News

Callaway’s New Driver? … {Would You Buy It?}

BY Adam Beach
Apr 29th 2009
Read all comments

Callaway’s Next Driver? The “C-Shaped”

Last year we reported on a new patent Callaway had applied for…well just last week that application was granted…and it is referred to as the “C-Shaped Driver”.

Your Opinion

So…we know the Callaway guys are reading this article right now…how do we know…we know this because we see all of the @callawaygolf.com addresses who have signed up for MyGolfSpy updates. So let the guys know what you think about this new design.

What do you like about this driver design/concept?
What don’t you like about this design/concept?
Would you buy a driver that looked like this?
What do you think they could do to make this better?
What would YOU name it?

Callaway C-Shaped Driver (Top View)

Callaway C-Shaped Driver (Back View)

Callaway C-Shaped Driver (Heel View)

Interested In Golf Patent News?

If you would like to keep up to date on all the news on who and what companies are patenting new sticks…you have to check out Golf-Patents.com. David Dawsey the man behind the site is a patent attorney with a love for golf and an addiction to researching golf related patents.

P.S.

Don’t forget to leave your comments…we love to see what people think about new designs.

– Callaway Golf {New Patents}

– Callaway FT-iZ Driver

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comments

Join The Discussion

Brendan

15 years ago

A C-shaped driver ! I believe that companies should spend equal time between producys for low and high handicap players. No player under a 5 handicap would use this club. Companies like Titleist and Mizuno have products that are ‘for the better type’ players like the 909 driver series and the MP iron series from Mizuno. It seems like Callaway is steering in the direction of a company who accompanies more of the weekend golfer. Than the serious amateur player, which is a shame to see

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Callaway has always been more geared towards the recreational golfer in their business model.

CallawayKnowitAll

15 years ago

No C-Shape driver is on the horizon and every one can breath easier now. There is some exciting product being launched in 2010 that will turn some heads.

– As far as the FT-9 being an inferior product, I have to strongly disagree. It a perfect blend for the high spin player that’s looking for maximum ball flight.

– Also referring to concentrated MOI (CG near the center of the wall), we are talking millimeters from driver to driver these days. As long as we can drop the center of gravity and supplement this with thinning in other areas CG can be concentrated away from the inner C. Emphasis, it takes 25-35 grams of discretionary weight moved in a club head until it actually can play a role in performance.

Austin

15 years ago

In my opinion I think this would look super cool and really maximize MOI

dunphy8

15 years ago

i kinda agree with you parker because i use i hibore xl and am waiting for my monster to arive but i would never hit a driver with a space in the middle of it

Tazizzails

15 years ago

1.What do you like about this driver design/concept? It is unique. Extra bonus points if it plays well!
2.What don

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Well all heads weight between 200-205 grams so that would not be an issue.

And I like the name…not bad.

P.S. You are saying that you would buy this if it had a cool kick-ass headcover?

Andy Greenwald

15 years ago

I’ve learned not to judge a book by it’s cover and certainly not a driver by it’s shape. I am all about the results. I tried a Hi Bore XL 2 years ago and loved it. I tried a Sumo 2 last year and hit that pretty well. If Callaway thinks they have built a better mouse trap, I will certainly see.

BTW, I am not focused on MOI as some of the other readers. I am not great at golf, but find my hits are pretty regularly near the aiming point with the driver. For me, it’s whether or not I have timed my turn into the ball and where my hands are at impact.

I think MOI is a factor, but just not as big as some people think it is.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, I do not think there is that much difference in clubhead performance among the 100’s of driver heads out there. I do believe there are shafts that work with each person’s swing to maximize distance/accuracy or both. That is more important in my opinion.

Parker

15 years ago

Yo Andy! I think you make a great point about how all driver heads perform the same. There is a limit on how much elasticity the face of the club can have, so pretty much every driver on the market is at the max. The only difference between the different drivers is their shape,so why would Callaway come out with a driver head that looks so silly instead of focusing on putting out a good looking driver with great shaft combos for different skill levels?

dunphy8

15 years ago

i agree with A.B.. that is the uglyest club head i have ever seen and i would never buy it or anything callaway.

A.B.

15 years ago

I could care less how good it is. I would NEVER EVER EVER buy that! Or any callaway driver:)

mygolfspy

15 years ago

You like it that much eh A.B.?

Spanky

15 years ago

AHHHHHHHHH what a nightmare I think with designs like this Callaway may just pull in as much business as chrysler. The whole idea is just rediculus I havent even taken marketing in high school yet and I could of told them this wouldn’t be a hit. I think the only way they will sell this idea to anyone but Stevie Wonder would be to make some major cosmetic tweaks, design it to Boom it 400 yards or make it part of the iMix system and market it as a new way to play horseshoes.

mygolfspy

15 years ago

LOL…horseshoes…that as a good one ;)

Kurren

15 years ago

You guys don’t realize that the driver will not ACTUALLY look like this. The internal weighting will be in that shape, but they will use some extremely lightweight material around the outside to give it a normal look.

Golfer Burnz

15 years ago

Exactly. The internal weighting for the normal shaped driver. Thats what I was hoping too. Maybe these drawings were the bar napkin mock-ups, the Callaway guys came up with after a few beers at the 19th hole?

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Actually if it does not it would have to have a new patent filed. If you read the patent you will see that much of it relies on the shape.

Pablo Castano

15 years ago

This driver seems pretty cool; it might not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but it’s creative and just might work. Coming from the new generation of golfers, I am eager to see this driver be produced. In fact, I would like to demo this whenever it’s made.

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Yo Pablo glad to see you on MyGolfSpy! But do you work for Callaway? Cause you are the only one that like this thing so far. I mean I am from the new generation too…but not the star trek generation lol.

Parker

15 years ago

Hahaha! Best reply to a comment so far MGS. =)

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Def. an insider Parker ;)

Gary Hansberger

15 years ago

I seem to remember Bullett Golf had a similar design back in the mid 80’s with an “open back” kind of like that. Didn’t the USGA outlaw it? Anyway I think this one is a bit of a stretch. Would take a lot of ZTour support to pull it off in the marketplace. Thanks, Gary

mygolfspy

15 years ago

I dont remember that one…shoot us a link.

Tom

15 years ago

what a discusting looking driver. they need to keep the head shape simple like the 905r or the mx 500 2 brilliant drivers.

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Your 1st comment on MGS..hope to see you back often ;)

nick

15 years ago

I think if this design was ever going to work, every callaway pro on tour would have to bag one and it’d have to at least perform as good as the FT-5 or something.

mygolfspy

15 years ago

I still don’t think it would sell well.

Golfer Burnz

15 years ago

1.What do you like about this driver design/concept? Callaway is pushing the envelope.

2.What don

mygolfspy

15 years ago

1. I guess this could be considered that.
2. Funny ;)
3. Good Point.
4. I 100% agree
5. They might want to spell Callaway without the “o”

Justin

15 years ago

This seems like a bigger gimmick than THE HAMMER! POWWWWWW!
Seriously Callaway is beginning to completely lose my interest as more serious competitors like Adams and Cobra have really stepped up with new and exciting technology. The diablo line has already been an experiment in non-traditional shapes and believe me, those things might as well be glued to the rack in stores. Unless they can come up with something impressive in this economic climate, the Callaway name can only take them so far.

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Adams right now is a MGS favorite…they are doing it right. They are giving what the golfers want not what they think they want.

Hail to the Hammer! POWWWWWW!

Matt Collins

15 years ago

Id call it the C-RUNCH driver. Or C-DRIVE, hmmm Im no good at this!

What about DEAD C-ENTER

Big Bertha C

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Hey Matt – thanks for your 1st comments on MyGolfSpy…we hope to see you back again soon ;)

“Dead Center” and “Big Bertha C” is actually not bad. Keep’em coming.

Matt Collins

15 years ago

Looks ugly-everyone is going to think that more or less. But if it works to create a SIGNIFICANTLY better driver, then people will soon change. WHo said they would never use a metal wood, hmmm, where are all the persimmon drivers now? As to whether it will work, who knows. The square driver doesn’t offer enough improvement for me to merit buying something that looks so ugly. I think that’s going to be the simple equation-Does it offer ENOUGH benefit to get over the ridicule you will receive for using it? As ever, once Phil and Ernie et al. use it, others won’t be so hesitant.

CJ Bush

15 years ago

I would have to see an actual build up of the club to make a final decision, but right now, based on those drawings I would have to say it would take a lot for me to have to bag something like that. I would definitely hit it at a demo day, but bagging it would require some major benefits.

me

15 years ago

i would not buy the driver, i already can’t stand a square driver, it’s just horribley ugly!

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Thanks Me.

Parker

15 years ago

Come on Callaway! I’m moving to North County Aug 1st and I have a marketing degree! I want to help fix your company! LOL!

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Send them your resume…after looking at this they are going to need some major marketing skills to sell this.

TxGolfJunkie

15 years ago

This is an epic fail. It looks like the Odyssey #7 Meat Fork. Someone should get bitc*ed slapped for designing this bommerrang shaped driver.

Parker

15 years ago

1. What do I like about it?
The fact they’re getting creative at Callaway? Not much I do like about it to be honest.

2. What don’t I like about it?
The fact that it’s shaped like a C! It looks ridiculous! I just can’t conceive of any reason that driver design will help anyone hit the ball better. I’m sure the marketing people at Callaway will figure something out though.

3. Would I buy this driver?
Not in a million years. In fact, I wouldn’t buy any driver in the FT line either. They sound horrible at impact, they feel like plastic, and I hate looking down and seeing that line going through the club like it was glued together from two pieces. I pretty much live at the golf course, and I haven’t seen anyone with an FT-9 or an IQ in their bag at all. And I live in SD where Callaway is located!

4. What could they do to make this better?
Start all over and just make a regular driver that looks, sounds, and feels good. This driver design looks desperate. Golfers are demanding people, and they don’t want big changes to their equipment unless it’s going to improve their game a lot. If no one is buying the IQ, then what makes you think they’ll buy a C-shaped driver?

5. What would you name it?
I wouldn’t name this club! If I was an executive over at Callaway, I’d put this idea on the shelf for a while, and work on getting some credibility back in the driver/fairway wood department.

Honestly, who came up with this idea at Callaway? Is this club really going to be made? Did someone say, lets cut the back out of the IQ and see if we can save our losses?

Come on Callaway! Your irons are awesome, the new wedges are sweet, and Odyssey seems to be pretty damn profitable! Come out with a driver that looks shiny and sounds good, and maybe make a hybrid that people will actually want to put in the bag!

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Parker…I think you made some great points and suggestions. It has been a while since Callaway had a successful driver. And I agree I don’t think this is it.

Lohms

15 years ago

Sounds like another ‘Golfer” that knows more about designing golf clubs than the people that do it for a living. This is the same argument about BIG Bertha the clubs that revolutionized the golf industry. It’s to big, sounds funny,has no hosel,to expensive,BLAH,BLAH,BLAH.

Todd Bailey

15 years ago

Whatever happened to “plain in shape”? Disgraceful.

nic sherman

15 years ago

I dont care if this driver goes 450 up the middle every time and sounds like persimmon, I will NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER own one!!!!!!!!!! EVER!!!

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Thanks Nic – Is it the shape that you do not like? If so how do you think they might fix that?

FatherSnitch

15 years ago

I’m all in favour of innovation if there is a technological rationale for it. I’m guessing that the idea is to concentrate mass around the perimeter to maximse MOI but the “inner wall” of the C actually concentrates mass nearer the centre of the clubhead, reducing MOI in comparison to a plain, hollow clubhead. I’d be interested to hear whether Callaway agree or disagree with this analysis, or whether they intend to use marketing spin to paper over this technical flaw!

Re: Plain in Shape – this would almost certainly be conforming. See Fig. 17(b) here:
http://www.usga.org/playing/clubs_and_balls/guide/book/clubhead.html#plain

mygolfspy

15 years ago

Hey Snitch – thanks for your 1st comment on MGS. We hope to see you back often. Thanks for the link as well.

BalataMan

15 years ago

I would bet you that Sherman’s great grandfather posted on a bulletin board 60 years ago his thoughts about playing a driver with a steel shaft instead of the current hickory shaft models; “I will NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER own one!!!!!!!!!! EVER!!!” What did he know?

mygolfspy

15 years ago

So BalataMan…you thinking this is the next big thing?

BalataMan

15 years ago

Next big thing? I doubt it! But I have played golf & have been in the golf business long enough to know that you can’t count anything out! Who would have thought that you would see tour pros playing hybrids? I got laughed at for playing an old MacGregor Louise Suggs Eye-O-Matic driver in high school, but now its ok to play a club named Big Bertha? Drivers with screw weights & removable shafts all seemed kind of hokey at first, now are considered cutting edge.

I will tell you one thing, if this new ‘C’ driver is a hit for Callaway, look for TaylorMade to come out soon after with a ‘T’ driver!

BalataMan

Austin

15 years ago

hey dipwad im pretty sure if your gonna hit 450 up the middle everytime youd buy one. I bet you cant hit 150

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News

Callaway’s New Driver? … {Would You Buy It?}

Callaway’s Next Driver? The “C-Shaped”

Your Opinion

Interested In Golf Patent News?

P.S.

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comments

Brendan

mygolfspy

CallawayKnowitAll

Austin

dunphy8

Tazizzails

mygolfspy

Andy Greenwald

Parker

dunphy8

A.B.

mygolfspy

Spanky

mygolfspy

Kurren

Golfer Burnz

mygolfspy

Pablo Castano

mygolfspy

Parker

mygolfspy

Gary Hansberger

mygolfspy

Tom

mygolfspy

nick

mygolfspy

Golfer Burnz

mygolfspy

Justin

mygolfspy

Matt Collins

mygolfspy

Matt Collins

CJ Bush

me

mygolfspy

Parker

mygolfspy

TxGolfJunkie

Parker

mygolfspy

Lohms

Todd Bailey

nic sherman

mygolfspy

FatherSnitch

mygolfspy

BalataMan

mygolfspy

BalataMan

Austin

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