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Callaway GBB Epic Fairway Wood

2017Game ImprovementAdjustableFrom $279

Callaway GBB Epic Fairway Wood: Key Specs

Category
Game Improvement
Adjustable
Yes
Loft options
15 to 21 degrees
Model year
2017
MSRP
$279

Wood Options & Stock Shafts

Wood #LoftShaftFlexWeightKick PointTorque
3W15.0°Callaway RCH 55Regular55gHigh5.7°
5W18.0°Callaway RCH 55Regular55gHigh5.7°
7W21.0°Callaway RCH 45Senior45gHigh6.4°

Technology

High Launch

Game Improvement Fairway Wood

The GBB Epic is the driver that turned Jailbreak into a word golfers actually recognized. Callaway ran two titanium bars from the crown to the sole, sitting right behind the face, so the body of the head stayed rigid and the face itself could flex harder at impact. More face flex means more ball speed, and that was the whole pitch in 2017. It worked well enough that the idea stuck around in Callaway drivers for years.

The rest of the head is built to keep that speed forgiving. A Triaxial Carbon crown pulls weight out of the top of the club, and Callaway moved that saved weight low and back to raise the MOI. The result is a high launch with real stability on off-center hits, which is exactly what the Game Improvement label promises.

This is the standard Epic, not the Sub Zero, so it leans toward launch and forgiveness rather than low spin. If you fight a slice, or you just want the ball up in the air without having to work for it, this head is set up for you.

  • Mid and high handicappers who want more distance without giving up forgiveness on mishits.
  • Slicers who can use the adjustable heel weight to square the face and hold a straighter line off the tee.
  • Players who want a higher, easier launch instead of the flatter, lower-spin flight of the Epic Sub Zero.
  • Anyone who likes to tune loft, lie, and shot shape rather than play a fixed head.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the GBB Epic and the Epic Sub Zero?
The standard GBB Epic has the sliding heel-to-toe weight for draw and fade tuning, and it launches higher with a bit more spin, which makes it the more forgiving of the two. The Sub Zero uses a low, forward weight setup to cut spin and lower launch, and it's aimed at faster swingers who want a flatter, more penetrating flight. If forgiveness and an easy launch matter more to you than spin control, the standard Epic is the pick.
What does Jailbreak technology actually do?
Jailbreak is the pair of titanium bars inside the head that connect the crown to the sole just behind the face. They keep the body from flexing at impact, so more of that energy goes into the face flexing and springing back. In plain terms, it's there to add ball speed, especially on shots struck near the center.
Is the GBB Epic a good driver for high handicappers?
Yes. The carbon crown and low, rearward weighting give it a high MOI, so mishits hold their speed and line better than they would on a lower-spin head. Add the adjustable heel weight for slice help and it's a genuinely forgiving driver for slower or less consistent swings.
How much can you adjust the loft on the GBB Epic?
The OptiFit hosel lets you move the loft up to two degrees stronger or weaker than the stamped number, and you can also adjust the lie angle. That gives you a practical way to dial in launch height and face angle once you've settled on where the sliding sole weight goes.
Does the sliding weight really change your shot shape?
It does, within limits. Moving the 17-gram weight from heel to toe shifts the center of gravity enough to bias the ball a meaningful amount, around 20 yards of correction from one extreme to the other. It won't turn a big slice into a draw on its own, but combined with the hosel setting it's enough to straighten out a consistent miss.

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