Reviewing the Callaway Big Bertha Irons '04 - Men's

Cathy Erickson — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:14:00 GMT

Okay, so after I reviewed my newly purchased fairway woods the other day I went out and hit them fantastic! I'm thinking maybe my whole game will come around if I write reviews of all of my clubs. So I will now write about the current irons in my bag - the Callaway Big Bertha Men's Irons 2004 model. I purchased these clubs in the winter of 2006 on the internet without trying them out first, so I have used them for 1 full MN season + one month in 2008. I chose to purchase men's clubs because that is what I had been using for the past 20 years.

Here are the specs:

Callaway Regular Flex Men's Graphite Shafts

Stock Callaway Grip

Set came with 4 - 10 irons, W - 50 degree, SW - 55 degree

Here's what I liked:

*These clubs reminded me a little of the Ping Eye-2's I had been playing. I was looking for a cavity back iron because visually and mentally they made me feel like I could get them up in the air better. I also wanted to go with a graphite shaft. Just seeing pictures of them made me think I could hit these clubs.

*I hit these clubs straight! I don't usually "work" the ball (not on purpose anyway), so hitting them and knowing where the ball was going to go was great.

*I LOVE the 10-iron - my favorite club in the bag...I don't know if it's just because it seems unusual to have a 10-iron, but I find I use it a lot on the course and have been finding ways to use it around the greens, too - it's 46 degrees.

*I feel like I hit them about the same distance as the steel shafted irons I had been using, so I didn't lose any yardage, but I also think they have a nice high ball flight when I hit them right, so I can hit closer to my targets now.

*These clubs cured my mental apprehension of being able to hit irons consistantly and straight - that makes them worth every penny!

*Speaking of pennies, the price was just too good to pass up - the 2006 models were out and these clubs were at least $300 less for brand new.

Here's what struck me as different:

*These clubs were at least a 1/2 inch longer than my other clubs and both were men's sets. At first I was worried that they might be too long for me, but after adjusting my grip and stance, the length was no longer an issue.

*It can sometimes be hard to know that I'm hitting 2 to 4 clubs more than some of the guys I play with, but the confidence I gained by knowing how far I would hit each club on a consistent basis was a great feeling. And even if I had a mis-hit, the miss was usually manageable.

*I should say that I only use the 7-SW - I currently carry 3 Nike CPR hybrids, and they are virtually the same loft as the 4-5-6 irons. I used the 6 iron a few times and did hit it well, but the CPR's are my "go to" clubs and something had to go. The 4 & 5 are still in plastic.

My over-all impression is:

I love these clubs! Now they might not be for low-handicapper guy (although they do come steel and firm flexes), or for ladies, but if you are looking for a club that looks great at the set up, feels weighted enough so you think you can hit through the ball, and you appreciate a nice big sweet spot on the face, then these clubs might just be what you're looking for! Now I don't know the difference between the 2006 and 2008 Big Bertha models that came out, but you can buy these 2004 model irons new for around $450.00 for Graphite - and probably even cheaper if you shop around! That alone is a great selling point. I rate these as a solid 4.5, and that's only because I haven't hit all of the clubs so it's not exactly a complete review. They seem ideal for the mid to high handicap golfer who is looking to improve the iron game.

PS - after reading some posts about finding the right clubs, I think club fitting has to be the way to go...I think I have just gotten lucky that the purchases I have made have worked well in my game. If you get the chance, see a pro to help you find the best clubs for your game.

Golf Equipment Reviews : 2004 Callaway Big Bertha Irons

Reviewing the Callaway Big Bertha Irons '04 - Men's