The Big Bertha is one of the most iconic names in golf. Callaway have brought it back again in their new easy-to-hit golf club line, and just like the Paradym drivers, they have not missed.
The new Callaway Big Bertha Driver 2023 is super light weight, has an ultra-low forward CG and a big weight on the heel of the club, which all contribute to a draw bias, easy to launch driver.
Reasons to Use BB23 Driver
- Enhanced performance and distance
- Improved forgiveness and accuracy
- Monster distance
- Promotes maximum clubhead speed
- Solid feel
- High and strong ball flight
Looks and Feel
Callaway has taken the design of this driver back to the original Big Bertha roots, which I’m a big fan of. The colour scheme features sharp red accents on top of a silver, black and white base with the iconic words ‘Big Bertha’ taking centre stage.
It’s certainly a bit bold and almost ‘in-your-face’ initially, but this is balanced out by a simple crown design, showing just the traditional Callaway chevron as an alignment aid, and only some small ‘BB’ detailing on the heel.
I much prefer the red details to the navy blue used back in 2021. Something about this design and colour-scheme promotes confidence – a feeling you want with a driver.
Personally, the design of this updated Big Bertha club ticked all the boxes for me, I was excited to hit each tee shot with some much confidence.
The first few shots out on the course felt very different to my current driver, the Callaway Epic Flash. The positive was that even hitting into awkward winds, it really felt as though the club was helping keep the ball in control.
However, I felt almost slightly held back with this driver – I wasn’t getting my usual distance and due to some of the design features of the club, I was struggling to launch it up as high as I normally would resulting in less carry.
The strike didn’t quite feel as pure as I’d like from a driver, it certainly wasn’t ‘clunky’ but not quite super-clean either. There was certainly a lot of stability and forgiveness there, but that seemed to come with some sacrifice to flight and distance a little, which to be honest you’d expect.
The Tech of BB23 Driver
So, what has Callaway brought into the Big Bertha Driver to help with slice reduction? Interestingly, it seems that they have done something a little different to most manufacturers claiming to eradicate the slice off the tee.
Instead of moving the weight back, like most game-improvement drivers, they have moved the weight forward closer the head – more like you’d see in a better player, low-spin offering.
This main ‘anti-slice’ fighting tech is the ultra-low and forward CG placement. This helps to reduce spin on the ball, which could lead to a slice, while further promoting a draw by distributing the weight more into the heel of the club.
Ultra-Lightweight Design
The 2023 Great Big Bertha driver has an ultra-lightweight design that is almost 30g lighter, on average, than a Tour driver.
The lightweight design not only includes a lightweight chassis, but also a lightweight stock shaft and grip that are 34% and 56% lighter, respectively, than typical stock shafts and grips.
The end result of all this is that it’s easier for golfers with slower swing speeds to increase their clubhead speed and hence distance.
Flash Face SS23
The A.I. designed XL face allows for a large sweet-spot, giving us that typical Big Bertha forgiveness seen in previous models. This face has been designed with cutting edge A.I. technology, giving a shape that increases ball speed while lowering spin, again helping to fight the slice and increase distance.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Light weight helps players generate clubhead speed
- Consistent ball flight and shot shape
- High launch
- Balanced feel through the swing
Cons
- Bland sole aesthetic lacks colour and pop
- Loss of height, carry and overall distance due to low spin
- Sky-high price tag
Would I Use the Callaway Big Bertha Driver 2023?
As someone who likes to chase height and carry distance on my own drives, I didn’t like how this was taken away from me with this club. I did, however, really like the confidence this driver gave me when hitting into awkward winds or on holes with trouble down the right.
This club really isn’t designed for me, as I don’t struggle to control the ball off the tee, and it actually works against my standard shot shape. I can, however, absolutely see the benefit of having this in the bag if I did struggle with a slice.
Specifications
Available: now
RRP: £449
Right-handed lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°
Left-handed lofts: 10°, 9°
Featured shafts: There are too many shaft options to count!
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