Tag Archives: Dr. Alan Hocknell

Equipment, Hybrids / Rescues, Irons

Callaway Golf – Easy launch and serious distance with the new 2019 Big Bertha irons and hybrids

November 13, 2018 – Big Bertha is one of the most iconic names in golf equipment, designed to push the boundaries of innovation and performance, and today Callaway Golf has announced the latest addition to the Big Bertha Family, the new 2019 Big Bertha Irons and Hybrids featuring ground-breaking technologies to deliver faster ball speed and easy launch.

2019 BIG BERTHA IRONS

The Suspended Energy Core is the engine of the new Big Bertha Irons; a construction never before achieved in a golf club, and designed to deliver easy launch; long consistent distance; and incredible sound and feel.

It starts with a Metal Injection Molded (MIM’d) Tungsten Floating Weight suspended within Callaway’s proprietary Urethane Microsphere material. Suspending the floating weight allows the Centre of Gravity to be positioned deeper in the head, promoting higher launch.

Then a new thinner and faster 360 Face Cup, boasting a shallow, flexible rim around the perimeter of the face, perfectly combines with the high-launch characteristics fuelled from the Suspended Energy Core to deliver super-long ball flights.

A Smoked PVD Finish complements the clean Big Bertha Iron look, and new Super Soft/Light Recoil ESX graphite and KBS Max 90 steel shafts and Lamkin S5 Genesis Grips complete the high performance package.

Dr. Alan Hocknell, Head of Research and Development OF Callaway Golf, said: “Golfers can enjoy distance-enhancing launch conditions we’ve never been able to achieve before in a set of irons, that still remain very easy to hit. It is an unbelievable performance combination that has earned them the right to be called Big Bertha.”

2019 BIG BERTHA IRONS FEATURES AND BENEFITS

  • Easy launch and incredible sound and feel from the revolutionary Suspended Energy Core. This new construction suspends the Metal Injection Molded Tungsten weight using proprietary urethane microspheres.
  • Long consistent distance from the 360 Face Cup which employs a flexible rim around the face that flexes and releases at impact to increase ball speed. And by using the high launch angles generated by the Suspended Energy Core, we’re able to make our thinnest face cup for increased speeds that promote longer distance.
  • Premium Design: Unforgettable look with a clean, Smoked PVD Finish.
  • RRP: 1,299€ (Steel); 1,399€ (Graphite).
  • Availability: At retail across Europe from March 1, 2019.

2019 BIG BERTHA HYBRIDS

Big Bertha is the first Callaway hybrid to combine innovative Jailbreak Technology and adjustability for long distance, fast ball speeds, and easy launch. The synergy of Jailbreak, which incorporates two internal bars that stiffen the body to place more impact load on the face for fast ball speeds, and the Hyper Speed Face Cup promotes power and ball speed across the face for increased distance.

And to make it easy to launch, Callaway has introduced an entirely new OptiFit Hosel System that’s shorter and lighter, allowing their engineers to optimize the Centre of Gravity. The new progressive shape also makes it easy to hit, and new premium Recoil shafts add to an appealing design.

Available in 3H through to 8H, new progressive head shaping creates high MOI designs that are both appealing to look at and effortlessly forgiving.

2019 BIG BERTHA HYBRIDS FEATURES AND BENEFITS

  • Long distance and fast ball speeds from Jailbreak Technology: Jailbreak bars stiffen the body, placing more impact load on the face to promote fast ball speed and long distance.
  • Fast ball speeds from an ultra-thin face and Hyper Speed Face Cup: Carpenter 455 steel face, Jailbreak Technology and a Hyper Speed Face Cup combine to maintain high ball speeds across the face.
  • Easy launch from a new OptiFit Hosel: A new hosel system that is shorter and lighter to save weight. That weight is repositioned to optimise CG, for easy launch and high, long ball flight.
  • Easy to hit from new progressive shaping: Progressive head shape that is both forgiving and appealing, and packed with high MOI (resistance to twisting) technology.
  • Great feel and control from new premium shafts: Available in premium Recoil ESX and ZT9 shafts to provide excellent feel and control.
  • RRP: 299€.
  • Availability: At retail across Europe from March 1, 2019.
Drivers, Fairway Woods

Callaway Golf – New XR Speed driver and fairway woods: Fast just got a whole lot faster

April 17, 2018 – Callaway Golf has introduced the all-new XR Speed Driver and Fairway Woods to its European line-up, the fastest, hottest and most forgiving XR range of products ever.

XR Metalwoods are already renowned for power-enhancing technologies that have helped golfers at every level hit longer shots.

Now Callaway has pushed XR performance even further with new X Face VFT Technology – the lightest and most flexible face it has ever designed – generating greater ball speeds and distance across a wider area of the face.

XR Speed is also the first XR Driver to feature an ultra-light Triaxial Carbon Crown (45% lighter than the XR 16 titanium crown) that improves the head’s mass properties to promote high launch and lower spin off the tee and increased MOI – the best formula for increased distance, accuracy and forgiveness.

Callaway’s R&D team has also enhanced the aerodynamics of XR Speed by improving its Speed Step Technology on the crown of the head, reducing air resistance and optimising clubhead speed.

Dr. Alan Hocknell, Senior Vice President, Research and Development at Callaway Golf, commented: “Our Jailbreak Technology made Epic the #1 selling Driver globally in 2017, and this year the new Rogue family of woods, also featuring Jailbreak, is off to an equally strong start.”

“We are however aware that drivers in the super-premium category aren’t accessible to every golfer. So our challenge with the new XR Speed was to deliver the best ‘non-Jailbreak’ driver possible, to sit in the premium category, that would still outperform competitor drivers, as well as give Epic and Rogue a run for their money.”

In addition, the new XR Speed Fairway Woods, in 3W, 4W, 5W and 7W, feature a new shallow head profile that enables golfers of all abilities the opportunity to get the ball airborne easier, quicker and more efficiently.

The inclusion of a refined Next-Gen Hyper Speed Face Cup optimises ball speeds across the entire face, promoting maximum distance. Yardage gains are then further enhanced through the aerodynamic efficiency of an improved Speed Step on the crown, which pushes clubhead speeds to levels way beyond XR 16 product lines.

WHAT TO KNOW – CALLAWAY XR SPEED DRIVER & FAIRWAY WOODS

  • XR Speed Driver and Fairway Woods will be available in stores across Europe from May 8th 2018.
  • XR Speed Driver (9º, 10.5º and 13.5º HT), are available right and left-handed. Ladies options, with a revised cosmetic, are available in 10.5° and 13.5° HT.
  • XR Speed Fairway Woods (3W, 4W, 5W, 7W) are available right and left-handed (apart from 4W), with Project X HZRDUS shafts as standard. Ladies models are available in all loft options.
  • RRP: XR Speed driver, 339€; XR Speed fairway wood, 279€.
Putters

Odyssey Golf – The Odyssey O-Works Red Putters: New way to roll, now in red

July 18, 2017 – Odyssey Golf is introducing an extension of red putters to its pioneering O-Works line this summer. Following feedback from Callaway Staff Professionals, who have already put prototype models into play on Tour, the striking new O-Works Red Putters will make their Major debut at The Open this week.

Featuring revolutionary Microhinge Face Insert Technology, O-Works Putters offer unmatched roll for all levels of player.

The face insert pairs a stainless steel Microhinge plate co-moulded into a Thermoplastic Elastomer Feel Layer, enabling the tiny hinges on the hitting surface to lift the ball into a better roll at impact.

The technology makes the putter face more flexible, meaning all golfers will see increased top-spin and roll to their putts, even with a less-than-perfect putting stroke.

Dr. Alan Hocknell, Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Callaway Golf, said: “The head colour has been generating a lot of interest on Tour this season, and a number of our players asked to test prototypes combining our Microhinge Insert Technology with a red finish.  We know that if the best players like something and putt well with it, real golfers are definitely going to like it, too.”

Odyssey O-Works Red Putters feature a variety of Tour proven shapes – including the iconic 2-Ball, #7, R-Line, V-Line Fang – and introduces an innovative new #7S model.

This short slant neck version of the #7, one of the most prolific, tournament-winning putters of all time, provides more toe hang, which has become a popular setup for professionals.

Odyssey O-Works Red Putters will be in store from September 1, 2017.
RRP: 239€; 259€ (2-Ball).

Drivers

Callaway Golf – Introduction of GBB Epic and GBB Epic Sub Zero Drivers with Jailbreak Technology

January 4, 2017 – Callaway Golf has introduced today the Great Big Bertha Epic and Great Big Bertha Epic Sub Zero drivers, incorporating Callaway’s innovative new Jailbreak ball speed technology. Jailbreak Technology changes the fundamental way the head behaves at impact to promote more distance for every type of player.

The key structural components of a driver – crown, sole and face – deform at impact. Because they’re connected, they influence each other’s dynamics. Jailbreak incorporates two slender titanium bars positioned parallel to each other behind the face, connected to the crown and sole. The size, strength and position of each bar creates a new dynamic relationship between the crown, sole and face. The result is a profound change in how the head, as a whole, behaves at impact, resulting in more speed across a much larger area of the face.

“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.

CALLAWAY GREAT BIG BERTHA EPIC DRIVER

GBB Epic’s clubhead consists of Callaway’s new aerospace-grade titanium Exo-cage outfitted with a crown and sole panels made of triaxial carbon, an extraordinarily light and strong composite material developed by Callaway. Nearly half of the head’s surface – 46 percent — consists of triaxial carbon, with the crown weighing just 9.7g and the sole just 5.8g. That’s the lightest crown of any Callaway driver currently on the market.

Epic’s multi-material structure is incredibly light and strong, with high MOI and a low, deep-back CG that makes it ultra-easy to launch the ball on a high angle with low spin.

Epic’s increased accuracy is rooted in Callaway’s Adjustable Perimeter Weighting technology, an invaluable feature that allows golfers to quickly and easily adjust the club to fit their swing. Compared to previous Callaway Drivers, Epic’s track has been redesigned and the sliding weight has been increased to 17 grams, both for good reason: to deliver a full 21 yards of shot-shape correction (a 22 percent increase compared to last season’s Great Big Bertha) to dial in straighter, more accurate flight while maintaining high MOI (or Moment of Inertia).

CALLAWAY GREAT BIG BERTHA EPIC SUB ZERO DRIVER

GBB Epic Sub Zero’s clubhead also consists of Callaway’s aerospace-grade titanium Exo-Cage outfitted with a crown and sole panels made of triaxial carbon. A full 50 percent of the head’s surface area consists of triaxial carbon. The crown weighs just 10.8g, the sole panels just 7.4g. The weight saved is strategically repositioned to create Epic Sub Zero’s extraordinarily high MOI, which measures a full 40 percent higher than the Big Bertha 816 Driver (when Epic Sub Zero’s heavier interchangeable weight is in back).

Two interchangeable weights (12g and 2g) positioned at the front and back of the sole, which can be used in tandem with the Optifit hosel, give players the ability to adjust the spin-rate, the launch angle and MOI.

Epic Sub Zero’s unique head construction allows Callaway engineers to position the Centre of Gravity low, deep and in line with the head’s neutral axis, which is defined as a line that intersects the geometric center of the face and runs perpendicular to the loft. The CG location, in particular CG height, is often measured relative to the neutral axis.

In both drivers, head speed gets an additional boost from Callaway’s proven Speed Step technology. Devised with the help of aerospace experts, the Speed Step, located on the crown, improves head aerodynamics for more speed and distance.

“Callaway engineers paid particular attention to the shape, aesthetics and acoustics to make Epic drivers great to look at and agreeable to listen to,” said Dr. Alan Hocknell. “The Tour-inspired shape is sleek and confidence-inspiring. The triaxial carbon weave visible on the rear half of the crown, and the vibrant green highlights on the head, shaft and grip, together create a dynamic appearance from every angle.”

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Availability: GBB Epic Driver, GBB Epic Woods full line and GBB Epic Sub Zero Driver, January 27, 2017.
  • Lofts (adjustable): GBB Epic Driver, 9º (8º-11º), 10.5º (9.5º-12.5º), 13.5ºHT (12.5º-15.5º); GBB Epic Sub Zero Driver, 9º (8º-11º), 10.5º (9.5º-12.5º).
  • Stock-shafts: Project X HZRDUS Green, MRC Diamana Greenboard, Fujikura Pro Green and Aldila Rogue Max.
  • RRP: GBB Epic Driver, 549€; GBB Epic Sub Zero Driver, 549€.
Equipment, Hybrids / Rescues, Irons

Callaway Golf – New Big Bertha irons and hybrids, the ‘new distance generation’

Callaway-Big-Bertha-Irons-2014

September 29, 2014 – Callaway Golf wants to give golfers an unprecedented opportunity to unlock ‘up to two clubs longer’ distance from their shots with the announcement of super-forgiving, super-long Big Bertha Irons.

Heralding a new generation in ‘fast’ performance, the all new cast, hollow-bodied head design features a wrap-around 360 Face Cup which marries the ball speed benefits of Callaway’s Variable Face Thickness (VFT) Technology to a Cup Face construction that spreads the sweetspot across the whole hitting surface.

To maintain forgiveness and maximise ball speed, Big Bertha Irons feature an Internal Standing Wave design that pushes the centre of gravity low and forward in the head, allowing the ball to get airborne easier and with increased MOI at impact (resistance to twisting), meaning more shots on target.

Dr. Alan Hocknell, Callaway’s Senior Vice President of Research and Development, said: “We are significantly raising the bar of what’s possible in the design and performance of irons with the introduction of Big Bertha.”

“We’ve taken proven Callaway Driver and Fairway Wood technologies – VFT, Face Cup and the Internal Standing Wave concept – and configured them for irons. The result is a new generation of ‘long’ that not only delivers blistering performance out of the sweetspot, but also maintains it across the whole face, which is great news for golfers of all abilities.”

First Callaway adjustable utility clubs
For golfers that consistently struggle with their long irons, Callaway also announces its first-ever range of adjustable utility clubs – Big Bertha Hybrids. Like the Big Bertha Irons they are longer and built for huge ball speed, but with adjustability for even more distance and control.

The hybrids feature Callaway’s Speed Frame Face technology which is thin, light and robust so that it is fast across the whole club face; this is where the fast ball speed comes from. Coupled to this, an Internal Standing Wave inside the head lowers the CG, ensuring the golf ball launches quicker, forgiveness is maximised, and the club’s high resistance to twisting on impact (MOI) is maintained, ensuring pinpoint accuracy.

To help create the ideal trajectory, an adjustable OptiFit hosel has been added, giving golfers the opportunity to choose from a combination of eight different loft (-1, S, +1, +2) and lie angles (draw and neutral) to really dial in shot shape.

Callaway-Big-Bertha-Hybrids-2014

Dr. Alan Hocknell said: “For the first time, we’re bringing adjustability to our hybrids and the new Big Berthas are leading a whole new level of performance capability for the category. They generate incredible ball speed across the face, and with the adjustability feature delivers a really versatile club that’s easy to launch.”

Big Bertha Irons feature premium shaft options as standard – either True Temper Speed Step 80 steel or a new UST Recoil graphite and are available for men and women, in right and left-hand options. At retail from 17th of October.

Big Bertha Hybrids are available in: 3-hybrid (19°), 4-hybrid (22°), 5-hybrid (25°), 6-hybrid (28°), 7-hybrid (31°) (some options custom fit only). At retail from 17th October.

  • RRP Big Bertha Irons Steel, 999 € (7 irons); graphite, 1.099 € (7 irons).
  • RRP Big Bertha Hybrid: 249 €.