Different?: 1991 Golf Driver VS 2023 Driver (30 Year Test)

Rick tries a 1991 Callaway Big Bertha driver & compares it to the 2023 Callaway Paradym!
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Hi I’m Rick Shiels, welcome to my channel RickShielsPGAGolf. This KZbin channel is designed to help you play better golf, also to help you enjoy your golf more!
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On this channel I also make fun and entertaining golf content based on crazy and sometimes “gimmicky” golf clubs. I like to cut through the marketing hype about products and I like to give you the honest truth about golf equipment.
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[@RickShielsPGA]

Subscribe to H.I.T (my review channel) here: youtube.com/@HITGolfReviews?si=3LsBwDvFvmZCG3o8

[@ashleyrodgers-jones1124]

Surely it can’t be like hitting a 3 wood Rick, you never topped one 😉

[@jameshuitt1420]

Can you do this test with the same shaft?

[@DougyDivots]

Can we get the same length shaft on that Bertha and revisit this? Id be interested to see the club head technology isolated.

[@tuckerracing2024]

I’d love to see you review a 19 degree Ram Bore Thru 5 wood, the club head is almost the same size as the ball but it hits incredibly great!

[@markgibbs3496]

Rick, others have said it, but I would love to see results with similar shafts.

[@epicdad7347]

Would LOVE to see a retro break 75. Research old tee and distances from 30-40 years ago, then match with equipment (clubs and balls). Just to see what they would have been dealing with and how hard it would have been.

[@gabeh7923]

You can get sort of an idea by watching the 1972, 1982, 1992, 2000, and 2019 US Opens held at Pebble Beach. Same course, different equipment, different distances to holes.

[@guyr7351]

I have two persimmon Wilson woods a 3 and 5, they are lovely but replaced with newer kit. I also have from my dad a big Bertha driver same as Rick shows here. I now play g400 3W and g425 max driver

[@veterinaren]

Absolutely agree on this. I myself only play old clubs due to financial reason, but I love them all. Like £10 Ping Eye2 3 - sw and now even a £10 Dunlop Maxfli Australian Blades DI +2-sw

[@charlestsai3708]

@@veterinaren The fun of golf ⛳️ is the same for old clubs or news . We play golf against ourselves and not the fellow players

[@jeffdouglas5719]

I picked up a 1981 set of Lynx clubs last year. My dream set from when I started playing. Same set that Fred Couples used to use. Wooden driver, 3 and 5. Giving up about 50 to 60 yards off the tee with driver. Irons are actually pretty close to my 2 year old Taylor Made's. But, boy! are those irons hard to hit!

[@johnbruce4003]

In 1994, a young South African golfer broke his driver at Oakmont. He went into the Pro Shop and picked up that old Callaway driver off the shelf. No tweaks, nothing. He went out and won the US Open for his first win in America. His name was Ernie Els.

[@lkae4]

The Big Easy could play women's clubs and break par with that buttery swing.

[@tomf9292]

It’s not the wand…it’s the magician

[@staggerleesmancave8987]

His name IS Ernie Els. 👊

[@polokucoch8112]

And it was the latest driver at the time... 😁 After 30 years you're gaining 20 yards. Not bad

[@jimmiematho8082]

There was no difference between pro's clubs and the clubs you could buy in a pro shop. There wasn't very many choices for shafts so they probably had his shaft right on the Shelf🤷‍♂️ And by the way I was an assistant Pro in 1991 and that Callaway driver was the first $500 driver, you needed to be rich to have that driver

[@grantpollock7028]

I’ve used the same driver for nearly 30 years. Big Bertha Warbird 12 degree loft. Love it.

[@jesse_-]

I still use my 3 and 5 woods. They play well!

[@patmoore7722]

I still hit my 1994 Big Bertha irons today, and love them

[@vinylrulesok8470]

The Big Bertha changed everything about drivers. It set the standard for all drivers from that point and spawned a whole new range of drivers from the rest of the manufacturers. It paved the way to the drivers we have today. A truly seminal golf product, up there along with the Ping putter and Ping Eye 2 irons.

[@lkae4]

Great point. I would add the Vokey 60 degree wedge and the Pro V1 to that list. Pro V1 maybe too good in the near future, lol.

[@ChiefStonedBull]

That’s basically my bag set up that I got for free with a no name putter lol

[@BrianK-zz4fk]

ping eye 2 were the bomb back in the day. I believe Shefler uses the ping answer 2 putter that I use to this day.

[@Struieboy]

It would be interesting to see a comparison of the 2 drivers with the same length shaft

[@Soul-Taker]

For sure that's the one variable giving the Paradym an unfair advantage.

[@rickmobbs4181]

Was going to suggest the same thing. See how much of it is the head or the shaft

[@TG-bq1kn]

Whole video is meaningless without removing that variable.

[@ShamanK1977]

I can't believe you wouldn't compare it with the same shaft.

[@thomasrichardson-ev1wp]

I was just about to say the same thing before I read your post

[@tmoney849]

What did you learn from this? you dont need a new driver every year. Spend the money on lessons and practice rounds.

[@josephmonforton1669]

What this really demonstrates is that the club operator matters more than the club.

[@stevetreehots3583]

Rick I would love to see how the old Calloway performs with a modern shaft at the same length as the Paradym. Then we’d know if the modern heads are adding anything.

[@hmu05366]

I agree. That 20 yards…. Probably about 10 of those extra yards are purely club length to be honest. Lol

[@calebm2161]

Yeah let's see a fancy shaft and the length and I bet you it's gonna be way more similar

[@caldoyle1572]

Please try this Rick. Put the shaft that's on the paradigm on the BB. Same flex and length. Then give it a few whacks. I bet they are almost the same.

[@JG-ep1nx]

And use the best golf ball of 1991

[@johnnewcomb5162]

It's longer, I have already tried it. 45.75 getting a newer shaft makes a huge difference. 7 yards on average.

[@propjoe1060]

Damn impressive numbers from a 32 year old club. A retro Break 75/80 with 80s and 90s clubs in the bag would be mint!

[@matta1899]

This just shows you don't have to spend a fortune on clubs to get by for weekend rounds. It's also comforting to see the even a pro like Rick doesn't get the distance of the new drivers with the old stuff.

[@oriolesaltec]

I hear people say this all the time, but this is Rick Shiels who is basically a club pro. New technology is super helpful for someone who is inconsistent and not as good at golf. They’ve made clubs much more forgiving.

[@jbrian53]

@@oriolesaltec More forgiving tech is also helpful for pros since it allows them to swing at speeds close to THEIR limits and still have an acceptable result on less than perfect launch conditions.

[@alanrobison7451]

I’m still playing with a set of the Big Bertha woods as well as the 2002 Big Bertha irons. I got them used, they are a big step up from the King Cobra knock offs I was playing with before. In 31 years, I hope to be able to acquire a Paradym driver. I’ll remember this review for when I finally get to swing one of those. :)

[@garethbater6900]

Me too - tried a new drive goes miles but all over the place - 😮

[@kenbrown2808]

my wife let my buy a Mavrik driver and hybrid this spring, to replace my 20 year old clubs. (nike knockoffs) they may be last year's model, but the driver can make the ball disappear in the distance.

[@Soul-Taker]

Your set of clubs and philosophy mirrors my own. Gradually I've introduced new clubs (hybrids) and a chipper but I'm in no rush.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@garethbater6900 best tip for that is back off your swing speed a percentage point or two. I think of my driver speed as cruising speed, and that's made my drive a lot more consistent.

[@paradiso4562]

​@@kenbrown2808Your wife let you? Lmao wow

[@Bane_Diesel]

I played golf with a kid who was competitive back in the day and in 2008 he bought the nicest set of taylor made clubs at the time and a really nice set of fairway woods and the newest R7 driver. A long time later when he got a new set he sold me them for real cheap and I am still using all of them today.

[@2bigbufords]

WOW what a great story.

[@gernotehlers4188]

Would be Interesting to see what this head will do with the Modern Shaft fitted in the Paradym

[@Ohimissthesun]

Agreed, get a modern shaft in the old driver and the gaps will surely close

[@recoilrob324]

Yes....and at least a shaft of equal length. This comparison is interesting...but two variables muddy the water a bit. Also it would be interesting to explore the 'gear effect' that the older driver faces employed which tends to straight out off center strikes more than the 'trampoline' faces we have in the modern drivers.

[@starwf07]

Through a modern shaft, he could potentially get his club speed up to the same as the Paradym. He was lacking about 5mph in the BB, so he could potentially add 10 more yards to it. The smash factor won't change from the shaft change, so it would still be 1.41, bringing his ball speed to about 152mph, compared to 158mph with the Paradym. So theoretically he would potentially carry the BB in the low 260s.

[@samuelknott5586]

Lol. Everything thing would change, sound, dynamic loft, nothing would be the same impossible to predict, one thing I do know is a 45.5” playing length with a ventus shaft would give him 10+ yds easily

[@trleith]

It's why I think the rules should limit driver heads to ≈225cc. The marketers try to make people think they can buy strokes. You can't and your driver isn't even 1/4 of the game -- wedges and putters are where it's at, and so-called technology doesn't matter very much even there. Just make sure your clubs fit pretty well and play more. You can do fine with secondhand clubs. Keep track of greens in regulation, up and down, three-putts. If getting one more or one fewer would make a difference in your season, maybe look at equipment with a realistic pro.

[@Dirk_Mcgurk]

0:06 it takes me 10 minutes to walk to the bar and 27 minutes to walk back home. the difference is staggering.

[@Eat-MyGoal]

Such a convoluted buildup to really crap joke...

[@Cookieman603]

The biggest difference in those 32 years is the way these are marketed. All the brands put out the same spiel with every release. I'm glad you do these reviews because newer isn't always better, I think the biggest thing to get from this video is to go see your local Pro and get fitted and have lessons!!! Love your work Rick PS when are you coming down to Australia???

[@starman6092]

I still have mine! It was the first metal driver that I ever had. It was all the rage back then. My father-in-law introduced me to it and a short time after that, I had one in my bag. Good times!

[@doughill5487]

Just shows you only need to update your driver every 5-10 years. These guys chasing the latest and greatest drivers for the supposed extra distance are wasting their money.

[@ErickHolbert]

I still hit my taylor made m2 great

[@robertflint4115]

Club manufacturers purposely only give us little increases every year to keep us buying every year. It’s business 101.

[@timr1627]

Once rick learned about thrift shops from golf sidekick, his life has never been the same

[@charlestsai3708]

Stacked Golf ⛳️?!

[@robhealy3490]

Deffo stacked golf

[@tonynumber04]

It was stacked golf put some respect on the thrift goats

[@alanrobison7451]

Love Rick. Love Stacked Golf. Was awesome when they met up earlier this year. More of that!

[@joeharper2422]

Lol I love the high handicap whisperer

[@shuajones]

I just picked up a complete Big Bertha set at a yard sale. Old school sock head covers, and official black leather bag, with its rain cover too! Same clubs as the vid but graphite shafts (RCH99). I’ve never owned a high quality set of clubs so they feel incredible to me and I’ve never hit further or have felt such a satisfying strike. This video has made me feel even better about my purchase. Clearly these 30 year old clubs were a huge step forward into the modern era and they still hold their own. Thanks for the video!

[@rouxpr]

Would be interesting to see what is the difference with the Callaway Biggest Big Bertha couple of year later model, with the bigger head (titanium) and possibly a longer normal graphite shaft

[@AlfoNso-ms4of]

I learnt golf with my dad’s set from the 90s and that very driver was flying right below the tee of the range. Loved it!

[@jackjolley6143]

I currently play a big Bertha 9 degree form 1995. I have no interest in paying 300-400 for a decent driver when I can find old people doing garage sales and pick up something nearly as capable for 20 bucks. If your new to golf, go get a cheap used set don’t spend 1500-2000 for a good set and ware them out while your playing bad. Waring out a sweet spot is a real thing!

[@vincenttaormina1881]

Very cool jack !

[@chuckmcdermott7053]

I’m 72 and had been playing the wooden drivers my whole life until this came out in ‘91. This driver blew us away; it was a significant difference to anything we had ever used. Watching this video made me smile and reminisce about how that was the best thing one could own. It seemed to make driving easy and gave us all more length. The simplicity that you mentioned is something I miss. There was no wondering if I need to adjust the loft; just put it in your hands and hit it.

[@johnk9891]

Great vid. I enjoy these new vs old comparisons. Would love to see how a Great Big Bertha II driver shakes out against the latest tech - it felt like a big leap forward at the time!

[@bobby9646]

I had that Big Bertha driver and used it for years and loved it!

[@Bozzy_Wazzy]

Shaft length and material kick points are the factors in the 22 yd differences. I'm super skeptical about head technology for "distance" because golf manufacturers are limited to certain spring coefficients off the face. The only "technology" they put into the new driver heads is for forgiveness and centroids of the face. I'd be willing to bet if you were able to put in the same shaft as the paradym driver into the big bertha, that the distance numbers would be within 5 yds of the new paradym driver

[@starwf07]

They didn't have the same ability to max out to COR in the older drivers. You can see on the numbers that the smash factor for the BB is only 1.41, compared to 1.46 on the Paradym. So yes, he would get more club speed (and therefore ball speed) with a modern, full length shaft, but the smash factor wouldn't be affected, so at most the gains would be just what is gained from the extra 5mph in ball speed.

[@alanduncan9204]

Agree with all that. It is like comparing a 3 wood with a Driver when there is 2-1/2 inch or more in shaft difference.

[@TJ-ss1up]

It's easy to see the shaft is making up 17 yards. The club speed was only 4mph difference. It would need to be around 8-10 in order to get to 17 yards.

[@mikesalt8248]

@@TJ-ss1up Its funny with all this tech, the handicaps have got worse worldwide check it out. The old gear produced better players

[@teakat9608]

I recently got back into golf after taking an almost 20 year break. The driver I've used, up until now, has been a Callaway Big Bertha Hawkeye driver. Just a little newer than the one Rick features in this video. Last week I finally pulled the trigger and bought a used Callaway Epic Flash and an Epic Flash 3 wood to match. I should be getting them tomorrow, in the mail and I'll be putting them to use at my local course's simulator. Looking forward to it, and hope to see similar results.

[@anthonyivy1305]

Well? Report back, lol

[@samuelknott5586]

Put a 45.5” graphite shaft in the paradym and the gap would be only ten yards. People are wasting their money left right and centre.

[@zacharyradford5552]

That because today’s tech ain’t for distance or control but forgiveness.

[@linderstuart]

About 1995? I got a Great Big Bertha Titanium w a pro graphite shaft for $99 out of the used club bin. I picked it over all the new $400 clubs I tried. Consistantly 300-320 yard drives. Used it for 17 years and somehow gave it away when I won a brand new Taylor Made driver. I instantly lost 30+ yards. Less wind resistance and maybe the perfect shaft on the old one. Would love to get it back.

[@robertwilliams9010]

I'd be curious to see you compare that controversial Callaway ERC from the late 90s that was classified as non-conforming due to the spring measurement in its face and banned on the PGA tour vs. today's drivers. Be interesting to see if what used to be classified as "cheating" even comes close to what's put in play these days.

[@mikesalt8248]

They weren't all illegal only the ones marked with a + on the bottom

[@HeyImSkandelouz]

its crazy this video popped up on my suggestions. I started golfing 2 months ago and bought a used set of Big Berthas 9°. I struggled so much and even when I felt like I got better if I took a week off from practicing my drive id have to relearn to swing, so much slice in my swing and when I would try to make adjustments, Id overdo it the opposite way. Finally, figured I could spare enough money to upgrade my driver, and bought a AiSmoke. Man, the difference in feel, carry, and consistency is insane!!!

[@anthonypaino4991]

The steel makes sense, but I would love to see the old RCH-90 on there….that graphite shaft was as much a part of the Big Bertha mystique as the club head size at the time!

[@wicksp335]

Absolutely fascinated with this, thanks Rick! I've got a driver, 3 and 5 in Callaway Big Bertha, in the garage, I think I'll take them out one day to try them, out of curiosity!

[@jut8146]

Found an 11 deg Big Bertha recently and had it reshafted so its the same length as current drivers. Actually hit it straighter and get no less distance than current tech, and maybe a bit more on good strikes. Go figure.

[@douglasladd9478]

I had the later Titanium 454 and LOVED that driver.

[@BLUESILV]

Had one in high school and they were game changers in the 90’s playing with Balata balls and the new Titleist wound Professional. The good ole days.

[@bagpussmacfarlan9008]

Ah, balata balls...I used to get a box of 100 balata lake balls delivered, it was like xmas when they arrived :)

[@jeremyc9593]

I remember sending in a Golf Magazine insert back in the early-mid 90's. It was basically fantasy golf, where you pick something like 3 PGA pros and 3 Senior PGA pros. I got 3rd place, and won a dozen of the new, fancy Top Flite Magna balls which were slightly larger than the average ball. After losing that dozen, I never played them again.

[@AndrewLane87]

It's funny I have the exact same original Big Birtha. I love the way it feels and the sound it makes. I was hitting it 250+ at the rang yesterday actually. I would definitely recommend getting one if you can find one and use it as a three wood or something.

[@GsKersuzan]

I have one kislux bag I got in 2019, it's the LV white catogram speedy. It's counter quality and it has a nice honey patina now, so the leather is real. I think whatever makes you happy go for it. I've seen LV with plastic leather and blood red glaze...

[@gregwestfall9578]

I had that driver back in the early 90s. I dented the face, hitting it. My carry was around 260 yards. I wish I would've kept it to show people. I now have a Taylormade original SIM driver that I got fitted for when they came out. I just got fitted for the Paradygm triple diamond. My dispersion is better, and my distance is better with it. So I'll be switching soon. Great content Rick!

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

I used to use this club along with a bunch of other low handicappers back in the early 90's. EVERYONE had this club except for the odd taylor made guy. Guys is our groups carried this club anywhere from 240 to 275.. I only carried it about 255. The longest hitters I played with, Troy Riordan and David Boesel were carrying over 280 and almost always hitting over 300 yards with it.

[@annaleykiste]

My mom bought one kislux and she loves it. It had been there for over 10 years when she went out with it.

[@DGKChoice]

My driver i still use to this day is a big bertha oversized hawkeye. I love it! I hit it straight but not as far as id like. But it goes with the rest of my 90s clubs lol. A set of taylormade burners with the bubble shafts!

[@GrumpyTy34er]

I took my Biggest Big Bertha onto the course yesterday. Ended up smashing it on hole 18 to work out my frustrations and it did really well!

[@biggerminds523]

Well, there was Goldwin that in Carlsbad had both different CNC cut on both head and face. And in China there were around 10 factories that did the same, and also with carbon heads and face. This was 1992-

[@mastercreamer1398]

I have one of those old big berthas and I used all the way up until I smashed it in the truck leaving the course hammered drunk a year ago. Loved that club still sore about it.

[@daresome1]

As someone who golfed alot in the 80s and who is picking up the sport again as a senior, I think I just scored big when I upgraded to a big Bertha…. Got some catching up to do!

[@jjgalletta66]

I have two BB 454 Ti drivers. Paid $50 for each. Love them both!

[@seanbaines]

Another difference which I think is important here is launch angle. Quick bit of information. I am an ex club repair and clubbuilding tech, with some training and experience in fitting. So that's part of my perspective. The Big Bertha had a launch angle of 14 degrees. The Paradym launched at 15.2 degrees. That extra 1.2 degrees of launch is generating some of the extra carry that we see here. The ball speed off that hotter face is an extra 9.7 MPH despite only 3 MPH of more clubhead speed. (Good face design!)The usual carry distance to ball speed ratio is 1.7 to 1. So that's accounting for about 16.5 yards here. The extra 5.5 yards is coming from launch angle. Not huge. But significant. It's an extra wrinkle that I've always felt is worth noting. Most of that extra launch comes from the way we hit these clubs. The big head kinda forces us to tee the ball up more and have a bit more positive angle of attack coming into the ball. That launches higher without adding spin like loft does. The somewhat lower and more rearward centre of gravity also helps, so long as we are hitting a bit more upward with these clubs to avoid extra spin, which most people do.

[@momo-hm5ru]

My Buddies got these Big Betha's while I have real woods. I loved to use theirs. Recently inherited some club and they came with the Callaway big berth "woods" in graphite. I am going to regrip them and give them a try

[@grahamtelfer1036]

Just came across this video. I've retired to Thailand and just today believe it or not had a new Golf Pride grip put on my 11 deg. Biggest Big Bertha Driver which has an "Ultra Light Grey Coloured Graphite Shaft in Regular Flex" My current Driver is a Callaway Epic Max 10.5 degree. I also have a Callaway Diablo Octane 10.5 Deg. I used to love the sound coming of the Biggest Big Bertha, the modern Callaway drivers have a duller thud in comparison. The Bertha used to be a good fairway finder. I'll give it a go next week. I also have a Ping G20 which was a nice Driver in its day. I carry a Ping G20 7 wood, great club if you can get hold of one.

[@robertcarr4172]

I have big Berthas in my bag. Just started so i bought some old clubs from a colleague. They seem very nice and i paid a pittance for them

[@ryanwrighting1840]

My dad has a big Bertha and I always wondered about how it hits. Thanks

[@SuessLagerstedt]

Yes the color of the kislux is beautiful and it is a great decision, maybe one day they will add feet and straps. It would be nice to have a bigger bag during the colder months when we have to store gloves, beanies, scarves, etc…

[@josephdivisconti396]

I still have my Bertha, but I haven't used it in years. I have a Callaway Diablo driver now. I don't hit as long as I did years ago. Now that I am 68 years old. Still hit it about 225, looking to update drivers for next year. Thank you for these videos.

[@Colin1486]

Just this week I replaced my Taylormade R5 Burner Driver. Around 20 years old and thousands of drives hit. Got a new Wilson D9 Driver with a stiff shaft on sale. Took it to the range and ya its a huge difference.

[@DG8RS]

I bought this exact club for a friend who broke his driver. Found it in the used club box at the course and got it for 20 bux lol. My buddy loves the thing, but he's finally stepping up and buying my Stealth off me. I can't wait to see if it changes his game.

[@Palmtree-hw8kp]

I have the exact same old big Bertha from 91’ with a graphite shaft. Consistently at 260 yards. Works for me and my budget.

[@Papa-Bogey]

I have an original Big Bertha. It’s no bigger than my current 3 wood. I was talking about this with my son just a few days ago, trying to explain the ground breaking technology Callaway unleashed with this club. Old timers immediately began demanding rules be changed to ban them, or limit head size. I can still remember how amazed I was when I first hit it.

[@davegedeon3767]

My foursome made fun of me when I bought that driver back in 1991. They laughed at how large the head was. I was just way ahead of them when it came to technology. They also laughed when I was the first to carry a 60 degree wedge, a hybrid and a two ball putter.

[@enzomoya1689]

I remember re shafting a callaway driver and my head pro said it couldn't be done! I taped the bottom and shaped the shaft on a grinding wheel to match the angle and glued it up. He was impressed!

[@darylwright]

I used to do the same. Even purchased the little black o-rings from the local hardware store :-)

[@MrMGR1986]

Ill never forget playing with wooden driver starting out then seeing the Big Bertha behind the glass at the pro shop in my home town. I wanted one so bad.

[@brettkowalewski9535]

I used to play the big bertha back then, and re-shafted it 2.5” longer to carry 280-285. I discovered the distance change when I re-shafted it 1.5”(it was difficult to swing being 6’2”) and had it done again to add an extra inch because I preferred a more upright stance.

[@keyboardoracle1044]

Would love to see Rick take on a tour pro with a full bag of 1991 clubs and Rick with his current bag, on a course Rick is familiar with.

[@NickGardWSI]

I used to have that big Bertha whilst playing in the JPGA of Southern California. My longest drive at age 14 was 387 yards. It was a beast then. The problem with the new gear is that they make the average golf course to easy. A par four becomes almost driveable.

[@romelleking7426]

My Uncle had and still has the Big Bertha in his bag....granted he hasnt played golf properly in nearly 20 years but he still loves that club to this day!

[@ejd1149]

I was 30 in 1991. When steel heads came out you had a pretty good jump in distance from real wood heads. The steel heads were also a little more forgiving. When the big bertha came out from what I can remember it was more forgiving than the other steel heads. The Big Bertha was probably another 25-30 yards longer than a wood driver. Another big distance maker was the modern golf ball in the early 2000's. They probably added another 15 yard to drives from the Balata balls off those days. With the old equipment from the 70's, Ricks drives would probably average about 260.

[@jimmiematho8082]

I doubt he'd be 260. When I grew up one of my friends dad hit it 250 and nobody could believe it😂 You got to remember the leading player on the PGA tour only hit it 280

[@ProsperSchweda]

My mom bought one kisluxbag and she loves it. It had been there for over 10 years when she went out with it.

[@ustulo3488]

I have a buddy that has an Arnold Palmer 5 wood...steel head...made probably around the same time as the Big Bertha. He can hit it anywhere from 180 to 230 yards depending on the shot and is his most consistent club. Obviously things have changed with tech and time with golf clubs, but in the right hands these older clubs can still perform a duty.

[@johnconklin5180]

I have the 7 and 9woods still in my bag today. Good for hitting out of the taller grass.

[@Colin_1977]

My friend’s father got one as a going away present in ‘91. We couldn’t believe how big it was. Makes me wonder how small my original woods were, and better appreciate what pros used to golf with.

[@nicholaswatson3896]

You've got to admit, the '91 Big Bertha makes a lovely sound and feels great when you drill it out the middle. The newer drivers do the job, but I find they lack the feel of the older clubs. I've got a couple of TM Burners too, one very early model and a late '90's one. The early one is tiny and you either nail it, or it goes nowhere. But again, when you do connect they're very rewarding.

[@swissnetwork]

change the shaft of the old Callaway to the same of the new one. Then you will be really suprised.

[@Jippa_33]

Most of the discrepancy in distance can be contributed to that old riveted steel shaft. Callaway was hitting home runs in the 90s. I used to hit the Hawkeye driver & Steelhead woods. Good times

[@knuckleheadmcspazatron4939]

I was playing actively when that driver came out and just about everyone I knew was able to get one in a year or so of its release. We all loved it because it was so forgiving compared to wood drivers we had at the time, and everyone used it off the fairway as well. Later, when the 'great big berha' came out, we joked that it was the size of a volkswagon beattle. So interesting to see the comparison.

[@andyd_9]

Great comparison video! I remember when the Big Bertha came out. I was 25 or so...and I remember hitting it for the first time on the course (borrowed) from my playing partner. I crushed it. I haven't played much over the last 10-12 years, but am getting back into golf in my 50's. I am looking at adding the Paradym ai Smoke Max driver to my arsenal...as I still am playing an old driver..the Taylormade R7 quad from 2004 or so. It will be interesting how different I hit a new modern driver. ...now to convince my wife I need to spend $600 to get more yardage and better control...Keep up the great content!

[@NeilLB7]

I just purchased a Great Big Bertha Warbird Titanium 10 degree driver with a Callaway graphite shaft to have some fun with. I had the exact club your using around 1994 in a 9 degree. Steel shaft and all. I was in college and had no money. Somehow I found a used one for $100 which was a shiny penny then.

[@arron6867]

I have the 91 version in my bag right now 😂. I absolutely love that club. Bought it for 10 dollars out if the bargain bin. It literally sparks when I tee off and I won’t trade until the shaft snaps

[@tcofield1967]

I remember the controversy when this club came out. It was polarizing, especially in the PGA. I compare it to the ball controversy we are currently going through. I was still hitting persimmon at that time but was wasn't too far away from buying my first metal wood to replace it.

[@MadMonk67]

As someone who's still hitting a Big Bertha II which is only a year or two newer that the original Big Bertha, I totally need to get a new driver.

[@mccalljeff]

I hit the OG big bertha back in the early 90s, and remembered how it was a game changer.

[@Banzai51]

It's funny, I still carry a Callaway Warbird 3 wood from the 90s in my bag. Just never found anything as comfortable and consistent, whether I'm off the tee or on the fairway. Something about the head shape sets me at ease when I'm trying to hit it off the fairway. It is just one of those clubs I can hit consistently straight.

[@OgKamoGaming]

Hit my first 300 yard drive with that Big Bertha. I remember stepping up to a Cleveland Launcher, adding 60 yards to my drive. Wasn't many 400 yard drives in competition back then.

[@DaneBraunecker-n5g]

That’s my driver! Just had the head fly off at the driving range. Going to get it fixed, wish me luck.

[@DaneBraunecker-n5g]

Though mine has the original graphite shaft.

[@dayday2466]

this club was a game changer. got my first big bertha when I was 12 in 1997. had just picked up the game.

[@chetlovesmer9549]

Hey Rick, I may be way off here. But I remember back in the 90's, a lot of my golf buddies would travel to the UK to get a Callaway Big Bertha driver rather than buy one here in the US. If memory serves, the R&A set the COR limits in the UK at the time at 0.86 and the COR limit in the US from the USGA was 0.83. Thus my buddies and I always wanted to get the UK version of the Big Bertha. Today, everywhere has a 0.83 COR limit. Is it possible the Big Bertha you tested has a 0.86 COR? If so, that would boost it's performance about 3.3%. It used to be funny to be on an international flight back from the UK and a half dozen guys would have drivers with them in their carry ons. Either way it would be interesting to test the COR on one of those old drivers. Oddly, they may not even be legal by today's standards.

[@King_Of_Paintsville]

My 16 yr old son who just bought a new PING G430 Driver and I went to the range this past Saturday. He just started playing back in July. Before getting some better clubs a family member gave him a set of old clubs to hack around with. He never hit them they just set in the corner of the garage BUT for comparison and some curiosity I noticed he had the Old King Snake driver in his bag before we left the house. He said he just wanted to try it. Same thing super small head especially next to the 460cc head of the PING. I tried it first thing. I hit that 30 plus year old King Snake driver better than any driver I’ve hit in my life. Was flying range balls 260-265 and dead straight ever time. It felt like I had found a cheat code. The G430 is extremely easy ti hit as well but I felt that the size of that smaller head forced me to focus more. That’s the only explanation I could come up with but I do know the next round we play I will be taking and using the King Snake. It’s amazing just how small distance improvements have actually been in Drivers. We’re talking 30 plus years! Yet there are people upgrading their driver literally every season trying to gain an extra yard and truth is from one year model to the next your simply not gaining much.

[@swaburbore8865]

This was my first “real,” driver back in 1999. I loved it then. Miss being 12 years old ripping it on the tee with my big bertha.

[@LiamMorrill-s5j]

I have a Callaway Big Bertha War Bird from a set off the Marketplace, and it's not that bad. It also came with a graphite shaft instead of the steel shaft

[@jetdr]

Again, just shows how good the Pro’s were in previous years! Jack and Arnie were hitting Clubs in the 60 and 70’s pretty damn far!

[@robryan6188]

Never forget, its not "How far" its "How many". I gamed the callaway Big Bertha Warbird (maybe the 1994/5 version of this big bertha) club until 2017 when I bought a XR16. Still love that driver and hit it from time to time at the range for nostalgia.

[@chriswright5204]

I played a Ping wooden steel shafted driver early’90s . Had a friend, 6’8” steel shafted driver at 45” length, very heavy. Had a Bertha 12* driver steel shafted, it was a great fairway club also.

[@richdouglas2311]

I switched to the Big Bertha in 1991. Callaway had trouble with the stock Aldila shafts and I went through two of them breaking before they changed the model. Back then, steel was still king for three reasons. First, graphite shafts over-torqued and were hard to control. Second, quality control wasn't like today, so it was easy to get a bad shaft. Third, they were expensive. Steel shafts were typically built to 43.5", or what a 3-wood today would be. I think my Big Bertha was an inch longer than that. Today, I carry a TM mini-driver (the latest one) and have for many years (through 3 versions). It, too, is built at 43.5" and is way more accurate than my driver, although about 15-20 yards shorter (total distance). I'm not surprised at these results. The COR on the Big Bertha is almost certainly less than the .830 limit, while the modern driver is right up against that. The shaft in this comparison is two inches shorter (creating the slower swing speed observed) and the face is less forgiving. If anything, I though the difference would be even greater.

[@Greg90731]

The big Bertha was the first driver I hit over 300 yds with. It was my best friend’s driver and he let me hit it on the 18th hole. After the round, he gifted me his driver because I hit it so good. Great memories!

[@foxlinks6656]

The close up of that Driver head looked like there might be a crack on the top. I had the Ruger titanium head back in the day with a Harrison graphite shaft. It was a game changer back then.

[@racerxv6valvoline424]

Rick, When you said you can believe that you would hit it more than 200, I knew right off the bat you would. I used to hit the 2004 Titanium 8 degree 250+....I would love to see you hit a persimmon against today's clubs.....

[@tastemakerguidie]

you don't grind these ; i do

[@nickupjohn8586]

I so enjoyed that Rick , back in 1991 I was running a golf complex and shop and we had on of the early Callaway demo days on the driving range and sold over 100 woods and almost 25 sets of irons on the night , it was bonkers and so much fun , those were the days in golf retail.

[@kevinl4]

I bought one of those new in 11degree. Cut my slice and increased my distance over the persimmon.