Did I crack the face of my Big Bertha Alpha? (PIC)

[the.landshark]

Hit a drive today on the 5th hole, but it sounded a little different than normal (for a solid strike). I looked at the face after the swing and noticed these spiderweb-like cracks on the sweet spot (toe side of center). The ball was clean, had no dirt/sand/mud on it, and the driver seemed to perform normally for the 2-3 holes I needed to use it afterwards.

 

Overall, I'm not too stressed about it because I'm confident Callaway will rectify the situation (if necessary). Regardless, has anyone see this before? is failure imminent? or is it no big deal?

 

Thanks.

 

**note** the club is upside down in the pic, as if it were sitting in a golf bag, you can see the mark from the tee near the top.

 

[goondawg]

Cally driver faces get those spider web looking

[rcain1us]

I cracked two in the past, one Nakashima and one tour TM head, both were just a single a solid line. I can't see a spider web of cracks like that without the face caving in.

[DickieThon]

In my experience, when Callaway drivers break it's along the seam where the face is bonded to the rest of the head. Never had one where the face itself cracks.

[Kingcat990]

That's normal face wear. You'd know if you cracked it. You might have hit the guts out of that golf ball though. What's your driver SS?

[Agent Jim]

[quote name='Kingcat990' timestamp='1399429277' post='9246913']
That's normal face wear. You'd know if you cracked it. You might have hit the guts out of that golf ball though. What's your driver SS?
[/quote] This is WRX, of course its 135mph!

Like others said, callaway drivers get those marks for some reason.

[300_yard_drives]

My BBA has looked like that since the first couple balls I hit with it in January. It's normal wear.

[03trdblack]

I had the same spider web pattern form on my FT Tour driver. Callaway replaced it for me without any hesitation.

[OUZO Power]

Again as others stated. This is normal for Callaway drivers.

[rbhan12]

They're called "spider cracks", only cosmetic, no worries.

[ImBurningStarIV]

My course has the sandiest range on the planet, and that what all my woods look like, so I'd say sandy range ball.

[Agent Jim]

 

Edit: A premature "case closed" was posted. OP still believes something is wrong and will update.

[the.landshark]

Wow, thanks Agent Jim... for being so on top of things that you were able to "close my case". Nothing encourages people to contribute/share their experiences in my thread, more so than a friggin' giant red "case closed" sign. 1st thing I had to look at when I logged I this morning to read people's replies, so thanks for that.

...back to regularly scheduled programming,

In my situation, as I'd stated in the the OP, the ball was a clean ProV1x with only 4 holes on it, the driver made a slightly different sound than usual (which prompted me to look), and since it was brought up, my driver SS generally tops out at around 110.

I certainly can't comprehend how small cracks are normal wear and tear (there is no "finish" on the face, as the driver would be non-conforming if there were, IIRC). I've only had one other Callaway driver in the last 5 seasons, an FT-Tour (which is still going strong in my travel bag), and it hasn't experienced anything like this. It's interesting that 03trdblack had one of those replaced by Callaway for this same thing, so maybe it's a known defect of some sort?

I'll shoot their CS a couple pics later today, and hear what they have to say. To be honest, I'd rather not deal with getting a warranty replacement if I don't have to. Hopefully, as others have mentioned (and as strange as it is to say), these small stress cracks are somehow "normal", and the driver will continue to perform as I expect. We'll see after my round this afternoon.

[Agent Jim]

[quote name='the.landshark' timestamp='1399454923' post='9248331']
Wow, thanks Agent Jim... for being so on top of things that you were able to "close my case". Nothing encourages people to contribute/share their experiences in my thread, more so than a friggin' giant red "case closed" sign. 1st thing I had to look at when I logged I this morning to read people's replies, so thanks for that.

...back to regularly scheduled programming,

In my situation, as I'd stated in the the OP, the ball was a clean ProV1x with only 4 holes on it, the driver made a slightly different sound than usual (which prompted me to look), and since it was brought up, my driver SS generally tops out at around 110.

I certainly can't comprehend how small cracks are normal wear and tear (there is no "finish" on the face, as the driver would be non-conforming if there were, IIRC). I've only had one other Callaway driver in the last 5 seasons, an FT-Tour (which is still going strong in my travel bag), and it hasn't experienced anything like this. It's interesting that 03trdblack had one of those replaced by Callaway for this same thing, so maybe it's a known defect of some sort?

I'll shoot their CS a couple pics later today, and hear what they have to say. To be honest, I'd rather not deal with getting a warranty replacement if I don't have to. Hopefully, as others have mentioned (and as strange as it is to say), these small stress cracks are somehow "normal", and the driver will continue to perform as I expect. We'll see after my round this afternoon.
[/quote] Sorry, seems like there was an agreement. I edited and the case is no longer closed.

[the.landshark]

lol, thanks man

*update*
So I contacted Callaway HQ and sent them a couple pics. After a few days of deliberation, they decided that since the club is still working well (it is), that we'll just monitor the "cracks". If anything changes, in terms of sound or ball flight, they'll take care of it from there... so all is well.

Per Agent Jim: Case Closed!

[ess32]

I have a friend who caved in the face on a 2 deep and then did the same on a BB three wood. Callaway does a good job of taking care of the replacements. They even upgraded his shaft on one of the returns.

[Bill3508]

[quote name='Agent Jim' timestamp='1399456079' post='9248351']
[quote name='the.landshark' timestamp='1399454923' post='9248331']
Wow, thanks Agent Jim... for being so on top of things that you were able to "close my case". Nothing encourages people to contribute/share their experiences in my thread, more so than a friggin' giant red "case closed" sign. 1st thing I had to look at when I logged I this morning to read people's replies, so thanks for that.

...back to regularly scheduled programming,

In my situation, as I'd stated in the the OP, the ball was a clean ProV1x with only 4 holes on it, the driver made a slightly different sound than usual (which prompted me to look), and since it was brought up, my driver SS generally tops out at around 110.

I certainly can't comprehend how small cracks are normal wear and tear (there is no "finish" on the face, as the driver would be non-conforming if there were, IIRC). I've only had one other Callaway driver in the last 5 seasons, an FT-Tour (which is still going strong in my travel bag), and it hasn't experienced anything like this. It's interesting that 03trdblack had one of those replaced by Callaway for this same thing, so maybe it's a known defect of some sort?

I'll shoot their CS a couple pics later today, and hear what they have to say. To be honest, I'd rather not deal with getting a warranty replacement if I don't have to. Hopefully, as others have mentioned (and as strange as it is to say), these small stress cracks are somehow "normal", and the driver will continue to perform as I expect. We'll see after my round this afternoon.
[/quote] Sorry, seems like there was an agreement. I edited and the case is no longer closed.
[/quote]

Haha. Looks cosmetic to me.

[wcm115]

Speaking of busted Callaways...

[attachment=2213755:busted ft tour.jpg]

[Dellagratti]

Thats Not Cracked, This is CRACKED.

[Kingcat990]

Thats Not Cracked, This is CRACKED.

 

Did you block a gun shot with your driver?