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In this review, I’ll be taking a look at the Callaway 2023 Great Big Bertha driver.
The Great Big Bertha makes a return to the golf world in a modern, cutting-edge package. It benefits from a new lightweight design for maximum clubhead speed and distance, and it’s also engineered to deliver high launch, low spin, and forgiveness for golfers who seek it.
How does the 2023 Great Big Bertha driver perform? How does it stack up against the Rogue ST MAX and the previous Great Big Bertha? Who is it best suited for? Is it worth putting in the bag?
Read on to find out what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
What are the reviews like?
At the time of writing, the 2023 Great Big Bertha driver has an excellent 5/5 (100% recommended) score on the Callaway store and enjoys high ratings from critics.
What People Like
- monster distance
- promotes maximum clubhead speed
- solid feel
- high and strong ball flight
- in certain conditions can outclass the performance of the Rogue ST MAX
What People Don’t Like
- super expensive
- too light for some people
The Features
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.
Triaxial Carbon Crown & Forged Carbon Sole
A lightweight Triaxial Carbon Crown paired with a Forged Carbon Sole allow for significant weight savings that are used to shift the CG low and deep. This leads to a high level of forgiveness and stability across the face.
In addition, a weight in the heel area and a steel sole plate add somewhat of a draw bias.
Jailbreak Speed Frame
The new Jailbreak Speed Frame, built with artificial intelligence, vertically connects the crown and sole to produce more ball speed. It also adds horizontal and torsional stability that improves ball speed towards the heel and toe.
Flash Face SS23
The latest iteration of Callaway’s A.I. Flash Face is now optimized for spin. In addition to producing faster ball speeds over a large area of the face, it also reduces spin for more distance.
Stock Info
The 2023 Great Big Bertha driver is available in 9°, 10.5°, and 12° standard lofts at 460 CC.
Also available is the 2023 Great Big Bertha driver for women, in 10.5° and 12° lofts. The women’s version has the same head technology but the length, stock shaft and grip are tailored to women to maximize their performance.
The 2023 GBB comes with an Optifit hosel that allows you to adjust loft and lie. The loft settings are -1, +1, 0 and +2 (a range of 3°). The lie settings are N (neutral) and D (draw), giving a total of 8 possible configurations.
The stock graphite shaft is the UST Mamiya Helium Nanocore IP 50. The stock grip is the Winn Dri-Tac Lite. Custom options are available.
If you’re interested, full information on the driver, shafts, grips and their specs can be found here.
Below are the specs of the 2023 GBB driver for men and women. Click or zoom to enlarge.
The Performance
Distance
How long the 2023 Great Big Bertha driver is will depend on your unique swing and circumstances. Generally speaking, however, if you have a slow to moderate swing speed, you’ll get better distance than the Rogue ST MAX.
For golfers who tend to struggle getting their tee shots airborne, the 2023 GBB will not only help get the launch up, but it will also keep the spin down so that shots don’t balloon.
Forgiveness
The forgiveness of the 2023 Great Big Bertha — more specifically, performance in mis-hit regions — is excellent and comparable to the Rogue ST MAX.
When you play the 2023 GBB, you gain confidence that you’ll never miss a fairway. It’s been a while since I tested the original GBB, but there’s little question that the 2023 model is substantially more forgiving.
This thing is rock solid and super consistent. Missing fairways will typically require exceptionally poor ball contact.
Playability/Trajectory
Typical ball flights with the 2023 Great Big Bertha are high (higher than the Rogue ST MAX) and arcing with lower spin. The driver tends toward a slight draw bias due to the strategically placed sole plate.
Unlike the original GBB, the 2023 version lacks a sliding sole weight, which means you have less flexibility in finding a configuration that best suits your swing. However, this allows Callaway to position the CG more optimally for improved performance.
This driver is designed to help you get the ball in the air and hit more fairways, so don’t expect much in terms of workability. I imagine most people who play the 2023 GBB won’t be concerned about it.
The Look
Callaway has made the Great Big Bertha 23 driver stand out with a modern, unique flare that looks nothing like the original GBB.
The dark silver “galaxy” texture of the crown is unusual but very attractive, and the face pattern is very similar to the one used in the Rogue ST family of drivers.
The driver features a chevron alignment aid with subtle logoing along the edge of the crown. At address, the ball sets up more or less square.
The colour scheme of the 2023 GBB appears to consist entirely of different shades of black and white. This monochromatic style is unusual, and I can’t say I’m crazy about it. It looks quite bland in the bag, to the point where everything seems to just meld together.
I think adding a few accents of colour on the sole (perhaps red like the original GBB) would have added much-needed contrast and pop to the aesthetic.
The Sound & Feel
With the stock shaft, the 2023 Great Big Bertha driver generally feels light, stable and balanced through the swing.
However, this really depends on your strength and speed. If your swing speed is too high, you might find that the shaft feels “whippy” through the swing, and in that case you might benefit from a stiffer flex.
The best word I could use to describe the feel at impact is solid. The sound is an explosive “whack” that really lets you know this is a speed machine. Overall, the sound & feel are very reminiscent of the Rogue ST MAX.
What I was particularly impressed with is how similar the sound and feel are in mis-hit regions to center strikes. There isn’t much feedback in that regard, but I reckon most people who play the 2023 GBB won’t be bothered by this at all.
Where To Buy This Driver Online
At this time, the best place to order a 2023 Great Big Bertha driver with custom specifications (loft, length, shaft, grip, etc.) is this page on the Callaway store. If you’re interested in the women’s variant, go here.
If you want to save some money, you can find discounts on eBay. Optionally look at what’s available on PGA TOUR Superstore or Global Golf, which are among the best dedicated online golf equipment stores.
Conclusion
Callaway has does a tremendous job updating their Great Big Bertha driver for the 2023 season. If you’re looking for a lighter and higher-launching alternative to the Rogue ST MAX, you can’t do much better.
Falling in the “ultralight” category, the 2023 Great Big Bertha is best suited for mid and high-handicap golfers (12+) that have a moderate or below-average swing speed.
However, because of the special steps involved in building the 2023 GBB driver and the premium materials used, it’s going to do a number on your wallet. If you can, we recommend trading in your previous driver to soften the blow.
Are you interested in the 2023 Great Big Bertha driver? Have you tried it yet? What have your results been? Let us know in the comments below.
Callaway 2023 Great Big Bertha Driver
9.4
Distance
9.8/10
Forgiveness
10.0/10
Playability
9.3/10
Look
8.2/10
Sound & Feel
9.8/10
Pros
- Light weight helps players generate clubhead speed
- As fast and forgiving as the Rogue ST MAX
- High launch
- Appealing "galaxy" crown texture
- Balanced feel through the swing
Cons
- Bland sole aesthetic lacks colour and pop
- Sky-high price tag
ORDER THE 2023 GREAT BIG BERTHA DRIVER
FAQs
Is Callaway Great Big Bertha driver forgiving? ›
The Great Big Bertha makes a return to the golf world in a modern, cutting-edge package. It benefits from a new lightweight design for maximum clubhead speed and distance, and it's also engineered to deliver high launch, low spin, and forgiveness for golfers who seek it.
Is Callaway Big Bertha driver good for high handicappers? ›Callaway Great Big Bertha golf clubs are made for game improvement and higher handicap players. Everything about this family of clubs is made to enhance speed, distance, launch, and forgiveness to help make the game more fun.
How old is the Callaway Great Big Bertha driver? ›Big Bertha is the name given by Callaway Golf to a number of its lines of golf clubs. The name was chosen to evoke the famous German Big Bertha howitzer. The original Big Bertha driver was launched in 1991.
Are Callaway Big Bertha driver good for beginners? ›The Callaway Big Bertha B21's are super-game improvement irons meant for the beginner or any golfer needed max forgiveness. They are perimeter-weighted cavity back irons with an added tungsten weight near the sole for a lower center of gravity. This helps you launch the ball quicker and easier.
Which Callaway driver is easiest to hit? ›The Callaway Mavrik Max is Callaway's easiest to hit driver, making it a great option for beginners and high handicappers. It's built for high launch with medium spin, and the head is designed to be ultra-stable, making your misses left and right less severe.
Is a Callaway Great Big Bertha a good driver? ›This is a fantastic driver for all skill levels. It's the very best of what Callaway offers, especially if your swing speed is on the slow side. Expect good looks, lengthy and straight tee shots, and solid feel – at the cost of being rather pricey.
What is callaways most forgiving driver? ›...
The most forgiving drivers are:
- Callaway Mavrik driver – Still worth considering.
- TalyorMade SIM Max driver – Still worth considering.
- Tour Edge HL – Forgiveness and value.
Most seniors should use a driver loft of at least 11 degrees. While some players might get away with 10 or 10.5 if they still have a higher swing speed, most golfers should between 11-13 degrees.
What year did the Callaway Great Big Bertha come out? ›Northwestern and Spalding, that's how long ago this was. In 1994, oversized Big Bertha irons joined the party and a year after that the Great Big Bertha driver was released, in all of its 253cc glory.
Did Callaway discontinue Big Bertha? ›This product is no longer available.
Which Callaway driver is the longest? ›
And the difference was fairly significant; whereas the next seven longest golf drivers only have two yards between all of them, the Ping G430 LST was four yards ahead of the next longest driver, the Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond.
Is Callaway coming out with a new driver for 2023? ›The Paradym Triple Diamond driver comes in lofts of 8°, 9° and 10.5°. All three of the Paradym driver models are priced at $600 and will be in retail stores on Feb. 24, 2023.
What is the easiest golf driver to hit straight? ›- Ping G425 Max (Most Forgiving Top Choice)
- Callaway Rogue ST Max (Close Second Most Forgiving Top Choice)
- Cleveland Launcher XL (Best for High Handicappers and Beginner Players & Budget-Friendly)
- Mizuno ST-Z 220 (For Better Players Seeking Some Forgiveness)
Ultra-lightweight
The Epic MAX Star Driver is 52 grams lighter than Epic MAX to create more speed for lower swing speed players. The ultra-premium ATTAS Speed T1100 Shaft is just 36 grams, combined with a Winn Dri-Tac Lite Grip that's just 25 grams, and a D1 swingweight.
...
Older models offering great value:
- TaylorMade SIM Max D Driver.
- Ping G410 Driver SFT (draw bias)
- Callaway EPIC Driver.
- TaylorMade M6 D Driver.
- Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo Draw Type Driver.
- TaylorMade M4 D Driver.
MyGolfSpy has named the Tour Edge Exotics E723 Driver the #1 most forgiving driver of the year in its 2023 Most Wanted driver testing. In what is described by the popular site as the world's largest unbiased head-to-head golf club testing, the Exotics E723 Driver produced consistent results across the board.
What degree driver hits the ball the farthest? ›So here is what he found. The low loft of a golf driver is very surprising from the perspective of physics. Everyone in freshman physics learns that the optimal launch angle for a projectile - the angle that makes a ball fly the farthest - is 45 degrees.
What Callaway driver would be best for a senior with slow swing speed? ›Finally, the Callaway Big Bertha B21 is our best overall driver for slow swing speed. The clubhead reduces drag to cut through the air on the downswing. In addition, the clubface offers maximum forgiveness and prompts straight flight for consistent distance and accuracy.
What is the best new Callaway driver? ›- Callaway Rogue ST Max D (Best For Slicers)
- Callaway Rogue ST Max (Best For Average Drivers)
- Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (Best for High Swing Speed)
How Long Do Golf Drivers Last? A driver has about a five-year lifespan. For those who play golf often, drivers will likely have less than a five-year lifespan. Sadly, the lifespan of drivers isn't quite as long as that of irons.
What is the most forgiving Big Bertha driver? ›
Callaway Big Bertha B21 Driver
We found the Big Bertha B21 to be the best golf driver to fix a slice. The Callaway Big Bertha B21 driver is definitely worth a spot on our list for the most forgiving golf driver.
- Titleist TSi1 (Best for Seniors / Slower Swing Speed)
- Cobra LTDx MAX (Best For Players Fighting Slice / Big-Right-Miss)
- TaylorMade Stealth (For Better Players Seeking More Length)
- PXG 0311 XF Gen5 (Highest Tech Budget Pick)
- Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 (For Beginners Budget Pick)
Great Big Bertha Driver
The GBB is some 30g lighter than the current Rogue ST Max, allowing for greater swing speeds. Callaway invested in a host of lightweight components, including a UST Helium Nanocore Shaft (40g) and Winn Dri-Tac Lite Grip (22g in standard size).
- TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus is the best golf driver 2023. ...
- Backed by distance, COBRA AeroJet LS ranks 2nd overall.
- Titleist TSR3 finishes 3rd. ...
- Callaway Paradym X is another contender for your consideration. ...
- Rounding out the top 5 is Srixon ZX5 LS Mk II.
Most seniors should use a driver loft of at least 11 degrees. While some players might get away with 10 or 10.5 if they still have a higher swing speed, most golfers should between 11-13 degrees.
What Flex is best for driver? ›If you're between 97 and 104 mph with the driver, you need a stiff flex. If you're between 84 and 96 mph, regular is going to be best for you. This is the swing speed rage of most amateur golfers. Between 72 and 83 mph with the driver signifies you need to be hitting senior flex.