Callaway Big Bertha V Series Driver Review

Technology
Callaway’s new Big Bertha V Series driver is the lightest club it has ever made. It’s built for distance by allowing you to swing it faster. Similar in concept to the Optiforce driver we saw last year, the 460cc driver features a super-lightweight grip and shaft, lightweight head materials and aerodynamic shape, all contributing to its “Speed Optimised Technology”. One unique feature of the V Series drivers is how the design is optimised as the lofts progress. The two higher-lofted options weigh 290g (20g lighter than the standard Big Bertha), while the lowest lofted 9.5° driver has a total weight of 300g. It also has a lower CG location which is better-suited to the low loft. The drivers also boast a forged composite crown, Hyper Speed Face and Callaway’s OptiFit adjustable hosel.

Dr Alan Hocknell, Head of R&D, Callaway, said: “When designing a driver for speed, we’re talking about improving the kinetic energy of the club, taking that extra energy and transferring it to the ball. We needed to lower the weight without reducing the club’s mass too much, so we also reduced the amount of aerodynamic drag created in the swing.”

Looks
On top, it’s your usual 460cc shape, quite rounded and very stealth-like in appearance with its all-black colour scheme. The Warbird sole is unusual in the way the heel and toe areas curve in, as is the see-through section, but it’s not off-putting.

Feel/sound
It certainly feels lighter than most. Some may experience a reduction in clubhead awareness due to the lighter weight, which may affect timing. Not me though.

Forgiveness
The combination of the head size, face technology and loft/lie angle adjustability makes this a very forgiving club.

Performance
Even though it feels lighter when you swing, this didn’t translate into more clubhead speed for me. If anything, my clubhead speed came down by about 1mph. But not everyone will swing a lighter club faster and my distance still increased compared to last year’s Big Bertha by six yards. So the rest of the clubhead technology delivers more distance and I do think that the majority of golfers, those around the 95mph mark, will see an increase in clubhead speed and therefore even more distance.

Watch the video (above) to hear Callaway explain which golfers the Big Bertha V Series Driver will suit. 

Click here to find out more about the accompanying Big Bertha V Series Fairway Wood

www.callawaygolf.com

See how the Callaway BB V Series Driver got on in TG’s 2015 Drivers Test!

TG Tester Reviews:

James Ridyard, Professional:
A familiar Callaway shape. It felt easy to swing quickly and launched fairly high without too much spin for my faster swing speed. Struggled with accuracy a little.

Joel Tadman, Equipment Editor:
Lighter weight didn’t increase club speed but distance was still impressive; there’s a lot of tech in the head that aids performance. The deep face inspires confidence and it’s very forgiving on off- centre hits, both in direction and ball speed.