Callaway GBB Epic Driver Review

Things to Consider when Purchasing a New Golf Driver 

Before looking into which driver was the right fit for me, I had to consider my weaknesses. Distance was my primary concern, but I was also struggling with the consistency of my swing. I tend to always swing to the right, and any correction I attempt moves me too far to the left.

A good driver is going to maximise your swing. It uses physics to work with you, not against you. You want a driver that allows for some error – nobody is perfect – and provides a long, straight shot.

If you are anything like me, the more forgiving the club, the better. As an amateur golfer, I have a high handicap. I use my driver on most holes, and my frustration with not having a good first hit was impacting my game. 

The type of driver I was looking for would allow me to increase my distance without changing my swing up. And one that improves my accuracy, no matter how I hit.

If you are already hitting hard out of the tee box, then a different type of club might be the better investment.

But if a new driver sounds like the solution to you, keep reading. When looking at different types of drivers, I took a couple of things into consideration.

Callaway Great Big Bertha Epic Driver Detailed Review

Enter the Callaway Great Big Bertha (GBB) Epic Driver. 

For around £500, you know you are getting quality with this club. With innovative Jailbreak Technology and improved carbon fibre head, the driver offered everything I was looking for and more.

An upgrade from the previous Callaway Epic Driver from 2015, the new model offers more adjustability for each specific golfer. An increase from 10 grams to 17 grams on the sliding track assists with correction of mishits. And by changing the track placement, the club now corrects for misses to the right AND the left.

When ordering directly from the website, there’s an option of custom shafts so that you can find the exact fit for you. And if you have any issues with the product you receive, Callaway makes it easy by offering free returns if dissatisfied.

A nice aspect about the Callaway GBB Epic, it is incredibly versatile, making it an excellent option for high handicappers like myself, and still works wonderfully in the hands of a professional.

Here are the basic pros and cons I found with the Epic Driver.

If you already have high power and straight hits, but find your issue is related to high balls from your swing, I would recommend looking into the Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero. It offers better assistance in that area than the standard.

The Callaway GBB Epic has a lot going for it, specifically in its design and technology. I’ll also go into more detail on the standard specs and material of the driver.

Go the Distance

Callaway offers innovative Jailbreak Technology. What this means, is they have placed parallel titanium rods behind the clubface to connect the sole and crown. Typically, in a regular driver, the crown and sole diverge at impact, stretching the face vertically. This is where the ball losses some of the energy.

In the Epic, the rods cause the crown and sole to stiffen, decreasing flexibility during impact. This causes the clubface to flex more and transfers the energy of the swing directly to the ball. 

And we all know, more energy means more speed and more distance. And with the distribution of power, the ball also drives straighter. Callaway expects an increase in ball speed of 2 mph for average golfers, and more for those highly skilled.

Callaway currently holds a patent on the Jailbreak Technology, so do not expect to see it in any other drivers. Creating each club takes approximately twice as long. Due to its sophisticated technology, it takes about 7-10 days to manufacture the Epic Driver. But if you use the club you know it is worth it. 

The changes to the structure of the head improve the total moment of inertia (MOI). On mishits, the ball speed retention measures 8000 g/cm2. I’m not always striking the ball how I want, so this feature appealed to me. This improvement gives the Epic a higher MOI than the club it is replacing within the Callaway line.

I was amazed by the increase in the distance I got, sometimes up to 20 feet farther than before! My golfing buddies could not believe it was a new driver making the difference. No holes in one yet, but I had a birdie the first week I played with my new driver. 

Adjustable Weight

As mentioned earlier, the new Epic Driver has a weight track of 17 grams and a more neutral weight setting.

Callaway has moved the track out of the heel, allowing for equal heel and toe settings. By changing out the weight and reposition the track, the Epic can fit any range of golfer. It does not correct for just right misses anymore. Whatever your handicap, it can help.

The accuracy and straightness of the ball flight matched the improvement in distance for me. I was not only hitting farther but also right along the line I wanted. 

Also I found the driver to be incredibly forgiving and a good hit practically every time. Even mishits were closer to the target than I expected. Now I can fine-tune my drive instead of stressing over reaching the green.

Even in moments of frustration, not that I am proud of it, the driver transferred my negative energy gathered throughout the day, and turned it into a great shot. I hit harder and more out of control than I should have, but the club handled it well.

With these features, the driver does most of the work for you. I kept my same swing pattern but adjusting the weight improved my shots.

The driver I used previously was about three years old, and I was impressed with the improvement in that amount of time. If you are coming from an older driver, I think you will notice even more improvement.

Check out this video to see the improvements in the swing that others are getting with the Epic.

Degrees

The Epic proves to be extremely versatile, offering something for every style of golfer. Three model options give specs of 9 degrees, 10.5 degrees, and 13.5 degrees. You can choose to keep that neutral or adjust -1 to +2. 

This detail was important for me because now I have these options with just one club. Instead of purchasing two or three drivers to get the angle I want, I picked the best average for myself and adjusted the angle as needed. I would love to own multiple drivers, but this option fits my budget best.

The degree can also affect the ball spin. Launch angle changes the spin rate, which in turn plays with the speed and height of the ball flight.

By tweaking my degrees, I can control the height of the ball flight. If I am looking for a little more altitude for a softer landing, I add some degrees. And if I want more energy and distance, I might lower the degrees. It all depends on my swing of course. But having all those options makes a difference in my skill level and my game.

Material

Using a titanium exoskeleton, the highlight of this club is the Exo Cage Construction. It brings more carbon fibre into the design, allowing for redistribution of weight to boost performance. More than 50% of the head is carbon fibre.

Mens Callaway GBB Epic Driver Product Specifications

Womens Callaway GBB Epic Driver Product Specifications

Shaft Options

Callaway offers multiple shaft choices with no upcharge. I like that they understand golfers have different needs and preferences in shafts and do not limit the options by adding extra costs.

Callaway Great Big Bertha Epic Driver - Social Proof

As I was researching which driver to try, I found plenty of raving reviews mentioning the Callaway GBB Epic. After purchase, I was encouraged by how accurate the reports were and that others experienced similar results to my performance.

Golfers were sharing how easy the swing was and how nearly everyone noticed an increase in distance. And others were excited about how forgiving the club was to the ball flight.

Should I buy the Callaway GBB Epic Driver Golf club

Ultimately, I needed a new driver that would improve my distance while improving my shot. The Callaway GBB Epic has given me new confidence in my golf game as I make hits I have never been able to make before. 

The Jailbreak Technology improves how the energy of the swing transfers to the ball. And having adjustable weights allows me to correct the ball’s flight path without changing my swing. Overall, I am incredibly satisfied with my new club and improved golf game.