Big Bertha, Big Bertha Alpha, SLDR and i25

[DeepSixer]

Comparison between the BB and SLDR:

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Comparison between the i25 and BBA:

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Personally found the reviews interesting, cutting through Callaway's marketing...

Individual reviews can be found on the guy's channel as well.

Are these reviews inline with your own personal experiences?

[jay65]

They're interesting vids, but I would guess the Callaway fanboys will say it's not Apples to apples because the shafts were different, and the Fubuki Z in the Callaway may not be as good a fit for him as the stock shaft in the SLDR. The TM fanboys will say that this proves the SLDR is still ahead of Callaway at this stage. Just depends on which side of the fence one sits.

Either way, if a Golfer is fit properly and gets as close to optimum numbers, with any Driver on the market, then that Driver will be better than anything else, irrespective of the brand. Any Driver is only as good as the Golfer hitting it, and the numbers he/she produces. In other words, they're all the same!!! Lol.

[Wooderson]

Wow, the SLDR performed fantastic. Good reviews.

[misplacedtexan83]

[quote name='jay65' timestamp='1393671393' post='8770330']
They're interesting vids, but I would guess the Callaway fanboys will say it's not Apples to apples because the shafts were different, and the Fubuki Z in the Callaway may not be as good a fit for him as the stock shaft in the SLDR. The TM fanboys will say that this proves the SLDR is still ahead of Callaway at this stage. Just depends on which side of the fence one sits.

Either way, if a Golfer is fit properly and gets as close to optimum numbers, with any Driver on the market, then that Driver will be better than anything else, irrespective of the brand. Any Driver is only as good as the Golfer hitting it, and the numbers he/she produces. In other words, they're all the same!!! Lol.
[/quote]

Jay the fact that the Big Bertha is suppose to have the real deal "Fubuki Z" compare to a proprietary shaft that PING makes for their driver should say a lot about PING's equipment. I agree it is important that people should get fitted but maybe people should not be close minded and try them all? Who knows maybe a PING guy will get a Big Bertha and a Callaway guy would get a i25.

[jay65]

[quote name='misplacedtexan83' timestamp='1393678416' post='8770534']
[quote name='jay65' timestamp='1393671393' post='8770330']
They're interesting vids, but I would guess the Callaway fanboys will say it's not Apples to apples because the shafts were different, and the Fubuki Z in the Callaway may not be as good a fit for him as the stock shaft in the SLDR. The TM fanboys will say that this proves the SLDR is still ahead of Callaway at this stage. Just depends on which side of the fence one sits.

Either way, if a Golfer is fit properly and gets as close to optimum numbers, with any Driver on the market, then that Driver will be better than anything else, irrespective of the brand. Any Driver is only as good as the Golfer hitting it, and the numbers he/she produces. In other words, they're all the same!!! Lol.
[/quote]

Jay the fact that the Big Bertha is suppose to have the real deal "Fubuki Z" compare to a proprietary shaft that PING makes for their driver should say a lot about PING's equipment. I agree it is important that people should get fitted but maybe people should not be close minded and try them all? Who knows maybe a PING guy will get a Big Bertha and a Callaway guy would get a i25.
[/quote]

I would absolutely agree. The only thing that I would say in slight defence of the Fubuki Z comment, is the fact that it's a real deal shaft does not mean that it is a pre-requiste of fitting a Golfer better than a proprietary shaft. For example, I know that I would probably hit a the Stiff stock shaft in TM SLDR, a lot better than I would a regular flex Bassara for instance, yet the Bassara is still a 'real deal' shaft. Having said that, the PWR shafts that you allude to, are an excellent shaft range, no doubt about that. I have ordered my i25 Hybrid in a PWR 90, and couldn't see anything in the aftermarket range of hybrid shafts that would be any better. So on that point, I would agree with you 100%.

I would also agree that some people are quite closed minded, when it comes to trying different manufacturers equipment, however, you can always argue a case for 'brand loyalty' because somebody has been treated well in the past. Or even the issue of residual values for some people, rightly or wrongly, are important to some. I guess those reasons are fair reasons, why somebody may want to stay with a particular manufacturer.

[evanseze]

Interesting comparison videos. I have to say I am a bit disappointed that the BB didn't fare better against the SLDR. I have the SLDR and R1 and was thinking about picking up a BB or the Alpha for a little side by side comparison, may just leave well enough alone.

[kendall.boudreau]

he was 60 yards offline with one of the hits with the I25. Ouch. Around 20-30 with the rest including the Alpha. It's not all about distance, especially when the averages are so close.

[SwooshLT]

#JETSPEED .........better than all of these. . . .lol

[ShutSteepStuck]

He was spraying it all over the place!!!

[Wooderson]

His target and the monitors center line could have been different. Which would explain most shots being 20-30 yards off and makes the ping offline more like 30 off.

[jay65]

Here we go! And they're off!!!

[misplacedtexan83]

[quote name='jay65' timestamp='1393681563' post='8770732']
[quote name='misplacedtexan83' timestamp='1393678416' post='8770534']
[quote name='jay65' timestamp='1393671393' post='8770330']
They're interesting vids, but I would guess the Callaway fanboys will say it's not Apples to apples because the shafts were different, and the Fubuki Z in the Callaway may not be as good a fit for him as the stock shaft in the SLDR. The TM fanboys will say that this proves the SLDR is still ahead of Callaway at this stage. Just depends on which side of the fence one sits.

Either way, if a Golfer is fit properly and gets as close to optimum numbers, with any Driver on the market, then that Driver will be better than anything else, irrespective of the brand. Any Driver is only as good as the Golfer hitting it, and the numbers he/she produces. In other words, they're all the same!!! Lol.
[/quote]

Jay the fact that the Big Bertha is suppose to have the real deal "Fubuki Z" compare to a proprietary shaft that PING makes for their driver should say a lot about PING's equipment. I agree it is important that people should get fitted but maybe people should not be close minded and try them all? Who knows maybe a PING guy will get a Big Bertha and a Callaway guy would get a i25.
[/quote]

I would absolutely agree. The only thing that I would say in slight defence of the Fubuki Z comment, is the fact that it's a real deal shaft does not mean that it is a pre-requiste of fitting a Golfer better than a proprietary shaft. For example, I know that I would probably hit a the Stiff stock shaft in TM SLDR, a lot better than I would a regular flex Bassara for instance, yet the Bassara is still a 'real deal' shaft. Having said that, the PWR shafts that you allude to, are an excellent shaft range, no doubt about that. I have ordered my i25 Hybrid in a PWR 90, and couldn't see anything in the aftermarket range of hybrid shafts that would be any better. So on that point, I would agree with you 100%.

I would also agree that some people are quite closed minded, when it comes to trying different manufacturers equipment, however, you can always argue a case for 'brand loyalty' because somebody has been treated well in the past. Or even the issue of residual values for some people, rightly or wrongly, are important to some. I guess those reasons are fair reasons, why somebody may want to stay with a particular manufacturer.
[/quote]

I used to be a Callaway nut but last year when i was looking for GI irons I went to a fitter and said find me the best irons for my swing.. I ended up with PING G25s and I have seen vast improvement over my Razr Xs.. Now with that being said, today I was looking for a driver but i didn't even both to demo the other OEMs when straight to the PING booth and rocked the i25... now I have one on order with an upgraded shaft, which after the review I had high hopes for the stock shaft but numbers don't lie.

[birdman72]

It looks like the spin numbers are a lot higher with the callaways.

[Bowhunter82]

A human comparison by a guy spraying a ball doesn't give any other person any idea of how they might hit the club or even which one could be better. There are way too many variables.

[dirthead]

[quote name='Bowhunter82' timestamp='1397697190' post='9108111']
A human comparison by a guy spraying a ball doesn't give any other person any idea of how they might hit the club or even which one could be better. There are way too many variables.
[/quote]

+1

Put them on a robot and then let's see the data. I had a SLDR and returned it. When hit perfectly it was great. A slight mishit was a disaster. Now I have a BB Alpha in the bag and it's much more forgiving and I get the same distance as with the SLDR. Not a real scientific comparison, but that's my experience with the two.

[rjp322]

I hate TM products but got to hit the SLDR 430 in dicks today and it was miles better for me than the BB or the alpha and I went in there really wanting to like the alpha. The SLDR really really shocked me. Definitely a good club

[AzSuperHack76]

[quote name='dirthead' timestamp='1397697676' post='9108203']
[quote name='Bowhunter82' timestamp='1397697190' post='9108111']
A human comparison by a guy spraying a ball doesn't give any other person any idea of how they might hit the club or even which one could be better. There are way too many variables.
[/quote]

+1

Put them on a robot and then let's see the data. I had a SLDR and returned it. When hit perfectly it was great. A slight mishit was a disaster. Now I have a BB Alpha in the bag and it's much more forgiving and I get the same distance as with the SLDR. Not a real scientific comparison, but that's my experience with the two.
[/quote]

I agree with you completely on the SLDR, after 3 range sessions and 2 rounds I have had the same experience. Hit it perfect and it's amazing, any type of mishit and it's just dead. Returning it today and going to try a few more drivers. Absolutely no loyalty to any manufacturer at this point. Whatever I get fit into and does the best for me is what I'm going with.

[zwhitworth]

I've hit both and they are both really deep. With the right shaft, you can't go wrong with either.