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Equipment

Callaway

Callaway introduced Big Bertha in 1991 with an oversized stainless-steel head. The name would appear on later generations of clubs, but steel identifies the original driver’s place in that story.12

Callaway logoCallaway Mark unavailable
Archive-held golf mark, checked against the official golf website. Date of introduction unverified. Logo source
The sole of an original Callaway Big Bertha driver, marked 10 degrees.
Original Big Bertha driver, introduced in 1991. Photograph from Callaway Golf Japan’s company history. Image source

One of Callaway’s design concerns was the hosel, the neck where the shaft joins the head. Richard C. Helmstetter’s neckless-head patent, granted on August 27, 1991, describes a shaft running through the head and ending flush with the sole, the underside of the club.3

The patent explains that removing the projecting neck allowed more metal in the striking face without increasing the head’s total mass. It is a useful record of the thinking behind Callaway’s club design. In 1995, the Great Big Bertha driver brought a titanium head into the family.13

At a glance

Original Big Bertha
1991; stainless-steel head12
Neckless-head patent
US 5,042,806, granted August 27, 19913
Great Big Bertha
Titanium driver introduced in 19951

Sources

  1. Callaway Golf CompanyEnjoy the Game: 2001 Annual Report
  2. Callaway Golf JapanCallaway Golf History: 1991 Big Bertha
  3. Richard C. Helmstetter; United States Patent and Trademark OfficeUS 5,042,806: Golf club with neckless metal head
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