Callaway Big Bertha 1.5 Mini driver

[tdk8180]

It goes very high, and doesnt roll. 3000-3200 rpm spin rate, and 14 launch angle. Mid flight, rising balls, that go nowhere.

 

Shaft was the same shaft that I have in my 3 wood, my 3 wood gives me 2400 rpm, 12 launch and nice carry distances and roll.

[Mych]

I have a 12* arriving tomorrow. I've been struggling with my driver for the last 3-4 months and hate the looks of 460cc drivers, but I've been hitting my fairway wood very well so I'm hoping the mini will be the cure for me.

 

I'll report back after I get to the range or course this weekend.

[RecidivistGOLFER]

Mini driver was a good lesson for me. Went through a patch where I wasn't hitting my driver well (balooning) so I decided to try a mini-driver. I've always believed in correcting the swing flaw before playing to it or changing equipment. I didn't do that this time, opting instead for another club (such a ho!) All in all, I can't say I was happy with the mini. Has a very dead sound and feel, and I don't hit it any further or straighter than I do my Titleist 906F4 3 wood. So it's sitting in my garage in almost new condition gathering dust.

 

Got rid of the balooning problem by dropping the right shoulder at address. Helps me hit up into the ball instead of down.

[Sir Slicealot]

It goes very high, and doesnt roll. 3000-3200 rpm spin rate, and 14 launch angle. Mid flight, rising balls, that go nowhere.

 

Shaft was the same shaft that I have in my 3 wood, my 3 wood gives me 2400 rpm, 12 launch and nice carry distances and roll.

 

Did you vary the tee height? When I was playing around with mine I had no joy with higher fees, but tee it up like a wood and it was golden.

[golfgirlrobin]

If I were considering one of these, I'd hit the new 44.5" Callaway BB Fusion, first. Shaft is only half an inch longer and it's a big, forgiving head with a 13 degree option.

[Lefty94]

Just ordered mine 5 mins ago from. Mint condition with headcover, after all the promotions and discounts I found....$93 out the door. I am really excited. For 5 years, since I sold my Cleveland Launcher XL, I have yet to find a driver I can hit with any kind of length or consistency. My whole golfing career I've struggled with the driver. Often going 3 wood off the tee. I hit my current 3 wood dead straight and about 240-245 off the tee. So I am hoping to pick up a few more yards with this bad boy, and finally be able to hit fairways and not give up a ton of length. Should look great in the bag next to the XR Pros that are scheduled for delivery today, and the PING Scottsdale TR Piper C I bought last week. After not buying a club for over 18 months, I have now almost redone my bag in less than a week.

[SubaruWRX]

$131.39 brand new at GlobalGolf now

 

It's on sale for 15% off it's $179.99 price for $152,99, plus you can add code lcsave12 for an additional 12% off. Brand new with headcover and tool.

 

If you get your order up to $199, you also get free shipping.

[cvvorst]

I really liked the mini 1.5, but I ended up selling it for some reason. I went back to my tour issue callaway GBB fairway (the 816 model GBB) and I loved the feel and sound, but I missed the mini. I found a cheap tour issue Aeroburner mini 14 degree, and I installed an AD DI 8x in it. In my opinion, it feels and sounds nicer than the mini 1.5. Performance seems about the same. The callaway was nice because you could switch shafts, but I like the non adjustable aeroburner as well. I'm happy with the ad di 8x, so no reason to switch it up. What I love about the aeroburner is that it plays open (it's why I got the tour issue model)

 

You can't go wrong with the aeroburner mini or the callaway mini 1.5.

[Chigolfer2]

They seem to be available in the RAYON KURO KAGE or FUJIKURA SPEEDER 565. Has anyone tested both shafts? Any noticeable differences? Is one suited more for a certain type of player?

[clark827]

I ended up getting one in 14*. The x flex kurokage felt like a stiff shaft at best, very weak & disappointed. I do have a quick transition to be fair, but I felt like I was trying to swing to the shaft to keep it timed right. Ordered a Rip Phenom Y-flex that I'll pick up tomorrow. Going for better results. If not I'll keep tinkering... Habit!

[suwdawg]

I love mine. Its a 14 I dropped it to 13 and put in d position and works for me when the driver is off. When I hit the driver well its about 15 yards further, but seem to be more accurate with the mini.

 

My ss is around 100 and I get around 240-250 with the mini on a mid trajectory.

[Sir Slicealot]

I love mine. Its a 14 I dropped it to 13 and put in d position and works for me when the driver is off. When I hit the driver well its about 15 yards further, but seem to be more accurate with the mini.

 

My ss is around 100 and I get around 240-250 with the mini on a mid trajectory.

Isn't it awesome? Some people hit their drivers that far. I left mine at 14° but now I'm curious to see if improvement can be gained by dropping a degree.

[mcs4]

I love mine. Its a 14 I dropped it to 13 and put in d position and works for me when the driver is off. When I hit the driver well its about 15 yards further, but seem to be more accurate with the mini.

 

My ss is around 100 and I get around 240-250 with the mini on a mid trajectory.

Isn't it awesome? Some people hit their drivers that far. I left mine at 14° but now I'm curious to see if improvement can be gained by dropping a degree.

 

I play a Mini at 12 degrees and I can hit it as far as any driver I've ever used (typically 260-270 on good shots), which I mainly attribute to trajectory. I tend to hit the Mini with a flatter trajectory, even though the loft is higher, because I can tee it low and avoid hitting down on the ball too much and/or catching it too high on the clubface.

[Tom S]

I just bought the 14 with stuff speeder shaft. I like that feel better than KK shift. The feel is a little harsh but I found dial down to 13 and hitting bullets. I've hit some as far as driver which is not why I bought it. I wanted to use on par fours that don't require driver. My SS is 102. I hit about 240 on LM and 225-250 on course. Like it so far.

[Sir Slicealot]

This is making me want to try the mini off the deck and see how far it will go. I could seriously open up some space in the bag for wedges if it would pull long double duty. What lofts are you guys hitting it off the deck and with what distance?

[clark827]

I've gotten in about 5 rounds now including a winter scramble. The RIP phenom Y-flex is perfect (for me) as a stable, strong shaft. Perfectly fills the gap of reliable driving club but still can hit it off the deck into longer par 5s.

 

This is the type of setup that will stay in the bag for years to come.

[clark827]

This is making me want to try the mini off the deck and see how far it will go. I could seriously open up some space in the bag for wedges if it would pull long double duty. What lofts are you guys hitting it off the deck and with what distance?

 

I had 256 left into a par 5 heading into about 15 mph wind. Smoked a slight draw that landed & pretty much stuck in the middle of the green. I lose maybe 10-15 yds off the deck versus a tee, but when I'm not going into the wind on soft greens I tend to make it up with a hint more roll.

[Warrick]

Finally got to hit this today on the sim, really like it a lot, will take a few tours in the bag this season for sure, took it off the mat once and hit it great too.

 

Adds a touch more confidence on the tee compared to the 3 wood.

[tucsonsean]

I think tdk8180 has maybe too much swing speed for this club? I went shopping for the 12*, but ended up with the 14* after checking my numbers in the hitting bay (85-90 mph; @ 2300-2400 rpm; launch @ 12*). This time of year in Southern Arizona, I walk and carry eight clubs; so every club has to do double duty. The Mini is money off the tee: always in play, and sometimes longer than my regular driver (Taylormade SLDR 460). It's also reliably straight and long off a good lie in the fairway, as long as you don't expect much air under the ball. As Sir S. said above (post #22), one key to getting the most out of the Mini, is learning how high to tee it up. I tee it lower for straight and long, and a little higher for a result more like a 3-wood. A bonus for those of us who started playing 25+ years ago: the view at address. I could never get used to that grapefruit-on-a-stick look of the newer drivers. It's SO great getting on the tee figuring where I want to hit my tee shot, rather than just hoping I can hit it straight.

[josephs_79]

This is making me want to try the mini off the deck and see how far it will go. I could seriously open up some space in the bag for wedges if it would pull long double duty. What lofts are you guys hitting it off the deck and with what distance?

 

Posted this in this thread and thought it might help:

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1428300-anyone-still-keep-big-bertha-mini-15-in-the-bag/

 

"So fresh off the weekend with it where I probably played 2 of my better if not best rounds. In part to what I was talking about with the shorter shaft from the GBB 3w.

 

I turned the Mini up to 13* on the 50g KK Black and also carried my min driver @ 12* on the KK Silver.

 

As expected the KK Black is solid, stout and dispersion is tight on it. My misses were nowhere near as bad as the silver. Length was as you would expect. Silver longer due to longer shaft and really long if I chased it properly. TBH off the tee, other than length, the difference was negligible in that if I had to use either for the rest I would be happy. Distance may hurt but the dispersion well and truly made up for this!

 

It was more off the ground where the Mini really came into its own on the 3w shaft. So easy to hit and controllable and long. The silver just feels to long and almost like trying to hit a driver off the deck. On the 3w shaft it felt more like a 3w and was easy to find the middle.

 

After this weekend I will now be carrying both permanently and have dropped 2 of my 3 wedges (Can not hit them and really struggling to justify keeping them in. Keeping 56* for flop and bunkers). One for tight narrow tee shots where control is way more important than distance and for off the ground. The other when it is open and wide and not too punishable being off line."

[josephs_79]

As for distance hard to read as my course is very hilly so distance varies. On Avg I would say somewhere in the 220m to 240m range if I get it solid. If not just on 200m.

 

That's total with roll out w Summer Fairways etc. Carry would be no idea but I would say at least 20m roll if not more.

[toad37]

If I were considering one of these, I'd hit the new 44.5" Callaway BB Fusion, first. Shaft is only half an inch longer and it's a big, forgiving head with a 13 degree option.

 

good point but big price difference

[noaces06]

Mine has been in the bag for 4 months and I couldn't be happier - even with my re-found driver swing I can't part with it. I have the 12* paired with an OG Graffaloy Blue S (tipped .5) and it's a monster. I don't miss many fairways and even bad misses are always in play.

 

I've converted both my Grandfather (Aldila "A" flex) and my Father (KK "R") to the club.

[C_rad]

Is someone has one and dont use it, pm me!

[toad37]

the 12* is very tough to find. Is it truly THAT much better/longer/etc. than the 14* ?

[Mych]

the 12* is very tough to find. Is it truly THAT much better/longer/etc. than the 14* ?

I have one I might be willing to part with. Never got along with it.

[toad37]

the 12* is very tough to find. Is it truly THAT much better/longer/etc. than the 14* ?

I have one I might be willing to part with. Never got along with it.

 

I'm still deciding if one would make sense for me, but thanks... There is guy looking for one in the WTB section.

[Frank The Shank]

Bought a A-Grind y-proto and classic. Which i hit very well. But Never gonna part with my 12° because I hit it so well for so long. Not gonna let it be that club I wish I never got rid of.

[Double Dutch]

the 12* is very tough to find. Is it truly THAT much better/longer/etc. than the 14* ?

I have one I might be willing to part with. Never got along with it.

BLASPHEMY!

 

Bought a A-Grind y-proto and classic. Which i hit very well. But Never gonna part with my 12° because I hit it so well for so long. Not gonna let it be that club I wish I never got rid of.

That's more like it

[cmatthews77]

I also have a 12 degree. Love it but it never stays in the bag very long. It's almost like a toy. I've played with the stock shaft. For a while put a 4W shaft in it to use as a long 3W.

 

But I always seem to gravitate back to a driver and traditional fairway.