Question:
I JUST DISCUSSED BUYING A BIG BERTHA (11 DEGREE) OFF OF A GUY I WORK WITH….. I’M LEFT HANDED ALSO I’M JUST STARTING OUT AND I DON’T WANT TO PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO MY EQUIPMENT YET…..IT HAS A FIRM GRAPHITE SHAFT IN IT…….THE GUY IS JUST A LITTLE TALLER THAN I AM, MY QUESTION
Response:
Well, I don’t know anything about your game, your swing speed, etc. I bascially ignorant about your game. The Biggest Big Berthas are selling for about $219 since they’ve been discontinued. Don’t know what model you’ve been offered. Cutting it down MIGHT work, but if you’ve tried it and you’re not hitting it well I’d probably take a flyer on it. If you’re a new golfer, learn to hit a 3W off the tee, perhaps start with a 5W. Try drivers when you can hit the 3W consistently.
Response:
Please turn off the caps lock, but anyway if this is a regular(steel) bertha it would be pointless to cut down the shaft, and if it is titanium it would make the club too light. You should probably look more into a 3 wood, because cutting down the shaft might also cut down the effective loft of the driver, hence you would never get the ball up in the air, and since you are a beginner it would be smarter to play a 3 wood off the tee anyway…it is already shorter and has more loft. Couldn’t really tell you much about the flex, but it is my opinion that it is better to go with less flex as opposed to more(I believe this has become quite a debatable concept). — "You got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there." –Yogi Berra
Response:
A couple of things. First off, as a new golfer a firm shaft is probably not correct. Also, cutting down clubs changes the swing weight, so again, not too good. Go to a golf shop and look at used clubs there, and talk to a pro or a salesperson you trust. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I JUST DISCUSSED BUYING A BIG BERTHA (11 DEGREE) OFF OF A GUY I WORK WITH….. I’M LEFT HANDED ALSO I’M JUST STARTING OUT AND I DON’T WANT TO PUT ALOT OF MONEY INTO MY EQUIPMENT YET…..IT HAS A FIRM GRAPHITE SHAFT IN IT…….THE GUY IS JUST A LITTLE TALLER THAN I AM, MY QUESTION
Response:
They’re great clubs, no question about it. Will they shave strokes off your score? Maybe. Maybe not. The only thing that will guarantee shaving strokes off your score is taking fewer strokes to knock the ball in the hole. You’ll do that with a better swing, better short game, better putting stroke. I’d opt for the lessons. Randy NEWLY UPDATED AND EXPANDED!!! One of the web’s most-visited personal golf websites Featured in USA TODAY, and in the USGA’s official publication, "Golf Journal" http://wwwgolfer.home.mindspring.com Now with more pages of instruction, golf news, links, essays, information and other cool stuff RSG Roll Call profile: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/brownr.htm
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How good are these drivers, I play off 18 , (which equates to shithouse player) if I buy a Big Bertha will it knock strokes off my game or should I spend money on some golf lessons. Cool Darren
Response:
I think the Great Big Bertha is the best clubhead Callaway has made. It’s still immensely popular on tour. The good news is that you can buy a GBB for $200-220 nowadays. Whether it will improve your game, who knows. The GBB is a very light clubhead, so it has a lighter feel than the vast majority of other drivers, including (curiously) other Callaway clubs. This helps many players get some extra distance. Muscular players should probably consider heavier feeling clubs like the Titleist 975D. I think the GBB will turn out to be one of the most popular clubheads from the 1990s and I bet you will see people continuing to use them for decades, assuming they’re not made illegal or completely outmoded by changes to the game. -joseph – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Rarely does a driver knock off a significant amount of strokes. Some people see lower scores because of added distance or renewed confidence. Some people see better results from driving because the club fits them better… etc.
Response:
As the saying goes "it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian"….. rarely do equipment changes do much for a handicap. Unless the equipment you are now using is not a correct fit, the answer to a lower handicap is to master the swing (and all of its variations) and mental side of the game. Opt for the lessons. Good luck. stymie
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How good are these drivers, I play off 18 , (which equates to shithouse player) if I buy a Big Bertha will it knock strokes off my game or should I spend money on some golf lessons. Cool Darren
Response:
Rarely does a driver knock off a significant amount of strokes. Some people see lower scores because of added distance or renewed confidence.
It’s about half a stroke every 10 m. Driving is important but short game and approach shots significantly impact score. So does consistency. If you want to lower your score, see a pro for lessons and spend more time working your short game and approaches.
Key to reduce score is the GIR’s and amount of birdies, direct link there. <snip The Bertha clubs are nice. I prefer Taylor Mades myself, but my wife and several friends have the GBB and love them. My suggestion, see a pro, let him look at your swing and ask him if a new driver would help. I think you’d be surprised what he can do with your old one. My pro took a knock off Cobra (King Snake) steel driver and consistently plunked shots 260-270 with it. Good luck, BTW, 18 isn’t that bad, unless you’re prepping for the tour! if I buy a Big Bertha will it knock strokes off my game or should I spend money on some golf lessons.
Spend it on the lessons. Also I would seriously consider checking what putter and wedges you have. How many players you’ve met that would spend $300-500 on a driver but not more than $50 on a putter? -tomi
Response:
Hey Cool, I would never buy a club without being fitting first. I would spend money on lessons and working on your swing. Once you have a workable swing then go to a pro and get recommendation on the type of clubs you should play. Many better pro shops will work with you at no cost fitting you for clubs.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How good are these drivers, I play off 18 , (which equates to shithouse player) if I buy a Big Bertha will it knock strokes off my game or should I spend money on some golf lessons. Cool Darren
Response:
How good are these drivers, I play off 18 , (which equates to shithouse player) if I buy a Big Bertha will it knock strokes off my game or should I spend money on some golf lessons. Cool Darren
Response:
Rarely does a driver knock off a significant amount of strokes. Some people see lower scores because of added distance or renewed confidence. Some people see better results from driving because the club fits them better… etc. Driving is important but short game and approach shots significantly impact score. So does consistency. If you want to lower your score, see a pro for lessons and spend more time working your short game and approaches. I’m a wild driver myself. I recently got a new driver I love (Ti Bubble 2, I know, last years technology but it was a great price). Wild tee shots were costing me penalty strokes I seem to be able to control the ball better with the forgiveness of the new club. I also picked up about 15 yards over my old Burner Bubble. More significantly I formulated a plan to lower my scores. I putt every night (on my carpet). 3 footers until I make 50 in a row. 6 footers until I make 10 in a row. 15 footers until I make 20 in a row within 2 feet. I also talked earnestly to my pro about what I like in my swing and don’t like. Prior to that we had a relationship where he told me things and I did them. Ever since we had a heart to heart we both feel much better. Our sessions are more productive and my scores are showing it. The Bertha clubs are nice. I prefer Taylor Mades myself, but my wife and several friends have the GBB and love them. My suggestion, see a pro, let him look at your swing and ask him if a new driver would help. I think you’d be surprised what he can do with your old one. My pro took a knock off Cobra (King Snake) steel driver and consistently plunked shots 260-270 with it. Good luck, BTW, 18 isn’t that bad, unless you’re prepping for the tour!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How good are these drivers, I play off 18 , (which equates to shithouse player) if I buy a Big Bertha will it knock strokes off my game or should I spend money on some golf lessons. Cool Darren