Tips for buying driver/woods

Vorsprung

Hi lads,

First time poster in this forum but have been lurking for a while!

I'm relatively new to the game and bought a new set of irons during the year, playing a lot better as the year has gone on. I purposely didn't buy a driver/woods because I wanted to try out the ones my mates were using, and with sales on now I'm thinking of getting a driver and maybe a 3 wood.

My mates' drivers are a bit outside my price range, so not quite sure how I'd go about trying out drivers (was lucky enough that I knew someone with the irons I ended up getting). Are there golf stores with nets or another way to test them out?

Was looking at this Wilson driver as one potential, anyone have any other suggestions for a first time driver?

Creasy_bear

Vorsprung wrote: »

Hi lads,

First time poster in this forum but have been lurking for a while!

I'm relatively new to the game and bought a new set of irons during the year, playing a lot better as the year has gone on. I purposely didn't buy a driver/woods because I wanted to try out the ones my mates were using, and with sales on now I'm thinking of getting a driver and maybe a 3 wood.

My mates' drivers are a bit outside my price range, so not quite sure how I'd go about trying out drivers (was lucky enough that I knew someone with the irons I ended up getting). Are there golf stores with nets or another way to test them out?

Was looking at this Wilson driver as one potential, anyone have any other suggestions for a first time driver?

Some places will let you tape a driver up, so you can take it out. Or you could just try out a 2nd hand driver. No one on here can tell you what driver will suit you. You need to try a few out. Personally I wouldn't buy a wilson driver though. Why don't you try your mates drivers then try to pick one of them up 2nd hand??

It's all about finding a shaft that suits you, moreso than the actually head of the driver. There's f all difference between the top driver heads imo.

GreeBo

+1 on not buying the wilson driver, you will get a better driver for the same price
look for last seasons cobras or taylormades or pings

if you are a beginner I dont think it matters what type of driver you have that much, what handicap are you (or around)?
I wouldnt get fitted etc as you will probbaly have many drastic changes over the next 10 years or so
Id pickup a stock 10.5 with a regular shaft (or stiff if you have a fast swing) match your irons.

Senna

Have you hit any of your mates drivers and liked them? if you can tell us a driver you hit (and its spec) we could recommend something close but within budget.

Is there a pro shop at your club? or did you buy your irons in a local shop?
Most of them will let you try out a second-hand driver, I would recommend second-hand over new.

Vorsprung

Thanks for the replies lads.

The driver I got on best with was a Callaway x driver, looking at pics on the net I'm pretty sure it was an x460. Another one was a Wilson driver, probably hit it less far but was decent all the same, not sure of the model. I bought my irons in Halpennys.

Senna, I'm not in a club because work isn't the most forgiving and I work a lot of weekends when my mates are obviously out playing, but I'm hoping that will change this year! I don't have a handicap but I am starting to get a few pars, played Druid's Heath and had 4 of them. Had some howlers too though!

I suppose the main thing is to try them out, take your points about second hand clubs. I know trying them out depends on what the various places have, but are there any particular pro shops you'd recommend? I'm in Dublin city centre. The larger retail stores don't do second hand clubs I guess?

FixdePitchmark

Go for a 2nd hand top of the range from 2 or 3 years ago.

Titleist 910 or 911.
Seen a 910 for 150 euro with a great shaft - could not believe it.

Golfers are fools (me too) , they change every year so the 2nd hand market has great reductions.

There must be a mountain of R11 -s (plural) out there.

The technology , is on the edge of bull****, so not sure if some of these new clubs will last as long as "de old days" - so make sure it looks newish.

But if you find a new one that suits , you'd give your granny and a fiver with her for it.


BTW that 150 euro would get you 5 lessons with a good pro these days - you won't even need a driver - jesus my transformation is complete , don't stay on here too long, it is a zombie land.

Creasy_bear

Vorsprung wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads.

The driver I got on best with was a Callaway x driver, looking at pics on the net I'm pretty sure it was an x460. Another one was a Wilson driver, probably hit it less far but was decent all the same, not sure of the model. I bought my irons in Halpennys.

Senna, I'm not in a club because work isn't the most forgiving and I work a lot of weekends when my mates are obviously out playing, but I'm hoping that will change this year! I don't have a handicap but I am starting to get a few pars, played Druid's Heath and had 4 of them. Had some howlers too though!

I suppose the main thing is to try them out, take your points about second hand clubs. I know trying them out depends on what the various places have, but are there any particular pro shops you'd recommend? I'm in Dublin city centre. The larger retail stores don't do second hand clubs I guess?

every pro shop/retail store has second hand. You should try a few out anyway. You should also try donedeal.ie/adverts.ie

Paranoid Android 2

Some very good advice there.

In my opinion something like this: http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/cobra-s3-driver-/cobc0602pd.html, would be far better quality than the Wilson driver you were looking at.

If you can, make sure you try a good few before you buy and go for whichever feels comfortable and performs the best for you.

mike12

Halpenny in airside always have a good selection of second hand drivers i'd say go for a Taylormade R9, if you don't like the shaft you could pick up a replacement for 40/50 quid. I'm pretty sure if you don't like it within a week they well let you change it for another second hand one.
Mike

blue note

Paranoid Android 2 wrote: »

Some very good advice there.

In my opinion something like this: http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/cobra-s3-driver-/cobc0602pd.html, would be far better quality than the Wilson driver you were looking at.

If you can, make sure you try a good few before you buy and go for whichever feels comfortable and performs the best for you.

I have a cobra s9 driver and love it. I think the s3 is 2 editions newer, so that sounds like a great deal to me.

GreeBo

blue note wrote: »

I have a cobra s9 driver and love it. I think the s3 is 2 editions newer, so that sounds like a great deal to me.

I have it an its a grand driver.

ShivasIrons

Vorsprung wrote: »

Hi lads,

First time poster in this forum but have been lurking for a while!

I'm relatively new to the game and bought a new set of irons during the year, playing a lot better as the year has gone on. I purposely didn't buy a driver/woods because I wanted to try out the ones my mates were using, and with sales on now I'm thinking of getting a driver and maybe a 3 wood.

My mates' drivers are a bit outside my price range, so not quite sure how I'd go about trying out drivers (was lucky enough that I knew someone with the irons I ended up getting). Are there golf stores with nets or another way to test them out?

Was looking at this Wilson driver as one potential, anyone have any other suggestions for a first time driver?

The Wilson driver isn't bad but nobody can tell you what driver will suit you without knowing your swing. I would say go ahead and get fitted for a driver. You should be able to get fitted for around €50 and it will be money well spent. From the fitting recommendations it should be possible to pick up a second hand club that will perform very well for around €100-€150.

Some myths about fitting that you should disregard
You're not good enough to be fitted - worst advice - would you buy a suit without knowing your measurements
It's all about the shaft - it's not - it's about the whole club - the grip can even change the characteristics of a club
Other myths include, the longer the shaft the further the ball will go, the bigger the head the better and the lower the loft the more distance.

Go ahead and get fitted you won't regret it. Fore Golf and Pure Golf in Leopardstown are good places to go.

GreeBo

^ You honestly think that someone just playing the game barely a year needs to get fitted for their first driver?
At this stage even your setup is probably going to change, drastically...what does that do for your fitted club?

Its going to cost an additional 50% of the price of the club, I'd highly recommend using the €50 for a lesson instead.

ShivasIrons

GreeBo wrote: »

^ You honestly think that someone just playing the game barely a year needs to get fitted for their first driver?
At this stage even your setup is probably going to change, drastically...what does that do for your fitted club?

Its going to cost an additional 50% of the price of the club, I'd highly recommend using the €50 for a lesson instead.

Yes, how do you know what club suits unless you get fitted for one?

A good pro/clubfitter is the person to decide whether a fitting or a lesson is more important and could probably do both at once.

mike12

GreeBo wrote: »

^ You honestly think that someone just playing the game barely a year needs to get fitted for their first driver?
At this stage even your setup is probably going to change, drastically...what does that do for your fitted club?

Its going to cost an additional 50% of the price of the club, I'd highly recommend using the €50 for a lesson instead.

Agree someone learning the game is likely to improve and gain swing speed if you already have a quick swing get a stiff shaft if not get a regular. in a years time go for a fitting or if you are hitting it great don't bother.
10 MPH in swing speed will give you a completely different reading and you will see if you went on a launch monitor 3 days in a row u will get 3 different speeds.
Mike

GreeBo

ShivasIrons wrote: »

Yes, how do you know what club suits unless you get fitted for one?

A good pro/clubfitter is the person to decide whether a fitting or a lesson is more important and could probably do both at once.

Suits what though?
The swing I put together myself over the last few months and is likely to change as soon as I get a lesson?

Paranoid Android 2

I don't think a formal fitting would be necessary but a static fitting (measuring height for shaft length, hand size for grip thickness etc.) could be useful. However, make sure you're comfortable with these recommendations as they can be right according to the research but not for the individual.

I'm sceptical as to whether most golfers (including me) get significant benefit from custom fitting. Custom fitting is a snapshot of your swing for one day and as we all know it's quite hard to repeat a swing for every shot in every round. I do think people who can repeat a swing the majority of the time would benefit greatly from it but the added expense (price of the fit and the fact it is generally only for newer models) is not worth it for those on a budget or who aren't very consistent.

Anybody who wants to sell you a driver will try make sure they give you something suitable or else you're guaranteed to never buy from them again. Therefore, it's no harm to ask someone who knows what they're talking about (professional) what will suit. If they don't ask you questions and explain why they'd recommend a certain driver from what you told them then I'd jump ship elsewhere.

To a certain degree I think players can grow into clubs and their swings can adjust to the performance of new clubs.

ShivasIrons

mike12 wrote: »

Agree someone learning the game is likely to improve and gain swing speed if you already have a quick swing get a stiff shaft if not get a regular. in a years time go for a fitting or if you are hitting it great don't bother.
10 MPH in swing speed will give you a completely different reading and you will see if you went on a launch monitor 3 days in a row u will get 3 different speeds.
Mike

This doesn't happen, you won't get three significantly different swing speeds three days in a row. There is also a lot more to shafts and clubfitting than if you swing at 95mph get a stiff shaft and if you swing 10mph less get a regular shaft.##

ShivasIrons

Paranoid Android 2 wrote: »

I don't think a formal fitting would be necessary but a static fitting (measuring height for shaft length, hand size for grip thickness etc.) could be useful. However, make sure you're comfortable with these recommendations as they can be right according to the research but not for the individual.

I'm sceptical as to whether most golfers (including me) get significant benefit from custom fitting. Custom fitting is a snapshot of your swing for one day and as we all know it's quite hard to repeat a swing for every shot in every round. I do think people who can repeat a swing the majority of the time would benefit greatly from it but the added expense (price of the fit and the fact it is generally only for newer models) is not worth it for those on a budget or who aren't very consistent.

Anybody who wants to sell you a driver will try make sure they give you something suitable or else you're guaranteed to never buy from them again. Therefore, it's no harm to ask someone who knows what they're talking about (professional) what will suit. If they don't ask you questions and explain why they'd recommend a certain driver from what you told them then I'd jump ship elsewhere.

To a certain degree I think players can grow into clubs and their swings can adjust to the performance of new clubs.

One of my other favourite myths, my swing varies so much from day to day a fitting wouldn't work for me. Golfers swings don't vary anywhere near the amount people think.

As for golfers not benefiting from fitting, read about this lady.

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-digest-woman/blogs/golf-digest-woman/2012/08/85-year-old-pauline-gets-a-gam.html

GreeBo

Whitacre picked up the game as a 10-year-old at her parents' club in Canton back in 1937, and broke 80 for the first time at age 14. She went on to play college golf (long before there really was such a thing) at Ohio State, where she lost to LPGA co-founder Marilynn Smith in the semifinals of the National Intercollegiate. After getting married, she won the Ohio State Amateur Championship three times and the Ohio Invitational Senior Championship at least six times (she can't quite remember). To this day, she competes regularly, and she hasn't lost an ounce of drive (she was even featured on the local news at last year's Ohio Senior Women's Amateur Championship, where she competed in the Super Seniors division).

Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-digest-woman/blogs/golf-digest-woman/2012/08/85-year-old-pauline-gets-a-gam.html#ixzz2GIvuoOqn

Hardly comparable with someone buying their first driver within their first year of playing?
I think that article supports my view point more than it does yours tbh!

Senna

€50 spent on lessons is far more beneficial than €50 spent on a fitting.

I'd recommend something like this EBAY LINK, Its 10' and has a brilliant reg shaft, its definitely an easy driver to hit (i had one for ages) and probably a good starting point for most people that have only just taken up the game.

Paranoid Android 2

I've used several types of fitting simulators and the variation of my clubhead speed with the same club has been up to 15 mph on average depending on the day. So there is clearly a big gulf in the accuracy of the technology used or a variation in my own clubhead speed.

There are so many variables involved that it seems pointless unless the person being fitted is somewhat consistent. Only then will some variables be constant or have negligible variation.

What happens if someone gets fitted on a cold day where their muscles are short and tense and the ball won't compress as much as it does in hot weather? Surely the club fitted to them would be suited to these atmospheric conditions.

I really don't think fitting is good advice for the OP if he is watching his budget. He's starting out and will surely develop his swing through practice, guidance and watching others. I don't think anyone has the same swing as they did when they started out, if this were the case I'd still be digging up golf courses and readying them for the sowing season.

If budget wasn't a concern I'd tell the OP to get fitted on every type of fitting machine he can find by loads of professionals and in all sorts of weather. Then he cumulate the results and pick the best on average. Not all fitting places will have the same club component options (another variable) so it may not be possible to do this effectively.

Then I'd tell him to buy each component (shaft, clubhead, grip, grip tape, swing weights, ferrules, glue) of the club he chose 10 times. Then he should go to a different club fitter to build each club and then try each of these ten drivers on several launch monitors again and see which one is best. He would need to do this as there can be a variations between one component and another although they look identical.

Only after this would I say that he could be genuinely satisfied that he has been 'fit' for a golf club.

As you probably get, this is contrived madness but points out that even a club fitting won't ever be optimised. As with any type of analysis results can only be reliably interpreted when variables don't have extreme variation and the majority of the them are accounted for.

In the OP and most people's cases I believe there is too much variation to accurately recommend a club based on a fit. I think it would be more beneficial for the OP to buy a decent, well priced club that a knowledgable professional recommended to him and get a few lessons/dvds/books to help develop his swing. When he feels comfortable that he has a consistent shot shape and trajectory maybe then it will be time for fitting.

It's too easy to send people down the fitting route these days when there is no need.

saintastic

I think that every golfer should get fitted, mainly for the shaft. The shaft makes a massive difference to any golfer when it comes to driving.

Or alternatively, I would try your different friend's drivers (as many as possible) and when you find a driver that you feel hits the ball the best - mainly in terms of accuracy, look for another driver second hand with the same shaft, not necessarily with the same head. And try using that for a while. If it doesn't work out, you can sell the driver and start the process again.

Vorsprung

Thanks a million for all the replies, great advice, delighted I asked in the first place!

I think I'm going to hold off for a little bit, might borrow a driver for the next couple of months and spend a little bit of time/money on lessons. I'll keep an eye out for second hand drivers in the meantime anyway.

Thanks again!

ShivasIrons

GreeBo wrote: »

Hardly comparable with someone buying their first driver within their first year of playing?
I think that article supports my view point more than it does yours tbh!

So if I'm buying a pair of trousers and have never bought one before, I should just take a pair of 36 regular off a stand and buy those because that is what the average size is?

ShivasIrons

Paranoid Android 2 wrote: »

I've used several types of fitting simulators and the variation of my clubhead speed with the same club has been up to 15 mph on average depending on the day. So there is clearly a big gulf in the accuracy of the technology used or a variation in my own clubhead speed.

There are so many variables involved that it seems pointless unless the person being fitted is somewhat consistent. Only then will some variables be constant or have negligible variation.

What happens if someone gets fitted on a cold day where their muscles are short and tense and the ball won't compress as much as it does in hot weather? Surely the club fitted to them would be suited to these atmospheric conditions.

I really don't think fitting is good advice for the OP if he is watching his budget. He's starting out and will surely develop his swing through practice, guidance and watching others. I don't think anyone has the same swing as they did when they started out, if this were the case I'd still be digging up golf courses and readying them for the sowing season.

Your swing doesn't vary that much. There are inconsistencies in launch monitors,find a TrackMan it's the most accurate.

Fitting is always the way to go, why take the chance on using clubs off the rack that could promote swing compensations?


http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/2009-09/new_looks_club_fitting

Senna

For those that are adamant for getting a fitting, do you believe money spent on a fitting is better than using that same money for lessons? Remembering the OP is only new to the game.

GreeBo

ShivasIrons wrote: »

So if I'm buying a pair of trousers and have never bought one before, I should just take a pair of 36 regular off a stand and buy those because that is what the average size is?

I will assume that is a tongue in cheek question as it makes no sense.
I can adjust my swing to hit a good shot with any club, I cannot adjust my waist or leg length.

ShivasIrons wrote: »

Fitting is always the way to go, why take the chance on using clubs off the rack that could promote swing compensations?

Why take the chance that the fitting will ingrain poor posture, swing mechanics?

Senna wrote: »

Remembering the OP is only new to the game.

This.
There are arguments for and against fitting for a solid, consistent player, for a complete newcomer? No argument.

ShivasIrons

Senna wrote: »

For those that are adamant for getting a fitting, do you believe money spent on a fitting is better than using that same money for lessons? Remembering the OP is only new to the game.

The answer to this and any other golf technique question is it depends... You can't give advice unless you see the golfer. What's right for one golfer isn't necessarily right for the next one.


A good fitter/pro will recognise which is the bigger problem, clubs or technique, and address that problem first.

ShivasIrons

GreeBo wrote: »

I will assume that is a tongue in cheek question as it makes no sense.
I can adjust my swing to hit a good shot with any club, I cannot adjust my waist or leg length.


Why take the chance that the fitting will ingrain poor posture, swing mechanics?


This.
There are arguments for and against fitting for a solid, consistent player, for a complete newcomer? No argument.

How can properly fit clubs ingrain poor posture and swing mechanics? Incorrect length, lie, shaft, head will need compensations in the swing to make the clubs work, the whole idea behind fitting is to eliminate the wrong specifications.

Even a complete newcomer to golf, without ever having hit a golf shot should get a static fitting, length, lie, grip thickness, etc.

Give me one reason why a solid consistent player shouldn't be fitted?

GreeBo

ShivasIrons wrote: »

How can properly fit clubs ingrain poor posture and swing mechanics? Incorrect length, lie, shaft, head will need compensations in the swing to make the clubs work, the whole idea behind fitting is to eliminate the wrong specifications.

Even a complete newcomer to golf, without ever having hit a golf shot should get a static fitting, length, lie, grip thickness, etc.

Give me one reason why a solid consistent player shouldn't be fitted?

- Because if I have poor posture and go for a fitting I will be fitted for that posture. If I stand too close to the ball then the lie angle will be adjusted to compensate for this and now I will always have to stand this close to the ball.

- Unless you are well outside the average I believe a static fitting can be done by yourself, off the shelf.

- Because, again unless you are outside the average, the money will be better spent on lessons imo.