Equipment
Spotted: Callaway 2017 GBB Epic Driver
After sharing leaked photos of what could be TaylorMade’s new M1 driver on our Facebook page, a GolfWRX user left a comment showing what could be Callaway’s new Great Big Bertha Epic driver for 2017.
From the photo, it appears the GBB Epic will have a back-track weighting system that looks similar to that of Callaway’s 2015 Great Big Bertha driver. It also has a color scheme reminiscent of Callaway’s popular Razr Fit Xtreme driver, launched in 2013, and three different sections of carbon fiber on the sole.
There’s also script on the front of the driver’s sole that says “Jailbreak Technology.” GolfWRX Members who claim to have seen the GBB Epic driver in person, or know someone who has, are chatting about it in this thread.
Related: See what GolfWRX members are saying about Callaway’s future equipment launches in our forums.
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
View this post on Instagram
OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Jericho
Dec 28, 2016 at 7:30 am
I want see Joe Miller hit this!
Jericho
Dec 28, 2016 at 7:33 am
* to *. ..damn autocorrect
Dave R
Nov 9, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Nothing is worth $499.00 I don’t care if it goes a mile, and a whole 17 yards different wow I. Get that if I hit my 4 wood instead of my DRIVER hey mabey I should use it instead ya that’s what I’ll do and it won’t cost me $499.00 . Hey Smizzle your always funny
prime21
Nov 14, 2016 at 4:56 pm
This comment makes no sense. You don’t care if it goes a mile, but just in case that wasn’t enough you tack on another 17 yards. If it travels 17 yards farther than your current driver, you would certainly pay $499 for it, especially considering that is the current market price of any driver, throwing in your shaft of choice. If anyone can make sense of why Dave is talking about his 4 wood, please fill me in. Thank you for your Epic post. Next time please try to make sense in at least one sentence.
Glenn kirk
Jan 2, 2017 at 8:02 pm
Lol
MrPoopoo
Nov 7, 2016 at 7:58 pm
I can’t wait for Callaway to bring back the C4 name.
Pingback: Callaway Great Big Bertha Epic – Austin Harvey
Jim
Nov 3, 2016 at 2:21 pm
fishing with dynamite.
Rimjob
Nov 3, 2016 at 3:03 am
EpicBallz
Steve S
Nov 2, 2016 at 9:18 pm
Vomit…
Tom W
Nov 2, 2016 at 6:15 pm
Hit this today…….it’s good! 4mph more ball speed than the 917 d3, 12 yards more carry. Great feel off the face, very low spinning on the sub zero model. Impressive bit of kit!
joro3743
Nov 24, 2016 at 10:26 am
WOW, Tom, you are right, I have been buying a new Driver every time they have come out and so far over the past 10 yrs and 15 yrs gain with every new one I am now Driving the Ball over 450 yrs. and the newer Balls have also helped a lot with the new metals and design of Irons I am hitting my Wedge 250 yrs, in Fact I only use 3 clubs now, Driver, Wedge, and Putter.
I hear that now that people don’t need sets anymore and a few clubs can do the job that sales are killing them so the though is going back to Persimmon and wound Balls so they can sell more clubs and Balls. And the Balls will cut so the demand will be there for more.
Bottom line is how much more gullible is the consumer going to get.
Uhit
Nov 27, 2016 at 8:57 am
The COR is limited – no?
Maybe they needed to use the additional stabilization (Jailbreak Technology) to reach the allowed limit, with the otherwise too unstable head design??
Anyway, we have to wait and see, whether it really performs well, or not.
Glenn kirk
Jan 2, 2017 at 8:08 pm
If it can beat my GBB i will put one in the bag for sure
Rimjob
Nov 2, 2016 at 2:17 pm
Look! The first real, funny comment from the Smiz!
Rimjob
Nov 4, 2016 at 1:55 am
Nah. Don’t overshoot yourself, you ain’t nowhere near as good as you think. In fact, you’re a pest
davyb123
Nov 2, 2016 at 11:53 am
$700.
Parfield
Nov 2, 2016 at 9:37 am
Can’t wait to see Mark Crossfield hit it 262 like every other driver on the market.
Dat
Nov 2, 2016 at 12:25 pm
This
lastr002
Nov 2, 2016 at 2:14 pm
he probably still beats you by 12+ strokes
Parfield
Nov 2, 2016 at 3:29 pm
Ooh ooh ooh, did nor understand my comment. My observation relates to the “sameness” of equipment. I’d love to hit it like Marky!
Dat
Nov 2, 2016 at 9:20 pm
I’d give my decent putting for decent driving any day even if it improved my score by one.
dave johnson
Nov 2, 2016 at 11:15 pm
Callaway is the worst company ever made. I will not play them even if they want me to be on their staff, which they have asked. And yes I’m better than all of you, which means I know more than all of you. Don’t buy from this company. Go with PXG like me!
ace
Nov 3, 2016 at 1:27 am
what a tool
Jimmy Dean
Nov 3, 2016 at 10:42 pm
Absolutely, with a capital T’!
Bird Vandy
Nov 5, 2016 at 6:45 pm
Lol What a loser… I’m sure you’re a 6 handicap who beats his buddies by only a few. Go practice and shoot under par then get outta here!
Jimmy Banks
Nov 11, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Mark can’t chip so you can spot him a dozen..
Dave
Nov 2, 2016 at 8:08 am
Looks interesting, however I have just switched all clubs in my bag to Taylormade after years of loyal Callaway purchases, I doubt I will be back or try this driver. I still cheer for the brand on tour yet however, I like their staff players as well as Taylormades. 10 handicap playing 2 nines a week. I finally realized practice and instruction over new shiny clubs is best way to improve. I hope it does well, send one to Rory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jimmy Banks
Nov 11, 2016 at 2:04 pm
practise over new shiny clubs is why you have a bunch of new shiny TMs in your bag…doofus…
Dave
Nov 2, 2016 at 7:18 am
I’m sure it will be longer and more forgiving than the last 17 driver releases.
FNM
Nov 2, 2016 at 2:36 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG_k5CSYKhg
dungur
Nov 27, 2016 at 5:55 am
This, my friend, is exactly what popped up in my head when I saw that pics
FNM
Nov 2, 2016 at 2:27 am
Faith No More – Epic
Can you feel it, see it, hear it today?
If you can’t, then it doesn’t matter anyway
You will never understand it cuz it happens too fast
And it feels so good, it’s like walking on glass
It’s so cool, it’s so hip, it’s alright
It’s so groovy, it’s outta sight
You can touch it, smell it, taste it so sweet
But it makes no difference cuz it knocks you off your feet
You want it all but you can’t have it
It’s cryin’, bleedin’, lying on the floor
So you lay down on it and you do it some more
You’ve got to share it, so you dare it
Then you bare it and you tear it
You want it all but you can’t have it
It’s in your face but you can’t grab it
It’s alive, afraid, a lie, a sin
It’s magic, it’s tragic, it’s a loss, it’s a win
It’s dark, it’s moist, it’s a bitter pain
It’s sad it happened and it’s a shame
You want it all but you can’t have it
It’s in your face but you can’t grab it
What is it?
It’s it
Jimmy Dean
Nov 3, 2016 at 10:44 pm
Dude, what are you smoking? Good god, this place gets more stupid by the minute!
Rimjob
Nov 4, 2016 at 1:54 am
You would know, Jimmy Dean, your sausages suck
dungur
Nov 27, 2016 at 5:57 am
That too
Clay
Nov 1, 2016 at 10:50 pm
Looking forwatd to the SZ version. One question, where is R Moto? Wasn’t it supposed to be awesome, why not put the pins through an R Moto face? Idk seems odd they marketed that for 2 years and it vanishes without a word.
Sean
Nov 2, 2016 at 7:55 am
From my understanding, R-Moto still in there along with VFT (variable face thickness) and the Boeing aerodynamic technology on the top. Culmination of a bunch of different technologies coming together. Hit it the other day……legit. We’ll see what the consumer thinks when they tee it up and whether the extra yards are worth the $$$’s
Rimjob
Nov 2, 2016 at 2:15 pm
Sean, the Callaway spokesman
KK
Nov 1, 2016 at 10:32 pm
Sort of the opposite of slot tech. Btw, Cally and TM really pushing composite design. Titleist may be left behind in the arms race. Let’s see what Ping does.
Brian
Nov 3, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Titleist is always behind in the arms race. They finally put movable weight tech in their drivers. I’d expect composite materials in the woods in, what, another 10 years?
FTWPhil
Nov 1, 2016 at 8:08 pm
Jailbreak controls face deformation.
Dat
Nov 2, 2016 at 9:21 pm
so when we all hit it 600 yards and cave the face in as typical wrx’rs we won’t need a new driver every week?
AW
Nov 1, 2016 at 7:03 pm
I hit this club for about an hour today and can promise you it’s longer than any club out there. The titanium pins that connect the sole to the crown are the real difference. Essentially they make sure those two parts don’t separate from the face and cause a loss of energy at impact.
I had my own trackman out there and was getting about 3-4 mph more ball speed with the same swing speed. Some of the smash factor readings were up to 1.53! The subzero version is good as well but it’s still going to be only for the really high launching players (even though this new one is 460 vs. the xr16 subzero that’s 440). The standard Epic spun it plenty low for me and kept the ball a lot straighter.
The club is going to sell for $499 but I think it’s going to be worth every penny.
Rimjob
Nov 2, 2016 at 2:24 am
Trackman doesn’t know Smash Factor. It is wrong more often than not because it cannot see the face.
Sean
Nov 2, 2016 at 7:38 am
Ummmm Rimjob……TrackMan or any other launch monitor does not need to “see” the face to determine smash factor. Smash Factor is a simple math calculation; ball speed divided by clubhead speed. 150 ball speed from a 100 mph swing speed equals a 1.50 smash factor. Higher that number the more efficient the strike. There are other factors such a open or closed club face that also affect that number so it’s not to say if it’s a 1.50 smash it’s automatically a good shot.
With that said I hit Epic the other day with TrackMan on hand to settle the score. Jailbreak or whatever they want to call it is something special. My ball speed jumped from 155-157 range to 160-162…..I was impressed. More evaluation required but I think they are onto something. Preferred Red or Blue paint scheme but for extra yards I’ll get over it.
Rimjob
Nov 2, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Yeah. Good try. That is correct, that it is an ESTIMATION. Therefore, it is NOT accurate. It is GUESSING.
Sean
Nov 2, 2016 at 9:45 pm
Please enlighten me…….how is “accurate” smash factor determined?
Mpfaff
Nov 8, 2016 at 12:52 pm
Rimjob, once you have a degree in math or engineering you can say how far off the trackman is. By saying it is guessing is saying that the theory of gravity is just a guess. There is lots of data to back up the accuracy of the trackman, but hey if you also think gravity is just a guess go ahead and jump off a building and test out gravity for yourself.
Charles Bartholomew
Nov 1, 2016 at 6:48 pm
What shaft does it come with?
Joe Corsi
Nov 1, 2016 at 7:18 pm
Several different shaft options that are stock
suhdude
Nov 1, 2016 at 5:37 pm
move over beowulf, there’s a new EPIC in town!
Joe Corsi
Nov 1, 2016 at 4:04 pm
My Callaway rep brought this to my store this week after his sales meeting and we all hit it on my CG2 launch monitor. This driver is a home run . Very solid and LOOOONG ! The titanium pins in the face deflect more energy forward than previous driver. This is one driver you will want to hit. We were all impressed by its performance.
JB from THP
Nov 1, 2016 at 3:16 pm
At long last the THP inspired driver is available for the masses! We coined #Epic years ago in anticipation of this very moment and it’s finally here. Ugh…I can hardly breathe I’m so excited. I can’t wait for all the hand-picked, non-blacklisted…urrr…I mean “randomized” Granddaddy participants to put this in the bag. This year’s event will truly be the most EPIC (*snort* see what I did there?) event ever, which we totally didn’t steal from WRX.
The Dean
Nov 1, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Count me in (as always)!
Jman_THP
Nov 1, 2016 at 3:34 pm
EFFING EPIC!!! REALLY AND TRULY EFFING EPIC!!! I wonder what the resale value will be.
Concerned Golf WRX Fan
Nov 4, 2016 at 2:23 pm
JMAN you will get it for free then sell it like usual…..We all know it really it isnt those jokers…..but hey…..it’s the internet
prime21
Nov 1, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Neato!
EPIC BRO
Nov 1, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Cally goes after the Bro Golf crowd. “With the Great Big Bertha Epic, every drive will be EPIC BRO!”
FFS
alan
Nov 1, 2016 at 1:30 pm
at least 17 yards longer than any of their other drivers.
CallawayLefty
Nov 1, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Oh man, please pick CallawayLefty for the EPIC trip.
rechlo67
Nov 1, 2016 at 1:26 pm
Pair this bad boy up with the Graffaloy Epic
NoDoubt Stout
Nov 1, 2016 at 12:14 pm
This.. this looks F#@%$ Good
AllBOdoesisgolf
Nov 1, 2016 at 12:03 pm
haha callaway playing to the millennials and their lingo
Rob
Nov 1, 2016 at 1:07 pm
You say that like it’s a bad thing?
cgasucks
Nov 1, 2016 at 1:30 pm
I think it’s groovy..
JustTrying2BAwesome
Nov 1, 2016 at 4:58 pm
It’s whaaaaaat?!
Tom
Nov 2, 2016 at 4:28 pm
Naaaa it would be blacked out.