Equipment
Callaway to release Sub Zero driver, with the company’s lowest CG ever
The chase for a lower center of gravity (CG) has taken Callaway below the neutral axis line with its new XR 16 Sub Zero driver. According to Callaway, the driver is made for better players with fast swing speeds, and boasts the lowest CG of any Callaway driver ever designed.
Imagine the neutral axis line as a line drawn backward, perpendicular from the center of the club face, as illustrated above. While most drivers have a CG above that line, the XR 16 Sub Zero, which measures 440 cubic centimeters, boasts a CG below it.
The XR 16 Sub Zero was lower spinning than Callaway’s Big Bertha Alpha 816 DBD driver in the company’s robot and player testing.
Drivers with low-CG positions can help golfers lower their spin rates, allowing those with fast swing speeds to achieve a more penetrating trajectory that can increase distance. The most notable example is Phil Mickelson, who is currently using the Sub Zero driver on the PGA Tour.
Related: Phil Mickelson WITB 2016
To achieve the Sub Zero’s lower CG, Callaway gave it a new crown, which is made of a “Carbon Triax” material. According to Callaway Senior R&D manager Evan Gibbs, the new crown is made from “fabric, or laminate,” which is different from the chopped fibers that are used to make the carbon fiber crowns for Callaway Great Big Bertha and Big Bertha Alpha 816 DBD drivers.
All three drivers use the same molding technique for their crowns, however, the Carbon Triax material is thinner and lighter, allowing weight to be displaced lower and deeper in the club head.
Compared to Callaway’s XR 16 and XR 16 Pro drivers, the XR 16 Sub Zero will not have as high of a moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of ball speed retention or forgiveness on off-center hits, due to the concentration of weight low and forward in the club head. That’s not ideal for golfers who struggle to make consistent contact, but skilled golfers can use the lower CG position to hit longer drives.
The XR 16 Sub Zero is also adjustable, allowing players to fine-tune their trajectory with a 10-gram and 2-gram interchangeable weights that are placed in opposing weight ports. Moving the heavier weight forward makes for a penetrating, lower-spinning trajectory, while moving it rearward setting will provide a higher launch and more forgiveness, but slightly raise spin in comparison.
Callaway’s XR 16 Sub Zero driver (9.5 degress, RH Only) will be available for $449.99 on April 15 with the choice of 20 premium shaft at no upcharge.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Jim
Mar 17, 2016 at 11:47 pm
Uhhh, Cobra King LTD beat them to the market with the zero CG driver. Plus, the Cobra LTD has nice forgiveness unlike what Cally is claiming is lost with the Subzero. LTD for the win!
299yards
Mar 17, 2016 at 12:43 am
“bro i hit it like 20* 1000rpm 380 yds.”
one release later: “not forgiving enough.”
another release later: “20* 1000rpm seems about right”
Leftypro16
Mar 16, 2016 at 7:23 pm
If Phil is hitting it, what no lefty for the rest of us? What’s up with that?
Tom Duckworth
Mar 16, 2016 at 4:56 pm
I don’t see the big deal. Ping has a low spin driver as part of the G series this just looks like a low spin XR 16.
MIKEYP
Mar 16, 2016 at 1:10 pm
To all you nay sayers. I have been buying every new driver that has come out from callaway and taylormade and have really embraced the new technology. My average drives are between 680 and 700 yards and golf has become very easy for me.
Steve
Mar 16, 2016 at 9:47 am
Finally they made a perfect driver until the next one. Just a joke. No wonder equipment makers are struggling. They flood the market, more supply then demand. Why would anyone buy at full retail from cally, tmag when in a few months it is on the clearance shelves.
Ryan
Mar 15, 2016 at 8:47 pm
Jim, I have hit it.. lol
ha ha ha
Mar 15, 2016 at 3:18 pm
if this were a taylormade there would be 80 comments about how many releases they have and a million m3 jokes…Callaway is king(of quick releases) ha ha ha
moses
Mar 15, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Looks like Callaway is going to get the 17 1700 faster than Taylormade. 🙂
Weekend Duffer
Mar 15, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Callaway should start leasing drivers so I can get the new one that comes out each month.
Carson
Mar 15, 2016 at 11:18 am
Special release driver for right handers only.. Especially when they toat Phil for playing it.
Thanks Callaway.
lew
Mar 15, 2016 at 10:07 am
So many delusional wrxers will buy it and then call them the worst driver ever made.
Russell Jimmie
Mar 15, 2016 at 9:25 am
Another driver that people on WRX will go crazy about because it is low spin but nobody will be able to hit. Like the Slider 430
299yards
Mar 17, 2016 at 12:44 am
hahha so true, sldr 430 is the lowest spinning least forgiving thing ever made
Ryan
Mar 15, 2016 at 9:20 am
Come out with the 8.5 !!!!!
Jacob
Mar 15, 2016 at 9:11 am
And people make fun of TaylorMade…