Callaway GBB Epic and Epic Sub Zero: Drivers and Fairways

[dlongstaff]

Has anyone weighed both heads the normal Epic and Epic SZ heads?

 

One internet post claimed 193g and another post 200g. Seems odd they would be 6g apart.

 

The 193g would make sense for the GBB Epic since it is D3, but the SZ should be around 196g for D4 at 45.5" I know the four heads I have at home: Razr-fit, Alpha, 815 DBD, and the 816 DBD were all around 196g stock weighting (206+/- with adapter), and their stock swing weight was D4 at 45.5". Now, only if the head was 200g, then I wouldn't have to find a place for some lead tape, would I^^

[TitleistM1]

Dicks has them in stock

[JonnyKrasnodar]

Even Crossfield's average carry went up to 272 with the SZ?

[The Chicken Connoisseur]

For the appropriate amount of hype - this driver appears to live up to it. Gaining even a couple of mph ball speed is difficult to do with todays technology.

 

For the hype some of you surrounded this driver with - it was impossible for it to perform that well. All I've read is "EPIC 4EVER" and "EPIC CHANGES COMING" and "THE EPIC THREAD".

 

C'mon - did y'all really think it was gonna go 350 yards with any swing, and just be the most epic thing ever?

 

This. Morons

[mccjud]

Thanks for the good review, Zak! I'm currently gaming an 815 Alpha and love the idea of lowering my spin. I don't so much love the idea of the price, however.

 

I'm looking forward to a demo day outside this spring at Chaska town course. Thanks!

[Warrick]

The ebay listings have begun.....

 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Callaway-GBB-Epic-Sub-Zero-driver-2017-9-degrees-NEW-/232195836482?hash=item360ff34a42:g:e5gAAOSwnHZYbTJ~

[bladehunter]

Might have already been said but the Epic SZ seems to be Callways version of the G LS. If this is the case and it is a lowish spin forgiving driver and sounds like most composite drivers then I am in. I went back to a G30 LS this week and love it but the sound is terrible.

 

All of this sounds great and makes sense until the OFFICIAL front page write up has what you are mentioning to the be G LS version (EPIC SZ) spinning more than the standard forgiving model (EPIC) in both weight up front and weight back positions.

 

This (EPIC SZ) doesn't sound like the advertised HIGH SPIN players dream... This is ONE sampling mind you - yet the OFFICIAL GolfWRX front page review.

 

 

I don't know who's swinging in that test but they should seek help. It's a low low head. Low spin and launch. Also quite fade biased. But wants to go straight.

[PapaJohick]

Also for those I know who were upset about this, they will have 80g options for fwys

[Dscvrr St Louis]

I was doing some testing on Trackman with the GBB and the SZ Epic recently and really just working on my path and face control. Normally swing in the low 100's--102-104mph on avg, but stepped it down just a bit while doing the path work. Wanted to share some results, I hit both heads with same shaft, same length, same SW, and both set at D/S, so both at 9*. I hit two sets of 10 balls each with each head, in GBB-SZ-GBB-SZ, and then kept the best 5 balls of each, strictly by CARRY. Just my 2 cents on the differences....found the sound and feel to be better for me in the SZ and it seems the back weight(12) really helped my not hit down as much on the ball for the most part...again tried to keep the best balls of each session.

 

 

[pingfan0222]

LMFAO. Great hype. Little gains. It's all about the strike. The rest is fluff jail break has to be there due to the 50% carbon fiber, if not the driver head would collapse. I'll wait on Ping still haven't seen anything that can beat it.

 

Just a couple of points. I'm not sure if you're an engineer or not, but based on your statement, I'm going to assume you're not. As for comparison to the Ping G and the LS, the GBB with the same shaft gave me 500 less spin than the LS, and 12 more yards, so maybe you should try something before making such bold statements across the board.

 

"Haters gonna hate" I suppose.

[bama11]

I was doing some testing on Trackman with the GBB and the SZ Epic recently and really just working on my path and face control. Normally swing in the low 100's--102-104mph on avg, but stepped it down just a bit while doing the path work. Wanted to share some results, I hit both heads with same shaft, same length, same SW, and both set at D/S, so both at 9*. I hit two sets of 10 balls each with each head, in GBB-SZ-GBB-SZ, and then kept the best 5 balls of each, strictly by CARRY. Just my 2 cents on the differences....found the sound and feel to be better for me in the SZ and it seems the back weight(12) really helped my not hit down as much on the ball for the most part...again tried to keep the best balls of each session.

 

 

Thanks for sharing, our speed numbers are pretty much aligned, my speed is around 105-107 range when going at it fully. I too am working on my path as well and swing about the same as you while working on it.

Where are you making impact on the face of the SZ? Low, center or high? I tend to hit the center or lower on the face, trying to improve my AOA as well to maximize my drives.

[Lacey Underall]

St. Louis -

Thanks for sharing that, impressive results. +4mph ball speed, +8yds carry. Hope it can improve my attack angle too!

[Hookasaurus Rex]

Questions for those who may know:

 

Is the Epic SZ a deeper face driver than the Epic? I can't really tell from the picture. The SZ does look bigger front to back in the pics?

 

What is the difference between the Rogue, Rogue i/o, and Rogue Max?

 

I had a GBB last year that was pretty good and as long as my M2, but for some reason, it tended to go more left on me than my other drivers, even in the fade position (I can't even hook my M2 if I tried). Also hit the GBB really,really high on the face, more so than my other drivers. I can't say I was in love with the face/head shape of the GBB, and was hoping they SZ and Epic would be different in that manner.

[VNutz]

I had a GBB last year that was pretty good and as long as my M2, but for some reason, it tended to go more left on me than my other drivers, even in the fade position (I can't even hook my M2 if I tried).

 

Lots of talk here and elsewhere about the GBB being a hook machine, even in the most fade settings.

[buchaneb]

If you order the SZ at less than 45.5", how are they going to get the swingweight up to D4? Heavier removable weights? I heard on the podcast that the regular Epic will come with two weights on the track to get the swingweight up if ordered less than 45.5".

[marlowe70]

Questions for those who may know:

 

Is the Epic SZ a deeper face driver than the Epic? I can't really tell from the picture. The SZ does look bigger front to back in the pics?

 

What is the difference between the Rogue, Rogue i/o, and Rogue Max?

 

I had a GBB last year that was pretty good and as long as my M2, but for some reason, it tended to go more left on me than my other drivers, even in the fade position (I can't even hook my M2 if I tried). Also hit the GBB really,really high on the face, more so than my other drivers. I can't say I was in love with the face/head shape of the GBB, and was hoping they SZ and Epic would be different in that manner.

 

Face Height SZ 2.09 / GBB 2.03

[Warrick]

I had a GBB last year that was pretty good and as long as my M2, but for some reason, it tended to go more left on me than my other drivers, even in the fade position (I can't even hook my M2 if I tried).

 

Lots of talk here and elsewhere about the GBB being a hook machine, even in the most fade settings.

 

maybe I should buy one....

[MtlJeff]

Pretty tired of "made for" shafts when we all know that even the real shaft costs about $10 to make.

 

I'm no expert but I'm genuinely curious as to whether it's the shaft companies or club companies driving the made for shaft phenomenon.

 

I have heard a shaft company speak a bit in depth about how some of their new releases were targeted more at aftermarket type premium prices.

 

Quite possible that they either don't want to be stock shafts to maintain mystique a bit, or they price themselves out of it intentionally

 

Again I don't know this is true, but I suppose it's possible.

[The Couv]

If you order the SZ at less than 45.5", how are they going to get the swingweight up to D4? Heavier removable weights? I heard on the podcast that the regular Epic will come with two weights on the track to get the swingweight up if ordered less than 45.5".

 

I've asked the same question by email to Callaway, haven't heard back. Asked as well on this forum and others and haven't got an answer yet.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

Fairway woods don't use the Jailbreak bars, is that going to be in next year's model?

[marlowe70]

SZ Fairway

 

[Lacey Underall]

Crossfield reviews the 13.5 model with weight forward. Lol, I would absolutely kill grasshoppers with that thing. I'll be "reviewing" the 15 degree model with weight back on 1/27. :taunt:

[Brizam]

Crossfield reviews the 13.5 model with weight forward. Lol, I would absolutely kill grasshoppers with that thing. I'll be "reviewing" the 15 degree model with weight back on 1/27. :taunt:

 

I haven't tried my SZ fairway in the weight forward position yet. If it were strictly a tee club for me I probably would. I just think it would be very hard to get any elevation from the fairway with it forward.

[jay65]

Just seen that the SZ won't be offered in LH in 10.5*, only 9*. So that's me probably out. I'll try it at 9* up 2 clicks, but not holding out much hope. Never mind, at least as a lefty I can still give the standard Epic a go in 10.5*.

 

Hang on a minute...........I'm not even in the market for new Driver........what the hell am I doing here???? :swoon:

[callawayjay]

You can swing goofy flat like me and buy the 13.5 version.

[mixxedbag]

If you order the SZ at less than 45.5", how are they going to get the swingweight up to D4? Heavier removable weights? I heard on the podcast that the regular Epic will come with two weights on the track to get the swingweight up if ordered less than 45.5".

 

I've asked the same question by email to Callaway, haven't heard back. Asked as well on this forum and others and haven't got an answer yet.

 

Anyone know what weight can be used in the SZ and where it can be bought if not accommodated by Callaway?

[The Couv]

If you order the SZ at less than 45.5", how are they going to get the swingweight up to D4? Heavier removable weights? I heard on the podcast that the regular Epic will come with two weights on the track to get the swingweight up if ordered less than 45.5".

 

I've asked the same question by email to Callaway, haven't heard back. Asked as well on this forum and others and haven't got an answer yet.

 

Anyone know what weight can be used in the SZ and where it can be bought if not accommodated by Callaway?

 

If it's the same weight as the 816 series you can get some aftermarket weights at Billy Bobs. Only prob I'm seeing is lack of weights over 12 grams. I am impressed by the MOI claims of the SZ with 2 grams in front and 12 in back. Obviously weight could be made up by replacing the front 2 gram weight, but will that negate the MOI gains if the two weights are close to equal? Hence the need for heavier than 12 gram weights for the back...ideally you would add the same amount of extra weight to the front and back.

[4rheel]

If they're anything like the previous 816 and 815, it would be easy to add hotmelt.

[3woodvt]

LMFAO. Great hype. Little gains. It's all about the strike. The rest is fluff jail break has to be there due to the 50% carbon fiber, if not the driver head would collapse. I'll wait on Ping still haven't seen anything that can beat it.

 

Just a couple of points. I'm not sure if you're an engineer or not, but based on your statement, I'm going to assume you're not. As for comparison to the Ping G and the LS, the GBB with the same shaft gave me 500 less spin than the LS, and 12 more yards, so maybe you should try something before making such bold statements across the board.

 

"Haters gonna hate" I suppose.

^^^Cool Aid anyone? Lap it up. I'm not a weatherman either but I can tell you it's cold outside and feels like snow's on the way. Use your mind sonny and ease up on the narcissism it's a poor quality. I was 9 yards longer with the LS vs the Callaway was a spinner for me...so what's your point? Be bold or go hide in the corner is my mantra. "Either way I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled too" Jack Nicholson - A Few Good Men 1992..

[Warrick]

If you order the SZ at less than 45.5", how are they going to get the swingweight up to D4? Heavier removable weights? I heard on the podcast that the regular Epic will come with two weights on the track to get the swingweight up if ordered less than 45.5".

 

I've asked the same question by email to Callaway, haven't heard back. Asked as well on this forum and others and haven't got an answer yet.

 

Anyone know what weight can be used in the SZ and where it can be bought if not accommodated by Callaway?

 

The weights from the UT iron work as well, had one in my original SZ (guessing it is the same).