2014 Callaway Big Bertha Alpha

[Aotearoa_Brad 303]

ooh, we may have a new contender for the Fuji US Open shaft! I'm interested to see the blog story tomorrow on this

[Blade 313]

You might as well plan on it. Next year's might be released before you get your clubs to Hawaii!

[Aotearoa_Brad 303]

Haha, thanks Keith!

[GolfSpy WD 13]

The big bertha sounds like a very interesting driver. It's a real shame they price it at $500 because that much adjustability would be perfect for the masses. I understand the concept of not following the leader, but I think that is going to be a mistake for Callaway.

[apprenti23 604]

The big bertha sounds like a very interesting driver. It's a real shame they price it at $500 because that much adjustability would be perfect for the masses. I understand the concept of not following the leader, but I think that is going to be a mistake for Callaway.

Disagree on all points. The masses do NOT need adjustability. In fact, nobody really needs it. I wonder how many people adjust their drivers on a constant basis. When you get it, set it up to how you like it, and it'll stay that way forever. Sure the adjustability stuff is cool and will sell but

 

The $500 price tag is great considering they said they will NEVER drop the price. They're confident that this is the best driver they've made and the best driver out. That's good enough for me.

[golfercraig 15]

The Alpha is NOT the driver they will be selling. The Big Bertha is. And it's only $400. Alpha is for a VERY small amount of players.

[fozcycle 11,574]

Here's another one out there.......

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KUUEAyyxPk

 

 

Can you say Big Bertha Slider?

[GolfSpy WD 13]

Disagree on all points. The masses do NOT need adjustability. In fact, nobody really needs it. I wonder how many people adjust their drivers on a constant basis. When you get it, set it up to how you like it, and it'll stay that way forever. Sure the adjustability stuff is cool and will sell but

 

The $500 price tag is great considering they said they will NEVER drop the price. They're confident that this is the best driver they've made and the best driver out. That's good enough for me.

 

If adjustability has nothing to do with it, how is this the best driver they've ever made? The face is the same they've used before. I guess the paint scheme is different.

 

My point is the top tier of golfers don't need adjustability because they get custom fit and rarely change, at least not unintentionally. One point of adjustability is to have a driver that grows with you, thus it is good for the masses that try to break 90 or 100. The other purpose of adjustability is fine tuning. However, they are pricing it such that the center weight costs an additional $100. They don't have the hosel that Nike has, so why pay that much more for something unless it blows away the competition? There are plenty of ways to add/reduce rpm once you get into custom shafts, which you do at this price range.

 

The fact is the masses can be fit into a cheaper option that'll more than likely produce results that are just as good. I'd love to be corrected on this, but if lowering CG is the only real claim to fame then they have the SLDR to contend with. If their claim is adjustability the Covert 2.0 beats it. If it's having a higher CG, then there are plenty of other drivers to match that.

 

My intuition is they've priced it nicely for rich folk who don't care. Most new golfers get last years models if they're smart, and there's a $200-300 price gap between those and this one. There will certainly be people who are willing to pay for it, but there is a sweet spot between profit margin and quantity of sales and I'm curious if they are really hitting it. Now, if they lowered the price $100 to start with and said they'd never move that, then these would fly off the shelves.

 

However, that said if they offer a large variety of premium shafts and no surcharge or free color customization, then Callaway very well could have a winner.

[apprenti23 604]

The fact is the masses can be fit into a cheaper option that'll more than likely produce results that are just as good. I'd love to be corrected on this.

Have you ever tried to fit someone for a driver who shoots in the 90-100 range? My guess is no way. You can take someone who shoots 90-100 and fit them for 50 different driver combinations on 50 consecutive days.

[JDuffJr 0]

Looks great.  I'll definitely try it out.

[GolfSpy WD 13]

Have you ever tried to fit someone for a driver who shoots in the 90-100 range? My guess is no way. You can take someone who shoots 90-100 and fit them for 50 different driver combinations on 50 consecutive days.

 

That's exactly my point though. Something that adjustable is more likely to fit them in 3 months or a year than something static.

[whiskey golf 61]

That is such a great looking driver, I can't wait to give it a hit.

[RookieBlue7 1,677]

Looks like I'll be hitting these suckers with Harry Arnette in early Feb. ought to be fun, he and I have had this bantering going on since the pics of the prototype came out and him being an Atlanta guy this led to that and the gauntlet was thrown down and, well, it's on. Lol

[Jgolf 1]

Looks like I'll be hitting these suckers with Harry Arnette in early Feb. ought to be fun, he and I have had this bantering going on since the pics of the prototype came out and him being an Atlanta guy this led to that and the gauntlet was thrown down and, well, it's on. Lol

 

Well this is awesome and you sir are very lucky... (so so lucky...) 

[jrshields3 56]

Looking forward to these coming to market. I will definitely hit both. Leaning towards the Alpha with the great shaft options I keep hearing will be available. This could be their best offering yet...

[RookieBlue7 1,677]

For those that have gotten to hit these already (as I spoke with Harry and it appears he's backed off our little wager), which of the two are the higher launching?  Which is lower spinning?  I know the flipper allows one to adjust spin from anywhere between 300 and 800 RPM's (high and low numbers I've seen). But I need to know which does which aspect the best/worst before placing an order.

[BestGrips.com 3]

FYI, you can buy these right now, at least at the Woodlands, Texas Golfsmith. Apparently a competitor in the area sold one and now its free reign on current inventory.

 

My impression. Sounds better than the sldr but doesn't have near the distance as the 430.

[RookieBlue7 1,677]

FYI, you can buy these right now, at least at the Woodlands, Texas Golfsmith. Apparently a competitor in the area sold one and now its free reign on current inventory.

 

My impression. Sounds better than the sldr but doesn't have near the distance as the 430.

Oh, I can get my hands on them ordering, no doubt.  But none of the stores here have them out (or didn't last I checked) not even a demo.  So I'd be buying sight unseen and unhit, that's why I asked.

[Tony Covey MGS 656]

In our tests, despite having more loft to play with in the samples, on average Bertha actually launched a bit lower than Alpha (realistically the difference is margin of error type stuff) , however; it spun more. Alpha is the better of the two...$499 is ludicrous, but it makes sense given the plan Callaway is trying to execute.

 

FYI...additional "Pro" models have made an appearance on the USGA conforming list. I'd wager anything that Callaway will bring them to retail due to their impending popularity on tour. So if you think you might want a 440cc model with a tour-inspired CG placement, sit on your hands and wait. I'll be anything but shocked when the story sounds like it did when 3Deep came out.

 

You're going to see Callaway release new products at a rate some will find alarming. Production runs will be smaller; effectively making some of the product Limited Edition (even though they won't call it that). Some product will sell out and will not get a 2nd production run.The goal is to maintain high margins, and generate interest (and sales) by always having something new to talk about.

 

I expect TaylorMade will counter with something (White SLDR the likely near term surprise). And then counter again...and again, and the wheels keep turning.

 

Right now Callaway's primary focus should be (and I believe it is) on the balance sheet, which means if TMaG starts the whole discount thing again, Callaway will get beat up a little (market share, units sold), but what we've seen for '14 suggests they're more focused on the big picture (balance sheet again, and to a large extent consumer perception). Marketshare is an artificial construct, profits are what matter and that's Callaway will chase this season.

 

Ok...wandered off topic there. Back to you.

[BestGrips.com 3]

I sure loved the sound of the alpha at contact. The numbers didn't make want to buy anything but the sounds was beautiful. The sales guy tried to really entice me into buying which I thought was odd seeing that it hasn't even launched yet.

 

The three wood was really sweet. Love the look at setup.