50 Words or Less
The Callaway Big Bertha Fusion driver is light and extremely forgiving. Super fun to hit. Great feel.
Introduction
Over the last couple years, many of Callaway’s Big Bertha drivers have been aimed at the better player. They’ve also introduced some of the game’s most exciting new technology. With the Big Bertha Fusion, Callaway is still bringing the goods in terms of innovation, but this time with a driver aimed at the masses.
Looks
The first thing you’ll notice about the Callaway Big Bertha Fusion driver is the shape. This triangular design isn’t just about looks – it’s more aerodynamic to increase club head speed. While miles from traditional, the rounded edges allow the Big Bertha Fusion to retain an aesthetic appeal.
Beyond the shape, the crown of the Big Bertha Fusion is fairly busy with a carbon fiber look, red and white graphics on the edges, and the Speed Step at the leading edge. While this is all done tastefully and in good proportion, the Fusion driver will definitely appeal more to the pro-technology crowd than the traditionalists.
Sound & Feel
From the first swing, the feel of the Big Bertha Fusion driver reminded me of one of the first Callaway drivers I ever reviewed here, the FT Optiforce. The best descriptor I can think of is “soft,” a word typically reserved for irons and putters, but it applies here.
The sound is more of a “thud” than a “crack,” and there’s excellent auditory feedback about the quality of your strike.
Performance
Two things stood out most in my testing of the Big Bertha Fusion driver: the incredible forgiveness and the consistently low spin. Due to the stock shaft being lighter and more flexible than my gamer, I had some contact issues early in my testing. I was expecting to see ball speeds well below 150 MPH on many of my shots, but I saw that many bad mishits only lost 3-5 MPH of ball speed.
The other thing that impressed me was the low spin and the consistency of the spin numbers. Typically, more forgiving drivers tend to be higher spinning. The Big Bertha Fusion, however, is about as low spinning as I’d want a driver to be. Equally important, the spin numbers don’t jump around wildly when you hit it high or low on the face.
There are a number of fitting options that Callaway is offering with the Big Bertha Fusion driver. First is length – you can get the Fusion at 44.5″ or 45.5″. Callaway bills this as a choice between control and distance, but it’s important to realize that the shorter version may produce more distance for you if you can’t hit the longer one on the sweet spot. Additionally, there are three stock shafts (two UST Recoil shafts and the MRC Diamana M+) weighing anywhere from 46 to 60 grams. Finally, with three different heads plus adjustability, you can hit any loft from 8 degrees to 15.5 degrees.
Conclusion
There’s a lot of tech to talk about with the new Callaway Big Bertha Fusion driver, but it boils down to this: it’s simply one of the most forgiving, consistently long drivers that I’ve tested. Whether you regularly wander around the club face or stray only occasionally, forgiveness is great to have, and the Big Bertha Fusion delivers it without compromise.
Buy the Callaway Big Bertha Fusion Driver HERE
Callaway Big Bertha Fusion Driver Price & Specs
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Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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Hi Matt. Another great review. I enjoy your straight forward reviews. I just demoed this weekend. I did not see three heads as you mentioned above. I saw the two heads with 5 and 12 grams. Did I miss something?
John,
The three heads I was referring to were the three different lofts.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt. What shaft and at what length shaft did you test? Thanks.
Chris,
Recoil ES 450. 45.5″. Stiff.
-Matt
Hey Matt,
great Review as always! Did you notice some of the draw bias that Callaway claimed it to have? Id love a more forgiving driver that is a little shorter without needing to do custom work but am a natural drawer of the ball with “my” miss being a big ole hook.
Would this driver hurt me because of its bias?
Cheers Moritz
Moritz,
I felt like there was some draw bias, but not a ton. I was able to offset the bias and hit it pretty straight by adjusting the face open.
Best,
Matt
Would you game it over your current driver? 108SS is very good SS don’t you think?
G,
It’s definitely getting some consideration.
I’m happier at 108 than I was at 100, but I’m never satisfied. :)
Best,
Matt
LOLOL. for sure and update that WITB as well. :-)
I saw the new Bertha for the 1st time yesterday. At first look I was a bit put off by the shape, but the more I sized it up, I liked it. The shorter length would be best for me with control at a big importance to me. The Regular shaft at 44.5 inches still felt softer and I liked it. Price will be an issue here in Australia as normal. Imported product from USA is always more expensive due to the Dollar exchange – If I could get 15 to 20 more yds with the Driver then I would get one for sure. Waiting for a demo day.
Hi Matt. Did you try the shorter shaft on this driver? Interested in your opinion of the short vs long shaft concept that Callaway is offering up.
Thanks,
John
John,
I did not, but I have varied my driver shaft length over time. I think there’s a lot of merit in a shorter shaft, but I don’t think it’s as simple as “Long = Long, Short = Accurate.” Often short is better for both.
Best,
Matt
Interesting stuff. However could you advise me about my 9.0 degree loft driver and my out to in swing path which produces a slice. Should I close the face angle with my adjuster to raise the loft, reducing the lie angle?
Mark.
Mark,
If you want to use the adjustability to combat the slice, you would want to close the face (increase loft) and/or make the lie angle more upright.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt. I found out this weekend that the 5 gram weight is for the longer shaft and the 12 gram weight is for the shorter shaft. Did you try the different weights in the shafts?
John,
I just tested the longer version, stock.
Best,
Matt
Purchased a Fusion 10.5 in mid-October after my fitter brought his to the course. With an XR16, I’d already seen consistency and more distance at 44.5 inches @D1-2. The Fusion is easier to keep in the fairway, has less draw bias than the XR16, and at 44.5, I get excellent distance. If you send it right or left, it’s probably because the face is open or closed at impact. It wants to go straight — I’d say it is less punishing than comparable drivers – hit it low on the face and you get what you expect – a low mid launch, but you still get distance. I am still getting accustomed to it. I have a Grand Bassara 39 R flex at 45g in it @D1 – so the weight is comparable to the Recoil 440 shaft that is a Callaway stock option. My driver speed is 87-90, so I am pushing the Grand Bassara in R flex. I also have a Bassara P Series with Ti wire in the tip and am going to try it in the Fusion. Like Matt says, great soft feel with a thud rather than the loud but still pleasing XR16 thwack.
I am a 12 handicap 67 year old golfer. I am playing with a Taylor Made R11 driver at 9 degree loft and a stiff shaft. My swing speed is about 100 mph. I am averaging about 250 yards.
I read your review of the new Callaway Fusion driver. I am considering that or the new Taylor Made M1. Am I better off with a regular shaft or a stiff shaft. Should I go to a higher loft?
Bill,
There’s no way for me to make a credible suggestion. You need to work with a fitter to find the best club for you.
Best,
Matt