Drivers - Which one? So many options and ways to purchase!

poteen

Im in the market for a new Driver. I have the following questions.

1. Whats the latest highly rated driver now. I have read alot of positive things about the Taylormade SLDR but TM seem to release new drivers every other month so their equipment outdates quickly.

2. Spending money on a driver , would you recommend getting fitted and where in Ireland is best for this?

3. purchase online or a shop?

4. What other drives for a medium / high handicap player do you advise?

Thanks.

charlieIRL

Everybody has a different preference when it comes to clubs, my advice would be to go to somewhere where you can try a few out and then make up your mind. I went through three before i settled on a replacement for a driver that broke on me. Its not the latest model but it does the job for me.

First Up

poteen wrote: »

Im in the market for a new Driver. I have the following questions.

1. Whats the latest highly rated driver now. I have read alot of positive things about the Taylormade SLDR but TM seem to release new drivers every other month so their equipment outdates quickly.

2. Spending money on a driver , would you recommend getting fitted and where in Ireland is best for this?

3. purchase online or a shop?

4. What other drives for a medium / high handicap player do you advise?

Thanks.

Definitely not online, unless you know exactly the specification you need. I would always recommend getting tested and having a reputable professional advise you. I've used a few places (some no longer in business) and I can recommend Fore Golf with confidence. But any good club pro can do it, or somewhere like McGuirks.

Unless you are a seriously low handicapper or aspiring pro, the odds of you benefiting from the "latest" (and dearest) driver are negligible. Don't be dazzled by the hype and brand promotion. Get the spec that suits you and then look for a deal.

spacecoyote

Buying the newest does not necessarily mean buying the best.

From my experience of Taylor Made woods, you will be getting an easy to hit club that will travel.

I have a Titleist 910D2 at the moment, which is not Titleist's latest.

I recently compared it out on the range to the Titleist 913D2 & the Ping G25.

In order of performance, the results of my hits would have been:

1. 913D2
2. 910D2
3. G25

So for me, my old 910 outperformed Pings latest. But the Ping is a very forgiving driver & easy to hit.

The 913 was overall better than my 910, but I don't know that it was significantly enough to warrant an upgrade.

Most ranges will let you try out clubs, so take advantage of that.

Different clubs will work better/worse for different people.

I have a TM 3-wood which is great to hit & really travels, and most pro's will tell you that you are getting more technology in your club with TM than with pretty much any other manufacturer. They do have the shortest shelf-life in terms of new club launches of pretty mych everyone, but that doesn't mean that you should worry about your club being out-dated. A good TM driver today, will still be good when they come out with the new SLDR 2.0 Ultra-Mega Driver tomorrow.

Russman

spacecoyote wrote: »

A good TM driver today, will still be good when they come out with the new SLDR 2.0 Ultra-Mega Driver tomorrow.

Exactly, the "older" club doesn't know there's a new model out.

Op, if you can, get some sort of fitting to even just get an idea of what specs you need. I think McGuirks knock the cost of the fit off the price if you decide to buy. Can't go wrong with most of the major manufacturers, they all make good stuff, whatever one works for you and you like the look of.

peepee

The most important things to get right with a Driver is Weight, Flex and Loft.
The weight of the shaft on its own and relative to the head is important. The flex depends on your swing speed. Finally the loft,; Some people feel if they are better golfers they should be using lower lofts but I've played with a few good golfers this year (single figure hcappers) who are using 12 degree drivers with extremely light shafts. Personally I dont think the brand matters too much. Ping/Callaway/TM/Mizuno/Titleist all manufacture good drivers

You should either try out as many variations as you can yourself in an outdoor range or just go get professionally fitted (in an outdoor range).

ryaner777

I purchased a second hand callaway from mcguirks in airside. The bloke in the shop agreed with me that if I didn't like it after a week I could return it for a full refund no questions asked. Maybe check your local shops or club to see if they've any second hand models on sale ?