new driver options.

[pingerman]

i got a set of clubs 1 year ago and i just now caught the bug to play a lot.

well i broke the shaft on a used driver i got to go with the set. it was a Ping Karsten ISI (i think) 7 deg. i got it because it was $100.00 and i didn't know what i was buying. i never really learned to hit it. i could drive farther with my 3 wood than the driver.

so thinking out loud here are my options.
new top of the line ping driver. (draw, fade deg?) i have no idea. but at 300 i better guess right.

sporting goods store special. (30.00-75.00) my fareway woods are Adams and i can get an Adams driver to match.

used Ping drive that is a couple years old. again 150-200 so i better guess right.

what would you do if you were just starting out?

i have been target shooting for about 20 years and i can say i would never be able to reach my potential with a 200.00 rifle. if i spend 1500 i can get a target rifle. is it the same with golf clubs? can a person learn to drive long and well with a cheap driver? part of the reason i am considering this is i don't want to hack up a good club learning to hit it well.

thanks

[lgskywalker37]

Re: new driver options.

some people got angry at me before for posting this website, I don't think this is a scam. As you can see, I bought many clubs from them and because I am a good salesman (I got a little extra). but this company has been around for at least 4 year ( how old my clubs are) andI can hit my driver 280 yds so it is not too bad of a product. It is just a demo club that looked brand new to me when I got mine, didn't even see any marks on it. Down side is avilibilty, I think they only have regular shafts avilible now and a 9 and 10 deg left.

I took a ($150 value) nice brand new golf bag from them for free as well as a

9and 10 deg driver
3,5,7,9wood
3I-PW
and a decent white hot putter

I got all thoose clubs and the bad for a grand total of $200

might not be top of the line stuff, but I can't think of another place to get brand new custom fit clubs for $30 something bucks so I can't complain.

So you can get a cheap (free, you just pay $30 for shipping (no lie) ) club if you are worried about breaking it that hits about 20yds shorter than a Mizono I tried at a demo day

http://www.optingolfer.com/drivers.html

HTH

[canadian_man_44]

Re: new driver options.

some people got angry at me

HTH

If they got angry at you, then they really will get angry with me. My brother buys the best clubs with price being no concern. I'm a little more concerned with where my money goes since I'm not quite so well off as him. My first set of clubs(which I just replaced last month) I bought about 6 years ago at Walmart for $120. For 4 years my driver was a cheap Northwestern that came with the set while my brother has always played with the best drivers money can buy. Although my Walmart driver has been retired for a couple years, I can still take it out to the range or the course and outdrive him at least 95% of the time. He's a scratch golfer while I have a 12 handicap. He's had professional lessons, I've never had any. His clubhead speed was clocked at 125 mph(he's broken the face out of at least 3 top knotch drivers). Mine is around 95 mph. IMHO, the cost of a driver doesn't really matter. Get a shaft that is good for your clubhead speed and go with whatever head you want. My nephew hits the ball consistently 280 to 300 yards in the air with a cheap LOCO he picked up at some department store for petes sake.

[mariner]

Re: new driver options.

I've just bought a Ben Sayers Offset driver (offset meaning the face is hooded closed so you can't hit slices - it's great) for £29.
I'm 15 HC currently playing to 11 but I don't regard myself as good enough to warrant spending £200 on one club, I also don't believe you can buy a golf swing despite what the golf channel would have you think.

[ogallalabob]

Re: new driver options.

I have a Adams Redline 460 driver I got for $75 new off EBAY, that I love. I have tried Cleveland launchers and Callaway 454's and I would not trade my Adams for them.

But to answer your question, the first step if possible is to go to a golf store and see if you can get your swing speed checked, also try a few clubs on a launch moniter.

If you know your swing speed it really helps narrow down what you are looking for in a shaft. If you are on a launch moniter it helps to see what your normal ball flight with each club as well as a launch angle which may give you an idea of the loft you need.

If not then at least if you know I far you hit your other clubs might be a good idea as to your swing speed.

My guess is that you will need something of at least 10 degrees, 7 is way to low even low for most pro's these days.

As far as offsets, Draws etc. the big question is what is your ball flight now, what ball flight are you looking for and 2) how much do you want to work on your game to achieve that ball flight? also how ingrained is your current swing and do you want to change that swing?

I would avoind spending a lot of money if swing changes are going to occure, no matter what the cost of the club is if it has the wrong shaft, club head etc. for your swing it will hurt more then help.

Bob

[LowPost42]

Re: new driver options.

There are lots of component designs that, even when assembled with a high end quality shaft, still cost less than 50% of a brand new name brand driver.

[canadian_man_44]

Re: new driver options.

You could always try out a lot of your buddies drivers until you found what you really like and then buy one on Ebay for a fraction of the cost. Case in point, my brother just picked up a Titleist 905 R off Ebay for $250. The current MRSP is listed on titleist.com at $500.

[bill reed]

Re: new driver options.

hi
you could always take your old driver head to a ping shop and have your swing tested to find out what shaft fits you best for a driver and then have that fitted to your ping isi driver head, it would be cheaper than a new ping driver and the isi was used on tour for years by pros and some still have it in there bag, it is a very long driver and you need a swing speed of at lest 110 to hit a 7% driver well.
bill