Callaway Driver Comparisons

[Enthusiast]

Hey Guys

I am looking to replace my Callaway Big Bertha Ti 454. Over the years I have hit most of the Big Bertha/Diablo line and have liked most of them, but spread out and never back to back to compare. I haven't kept up with the FT line as much but did hit the FT-iQ a while back and I remember not caring for it but truthfully can't remember why.

I am a high handicapper >20 and have ~115 mph club speed. I looking for distance and some forgiveness to develop consistency. Im looking for a matching Driver and 3 and 5 wood set.

I really like the Diablo Octane, because I hit it well and well Im a huge car nut, and like the technology developed with Lamborghini, but when shopping for them I stumbled across the BB Diablo, Diablo Edge, and FT line and saw how reasonable they are now. I am having trouble finding comparisons between the different iterations of the callaway lines over the last few years and I am looking for some recommendations

With the info Ive found, many are saying some of the FT line pretty much always hits straight, which Im not really looking for. I used the club face markers when Im at the range and strike the ball pretty consistently with a few mis-hits here and there but not many. For now Id like something I can learn to be very consistent with but with a little room to grow so later I can learn to work the ball on a drive a little. I am worried about getting something too workable though and then start shanking stuff everywhere though.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Also unfortunately I do not have access to any of the the drivers to hit back to back and compare except the Octane.

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by Enthusiast

I am a high handicapper >20 and have ~115 mph club speed. I looking for distance and some forgiveness to develop consistency. Im looking for a matching Driver and 3 and 5 wood set. ......

.... For now Id like something I can learn to be very consistent with but with a little room to grow so later I can learn to work the ball on a drive a little. I am worried about getting something too workable though and then start shanking stuff everywhere though. .......

Also unfortunately I do not have access to any of the the drivers to hit back to back and compare except the Octane.

I would say start with square-faced drivers (non-draw and non-Tour 1* open) and see how they work. If you make fairly good contact, you should be able to hit a basic fade or draw with some practice. Most teaching pros recommend going with draw or fade as your standard shot.

You also need to take into account what shaft you need. If you're looking for stock drivers, you probably want one with a loft and shaft flex/dynamics which fit what you need.

You probably want stiff if you want to maximize distance. Also, is 115 MPH your average CHS, or one for a really good hit? And did the CHS come from a well-calibrated launch monitor, or one with inflated CHS and distance ratings to make people think they've found the Superclub ?

If you have a Play It Again Sports or a Second-Hand Sports in your area, buy a used driver from them and try it out. If you test it and it's not what you need, you can get a store credit on trade-back and use it toward another driver. You would need a used shop with a good variety of drivers to make this work.

Or, you could go through Callaway Pre-owned. You can buy a driver and try it, and if it's not what you want, you can send it back for a store credit, or a swap-out. This could take several weeks to find what you want, but you'd make friends with the local UPS driver. The for-sale list for clubs includes the shaft type and flex in a given driver or wood.

Or, you could locate a golf shop/ golf center with a good reputation, make an oppointment, and drive down for a couple of days and get on their launch monitor, do a side-by-side test with several drivers. And the fairway woods. I would recommend this - a little gas mileage and a motel bill, but you could systematically test things out. Sounds like you're making golf more a part of your life, so I think you can justify the cost.

You might consider the Callaway X-Fit driver. It's adjustable, and it you got the right flex you could tweak the loft and weighting to match your swing. The X-Fit and X-Black FWs are good also. And, recent price cuts on the X-Fit and X-Black lines.

[Enthusiast]

I measured my CHS at Golfsmith and a local Academy and got simialar results between 112 and 118 mph. Its been a while since Ive measured it so I am going back tomorrow to see where I currently am before I purchase anything.

Golf isnt a huge part of my life, just something me and some friends do on our off days. I hadnt played since new years, and went out last week, and I realized how rough my old clubs are looking and how I am having to play around the clubs. Except for my driver, all of my clubs are from my original set of Dunlops I was using 11 years ago when I was playing for my school in 7th grade. Im having to almost completely change my swing for clubs because they are too short (short irons) and have too soft a shaft (fairway woods). I think id enjoy my days on the course on my days off more if I could just play and worry less about the type of swing Im gonna use.

Now that our schedules are calming down we will go back to playing once or twice a week, and I just want to upgrade everything to something that fits me and that I can keep for a while and grow with.

I absolutely do not want an adjustable head. I worry I will end up doing more damage than good.

I will report back tomorrow with results on more current information about my swing and Ill try and hit as many callaway drivers as available.

[Enthusiast]

Went and had my CHS measured, after I warmed up I was between 100-105, and I have a few mph in reserve if I decide to go for it instead of lay up. I broke my neck last year and didnt do much rehab so I expected to be down a little. I noticed when I swing Im not using my hips like I used to. I plan on continuing to swing a little laid back like I do until I develop my strength back and can start to use my lower body again consistentley