Best Driver?

[gord962]

Re: Best Driver?

Here is a portion of one of the newsletters I receive that surveys golfers:

What is the best driver?

The Brands listed below had the highest level of satisfied customers. We have separated the replies into handicap ranges.

Handicap range 0 to 10
1. TaylorMade
2. Ping
3. Cleveland

Handicap range 11 to 20
1. Ping
2. Taylor Made
3. Cleveland

Handicap range 21+
1. Ping
2. Cobra
3. Cleveland


DRIVER MODELS: the ratings are based on responders’ satisfaction with their present and previous drivers, as well as the length of time owned and number of days played.

Scratch to 10 handicap golfers
1. Ping G5
2. Titleist 905S
3. Callaway BB Fusion FT3
4. Cleveland Launcher 460
5. TaylorMade R7

11 to 20 Handicap range
1. Ping G5
2. Cobra 400 SZ
3. KZG Gemini
4. Ping G2
5. TaylorMade R5

21+ Handicap range
1. King Cobra 440SZ
2. Taylor Made R7
3. Taylor Made R5
4. Ping G2
5. Cleveland Launcher 460

Women of all Handicaps
1. Ping G2
2. Taylor Made R580
3. Cobra 400SZ
4. Cleveland Launcher 460

[jbrunk]

Re: Best Driver?

I have been a titleist man for as long as I have been playing (7 years), but I just got a hold of the R7 Quad TP with Speeder Shaft and wowee! I have never hit a Taylor club i have liked until this one. The shaft is big, but it seems to stay in the air forever.

[james.welsh]

Re: Best Driver?

Here is a portion of one of the newsletters I receive that surveys golfers:

What is the best driver?

The Brands listed below had the highest level of satisfied customers.

The only problem with "satisfaction" (which is a highly subjective quantity) is that it probably has more to do with the "Brand" of the club and how good the owner feels having that club in the bag vs. the actual performance of the club.

Take one of those golfing robots, and get it to wack away at balls with various drivers. Will any driver come up on top? They all have to fit within USGA/R&A specs. If there was actually one driver that worked better over all the others, don't you think the pros would use it?

Tiger uses a Nike driver. He's the best, so wouldn't you think the Ignite or whatever he's using would be the best?

The thing is most of the game of golf -- once you get past the mechanics -- is in the mind. So can you buy confidence? Maybe in the end I've come full circle. Satisfaction may equal confidence in some ways. Given all the other variables in golf -- and our ****py swings -- confidence is all you need to consider.

One thing I know is my buddy can hit a drive a long way. It doesn't matter which driver he uses. Callaway, Mizuno, Taylor Made, Canadaian Tire Chinese, Persimmon, whatever.

[LowPost42]

Re: Best Driver?

James, your post, in a nutshell, is pretty much why I don't buy OEMs - too much money for the product, and not enough customization.

For the same money as a full set of clubs from an OEM, I can get on a launch monitor, get a full set of component clubs fitted to me, and probably have enough left over for a lesson or two.

[ph_kingston]

Re: Best Driver?

It's a very valid point. For most of us I would think the performance of a club depends very much on how comfortable it feels at address which will come down to a few factors: looks, lie, shaft length, grip thickness and material and brand. The last one is certainly the most subjective; I would imagine that we'd all feel "happier" lining up with the new top of the range driver from a top manufacturer than a chinese knock-off.

That said, as Lowpost mentions, spend the time getting the right components together to fit your swing then you should end up with much better performance than an off the shelf club. Tiger may use a Nike Ignite but don't kid yourself that it's the same as you can buy in the stores; he will have spent a long, long time with the manufacturer customising the club to his exact specification.

[james.welsh]

Re: Best Driver?

Well Lowpost, I think I've had as much success and fun with a Brand name club as I've had with my no-name clubs. Putting a set together myself would probably add to the hooby part of the sport of gof, so maybe I'll take a trip down to GolfWorks or the GolfSmith website and the next time I want to get a 3 wood (which I need) I'll get one that way instead.

The only thing is I like to try the club out before I buy it. Suggestions?

I love to buy clubs but I'm pretty sure it won't make a difference in my shot making. I'm going back to Mike the golf Guru at T-To-Green Golf School.

http://t-to-green.ca/

[LowPost42]

Re: Best Driver?

Hi James,

That's the tough part about a component club - it's tough to demo. GolfTown doesn't carry them, so you have to; a) know what you want to demo, then b) find someone who carries it so you can.

Might I suggest www.customclubshop.com if you're looking for a 3 wood? then grab yourself an Ashton X-1 3 wood. Now, if you like your face a little deeper, get the X-1D. I've got both (winter purchases) and am going to take them out when the grass dares to show itself, and hit them both off the deck to see which one I like more. I figure I'll like the X-1, as a taller face and a fairway wood are kind of scary. (That said, the face on the X-1D is as tall as my hybrids [Innovex RLS], so who knows?)

[james.welsh]

Re: Best Driver?

Hi James,

www.customclubshop.com[/url]

Are they in Canada or if not how is it across the border?

Have you tried http://www.golfsmithcanada.com/ca/

[LowPost42]

Re: Best Driver?

Hi James,

The CCS is in Mississauga. Morgan is great to deal with.

I've just recently learned about the Canadian counterpart to the US GolfSmith site (thanks Gord).

I really like some of the GolfSmith stuff (I'll be playing the Snake Eyes 600XC's this year), and flop between Golfsmith and Golfworks for my clubmaking supplies (but often look elsewhere for tools - I like Auditor stuff, and just bought an MR3 True Blue loft and lie machine).

My only knock against the CCS is that they don't carry a broad spectrum of inventory (But I do like what they carry - SMT and Ashton heads, and AccuFlex shafts).

The other company that I'm starting to get into is Aggressive Golf (www.aggressivegolf.com). Now, I'm a bit biased, as I've pretty much arranged myself to become the sole Canadian Distributor for their gear. None the less, between CCS for my 'high end' components, and golfoundry.com (another Canadian joint) for my clients that want clones (and some very good junior gear), I pretty much keep GS and GW for club supplies (epoxy, ferrules, weights, etc).

[gord962]

Re: Best Driver?

I too use CCS for 99% when buying heads and shafts. If you are seriously looking at component heads, look no further than Ashton. I have the X1 3 wood and the MS-5 driver. I can honestly say I hit my 3 wood further than I can hit 80% of the drivers on the market. For me, I average about 270 with my 3 wood, and I had about 4 or 5 tee shots last year creep over the 300 yard mark. With the shallow face you can hit the 3 wood off the thinnest lies and even off center hits come off well. If you like to work the ball, that is very esaily doable with this club - I can control the ball flight with this 3 wood better than any club I have in my bag. At $60 CDN it is the best deal on the market. If I lost my 3W and they raised the price to $200 for the head, I would still buy it again.

[msklar92]

Re: Best Driver?

??CDN -what does this stand for

[gord962]

Re: Best Driver?

??CDN -what does this stand for

CDN = Canadian

[LowPost42]

Re: Best Driver?

Come on Gord - we all know that you should be typing $60 CAD.

[gord962]

Re: Best Driver?

I know that, but I figure that would make it even MORE confusing for most who don't deal in Canadian currancy!

James, the list I posted is in regard to the original question of what do you think the best driver is. If it's an opinion being requested, the best answer is results from an opinion poll. Do I agree these are the ebst drivers? No, but I can't argue the stats that came from the survey. It's common sense that the top rated drivers (by opinion) will match top sales in drivers. Otherwise, they wouldn't be top sellers.

[Derv]

Re: Best Driver?

Just out of pure interest what do people think is the best driver? (i dont plan on buying one) im guessing people will say R7 but dunno



adz

yep I have an R7HT its added 30 Yards to my drives and it's so forgiving it should be baned !!