Alright so last Tuesday I finally got my hands on that Full Callaway Big Bertha Diablo 3 wood everyone keeps whispering about. Heard it was crazy cheap for a Callaway so figured, what the heck, let’s see if this old legend still holds up. Grabbed one used off the shelf for less than lunch money, practically. Didn’t even clean it first, just wiped some dirt off the grip. Real scientific, right?
First Whacks at the Range
Dragged it straight to the driving range. My regular bag’s got that newer shiny thing, costs like four times more. Set up some cheap balls – no way was I using my good ones for this test run. First swing? Whacked it pure off the mat. Thing felt… loud. Like, really loud. Kinda like hitting a tin can. Ball went okay though? Not soaring, but dead straight and decent distance. Weird.
Tried hitting it off the deck next. Grass was kinda patchy, not perfect. Thought for sure I’d chunk it or thin it bad. Somehow… popped right up. Didn’t go miles, but got air easy. Kept doing it. Five, six balls in a row off the deck, all flying without me killing myself. That got my attention. Didn’t feel smooth like modern clubs, kinda harsh actually, but dang if it didn’t work.
Taking it Out on the Course
Alright, range heroics are fun, but the real test is holes. Stuck it in the bag for my usual Wednesday nine holes. Par 5, second shot. Sitting 210 out, rough lie. Pulled out the Diablo instead of my usual rescue. Told myself, “just get it somewhere near.” Gave it a whack. Not perfect, felt the head vibrating almost. Ball? Lands on the front edge of the green. No joke. Pure luck? Maybe. But I felt like a freakin’ wizard.
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Few things I noticed:
- That sound! Seriously, every hit sounds like you cracked a bat. People in the next fairway turned around. Embarrassing? Kinda. But also funny in a way.
- Head feels heavy, like old school heavy. Not modern lightweight stuff. Takes some getting used to.
- Looks tiny behind the ball compared to my gamer. Felt weird aiming.
- Off the tee? So dang easy. Point and shoot, even on bad swings. Just wants to go straight.
So… Best Budget Wood?
After whacking this thing all over creation? Maybe? If you find one cheap – and you definitely can – it’s worth a shot. Don’t expect magic feel or quiet hits. It’s clunky. Loud. Ugly by today’s standards. But the damn thing just goes. Gets the ball up off the ground easy, flies straight more often than not. Like that old pickup truck that rattles but always starts. Is it the absolute best? Dunno. But for twenty, thirty bucks used? Helluva lot of fun. Makes you laugh, makes your playing partners jump, and puts the ball where you need it. Not bad for an old timer.
Gotta be honest, I didn’t really expecting much. Thought it might be junk. Turns out, it’s got some fight left. Gonna keep it in the backup bag. Just in case. Or just for laughs. Anyway. If you see one dirt cheap… grab it and see if you can make the whole range turn around. It’ll probably surprise you too. Welp, that’s my messy test run done. Later.