{New Patent Application} – Callaway C-Shaped Driver – Part 2
Posted June 27, 2009 by GolfSpy X
2nd Patent Released From Callaway For C-Shaped Driver
Back in April we covered a patent application from Callaway for a very unusually shaped driver. One of our readers gave it the name “Callaway C-Drive” for its resemblance to a certain letter of the alphabet…are you starting to remember the driver we are talking about now?
Well…Callaway surprisingly has applied for another patent application to give them broader coverage over this radical concept.
David Dawsey from Golf-Patents.com says, “Well, when it comes to the giant golf companies it is easy to dismiss a real radical club design that is only seen in a single patent application as a design that was dreamt up in R&D and will likely never make it to the masses. However, once I start to see multiple patent applications on similar technology, then I begin to wonder…. “Are they really serious about this design? Heck, they have already made a significant investment in protecting the intellectual property. Perhaps this will actually make it to market.”
Let Callaway Know What You Think!
So we were thinking about this new design compared to the original concept and wondered what you guys thought about it. Do you think this one is better? What do you think they could do to make it more appealing to golfers? Do you think Callaway is barking up the wrong tree and just waisting R&D dollars or do you think this technology will sell a ton of drivers and get them back on top? What do you think fellas?
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June 27th, 2009 at 8:49 am
This looks like the Ft-iQ with the back middle section cut out. I really want Callaway to come out with a classic driver that is not part of the FT series. I would love to be excited about Callaway products again, but the C-Driver is just too gimmicky for players of higher skill levels. Go back to making drivers that sound good, look good from address, and allow tour playability with classic Callaway forgiveness.
June 27th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I agree Parker…that is what I was thinking when I first looked at the patent application and especially that bottom picture.
June 27th, 2009 at 10:13 am
If they thought sales of the C4 were a disaster, wait until they release this.
Callaway seems like a lost company right now. Their stock is in the toilet and their product line really isn’t getting anyone excited.
Parker nailed it. Stop be gimmicky and get back to making “demonstrably superior, pleasingly different” equipment.
June 27th, 2009 at 11:02 am
If they release this with the same appearance as it is in this application then you will be right…it will surely be a flop.
June 27th, 2009 at 10:54 am
anyone remember the C4 ?
This design is a result of the USGA rolling back real tech breakthroughs. Companies are desperate to try and come up with something innovative given the constructs.
If they release this the only way they will sell enough is to hire Jack Hamm – he can sell anything.
June 27th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I agree that manufacturers are somewhat desperate to come up with something new…although I disagree it is because the USGA. They have surely hampered things but these engineers should be able to come up with plenty of better ideas then this. The automobile industry is much more advanced they should start taking a page out of their book…but the majority of these engineers are not good golfers so they dont understand how to apply it sometimes.
June 27th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Honetly I don’t know what callaway is thinking with this design it’s just too wierd for me, I think mabye they are just trying to follow Chrysler’s business model and qualify for a federal bailout
June 29th, 2009 at 6:21 am
They might need one soon. There stock is plummeting.
June 27th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
It’s only a gimmick if it doesn’t work. If it helps me drive the ball better then great. If anything it seems to me that Callaway is playing gimmick catch up with Taylormade and Nike who are big time pushing the super adjustable drivers. And none of it is going to help 90% of golfers out there but it sure does look good on TV. I could care less how it looks or sounds, what I want to know is will it help help me hammer it down the fairway, because that’s all that really matters to me. The little white ball needs killin’.
June 27th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Looks and sound are all there is for drivers these days. Unless you want a driver with a ton of off-set to help fix a slice, it’s up to your swing to get the club face square at impact, and no C-shaped club (or an R9) is going to fix that. The USGA only allows the faces of drivers to have a certain amount of “hotness” or “trampoline effect,” so a C-shape won’t gain you any distance either, so what does that leave you with? An ugly looking driver that your buddies will laugh at. And I don’t know about you, but Callaway drivers make a sound at impact that I would just not want to deal with swing after swing after swing. I feel the same about Nike and Cleveland (HiBore) drivers too. I’m not saying a C-shaped driver wouldn’t be hittable, but Callaway needs to be focusing their R&D efforts on a more respectable driver.
June 28th, 2009 at 7:09 am
I was hitting a Bertha 460 for a while and my girlfriend hits a Hyper X and I like the sound. Hitting a Cobra F Speed now and it sounds a lot deader. Either or is fine by me. For me I just like to have fun on the course, I try to pick clubs by how well they’ll suit my game (or lack thereof), and not by bells and whistles. I wound up liking the Cobra better because it had a stiffer shaft than I got in the Callaway which helps me because I’m always trying to kill it instead of swinging easy. At this point in my game I’m too busy laughing at myself to worry about my buddies laughing at me. I agree the C-shape looks freakish but at the same time that’s also what makes it fun. It may not do anything for you but it is nice that it shakes things up a little bit.
June 28th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Fair enough Rob D. I can agree with that. =)
June 27th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Looks like someone took a bite out of a donut.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Great analogy…maybe they can get Dunkin Donuts to sponsor their R&D costs.?.
June 28th, 2009 at 2:01 am
Those guys have smoking some seriously strong weed.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:23 am
I am assuming that they would cover that area with some sort of shell…similar to the final shape of the FT-iQ.
June 28th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I just realized what callaway is doing with this driver design! I think it will double as a cigar holder for on the course lol
June 29th, 2009 at 6:23 am
Another great analogy…lol good one Spanky.
June 29th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I’m thinking space ship. Just look at the Sabretooth and F7 putters. It’s Captain Kirk vs the Klingons.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:17 am
Well, I have a few thoughts on this club:
No. 1- If you look back a few years when square drivers came out everyone thought “I’llnever have one of those in my bag”. Now square drivers are common things. Anytime we see changes in head shape everyone thinks it is disgusting, but after so long the opinion changes and we see more and more of them.
No. 2- Does anyone every remember the airslot dirver? Maybe not, but it is similiar as the back of the club has a notch cut out it in. The difference is with this club it doesn’t have the brand name of Callaway, Nike, Taylor Made behind it. Point being with the name and the marketing behind the club it will sell. All people need to hear is how straight this will help you hit the ball or how much further and they will be sold.
I am interested to see how this club develops and possibly turns out.
July 1st, 2009 at 7:23 am
That looks like an oddessy sabertooth. I think this driver will be another flop for Callaway, like 90% of their drivers have been in the last couple years.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:45 am
Odessey really decided to go radical this year. Not a big fan of the new designs…especially the Sabertooth.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:18 am
I would love to see a smaller driver head – maybe 400 cc with the MOI of the FT-9 drivers and a beautiful pear headshape – you know, the one most people love but can’t buy anymore? THAT hasn’t been done!
July 1st, 2009 at 8:43 am
It just wont happen for the masses. Well at least until the masses demand it…and right now everyone wants as big (460) as they can get and the highest MOI. But I do agree…I think a High MOI 400cc head would be a great driver.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:43 am
The new FT-9 driver is actually a much more traditional design and actually has a hosel…something I cannot recall seeing on a Callaway driver in the past. It carries a balll speed of 3 to 5 mph faster than the current FT 9, according to Callaway sources. This driver is only available to tour players at the moment, but the response seems to be really good…I have hit it, and it looks really good. Not sure about the cc’s, but seems to be closer to 420ish.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:20 pm
What a lot people don’t understand is that the only way you will ever truly hit the ball straighter is to get some lessons, get fit for a driver, and, to add some consistency, have your shafts spined and alligned. I saw a guy slice a FT-IQ about 50 yards off line this past Sunday. Not to mention that it sounded like a dead moose.
To a good, consistent golf swing, different drivers really do give different results. But, to the average golfer (most never break 90), a new $400+ driver isn’t going make them hit every fairway, or suddenly make them a long drive champion.
I’m sorry for the little rant…but it just gets kind of old to hear the same thing from every OEM every year. “We have the longest, straightest, and most forgiving driver ever made!” What most people don’t realize is that almost all heads hit the ball the same. The shaft is what makes the most difference in your swing…other then your swing itself.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:05 am
Correct…almost all heads are the same. Right now due to the USGA restrictions a head is a head is a head. Getting fit is THE most important aspect of improving and then getting lessons.
July 1st, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Kinda makes you wonder why they are going away from what made them “THE” metal wood company. Remember the Great Big Bertha and Biggest Big? Now those were the way woods are supposed to not only look and sound, but play as well. For Callaway to go forward maybe they need to take a few steps back.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:03 am
Great point Matt O! Well said!
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:12 am
This piece of “Garbage” is a prime example of Callaway “Non-Think”LOL! The only patent that they own of value, is The Keel Style (Ginty) Sole Plate that they bought from the estate of Stan Thompson! They called that the “Warbird”. My original Stan Thompson #1 Ginty drivers (either in metal or persimmon) perform better than the “Great Big Bertha War Bird TI” drivers, are 1/2 the size, and don’t shear shafts because of a lack of hosel!! Bush will find all the info relative to the slotted head drivers @ stanthompsongolf history.com and data that supports my opinion that Thompson’s were some of the best clubs and designs ever made and why I still enjoy playing them today!!
December 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Loved the warbirds when they came out. still game hawkeye fairways. Quality titanium head and VFT really hold up.
I have a miny Ginty driver (would that be a ‘Minty’ !?) which i could be persuaded to part with if anyone’s interested.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Send some pics and the price to contact@mygolfspy.com. I will take a look.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:27 am
there’s realy nothing left to say that hasn’t been already said! besides maybe it’s next junk,gimmick driver! go get a lesson. That will help your drives more then this thing!
December 7th, 2009 at 9:19 am
[...] in April and June we reported on a new driver patent from Callaway which our readers have now coined the [...]