Callaway Big Bertha is a family of forgiving clubs that started as a single driver in 1991 and now covers drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons. Ely Callaway, the company's founder, named it after a German World War I howitzer. The name has outlasted dozens of models, and the line has stayed aimed at golfers who want help getting the ball in the air and keeping it straight.
Where the name started
The original Big Bertha driver arrived in 1991 with a fully stainless steel head at a time when most golfers still played wood. At 190cc it was small by today's standards, closer to a modern 3-wood than a 460cc driver. Callaway moved weight toward the perimeter of the head, which allowed a thinner face and a larger sweet spot than persimmon. Big Bertha irons followed in 1994, and later models such as Great Big Bertha and the 460 driver carried the name through the following decades.
The 2023 Big Bertha irons
Callaway relaunched the line in 2023 for mid and high handicap players. The irons were sold as a 4-PW set with a Black Smoke finish, offset, and lightweight components. Callaway describes the shape as traditional, with a thicker topline, wider soles and longer blades. They launched at $999.99 with steel shafts and $1,099.99 with graphite, so a used set is a large saving. The same 2023 family also included a driver with an A.I.-generated XL Face, fairway woods, and hybrids from 3H to 9H.
Common questions
Is Big Bertha only for beginners?
No. It is built for players who want forgiveness and higher launch, which includes many mid and high handicappers, but plenty of better players carry a Big Bertha hybrid or fairway wood for the same reason.
How do I tell the generations apart?
Check the year or name on the sole or in the listing title. We list the 1994, X-12, 2015, 2019 and 23 versions as separate models, since lofts and shaft lengths differ between them.
If you want to compare generations, our Callaway iron sets collection is a good place to start, and our look at the Callaway Paradym irons covers a newer Callaway design for players who want more feel.
