Big Bertha Alpha Driver Review
So I tried to go get fit for the Alpha at Club Champion on Friday and after rescheduling with them they still didn't have the new Bertha clubs in. Never mind that all the golf stores had demos of them that day or a week before in most cases. Anyway that is another story...
I went to the launch event on Saturday at the PGASS in Roswell and spent probably over an hour of the Callaway guy's time hitting the Alpha and Bertha FW. They finally had one with and X-stiff shaft. And that thing bombs. After hitting it some and playing with the setting some, I ended up at 8° and gravity core down. I was launching them around the 12° and 13° range and low spin. Then I let some other people that showed up have a turn while I went out to the car to get my driver to compare. I hit about 6 shots with my driver set at 9.5° and then hit the Alpha. ALL the shot with the Alpha were flying where the shots with my driver ended up. I love the sound and feel. I also really liked the Fubuki ZT. Here is one of my shots from that day (not one of the best either)
[/URL][/IMG]
I don't know what is up with the smash factor as it seems slightly low to me. Anyway
So I actually ordered an Alpha that I hope will get built and sent to me early enough so I can play with it before Hilton Head.
On Sunday I went to the PGASS in Duluth to hit the Alpha again just to get some confirmation of what I was seeing the day before. The Duluth store is generally not as busy and I spent about another hour hitting the Alpha and Bertha FW. This demo was the x-stiff Fubuki ZT and somebody had it set to 11°, core up, and the 3g weight in the heel and the 1g weight in the toe. So 4g lighter than standard. The 11° and core up was almost comical for me. High spinning moon balls. I flipped the core down and cranked it back down to 8° and got this
[/URL][/IMG]
BOOM. I think I made a good choice, despite the weird smash factor (maybe it was because a couple swings later the ball disintegrated). This thing feels like a cannon. I guess it is named appropriately.
I went to the launch event on Saturday at the PGASS in Roswell and spent probably over an hour of the Callaway guy's time hitting the Alpha and Bertha FW. They finally had one with and X-stiff shaft. And that thing bombs. After hitting it some and playing with the setting some, I ended up at 8° and gravity core down. I was launching them around the 12° and 13° range and low spin. Then I let some other people that showed up have a turn while I went out to the car to get my driver to compare. I hit about 6 shots with my driver set at 9.5° and then hit the Alpha. ALL the shot with the Alpha were flying where the shots with my driver ended up. I love the sound and feel. I also really liked the Fubuki ZT. Here is one of my shots from that day (not one of the best either)
I don't know what is up with the smash factor as it seems slightly low to me. Anyway
So I actually ordered an Alpha that I hope will get built and sent to me early enough so I can play with it before Hilton Head.
On Sunday I went to the PGASS in Duluth to hit the Alpha again just to get some confirmation of what I was seeing the day before. The Duluth store is generally not as busy and I spent about another hour hitting the Alpha and Bertha FW. This demo was the x-stiff Fubuki ZT and somebody had it set to 11°, core up, and the 3g weight in the heel and the 1g weight in the toe. So 4g lighter than standard. The 11° and core up was almost comical for me. High spinning moon balls. I flipped the core down and cranked it back down to 8° and got this
BOOM. I think I made a good choice, despite the weird smash factor (maybe it was because a couple swings later the ball disintegrated). This thing feels like a cannon. I guess it is named appropriately.
ATLGolfer
#ATLClive75
Nice, Will. Those are really solid numbers.
I didn't even think about the total weight added to the club by using the heavier weights. I went 3/7 heel/toe. I may try the 1/5 and see what the result is. Neat!
I didn't even think about the total weight added to the club by using the heavier weights. I went 3/7 heel/toe. I may try the 1/5 and see what the result is. Neat!
kc720
Active member
The more I think about it the more I am sure 10.5° will be mine
Interesting indeed!
From our central nj thread after our Sim round today
Rob Wedge
Jersey
Alpha is legit. Took Joe a couple holes to get dialed in and some weight changes, but once he got that all squared away he was bombing them right down the middle. I'm not one to buy into hype but the alpha is all that and more.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
Agent Jay
Grandaddy Alumni
I think I'm starting to have driver envy...yup, I think that's what it is.
I wish they would already ship one, or at least a demo club I can try.
ATLGolfer
#ATLClive75
I'm going to play around with this as well. Lowering the total weight seems like a good idea.
- Thread starter
- Admin
- #388
I have to ask you and Jlukes. You guys were both fit at one of the best places in the world to get fit for this club. Why alter what they fit you for?
mikedean441
6X HOF
JB, unfortunately we didn't have time to play with the weights when we were out there. In fact, at the time, I wasn't even aware that it would come with a lighter weight kit.
The focus of the fitting was really launch/spin/carry optimization. Not having touched the weights, I want to see how they change the ball flight.
The focus of the fitting was really launch/spin/carry optimization. Not having touched the weights, I want to see how they change the ball flight.
- Thread starter
- Admin
- #392
That should be the focus of every fitting. You got to optimal numbers for your swing without a need for a change in weight. I am baffled why you would change that when it has not really hit the course as of yet.
ATLGolfer
#ATLClive75
I actually was not fit with the Alpha while at the ECPC. I went through the fitting with the Apex, then I let some others get on the LM to make sure everyone had a turn since we had a pretty tight turnaround. I wasn't able to get back on a LM with the woods before the bus headed to Palm Springs.
I took a lot of swings with the Alpha, BB, X2Hot and various shaft combos. I also talked to one of the fitters about the shafts (i.e., how the ball flew, dispersion), and based on those discussions and what I was seeing on the range I went with the Alpha, BB 3W and Tour Green for both. But, I did not put either on the LM, and other than flipping the gravity core down, I did not adjust the Alpha at all. Everything was stock setting, and I was frankly hitting a really straight ball that way.
It's all good, though. I'm glad that everyone was able to get some time on the LMs.
- Thread starter
- Admin
- #396
ATL,
I got what your throwing down. We saw what went on out there...:angel:
I got what your throwing down. We saw what went on out there...:angel:
I have the 7 gram in the heel and 3 in the toe. I don't want to get rid of the draw weighting. Just want it to be a little less right now.
I really hope you can get your Alpha dialed in buddy. You were hitting it great in Cali and it was much longer than the RFX. Hopefully we can get a round in soon and maybe I can help you find something as well.
Got it. I wonder if the 5 in the heel and 3 in the toe would do the trick
Tried that. No bueno. For what its worth, every combination is no bueno right now. I get so flat when swinging indoors I don't know if anything would help. Right now I have to stand so wide open and I still have like a 3 yard draw. It's quite ridiculous.