Callaway's new Big Bertha V-Series driver shot at the 2014 WGC Bridgestone

[blakesmittkamp]

Looks solid. Always a fan of the triangle scoring lines.

[apprenti23]

They had the driver and fwy at a demo day this past Tuesday. Everyone who hit it loved it! Most all loved how much lighter it felt in comparison to the BB. Color scheme not so much- most everyone enjoyed the patriotic rwb of this years bb line.

[tjohnston]

I played 18 with this bad boy today and all I can say: my beloved xhot is now in the closet!

[ne26]

[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406862167' post='9829567']I played 18 with this bad boy today and all I can say: my beloved xhot is now in the closet![/quote]

Any more details? Can't wait to get my hands on one.

[Mitchell]

Can I get it labeled as a 6.5* Ruger Titanium head with an X flex AJ Tech shaft? Used to stripe that back in the day, may have to give this a try for nostalgia sake, which is probably what the design and marketing will be all about. Hope it's not that great, may spoil my contrarian image. Lighter head, lighter overall weight, adjustable hosel? .....nostalgia has waned, that was close

[deck]

[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406862167' post='9829567']
I played 18 with this bad boy today and all I can say: my beloved xhot is now in the closet!
[/quote]

Why is that all you can say? Lame

[R-FowlerFanPA]

[quote name='deck' timestamp='1406894385' post='9831097']
[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406862167' post='9829567']
I played 18 with this bad boy today and all I can say: my beloved xhot is now in the closet!
[/quote]

Why is that all you can say? Lame
[/quote]
that's all because he most likely didn't hit it

[deck]

[quote name='R-FowlerFanPA' timestamp='1406899392' post='9831549']
[quote name='deck' timestamp='1406894385' post='9831097']
[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406862167' post='9829567']
I played 18 with this bad boy today and all I can say: my beloved xhot is now in the closet!
[/quote]

Why is that all you can say? Lame
[/quote]
that's all because he most likely didn't hit it
[/quote]

I try to see the good in people But I agree.

[ZBigStick]

I'm still very curious about the price, $299 or $399?? No adjustable weights or gravity core, so X Hot price, right?

I liked the feel and look of the Opti 440 but at normal 45"-45.5" the head needed a lot of lead tape. I hope this one isn't the same.

I'm hopeful for this club as I just couldn't pull the trigger on the BB or BBa this season, and the X2-Hot Pro only came in one loft!

[slicktry]

[quote name='spr298' timestamp='1406633859' post='9808109']
Speed slot on the toe. I think Ben Hogan already did that. Nothing new.
[/quote]

And Callaway owns those patents....

God Bless
Jer

[tjohnston]

[quote name='R-FowlerFanPA' timestamp='1406899392' post='9831549']
[quote name='deck' timestamp='1406894385' post='9831097']
[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406862167' post='9829567']
I played 18 with this bad boy today and all I can say: my beloved xhot is now in the closet!
[/quote]

Why is that all you can say? Lame
[/quote]
that's all because he most likely didn't hit it
[/quote]

Yes I did play it along with the new callaway apex muscle backs that I will post pics tomorrow. Both products are great especially the driver. It feels soft like the xhot line but more kick like the berthas! Don't be haters!

[deck]

[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406951928' post='9838303'][quote name='R-FowlerFanPA' timestamp='1406899392' post='9831549']
[quote name='deck' timestamp='1406894385' post='9831097']
[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406862167' post='9829567']
I played 18 with this bad boy today and all I can say: my beloved xhot is now in the closet!
[/quote]

Why is that all you can say? Lame
[/quote]
that's all because he most likely didn't hit it
[/quote]

Yes I did play it along with the new callaway apex muscle backs that I will post pics tomorrow. Both products are great especially the driver. It feels soft like the xhot line but more kick like the berthas! Don't be haters![/quote]

I'm totally hating on you because your review is so in depth of it. How about giving a little more.


Sent from my potty using GolfWRX Mobile

[ZBigStick]

[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406951928' post='9838303'][quote name='R-FowlerFanPA' timestamp='1406899392' post='9831549']
[quote name='deck' timestamp='1406894385' post='9831097']
[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406862167' post='9829567']
I played 18 with this bad boy today and all I can say: my beloved xhot is now in the closet!
[/quote]

Why is that all you can say? Lame
[/quote]
that's all because he most likely didn't hit it
[/quote]

Yes I did play it along with the new callaway apex muscle backs that I will post pics tomorrow. Both products are great especially the driver. It feels soft like the xhot line but more kick like the berthas! Don't be haters![/quote]

Sounds like a winner! What is the standard length and swing weight?

[jonn443]

[quote name='jonyim94' timestamp='1406597771' post='9805923']
[attachment=2346603:great_bb_large.jpg]

Hello Grandpa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think we found its modern day descendent here.

But seriously though, looks good. Even though I've never hit the Great Big Bertha driver (I'm not even 20), it resembles a bit of my dad's very old Big Bertha War Bird driver (which I still have), an antique & a dinosaur by GolfWRX standards.
[/quote]

I loved the original war bird... what a driver. This new one has potential!

[irwinfletcher77]

I thought this driver was designed for slower club head speeds. Isn't this driver not to take the place of any current in line drivers but the optiforce?

[tjohnston]

[quote name='deck' timestamp='1406952881' post='9838349']
[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406951928' post='9838303'][quote name='R-FowlerFanPA' timestamp='1406899392' post='9831549']
[quote name='deck' timestamp='1406894385' post='9831097']
[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1406862167' post='9829567']
I played 18 with this bad boy today and all I can say: my beloved xhot is now in the closet!
[/quote]

Why is that all you can say? Lame
[/quote]
that's all because he most likely didn't hit it
[/quote]

Yes I did play it along with the new callaway apex muscle backs that I will post pics tomorrow. Both products are great especially the driver. It feels soft like the xhot line but more kick like the berthas! Don't be haters![/quote]

I'm totally hating on you because your review is so in depth of it. How about giving a little more.


Sent from my potty using GolfWRX Mobile
[/quote]

I will be playing with it again tomorrow and will get you all the specs on it. The beast carried 15 yards further than my 10.5 xhot2 with diamana Blueboard stiff. The new apex muscle backs were like swinging pure weapons! I'm a 9 and could game these but I do like the forgiveness of my regular apex but they would intimidate the hell out of your opponents on the course. Trying to figure out how to load pics. Still new to this site

I can email you pics but can't figure out how to post them. Technological poor:)

[ne26]

[quote name='irwinfletcher77' timestamp='1407006788' post='9841223']I thought this driver was designed for slower club head speeds. Isn't this driver not to take the place of any current in line drivers but the optiforce?[/quote]
Probably the wrong place to ask, but why do I see this view of clubs like the optiforce "for people with slow club head speeds"?

Yeah it's lighter, but doesn't that mean people with higher swing speeds will gain club head spead just the same?

I tried an optiforce 440 because it was cheap and gained a few mph of ball speed myself (sim wasn't picking up club head speed). And it's not like I swing slow to start with.

If it's controllable, couldn't it be a plus for the faster swingers? Just feel like it has this weird stigma.

[illyc]

[quote name='ZBigStick' timestamp='1406915250' post='9833653']
I'm still very curious about the price, $299 or $399?? No adjustable weights or gravity core, so X Hot price, right?

I liked the feel and look of the Opti 440 but at normal 45"-45.5" the head needed a lot of lead tape. I hope this one isn't the same.

I'm hopeful for this club as I just couldn't pull the trigger on the BB or BBa this season, and the X2-Hot Pro only came in one loft!
[/quote]

399

[dbug567]

I like the logo for ball alignment

[ZBigStick]

[quote name='illyc' timestamp='1407017584' post='9842271'][quote name='ZBigStick' timestamp='1406915250' post='9833653']
I'm still very curious about the price, $299 or $399?? No adjustable weights or gravity core, so X Hot price, right?

I liked the feel and look of the Opti 440 but at normal 45"-45.5" the head needed a lot of lead tape. I hope this one isn't the same.

I'm hopeful for this club as I just couldn't pull the trigger on the BB or BBa this season, and the X2-Hot Pro only came in one loft!
[/quote]

399[/quote]
That's too bad, seems a little steep with less adjustability unless it MAPs for $349.99. The only way it may position itself with the other BB drivers is if it's got a fantastic stock shaft or if they are set to drop even lower in price and feature the BBV as the premium option.

The Optiforce was a good club that worked, but it was never high volume. More of a limited release.

[tjohnston]

[quote name='ZBigStick' timestamp='1407096370' post='9847375']
[quote name='illyc' timestamp='1407017584' post='9842271'][quote name='ZBigStick' timestamp='1406915250' post='9833653']
I'm still very curious about the price, $299 or $399?? No adjustable weights or gravity core, so X Hot price, right?

I liked the feel and look of the Opti 440 but at normal 45"-45.5" the head needed a lot of lead tape. I hope this one isn't the same.

I'm hopeful for this club as I just couldn't pull the trigger on the BB or BBa this season, and the X2-Hot Pro only came in one loft!
[/quote]

399[/quote]
That's too bad, seems a little steep with less adjustability unless it MAPs for $349.99. The only way it may position itself with the other BB drivers is if it's got a fantastic stock shaft or if they are set to drop even lower in price and feature the BBV as the premium option.

The Optiforce was a good club that worked, but it was never high volume. More of a limited release.
[/quote]



Bessarabia eagle 42g or speeder motore 565?are the shaft options

[tjohnston]

[quote name='tjohnston' timestamp='1407123422' post='9850605']
[quote name='ZBigStick' timestamp='1407096370' post='9847375']
[quote name='illyc' timestamp='1407017584' post='9842271'][quote name='ZBigStick' timestamp='1406915250' post='9833653']
I'm still very curious about the price, $299 or $399?? No adjustable weights or gravity core, so X Hot price, right?

I liked the feel and look of the Opti 440 but at normal 45"-45.5" the head needed a lot of lead tape. I hope this one isn't the same.

I'm hopeful for this club as I just couldn't pull the trigger on the BB or BBa this season, and the X2-Hot Pro only came in one loft!
[/quote]

399[/quote]
That's too bad, seems a little steep with less adjustability unless it MAPs for $349.99. The only way it may position itself with the other BB drivers is if it's got a fantastic stock shaft or if they are set to drop even lower in price and feature the BBV as the premium option.

The Optiforce was a good club that worked, but it was never high volume. More of a limited release.
[/quote]



Bessarabia eagle 42g or speeder motore 565?are the shaft options

Bassara I meant these are the stock shafts they will be offering with this bad boy. I hit with speeder
[/quote]

[ZBigStick]

Speeder 569 or a new version?

[Goldenhawk]

Nice looking driver except for that stupid Newton logo. Remove that and replace it with the logo from the JDM version.

[vaca22]

There was an offical press release today:

[url="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/callaway-golf-announces-big-bertha-110000970.html"]http://finance.yahoo...-110000970.html[/url]

Edit - OOPS! Saw that it's on the front page. My bookmark takes me straight to the forums

[winnersplaycallaway]

[quote name='ZBigStick' timestamp='1407096370' post='9847375']
[quote name='illyc' timestamp='1407017584' post='9842271'][quote name='ZBigStick' timestamp='1406915250' post='9833653']
I'm still very curious about the price, $299 or $399?? No adjustable weights or gravity core, so X Hot price, right?

I liked the feel and look of the Opti 440 but at normal 45"-45.5" the head needed a lot of lead tape. I hope this one isn't the same.

I'm hopeful for this club as I just couldn't pull the trigger on the BB or BBa this season, and the X2-Hot Pro only came in one loft!
[/quote]

399[/quote]
That's too bad, seems a little steep with less adjustability unless it MAPs for $349.99. The only way it may position itself with the other BB drivers is if it's got a fantastic stock shaft or if they are set to drop even lower in price and feature the BBV as the premium option.

The Optiforce was a good club that worked, but it was never high volume. More of a limited release.
[/quote]

The V Series was not made to replace or compete with any of the current woods that Callaway offers. The V Series heads are made to be 10% lighter than the Big Bertha. The lighter head weight with the stock 42g Bassura shaft, is meant to target the players with slower swing speeds that are looking to increase swing speed and distance without sacrificing forgiveness.

The reason the price point is so high, is because the same R&D and testing that goes into the adjustable weights needs to be done to make a driver that much lighter but still maintain the proper specs and not sacrifice performance. If they brought it in at say $299 they would have to cut corners elsewhere and not make as good of a club.

This is actually a 2015 product that has been released. Meaning, this line is meant to continue on to next year and not fizzle out like the Optiforce.

[RPVL]

Are the FW's deep or normal?

[ramesq1]

They look great and at my age (56) with occasional elbow or joint issues I am liking the lightweight shaft without it being 46 inches. However, I will be patient and wait just a few months for the deep discounts, just like I did for my X2Hot Driver, fairway wood and hybrid.

[Ripvanwinkle]

I've been watching this announcement with some interest since I'm currently a happy Optiforce 440 owner. I'm not privy to any inside baseball info, but I suspect (after 40+ years in the consumer products arena) that the scenario went something like this. Dr. Hocknell has been working on the lighter, faster driver technology for several years. At the same time Harry has been reviewing the branding assets that Callaway owns and trying to figure out how to maximize them. They made a decision....quite brilliantly, I think, to re-introduce the Big Bertha brand with new technology and to make it the premium driver line-up. Along the way...word got out that Taylormade had a light weight driver, Jetspeed...ready to come to market. Not wanting to get outmaneuvered, Callaway rushed the Optiforce into the market. That is why it has always had the "limited edition" denials and confusion. Now since Big Bertha is back ...the lighter, faster driver line can be properly branded as the V series. Optiforce is off the Callaway website I noticed today. I suspect going forward we will see enhancements to the variable weighting schemes in the Big Bertha while the V series will tout faster, more aerodynamic improvements like the spoiler etc. I also note that Harry really wanted a mulligan with the Hogan brands Callaway owned....hence the Apex brand revival for the pro iron line. Where this leaves the X Hot brand is going to be interesting since the fairway woods have been so well accepted by the marketplace. I'd be surprised to see a X Hot 3 line myself.....I think they are ready to move on. All of this is to say I don't feel the need to upgrade my Optiforce since it's 440 and I'm pretty confident it contains all of Dr. Hocknell's current thinking about lighter, faster.

[nova6868]

Saw that this head was getting lots of tour play, just like Optiforce. Won't be surprised if it's eventually (or already) more popular than BB.

Only difference is I would almost guarantee all the tour guys are dumping lots of hotmelt in this head to get a decent SW.