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What’s new? How much does it cost? And how does it perform? Nicola Slater brings you the low down on the new Callaway Big Bertha Hybrid
Callaway Big Bertha is one of the most iconic names in golf. Nicola Slater put the latest 2023 Big Bertha hybrid to the test to see how it performed.
Callaway Big Bertha 2023 hybrids are designed for players of all abilities who seek to find an alternative to long irons.
With a wide range of lofts, the Big Bertha looks inviting behind the ball and produces a higher launch ball flight than you would find in longer irons with added forgiveness.
Big Bertha is Callaway’s most forgiving hybrid, aiming to promote a straighter ball flight and eliminate slices from players’ games.
PROS
CONS
Some players love long irons, and some love hybrids. I have and most likely will always fall into the hybrid category and so I was very keen to see what the new Big Bertha hybrid from Callaway had to offer.
Looks-wise, the design of the Big Bertha very much follows suit with previous models however for 2023 the colour scheme has altered to red. The top of the hybrid has a shiny black finish with the classic Callaway golf logo as an alignment aid in the middle, in white.
Upon taking the head cover off I wasn’t sure how the face was going to look behind the ball as it looked quite large and open. How a hybrid sits behind a ball can be make or break and this was actually one of the most visually appealing hybrids I’ve ever tried. Despite being 19 degrees it seemed so lofted and like there was nowhere it was going other than up in the air.
The 2023 Big Bertha range comes with black and white headcovers that feel very nice and would look great in anyone’s golf bag.
I have seen many Callaway Big Bertha clubs during my golfing career but I must embarrassingly say that I haven’t hit many before.
With that said, I had to give the Big Bertha a thorough test. The first part of the testing was conducted in an indoor simulator bay using a GC Quad launch monitor. As per the table below you can see the conclusion of my testing which I will dive a little deeper into.
The loft I tested was a 19-degree 3 hybrid. I currently carry a Ping G425 in that loft so I had a benchmark of numbers to go off to compare.
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Whilst there were a couple of stray shots in there I was really impressed with how consistent the overall data is. The carry distances only had a range of 6 yards which is quite impressive over 8 shots. The carry distance is also very much what I would expect from a 19 degree hybrid and it felt very easy to get it that far.
The launch angle was also pretty high for a 19-degree club with the average being 15.1 degrees. There was the odd very high launch at 16.5 degrees with the lowest only 13.8 yet the carry distances on those shots were the same. Callaway does list this as being a high-launching club and for a lot of players, this height would be very appealing as it’s nice to see a ball get plenty of height.
In comparison to my current hybrid, the spin rate was a little down. Out on the course, I didn’t find this to be a problem as I felt coming into a green there was enough stopping power thanks to the height it generated.
I took it out on the course and was very impressed with how it performed. The first shot I went to hit on a par 5 I actually caught off of the bottom of the club and I was surprised how well it went. I found that even the shots that I didn’t quite get out of the middle of the club were still very much in play. The design of the Big Bertha hybrid features precision tungsten weight placing that creates plenty of forgiveness.
The large high-volume head shape is designed to help those players who struggle with a slice straighten out their ball flight. My shot shape is predominantly a draw so I didn’t really get to test this out but any miss hits tended to fly pretty straight.
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Another benefit that you get with his hybrid is that there are so many lofts available. Not many brands offer seven different loft options in a hybrid and it’s great news for those players who prefer hybrids. On top of a wide range of loft options, there is an adjustable hostel so that the loft on each hybrid can be slightly tweaked a degree or two as and when you need to.
Overall, I think that this hybrid is a great option for any type of golfer who is looking for an easy-to-hit longer golf club option. Behind the ball, this hybrid looks like it’s going nowhere but in the air which is very reassuring. If you don’t quite get that desired result, the miss hits are incredibly forgiving. With the great range of lofts, it would also be a great alternative to fairways woods too.
Available: Now
RRP: £279 / $270
Right-handed lofts: 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H, 7H, 8H, 9H
More information: Callaway pre-owned UK / Callaway US
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