Equipment
First Look: Callaway “Bertha Mini” prototype
Updated April 13, 4:25 p.m.
It seems as though TaylorMade started an equipment trend with its MiniDrivers.
On Monday, we spotted a Callaway “Bertha Mini 1.5” prototype at the range of the RBC Heritage Classic at Harbour Town.
It appears from the photos that the club is smaller than Callaway’s Big Bertha drivers, but larger than its Big Bertha fairway woods.
The photos also show that club has an adjustable hosel, and its face utilizes Callaway’s Hyper Speed Face Cup technology. Our sources say the “Mini” is currently available to Callaway Tour players in 12 and 14 degree lofts.
[quote_box_center]”We regularly test prototype clubs on Tour, and knowing the course layout at Hilton Head this week, it was a great week to bring out a prototype like this one, which is designed for the long part of a player’s game,” a Callaway representative said.[/quote_box_center]
We’ll update you with more information and photos as they become available.
See what GolfWRX members are saying about Callaway’s Bertha Mini 1.5 in our 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 Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
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Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos...
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christian
Apr 16, 2015 at 1:44 am
Face cup?
brewmaster95060
Apr 28, 2015 at 8:33 pm
CAN I GET THAT IN A 6 DEGREE LOFT @ 52 DEGREES LIE?
Jeff
Apr 15, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Now here is a great club.
Callaway X HOT 3 wood 15dg 44″ Fujikara Banzai Reg -flex 350 tip 65g.
This really goes.
Jeff
GL
Apr 19, 2015 at 1:22 am
Got to 175 for ya? Nice. Well us big boys need to go 275 with a 3wood, so good luck with yours.
Gary Gutful
Apr 15, 2015 at 4:55 pm
I would be keen to see you hit your $9 driver up against a new mini bertha. I reckon I know which one would come out on top.
Jeffrey
Apr 15, 2015 at 4:44 pm
I’ve just upgraded from Titliest 910 fairways (15,19,21) to 913 fairways with a better spread of lofts (13.5,17,21). I nicknamed the 13.5 my mini driver from day 1.
AP
Apr 15, 2015 at 11:46 am
So what Callaway did was take one of there 20 year old S2H2 drivers and add a little paint? And since I’ve been playing a S2H2 Big Bertha for years I guess that instead of playing “vintage” I have actually been playing “cutting edge” technology that I bought off ebay for $9. I never did see the appeal in the “big as a bass boat” drivers, can’t control them worth a damn, really drag in your swing, and can’t hit them off the fairway.
The one thing I would like to see in a small driver this club still doesn’t have- an adjustable weight port in the rear center of the sole. Also- bring back the steel shaft option, nothing like having to reshaft a new club with a $10 shaft because its simply not an option.
BustyMagoo
Apr 14, 2015 at 9:46 am
Are the manufacturers pulling out every stop in the bag to keep people buying new clubs? Shrinking drivers, driving irons, and now 2W. I feel for the people running the golf companies. They’ve got a tremendous task ahead of them figuring out how to keep the sales going.
Matto
Apr 14, 2015 at 1:17 am
This company copied that company blah blah blah. It’s really just a 2 wood and they’ve been around 100 years. A modern 2 wood.
We’ve just been so caught up with our bowling ball sized drivers the last 15 years that everybody forgot about poor old Mr. 2 wood!!
Gary Gutful
Apr 15, 2015 at 4:56 pm
What about Mr 1.5?
BustyMagoo
Apr 14, 2015 at 1:09 am
So it’s bigger than a fairway wood, but smaller than a driver. Would that make this a 2W ??
other paul
Apr 13, 2015 at 11:28 pm
Even if Wishon did it “first”. He is almost irrelevant at producing clubs. I have seen lots of rare clubs. But have never seen a club from Wishon ever. So I would say that Callaway still started the trend. The original 3 deep was only 10 yards shorter then my driver. And was longer into the wind.
The dude
Apr 13, 2015 at 10:14 pm
…..nothin beats the Killer Bee!…ala Rocky Thompson
Nathan
Apr 13, 2015 at 3:52 pm
I’ll have one of those in white and red with a long hosel and a speed pocket thanks
mike simmons
Apr 13, 2015 at 3:41 pm
As long as golf equipment and course fees keep high then golf will continue to lose players and that my friend will hurt as golf will fde away for the middle class and poor and only the rich will play.
MHendon
Apr 13, 2015 at 4:48 pm
Well Mike I don’t know how long you’ve been playing golf but I’ve been playing for 20 years and I can tell you over that space in time green fees have hardly gone up, and except for balls equipment is actually cheaper. So I’m afraid that’s not the cause for the decline in participation.
mike simmons
Apr 13, 2015 at 5:33 pm
$400.00 FOR A DRIVER IS CHEAP?Maybe for you but for most people that is rent,house payment for a month etc.So maybe you can afford it and happy you can but as for me and about 30-40% of the people who play its outrageous.
Desmond
Apr 13, 2015 at 6:04 pm
In the late 60’s, working at a Baskin Robbins, they charged 18 cents for a single scoop; today that single scoop is $2.80.
I can’t afford to go to a B-R, not that I would.
At the same time, you can get a 2 yr old driver brand new for a little over $100. If you want the new stuff, get one of those no interest credit cards for 16 months.
GL
Apr 19, 2015 at 1:26 am
Well Mike, you’re just preaching to the choir. It’s always been that way – a richer man’s hobby game. Nothing’s changed. There are plenty of other sports you can play for cheap – so go do those.
mgolf
Apr 15, 2015 at 11:46 am
Point well made. May, 2003 – TM introduces the R510TP at $699.00!
marty
Apr 17, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Slow play kills golf. That’s the bottom line.
ND Hickman
Apr 13, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Taylor Made setting a trend? Didn’t Callaway release the X Hot 3 Deep before any Mini drivers from TM?
MarkNado
Apr 13, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Cobra came out with the Long Tom 2 wood before Taylormade’s mini drivers …
45″ shaft 12.5 degrees I think it was 245 cc
Awesome club
RobN
Apr 13, 2015 at 4:36 pm
And Tom Wishon came out with the 525F/D around 2007. All others have just just copied him.
MarkNado
Apr 14, 2015 at 2:56 pm
And someone somewhere did it before wishon I’m sure…not to mention the persimmon drivers back in the day
Blah blah blah
ND Hickman
Apr 13, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Good point!
Cally
Apr 14, 2015 at 5:29 am
I still play the long tom…speeder VC 7.2 it is silly easy to hit.
Roy
Apr 15, 2015 at 11:26 am
Thank you!! I never recall TM setting ant trend except for the driver dept. Everything else they make is a day late and a dollar short and double the price.