Big Bertha & XR drivers
Loft options - 9°, 10.5°, 12°
Adjustability - A Gravity Core can be flipped to add or reduce spin. The OptiFit hosel allows for eight loft and lie angle configurations. In addition, seven and one-gram weight ports allow the driver to be set at neutral, draw and fade biases.
Key technology - Extensive adjustability is combined with a Forged Composite crown that saves weight, which is then redistributed to offer improved performance. The face has also been made lighter, with the weight being redistributed.
Test Report – Paul O’Hagan
The Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver is far more forgiving than the original Alpha. The combination of distance and forgiveness made it, for me, one of the most impressive drivers featured here. The impressive forgiveness along with the vast adjustable options and shaft range mean if you like the look of the head, it can be set up to suit almost any golfer. It’s only very fast swingers who might struggle with too much spin and be tempted by the Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond model. The cost is higher than other Callaway drivers, but it’s also the best all-round model in the range.
Key technology - The lowest-spinning Callaway driver in the range, thanks to a more compact head and a deeper face than the standard 815. The R•MOTO face makes it lighter so weight can be positioned in other areas of the face.
Test Report – Neil Tappin
My best strikes with this model produced longer drives than with the standard model, thanks to the low spin. It’s a shame that this couldn’t be achieved with a larger head as this looks particularly small behind the ball… almost to the point of being a little intimidating. It meant I wasn’t as confident with it compared to the 460cc 815 Alpha head. If you’re a fast swinger who hits it relatively straight, though, then this is a great choice. The custom shaft offerings are outstanding. It is a niche product but there are golfers out there who it will work brilliantly for.
Loft options - 9°, 10.5°, 13.5°
Adjustability - The hosel allows for eight different loft and lie angle combinations. The loft of the head can be increased by one or two degrees or reduced by one. It can be set in draw or neutral positions.
Key technology - The light head and shaft are combined with an aerodynamic head shape to help the golfer produce added clubhead speed for more distance. Lightness is achieved partly thanks to a Forged Composite material in the crown and a lightweight face.
With so many Callaway drivers it can be difficult to work out which is for you. A fitting is the best way to do this, but the V Series is clearly designed for those who are struggling with distance. My best shots with the V Series were some of the longest I hit on test, but the head wasn’t as forgiving as the Alpha 815. If you feel that added yardage is your top priority, this is worth further investigation. Of all the drivers in the Callaway line-up, I believe this model offers the best look at address. The shape, size and finish all work together to provide a great-looking driver that also manages to inspire confidence.
Loft options - 9°, 10.5°, 12°, 13.5°
Adjustability - The hosel allows for eight different loft and lie angle combinations. The loft of the head can be increased by one or two degrees or reduced by one degree. It can be set in draw or neutral positions.
Key technology - A new Speed Step Crown and aerodynamic head are designed to reduce drag and increase clubhead speed for added distance. The Callaway R•MOTO face is 10 per cent lighter for added forgiveness and a lower centre of gravity.
While it’s impossible to tell whether the unusual crown helps boost swing speed, there’s no doubt that the performance on offer is impressive. The cheaper price means you don’t get the adjustability of the Alpha drivers, but you can still change loft and lie angle. The impact sound is great and the look behind the ball inspires confidence. The launch and spin on offer suited my average swing speed well when set at 10.5 degrees, but those who swing it quickly should look out for the XR Pro model, which spins considerably less. My bad shots were less wayward compared to the V Series model.
Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver - on-course testing:
Big Bertha V Series driver - on-course testing:
Callaway XR driver - on-course testing:
Callaway 2015 driver range verdict:
