Taylormade burner v Tour Burner

ankles

Hi

I am a high handicap (due to lack of practice). Have an ancient Calloway Big Bertha so time for an upgrade. Need a stiff shaft driver, usually my best club. Looking at the Tour Burner, but is the difference huge between it and the regular Burner? There's value in some sales in Burners but should I get the Tour Burner instead? Anyone know what's the real difference and which would suit better? I hear the Tour Burner is more forgiving and suits fast swing tempos.

Guidance will assist in ebay bidding!

Wobs

Hi Ankles,

I had an old Big Bertha which became illegal so I upgraded to the burner last year, I am now seriously considering changing again.

My big bertha was a 10 degree stiff shaft which I use to hit lovely with a slight draw probably averaged about 230/40 yards with it almost always landing on the fairway. It and my 5 iron were probably my 2 most consistant clubs.

I changed to the Burner a 9.5 degree regular shaft. I tried out in the shop on a launch monitor for about half an hour every shot was going straight down the middle anywhere between 230 to 250 and even a few 260. I know you cant rely on launch monitors for distance but was very happy with the flight. It was telling me I had the right launch angle and spin rate was good.

My driver has now gone from one of my most consistant to one of my least consistant. Once I got it on an actual course it went to pot. The burner has a longer shaft than normal which I think could be part of my problem (I have started to grip further down to some success) and maybe I need to go back to a stiffer shaft (my swing speed is kinda in between the stiff and reg speeds so I didn't think it would make much difference).

Any way to get to the point I would recommend you try one out on a course if you can before you buy ( not sure I will trust a launch monitor again).

Thats just my experience, I know a few people who have one and love it.


Good Luck

Kimbot

I tired both and the normal/old Burner is the better IMO.

I am on my way to pick my one up in about an hour for around €160.

stockdam

Which driver for you is your choice. I play with Titleist or Taylormade but they don't work for everybody.

I suggest you try different makes - try a Ping G10.

Why do you need a stiff shaft? I hear that very often when a regular shaft is more suitable. Also be careful.......some "stiff" shafts may be the same flex as some "regular" shafts.

kagni

Good advice from Wobs above.
You didn't say what model of Big Bertha you had but most older graphite shafted drivers are 44-45 inches in length.
In the last few years some manufacturers have started to make their drivers longer, the Burner is 46.25" long (the Tour Burner is 45.5").They are also using lighter shafts.
The longer and lighter the club the faster you can swing it which can lead to more distance, but lighter and longer makes the club harder to control and affects consistency.
Wobs may have gone from a 44" driver to one over 46" so it's no wonder he saw his consistency disappear.

If you are set on getting Taylor Made I would go with the Tour Burner for the shaft length reason alone.

Wobs

Sorry not sure exactly which model it is, it just says big bertha titanium on it. I think it was the last model before they were deamed illegal. But it is about 1.5/1.75 inches shorter than the Burner.

But yeah the lighter and longer shaft and different flex does not seem to suit me even though I was getting great results on the launch monitor.

I might go and try out the latest Big Bertha, back to the 10 degree stiff. Has anyone any experience with it?

Kimbot

jonny24ie wrote: »

I tired both and the normal/old Burner is the better IMO.

I am on my way to pick my one up in about an hour for around €160.

Sorry I was in work earlier so I will expand this a little bit.

I tried the new tour burner and although it was a great club it just felt too light. I was getting good distance and it was straight on the launch monitor. When I went back to the older burner it felt better and I was getting slightly better results. I found it to be an excellent club and to be honest if buying in a proshop and you think the shft is a bit too long why not get the pro to shorten it a little for you?

neckedit

Hey Johnny, was wondering did you pick up that driver?:P

Kimbot

neckedit wrote: »

Hey Johnny, was wondering did you pick up that driver?:P

Not yet, just waiting for it to come into the shop. It was posted to the shop last Thursday when I ordered it so it should be in Tomorrow at the latest.

I have hit the exact driver out on the course a few times already, I am currently using a TM R540 9.5 with Stiff Shaft and I can hit it straight about 190-200 yards. When I hit the burner (10.5 with Reguler shaft) on the course with a little less power than normal I made it 230 yards. I couldn't believe how straight it was either. Perfectly down to the exact spot I aimed for for every time I hit it.

At €160 its unreal value considering I have spent the last 4-5 months looking for a new driver.

neckedit

nice one Johnny , thanks for swift reply, Its a top driver, I found it hit slightly longer with the same kinda effort, in comparison to my SuperQuad,
Enjoy It:p

Kimbot

neckedit wrote: »

nice one Johnny , thanks for swift reply, Its a top driver, I found it hit slightly longer with the same kinda effort, in comparison to my SuperQuad,
Enjoy It:p

Oh I will indeed, I'm like a child at christmas waiting on it (Its my own Crimbo pressie to myself). Trying to organise a game now for the weekend to see how it goes but if its slightly cold the lads might abandon me.