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Three Callaway GBB Epic drivers appear on USGA Conforming Club List

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Three new Callaway drivers have appeared on the USGA’s Conforming Club List: the GBB Epic, the GBB Epic Star and the GBB Epic Sub Zero.

Callaway isn’t commenting on the new Great Big Bertha (GBB) drivers at this time, so we can’t officially confirm or deny any details about the new drivers. We do anticipate that one or more of the driver models could be in play this week at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, however, where they will be permitted for us. We also can point out a few things based on the USGA’s black-and-white photos.

GBB Epic

Callaway_GBB-Epic

GBB Epic Star

8_Nov_mono02

Based on the photos, it appears the GBB Epic and GBB Epic Star are virtually identical, with the exception being the lack of an adjustable hosel on the GBB Epic Star.

Both drivers appear to use a technology called “Jailbreak,” which is highlighted on the front of the driver’s sole. The technology is rumored to connect the sole and crown of the drivers, adding reinforcement that improves energy transfer.

On the other end of the sole is a sliding weight that enables golfers to select a draw, fade or neutral trajectory bias. There are also what seem to be carbon fiber inserts on the soles of all three driver models. Carbon fiber is lighter than titanium, and its use presumably enhanced the ability of Callaway engineers to optimize the weighting of the driver heads for improved performance.

GBB Epic Sub Zero

Callaway_GBB_Epic_Sub_Zero

Instead of a sliding weight track, the GBB Epic Sub Zero has two adjustable weights — one on the front of the sole, and one on the back. That reminds us of Callaway’s XR ’16 Sub Zero driver, which is the company’s current ultra-low-spin driver. It design targets better golfers, and was used in 2016 by Phil Mickelson.

The Sub Zero got its name from its center of gravity position (CG), which Callaway says is below the neutral axis line, or “sub zero.” The XR ’16 Sub Zero uses a what Callaway called a Carbon Triax Crown, an extremely thin, lightweight composite material on the top of the driver that the company said enabled its sub zero CG location.

What are GolfWRX Members saying about the new drivers? Join the discussion in our forum. 

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18 Comments

18 Comments

  1. westphi

    Dec 4, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    When is this going to be released in stores?

  2. Red Regal

    Nov 29, 2016 at 6:42 am

    Callaway the new Taylor Made with so many releases.

  3. PapaBear

    Nov 29, 2016 at 2:46 am

    Haven’t been this excited since the Cobra 370U was released!

  4. KJ

    Nov 28, 2016 at 9:02 pm

    A lot of the comments, so true. I buy a new driver amount every 3 years. I typically buy a model that’s one year old and half the price of the original in very good shape.

  5. erlybrd

    Nov 28, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    What? Looks just like 915 D4 head!!

  6. Blade Junkie

    Nov 28, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    Another bottle of Snake Oil please Bartender !

  7. B. Parsons

    Nov 28, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    The Korean YouTube video showed these in detail. I’m sure cally will try their best to have it pulled, but it’s still out there. Search for it on naver or another Korean search engine.

  8. Dave R

    Nov 28, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    What I can’t believe it more new drivers, what will they think of next

  9. Jordan

    Nov 28, 2016 at 11:14 am

    Wait, they’re coming out with an adjustable 915 driver? Color me intrigued…

  10. Clay

    Nov 28, 2016 at 10:30 am

    I can’t believe no one has speculated that the bonded hosel design was made for Tiger. Are the “Tiger is buying TM” rumors so strong that no one wants to start a new rumor about Tiger signing with Callaway? Fine, I will start the rumor. The GBB Star is made specifically for Tiger and will not go to market. I have zero evidence but I know some people that know some people that robbed some people and they said it is true.

  11. Michael

    Nov 28, 2016 at 9:33 am

    The Epic Star has my attention. Will this be a non-adjustable model that is in the $399 range? Would they want to compete with possible Fusion sales?

  12. cgasucks

    Nov 28, 2016 at 9:04 am

    Jailbreak technology!??! What is that?? Does it mean if you pay someone to “unlock” it you remove the USGA COR restriction!??!

    • Desmond

      Nov 28, 2016 at 9:23 am

      You need to read the EPIC thread

      • Desmond

        Nov 28, 2016 at 9:24 am

        … or just the descriptions above. Works wonders.

  13. Fozzie Bear

    Nov 28, 2016 at 8:50 am

    Oh, Mizuno Fast Track is back. 🙂

    • DB

      Dec 2, 2016 at 12:49 am

      Man, I just saw a Mizzy Fast Track at GolfMart for like $30.
      If Callaway says this technology is a game changer then I’m going back to get that Mizuno tonight!

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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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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