Original Great Big Bertha

[fishgolf]

Hi All.  This is my first post on the forum.  I'm one of those who tends to trail the crowd when it comes to having the latest in technology - just like old school.  I've been playing the original Great Big Bertha, 8 degree, Graphalloy, regular shaft and the matching 3 wood for about 12 years now.  I'm a 16 handicap golfer who fights to control fade.  Recently retired and now playing with friends in Yuma, I'm once again getting those odd looks on the tee box, and often questioned why I'm hitting a 3 wood off the tee .  I chuckle and tell them its the original GBB.  They keep assuring me I'd be getting better distance and roll with a "modern driver".  About 4 years ago, I stopped in at a Pro Golf and tested some drivers using their swing monitor equipment - cool stuff.  If memory serves, a regular flex shaft suited my swing speed as did lower lofts (I still hit the 8 degree surprisingly high).  I would guess I'm currently averaging about 210 yards with a slight fade yielding little roll-out.  I don't recall how long I was hitting the drivers I tested, but don't think it was that much further that the GBB (which I hit at the same time).

I'd love to here from prior GBB users who have moved on to the more modern drivers and which ones you found to your liking.  Some of the new drivers just seem crazy large to me.  Are the new drivers with the adjustable perimeter (fade/draw) weight and/or shaft adjustments really that helpful?  Used and not the most current is fine and I'd like to keep it $200 or less.  Thanks!

[NM Golf]

Well I played the GBB just like everyone else did about 18 years ago. I've been through about 9 drivers since then (plus 3 houses, 4 cars, and 1 wife). I think you will find the technological advances in drivers in the past two decades to be tremendous. Forgiveness alone between what you are hitting and a modern driver will be night and day. Not to mention if you fight a slice, the technology in modern drivers made to help straighten ball flight will be a huge help to your game. 

In short, yes you should switch to a driver produced in the past 5 years. There are many good ones out there that can be found in your price range. Look on rockbottomgolf.com, they have great deals on new and used drivers.

Hope that helps

[Pardner]

I started playing again 4 or 5 years ago after an 8 year hiatus.   Like you, I showed up with a GBB.  The first club I replaced was the driver, and I have no regrets for that.  I'm onto my second driver now and I can't tell you the last time I popped a ball up with my Ping G30, just doesn't happen.  In addition, off center hits just don't punish you as bad.  I'd seriously consider getting some of the newer technology if I were you ... imho.

Edited January 12, 2018 by Pardner

[billchao]

On 1/11/2018 at 6:37 PM, fishgolf said:

Used and not the most current is fine and I'd like to keep it $200 or less.

You can find previous generation models or used drivers within your budget and they'll still be an upgrade over your Great Big Bertha. Technology has improved a lot in the last 25 years or so.

There are a few articles out there of people comparing old drivers to modern ones, here's one: https://mygolfspy.com/callaway-epic-vs-biggest-big-bertha/

[tristanhilton85]

While I don't see the need to rush out and buy a new driver every few years, I definitely think that you would greatly benefit for a more "modern" driver. The used section of your local golf shop or rockbottomgolf.com as @NM Golf suggested are great places to start. You can get something with A LOT more forgiveness for not that much money.

[fishgolf]

Thanks so much for the responses and feedback.  OK, I'm going to look for a newer driver, but wow, the shear number of options is more difficult that choosing a new fly rod!  I see a good many with draw/fade and loft adjustment.  Should one or both be a must feature?  A few threads I've read suggest they are more marketing than functional tools - I have no experience with them and could use some advice.

Also, my GBB is a 250cc head and a few of the ones my friends are using are 460cc (these just seem enormous to me); any suggestions on one that would be a bit smaller? 

[lastings]

Really, I'd just say identify a price range and go from there.  

I wouldn't fret too much about the 460cc head size on newer drivers.   I went from a Callaway Biggest Big Berthe (290cc) to a Great Big Berta II (330cc), then my next driver was a Big Bertha Alpha (460cc). 

The jump up to the 460cc head size seems like a lot and overwhelming with a just couple swings, but it really doesn't take more than 45 minutes at the range to get used to it.  

 

[NJpatbee]

I went from persimmons to the original Big Bertha to the Taylor Made 320cc, and then to the 460cc Ping G5 followed by the G15.   I adapted very quickly to the larger club heads.  I strongly recommend a used Ping G15 which can be had for under $100 and performs great.  It is also non-adjustable which for some of us older folks is a plus. 

[RussUK]

On ‎12‎/‎01‎/‎2018 at 3:59 PM, NM Golf said:

In short, yes you should switch to a driver produced in the past 5 years. There are many good ones out there that can be found in your price range. Look on rockbottomgolf.com, they have great deals on new and used drivers.

Hope that helps

Not wanting to hijack the OP's thread but I use a Ping G5 (bought it almost unused), would it be worth looking to upgrade or stick with it for recreational golf?

[RandallT]

Whenever I see a thread like this, my reaction is to share my somewhat recent experiences in shopping for a driver.

Once was about 5 years ago, when I was taking up the game again. By going to a club fitter, he took me through a large number of manufacturers and configurations. I hit maybe 10 balls with each, and the fitter was using Flight Scope technology to develop a pattern of which configurations worked the best for me that day.

In the end, a combination of his magic with technology and the feedback I gave him about the feels of each club led to a final choice.

Then a couple years later, I won a PING G30 in a TST contest (before I became staff, I'll have you all know!). Again, I went to the same fitter who walked me through all of the configurations just for a PING G30 driver. There were 3 different head types, different shafts to try, plus loft and weight adjustments. It was a TON of experimentation- and the differences were significant. 

Again with his help with the ball flight numbers and my feedback about the experience with each set of balls that I hit, we settled on a configuration. I'd have been LOST without it.

 

TL;DR:  I was very satisfied with the process of getting a new driver through the help of a fitter. Maybe that's a luxury or impossible for some, but from what I've seen, it just helps you know you've bought something that will likely work. At least you've gone through a somewhat scientific process.

Other than that, good luck with your choice! I know I wouldn't have known what to pick without help.

Problem is: I'm not sure how you could use any of this advice if you're getting a driver that is a model or two behind the current models. Fitters, by their nature, tend to have the most recent stuff in stock. So while you'll likely get a better deal without sacrificing much by being a few years old- without the fitting, I'd always wonder if the club was the best I could've done. 

[NM Golf]

40 minutes ago, RussUK said:

Not wanting to hijack the OP's thread but I use a Ping G5 (bought it almost unused), would it be worth looking to upgrade or stick with it for recreational golf?

The G5 will be 13 years old this summer. While it's certainly somewhat outdated, it still has many bells and whistles the original OP's Bertha does not. The G5 has a 460cc head like most current drivers do today, also the shaft technology shouldn't be too bad. It does pre-date the adjustability era so the ability to fine tune it is not there, what you see is what you get.

Basically, if you hit it okay you are not doing yourself a huge disservice by still playing it, unlike the original OP was doing with that Bertha. I would though maybe start to save your pennies and look at saving for something a bit newer. Some of the adjustable drivers can help straighten ball flight and even get you a few more yards.

 

[fishgolf]

Ping is having a demo day at one of the courses here in Yuma.  I've signed up for a free fitting which includes swing analysis.  I plan to bring my Ping Eye 2 (green dot) irons along and discuss whether these are still appropriate as I purchased these new back in 1987.  I hit them well, but always high and typically one club lower than most would be using.  This could be an expensive day if my willpower is weak (LOL).

[billchao]

1 hour ago, fishgolf said:

Ping is having a demo day at one of the courses here in Yuma.  I've signed up for a free fitting which includes swing analysis.  I plan to bring my Ping Eye 2 (green dot) irons along and discuss whether these are still appropriate as I purchased these new back in 1987.  I hit them well, but always high and typically one club lower than most would be using.  This could be an expensive day if my willpower is weak (LOL).

Just go with an open mind and enjoy yourself, trust the fitter. FWIW, I know people who still play Ping Eye 2s, but you'll have to determine for yourself if they are worth upgrading.

I'm predicting you'll see an improvement over your Great Big Bertha with the G400 drivers, though. And it's only 445cc 

[fishgolf]

On ‎1‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 10:04 AM, billchao said:

Just go with an open mind and enjoy yourself, trust the fitter. FWIW, I know people who still play Ping Eye 2s, but you'll have to determine for yourself if they are worth upgrading.

I'm predicting you'll see an improvement over your Great Big Bertha with the G400 drivers, though. And it's only 445cc 

LOL... my $200 budget is in serious jeopardy.  Maybe they'll have a Ping G400 "second" that tends to draw the ball .

[fishgolf]

Our quick trip around Phoenix afforded a stop at Arizona Golf Works in Tempe.  Swing speed with my GBB was ~91. I ended up trying a Titleist D915 and Callaway Razr Fit at the nearby Karsten course/range. Swing speed with both was ~93.  Both hit well, but I liked the Razr a bit more. It had a lower trajectory and smaller profile looking down. So for $50 including a new matching Callaway grip and head cover, I've now moved two decades forward in driver technology.  I still plan on attending the Ping demo/fitting next week and the new 400 driver. I'll post an update on how the Razr is performing over the remaining season here in Yuma. 

[onthehunt526]

On 1/11/2018 at 6:37 PM, fishgolf said:

Hi All.  This is my first post on the forum.  I'm one of those who tends to trail the crowd when it comes to having the latest in technology - just like old school.  I've been playing the original Great Big Bertha, 8 degree, Graphalloy, regular shaft and the matching 3 wood for about 12 years now.  I'm a 16 handicap golfer who fights to control fade.  Recently retired and now playing with friends in Yuma, I'm once again getting those odd looks on the tee box, and often questioned why I'm hitting a 3 wood off the tee .  I chuckle and tell them its the original GBB.  They keep assuring me I'd be getting better distance and roll with a "modern driver".  About 4 years ago, I stopped in at a Pro Golf and tested some drivers using their swing monitor equipment - cool stuff.  If memory serves, a regular flex shaft suited my swing speed as did lower lofts (I still hit the 8 degree surprisingly high).  I would guess I'm currently averaging about 210 yards with a slight fade yielding little roll-out.  I don't recall how long I was hitting the drivers I tested, but don't think it was that much further that the GBB (which I hit at the same time).

I'd love to here from prior GBB users who have moved on to the more modern drivers and which ones you found to your liking.  Some of the new drivers just seem crazy large to me.  Are the new drivers with the adjustable perimeter (fade/draw) weight and/or shaft adjustments really that helpful?  Used and not the most current is fine and I'd like to keep it $200 or less.  Thanks!

If you like Callaway, try Callaway Pre-owned they usually have some good deals on gently used older model (last 3 or 4 years). With your budget, I'd honestly look at Tour Edge HL3 or Exotics EX9 (2015) both can be purchased for under $200... Also the Ping G25, Taylormade SLDR, and Callaway X2 Hot are good drivers from previous seasons.

Disclaimer: Yes I love Tour Edge Exotics. (The running joke on here is I am the only player that actually gets paid to play their equipment). I have tried the other company's drivers, fairways, irons, etc. Are there better clubs out there? Yes. I'll admit it. In my unbiased world, I think the big four make better drivers, and irons for sure. But it's hard to say that anyone beats Exotics on fairway woods and hybrids. They do things with the fairways that the big four don't. Just my opinion.

I've seen RockBottomGolf mentioned, Budget Golf also has good closeout deals. Test a few drivers out and see which of these newer tech drivers fits your game and what you want to do with your driver. If you want a slight draw, there's a driver for that. You want to be able to work it both ways, there's a driver for that too. 

 

[fishgolf]

We attended the Ping Demo/Fitting event this morning and were pleasantly surprised that it was not overrun.  After having my wife hit left and right handed (she's left handed), he is certain her more natural grip and swing is right handed.  More importantly, she finds that orientation a bit more natural as well  This is great news in that it really opens up the market for some starter clubs.  Moreover, it will make it much easier for me to assist her while practicing.

I then spoke with him about my having been "fitted" for my Ping Eye 2's in 1986 and have been wondering for some time whether those are still appropriate for me.  His measurements confirm that, had he be selling those same clubs today, they would be the right ones (+1/2" length, green dot).  With that, he assembled a few different shafts on the G400's and had me both hit the strike plate and then balls with the flight scope.  The Project X shafts felt the best, produced the least spin, and most carry.  He stated that shaft is not that much different than the ZZ-lite shafts on my PE2's,  I must say that the P400's had a nice feel to them and sure looked nice.  I just priced out a set via 2nd Swing Golf and they will set me back $1000.00 (not including a 2 or 3 iron, which I still have and hit)... WOW!

I also tested the G400 driver, 9 degree.  I'm glad I purchased the used Callaway Razr X noted above... or I would likely have purchased the G400 today.  The first few hits were dead straight bullets that rolled out to the ranges back berm.  The G400 has a very nice looking profile (not excessively large), and felt great.  With 3 rounds done using the new to me latest driver technology, all I can say is that I should have made the change years ago.  Everyone was spot on when stating that I'd be hitting much further and fairways more often.  My GBB is officially retired.  Still early in the change, but I would say it has resulted in 5 less strokes per round.  Now the question whether those $1000.00 irons will result in similar improvement .

 

[billchao]

3 hours ago, fishgolf said:

I also tested the G400 driver, 9 degree.  I'm glad I purchased the used Callaway Razr X noted above... or I would likely have purchased the G400 today.  The first few hits were dead straight bullets that rolled out to the ranges back berm.  The G400 has a very nice looking profile (not excessively large), and felt great.  With 3 rounds done using the new to me latest driver technology, all I can say is that I should have made the change years ago.  Everyone was spot on when stating that I'd be hitting much further and fairways more often.  My GBB is officially retired.  Still early in the change, but I would say it has resulted in 5 less strokes per round.

Yea, the G400 is an excellent driver. I'm glad you were able to upgrade from your GBB with the Razr X and are driving the ball well.

3 hours ago, fishgolf said:

Now the question whether those $1000.00 irons will result in similar improvement .

Did you compare the numbers between the G400 irons and your Eye 2s? That should already give you a pretty good idea what upgrading will do for you.