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 is 35 percent larger than Callaway’s XR fairway woods.
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.
Callaway’s uses a “Hyper Speed Face Cup” to enhance ball speed on shots contacted across the club face.
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 Mini 1.5 uses Callaway’s cambered Warbird sole to help golfers use the oversized fairway wood from the turf.
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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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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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!