Equipment
Callaway Big Bertha Mini 1.5
Callaway’s Big Bertha Mini 1.5 is the latest entry into the recently crowded category of “driving woods” — clubs too large to be considered fairway woods, but only about half the size of modern drivers. Their larger size makes them longer and more forgiving than fairway woods off the tee, but smart sole shaping allows them to be a threat from the turf, if necessary. They also have shaft lengths that are shorter than drivers, which can offer golfers more control from the tee box.
[quote_box_center]”The pros generally hit their drivers pretty straight, so you’ll probably tend to see this club more widely used on shorter courses, where you don’t need driver on every hole, or on courses where you’re required to shape your shots a lot,” said Evan Gibbs, Callaway’s senior manager of R&D for woods, in a company interview. [/quote_box_center]
Callaway arguably started the modern driving wood category in 2013 when it released the X Hot 3Deep in 2013. Phil Mickelson used the strong-lofted, oversized fairway wood as a driver to win that year’s Open Championship, and raved to the press about the high ball speeds and low spin rates he saw from the club. He said he was able to hit the 43.5-inch 3Deep almost as far as his driver — and he did.
The Big Bertha Mini 1.5 is 35 percent larger than Callaway’s XR fairway woods.
The Big Bertha Mini 1.5 has a lot in common with the X Hot 3Deep, as well as Callaway’s follow-up models, but it’s a distinctly different club. At 235cc, 50cc bigger than the X Hot 3Deep, it’s more of a tee shot-first club. It’s also about 0.5 inches longer than those fairway woods at its stock length of 44 inches, which is still about 1.5 inches shorter than most modern drivers.
Callaway’s uses a “Hyper Speed Face Cup” to enhance ball speed on shots contacted across the club face.
Maybe the biggest difference between the Big Bertha Mini 1.5 and Callaway’s previous oversized fairway woods, aside from its added size, is that the Mini 1.5 is adjustable. It uses Callaway’s OptiFit hosel to give golfers a 3-degree range of adjustability (1 degree down, 2 degrees up from stock loft), as well as two independent lie angle settings (neutral and upright).
More detail-oriented golfers will want to know that the Mini 1.5 marks the first time Callaway has merged its Forged Hyper Speed Cup Face with a Forged Composite Crown in a fairway wood. The Face Cups are thin and strong to boost face flexibility for more ball speed, while the Forged Composite Crowns help engineers move weight lower in the club head for added forgiveness.
The Mini 1.5 uses Callaway’s cambered Warbird sole to help golfers use the oversized fairway wood from the turf.
The Big Bertha Mini 1.5 ($299) is available in lofts of 12 and 14 degrees, and will be in stores on May 29. It comes stock with Mitsubishi Rayon’s Kuro Kage Silver TiNi Second-Generation 60-gram shafts.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Big Bertha Mini 1.5 in our forum.
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
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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...
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Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
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Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
JimmyO
May 28, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Was hitting low bullets with the 12 degree (even at +2 with the loft) but the dispersion was really tight. Would love to test this in the 14 degree model against my ti/tungsten Hawkeye 2 wood. It’s roughly the same size (+/- 10cc) so we’ll see how it compares to the trusty 2.
Golfraven
May 17, 2015 at 4:15 pm
I am becoming a fan of those mini driver. Currently playing a Fd 3 wood and even if I hit it crap the ball still has good distance and direction. Currently staying away from my driver especially when I hardly get to play.
Oldplayer
May 16, 2015 at 2:52 am
A club to hit from the tee that has a smaller head and a shorter shaft. Isn’t this back to the future? This describes what drivers were like 15 years ago. Although I concede modern materials and a thinner face does update the design.
Miguel
May 15, 2015 at 3:57 pm
I tried the SLDR Mini and I loved how it was so easy to use compared to my driver. Even if I lost a few yards compared to my driver, the dispersion and confidence it gave me was unbelievable. I am pretty sure this club will have the same effect. Higher loft, shorter shaft, smaller head…and this one is adjustable!
Jim
May 15, 2015 at 2:55 pm
I’m such a sap for this stuff, even when I am comfortable with my equipment I still jump.
rer4136
May 22, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Ditto to that. I am an equipment addict. Manufacturers take advantage at every turn.
Hazen
May 15, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Have been a fan of 3woods off the tee for a few years due to the smaller head. I’m a Callaway fan, have been since I started golf, but I recently tried one of the SLDR mini drivers and loved it but honestly didn’t get any more out of it over my 3 wood.
I will gladly try again with the Callaway though.
Hazen
May 15, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Forgot to mention the SLDR mini is not adjustable, and the fact that the Callaway Mini is, just makes it that much gooder. 🙂
Rick
May 15, 2015 at 10:52 am
I believe they are available in 12 and 14 degrees of loft
Zak Kozuchowski
May 15, 2015 at 10:56 am
That is correct, Rick. The story has been corrected.
Alex T
May 15, 2015 at 10:31 am
God I want one.
CHRIS
May 15, 2015 at 9:46 am
Currently gaming the X2 Hot PRO 2deep as my driver. May have to give this a shot to see if it knocks it out of the bag.
Desmond
May 15, 2015 at 7:40 am
Good looking stick!