Equipment
Callaway Big Bertha Mini 1.5
Callaway’s Big Bertha Mini 1.5 is the latest entry into the recently crowded category of “driving woods” — clubs too large to be considered fairway woods, but only about half the size of modern drivers. Their larger size makes them longer and more forgiving than fairway woods off the tee, but smart sole shaping allows them to be a threat from the turf, if necessary. They also have shaft lengths that are shorter than drivers, which can offer golfers more control from the tee box.
[quote_box_center]”The pros generally hit their drivers pretty straight, so you’ll probably tend to see this club more widely used on shorter courses, where you don’t need driver on every hole, or on courses where you’re required to shape your shots a lot,” said Evan Gibbs, Callaway’s senior manager of R&D for woods, in a company interview. [/quote_box_center]
Callaway arguably started the modern driving wood category in 2013 when it released the X Hot 3Deep in 2013. Phil Mickelson used the strong-lofted, oversized fairway wood as a driver to win that year’s Open Championship, and raved to the press about the high ball speeds and low spin rates he saw from the club. He said he was able to hit the 43.5-inch 3Deep almost as far as his driver — and he did.
The Big Bertha Mini 1.5 has a lot in common with the X Hot 3Deep, as well as Callaway’s follow-up models, but it’s a distinctly different club. At 235cc, 50cc bigger than the X Hot 3Deep, it’s more of a tee shot-first club. It’s also about 0.5 inches longer than those fairway woods at its stock length of 44 inches, which is still about 1.5 inches shorter than most modern drivers.
Maybe the biggest difference between the Big Bertha Mini 1.5 and Callaway’s previous oversized fairway woods, aside from its added size, is that the Mini 1.5 is adjustable. It uses Callaway’s OptiFit hosel to give golfers a 3-degree range of adjustability (1 degree down, 2 degrees up from stock loft), as well as two independent lie angle settings (neutral and upright).
More detail-oriented golfers will want to know that the Mini 1.5 marks the first time Callaway has merged its Forged Hyper Speed Cup Face with a Forged Composite Crown in a fairway wood. The Face Cups are thin and strong to boost face flexibility for more ball speed, while the Forged Composite Crowns help engineers move weight lower in the club head for added forgiveness.
The Big Bertha Mini 1.5 ($299) is available in lofts of 12 and 14 degrees, and will be in stores on May 29. It comes stock with Mitsubishi Rayon’s Kuro Kage Silver TiNi Second-Generation 60-gram shafts.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Big Bertha Mini 1.5 in our forum.
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Whats in the Bag
Ben Kohles WITB 2024 (May)
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9 x
Irons: Titleist T200 (4, 5), Titleist 620 CB (6-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-12F, 54-12D, 60)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Putter: Scotty Cameron P5 prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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Whats in the Bag
Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)
- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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Equipment
Welcome to the family: TaylorMade launches PUDI and PDHY utility irons
TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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JimmyO
May 28, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Was hitting low bullets with the 12 degree (even at +2 with the loft) but the dispersion was really tight. Would love to test this in the 14 degree model against my ti/tungsten Hawkeye 2 wood. It’s roughly the same size (+/- 10cc) so we’ll see how it compares to the trusty 2.
Golfraven
May 17, 2015 at 4:15 pm
I am becoming a fan of those mini driver. Currently playing a Fd 3 wood and even if I hit it crap the ball still has good distance and direction. Currently staying away from my driver especially when I hardly get to play.
Oldplayer
May 16, 2015 at 2:52 am
A club to hit from the tee that has a smaller head and a shorter shaft. Isn’t this back to the future? This describes what drivers were like 15 years ago. Although I concede modern materials and a thinner face does update the design.
Miguel
May 15, 2015 at 3:57 pm
I tried the SLDR Mini and I loved how it was so easy to use compared to my driver. Even if I lost a few yards compared to my driver, the dispersion and confidence it gave me was unbelievable. I am pretty sure this club will have the same effect. Higher loft, shorter shaft, smaller head…and this one is adjustable!
Jim
May 15, 2015 at 2:55 pm
I’m such a sap for this stuff, even when I am comfortable with my equipment I still jump.
rer4136
May 22, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Ditto to that. I am an equipment addict. Manufacturers take advantage at every turn.
Hazen
May 15, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Have been a fan of 3woods off the tee for a few years due to the smaller head. I’m a Callaway fan, have been since I started golf, but I recently tried one of the SLDR mini drivers and loved it but honestly didn’t get any more out of it over my 3 wood.
I will gladly try again with the Callaway though.
Hazen
May 15, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Forgot to mention the SLDR mini is not adjustable, and the fact that the Callaway Mini is, just makes it that much gooder. 🙂
Rick
May 15, 2015 at 10:52 am
I believe they are available in 12 and 14 degrees of loft
Zak Kozuchowski
May 15, 2015 at 10:56 am
That is correct, Rick. The story has been corrected.
Alex T
May 15, 2015 at 10:31 am
God I want one.
CHRIS
May 15, 2015 at 9:46 am
Currently gaming the X2 Hot PRO 2deep as my driver. May have to give this a shot to see if it knocks it out of the bag.
Desmond
May 15, 2015 at 7:40 am
Good looking stick!