Holiday Golf Gift Guide 2014: Drivers

Christmas is right around the corner, so we at ChicagoDuffer.com have compiled multiple lists to help you find the perfect holiday gifts for the golfer in your life. Each list will feature only products that we have tested over the year and would recommend to people on our own Christmas List. Want your product to be included on next year's list? Contact Adam at chicagoduffer@gmail.com for details. Here is our Holiday Golf Gift Guide for the best drivers this season.

Callaway Big Bertha Alpha (Original)

We all know that Callaway Golf has recently unveiled their upgrade to the Big Bertha Alpha driver series (which includes a fancy Double Black Diamond model for better players), but we haven't had the chance to test the new shiny clubs yet. However, that also means the original Big Bertha Alpha driver -- released way back in April -- is likely to get a big price discount once the new model hits store shelves this month. It's the driver I hit every time I play golf, and I cannot recommend it high enough.

COBRA Bio Cell Plus 

They might not be the most popular clubs on the market, but that doesn't mean the COBRA Bio Cell Plus driver isn't a solid product. We tested this driver multiple times during the season and were pleased with the results every time. Plus, you can "customize" the driver's look to your preference with a wide range of club crown colors.

Powerbilt Air Force One DFX N7

Don't let the name fool you, folks; the Powerbilt Air Force One DFX N7 driver is one hell of a golf club. Not only was it one of the longest drivers we tested all season, but also one of the most affordable. If you are looking to expand the product horizons of that special golfer in your family, look no further than Powerbilt.

PING G30 

While released later in the year, the PING G30 driver was one of the best offerings from any manufacturer in the industry. The club's "turbulators" might not be for everyone, but the distance those little nubs produce on your drives is something to behold. I would especially recommend this driver for high-handicap players.

TaylorMade SLDR

It's hard to go wrong with any driver from TaylorMade, and I'm not referring to the fact that they come out with a new one every five minutes. The TaylorMade SLDR drivers where a huge hit in 2014, pun intended. Market saturation has also caused the prices on these puppies to drop like crazy, so you should be able to find one for dirt cheap this holiday season.

DUFF TEST: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Driver

The new Callaway Big Bertha driver series has been my most highly anticipated golf club in years. I learned how to play golf by swinging a Big Bertha driver over 20 years ago, so I had very high expectations heading in to this week's Duff Test. Let's take a closer look at the Callaway Big Bertha Alpha driver.

First, the boring specification stuff

The Callaway Big Bertha Alpha driver is the "better player" club in the series reboot, offering players more adjustability options in comparison to the Big Bertha stock model. The Alpha allows you to adjust your loft, lie, and shot shape by moving around weighted screws on the club's sole (each club ships with four screws of different weights) in addition to a fully-tweakable hosel.

What is truly unique about this club is its adjustable Gravity Core, which is basically a big metal spike that runs through the middle of the clubhead. You can unscrew this Gravity Core and flip it upside-down to tweak the club's center of gravity, which will help you hit the ball higher or lower. Ball spin rates will also be affected by this nifty little gadget, which is innovative by itself.

As always, Callaway offers a wide range of different shaft options from which to choose for your Big Bertha Alpha.

Appearance and Feel

If you've read my club reviews in the past, you know that I prefer a soft, muted feel in every club. To that end, the Callaway Big Bertha Alpha driver might be the best driver I have ever hit in terms of feel.

Those of you who have hit a forged iron on the sweet spot know what I mean when I say this driver completely swallows the golf ball. There is nothing "tinny" or metallic about the Big Bertha Alpha at impact; instead, it emits a sound and feel that makes you want to hit golf balls forever. You know that gunshot sound you might hear when a professional golfer hits his driver? That's the sound this club makes. It is absolutely beautiful.

In terms of appearance, I have to admit that I'm 50/50 on the bright blue, red, and chrome finish. The Big Bertha Alpha looks modern, but almost too modern, much like the TaylorMade SLDR driver. The club sits nicely at address, however the lack of an alignment graphic on its crown is unfortunate. I absolutely love the white shaft that comes stock in the driver.

Performance

The Callaway Big Bertha Alpha driver performed exactly as I hoped it would: exceptionally.

While not the most forgiving driver I've ever hit, the Big Bertha Alpha was much longer than my current driver (approx. 10-15 yards on average). While it did take me awhile to find the best spec combination for my game, I was consistently hitting longer drives once dialed in. With the exception of the SLDR, I haven't hit a driver this far in years. Bravo, Callaway.

Why you should buy this driver

If you are a mid- to low-handicap player, the Callaway Big Bertha Alpha is one of the top two best driver options this season. A slight sacrifice in forgiveness is definitely worth the distance you will gain from this driver. I have no doubt that you will hit your longest drives ever, and simply enjoy the game more. Plus, golf tech nerds like me will appreciate the club's adjustable features.

why you should not buy this driver

High-handicap golfers should probably shy away from the Big Bertha Alpha due to its smaller head size and lower forgiveness in comparison to the regular Big Bertha option.