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Here I will be reviewing the Callaway Big Bertha game-improvement iron, a Golf Digest 2015 Hot List Gold Medal winner.
This is Callaway’s very first iron to feature “Cup 360 Face Technology”, which was previously only found in their woods. This technology improves ball speeds and ball speed consistency across the face.
Read on to find out what you need to know about these top-of-the-line golf irons to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
The Big Bertha irons have been received extremely well, which shouldn’t be surprising since Callaway makes some of the best irons in the world. They have glowing reviews on the Callaway website (4.9/5 stars and 95% recommended).
What People Like
- crazy good distance (many have reported gaining 15-20 yards or more with their mid irons)
- amazing feel even on off-center strikes
- sound trajectory (a tendency for a straight shot or slight draw)
- excellent forgiveness
What People Don’t Like
- some are a little bothered by the substantial offset
- some feel that the workability (shot shaping ability) of the irons could be better
What are the features?
360 Face Cup
The Big Bertha is the first Callaway iron to feature the same “360 Cup Technology” that they first incorporated in their fairway woods.
This technology essentially consists of a thinner and more flexible “face cup” attached to the iron body that allows for faster and more consistent ball speeds (and thus more distance) across the clubface.
In terms of numbers, this translates to about a 2.5-3 mph increase in ball speeds over other irons.
Internal Standing Wave
This works in tandem with an “Internal Standing Wave”, which is a weight positioned low in the clubhead that provides the benefits of a low center of gravity (CG): even more ball speed, more forgiveness (minimal dispersion or loss in ball speeds on mishits), and higher trajectories.
Callaway was able to place this weight freely with the help of the hollow construction of the iron body. The end result is the “hottest iron” that Callaway has ever produced.
Stock Info
The Big Bertha irons come with two stock shaft options: the True Temper SpeedStep 80 in steel and the UST Recoil shaft in graphite. There are also other custom shafts available.
Note that a hybrid combo is available in lieu of a set with longer irons, and this is ideal for those that prefer hybrids.
The specifications (loft, bounce, offset, etc.) of the Big Bertha irons for both men and women are summarized in the table below. You can see more details on specs, including those for the stock shafts, on the Callaway website.
| Name | Loft | Bounce | Length (men) | Length (women) | Lie | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 20.5° | 1.5° | 39.125" | 38.125" | 60.5° | 0.26 |
| 5 | 23° | 2° | 38.5" | 37.50" | 61.25° | 0.25 |
| 6 | 26° | 2.5° | 37.875" | 36.875" | 62° | 0.24 |
| 7 | 30° | 3° | 37.25" | 36.25" | 62.5° | 0.23 |
| 8 | 34.5° | 4° | 36.625" | 35.625" | 63° | 0.22 |
| 9 | 39° | 5° | 36.00" | 35" | 63.5° | 0.21 |
| PW | 44° | 7° | 35.75" | 34.75" | 64° | 0.20 |
| AW | 49° | 11° | 35.50" | 34.50" | 64° | 0.175 |
| SW | 54° | 15° | 35.25" | 34.25" | 64° | 0.150 |
How do these irons perform?
Distance
Callaway claims that the Big Bertha irons can be “up to two clubs longer” than your previous set of irons. These claims are true to an extent.
It does, of course, depend on what irons you’re making the switch from, but it is not at all uncommon for golfers to realize gains of 10 yards and upwards. The Big Bertha irons are among the longest currently on the market.
You will obviously see the best results when you hit the sweet spot, but you’ll still retain a very good ball speed regardless of where you make contact on the face.
Trajectory
The low positioning of the weight (and center of gravity) makes it easy to hit relatively straight, high-trajectory shots that don’t balloon and land softly on the green.
This is in contrast to other similarly classed irons that have stronger lofts and tend to have a harder time holding greens.
Forgiveness
Overall, the Big Bertha irons have outstanding forgiveness. In fact, they are consistently rated the first or second most forgiving irons in the game-improvement category.
Even severe misses on the toe or heel still maintain a decent line and distance.
As mentioned above, the irons promote a straight ball flight, and this will help to curb any hook or slice tendencies that you may have.
If you’re having a bad day out on the course, chances are the Big Bertha irons will still keep you in play even as a high handicapper.
What about look, sound & feel?
The Look
The Big Bertha has quite a thick topline and wide sole, even for a game-improvement iron. The iron sits and aligns well with the ball at address.
I’m personally not crazy about the fat and clunky look of the clubhead, which is more extreme than many other game-improvement irons like the Callaway Apex, but I can certainly look past it given how amazing the forgiveness is.
The offset is fairly large, particularly in the longer irons, and for some golfers it can take a little getting used to.
The design on the back and sole of the club is slick, with a simple yet effective colour scheme of red, black and silver.
The Sound & Feel
Callaway consistently manages to do a great job in the sound and feel department, and the Big Bertha irons are no exception.
Center strikes feel soft and “compressy” (but still solid), which is pleasantly surprising given the amount of ball speed they generate.
Feedback on off-center hits isn’t terribly distinct, as is expected with game-improvement irons. However, it should be sufficient for figuring out where you made contact on the face.
I found that the weight of the club with the stock steel shaft actually encouraged me to make smoother swings, and overall I think it helped me make good ball contact more consistently.
Solid strikes produce a crisp, higher-pitched sound. The sound produced from off-center strikes is different, but not something that I think many people would have a problem with.
Where should you buy these irons?
There are a couple of really good options, and because these irons have been out for many years now, you can get some pretty amazing discounts (under $500).
If you’re looking to buy a used set for less, I highly recommend checking out this page on CGPO.
They have a fairly large selection with a 12-month warranty, 90-day buy-back policy, and condition guarantee.
Aside from that, the best place to find new and used Big Bertha irons is eBay. You can find some pretty unbelievable deals there.
Conclusion
Pros
- high quality build
- both forgiveness and distance is among the best on the market
- straight trajectory helps to alleviate slices and hooks
- high trajectory allows soft landings into the green
- feel is wonderfully smooth and soft at impact
Cons
- shot workability is limited (particularly out of the rough and other hairy lies)
- some people may not like the chunky clubhead
- feedback could be a little more helpful
The Callaway Big Bertha irons are fantastic game-improvement irons that arguably every high-handicapper should at least try out.
Mid-handicappers, low handicappers, and “middle-of-the-green” type golfers can also reap big benefits with these in the bag. If you’re someone who wants any of:
- loads of forgiveness, more consistency and potentially a lot more distance on your iron shots
- modern-design golf irons without paying a premium for the newest releases
…then these irons are definitely an option you should consider. They are still among the best that Callaway currently has to offer.
If you have any thoughts or opinions about the Big Bertha irons, feel free to leave a comment below!
I actually have a Callaway Big Bertha Driver, and it was probably one of my best investments ever for my game! I wouldn’t take back that purchase one bit, not the greatest set to get when you first start out due to their high quality, last thing you want is to damage them from beating them up every time you take half the earth with you on your swing, but for those who are experienced and love golf, go for it!
Yes, Callaway is superb; they’re one of my favourite golf brands if not my favourite, at least when it comes to golf clubs.
As for the club damage, that’s a good point. I suppose it’s why I would rather hit it thin than fat, along with the fact that it jars your whole body. The Big Bertha irons are considered max game-improvement, so I would argue that they are ideal for beginners who want to start playing decent golf relatively quickly. The chunkiness of the heads does translate to increased durability which will help protect against damage and wear.
Great review Paul. Boy does my golf need work. I currently don’t have my own set of clubs and ive always thought that has contributed to my problem. Im about five inches taller than my friends and i use their clubs. Can that be why I make terrible contact with the ball? The Callaway Big Bertha irons might be exactly what i need. Thanks for the info.
Dylan,
If you’re unusually tall then you probably would benefit to some extent from irons that are custom fitted to an optimal shaft length and lie angle. However, if you’re not really serious about getting good at golf and just like to have some fun on the course with your buddies every once in a while, you may be better off using clubs off the rack and making some adjustments for your height rather than paying extra for a custom fitting.
A poor address posture could be a reason for your poor contact, but I can’t definitively say without seeing your swing. For starters, I would recommend standing far enough away from the ball such that the leading edge of the club rests flat on the ground.
As for the Big Bertha irons, it would be a great idea to give them a try. Good luck!
I’m an avid golfer myself, however I’m no professional! I really think this set is beautiful! Callaway is an excellent brand and the Big Bertha iron set looks to be yet another solid product from them.I have the Big Bertha driver and it is AMAZING! Straightest shot I can hit by far. I’d be interested to try the irons!
Which Big Bertha model do you have specifically? Is it just the original standard? There are actually quite a few variations of the Big Bertha including the Great Big Bertha, Big Bertha Alpha, etcetera.
Thank you for the nice words. You should go to your local golf shop and see if they have the Big Bertha iron available for you to test; you can then come back to my review and check out the e-commerce sites I link to for the best online prices and customer experiences.
I am an older golfer with a number of physical issues. I once played to a low handicap. I’ve gone through several sets of high end irons. In the end, I always go back to the Big Berthas. Not because I am a beginner but because these are really great clubs. I would argue that with practice and use, a golfer Can get these irons to “work” as needed.
Definitely, David. Sure, you can get fit to irons that give you great results right away, but there’s something to be said about getting used to irons that you want to play but may not have worked well for you in the beginning. Cost can also play a big role in the decision of which irons to use.