Callaway Big Bertha 1.5 Mini driver

[ADB]

Well, after being so inconsistent with my driver I finally decided to go another route. I can go weeks at a time where I can hit the driver fairly well but than go weeks where I cant and fall back to hitting my Callaway XR 3 wood off the tee. I can hit the fairway wood straight down the middle at around 225 yards max. I am giving up distance but at leat can play it. After much contemplation and having it the mini driver last year I decided to order the Big Bertha mini 1.5 with 14 degree loft and the stiff kurokage shaft. I had hit the 12 degree on the LM but at this time cannot find one in any store and even online the 12 degree is nearly impossible to find with a stiff shaft. I figure worst case I drop the 14 down to 13 degrees.

 

My experience on the launch monitor last year with the 12 degree was an average distance of around 245...so I figure at 13 its still gotta be around 240. Better to hit it 240 and be in the fairway than hit it 260 with a driver and be in the woods.

 

So, what experience has anyone had with this club. I read one great professional review where they hit the mini driver with 14 degree in stiff vs an XR deep 14 degree also in stiff. They found the mini an average 13 yards longer with the same loft. Id imagine comparing the driver set at 13 vs my 15 degree XR, I might see 18-20. I could live with that.

[ADB]

Well, after being so inconsistent with my driver I finally decided to go another route. I can go weeks at a time where I can hit the driver fairly well but than go weeks where I cant and fall back to hitting my Callaway XR 3 wood off the tee. I can hit the fairway wood straight down the middle at around 225 yards max. I am giving up distance but at leat can play it. After much contemplation and having it the mini driver last year I decided to order the Big Bertha mini 1.5 with 14 degree loft and the stiff kurokage shaft. I had hit the 12 degree on the LM but at this time cannot find one in any store and even online the 12 degree is nearly impossible to find with a stiff shaft. I figure worst case I drop the 14 down to 13 degrees.

 

My experience on the launch monitor last year with the 12 degree was an average distance of around 245...so I figure at 13 its still gotta be around 240. Better to hit it 240 and be in the fairway than hit it 260 with a driver and be in the woods.

 

So, what experience has anyone had with this club. I read one great professional review where they hit the mini driver with 14 degree in stiff vs an XR deep 14 degree also in stiff. They found the mini an average 13 yards longer with the same loft. Id imagine comparing the driver set at 13 vs my 15 degree XR, I might see 18-20. I could live with that.

[SubaruWRX]

Love the mini with the factory speeder shaft. Bombs on a wire.

[Chomper]

I used a Mini 1.5 exclusively as my driver for almost 4 months. I hit more FIR, I was longer off the tee (250-ish) and I could get rid of my 3w, because I also hit it off the turf.

 

I love it - and I bought another one, for back up.

[ADB]

I used a Mini 1.5 exclusively as my driver for almost 4 months. I hit more FIR, I was longer off the tee (250-ish) and I could get rid of my 3w, because I also hit it off the turf.

 

I love it - and I bought another one, for back up.

 

Are you using the 12 or 14 degree mini?

 

I used a Mini 1.5 exclusively as my driver for almost 4 months. I hit more FIR, I was longer off the tee (250-ish) and I could get rid of my 3w, because I also hit it off the turf.

 

I love it - and I bought another one, for back up.

12 or 14 degree?

[emea_golfer]

I got 12 degree, but the spin was so low the loft needed to

raise to 14.

Different animal, nice mid traj.

 

Hardly lost something related to the driver.

[minhjn]

It's the best in its category for sure. Spins less than the mini drivers from Taylor made

[Golfingfanatic]

I currently use and play it at 11° with a veylix roughneck shaft at 43.5“ playing length. I absolutely love this setup. Very straight, almost as long as a regular driver and playable off the deck if you have a good lie.

[mootrail]

Wanted to like it, but couldn't live with the looks. Went AB Mini TP 14 instead. I know people hate white, but the AB frames the ball so much better, it just looks easier to hit at address.

[Mob]

A great product for a certain group of golfers. I love mine, but I also love hitting driver so it is always a struggle for me trying to decide which one to hit. It is about 15 yards short of my driver. I like having both in the bag, so if my driver isn't working that day, I can switch over to the Mini.

[6thFairway]

I love mine but I didn't replace my driver. I replaced my 3 wood with the 14* model.

[Frank The Shank]

I love finding more fairways with mine, lost maybe 10-15 yds and never really liked the look of bigger driver heads. Swith between different shafts is also a plus.

[ADB]

My 14 degree with Kurokage Stiff shaft arrived today, and I used it at Golf League tonight. All I can say is , oh my. I have always struggled with driver, but this mini driver is long and straight. I swear its like someone is piloting the ball when hit with the driver. Everything wants to go straight. My ocassional pulls found the fairway, not a single ball went right....almost everything was down the middle. Nice mid trajectory and love the distance. I had set it to 13 degree draw and saw my longest drive at 260 with others in the 240's. A couple of mishits still went around 220 and found the edge of the fairway. Is it shorter than my driver when I can hit the driver on the screws? Absolutely. Maybe 10-15 yards, However my driver is all over the place. I will stick to the mini for sure. I had debated wether the 14 degree at 13 was going to be okay or if I should have purchased a 12 degree. Given the trajectory, the 12 would have been a bit to flat. This club is outstanding.

[RecidivistGOLFER]

Have one in transit as we speak, 14* Kuru R flex. Found one for $100 in almost new condition, headcover and tool.

 

My driver and I are in a dysfunctional relationship right now and I want something along the lines of a 3 wood that's geared more toward the tee. I also like the shorter shaft from a control standpoint. I have a titleist 906F 15.5* that I absolutely love off the deck. Good for about 195-205 depending on the lie . Off the tee though is a little dicey. So it's almost like I'll be gaming 2 three woods.

[Chomper]

I used a Mini 1.5 exclusively as my driver for almost 4 months. I hit more FIR, I was longer off the tee (250-ish) and I could get rid of my 3w, because I also hit it off the turf.

 

I love it - and I bought another one, for back up.

 

Are you using the 12 or 14 degree mini?

 

I used a Mini 1.5 exclusively as my driver for almost 4 months. I hit more FIR, I was longer off the tee (250-ish) and I could get rid of my 3w, because I also hit it off the turf.

 

I love it - and I bought another one, for back up.

12 or 14 degree?

I purchased the 12* model. When I used it as driver, I used 11* . I use it at 13* as a 3w.

[lil'mike]

Those sound alot like the old Tour 3 woods that used to run about 13 degrees! :) I have never hit one but don't have any issue with hitting my drivers.

 

I can see the benefit of using it as a driver and a 3 wood off the deck on a real long par 5 though! Kinda like two clubs in one!

[ADB]

Have one in transit as we speak, 14* Kuru R flex. Found one for $100 in almost new condition, headcover and tool.

 

My driver and I are in a dysfunctional relationship right now and I want something along the lines of a 3 wood that's geared more toward the tee. I also like the shorter shaft from a control standpoint. I have a titleist 906F 15.5* that I absolutely love off the deck. Good for about 195-205 depending on the lie . Off the tee though is a little dicey. So it's almost like I'll be gaming 2 three woods.

 

Nice, I paid $129 for it with the HC and tool Like New, but you did even better. You wont be disappointed. Sounds Like you and I I both suffer from the love hate with the full size driver. Heck, If I can hit this thing on average at 245 yards and its in the fairway...I dont care if its shorter than the driver at its longest. I am in the fairway. For me thats the different between a round where I am braking 80 or not.

[Sir Slicealot]

Thread Resurrection...

I got my club for 125$ new in the plastic with head cover and tool (14°). I fooled around with it and tried the draw setting before committing to just figure out how to hit it straight. Fats forward through about two weeks of no play to last night for a few shots into the net where everything felt wonderful. So I get out for the first time in ages it seems today and this club was on fire. It was hitting shots right where I needed them to go. I believe my furthest drive was 260+ with most settling in around 245. I found that it had a high tolerance for mistakes and went straight for much of the day. So much so that after 9 I put the 3+ and driver in the vehicle to avoid the temptation to do anything stupid. If I had a better short game, today would have been epic. I am highly tempted to go again tomorrow.

[josephs_79]

I put one in too play on Friday and Sunday here in AUS. Probably the most consistent 'driving" club I have ever had next to the X2 Hot 3W I have. I put the driver away about 3 weeks ago and was using the 3w off the Tee (Went 10/14 FIR the other week). Bought this as a test.

 

Distance wise was about the same as my driver and accuracy at least 50 to 75% better without a shadow of a doubt. 12* vs X2 Hot Pro 8* and Big Bertha 9.5*.

 

I am honestly wondering why I didn't do this sooner and am cursing I haven't. Leading into Summer down here I am glad I found it though as I will get to enjoy it and the baked fairways with run!

 

I think the shaft is a touch whippy and launching highish for me but a tip trim should fix it up until I can find the right shaft for it.

 

It has changed my outlook, most weekends I looked forward to playing but always had felt some angst because of the driver. Now I can't wait to play and know and feel confident in my game. Hopefully this can now start bringing my cap down!!

[oldschoolrocker]

When you get it dialed in it is a supreme confidence booster. A heat seeking fairway finder.

[mcs4]

I dig the Mini. Right now I enjoy that I can play without needing a "driver swing" while I firm up my swing after some injuries, since I can tee it low and swing like it a fairway wood. Since that drastically reduces my ability to get under the ball and generate too much spin, my average drive (with the 12 degree model) is probably as long as any standard driver I've used in the past few years.

[95124hacker]

I am still loving my 12* Mini after 5 rounds with it. The only other driver that performs just as well is my 14* R15.

[Sir Slicealot]

I have the 14° mini and it is phenomenal. Learn what height to tee at to adjust trajectory. It can be a lofty club or a bullet. I have found that I can get 250-270 out of it most times. If it is off the driver is usually on...

[thekanga]

I have the 12* mini and love it. If my driver is off I'll use it for a couple of rounds to keep my confidence up off the tee.

 

I'd say it is about 20 yards shorter than my driver but far more accurate.

[6thFairway]

I have the 14* Mini and I play it as my 3 wood. I love it, I use it often from the tee on slightly tighter holes, and I'm not afraid to use it off the ground if the target area is pretty wide open.

[Ripken08]

I am seriously considering picking on of these up. I have been using my G30 3W off the tee the past few rounds and hit it much more accurately. Would love to squeeze out a few more yards though. I just don't know what my next club after the mini would be?

[tdk8180]

Spin rates are surprisingly high with this head

[Ri_Redneck]

Hey, look! I got a shorter, higher lofted tee club and I hit it straighter. Who'd a thought?

 

BT

[clark827]

Spin rates are surprisingly high with this head

 

You don't by chance have any data to support do you? I've been looking at them and this comment kinda scared me.

[Sir Slicealot]

Spin rates are surprisingly high with this head

 

You don't by chance have any data to support do you? I've been looking at them and this comment kinda scared me.

Don't be scared. The club is awesome. I hit it off the tee and it's fine. I haven't hit it off the deck much at all. I have hybrids and long irons for that and I like them too.