Equipment

Callaway launches the Big Bertha V-Series Driver

Published

10 years ago

Aug 6, 2014

There’s only two real ways for golfers to gain more distance with their driver; they can either increase their ball speed or improve their launch conditions. If they can do both simultaneously, well, then they’re in for some real distance gains.

Callaway’s new Big Bertha V-Series driver is designed to improve the speed portion of the distance equation. It uses a lightweight, aerodynamic club head as well as a lightweight shaft and grip to help golfers generate more distance.

“Aerodynamics are the reason bike helmets and airplane wings are designed the way they are,” said Tim Reed, senior vice president of product strategy. “The goal [with the V-Series] was to lower the drag, which in the aerodynamic world is to keep the airflow of the head attached.”

For that reason, the shape of the V-Series driver is rounder and sleeker than the company’s other Big Bertha drivers, which when combined with the club’s lighter weight helps golfers swing faster and transfer more energy to the ball at impact. That means more ball speed and more distance.

Just how much lighter the club is depends on what loft a golfer chooses.

The higher-lofted V-Series drivers — 10.5 and 13 degrees — are the lightest, with club weights about 290 grams and a 42-gram Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara E Series shaft (L, R, S and X flexes). That gives them a total weight that’s about 23 grams lighter than the company’s Big Bertha driver. The 9-degree model, which should attract better players, comes stock with a slightly heavier head and shaft: Fujikura’s Speeder 565 (R and S flexes). For that reason, it has a swingweight of D2, two points heavier than the other lofts.

Like the Big Bertha and Big Bertha Alpha, the V-Series drivers use Callaway’s Forged Composite Crown and Hyper Speed Face designs, which allow those parts of the driver to be made lighter and stronger. Those structures are particularly important for a lightweight driver like the V-Series, because they allow the club heads to be made lighter while maintaining a high moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of a club’s forgiveness, or its retention of ball speed on off center hits.

As for its launch conditions, Reed says that the V-Series driver will not be as low spinning as the company’s Big Bertha Alpha driver, but that it is a fairly low-spinning driver. Golfers can also dial in the launch and spin of the club with its OptiFit adjustable hosel, which offers 8 different loft and lie combinations with a 4-degree loft range. Standard length is 45.5 inches.

The V-Series drivers will be available in stores August 22 and will sell for $399. Pre-orders begin August 8.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the Callaway Big Bertha V Series drivers.

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40 Comments

john

Oct 16, 2014 at 4:11 pm

Another win for the V series last week. Looks worth trying to me.

Reply Report comment
Kyle Pelkey

Oct 14, 2014 at 2:01 pm

I just got fitted by Cool Clubs in Scottsdale Az. Strongly recommend Matt there. Anyways…I tried this one, the Ping G30, the new Titleist 915 D2. I was shocked to find I was WAY more accurate and 15 yards longer with THIS V series Big Bertha. Open your mind and try things….I really wanted to go with the G30 or the Titleist…but it wasn’t even close folks! Yes, it IS all about the shaft…go get fit somewhere (like Cool Clubs) where they can vary the shaft and the clubhead. I wound up with the Callaway BB V series driver, G30 Fairway wood and TM SLDR S hybrid. Already got some awesome G30 irons I can’t say enough good about. TRY THEM ALL! You will likely be surprised. I had read biases about some. But I left with some a MUCH better fit for me (I’m 50 and my driver speed is only about 95mph).

Reply Report comment
JJ

Sep 27, 2014 at 7:18 am

You all might try it before making up your minds. I have this driver and hit it much better than anything I’ve tried this year or last which is considering a lot of new drivers. So many know it alls on forums base opinion without actually trying anything almost as if their convincing others of their opinion matters. Try stuff out then call BS.

Reply Report comment
Desmond

Aug 30, 2014 at 9:18 pm

Mark Crossfield seemed to like it … a lot. See review on youtube

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Chuck

Aug 8, 2014 at 2:16 am

So this whole theory — lighter head, ultralight shaft at almost 46″, low static weight — runs directly counter to what Tom Wishon carefully explained on these same digital pages.

Reply Report comment
- Charlie
  
  Aug 9, 2014 at 12:27 am
  
  Different theories from different experts
  
  Reply Report comment
RG

Aug 7, 2014 at 3:34 pm

When we have a discussion about why golf participation is down let’s not forget that all the hype around clubs is a major turn-off to beginning players. So much bologna and ridiculous claims by OEMs.they’re shooting themselves in the foot with all the B.S.
So the message I’m getting is that if I want optimum performance I need to buy new equipment every 3-4 months. No wonder people get turned off and leave the game. So much snake oil.

Reply Report comment
- JJ
  
  Sep 27, 2014 at 7:21 am
  
  Maybe they’re attempting to reach a more discerning audience. Keep complaining and convincing people to ignore innovation and new attempts at improving our games and see what happens. Ever think it possible that maybe there are some engineers putting some real science into the new clubs?
  
  Reply Report comment
Martin

Aug 7, 2014 at 12:06 pm

V Series will not be successful product it will drop in price $100 in 3-4 months

Reply Report comment
- setter02
  
  Aug 11, 2014 at 11:21 am
  
  You mean kinda like the Opti-Force that was released right around this time last year…
  
  Reply Report comment
- lumpy
  
  Oct 22, 2014 at 11:51 am
  
  Just got it and paid $125 less than $399 suggested price. By the way, it’s awesome !!
  
  Reply Report comment
christian

Aug 7, 2014 at 4:45 am

It’s a watered down JDM Legacy Platinum forged driver, been out for a year already. Comes stock with a lightweight and very premium Rombax Platinum shaft.

Reply Report comment
John

Aug 6, 2014 at 6:34 pm

Reading the previous comments was more exciting than this driver. I dont have much to add since you guys have all pretty much hit the nail on the head. Callaway, Taylor Made, Nike among others have become more of a marketing company these days than R & D. It seems there are a few companies; mainly Japanese, with the exception of Ping and Titleist (which is owned by Fila). That consistently produce quality product. Mizuno, Srixon, Titleist, Ping, Cleveland all seem to have the most consistently performing products on a year to year basis. I played the Srixon 701 tours for a long time, and I have seen guys on tour like Hideki and Graeme testing new irons that really peak my interest. I would love to see those in person and set em down behind a ball. I made the switch to the Z-Star and never looked back a few years ago. Best ball I have ever played. If their new clubs are anything like their balls I would love to see them statewide.

Reply Report comment
MikeB

Aug 6, 2014 at 4:33 pm

Enough with the D0 swing weights already!If it was a D5 to D8, I would jump on it in a flash!

Reply Report comment
Regis

Aug 6, 2014 at 3:02 pm

I gamed a composite about 10 years ago. May have even been a Callaway. Problem was it never provided enough feedback. Same with a couple of other Cleveland and Adams lightweight combos. They were awesome to demo or on a launch monitor but after a couple of weeks on the course I was lost, and I am a low SS Player which would seem be the target market for this technology.

Reply Report comment
Double Mocha Man

Aug 6, 2014 at 2:44 pm

Based on most of the comments I think we’re all through with “marketing” innovations. Released every 6 months. Wake us up when there’s something actually innovative, that actually smacks the ball longer and as straight as a rope.

Reply Report comment
MattK

Aug 6, 2014 at 2:42 pm

Can’t we just call it the Biggest Big Bertha 2? Or BBB2 for short?

Reply Report comment
DK

Aug 6, 2014 at 12:44 pm

When can I pre-order my re-released Callaway C4 driver? Here’s the press release from 2002 touting the C4’s lightweight properties…

“In addition to forgiveness, distance is also a key part of the Big Bertha C4 Driver. The lightweight clubhead makes it beneficial to use a longer shaft in an effort to help golfers of all skill levels generate more clubhead speed. The new Big Bertha C4 Ultralight graphite shaft is 45.5 inches long, weighs just 53 grams, and the tip diameter is a generous 0.400 inch to maintain stability and durability. Five performance-specific flexes are available to suit the needs of individual golfers. Including a proprietary new lightweight grip, a finished Big Bertha C4 Driver weighs approximately 280 grams — roughly 25 grams lighter than other drivers of comparable size.”

Are they using a fill in the blank marketing template?

Reply Report comment
DK

Aug 6, 2014 at 12:29 pm

Really there’s nothing new on this driver. “New” aerodynamics on a sole design that looks fairly identical to the warbird, just a diff’rent paint job. Need to get rid of all those grooves on the face! Lightweight isn’t innovative anymore, they’re using face tech from the company’s other lines – AT LEAST THEY “KEPT THE AIRFLOW OF THE HEAD ATTACHED!!!” Once again, nothing new. Thanks Tim, that might be the worst quote promoting a driver in the history…

Reply Report comment
goal!!!

Aug 6, 2014 at 12:22 pm

I saw Harris English playing this at the practice rounds this week.

Reply Report comment
Inthejonzone

Aug 6, 2014 at 12:16 pm

Puke…optiforce V2…no thanks Callaway, glad I ditched the Alpha and went back to my old 910…dropped 5 shots since then!!!

Reply Report comment
richard

Aug 6, 2014 at 11:35 am

Yippee! Just what we need, yet another brand spanking new $400 driver! I hope this means I can find a mint alpha for $200 now!

Reply Report comment
MHendon

Aug 6, 2014 at 11:00 am

Blah, Blah, Blah…. Hey but on the bright side my buddy just got the RAZR brand new less than a year old for $199

Reply Report comment
Courtoni20

Aug 6, 2014 at 10:53 am

Sweet! Now I can get last weeks model for next to nothing, Thanks Callaway!

Reply Report comment
- dave d
  
  Aug 6, 2014 at 11:34 am
  
  $199? We are selling the RAZR for $75, RAZR FIT for $99. RAZR FIT is a great club!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - MHendon
    
    Aug 6, 2014 at 11:50 am
    
    LOL I guess he over paid. I’m not sure which model he bought. Has the green paint on the bottom.
    
    Reply Report comment
enrique

Aug 6, 2014 at 10:47 am

42 and 55g shaft, 46″ and D0? Probably not what I’m looking for in my weekend money game.

Reply Report comment
jim

Aug 6, 2014 at 10:33 am

Looks alot like the old Great Big Bertha, or at least close. Seems the Warbird sole is making a comeback. I really think Callaway and TM release way too many clubs these days, it’s getting really confusing and can’t possibly be good for club sales either.

Reply Report comment
Desmond

Aug 6, 2014 at 10:21 am

That is one deep face … but no turbulators???

C’mon.

That sole … brings back memories.

Reply Report comment
- Desmond
  
  Aug 6, 2014 at 12:30 pm
  
  The driver will undoubtedly work for its market. I’ll give it a whirl in the simulator with a G30…
  
  Reply Report comment
bradford

Aug 6, 2014 at 10:14 am

I tried this approach last season with the Adams Speedline 9088UL. It was stock with a Matrix Radix (s-flex). The club swung a D-0 weight, with a total weight of about 290g.

The club was an absolute bomber–problem being the extra swing speed made it the wrong shaft for me. I normally swing around 103ish, and this club truly did kick it up to about 108-110. This is a huge gain, I realize–but instead of the high hook I expected, it was a ridiculously high slicing ball–which barely lost any distance, and provided no feedback (and no golf ball). The problem turned out to be that the shaft is so married to a particular swing type, it would produce huge misses in almost unpredictable directions for other swing types. I expect the same here…people will claim it’s longer, but the majority will find it just doesn’t work.

That Adams sold for $25…not even the price of the lost balls it cost me

Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Aug 6, 2014 at 11:08 am
  
  Best thing for distance is solid contact. If a driver is longer or lighter than what you’re use to you’ll have a hard time making consistent contact. That’s why after a couple years experimenting with a 45 inch shaft I went back to 44. I’m not only more accurate but actually longer too.
  
  Reply Report comment
Vandy

Aug 6, 2014 at 10:14 am

Re-releasing the optiforce. Bold strategy cotton

Reply Report comment
tbowles411

Aug 6, 2014 at 10:07 am

They’re going back to the Warbird sole. It’s iconic because it worked back in the day. I’m sure it still works, but it remains to be seen of how it works with the head and if it’s geared to help folks not only get the ball in the air, but to stay in the fairway. That’s important.

Reply Report comment
ND Hickman

Aug 6, 2014 at 10:01 am

Pre-orders begin on “Augusta 8” you say?

Reply Report comment
- Zak Kozuchowski
  
  Aug 6, 2014 at 10:52 am
  
  It appears that subconsciously I’m not ready for this year’s major championship season to be finished.
  
  Reply Report comment
adan

Aug 6, 2014 at 9:56 am

Yawn. Plus, it’ll be on sale for $99 by this time next year. I do like the Mitsubishi Bassara shafts though.

Reply Report comment
Hellsing

Aug 6, 2014 at 9:54 am

Sooo… back to square one?

Reply Report comment
Martin

Aug 6, 2014 at 9:49 am

Doesn’t look like anything new here.

Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

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Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

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Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

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The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

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Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

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We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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