AmateurGolf.com is pleased to announce the
Callaway
GBB Epic Driver (and it's Jailbreak Technology) as
the
winner of our Technology Innovation Award at the
PGA
Merchandise Show in Florida. Below is a review
published earlier in January. We have also added a
video interview, from the show, with Dave Neville of
Callaway Golf.
Callaway's Great Big Bertha products (that came
back into the limelight in 2014) continue to evolve.
I've compared drivers to mobile phones in the past
-- if you're playing with one that's more than a
couple of generations old you're probably missing
some big breakthroughs, not just a few small
features.
In this case, that "leapfrog" feature
is Jail Break - something so revolutionary it's even
got the engineers at Callaway using new terms like
"energy lensing." Simply put, Jailbreak
technology makes the face of the club more efficient
by providing more focused energy back to the ball as
it releases from the face. (Get it? That's the lensing
part.)
Jailbreak consists of two vertical bars connecting
from the sole to the crown behind the clubface,
invisible to the golfer other than when the club is
turned over. (There's also a not-so-subtle hint in the
two silver disks on the cool green, black, and white
headcover.) What I like about the technology is it
just works, for everyone. No adjustment needed.
Golfers tested by Callaway saw increased ball
speeds, resulting in more distance off the tee.
I noticed a really solid feel, sound, and more
distance than the Great Big Bertha right from the
get-go. The 55 gram Project-X HZRDUS shaft that
comes standard is a nice mid-spinning lightweight,
but very stable addition and a really nice piece of
standard equipment. But there are plenty of shaft
options available, as Callaway continues to see more
people use the fitting services of their golf shop or
pro.
“Jailbreak Technology creates a new and
remarkably efficient working relationship between
the face, crown and sole to promote faster ball
speed across more of the face to give the golfer
more distance,” said Dr. Alan Hocknell,
Callaway’s senior vice president of R&D.
HEAD SHAPE AND DESIGN
The black crown with green accents and a nice
alignment system sits beautifully at address. The
shape is confidence-inspiring. Beyond the graphics,
and the fact that the Triaxial Carbon is visible on the
back of the crown, there is a functional element
called "Speed Step" built in, which helps
reduce drag. Every mile an hour gained is worth
chasing, and Callaway has spent a great deal of time
working with big aerospace partners to come up with
the right formula.
MATERIALS
The engineers at Callaway look at
"discretionary weight" as an opportunity
to get creative. Jailbreak is one example of that.
Even at only 3 grams per vertical Jailbreak bar, the
weight has to be saved someplace else. Two unique
technologies are blended in GBB Epic to free up that
weight. One is the use of Triaxial Carbon in the
crown. It's twice as strong as the material they've
used in previous models. It merges perfectly with
the Titanium Exo-Cage, which holds the Triaxial
Carbon in place. First implemented in the GBB Fusion
driver released earlier this year, this stiff material
also holds a large amount of weight in the back of
the clubhead that helps create a low and deep CG
and a high Moment of Inertia. That means
forgiveness, consistent launch conditions, and an
immediately noticeable sound and feel.
If you're interested in learning more, I suggest
you watch the video below:
FITTING SYSTEM
Another benefit Callaway has put into the
design, as a result of the aforementioned
discretionary weight, is more ball flight adjustability
for Epic via its Adjustable Perimeter Weighting
technology, which allows for final tuning of ball
flight based on your individual swing. And compared
to previous Callaway drivers, Epic’s rear
"track" has been redesigned and the
sliding weight has been increased to 17 grams. This
delivers a full 21 yards of potential shot-shape
correction (a 22 percent increase compared to the
previous Great Big Bertha) to dial in straighter,
more accurate flight while maintaining high MOI (or
Moment of Inertia). Good stuff!
SHAFT OPTIONS
Four premium, Tour-proven stock-shafts are
available, distinguished by weight class and each
engineered to promote a formidable combination of
speed, power, stability, feel and control: Project X
HZRDS Green, MRC Diamana Greenboard, Fujikura
Pro Green and Aldila Rogue Max. A long list of
custom after-market shafts is also available.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
GBB Epic driver availability begins at retailers
nationwide and on CallawayGolf.com January 27,
2017 at the new product introduction price of $499.