Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero Driver

The Callaway Epic driver lineup might be the most hyped-up product of 2017, and for good reason. With extreme performance and forgiveness, Callaway certainly set a new bar in the world of drivers. The Epic Sub Zero driver is a crazy blend of tour-level, low spinning performance and forgiveness for your every-day golfer.

The Looks

The first time I laid eyes on the Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero driver in hand, I thought, “man, this thing isn’t f*@#ing around…” The size and shape are perfect and that black carbon fiber crown is pure business. On top of that, I’m a huge fan of the lime green and black color scheme.  For a club that had more hype behind than maybe any other golf club ever made, seeing it in hand got me even more excited to hit it. Behind the ball, the Epic Sub Zero looks perfect with a medium head size and face depth to boot.

How Does it Feel?

Your first impression of a golf club is typically its appearance, the feel is second. Callaway‘s GBB Epic Sub Zero is one of the most solid faces I’ve ever felt in a driver, and in a very good way. A lot of “solid” feeling drivers in the past feel too “rocky” or dead, with no pop to them.  The Epic Sub Zero is very much alive. You can feel the ball jump off the face and the feedback in your hands lets you know you belted it. I could really tell when I “got a hold of one.” “Missed shots,” however, is where the Epic Sub Zero separates itself from the pack…

Admittedly, the mishit shots don’t feel as hot as well struck ones, and rightfully so, as they shouldn’t.  They do, however, feel much hotter than any other driver I’ve hit to date. Callaway’s Jailbreak technology is designed to make the sweet spot larger and your mishits more forgiving. It does exactly that. When you miss the center of the face, the shot doesn’t feel like it’s dead in the water (pun slightly intended).

How Does it Sound?

Sound is somewhat subjective to everyone, but the Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero is one of the best sounding drivers out there. Much like the feel, the sound is very solid and holds up well as you leave the center of the face. The Epic Sub Zero’s sound isn’t on the quiet side but it’s far from the loudest on the range.  You’re not going to sound like you’re blowing up a tin can. A perfect shot gives you a very satisfying “crack” off the face letting you know you just ripped the ball.

On-Course Performance

The two main features of the Callaway GBB Epic Sub zero are the center of gravity (CG) and the Jailbreak technology. Jailbreak was designed to prevent “bulge” of the crown and sole at impact so more energy is transferred from the face to the ball. You’re probably thinking, “what the heck does that even mean?” It means the ball speed will increase all across the face, which directly translates into MORE YARDS. What isn’t necessarily captured in the data above was how consistently long this driver was for me during testing and throughout the season. The Epic Sub Zero’s upper potential (in regards to distance) was the highest I’ve seen in awhile. The Jailbreak technology was no joke, and I actually saw huge increases with it. I highly recommend golfers at least try it in their testing for a new driver.

I mentioned the CG aspect at the start of this section. The Sub Zero’s CG design isn’t a new feature for Callaway, but it’s something worth noting. Moving the larger weight back makes it easier to launch the ball higher with a bit more spin. Moving it back lowers the CG which lowers launch and spin. You can play with these settings to help you optimize your ball flight and spin numbers to you’re liking. Overall, those numbers both will have a big impact on the overall performance of the driver for you. My data above is with the weight in the back, and you can see I had really low spin, while maintaining an ideal launch angle.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely bought into the hype on the Callaway GBB Epic lineup, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. The difference is that the Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero totally lived up that hype. 2017 was one of the best driving seasons I’ve had in a long time and I felt confident on every tee. I’m far from a Tour pro, but the Jailbreak forgiveness and consistent performance I had made this driver a no-brainer for me, and I don’t see it leaving the bag anytime soon. 2017 was a great year for drivers across the board, but I can confidently say the Epic Sub Zero is one of the best.

Stock Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero Driver Specs