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Spotted: Callaway 2017 GBB Epic Driver

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After sharing leaked photos of what could be TaylorMade’s new M1 driver on our Facebook page, a GolfWRX user left a comment showing what could be Callaway’s new Great Big Bertha Epic driver for 2017.

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From the photo, it appears the GBB Epic will have a back-track weighting system that looks similar to that of Callaway’s 2015 Great Big Bertha driver. It also has a color scheme reminiscent of Callaway’s popular Razr Fit Xtreme driver, launched in 2013, and three different sections of carbon fiber on the sole.

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There’s also script on the front of the driver’s sole that says “Jailbreak Technology.” GolfWRX Members who claim to have seen the GBB Epic driver in person, or know someone who has, are chatting about it in this thread.

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Related: See what GolfWRX members are saying about Callaway’s future equipment launches in our forums.

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68 Comments

68 Comments

  1. Jericho

    Dec 28, 2016 at 7:30 am

    I want see Joe Miller hit this!

  2. Dave R

    Nov 9, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    Nothing is worth $499.00 I don’t care if it goes a mile, and a whole 17 yards different wow I. Get that if I hit my 4 wood instead of my DRIVER hey mabey I should use it instead ya that’s what I’ll do and it won’t cost me $499.00 . Hey Smizzle your always funny

    • prime21

      Nov 14, 2016 at 4:56 pm

      This comment makes no sense. You don’t care if it goes a mile, but just in case that wasn’t enough you tack on another 17 yards. If it travels 17 yards farther than your current driver, you would certainly pay $499 for it, especially considering that is the current market price of any driver, throwing in your shaft of choice. If anyone can make sense of why Dave is talking about his 4 wood, please fill me in. Thank you for your Epic post. Next time please try to make sense in at least one sentence.

  3. MrPoopoo

    Nov 7, 2016 at 7:58 pm

    I can’t wait for Callaway to bring back the C4 name.

  4. Pingback: Callaway Great Big Bertha Epic – Austin Harvey

  5. Jim

    Nov 3, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    fishing with dynamite.

  6. Rimjob

    Nov 3, 2016 at 3:03 am

    EpicBallz

  7. Steve S

    Nov 2, 2016 at 9:18 pm

    Vomit…

  8. Tom W

    Nov 2, 2016 at 6:15 pm

    Hit this today…….it’s good! 4mph more ball speed than the 917 d3, 12 yards more carry. Great feel off the face, very low spinning on the sub zero model. Impressive bit of kit!

    • joro3743

      Nov 24, 2016 at 10:26 am

      WOW, Tom, you are right, I have been buying a new Driver every time they have come out and so far over the past 10 yrs and 15 yrs gain with every new one I am now Driving the Ball over 450 yrs. and the newer Balls have also helped a lot with the new metals and design of Irons I am hitting my Wedge 250 yrs, in Fact I only use 3 clubs now, Driver, Wedge, and Putter.

      I hear that now that people don’t need sets anymore and a few clubs can do the job that sales are killing them so the though is going back to Persimmon and wound Balls so they can sell more clubs and Balls. And the Balls will cut so the demand will be there for more.

      Bottom line is how much more gullible is the consumer going to get.

    • Uhit

      Nov 27, 2016 at 8:57 am

      The COR is limited – no?
      Maybe they needed to use the additional stabilization (Jailbreak Technology) to reach the allowed limit, with the otherwise too unstable head design??
      Anyway, we have to wait and see, whether it really performs well, or not.

    • Glenn kirk

      Jan 2, 2017 at 8:08 pm

      If it can beat my GBB i will put one in the bag for sure

  9. Rimjob

    Nov 2, 2016 at 2:17 pm

    Look! The first real, funny comment from the Smiz!

    • Rimjob

      Nov 4, 2016 at 1:55 am

      Nah. Don’t overshoot yourself, you ain’t nowhere near as good as you think. In fact, you’re a pest

  10. davyb123

    Nov 2, 2016 at 11:53 am

    $700.

  11. Parfield

    Nov 2, 2016 at 9:37 am

    Can’t wait to see Mark Crossfield hit it 262 like every other driver on the market.

    • Dat

      Nov 2, 2016 at 12:25 pm

      This

    • lastr002

      Nov 2, 2016 at 2:14 pm

      he probably still beats you by 12+ strokes

      • Parfield

        Nov 2, 2016 at 3:29 pm

        Ooh ooh ooh, did nor understand my comment. My observation relates to the “sameness” of equipment. I’d love to hit it like Marky!

        • Dat

          Nov 2, 2016 at 9:20 pm

          I’d give my decent putting for decent driving any day even if it improved my score by one.

      • dave johnson

        Nov 2, 2016 at 11:15 pm

        Callaway is the worst company ever made. I will not play them even if they want me to be on their staff, which they have asked. And yes I’m better than all of you, which means I know more than all of you. Don’t buy from this company. Go with PXG like me!

        • ace

          Nov 3, 2016 at 1:27 am

          what a tool

        • Bird Vandy

          Nov 5, 2016 at 6:45 pm

          Lol What a loser… I’m sure you’re a 6 handicap who beats his buddies by only a few. Go practice and shoot under par then get outta here!

    • Jimmy Banks

      Nov 11, 2016 at 2:03 pm

      Mark can’t chip so you can spot him a dozen..

  12. Dave

    Nov 2, 2016 at 8:08 am

    Looks interesting, however I have just switched all clubs in my bag to Taylormade after years of loyal Callaway purchases, I doubt I will be back or try this driver. I still cheer for the brand on tour yet however, I like their staff players as well as Taylormades. 10 handicap playing 2 nines a week. I finally realized practice and instruction over new shiny clubs is best way to improve. I hope it does well, send one to Rory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Jimmy Banks

      Nov 11, 2016 at 2:04 pm

      practise over new shiny clubs is why you have a bunch of new shiny TMs in your bag…doofus…

  13. Dave

    Nov 2, 2016 at 7:18 am

    I’m sure it will be longer and more forgiving than the last 17 driver releases.

    • dungur

      Nov 27, 2016 at 5:55 am

      This, my friend, is exactly what popped up in my head when I saw that pics

  14. FNM

    Nov 2, 2016 at 2:27 am

    Faith No More – Epic

    Can you feel it, see it, hear it today?
    If you can’t, then it doesn’t matter anyway
    You will never understand it cuz it happens too fast
    And it feels so good, it’s like walking on glass
    It’s so cool, it’s so hip, it’s alright
    It’s so groovy, it’s outta sight
    You can touch it, smell it, taste it so sweet
    But it makes no difference cuz it knocks you off your feet

    You want it all but you can’t have it

    It’s cryin’, bleedin’, lying on the floor
    So you lay down on it and you do it some more
    You’ve got to share it, so you dare it
    Then you bare it and you tear it

    You want it all but you can’t have it
    It’s in your face but you can’t grab it

    It’s alive, afraid, a lie, a sin
    It’s magic, it’s tragic, it’s a loss, it’s a win
    It’s dark, it’s moist, it’s a bitter pain
    It’s sad it happened and it’s a shame

    You want it all but you can’t have it
    It’s in your face but you can’t grab it

    What is it?
    It’s it

    • Jimmy Dean

      Nov 3, 2016 at 10:44 pm

      Dude, what are you smoking? Good god, this place gets more stupid by the minute!

      • Rimjob

        Nov 4, 2016 at 1:54 am

        You would know, Jimmy Dean, your sausages suck

    • dungur

      Nov 27, 2016 at 5:57 am

      That too

  15. Clay

    Nov 1, 2016 at 10:50 pm

    Looking forwatd to the SZ version. One question, where is R Moto? Wasn’t it supposed to be awesome, why not put the pins through an R Moto face? Idk seems odd they marketed that for 2 years and it vanishes without a word.

    • Sean

      Nov 2, 2016 at 7:55 am

      From my understanding, R-Moto still in there along with VFT (variable face thickness) and the Boeing aerodynamic technology on the top. Culmination of a bunch of different technologies coming together. Hit it the other day……legit. We’ll see what the consumer thinks when they tee it up and whether the extra yards are worth the $$$’s

  16. KK

    Nov 1, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    Sort of the opposite of slot tech. Btw, Cally and TM really pushing composite design. Titleist may be left behind in the arms race. Let’s see what Ping does.

    • Brian

      Nov 3, 2016 at 3:00 pm

      Titleist is always behind in the arms race. They finally put movable weight tech in their drivers. I’d expect composite materials in the woods in, what, another 10 years?

  17. FTWPhil

    Nov 1, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    Jailbreak controls face deformation.

    • Dat

      Nov 2, 2016 at 9:21 pm

      so when we all hit it 600 yards and cave the face in as typical wrx’rs we won’t need a new driver every week?

  18. AW

    Nov 1, 2016 at 7:03 pm

    I hit this club for about an hour today and can promise you it’s longer than any club out there. The titanium pins that connect the sole to the crown are the real difference. Essentially they make sure those two parts don’t separate from the face and cause a loss of energy at impact.

    I had my own trackman out there and was getting about 3-4 mph more ball speed with the same swing speed. Some of the smash factor readings were up to 1.53! The subzero version is good as well but it’s still going to be only for the really high launching players (even though this new one is 460 vs. the xr16 subzero that’s 440). The standard Epic spun it plenty low for me and kept the ball a lot straighter.
    The club is going to sell for $499 but I think it’s going to be worth every penny.

    • Rimjob

      Nov 2, 2016 at 2:24 am

      Trackman doesn’t know Smash Factor. It is wrong more often than not because it cannot see the face.

      • Sean

        Nov 2, 2016 at 7:38 am

        Ummmm Rimjob……TrackMan or any other launch monitor does not need to “see” the face to determine smash factor. Smash Factor is a simple math calculation; ball speed divided by clubhead speed. 150 ball speed from a 100 mph swing speed equals a 1.50 smash factor. Higher that number the more efficient the strike. There are other factors such a open or closed club face that also affect that number so it’s not to say if it’s a 1.50 smash it’s automatically a good shot.

        With that said I hit Epic the other day with TrackMan on hand to settle the score. Jailbreak or whatever they want to call it is something special. My ball speed jumped from 155-157 range to 160-162…..I was impressed. More evaluation required but I think they are onto something. Preferred Red or Blue paint scheme but for extra yards I’ll get over it.

        • Rimjob

          Nov 2, 2016 at 2:16 pm

          Yeah. Good try. That is correct, that it is an ESTIMATION. Therefore, it is NOT accurate. It is GUESSING.

          • Sean

            Nov 2, 2016 at 9:45 pm

            Please enlighten me…….how is “accurate” smash factor determined?

          • Mpfaff

            Nov 8, 2016 at 12:52 pm

            Rimjob, once you have a degree in math or engineering you can say how far off the trackman is. By saying it is guessing is saying that the theory of gravity is just a guess. There is lots of data to back up the accuracy of the trackman, but hey if you also think gravity is just a guess go ahead and jump off a building and test out gravity for yourself.

  19. Charles Bartholomew

    Nov 1, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    What shaft does it come with?

    • Joe Corsi

      Nov 1, 2016 at 7:18 pm

      Several different shaft options that are stock

  20. suhdude

    Nov 1, 2016 at 5:37 pm

    move over beowulf, there’s a new EPIC in town!

  21. Joe Corsi

    Nov 1, 2016 at 4:04 pm

    My Callaway rep brought this to my store this week after his sales meeting and we all hit it on my CG2 launch monitor. This driver is a home run . Very solid and LOOOONG ! The titanium pins in the face deflect more energy forward than previous driver. This is one driver you will want to hit. We were all impressed by its performance.

  22. JB from THP

    Nov 1, 2016 at 3:16 pm

    At long last the THP inspired driver is available for the masses! We coined #Epic years ago in anticipation of this very moment and it’s finally here. Ugh…I can hardly breathe I’m so excited. I can’t wait for all the hand-picked, non-blacklisted…urrr…I mean “randomized” Granddaddy participants to put this in the bag. This year’s event will truly be the most EPIC (*snort* see what I did there?) event ever, which we totally didn’t steal from WRX.

    • The Dean

      Nov 1, 2016 at 3:33 pm

      Count me in (as always)!

      • Jman_THP

        Nov 1, 2016 at 3:34 pm

        EFFING EPIC!!! REALLY AND TRULY EFFING EPIC!!! I wonder what the resale value will be.

        • Concerned Golf WRX Fan

          Nov 4, 2016 at 2:23 pm

          JMAN you will get it for free then sell it like usual…..We all know it really it isnt those jokers…..but hey…..it’s the internet

  23. prime21

    Nov 1, 2016 at 3:06 pm

    Neato!

  24. EPIC BRO

    Nov 1, 2016 at 2:18 pm

    Cally goes after the Bro Golf crowd. “With the Great Big Bertha Epic, every drive will be EPIC BRO!”

    FFS

  25. alan

    Nov 1, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    at least 17 yards longer than any of their other drivers.

  26. CallawayLefty

    Nov 1, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    Oh man, please pick CallawayLefty for the EPIC trip.

  27. rechlo67

    Nov 1, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    Pair this bad boy up with the Graffaloy Epic

  28. NoDoubt Stout

    Nov 1, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    This.. this looks F#@%$ Good

  29. AllBOdoesisgolf

    Nov 1, 2016 at 12:03 pm

    haha callaway playing to the millennials and their lingo

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (3/28/24): L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft

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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 L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick putter with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft.

From the seller: (@hibcam): “L.A.B. GOLF Mezz.1 Max Broomstick- LA Golf Paige Spiranac Shaft- 44″/79.5. Brand new, never used brown leather cover. The head was professionally anodized from Orange to Blue (Orange looked bad with the Pink shaft so I had it changed). Only a few rounds on this combo. Please see last pic- slight ding on back corner. 8.5-10 condition. THE SHAFT COST $475/ THE PUTTER $625. $799 shipped in the US. ONLY $699 SHIPPED.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft

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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Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.

However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.

“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”

Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.

Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.

Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.

One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.

We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!

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