Excellence is attainable in golf, even for the shanking, cursing, club-breaking populace. But most mortals aren’t fading it around doglegs; they’re simply hoping to avoid the “shit”. And with the new Big Bertha Alpha 815, Callaway throws bread to the masses: it’s first driver to offer both power and forgiveness without compromising on either.
The original Big Bertha Alpha was a game changer. Less than a year later, the upgraded Alpha 815 is even better. It boasts a bigger head size (460cc) and faster club-head speed. Stocked with a Fujikura Motore Speeder 565 shaft, it’s lightweight and conducive to a range of golfers. But if it’s not a good fit, an additional 13 premium shafts are available without a spike in the driver’s $450 retail price.
It starts with the Alpha 815’s revolutionary R•MOTO (Rib Motion Control) face technology. Callaway re-optimized the thickness and boundary of its Big Bertha’s titanium face by making it a singular system. The thinner face (0.006 inches thinner than average) allows for more weight to be allocated to the back, which is where the Alpha 815 gets its forgiveness. Basically, the club has a bigger sweet spot. This is Callaway’s most weight-efficient and energy-efficient face ever. And, paired with the the club’s aerodynamic and lightweight composite crown, the Alpha 815 enhances swing velocity and redistributes weight for additional forgiveness.
Next comes Callaway’s Gravity Core technology. Last year’s Big Bertha Alpha driver was the first to include such a feature, which allows golfers to change the club’s center of gravity (CG). This directly impacts the ball’s spin; more spin translates to less distance, which nobody wants. By adjusting the Gravity Core (located on the driver’s bottom), golfers can change the amount of spin they put on the ball without changing the club’s loft. When the core’s heavier end faces down, ball spin is reduced — and the inverse is true when the heavier end faces up.Hence, both forgiveness and power. You would think that this would take away from shot shape — but it doesn’t. Putting draw or fade on the ball with the Alpha 815 is more than possible — it’s optimized. This next-generation driver brings over the original Alpha’s heel and toe weight adjustments, which allows the club to be fine tuned three ways: draw, fade or neutral. And its trajectory don’t stop at horizontal. Loft, lie and face angle are also adjustable in eight different ways with the OptiFit hosel (which connects driver and shaft).
“Drive for show, putt for dough”, the old golf adage might go, but after 17 holes of weed whacking and goddammits, nothing can rejuvenate one’s spirit like a crushing drive. Callaway aims to increase the frequencies of your reveries. The Big Bertha Alpha 815 is designed for people who need lighter, more accurate drivers that don’t compromise distance. So unless your last name is Mickelson, it deserves a place in your bag.
$450
Head: forged composite crown, Gravity Core, OptiFit hosel
Face: R•MOTO Technology
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder 565
Length: 45.5 inches
Loft: adjustable