The surprising Callaway Fusion driver

[jbandalo]

Put the Fusion back in the bag for this weekends round. Had been playing the G400 Max for the last year but on a whim, put in the Fusion fairways back in the bag for today’s round and forgot how easy these are to launch and fly. They were impressive to say the least.

Didn't have a great driving day with the Ping, so the Fusion driver goes back in.

Can’t wait.

[ian-500]

Ok, so honestly haven't read the whole thread. Sorry. Is there any comparisons to the Rogue SZ. Yes I understand that the heads are aimed at different golfers, but did anyone go from one to the other with better results?

Ian.

[iNeedMoreGolf]

I find it hard to get rid of my fusion 16 driver. Feels sounds looks great i have no complaints. Also accurate. You can tell when your not being accurate or when a driver is aiding in your inaccuracy. If your on with this driver then youll be in the fairway all day. Distance also not a problem. Some of my biggest drives with this wood. 290? Yeah ill take that. Thats not every drive now but here and there i know i can krank one if the hole is wide enough. Probably average around 240 with it. I have rogue and mavrik which i havent used mavrik yet because of a certain pandemic happening at the momment but i just cant seem to want to het rid of it. Especially when everyone wants to buy it for $100 or less... this is no $100 or less driver. So i cant see it going bye bye.

[ninjab]

Also still love this driver. May go to a couple demo days later this year if they don't all get cancelled, but I doubt this gets knocked out, on simulator hitting better than ever with it, have the 9.5* model playing heavy weight and 45.25".

[jbandalo]

All courses in BC Canada have been for forced to close now. Bummer, was looking forward to hitting the Fusion driver this weekend.

[jbandalo]

All courses in BC Canada have been forced to close. Bummer. Was looking forward to this weekends round and hitting the Fusion driver again.

[jbandalo]

Courses starting to reopen so finally got to play the Fusion driver again for the first time in years. Hit 10/13 fairways and long as well.

The surprising Callaway Fusion driver is right.

[ninjab]

Been hitting driver alot further this year, 260-280 total vs 230-250 last year. Found I was having a really hard time slicing it with the added distance. Changed out the stock Diamana M+(red high launch profile) for a S+(blue mid launch profile, I have been using in my 5 wood with good success).

Instant improvement, much better consistency and way less problem leaving it out right. Both are stiff but S+ seems stiffer and more in control. Launch stayed basically the same, 16* Launch Angle with under 2000 backspin. 9* head set to neutral.

Shaft change may keep the Fusion firmly in my bag.

[pearsonified]

I remember hitting the Fusion back in 2017 and comparing it to my two favorite heads at the time, the TM AeroBurner and 2017 M2.

I did all my testing on a Foresight GC2 launch monitor, so the only hard data I had was ball speed, spin, and launch angle...but the Fusion was so good compared to the TM heads that it definitely got—and kept—my attention.

After that round of testing, I stuck with the 2017 M2 because I didn't want to play a "game improvement" driver like the Fusion, even though the launch monitor numbers suggested it might actually be the best fit. My rationale for choosing the M2 was that I had a few balls go uncomfortably left with the Fusion, and the left side of the golf course was my biggest enemy back then.

••••••••••

After tearing a ligament in my right wrist in July 2017, my driving went to sh*t. I went from ball speeds in the mid-170s to the low-160s; my contact became grossly inconsistent; and I lost confidence in what had formerly been my greatest weapon.

While trying to "find something," I bounced around between the 2017 M2, AeroBurner, Ping G, Ping G400 Max, and Callaway Rogue, but nothing had a positive, lasting effect on my driving.

Eventually, I gained access to a Trackman, and I was able to pair some better data to my anecdotal results. The numbers were underwhelming—no matter which head I used, my smash factor was between 1.44 and 1.48.

Considering your driver should deliver the highest smash factor in the bag, 1.44–1.48 simply isn't going to cut it.

I already knew my smash factor was trash with driver, but I started to become less accepting of this fact earlier this year when I hit the SIM 15º fairway metal. Every strike with this thing was between 1.49 and 1.51, which seemed to suggest that similar results could/should be possible with a driver.

••••••••••

Right before quarantine started, I ordered a TM SIM Max 10.5º head that performed well during testing, with smash factors up around the 1.48 mark and a nice, high launch. As soon as I got my actual head, though, my smash factor dropped to 1.47 (at best), and I couldn't keep the ball off the right side of the course.

Frustrated, I swapped out the SIM Max for a Titleist TS3 head, which also produced smash factors of 1.47–1.48 during testing. I liked that TS3 head a LOT—it felt fantastic, and the ball did what I thought it should do based on the feeling at impact.But a 1.48 smash factor is still pretty undesirable if that's the best number you ever see.

And on top of that, Titleist went into coronavirus lockdown, and the TS3 head I ordered was delayed indefinitely.

Impatient and annoyed with my driver testing, I went over to eBay and made an impulse purchase for the ages: a Callaway Fusion with Matrix Black Tie 75M4.

••••••••••

This past Tuesday, I scheduled a Trackman session with two friends who actually have good golf swings (unlike my gorilla hulk smash move), and we went crazy with smash factor testing.

We hit damn near every club you can imagine, and we kept at it for 3.5 hours, generating over 250 shots of data.

Out of all those shots, only four drivers produced smash factors of 1.49 or higher:

• TM SIM 9º

• Titleist TS3 8.5º (9.5º topped out at 1.48)

• Cobra SpeedZone 9º (I couldn't get this thing over 1.44, but one of the guys was 1.48–1.49 on almost every swing. He ended up buying one, as it was his top performer by far.)

• Callaway Fusion 9º

And of those 4 drivers, only one produced smash factors of 1.5 or higher (with quite a few 1.51s thrown in there for good measure)—the Callaway Fusion.

It wasn't a fluke, either—the Fusion delivered 1.49–1.51 on almost every swing! In my case, it also had the tightest dispersion by nearly 50% (over the TS3).

••••••••••

Now, it ain't all unicorns and rainbows. I don't love the way the ball feels off the face of the Fusion—it's "soft" where the TM SIM is "thuddy" and the TS3 is "pingy." I prefer a nice combo of pingy and thuddy, but that's just me.The Fusion also wants to go dead straight. My "draws" get maybe 3 yards of right-to-left rip. I can cut it more easily—mostly because I fade longer clubs anyway—but the ball still doesn't want to drift very far off its starting line.

Ultimately, the Fusion delivers the greatest contact efficiency and, for me, the highest launch angle (versus the other drivers I've tested). This combination has made it clear I should stick with the Fusion and not waste my money on newer drivers that fail to produce the same smash factor.

Perhaps the same will be true for you as well. If you've performed similar testing, I'd love to hear the results!

Bottom line for me? The Fusion is my gamer, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

[MaineMariner]

This club will not die. After a couple rounds with a new-to-me Mizuno T190 and a horrendous driving day last week, I put the Fusion back in the bag. And like magic, my ball was back in play.

I don't know why the pulled back shape is so confidence-inspiring to me. It feels like I can't miss the sweet spot.

[c50sooner]

After stumbling back onto this thread, and hearing the renewed love for people's old Fusions, decided to do the same. Had been playing the M3 440 for last year, and this year was choosing between F8+, F9 (9 and 10.5). Had settled on the 9 degree F9, thinking it had to automatically be superior to anything else given all the hype. Decided to break out the old Fusion with Diamana Red 50S, and low and behold it was just as good (if not better in some aspects) than all the hyped competitors. Agree that it seems so confidence inspiring and easy to hit squarely, more consistent, and longest strikes are just as long as any of those. Going to re-play the Fusion for a while and see if it keeps performing.

[Hertsjoatmon]

I put a dent in my rogue (too many heel strikes) so just picked up a fusion head

[seis]

I still use my 13 degree, 43 inch shaft, heavy weight, Fusion driver when I am in need of a remedial fairway finder. It does not generate a lot of distance, ( no roll out), but on a shorter course it makes that second shot a whole lot easier, especially here in Northern Illinois where because of the wettest May on record the rough on most courses is super thick.

[sfdoddsy]

As the starter of this bounteous thread, I have to say it warms my heart that so many shared my affection for this orphan of the Callaway line.

 

However, at long last, it seems the Fusion has a younger, cooler brother.

 

The new Big Bertha B21 looks like an updated Fusion. Same shape. Same poorly targeted marketing positioning it for decrepit slicers one step from the grave. Same crap shaft.

 

But a forgiving high launch/low spin driver is exactly what most golfers need and which no-one is delivering. 
 

If the B21 lives up to the claims it should be a real contender. It looks miles better than Mavrik and hopefully sounds better.

 

Pull out the noodle they are shipping it with, and off you go.

 

it is a bit over-priced though.

[LONGBALL777]

Nothing is knocking the Fusion out of my bag. I play 10.5* Heavy with the shorter shaft. It's just so reliable, and the 10.5 for me, at least, gives me plenty of length. Just a super club.

[dmeeksDC]

So many overlooked clubs because better players assume they’re not for them. The Fusion is a great club and I think it’s the shape that does it. That deep, stretched triangle makes it so easy to elevate. Had one and hit it well but spin was high. I found another driver that is similar shape but not quite as stretched back in the Srixon z585. Glued hosel, no adjustable weight, gets few raves, is regarded like the step-child of the adjustable 785. But Shane Lowery won an Open with the 585 so ....
 

I pulled the stock shaft, installed an Atmos Red Tour Spec 6S cut to 44.75 inches and play it at a C8 swingweight when I always thought I needed D2 or D4. The Srixon specs are not what I would get fitted to. Supposed to be a GI driver. It’s a beast, very hot. I have yet to encounter another player carrying it. My conclusion is you have to like the look of your driver, it has to give you confidence, and beyond that shaft weight and length along with total weight seem to be the specs I react to most. 

IMO the Mavrik Max is the driver in the Callaway lineup that is most similar to the Fusion in performance attributes and it already is gaining a rep as super easy to hit. Callaway made it look less triangular but it is a stretched head. Somewhat draw biased. The new B21, which looks great, is a much more pronounced slice straightener more aligned with the TM D-Type woods or the Ping SFTs. I expect the B21 will fit a lot of players and be a hit. 

[ninjab]

Tried SIM Max D, hit it great at demo day but after I got it home I never could get that same consistency. After a few months of trying to get it to work and suffering from duck hooks when I usually miss with a slice, I've went back to the Fusion. Longer and more consistent for me. 

 

I might try and trade for a non D sim max, but so far it's Fusion for me. 9* head with S+ stiff shaft. 

[vas792]

Resurrecting this thread....Just curious if the Fusion has been knocked out of any bags this year and what did it? I have used the Fusion most of this year with a Diamana d+  with some of my best driver results ever and yet I am always looking for new stuff like a degenerate

[Hateto3Putt]

15 hours ago, vas792 said:

Resurrecting this thread....Just curious if the Fusion has been knocked out of any bags this year and what did it?

I sold my Fusion to a young buck in my golf league who is still using it and absolutely smoking the ball.

 

I replaced it with a Rogue Zero something that lasted about a month (with like 1 good drive out of 100) I've used a Ping G400 Max that I've been hitting really well since.

[Thats_OB]

I have a confession to make...I still use the Big Bertha Fusion Driver.

 

I've averaged 77% FIR in my last four rounds. Every couple of years I'll go hit the latest and greatest, but still the Fusion remains. A few weeks ago, I hit the Qi10, Smoke Ai Max, and G430 Max and there was no significant difference in distance or dispersion. I continually find no reason to make a change.

 

Every once in a while, if I start missing drives in one direction consistently, I'll tinker with the shaft setting and we're good to go for a few more rounds. 

 

I think I may have seen one other Fusion on the course in the last five years.  I'm beginning to feel like I'm hitting an antique.

Edited May 18, 2024 by Thats_OB
Typo

[propman]

13 hours ago, Thats_OB said:

I have a confession to make...I still use the Big Bertha Fusion Driver.

 

I've averaged 77% FIR in my last four rounds. Every couple of years I'll go hit the latest and greatest, but still the Fusion remains. A few weeks ago, I hit the Qi10, Smoke Ai Max, and G430 Max and there was no significant difference in distance or dispersion. I continually find no reason to make a change.

 

Every once in a while, if I start missing drives in one direction consistently, I'll tinker with the shaft setting and we're good to go for a few more rounds. 

 

I think I may have seen one other Fusion on the course in the last five years.  I'm beginning to feel like I'm hitting an antique.

Glad you posted this as I'm still hitting the Fusion as well.

Hard to resist the itch to buy a new driver, though 

[dmeeksDC]

Great driver for accuracy. Designed to be a fairway finder. I do find the most recent heads beat it on distance. Really, the underrated B21 was longer for me because it is similar but with the internal weighting is a lower spin head. Fusion produces a lot of spin. 
 

The advances are about better and better speed retention across the face. AI Smoke Max D is as easy to hit straight and the average distance is definitely longer than the Fusion. If you’re not hitting the new heads longer I’d say get fit. I do not believe the Fusion on average can match the Qi10, as just one example. 

[Andyrob90]

Does adding the 12g weight make a massive difference with the shorter shaft? Always fancied trying one of these and bit the bullet the other day after falling out with my g400.
 

Got a trip to Scotland in a couple of weeks so probably the wrong time to try and tinker 😂

[Thats_OB]

Not sure about a massive difference, but I prefer the swing weight created by the 12g weight.

 

 

[Thats_OB]

On 5/19/2024 at 9:49 AM, dmeeksDC said:

...If you’re not hitting the new heads longer I’d say get fit. I do not believe the Fusion on average can match the Qi10, as just one example. 

 

Well, my FOMO got the best of me, so I took your advice and finally scheduled a fitting. 

 

After getting my baseline numbers with the Fusion, we ended up testing the following: Ping G430 10k Max, TM Qi10 Max, and Ai Smoke Max, all with various shafts and settings.

 

Though I wasn't looking forward to dropping the cash, I was kind of looking forward to a shiney new driver. 

 

However, by the end of the fitting it was obvious there was essentially zero performance gain with the new drivers. None stood out from the others. The Ping had slightly better dispersion, but I honestly feel it was because my swing was in a better groove near the end of the session. The Fusion averaged a couple yards longer than the Ping. 

 

I realize other versions of these new drivers would probably increase distance on centered strikes , but eight years later, I'm convinced the Fusion still stacks up to the best drivers in the forgiveness category, at least for my swing speed around 97 mph. 

 

During my fitting, I had a pretty consisent impact location (slightly NE of center). If you tend to hit it all over the face, maybe the benefit of the new drivers would be more evident.

[propman]

2 hours ago, Thats_OB said:

 

Well, my FOMO got the best of me, so I took your advice and finally scheduled a fitting. 

 

After getting my baseline numbers with the Fusion, we ended up testing the following: Ping G430 10k Max, TM Qi10 Max, and Ai Smoke Max, all with various shafts and settings.

 

Though I wasn't looking forward to dropping the cash, I was kind of looking forward to a shiney new driver. 

 

However, by the end of the fitting it was obvious there was essentially zero performance gain with the new drivers. None stood out from the others. The Ping had slightly better dispersion, but I honestly feel it was because my swing was in a better groove near the end of the session. The Fusion averaged a couple yards longer than the Ping. 

 

I realize other versions of these new drivers would probably increase distance on centered strikes , but eight years later, I'm convinced the Fusion still stacks up to the best drivers in the forgiveness category, at least for my swing speed around 97 mph. 

 

During my fitting, I had a pretty consisent impact location (slightly NE of center). If you tend to hit it all over the face, maybe the benefit of the new drivers would be more evident.

Thanks for this. I'm an old guy who probably hits all over the face of my fusion. Guessing my SS is upper 80s. A good drive for me now is 210yds. Not that long ago, it was 250yds.

The nice thing about the fusion is it goes straight most of the time.

Probably should get fitted to see if I'm leaving a few yds out there.😀