What Driver Do You Use?

ShriekingSheet

Interested to see what drivers are most popular amongst the great unwashed of the golf forum. If I left any obvious ones out, just post a comment and I'll add in an option. If it's kind of an obscure one, tick "Other" and tell us what you have below.

Feel free to post your spec in a comment and say why you chose it over others.

You can click the numbers on the right side to see what specific posters use.

ShriekingSheet

Ping TiSi

I use the Ping G10 with the ProLaunch Red shaft.

I find it great for getting a good strong trajectory. Some other drivers/shafts I tried balooned up in the air a bit. I hit it high anyway but the PL Red shaft gives me great control. I wouldn't recommend it for higher handicaps though. The G10 also comes in the ProForce V2 shaft (yellow) which is also a great shaft but would be more suited to teen h'caps and up.

Miley Byrne

Other (detail below)

Cobra 400SZ 10.5*. Its getting on a bit now but I wouldnt swap it for anything! Its just so reliable

Mister Sifter

TaylorMade R Series

Taylor Made Burner, 9.5 degree, stiff.

Was previously using a Ping G10 but we didn't get on at all. Used a burner to great success as a kid so decided to give the new model a try. Other makes i tried and tested were the Cleveland HiBore and a couple of Callaways - none of which i liked at all.

It's worked out well and generally i hit it very straight and a decent length. Not overly fond of the looks and size of the thing, but after my disaster with the beuatiful looking G10 i'm quite happy to take consistency and a nice ball flight.

I also find it to be exceptional off the deck - which is crazy considering the size of the bloody head on the thing!

Very, very happy with it.

Par72

TaylorMade R Series

I've the very same as Graeme1982, Taylor Made Burner, 9.5 degree, stiff. Went for a fit to Green 18 in Sandyford last year and after hitting all their drivers with various different options the Burner came out on top with optimal launch angle etc. I had previously been using a regular flex Nike SQ with the same loft which I liked a lot but tended to be a little erratic with. I find the Burner to be much more effective and consistent. I don't know if this is only a result of the different shaft but I like the look of the club behind the ball too which has to be worth something.

1stuey1

Other (detail below)

i use the king cobra ldv or something new enough one just bought it only played couple of rounds and i like it. it has 10.5 flex s shaft red and carbon. nice shaft tho. my old one was crap paint peeling off it but i played well with it. find it hard to use the cora tho as its slightly angled to the left dont know why but it is maybe to curl the ball left to right. but il get used to it i adapt quick enough. nice sound off it too

Mat the trasher

Cleveland HiBore / Launcher

Taylor Made R7 SuperQuad, 10.5 degree, stiff.

Don't always get on, but on the daýs we do its a savage long hit.

Mr. Larson

Ping TiSi

Ping G10 10.5 degree with Pro Launch.

Used to have Cobra 9 degree stiff shaft which was totally unsuitable... I hit the ball fairly low and I struggled too often to get the ball flight high enough. Got tired of batin' my golf balls into the many uphill hills on my home course. :cool: - Got checked out and swing analysed and the 10.5 degree works perfectly.

Kimbot

Cleveland HiBore / Launcher

I have the TM R540 9.5 with Stiff Shaft at the moment but I am hoping today my Burner will be in the shop.

L.O.F.T

R7 superQuad, Fujikura speeder. The club itself has been preceeded by other Taylor made additions but i find it feels and works, wont be changing in the near furture.

kevodaly

TaylorMade R Series

Taylormade burner TP 8.5 deg. Stiff shaft.

I get on well with this most of the time. It's relatively forgiving considering the lowish loft. I hit the ball pretty high still, but definitely gained some distance on my G5 ( 10.5 deg stiff ). I like the look at address, slightly open face and nice alignment aid on top.

I've never been custom fit for anything. After a bad round I swear I'm going to get fitted because it must be the clubs!! Then I find something with the swing that works again and they feel perfect.

I recently bought a TP 3 wood (14.5) which I love off the tee and from the first cut or nice lie in the short rough (particularly with placing) - but I'm struggling a bit with it from the fairway. Another swing flaw to be sorted ...

For those of you that have been custom fit - how do you find the results? Any surprises thrown up ? e.g given a regular shaft when you use stiff. Adjustments to lie angles that really changed your setup for the better ?

I've gone through the online fitting things on most of the major manufacturers websites and end up with standard clubs with stiff shafts.

stockdam

I use a Titleist 905R 9.5 deg .......... one of the few neutral faced drivers I found. It sits very nicely and is very easy to use.

I used to have a Taylormade Burner 860 driver but the buggers made it illegal - it was a great driver.

ShriekingSheet

Ping TiSi

stockdam wrote: »

I use a Titleist 905R 9.5 deg .......... one of the few neutral faced drivers I found. It sits very nicely and is very easy to use.

I used to have a Taylormade Burner 860 driver but the buggers made it illegal - it was a great driver.

Apologies - I meant the "975" to cover all 9xx Titleist drivers!

death1234567

I use a crappy Wilson Ultra 8.5 degree Regular flex shaft at the mo but I getting a Maxfli PowerMax 460 10.5 degree stiff shaft this week. I badly need a stiffer shaft because I have a very fast swing. Only concern is the loft, I hit a very high ball so I hope the 10.5 degree doesn't go higher than it goes long.

markie4

Ping Rapture or G Series

Using the Adams XTD 10.5 with DVS stiff (60g) shaft cut to 1" shorter than standard. Hides the big square head well, with the design of the crown.
My best drives probably aren't quite as good as my last driver (Adams RPM460D) but the XTD reduces the damage of my bad shots.
Very happy with it overall, and not looking to change....now if somebody can recommend some irons, that's a different story;)

neckedit

I gotta SuperQuad 8.5 TP, Proto By you, Stiff Flex, Never been a good driver of the ball ,but this is the less of all evils I tried.:p sits nice and I like the all round look of it.

billy3sheets

Other (detail below)

I have 2
King Cobra 440 SZ 9 degree, stiff shaft
Taylor Made R540 9 degree regular shaft

Play mainly with the Cobra. The TM is a bit older. I gave it a try last year for a few months. I could find no difference between them in terms of flight or distance. TM has a softer sound on impact - better for the eardrums eh?:D

kagni

Other (detail below)

I use the original Cobra F Speed from a few years ago - 9deg with Stock Aldila reg flex shaft.
I've gone through a few in the last year and this is the best for me by a long way.
I tried a lot of the newer models but the longer shafts and the huge high MOI heads didn't do much for me.

I see the Ping G10 is popular with a lot, I had the Draw version with the stock Ping shaft and didn't have any luck with it. I think maybe the offset threw me off a bit, I never got used to looking at it.

The closed face of the Cobra works better for me than the offset on the Ping for controlling my fade/slice.

istaunton

TaylorMade R Series

Using a Taylor Made Burner 10.5 degree stiff 55gram shaft. Have to admit i love it. i used to have a cheap matsushiba driver i got new for €22.50 worked for the first 2 years of my golf but near the end i was wild with it. Way to whippy for me and really struggled to slow the swing down just to keep it staright

Got the burner after the new tour one came out so €100 cheaper. driving fairly straight now and about 280 - 300 yards most of that is carry as not getting any run atm. Cant wait for the warmer weather really get some distance.

MisterAnarchy

billy3sheets wrote: »

Taylor Made R540 9 degree regular shaft

Unfortunately that driver is illegal in competition play since the start of 08 due to too high a COR.

JONATHANM

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Interested to see what drivers are most popular amongst the great unwashed of the golf forum. If I left any obvious ones out, just post a comment and I'll add in an option. If it's kind of an obscure one, tick "Other" and tell us what you have below.

Feel free to post your spec in a comment and say why you chose it over others.

You can click the numbers on the right side to see what specific posters use.

I have 3:

1)Titleist 905R 11.5/Harrison PRO2.5 SL50 (use for tight tracks)
2)Cobra 460SZ 9.0/Aldila NV-HL60S (use everywhere)
3)Callaway great big 7.5/Stock callaway strong (used for hard/flat tracks)
*Shaft broken on this one, haven' got it fixed yet


The shaft of a club is the "heart" of the club.When considering a purchase,get fitted to a shaft thats best for you.Along w/ you favorite club head of course.I wouldnt get caught up in what particular brand of head you use.If you have the correct shaft matched to your swing speed and setup,you'll have a much more productive time of it.


Stay cool/Play well,

Jonathan

WHIP IT!

Ping TiSi

Graeme, you can hit you're 9.5 Burner off the deck?? I Hate You! :mad: :eek: :pac:

I have a Ping G5, 10.5* with a Stiff Shaft.

When it works it's like the easiest thing in the world, boom - boom - boom...

But when I'm swinging poorly I tend to get very snap-hooky... Although it is definitely a swing issue that causes this, I would guess the slightly closed face doesn't help?

I hit the ball a decent height so would possibly be better off with a 10*. It's horses for courses though, my mate has a 13* G5 and it really suits him. He's the staighest most consistent driver I know and is not short by any means.

slumped

Titleist 975 Series

titleist 907 d2

stiff shaft - 9.5 degree loft

PhilipMarlowe

Cleveland HiBore / Launcher

Taylormade Superquad 9.5 with a prolaunch red shaft...
I would have tried it with several shaft options during a custom fit session and settled on the prolaunch red.
The head has moveable weights but it's set up neutral for me because I don't hit the ball too high.

Mister Sifter

TaylorMade R Series

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Graeme, you can hit you're 9.5 Burner off the deck?? I Hate You! :mad: :eek: :pac:

I know it doesn't make sense! I get a few funny looks, but i swear it is ridiculously effective.

WHIP IT!

Ping TiSi

Graeme1982 wrote: »

I know it doesn't make sense! I get a few funny looks, but i swear it is ridiculously effective.

What kinda carry and overall distance are you looking at with it? That's impressive. I don't even try hit a 3Wood off the deck anymore!

f22

Titleist 975 Series

Currently Titleist 907D2 9.5 with an Aldila ByYou prototype stiff shaft

Awaiting delivery of a Titleist 909D2 9.5 with an Aldila Voodoo stiff shaft

stevire

Cleveland HiBore / Launcher

Taylormade R7 10.5* Fujikura Reg....

Old but does me well on most days!!

Mister Sifter

TaylorMade R Series

WHIP IT! wrote: »

What kinda carry and overall distance are you looking at with it? That's impressive. I don't even try hit a 3Wood off the deck anymore!

Somewhere between 220 and 240 overall. Carry around 200-220 perhaps.

PhilipMarlowe

Cleveland HiBore / Launcher

In my old Mount Wolseley days, I used to carry two drivers... My main one was a Great Big Bertha and I kept my older original Burner Bubble just specifically for one shot - my second from the fairway to the par 5 12th, assuming I hit the fairway off the tee

Was back there last summer for the first time in 10 years and used a 3 iron for my second shot (whatever that tells me).

bigtimecharlie

Adams Insight / Speedline

I have a Callaway Big Bertha stiff shaft.

Not very happy with it so I'll get a regular shaft driver for when the fair weather comes around. Will be choosing in the time before my first round of the year.

billy3sheets

Other (detail below)

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Unfortunately that driver is illegal in competition play since the start of 08 due to too high a COR.

Taylor Made R540 9 degree regular shaft

Hmmm. I think I looked about 1 year ago and there are actually 2 versions of it. Mine had the required stripes on the face or something like that which made it legal.

madds

Titleist 975 Series

Titleist 905R 10 degree...looking at making a change this year, and getting a custom shaft too

Dublin Spur

Ping TiSi

Ping G10 9-degree stiff shaft - absolutely love it - can't see me changing.

1916

Cleveland HiBore / Launcher

Taylor Made R7 SuperQuad, 10.5 degree, Regular.

DonkeyPokerTour

Ping TiSi

I have 2 atm:
Ping G10, Ping TFC129 Shaft, Regular Flex, Mid Kick, 10.5*
King Cobra, Aldila Shaft, Stiff Flex, Mid Kick, 9*

Its quite intresting, If I tee the ball up the same height for both the ping and the cobra I hit the cobra higher dispite them having virtually the same face hight and the cobra being a shallower loft!

The Cobra most likely will be making way for a hybrid in the near future.

Regards
Ian

WHIP IT!

Ping TiSi

DonkeyPokerTour wrote: »

I have 2 atm:
Ping G10, Ping TFC129 Shaft, Regular Flex, Mid Kick, 10.5*
King Cobra, Aldila Shaft, Stiff Flex, Mid Kick, 9*

Its quite intresting, If I tee the ball up the same height for both the ping and the cobra I hit the cobra higher dispite them having virtually the same face hight and the cobra being a shallower loft!

The Cobra most likely will be making way for a hybrid in the near future.

Regards
Ian

The Cobra making way for a hybrid? So do you mean you currently carry both drivers in your bag, or you're just gonna trade in the driver for a hybrid?

Alzar

Ping TiSi

Ping G5 - 10.5 degrees. Regular shaft.
Have to admit that I love it. Find it very forgiving, TG

Al.

Mister Sifter

TaylorMade R Series

Licksy wrote: »

Was back there last summer for the first time in 10 years and used a 3 iron for my second shot (whatever that tells me).

You forgot the burner bubble?:)

Used to have a burner bubble as a kid... loved it!!

kagni

Other (detail below)

DonkeyPokerTour wrote: »

I have 2 atm:
Ping G10, Ping TFC129 Shaft, Regular Flex, Mid Kick, 10.5*
King Cobra, Aldila Shaft, Stiff Flex, Mid Kick, 9*

Its quite intresting, If I tee the ball up the same height for both the ping and the cobra I hit the cobra higher dispite them having virtually the same face hight and the cobra being a shallower loft!

The Cobra has probably got a more closed face so that it's actual loft when the face is square is higher than stated (e.g. if it's 3 degrees closed, it's actual loft would be closer to 12 deg).

DonkeyPokerTour

Ping TiSi

WHIP IT! wrote: »

The Cobra making way for a hybrid? So do you mean you currently carry both drivers in your bag, or you're just gonna trade in the driver for a hybrid?

Yes I currently Carry Both Drivers In My Bag. I quite like the cobra and I am able to hit a nice low ball with it when required. Not sure if I can do that yet with the G10 hence why carry both. Since I only have 12 clubs in the bag atm if I dont carry my cobra no reason not to.

kagni wrote: »

The Cobra has probably got a more closed face so that it's actual loft when the face is square is higher than stated (e.g. if it's 3 degrees closed, it's actual loft would be closer to 12 deg).

You might be right, cheers for that.

ShriekingSheet

Ping TiSi

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Somewhere between 220 and 240 overall. Carry around 200-220 perhaps.

Would you not shift a 3 wood that distance? Or do you just prefer the driver anyway?

Mister Sifter

TaylorMade R Series

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Would you not shift a 3 wood that distance? Or do you just prefer the driver anyway?

To be honest, i'm not too sure of the exact distances. I only got my current 3 wood at the tail end of last season. Up until that point i had a G10 3-wood that i really struggled to hit off the deck. That's why i tried the driver and lo and behold it worked.

I'm still really getting used to the 3-wood. It is a much higher flight from it though. I can really drill the driver with a low penetrating flight off the deck, which can be useful.

I'm not sure if i'll use the driver off the deck just as much this year, due to now having the 3 wood. Although it's always in the locker if a green is just that bit out of reach with a 3-wood.

ShriekingSheet

Ping TiSi

Graeme1982 wrote: »

Although it's always in the locker if a green is just that bit out of reach with a 3-wood.

Very handy to have. I haven't tried mine tbh. Used to do it. Must give it a go again.

JCDUB

Ping TiSi

G5 7.5deg, Aldila stiff shaft, 65g (I think), fookin love that club, straight down the middle 8 outta 10 times, it's all I need.

MisterAnarchy

It seems alot of people here are using very low lofts on their drivers.
7.5 deg , 8 deg and even 9 deg seem very low .
Lower loft doesnt mean longer distance unless you have a very high swing speed.
Some of the long distance drivers with swing speeds of 140 miles per hour use 7 deg drivers.
I think the average golfer thinks if he has a lower loft driver he will hit the ball further,its a seriously flawed idea.

ShriekingSheet

Ping TiSi

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

It seems alot of people here are using very low lofts on their drivers.
7.5 deg , 8 deg and even 9 deg seem very low .
Lower loft doesnt mean longer distance unless you have a very high swing speed.
Some of the long distance drivers with swing speeds of 140 miles per hour use 7 deg drivers.
I think the average golfer thinks if he has a lower loft driver he will hit the ball further,its a seriously flawed idea.

I'd agree with this.

I traditionally used 7.5 or 8 degree drivers. In fairness, I was custom fit by Brendan McDaid for one but having said that, I moved back to a 9 degree in 2008 and have never been happier.

I think ego has a big part to play. When it comes to flex and loft I think a lot of guys go with the lowest loft they can hit and the stiffest shaft they can use. I was the same (had x100s at the same time as the 7.5 degree driver). These days, being older and wiser, I realise that much of this is nonsense.

As a rule of thumb I take what I reckon I could hit and tone it down by 20%. Like with your swing, you don't hit mid irons at 100% power - you use 80% of your max. So these days, though I reckon I could hit 6.5 rifles in blade heads, I use 6.0 shafts in mid-size heads. I could use an X flex 7.5 degree driver as i used to, but instead use an S flex 9 degree. Sure I hit it a bit higher than I'd like at times but only fractionally. I've tried the X shaft in my driver and the nailed ones went considerably further but in general I'm much more comfortable - especially on an off day.

This is the level headed advice the 18 year old me never heeded

slingerz

Ping TiSi

G5 10.5 stiff! Could do with a lower degree of loft though

kagni

Other (detail below)

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

I think ego has a big part to play. When it comes to flex and loft I think a lot of guys go with the lowest loft they can hit and the stiffest shaft they can use. I was the same (had x100s at the same time as the 7.5 degree driver). These days, being older and wiser, I realise that much of this is nonsense.

I went from a 12 deg to a 9 deg and noticed very little difference in the height of my shots.
Drivers with closed faces, as I mentioned earlier, will hit higher than the loft stamped on the sole.
Also I think some manufacturers are feeding peoples ego by stamping drivers with lower lofts than what they actually have. I have seen a number of reports of drivers having up to 2 degrees higher loft than marked.

ShriekingSheet

Ping TiSi

kagni wrote: »

I went from a 12 deg to a 9 deg and noticed very little difference in the height of my shots.
Drivers with closed faces, as I mentioned earlier, will hit higher than the loft stamped on the sole.
Also I think some manufacturers are feeding peoples ego by stamping drivers with lower lofts than what they actually have. I have seen a number of reports of drivers having up to 2 degrees higher loft than marked.

Yeah that's a relatively well known fact re: the lofts being higher than stated.

It's the softer shaft that gives me a higher flight rather than the loft.

fullstop

Titleist 975 Series

Currently using a Titleist 907 D2 with Fujikura Speeder 757 Tour Spec X-Stiff shaft.......and before anyone starts talking about using it for my ego, I can hit it just fine thanks, and quite high :rolleyes: