Equipment
Using this legendary driver as a mini driver – Insane, pointless or amazing?
In our forums, our members have been reacting to a post where a user is pondering playing the OG ’91 Big Bertha as a mini driver. WRXer ‘GitarooJack’ kicks off the thread saying:
“Hey all, I’ve come to you for a sanity check. I recently stumbled upon a long-stored, completely unused head of an OG 1991 Big Bertha (11º) driver. I have a knack for using vintage gear occasionally (still use my mid-80’s pro staffs in the tennis world) and I’ve got an unused driver shaft burning a hole in my closet so I thought why not, let’s slap it in there, cut it to 42.5 and make it a throwback mini driver.
Is this insane? Pointless? Amazing?”
And our members have been sharing their takes in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- storm3: “Not only will ball speed suffer due to the lower CT face, but CG will also be less than stellar (ground breaking at the time but likely much higher/forward than what is considered optimal today).”
- MikeW2: “I struggle quite a bit with driver. Two summers ago I found and put into play an 11* BigBertha with a Memphis 10 steel shaft and loved it! Drove the ball pretty good with it too. I say give it a try.”
- Drivingrangehero: “1991 Big Bertha Driver 190cc. 2022 TaylorMade Sim2 max 3W 190cc. It would boil down to personal preference on looks, sound, feel etc, but it’s not going to be any more of a mini driver than a modern 3w lofted down would be IMHO.”
Entire Thread: “Using this legendary driver as a mini driver – Insane, pointless or amazing?”
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
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.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
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
Whats in the Bag
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 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
