Callaway’s New Driver? … {Would You Buy It?}
Posted April 29, 2009 by GolfSpy X
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.
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April 29th, 2009 at 8:22 am
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!!!
April 29th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Thanks Nic – Is it the shape that you do not like? If so how do you think they might fix that?
April 29th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
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
April 29th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Hey Snitch – thanks for your 1st comment on MGS. We hope to see you back often. Thanks for the link as well.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
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?
May 5th, 2009 at 7:08 am
So BalataMan…you thinking this is the next big thing?
May 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am
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
May 27th, 2009 at 6:29 am
hey dipwad im pretty sure if your gonna hit 450 up the middle everytime youd buy one. I bet you cant hit 150
April 29th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Whatever happened to “plain in shape”? Disgraceful.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:55 am
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!
April 29th, 2009 at 9:19 am
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.
October 4th, 2009 at 10:21 am
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.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:57 am
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.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
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!
April 30th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Send them your resume…after looking at this they are going to need some major marketing skills to sell this.
April 29th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
i would not buy the driver, i already can’t stand a square driver, it’s just horribley ugly!
April 30th, 2009 at 6:21 am
Thanks Me.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:21 am
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.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:46 am
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.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Id call it the C-RUNCH driver. Or C-DRIVE, hmmm Im no good at this!
What about DEAD C-ENTER
Big Bertha C
April 30th, 2009 at 5:53 am
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.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:53 am
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.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:57 am
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!
April 30th, 2009 at 6:48 am
1.What do you like about this driver design/concept? Callaway is pushing the envelope.
2.What don
April 30th, 2009 at 10:26 am
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”
April 30th, 2009 at 9:00 am
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.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I still don’t think it would sell well.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:13 am
what a discusting looking driver. they need to keep the head shape simple like the 905r or the mx 500 2 brilliant drivers.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Your 1st comment on MGS..hope to see you back often
April 30th, 2009 at 11:14 am
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
May 1st, 2009 at 9:41 am
I dont remember that one…shoot us a link.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:29 am
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.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:32 am
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.
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Hahaha! Best reply to a comment so far MGS. =)
May 5th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Def. an insider Parker
April 30th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
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.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
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?
May 1st, 2009 at 9:47 am
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.
April 30th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
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.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:46 am
LOL…horseshoes…that as a good one
April 30th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I could care less how good it is. I would NEVER EVER EVER buy that! Or any callaway driver:)
May 1st, 2009 at 9:44 am
You like it that much eh A.B.?
May 1st, 2009 at 4:29 pm
i agree with A.B.. that is the uglyest club head i have ever seen and i would never buy it or anything callaway.
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:08 pm
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.
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
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?
May 3rd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
1.What do you like about this driver design/concept? It is unique. Extra bonus points if it plays well!
2.What don
May 5th, 2009 at 7:46 am
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?
May 6th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
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
May 27th, 2009 at 6:27 am
In my opinion I think this would look super cool and really maximize MOI
June 27th, 2009 at 5:14 am
[...] in April we covered a patent application from Callaway for a very unusually shaped driver. One of our [...]
September 16th, 2009 at 10:31 am
[...] in April and June we reported on a new driver patent from Callaway which our readers have now coined the [...]
September 16th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
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.
October 18th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
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
October 19th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Callaway has always been more geared towards the recreational golfer in their business model.