Review: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 Hybrid

Big on forgiveness

The Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 line up is most fascinating in terms of club head sizes.  The drivers are fairly compact looking, the 3-wood is almost tiny and yet the hybrid is quite large.  When the hybrid first arrived with the 3-wood I almost mixed them up because of their sizes.  Even though the hybrid is big, it is still a players club that offers good looks, feel and control, and is really big on forgiveness.

Hybrids tend to be a “love it” or “hate it” kind of club.  Every golfer has a preferred shape and use.  Some like an iron like look, others like a wood style; some want distance, and others want control.  The Big Bertha Alpha 815 hybrid is definitely a wood style hybrid aimed at control and forgiveness. 

The Big Bertha Alpha 815 hybrid was competing against the Callaway X2-Hot Pro hybrid from last year which was in my bag all season.   It is a noticably different club.  Besides the size difference, the forgiveness was the first difference that really showed itself.  I hit the X2-Hot Pro very well, but its small compact shape meant that from time to time, a miss hit would happen.  The BBA 815 had less miss hits or should I say less missed results.  Expanding the sweet spot even a little bit did help.  On the course, this hybrid is awesome off the tee because the size inspires confidence.  Yet it isn’t too big for the fairway or the rough.  It has settled in as my 205-215 yard club.  I’m really confident it will hit the yardage I need.  I’ve had number of really good looks for eagle and birdie with this hybrid in the bag.

Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor

Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 Hybrid

    • Spin: 4132 rpms
    • Launch Angle: 15.9*
    • Dispersion: 5.0 yds
    • Club Head Speed: 95.0 mph
    • Ball Speed: 136.5 mph
    • Total Distance:  214.8 yds
    • Carry Distance:  204.2 yds

Callaway created a players hybrid with game improvement benefits.  The stock shaft is a Fujikura Speeder 865 which offer amazingly smooth feel, yet is super consistent.  The adjustable hosel and weight port allow you to customize this hybrid to your needs.  The minimal off-set makes it look really nice and it helps avoid the hooks of many hybrids.

The Big Bertha Alpah 815 offers more consistency.  I didn’t have any surprise bombs or shorties, they all feel within a more consistent range of distance and direction.   I’d say the circle was much tighter with this club.  It is not a distance hybrid, but a precision tool from the fairway, rough or tee.  Obviously those qualities benefits the overall use of the club, but I was limited in trying to squeeze out a couple more yards like I could with the X2-Hot Pro.  

Everyone can use forgiveness in their hybrid especially better players who aren’t looking for a hook machine.  The Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 hybrid offers many qualities lower handicap golfers are looking for; adjustability, minimal off-set, low spin and trajectory, yet lots of forgiveness.  It is big in shape, but that size has a purpose.  If you are looking for the most forgiving players hybrid, the Big Bertha Alpha 815 is the one you should be looking at.  It is big on forgiveness.

For more information: www.callawaygolf.com

Quick Hits:
+Bigger face for more forgiveness
+Minimal off-set
+Excellent stock shaft
+Solid feel
+Adjustable hosel

–Big overall size