New Callaway Driver: Big Bertha V Series

[mvmac]

Last week the Callaway Big Bertha V Series driver was added to the USGA conforming list.

Things that stand out

- No moveable weights

- Adjustable hosel

- Similar sole design to the original Big Berthas from the 90's, the "wave"

- Channels on the toe and heel suggest an increase in club head speed through aerodynamics. Speed Optimized Technology is written on the toe. As they did with the most recent Big Bertha series, Callaway is pushing the physics angle, their Sir Isaac Newton caricature is prominently featured along with "You can't argue with physics".

[dkolo]

Reminds me of their Optiforce driver from last year.

[newtogolf]

I don't think Callaway is helping itself adopting TM's product release schedule.

[BENtSwing]

I don't think Callaway is helping itself adopting TM's product release schedule.

I agree. Nothing appealing about this club.

[Mr. Desmond]

Ventured out to the PGA Tour SuStore today and saw the BBV Series.

Swung it against a Ping G30 ... the BBV is definitely lighter.

From looking at both clubs, the Ping will be the straighter, consistent club for those that need/want help -- I assume that tail gives it a higher MOI.

The BBV looks like a driver for a golfer with a decent swing who needs more speed. But it is an attractive driver and hides its 460cc well.

The fairways may be more interesting to the folks here .. they look better to me than the BB (not as long heel to toe), and has a pleasing shape -- light, too.

With the 3 wood at 15.5 degrees and light, I am thinking that it will launch fairly easy, even for those with less than 90 ss.

One potential combo might be 15.5 and 20.5 (Heavenwood - cut to 42.5)

[teamroper60]

Hit a few shots with a BB V the other day at Golfsmith.   Didn't care for it.   Too light to suit my taste.   I agree with @newtogolf Callaway is not helping themselves here.   They need to look at what Taylormade is going through and learn from it, not mimick it.

[Mr. Desmond]

Hit a few shots with a BB V the other day at Golfsmith.   Didn't care for it.   Too light to suit my taste.   I agree with @newtogolf  Callaway is not helping themselves here.   They need to look at what Taylormade is going through and learn from it, not mimick it.

Just because it's too light for you does not mean it won't fit guys who might have a swing and need the incredible lightness.

I was hitting the BBV 3 wood/52g shaft off the deck and was impressed that I got a mid trajectory from it, and even poor swings received some launch. I haven't hit a 3 wood in years, but this club is incredibly easy through the hitting zone. Off the tee, I received a high penetrating trajectory. Looks good, feels good.

I did hit the BBV Driver. I did think the 42g shaft was too light for me. I've got a 10.5 waiting for me with the Speeder 565 shaft.

[Mr. Desmond]

I will add to the above, that the BBV Line looks more attractive holding it than in pictures. It has some nostalgia effect in terms of likeness to the original BB. Similar, but everything about it is different. Even the Warbird sole is modified, as is the head construction, face design, aerodynamics and materials. The highly polished head is attractive with the singular Chevron. Nothing distracts, size is hidden well. The hologram on the bottom is more attractive than pics. For the critics, you can't see the hologram at address -- I've lightened up over the years and it adds a little humor to the serious business at hand.

The driver seems to launch much higher in stock form than its stamped loft  (10.5) indicates. The sound is great - a solid thump. Since it's not the most forgiving driver ("Look, Mom, No Tail!"  *See G30)), I think the market is for golfers who need more speed and don't require max forgiveness, although it look as if it has plenty of forgiveness in it. I could not judge it on forgiveness as the 42g shaft seemed too light and too long. I have one coming in a 45 in with the Speeder 565 - 13 more g, minus the .5 inches in length and weight.

The 9 degree is meant for  golfers with good speed and/or heavier loads -- the head is slightly heavier, with a modified COG, and comes stock with the mid-torque, mid-kick Speeder 565 -- I think it may be a slightly modified Speeder 569.

Of course, it has the adjustable hosel -- -1, Stock, +1, +2, and lie angle options.

The fairways may be the big winners (for more people) here even if they are not adjustable. Attractive, long heel to toe but not as freakishly long as the BB. The BBV looks better, imho. The high toe and extended width from front to back offers great forgiveness, as does the cup face design. The 52g Mitsubishi Eagle 2nd Gen Series does a good job for its intended market (slower swingers). Big boys with speed have several options without an up charge - the slightly heavier Speeder 565 - lower torque, mid launch, and the Fubuki ZT 60.

The 3 wood glides through the hitting zone with ease due to its weight. Hit it slightly fat, you lose some distance and launch, but you still seem to get something out of it. Hit on the screws with a slightly open face, I get a mid-trajectory push draw. Even though it's 43.25 inches (I grip down slightly), it seems easy at the range. On the course, I will reserve it for the tee (high, tight bombs) and flat lies off the fairway.

The 20.5 Heavenwood is a potential combo with the 3 wd - at 43 in and 20.5, I'm thinking it's a high bombing 5'ish wood. Interestingly, the head is slightly deeper than the BBV 5 wood. Or one could go 5 wd at 19/42.5 before graduating to hybrid/irons. Or ... the 7 and 9 wd are options.

Attractive club, high tech, aerodynamics, light weight, forgiving, hyper speed face (feels great) easy launching shaft -- low to mid caps wanting more speed. Will check it out for distance on the course over the next week.

[Mr. Desmond]

Looks as if I will carry the Callaway Standard here ...

I have a BBV 10.5/Speeder 565 Combo.

The Speeder adds 12 more grams to the weight and will make it more palatable to those golfers liking the idea of liteweight but not too light.

It is a smooth ride.... Got it out for more time today. I hit some bombs at the range with the 10.5 (+1)/Speeder Combo at 45 inches. Tee'd the ball slightly lower (half the ball still above crown) and received flattish bombs that did not spin much with range balls ...

Results are really good... really good.

My only issue with the club -- because Callaway has done such a good job with the feel/sound - it is very soft - the feel off the ball is a bit muted and soft feeling. With my Bobby Jones Black driver, feel is more direct and I know exactly where I hit it on the face. With the BBV, I'm still guessing.

But if you want ball go far and this fits, preliminary results are that ball go far ...

Between the new swing and this lite weight, I may have to move up a flex to stiff.

___

PS. I did order the stock shaft from Callaway CS -- it is a real deal Mitsu Basara -- so I have an alternative shaft with which to experiment.

The market for this shaft is for guys with a decent swing who need more speed. I am making progress on the first part, and need speed. It is a great looking driver - classic black, composite crown, hyper speed face, warbird sole makes you think that strong hitters might hit it off the deck. Cool Club.

_____

I also have the BV Fairway in 3 wood, and I haven't hit a 3 wood in 7 years. It launches well off the deck, it's lightness carries you easily through impact, and has a soft, metallic twack.

The Heavenwood is its companion - at 20.5 and 43 inches (I grip down), very preliminary results are it is a strong 7 wood.

Great looking clubs, forgiving, warbird sole. hyper speed face... shafts a tad too long but that has not bothered me -- I think it's the lite weight that speeds the ball through impact.

[newtogolf]

If you like lightweight drivers, you should take a look at the Cleveland Classic 270g & 290g or Cleveland CG Black 265g.  I am about to replace my Nike driver with either the Classic 270G or CG Black as they are adding at least 10 yards to my drives.

[Mr. Desmond]

If you like lightweight drivers, you should take a look at the Cleveland Classic 270g & 290g or Cleveland CG Black 265g.  I am about to replace my Nike driver with either the Classic 270G or CG Black as they are adding at least 10 yards to my drives.

You do mean, "you should also look at..."

But this is the BBV Thread...

[Mr. Desmond]

On Tour, Chris Kirk won with the BBV Driver the first week it was introduced on the Deutsche Bank:

USA Today Sports Images

Chris Kirk won the Deutsche Bank Championship with a brand-new Callaway Big Bertha V-Series driver.

By

PGA.com

Series: Winner's Bag

What equipment did Chris Kirk and last week's other winners use to achieve victory? We take a peek inside their bags to check out the gear that earned them the big checks for the week of Sept. 1, 2014:

Chris Kirk
Deutsche Bank Championship, PGA Tour
Driver: Callaway Big Bertha V-Series (9 degrees, Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana D+ Series 62 X shaft)

and now on the web.com this week: Derek Fathauer wins with a BBV in his bag with driver and 3 wood... Derek is not the longest hitter or the most accurate and was 43 in GIR, so one might say he putt for his dough this week as he led the field in putts per green in regulation 1.558

Driver: Callaway Big Bertha, 8.5 degrees (set to 9.5 degrees)  (Weird because there is no 8.5, although there is a 9 degree)

3-wood: Callaway Big Bertha V Series, 16 degrees (weird because standard loft is 15.5)