Equipment

Callaway to release Sub Zero driver, with the company’s lowest CG ever

Published

8 years ago

Mar 15, 2016

The chase for a lower center of gravity (CG) has taken Callaway below the neutral axis line with its new XR 16 Sub Zero driver. According to Callaway, the driver is made for better players with fast swing speeds, and boasts the lowest CG of any Callaway driver ever designed.

Imagine the neutral axis line as a line drawn backward, perpendicular from the center of the club face, as illustrated above. While most drivers have a CG above that line, the XR 16 Sub Zero, which measures 440 cubic centimeters, boasts a CG below it.

The XR 16 Sub Zero was lower spinning than Callaway’s Big Bertha Alpha 816 DBD driver in the company’s robot and player testing.

Drivers with low-CG positions can help golfers lower their spin rates, allowing those with fast swing speeds to achieve a more penetrating trajectory that can increase distance. The most notable example is Phil Mickelson, who is currently using the Sub Zero driver on the PGA Tour.

Related: Phil Mickelson WITB 2016

To achieve the Sub Zero’s lower CG, Callaway gave it a new crown, which is made of a “Carbon Triax” material. According to Callaway Senior R&D manager Evan Gibbs, the new crown is made from “fabric, or laminate,” which is different from the chopped fibers that are used to make the carbon fiber crowns for Callaway Great Big Bertha and Big Bertha Alpha 816 DBD drivers.

All three drivers use the same molding technique for their crowns, however, the Carbon Triax material is thinner and lighter, allowing weight to be displaced lower and deeper in the club head.

Compared to Callaway’s XR 16 and XR 16 Pro drivers, the XR 16 Sub Zero will not have as high of a moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of ball speed retention or forgiveness on off-center hits, due to the concentration of weight low and forward in the club head. That’s not ideal for golfers who struggle to make consistent contact, but skilled golfers can use the lower CG position to hit longer drives.

The XR 16 Sub Zero is also adjustable, allowing players to fine-tune their trajectory with a 10-gram and 2-gram interchangeable weights that are placed in opposing weight ports. Moving the heavier weight forward makes for a penetrating, lower-spinning trajectory, while moving it rearward setting will provide a higher launch and more forgiveness, but slightly raise spin in comparison.

Callaway’s XR 16 Sub Zero driver (9.5 degress, RH Only) will be available for $449.99 on April 15 with the choice of 20 premium shaft at no upcharge.

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Related Topics:Callaway drivers

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

17 Comments

Jim

Mar 17, 2016 at 11:47 pm

Uhhh, Cobra King LTD beat them to the market with the zero CG driver. Plus, the Cobra LTD has nice forgiveness unlike what Cally is claiming is lost with the Subzero. LTD for the win!

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299yards

Mar 17, 2016 at 12:43 am

“bro i hit it like 20* 1000rpm 380 yds.”
one release later: “not forgiving enough.”
another release later: “20* 1000rpm seems about right”

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Leftypro16

Mar 16, 2016 at 7:23 pm

If Phil is hitting it, what no lefty for the rest of us? What’s up with that?

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Tom Duckworth

Mar 16, 2016 at 4:56 pm

I don’t see the big deal. Ping has a low spin driver as part of the G series this just looks like a low spin XR 16.

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MIKEYP

Mar 16, 2016 at 1:10 pm

To all you nay sayers. I have been buying every new driver that has come out from callaway and taylormade and have really embraced the new technology. My average drives are between 680 and 700 yards and golf has become very easy for me.

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Steve

Mar 16, 2016 at 9:47 am

Finally they made a perfect driver until the next one. Just a joke. No wonder equipment makers are struggling. They flood the market, more supply then demand. Why would anyone buy at full retail from cally, tmag when in a few months it is on the clearance shelves.

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Ryan

Mar 15, 2016 at 8:47 pm

Jim, I have hit it.. lol

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ha ha ha

Mar 15, 2016 at 3:18 pm

if this were a taylormade there would be 80 comments about how many releases they have and a million m3 jokes…Callaway is king(of quick releases) ha ha ha

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moses

Mar 15, 2016 at 2:47 pm

Looks like Callaway is going to get the 17 1700 faster than Taylormade. 🙂

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Weekend Duffer

Mar 15, 2016 at 1:53 pm

Callaway should start leasing drivers so I can get the new one that comes out each month.

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Carson

Mar 15, 2016 at 11:18 am

Special release driver for right handers only.. Especially when they toat Phil for playing it.
Thanks Callaway.

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lew

Mar 15, 2016 at 10:07 am

So many delusional wrxers will buy it and then call them the worst driver ever made.

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Russell Jimmie

Mar 15, 2016 at 9:25 am

Another driver that people on WRX will go crazy about because it is low spin but nobody will be able to hit. Like the Slider 430

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- 299yards
  
  Mar 17, 2016 at 12:44 am
  
  hahha so true, sldr 430 is the lowest spinning least forgiving thing ever made
  
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Ryan

Mar 15, 2016 at 9:20 am

Come out with the 8.5 !!!!!

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Jacob

Mar 15, 2016 at 9:11 am

And people make fun of TaylorMade…

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Whats in the Bag

Jason Day WITB 2024 (April)

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 16, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Jason Day what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.

Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: TPT Driver 15 Lo

3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 80 X

Check out more in-hand photos of Jason Day’s WITB here.

7-wood: TaylorMade Stealth (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 80 X

Irons: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (3, 4), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X Seven

Check out more in-hand photos of Jason Day’s WITB here.

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-10S, 60-04T), Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack (56-10 MID, 52-10 MID)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X Seven

Putter: TaylorMade Itsy Bitsy Spider Limited

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Jason Day’s WITB here.

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X (with Mindset)

Check out more in-hand photos of Jason Day’s WITB here.

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Whats in the Bag

Ludvig Åberg WITB 2024 (April)

Published

5 hours ago

Apr 16, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Ludvig Åberg what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X

Check out more in-hand photos of Ludvig Aberg’s clubs in the forums.

5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X

7-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 9 X

Check out more in-hand photos of Ludvig Aberg’s clubs in the forums.

Irons: Titleist 718 TMB (2), Titleist T200 (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour Hybrid 105 X (2), KBS Tour 130 X

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-08F, 54-10S, 60-08M, 60-04T), WedgeWorks Proto (60-10V)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X

Check out more in-hand photos of Ludvig Aberg’s clubs in the forums.

Putter: Odyssey White Hot Versa #1

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos of Ludvig Aberg’s clubs in the forums.

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Equipment

Spotted: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 mini driver, DUW fairway wood

Published

6 hours ago

Apr 16, 2024

Brian Knudson

We have seen a few new mini drivers from the likes of Titleist and TaylorMade being tested out on tour recently. Now, Callaway looks to be jumping into the mix at the RBC Heritage. We spotted Christian Bezuidenhout testing out a new Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 mini driver on the range. We don’t have any details yet but the club clearly states “mini driver” on it, and the “340” could easily refer to how many CCs the head is.

What we do know is that this mini driver has a very similar design to the current Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 3-wood. The sole looks to be made from steel or titanium, not forged carbon like the Paradym Ai Smoke drivers. It has weights up near the face and at the back of the club. Callaway’s OptiFit hosel is also present on this driver to allow loft and lie adjustments, and if you look closely on the face, you can make out the “Ai Smart Face” text at bottom center. The crown looks to have the familiar carbon fiber weave and Ai Smoke logos we have seen on the current clubs.

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke DUW

The other Callaway prototype that was spotted looked to be a little more of a traditional fairway wood — but with non-traditional weight placements on it. Callaway’s Paradym Ai Smoke DUW looks to have four adjustable weights on it — two on the sole, one on the hosel, and one on the toe. This hosel isn’t adjustable, and I would assume that is to save some weight from creating spots for the movable weights.

It is hard to tell from the photos, but the face looks to be a touch deeper than the traditional Triple Diamond fairways. This deeper face could be where the “DUW” name comes from. With three weights all pushed forward near the face this DUW has to be a very low spinning and launching head. The sole is made from metal and similar in design to the current Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond fairway woods as is the carbon crown.