Low spin with added forgiveness in a driver is a difficult task to master, as traditionally, you can have one but not both. Callaway Golf sought to overcome those industry challenges with the Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver, even after the successful launch of the Big Bertha Alpha driver.  One of the best things about Callaway is they don’t settle just because one of their products launches with great feedback. Relentless improvement is at their core.

So what classification of driver fits your game? Are you looking for extremely low spin or lower spin with an added element of forgiveness? There are advantages and disadvantages to both the Big Bertha Alpha and Big Betha Alpha 815 depending on your respective game. Let’s take a look at the features and benefits of each and how they compare so you can make the best possible choice for your golf bag.

Big Bertha Alpha Driver

The Callaway Big Bertha Alpha driver highlights the Hyper Speed Face technology within a 460cc club head that enhances the sweet spot and increases ball speeds on off-center hits. In addition, this driver has two adjustable weight ports (1 gram and 7 gram), one in the heel and one in the toe, which can be maneuvered to affect a fade and draw (additional weights are available for a more fine-tune fit). It also features Callaway’s Opti-Fit hosel where loft can be adjusted -1 degree from the standard loft or up to +2 degrees. There’s also a “D” setting in the dual adjustment system that will give you an upright setting to help with a draw.

One of the main engines behind the Big Bertha Alpha driver is the gravity core system which includes a 12-gram tungsten plug that can be flipped, inside the club head, to adjust the amount of backspin that’s desired independent of launch angle. That’s a lot of technology talk but there is no doubt that this driver produces extremely low spin rates. This gravity core can affect backspin rates between 200-400 rpm’s (that can be a difference of 10-20 yards). However, this driver is designed for golfers with advanced swings and the highest club head speeds (100+ mph) that are able to consistently and repeatedly deliver the center of the club face back to the ball. When all of these factors fall into place, the Callaway Big Bertha Alpha driver produces tremendous results. Just remember, this is not the style of golf club that will fit the vast majority of golfers, it can be difficult to hit.

Big Bertha Alpha 815 Driver

So, what about the sector of the golf market that encompasses the largest majority of golfers (those that don’t hit the ball in the center of the face) but who are still looking to maximize their distance? Check out the Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver.

The Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver has been engineered to jive with Callaway’s newly adopted driver design philosophy. They believe there are three different segments of golfers to consider when it comes to designing a driver. This driver fits into the new mold of those looking for a driver design capable of producing low spin but also providing optimal forgiveness. This segment accounts for roughly 50-70% of golfers, which has largely been under served when it comes to driver offerings.

This driver (a gold medal in Golf Digest’s 2015 Hot-List) has Callaway’s all new R-Moto face technology which is thinner and lighter than the Hyper Speed Face in the Alpha. This new face technology increases the flexibility of the entire face leading to increased energy transfer back to the golf ball (faster ball speeds!). It also allowed Callaway to move weight away from the face and position it towards the back of the head (hello forgiveness!).

While the 460cc club head is the same size as the Alpha driver, the 815’s footprint has an elongated crown shape front to back, which provides more confidence when setting the club behind the ball. It also increases the forgiveness since the weight has been re-positioned lower in the head and towards the rear of the club.

Finally, there are three premium shaft offerings available as stock for the Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver with an additional 11 custom after-market shafts available at no upcharge. These shaft options provide additional ways to optimize distance. All of these changes have created a golf club that is overall lighter than the Big Bertha Alpha driver with additional draw bias. This combination enhances its appeal to the broadest portion of the driver market.

Even with Differences Come Similarities

The Big Bertha Alpha 815 has the same Opti-Fit hosel technology for adjusting loft -1, +1, or +2 degrees from the standard loft and a draw bias lie angle for those that need extra help with a right-to-left ball flight. Additionally, there’s the same gravity core incorporated into the sole of the club for fine tuning spin rates, along with the moveable 1 and 7 gram heel and toe weights for side-to-side trajectory corrections.

Wrap-Up

The Callaway Big Bertha Alpha and Big Bertha Alpha 815 drivers are two outstanding golf clubs with next generation, game-changing technology. However, they fit two completely different segments of golfers.

The Big Bertha Alpha driver is specifically designed for highly skilled golfers with the highest club speeds that deliver the center of the face to the ball consistently.

The Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver is for the largest segment of golfers, one that will no longer have to worry about enduring the promises of low spin and more distance while illicitly being robbed of forgiveness.

Still have questions? Email our PGA Professionals.

Now that you know how these two drivers compare, check out other great Callaway comparisons: X2 Hot vs X2 Hot Pro, Big Bertha vs Big Bertha Alpha, Apex Pro vs X Forged, Apex vs X2 Hot, XHot vs X2 Hot, or the Big Bertha vs X2 Hot.

Chris Wadwick

Chris Wadwick has been a Class “A” member of the PGA of America since 2011. He is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Business Administration. He brings a deep understanding of the inner workings of the golf business, especially club fittings, product knowledge, and visual merchandising, working for Dick’s Sporting Goods for over 7 years and Occoneechee Golf Club for more than three years, prior to that. When he is not in the office, you can always find him at a nearby golf course, attending games at his alma mater, or spending time with his wife and four dogs.

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