Callaway has resurrected its Big Bertha brand with men’s and women’s super game improvement ranges. Hannah Holden takes a closer look
When it comes to your typical club golfer there is one problem shot we see more than any other – the slice. Callaway know this, so their new super game improvement ranges aim to straighten out your ball flight.
By focusing on one problem shot type they can be really specific on what characteristics are needed in each club to improve your game. They can then combine the best of their technologies to give the golfers who need the most help that advantage.
The range is really designed for new golfers or people coming back to golf after a lot of time or equally people who don’t want to take lessons but just want to swing their swing and enjoy their golf more.
And so the Callaway Big Bertha BB-21 for men and Reva for women were born.
The key message? More distance and forgiveness – however you swing it.
The BB-21 and Reva ranges both feature drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, and irons that put a premium on launching the ball easier no matter where you strike it from on the club face.
Not only are they promising higher launching shots, the ball flight is set to be straighter and – you guessed it – longer.
The Reva differs as the technologies and weighting have been optimised for the swing speeds of a typical female club golfer.
So how exactly are they getting rid of your slice? Let’s take a closer look…
Callaway Big Bertha BB-21 driver
The whole story here is about the club adapting to your game so you can just continue to swing your swing while seeing distance gains and directional improvement.
Typically high handicappers struggle with hitting down on the driver and cutting across the line generally creating a big slice with too much spin. This driver is designed to reduce spin so the ball flies straighter.
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Instantly you notice the pretty large clubhead and its triangular stretch shape. It actually has a low forward centre of gravity to reduce both backspin and sidespin.
Typically we only see this kind of CG on a driver for players with very high clubhead speeds. Callaway have combined this with the specially designed AI flash face which gives you more speed allowing the weighting to be moved forward and kept low.
A big feature of this range is the reintroduction of the Calllaway RCH shafts. These Callaway own shafts are designed to work specially with the Big Bertha range and bring specific technologies to each club.
Super game improvement market covers a wide variety of golfers with different swing speeds so the consistency is more about how the club is delivered in to the ball by these golfers. Callaway wanted a shaft to help with hand and clubhead position at impact and to help with dynamic loft without feeling weak in the tip of the club. They didn’t feel there was an appropriate shaft on the market that was hitting their criteria, so they made their own.
Available: Now RRP: £449
Callaway Big Bertha BB-21 fairways woods
Fairway woods are a club that have huge potential in amateurs bags as they are great for long, high-flying shots. The problem is they are long clubs so harder to control impact in terms of impact location and ground contact. We often see club golfers struggle with them due to hitting shots from all over the club face and not getting the ball high enough in the air.
In the Big Bertha BB-21 fairways the leading edge has been lowered to help with turf interaction and increase ball speeds on those low of centre strikes. The shallower face design also helps inspire more confidence over the ball.
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A shorter than standard shaft helps with strike increasing ball speed and distance. Most players who tested these actually hit it further than the Mavrik because of this.
Callaway have introduced offset into the fairway woods which is a first for them. This helps sync up the hand to club face relationship for straighter flying shots.
Available: Now RRP: £279
Callaway Big Bertha BB-21: Hybrids
For most golfers hybrids are a perfect long iron solution as they have more forgiveness due to deeper CG and they also have more MOI.
There is a serious amount of tungsten weighting in these hybrids from the dual MIM’D Tungsten weighting system. In fact more than 70 grams of tungsten has been distributed around the head made possible by the larger shape.
The fixed hosel rather than adjustable seen in previous ranges saves weight and keeps the CG lower making it even easier to launch.
Available: Now RRP: £229
Callaway Big Bertha BB-21: Irons
The super game improvement shaping sees a wider sole, wider topline, larger faces and more offset. All these features are designed help you hit each club more consistently.
Probably the most noticeable feature is the increased offset. Offset is used to help golfers create the correct relationship between the hands and the clubface straightening up your ball flight.
In certain parts of the set we also see 50% wider soles compared to the Mavrik Max irons. This prevents against digging, improving turf interaction.
Across an iron set each club has a very different role. Long irons have a greater priority on ball speed especially from strikes low on the face, they also have a greater priority for launch angle. Short irons in comparison people make better contact so more of a priority on spin and launch consistency. This is why each club has its own uniquely designed AI flash cup face.
Sound and feel is important here so Callaway use urethane microspheres to stop the face vibrating after impact.
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Like the hybrids they feature lots of tungsten weighting this time in the form of a visible tungsten energy core which sits low in the sole pulling the CG backwards. There is also more tungsten in the to to centre the centre of gravity on the score line.
Available: Now RRP: Sets from £509
Callaway Big Bertha Reva: Driver
The Big Bertha Reva driver features all the same technologies we see in the BB-21 but Callaway have done their homework to optimise the lofts, swing weights, shaft lengths and even the head shape for women.
The RCH 40 shaft is lighter and has a unique bend profile it is also an inch shorter than in the BB-21 offering.
The club also has a lighter swing weighting. This affects how heavy the head of the club feels as you swing it. The lighter swing weighting here should mean it feels more effortless to move the clubhead to the ball.
Available: October 15 RRP: £449
Callaway Big Bertha Reva: Fairways
The Reva ladies equivalent offer all the same qualities but in an overall lighter build including a lightweight RCH shaft, specifically designed by Callaway to enhance swing speed.
Available: October 15 RRP: £279
Callaway Big Bertha Reva: Hybrids
Callaway are saying this is their easiest to launch women’s hybrid ever. This is mainly down to the larger club head volume designed to get rid of that shot that spins miles off line.
Both ranges are available all the way from 3- to 8-iron equivalents for those who really don’t want to play long or mid irons.
Available: October 15 RRP: £229
Callaway Big Bertha Reva: Irons
Again the tech story here is the same as the BB-21 irons but it is the first time we have seen the AI designed flash face cup make it into a women’s range.
These also feature lighter RCH shaft options as well as a smaller lighter grip.
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Available: October 15 RRP: Sets from £509
Callaway Mack Daddy wedges
The new Mack Daddy CB wedges are designed to perfectly transition from game improvement irons into your wedges. They feature a deep cavity back, larger head and thicker topline to give you more confidence over the ball.
The clubs aim to give you more precision even when you don’t make perfect contact. Due to enhanced forgiveness, control, and tons of spin for more consistency around the green.
There are two sole grinds available with the lower lofts offering a full more iron like sole with moderate bounce. Then in the higher loft options we see more bounce for added forgiveness especially from bunkers and rough.
Callaway’s JAWS groove provide maximum grip and spin from all types of lies. Grooves extend across the face in the higher loft options for spin no matter where you strike it.
The clubs also feature a longer than standard ‘short game grip’. The Golf Pride SG-1 grip allows you to grip down on the club for improved distance control.
