Callaway’s Great Big Bertha driver ($449.99) is available in lofts of 9, 10.5 and 13.5 degrees for right-handed and left-handed golfers. Stock length is 45.5 inches. Stock swing weight is D2. It’s in stores August 28, 2015.

Stock Shafts: Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara (40-gram range), Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Black (50-gram range), Fujikura Evolution 665 Tour Spec (60-gram range), Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana D+ 70 (70-gram range)

What you need to know

• The Great Big Bertha is Callaway’s most forgiving driver of 2015, and because of its adjustability it also has the potential to be Callaway’s most draw-biased driver. It’s more forgiving than Callaway’s Big Bertha V-Series driver, which was the most forgiving Callaway model from last year. It’s also lower spinning than Callaway’s V-Series driver, as well as the company’s 2014 Big Bertha, 2015 Big Bertha Alpha 815 and 2015 XR drivers.

“THERE ARE A LOT OF DRIVERS OUT THERE THAT TEND TO FOCUS ON ONE VARIABLE, BUT THEY DO SO AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER VARIABLES,” SAID EVAN GIBBS, CALLAWAY’S MANAGER OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS. “[WITH THE GREAT BIG BERTHA], DESIGN WITHOUT COMPROMISE WAS THE OBJECTIVE.”

• Callaway expects the Great Big Bertha to be the company’s best performing model for 80-to-90 percent of golfers. The other 10-to-20 percent of golfers will get better performance from Callaway’s new Big Bertha Alpha 816 Double Black Diamond driver, which is intended for better golfers who can gain added distance through the reduction of spin.

Golfers can maximize ball speed by matching the position of the sliding weight to their impact position. So if you hit a lot of shots on the heel, try sliding the weight toward the heel for more distance.

• The Great Big Bertha marks the return of Callaway’s Advanced Perimeter Weighting (APW), a sliding weight track that allows golfers to shift the center of gravity (CG) toward the heel for more draw bias or toward the toe for more fade bias. The weight track, which first appeared on Callaway’s 2014 Big Bertha driver, has been re-engineered to be lighter than the previous model and offer more draw bias.

“THE SLIDING WEIGHT HAS PROVEN TO BE OUR MOST INTUITIVE, SIMPLE AND EASY-TO-USE FORM OF ADJUSTABILITY,” GIBBS SAID.

• Because the sliding weight is on the perimeter of the club head, the driver retains a high moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of forgiveness, regardless of the weight’s position. The sliding weight weighs 10.5 grams, and the change in spin rates between the extreme weight positions (far toe, far heel) is only 100 rpm, according to Gibbs.

The Great Big Bertha has a matte black crown and a Chevron alignment aid.

• The Great Big Bertha uses Callaway’s Forged Composite Crown, creating a lightweight chassis that allows for its added adjustability features and moves weight lower in the driver head for a higher launch, less spin and more forgiveness. It also has the company’s updated R-MOTO face design, which expands the driver’s sweet spot for higher average ball speeds.

“THERE’S REALLY THREE REASONS GOLFERS DON’T GET MAXIMUM DISTANCE: EFFICIENCY OF IMPACT, LAUNCH AND SPIN CHARACTERISTICS AND THE STRAIGHTNESS OF THE SHOT,” GIBBS SAID. “THE EFFICIENCY AND STRAIGHTNESS OF THE SHOT ARE MOST IMPORTANT FOR MOST PLAYERS. GREAT BIG BERTHA OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF SHOT SHAPES AND CAN MINIMIZE SLICE.”

• The Great Big Bertha driver uses Callaway’s Advanced OptiFit Hosel, which gives golfers a 3-degree range of loft adjustability. So a 10.5-degree driver can be adjusted to lofts of 9.5 degrees, 11.5 degrees and 12.5 degrees. Each loft can also paired with an individual lie angle of either standard (S) or draw (D), which makes the lie angle more upright.

Both the Great Big Bertha (left) and Big Bertha Alpha 816 DBD measure 460 cc, but the DBD has a deeper face that makes it appear more compact at address.

Total club weight with stock shafts

• 295 grams: Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara (Ladies, Light and Regular)
• 305 grams: Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Black (Light, Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff)
• 315 grams: Fujikura Evolution 665 Tour Spec (Regular, Stiff, X-Stiff)
• 325 grams: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana D+ 70 (Stiff, X-Stiff)

More Photos

Related

• See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Great Big Bertha driver in our forum.
• Callaway’s Big Bertha Alpha 816 Double Black Diamond Driver: What you need to know.
• Callaway’s Great Big Bertha and Big Bertha Alpha 816 Fairway Woods.