Equipment
First Look: Callaway “Bertha Mini” prototype
Updated April 13, 4:25 p.m.
It seems as though TaylorMade started an equipment trend with its MiniDrivers.
On Monday, we spotted a Callaway “Bertha Mini 1.5” prototype at the range of the RBC Heritage Classic at Harbour Town.
It appears from the photos that the club is smaller than Callaway’s Big Bertha drivers, but larger than its Big Bertha fairway woods.
The photos also show that club has an adjustable hosel, and its face utilizes Callaway’s Hyper Speed Face Cup technology. Our sources say the “Mini” is currently available to Callaway Tour players in 12 and 14 degree lofts.
[quote_box_center]”We regularly test prototype clubs on Tour, and knowing the course layout at Hilton Head this week, it was a great week to bring out a prototype like this one, which is designed for the long part of a player’s game,” a Callaway representative said.[/quote_box_center]
We’ll update you with more information and photos as they become available.
See what GolfWRX members are saying about Callaway’s Bertha Mini 1.5 in our forums.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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christian
Apr 16, 2015 at 1:44 am
Face cup?
brewmaster95060
Apr 28, 2015 at 8:33 pm
CAN I GET THAT IN A 6 DEGREE LOFT @ 52 DEGREES LIE?
Jeff
Apr 15, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Now here is a great club.
Callaway X HOT 3 wood 15dg 44″ Fujikara Banzai Reg -flex 350 tip 65g.
This really goes.
Jeff
GL
Apr 19, 2015 at 1:22 am
Got to 175 for ya? Nice. Well us big boys need to go 275 with a 3wood, so good luck with yours.
Gary Gutful
Apr 15, 2015 at 4:55 pm
I would be keen to see you hit your $9 driver up against a new mini bertha. I reckon I know which one would come out on top.
Jeffrey
Apr 15, 2015 at 4:44 pm
I’ve just upgraded from Titliest 910 fairways (15,19,21) to 913 fairways with a better spread of lofts (13.5,17,21). I nicknamed the 13.5 my mini driver from day 1.
AP
Apr 15, 2015 at 11:46 am
So what Callaway did was take one of there 20 year old S2H2 drivers and add a little paint? And since I’ve been playing a S2H2 Big Bertha for years I guess that instead of playing “vintage” I have actually been playing “cutting edge” technology that I bought off ebay for $9. I never did see the appeal in the “big as a bass boat” drivers, can’t control them worth a damn, really drag in your swing, and can’t hit them off the fairway.
The one thing I would like to see in a small driver this club still doesn’t have- an adjustable weight port in the rear center of the sole. Also- bring back the steel shaft option, nothing like having to reshaft a new club with a $10 shaft because its simply not an option.
BustyMagoo
Apr 14, 2015 at 9:46 am
Are the manufacturers pulling out every stop in the bag to keep people buying new clubs? Shrinking drivers, driving irons, and now 2W. I feel for the people running the golf companies. They’ve got a tremendous task ahead of them figuring out how to keep the sales going.
Matto
Apr 14, 2015 at 1:17 am
This company copied that company blah blah blah. It’s really just a 2 wood and they’ve been around 100 years. A modern 2 wood.
We’ve just been so caught up with our bowling ball sized drivers the last 15 years that everybody forgot about poor old Mr. 2 wood!!
Gary Gutful
Apr 15, 2015 at 4:56 pm
What about Mr 1.5?
BustyMagoo
Apr 14, 2015 at 1:09 am
So it’s bigger than a fairway wood, but smaller than a driver. Would that make this a 2W ??
other paul
Apr 13, 2015 at 11:28 pm
Even if Wishon did it “first”. He is almost irrelevant at producing clubs. I have seen lots of rare clubs. But have never seen a club from Wishon ever. So I would say that Callaway still started the trend. The original 3 deep was only 10 yards shorter then my driver. And was longer into the wind.
The dude
Apr 13, 2015 at 10:14 pm
…..nothin beats the Killer Bee!…ala Rocky Thompson
Nathan
Apr 13, 2015 at 3:52 pm
I’ll have one of those in white and red with a long hosel and a speed pocket thanks
mike simmons
Apr 13, 2015 at 3:41 pm
As long as golf equipment and course fees keep high then golf will continue to lose players and that my friend will hurt as golf will fde away for the middle class and poor and only the rich will play.
MHendon
Apr 13, 2015 at 4:48 pm
Well Mike I don’t know how long you’ve been playing golf but I’ve been playing for 20 years and I can tell you over that space in time green fees have hardly gone up, and except for balls equipment is actually cheaper. So I’m afraid that’s not the cause for the decline in participation.
mike simmons
Apr 13, 2015 at 5:33 pm
$400.00 FOR A DRIVER IS CHEAP?Maybe for you but for most people that is rent,house payment for a month etc.So maybe you can afford it and happy you can but as for me and about 30-40% of the people who play its outrageous.
Desmond
Apr 13, 2015 at 6:04 pm
In the late 60’s, working at a Baskin Robbins, they charged 18 cents for a single scoop; today that single scoop is $2.80.
I can’t afford to go to a B-R, not that I would.
At the same time, you can get a 2 yr old driver brand new for a little over $100. If you want the new stuff, get one of those no interest credit cards for 16 months.
GL
Apr 19, 2015 at 1:26 am
Well Mike, you’re just preaching to the choir. It’s always been that way – a richer man’s hobby game. Nothing’s changed. There are plenty of other sports you can play for cheap – so go do those.
mgolf
Apr 15, 2015 at 11:46 am
Point well made. May, 2003 – TM introduces the R510TP at $699.00!
marty
Apr 17, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Slow play kills golf. That’s the bottom line.
ND Hickman
Apr 13, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Taylor Made setting a trend? Didn’t Callaway release the X Hot 3 Deep before any Mini drivers from TM?
MarkNado
Apr 13, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Cobra came out with the Long Tom 2 wood before Taylormade’s mini drivers …
45″ shaft 12.5 degrees I think it was 245 cc
Awesome club
RobN
Apr 13, 2015 at 4:36 pm
And Tom Wishon came out with the 525F/D around 2007. All others have just just copied him.
MarkNado
Apr 14, 2015 at 2:56 pm
And someone somewhere did it before wishon I’m sure…not to mention the persimmon drivers back in the day
Blah blah blah
ND Hickman
Apr 13, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Good point!
Cally
Apr 14, 2015 at 5:29 am
I still play the long tom…speeder VC 7.2 it is silly easy to hit.
Roy
Apr 15, 2015 at 11:26 am
Thank you!! I never recall TM setting ant trend except for the driver dept. Everything else they make is a day late and a dollar short and double the price.