Equipment

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

Published

10 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.

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

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

Mar 15, 2016 at 9:20 am

Come out with the 8.5 !!!!!

Reply Report comment
Jacob

Mar 15, 2016 at 9:11 am

And people make fun of TaylorMade…

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Whats in the Bag

Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)

Published

47 mins ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Equipment

Game improvement iron as a driving iron? – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

2 hours ago

Jun 1, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user is sharing details of a recent round in which his playing partner was gaming an…unconventional driving iron.

@AbSWFPGA explained:

“Played with a kid the other day who was a good player and he used a TaylorMade qi max hl 4 iron as a driving iron. He hit it off a lot of tees and it was pretty money. I looked up the 4 iron in that set and it’s 18.5 degrees so that would make for a good driving iron in terms of loft. Has anyone done this and could share some feedback? Thanks”

Our members have been sharing their own perspectives and experiences with unique driving irons in the forum.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

Dave33: “I just got a new set of irons, Ping I540’s, and the 4 iron is 19 degrees. That’s basically as strong as the 2 iron in my 30 yr old custom set its replacing and I used to hit that 2 iron off the tee all the time. The I540 4 iron off the tee is an awesome club. ”
Santiago Golf: “I have tried this a few times and they always went too high … Never really the stinger height I was looking for. I got a IDEA Pro style hybrid and it was the perfect mid launching club I was looking for.”
DircaDelta: “I basically do this with a JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro 4iron (19 degrees). I tried a few driving irons but honestly this probably fits me best due to the shorter length, but it’s still hot and still has a wide sole which is nice. Great off the tee, turf, and punchy shots to lay-up on par 5s or get out of trouble. It has the same shaft as my irons (Modus 120X) so I could probably get more out of it from a different shaft, but it fits what I need in terms of gapping from my 5 iron (JPX Forged) and gapping and launch from my short 5 wood. I think it’s a good (and often cheaper) route so long as you can find one that suits your eye and gapping needs. I don’t like offset so the HMP’s help in the optics department over a “more typical” game improvement iron.”

Entire Thread: “Game Improvement Iron as a Driving Iron?”

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Equipment

Best 400cc driver that has a modern COR? – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

2 hours ago

Jun 1, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user is hoping to marry the look of classic drivers with modern technology.

@slantsflood inquired:

“Not looking at the mini drivers here. Looking for 9 degrees if possible.

“Think Titleist 905s or T. Kind of pear shaped with today’s tech would be perfect for my eye.”

Our members have been helping slantsfood brainstorm about drivers that might fit into his wheelhouse.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

ProjectX: “The major difference is the 905T had a standard length of 45″ and the modern stuff is 45.5″ or longer. So not only will that extra half inch feel a lot longer it will also swingweight 3 points heavier. That’s where you are getting the heavy feeling from is the length. Outside of that the balance of the clubs has also changed because of the requirement of the adjustable hosel that puts a lot of mass towards the neck of the club than before. This has also made the insertion depth for shafts much more shallow making them play lighter to flex than the old days which is why tipping has become so prevalent. There is no doubt what you feel is different than the old days, but I highly doubt we ever see a glued hosel again.”
Golfingfanatic: “Have a look at the Japanese market. you’ll find some options released in the last few years in that size range.”
storm3: “If you are willing to go bigger with a smaller looking pear like footprint, you may want to consider the TSR4 of GT4 (430cc) which provides adjustability and are more likely to outperform 20 year old sub 400cc heads.”

Entire Thread: “Best 400 cc driver that still has a modern cor”

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