboxing the Max and Max OS models was that there is a significant size difference between them. The footprint of the Max OS seems considerably bigger, both at address but also when just looking at the sole. That’s normal for a game improvement option, as the larger profile is something that offers reassurance for higher handicap players.

As a general rule the best hybrids tend me the ones with a more compact head, such as the Cobra OPTM hybrid I reviewed recently. I’d usually shy away from the fairway wood style, larger headed hybrids, but I carry a Callaway 7 wood in my bag and it’s my favorite club, so I suspect that subconsciously the Max OS was giving me similar vibes at address, which is why I was drawn to it. Plus the sound and feel at impact is very “Callaway”, which again added to the comfort level.

Other than the difference in size, there isn’t a great deal of aesthetic difference, and both the Max and Max OS are very pleasing on the eye. The black and grey head cover design hits the right note too, and when it comes to looks Callaway has done a good job. Personally I’d prefer matt on the crown rather than the glossy finish but each to their own.

For range testing at Hurlston Hall Golf Club in Lancashire, I adjusted the Max OS by one degree from its standard setting so that both hybrids were set to 19°, allowing for a more direct comparison between the two. On that subject, I found that the OptiFit 4 hosel was quite difficult to master.

Usually changing loft and lie is quite straightforward, but it took me ages to work out how this hosel works. Even the instructions on the Callaway website seemed to just confuse me even more and I ended up finding the solution on Youtube. Even now that I know how it works it still seems complicated!

The resulting numbers were not too dissimilar as you can see from the data below, but there was a significant difference in dispersion, where the Max OS model was definitely more consistent for me and certainly puts it among the most forgiving hybrids on the market this year.

I’ve been fighting a slight push in recent weeks and the dispersion of the standard Quantum Max saw a number of shots stray a little right of my intended target. The dispersion map showed that I was hitting the Max OS straighter, which I assume can be attributed to the slight draw bias negating that pesky push.

Ball speed was somewhere in the middle in comparison to other 2026 hybrids I’ve tested, while launch, spin and distance were all pretty much where I would expect them to be.

I loved the ball flight of the Max OS which just seemed to be a tad more controlled and pleasing on the eye than I was getting with the standard Max model. The numbers don’t necessarily back that up so this is very much anecdotal evidence. The sound and feel when you find the sweet spot is always pleasing with Callaway fairways and hybrids and both the Max and Max OS delivered on that front.

One thing I noticed with both models is that when I caught it a bit thin the launch and height did not suffer as much as I would normally expect. That suggests the Speed Wave 2.0 tech is doing its job. The slight draw bias in the Max OS was definitely evident, albeit nice and subtle, which I really appreciated. If you do play with a draw though this is something to be aware of as you don’t want to overdo it.

On the course the Quantum Max OS delivered in every aspect of hybrid play. It was accurate off the tee and not lacking in distance. On approach shots turf interaction was excellent, while the high flight really allowed me to be aggressive without worrying about not holding the green. Hybrids are a useful weapon for bump and run shots around the green and I found those shots were very easy to control with the Max OS.

Before testing both clubs if you’d asked me which one I expected to perform best for me I’d have said the standard Max model, as I am exactly the level of golfer it is aimed at - a mid-handicap player who strikes the ball pretty well but values a bit of forgiveness.

So the standard Max is the club that really should have suited me best, yet I am more drawn to the game improvement Max OS even though it is supposedly for golfers a bit below my skill level.

Mid-low handicap players might be put off by the “game improvement” label of the Max OS but keep an open mind, as unless you're a premium ball striker looking to be creative with your shots, I don’t think there is anything the standard Max does that the Max OS can’t match. It also provides that extra bit of forgiveness and draw bias for those that need it.

The Callaway Quantum Max OS hybrid will be retailing at $349.99/£269.