Taylormade drivers/shafts

ankles

Have an old Calloway Big Bertha 2 (Antiques Golfshow!) and think its time to bite the bullet. It was a firm (but not stiff) shaft 10 degree and I hit it well. Have narrowed myself down to Taylormade Burner/Tour Burner. I have a quick swing (too quick, I won't change it at this stage), so was wondering should I take the stiff or regular shaft. Is the Taylor made a stiff stiff, if you know what I mean.

Also, have heard conflicting views on Burner v Tour Burner. One view is Tour only for good golfers wanting to work the ball (no point pretending here...). Others saying it is more advanced than regular Burner and would help anyone.

Any views out there? I know the Burner is a "good club", a few mates have it already. Just shaft and version.

Oh, I will be getting a 10.5 loft.

DonkeyPokerTour

Couple of Quick Questions:
You say you've narrowed it down to the TaylorMade Burner/Tour Burner, how did you narrow it down to this, by looking at websites? By Playing the Clubs?

Basically what I'm getting at is the old addage that comes up time and time again on boards. Try it. You really only get a feel for a club when you have played with it. Try the Burner and Tour Burner, try the Ping G10, try the Callaway Hyper X, and then decide which you like best. Also you should be able to try each one in a reg and stiff and 9/10.5/12 versions.

Regards
Ian

ShriekingSheet

Funnily enough, I just played with a guy at the weekend who had gotten one of these recently.

Straight off, an older model Callaway firm flex is definitely comparable to the modern TM regular flex. The old Callway strong flex would be more like the stiff TM.

Anyway, the guy I played with, as a good ball striker and a very competant 10 h'capper, had always been advised to use an S flex driver. But when buying the Burner (not the Tour one) he went for regular and I have to say, he was nailing the thing and full of praise for the suggestion to move from S to R shaft.

I always say, if in doubt, go with the softer shaft. You'll do better with something that's slightly too weak than something that's too stiff.

I did it myself this year - moving from an X to an S flex and from 6.5 rifle irons to 6.0. It's logical given that I practice less and might not be as strong a player as I was but either way, it's something I've benefitted hugely from and to anyone like yourself who's unsure, I'd definitely advise the regular shaft.

As for the Tour head or normal one, it really doesn't make a world of difference, despite what the marketing bunk or a user of the Tour head who "likes to work the ball" will try to tell you. The normal one is marginally more forgiving I think so I don't know why ou wouldnt just go with that. If you really like the look of the Tour one behind the ball though don't be afraid to go with it. Liking how it sits is a big plus with a driver.

nige1982

I have a burner Reg 9.5 great driver and very forgiving I had the 10.5 and changed to the 9.5 as was hitting it very high, try one of your mates drivers dont just go for the most expensive one im the shop it mighnt suit

Machman

One thing to notice with TM driver shafts is the TIP rating. I have an R7 9.5, stiff shaft, stiff tip. There are softer tip versions available. The shaft stiffness is needed for swing speed & accuarcy, and the tip stiffness helps/reduces launch angle, so if you are buying 'off the shelf' don't just read the shaft rating.

ShriekingSheet

Machman wrote: »

One thing to notice with TM driver shafts is the TIP rating. I have an R7 9.5, stiff shaft, stiff tip. There are softer tip versions available. The shaft stiffness is needed for swing speed & accuarcy, and the tip stiffness helps/reduces launch angle, so if you are buying 'off the shelf' don't just read the shaft rating.

Yeah great point.

Going with a little more loft and a stiffer tip and give great control.

ThunderCat

Dunno what process you went through to narrow your choice down to the Burner/Tour Burner but what i will say is dont rule out the Ping G10. I tried out the Burner (not tour burner) amoung others when i was looking to change and for me the Ping G10 was the best of the lot. I felt more comfortable with it than anything else and it just flies off the face. I know its all personal opinion but you should keep your options open and not just go by what a magazine or fancy ad tells you. I got a stiff V2 prolaunch shaft on mine. Its the business. Good luck with it.

PS - You may want to wait till next month when the TaylorMade R9 is released if you are dead set on a TaylorMade. May suit you better than the Burner/Tour Burner.

ankles

Thanks for the tips. I tried a few clubs and Taylormades were singing in the range (du dum tish). Calloways sounded weird. Pings I just couldn't hit welll for some reason. They tried to push a r7 Limited edition on me but I'm not interested in shelling out €3-400. So that means the Burner. Plan is to go to Ebay once I decide.Never heard of this TIP thing. Never mentioned to me by the shops. Where would I spot it on the club?

DonkeyPokerTour

With so many acronyms now in golf (MOI,CG etc) I may be wrong but i think the mean tip as in the end of the club, open to correction.

For those in the know, is it similar to Kick points?

Regards
Ian

ankles

Thanks DPT. I think its a stiff tip regular flex, which sounds like a reasonable combination to me. Time to start haggling on ebay. Will let you know how it goes:)

soundsham

the difference is a stiff tip is for the stronger player swinging faster
the softer tip is for the older or not as strong player who needs more help to get the ball airborne

ThunderCat

Word of Warning OP - be very very careful buying your club from ebay. There are so many fake clubs on it at the moment. The new thing now is that you think you are safe by buying off someone in the UK for example, but when the club is shipped to you it comes from China and not the UK at all. Its all one big scam.

Have a look at the pics attatched - one of them is a fake but its very hard to tell.

Wobs

How do you tell what kind of a tip it has? I just looked at mine and it doesn't give any indiacation on it.

Thundercat I would say the one on the left is the fake!

Kimbot

ankles wrote: »

Thanks for the tips. I tried a few clubs and Taylormades were singing in the range (du dum tish). Calloways sounded weird. Pings I just couldn't hit welll for some reason. They tried to push a r7 Limited edition on me but I'm not interested in shelling out €3-400. So that means the Burner. Plan is to go to Ebay once I decide.Never heard of this TIP thing. Never mentioned to me by the shops. Where would I spot it on the club?

Mate, the burner is only €165 in the Golf Creche in Dundrum and McGuirks are selling them at €179 I think it is.

That is fantastic value for a brand new driver of its quality.

From what I remember its only the newer Burner that does the tip difference. I used to hit a stiff shaft TM driver and with the burner I went for Reg and its unreal how well I hit them now.

ThunderCat

Yea the one on the left is the fake. Apparently the red paint on it isnt as dark as it should be. Of course on Ebay you wouldnt have the real one to compare it against.

ehutchroi

ankles, dont listen to anybody about drivers, shafts or anything else without being fitted, you should never "narrow it down" without hitting shots infront of a launch monitor and a person who actually knows what they are talking about, how can anybody tell you what head and shaft would best suit you with detail you gave of your swing, "quick".

My recommendation to you is to find an expert you have confidence in and at least hit 10 shots, there is a reason companys like taylor made and titleist carry over 100 shaft options !!!

ankles

Just an update. A couple of rounds to get used to it. It's going like a bomb when I get a good coil on it. Never hit anything as long. Wow. So you can take that as a recommendation