The Callaway Epic Max Star iron set has factory lofts from 23° to 58° and lie angles from 61° to 64°. Loft and lie may be adjusted by a qualified club fitter, depending on the exact head construction and condition.
Epic Max Star
model specific bending analysis • 2022
What stands out about the Epic Max Star specs?
Gap pattern: The captured loft gaps have a 4° median, with a smallest gap of 3° and a largest gap of 6°. tighter than typical gaps appear at 5i to 6i (3°). larger than typical gaps appear at PW to AW (5°), AW to GW (6°), GW to SW (5°).
Lie progression: The captured lie angles progress from 61° to 64°, a total increase of 3° across the set. The median step between captured clubs is 0.5°.
The long end begins 5i 23°, 6i 26°, 7i 30°, 8i 34°. The scoring end finishes PW 42°, AW 47°, GW 53°, SW 58°. Those two ends do not have to use identical loft spacing because launch, speed and carry compression are different.
Factory loft and lie chart
| Club | Loft | Lie | Loft gap | Gap read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5i | 23° | 61° | — | — |
| 6i | 26° | 61.5° | 3° | Tighter than set median |
| 7i | 30° | 62° | 4° | Near set median |
| 8i | 34° | 62.5° | 4° | Near set median |
| 9i | 38° | 63° | 4° | Near set median |
| PW | 42° | 63.5° | 4° | Near set median |
| AW | 47° | 64° | 5° | Wider than set median |
| GW | 53° | 64° | 6° | Wider than set median |
| SW | 58° | 64° | 5° | Wider than set median |
Where would I check for bending first?
The AW to GW transition is the first place I would verify on a launch monitor because its 6° loft gap is wider than this set’s 4° median. Also verify peak height and landing angle before making any club stronger.
If that pair also produces an excessive carry gap, a small loft change to one of those two clubs may be more sensible than changing the entire set.
How much bending makes sense for this set?
| Change | How it fits this model |
|---|---|
| 0.5°–1° | Best range to investigate first when one club is creating a small directional or carry gap problem. It is enough to matter without automatically rewriting the set’s factory progression. |
| 1°–2° | A meaningful change. On the Epic Max Star, compare the new loft against both neighbouring clubs so you do not create a second gap while fixing the first. |
| More than 2° | Large enough that bounce, offset and gapping consequences become substantial. Confirm head construction and the exact target with Callaway/a qualified fitter before considering it. |
- 1° strong → about 29° loft and roughly 1° less bounce.
- 2° strong → about 28° loft and roughly 2° less bounce.
- 1° weak → about 31° loft and roughly 1° more bounce.
- 2° weak → about 32° loft and roughly 2° more bounce.
These numbers show the geometry only; they do not mean this exact head is safe to bend by that amount.
Should the Epic Max Star be bent stronger?
The 7 iron is 30°, placing this set on the stronger lofted side. Before bending it stronger, verify that launch, landing angle and stopping power are still adequate.
- Strengthening loft generally lowers static loft, removes roughly the same amount of bounce, and slightly increases offset.
- The AW to GW transition is the first place I would verify on a launch monitor because its 6° loft gap is wider than this set’s 4° median.
- Do not strengthen a club merely because another Callaway iron has a lower printed loft.
Should the Epic Max Star be bent weaker?
- Weakening adds loft and approximately the same amount of bounce while slightly reducing offset.
- If a club launches too flat or creates too much carry separation, weakening may help; but compare it with both neighbouring carry numbers first.
- If the set is already in the strong lofts category, the flight goal matters more than matching a generic loft chart.
How the actual loft gaps affect bending
This set has noticeably varied loft spacing, so a blanket whole set loft change is unlikely to be the smartest first move. Preserve the intentional progression unless launch monitor data shows a systematic problem.
How the actual lie progression affects bending
The captured lie angles progress from 61° to 64°, a total increase of 3° across the set. The median step between captured clubs is 0.5°. Because the factory lie progression already changes through the set, do not automatically make every iron the same amount upright or flat. A 1° whole set change preserves the progression; individual club changes deliberately alter it.
| right handed player starts shots left with centred strike | Investigate flatter lie on the problem club(s). |
|---|---|
| right handed player starts shots right with centred strike | Investigate more upright lie. |
| left handed player | Reverse the left/right directional interpretation. |
| Only one club misbehaves | Measure that club against the set before applying a whole set lie change. |
Can you bend just one Epic Max Star iron?
Yes; and the spec pattern tells you when that may be smarter. The AW to GW transition is the first place I would verify on a launch monitor because its 6° loft gap is wider than this set’s 4° median. If the rest of the set produces good start lines and carry gaps, changing one measured problem club is more targeted than shifting all 9 captured clubs.
Should you bend the whole set?
This set has noticeably varied loft spacing, so a blanket whole set loft change is unlikely to be the smartest first move. Preserve the intentional progression unless launch monitor data shows a systematic problem. For lie angle, a whole set change is more defensible when the same centred-strike start-direction pattern appears from long irons through scoring irons. For loft, whole set changes are rarely necessary just to solve one bad carry gap.
Used Epic Max Star irons: measure before copying factory specs
The factory chart is a reference, not proof of what a used club measures today. If the widest or tightest gap in this set also looks wrong on the launch monitor, measure those two clubs first: one may simply have drifted from its intended loft or been bent previously.
What bending changes besides the printed number
| 1° stronger | About 1° less loft, roughly 1° less bounce, slightly more offset, generally lower launch direction. |
|---|---|
| 1° weaker | About 1° more loft, roughly 1° more bounce, slightly less offset, generally higher launch direction. |
| More upright lie | For a right-hander, generally adds leftward start line influence. |
| Flatter lie | For a right-hander, generally adds rightward start line influence. |
Best bending workflow for this specific set
- Measure all captured clubs rather than assuming they still match the factory table.
- Start with the unusual gap(s) identified above, then compare actual carry distance, peak height and landing angle.
- For directional problems, use centred-strike start direction and dynamic lie rather than loft.
- Make the smallest useful change to one problem club first.
- Re-measure it immediately and compare it with both neighbouring clubs.
- Only expand the adjustment to more clubs if the same pattern is genuinely present.
When not to bend the Epic Max Star
- The requested change is only intended to copy another model’s loft numbers.
- The club’s poor result is caused by strike, shaft length, swingweight or delivery instead of loft/lie.
- The change would make an already tight factory loft gap even tighter without a carry-distance reason.
- The hosel shows prior stress, finish damage or evidence of repeated bending.
- The exact head construction has not been confirmed safe for the requested amount.
Disclaimer: Iron bendability varies with head construction, hosel design, finish, age, previous bending and condition. Do not assume a universal safe adjustment such as ±2°. Have a qualified club fitter measure the actual club and confirm the permitted adjustment with Callaway for your exact model before bending.