My Callaway GBB Epic Fitting

[kpaulhus]

I wanted to share some interesting info from my Callaway GBB Epic fitting yesterday. Last week I went to a local indoor golf place to get some baseline numbers in a controlled environment with my current Titleist 915 D4 driver 70g X stiff shaft. Below:

 

As you can see my swing speed is about 109 on average, and my ball speed was 158.

I didnt expect a ton out of the new GBB driver. I mean there is a current thread going on about the latest and greatest and...is it really worth it? Well, frankly, yeah,

I hit the GBB Epic, and ended up getting the most optimal numbers for me out of the GBB Epic Sub Zero. 10.5* loft, 70g X Stiff shaft. Same swing speed, same loft, same shaft weight and similar specs....but my ball speeds were in the 164-165 range, and I picked up about 8-10 yards on average. Its also scary how hot the driver is on miss hits. Today I hit a ball a little towards the toe and still was as far as a normal drive with my Titleist. 

I played a round yesterday afternoon with my Game Golf and my current Titleist D4 and then today with the GBB Epic Sub Zero demo club set to my specs. I know you cant make a call based on two drives back to back since not everything is equal and who knows if I pured both drives. But this wasnt the only instance. On several holes I hit similar lines and even found my divots from yesterday 8-10 yards further than they were yesterday. Needless to say I am excited for this new weapon. I'm already longer than the average amateur, so gaining that much more distance and going at greens with a shorter club in my hands makes me happy. 

 

[Hacker James]

glad to hear how it is working out for you. I am nowhere near those numbers and never will be, so I doubt if any equipment will make any noticeable difference, but I also know that confidence and feel is a factor as well. My goal now is to have more control and hit more fairways. If I pick up a yard or two in the process, well, that is okay too.

[kpaulhus]

1 minute ago, Hacker James said:

glad to hear how it is working out for you. I am nowhere near those numbers and never will be, so I doubt if any equipment will make any noticeable difference, but I also know that confidence and feel is a factor as well. My goal now is to have more control and hit more fairways. If I pick up a yard or two in the process, well, that is okay too.

I would say that properly fitted equipment makes a huge difference. I was fit for a set of irons 7 years ago. Ever since then I have never bought an off the rack club. Everything needs to be specific to me, because at that point I can say that it was the archer and not the arrow. 

[Hacker James]

4 minutes ago, kpaulhus said:

I would say that properly fitted equipment makes a huge difference. I was fit for a set of irons 7 years ago. Ever since then I have never bought an off the rack club. Everything needs to be specific to me, because at that point I can say that it was the archer and not the arrow. 

I would definitely agree with that. The proper fitting goes part and parcel with confidence and feel. Some can find it through experimentation, trial and error, but as you correctly point out, it would never take the place of a proper fitting. For me, its a matter of time and money. I am quickly running out of both. 

[SavvySwede]

@kpaulhus What sim were you on? 1.45 smash on every drive is kinda odd, or maybe the club is simply that forgiving.

[kpaulhus]

It was a flight scope I believe. I was mainly looking at my spin and launch angles. 

[b101]

Great to hear that you've found the driver for you - always a great feeling! I'm always intrigued by the launch monitor stuff as compared to the real-world Game Golf data, it seems a little off. If you felt you hit both pretty well, are you not surprised that both drives' total distance are below your average carry on the simulator? Either drive is good, just find it interesting...

[saevel25]

15 hours ago, SavvySwede said:

@kpaulhus What sim were you on? 1.45 smash on every drive is kinda odd, or maybe the club is simply that forgiving.

I would agree on that. 

8 hours ago, kpaulhus said:

It was a flight scope I believe. I was mainly looking at my spin and launch angles. 

Yea, that is what I tend to look at most. I know my swing speed. Really I just want to see how consistent the spin rates and launch angles are. 

[kpaulhus]

7 hours ago, b101 said:

Great to hear that you've found the driver for you - always a great feeling! I'm always intrigued by the launch monitor stuff as compared to the real-world Game Golf data, it seems a little off. If you felt you hit both pretty well, are you not surprised that both drives' total distance are below your average carry on the simulator? Either drive is good, just find it interesting...

Considering my average drive on the monitor was 262 carry, I feel that is pretty close. Its the winter here so 50-60* on a good day and soggy fairways usually dont get much roll if any right now. The two drives on GameGolf were within 5% of my average so I think the launch monitor is pretty close. In the summer there is no question I can get out past 300 yards once or twice a round. When the temps are in the 80-90's my avg drive is 10-15 yards further than the winter.

[Hardspoon]

Good stuff, @kpaulhus - thanks for posting.

I'm definitely going to try the Epic before the season starts in earnest. My SS is significantly lower than yours (95-100), but I'm also much more inconsistent so I may see more of a benefit if it's as good as advertised at maximizing ball speed on mishits.

My current driver is pushing six years old at this point, so I'm itching to upgrade.

[b101]

1 hour ago, kpaulhus said:

Considering my average drive on the monitor was 262 carry, I feel that is pretty close. Its the winter here so 50-60* on a good day and soggy fairways usually dont get much roll if any right now. The two drives on GameGolf were within 5% of my average so I think the launch monitor is pretty close. In the summer there is no question I can get out past 300 yards once or twice a round. When the temps are in the 80-90's my avg drive is 10-15 yards further than the winter.

Wasn't in any way questioning your averages - sorry if it came across that way! Just wondered whether they may have done the standard 'pop the Flightscope on a silly setting'. Should have looked at your location closer to clock the weather... 

I'd definitely take a 260 carry 

[kpaulhus]

6 hours ago, b101 said:

Wasn't in any way questioning your averages - sorry if it came across that way! Just wondered whether they may have done the standard 'pop the Flightscope on a silly setting'. Should have looked at your location closer to clock the weather... 

I'd definitely take a 260 carry 

No worries dude. Yeah my baseline numbers were at an indoor range that we rented just for fun, and most of the numbers were normal for me. 7 iron 175-180 carry so I somewhat trust most of it. I went back later to hit the epic so I don't think he messed with anything.

[HitAndGiggle]

Hey, thanks for sharing.

I had a short session at the range today trying to keep the rust off my swing with a break in our crappy winter. Anyway, I work with a lady who's sister is a fitter at this place (Haggin Oaks Super Shop - big place) so I wondered into the fitting shack on the range with a sales guy. He hands me a Sub Zero head and says, "This is the Epic. The Sub Zero is coming later." This didn't have the slider, but the two fixed weights. I didn't argue. Anyway, I just wanted to report that I thought the head is really nice. Beautiful club with what I'd call a more classic shape. Really nice. Will get a fitting session in a few weeks with my coworker's sister. 

I changed my swing this winter and am now skying my RBZ driver. Certainly hitting it further, but high. Entertaining to watch the ball, at least - haha. Will be interesting to see my numbers.

[dkolo]

On ‎1‎/‎21‎/‎2017 at 4:29 PM, kpaulhus said:

I wanted to share some interesting info from my Callaway GBB Epic fitting yesterday. Last week I went to a local indoor golf place to get some baseline numbers in a controlled environment with my current Titleist 915 D4 driver 70g X stiff shaft. Below:

 

As you can see my swing speed is about 109 on average, and my ball speed was 158.

I didnt expect a ton out of the new GBB driver. I mean there is a current thread going on about the latest and greatest and...is it really worth it? Well, frankly, yeah,

I hit the GBB Epic, and ended up getting the most optimal numbers for me out of the GBB Epic Sub Zero. 10.5* loft, 70g X Stiff shaft. Same swing speed, same loft, same shaft weight and similar specs....but my ball speeds were in the 164-165 range, and I picked up about 8-10 yards on average. Its also scary how hot the driver is on miss hits. Today I hit a ball a little towards the toe and still was as far as a normal drive with my Titleist. 

I played a round yesterday afternoon with my Game Golf and my current Titleist D4 and then today with the GBB Epic Sub Zero demo club set to my specs. I know you cant make a call based on two drives back to back since not everything is equal and who knows if I pured both drives. But this wasnt the only instance. On several holes I hit similar lines and even found my divots from yesterday 8-10 yards further than they were yesterday. Needless to say I am excited for this new weapon. I'm already longer than the average amateur, so gaining that much more distance and going at greens with a shorter club in my hands makes me happy. 

 

Thank you for posting this; it's fascinating, and makes me want to get a fitting of my own one of these days! I think a new driver is the last thing I can reasonably talk myself into after upgrading everything else in my bag. It seems like the Sub Zero has been universally lauded as the club to beat this season for players with even just above average swing speeds