Mid handicap, how important is "up to date" Driver?

[JackClark82]

Hey folks, new to the forum. I recenlty broke 90 and only just started to consistently hit fairways off the tee. Obviously not a coincidence.

Right now I average about 240 off the tee. Not enough to hit par 5's in 2 shots, but good enough for the fairly short courses around Nova Scotia.

As i'm currently playing with a 2 year old Wilson driver from a 13 Club set, is it worth it to spend some money on a used 2008 dirver, like a Cobra l4v or Callaway FTI etc....

Just looking for advice, thanks....

[PiKapp23]

The trust is technology in dirvers has not changed much in the last few years. If you are currently happy with your driver and you feel it is a good fit for you, then there isn't a real reason to buy new. If your current driver is from a all-in-one set then it is possible that it is not of the highest quality and in that case you might benefit from a new driver. If you decide to purchase a new driver try to get properly fit (as far as shaft flex, at least). If you do seek a new driver, models from 2007 or 2008 are just as good as the latest (not to mention cheaper).

[RocketSauce]

i would suggest getting a better driver. the drivers that come in those "complete set-ups" arent usually very good. if you get a better driver, you should see your scores improve slightly. get a decent used one off ebay. and your choices (FT-i and L4v) are both SOLID choices which i would recommend to anyone. they are both VERY forgiving drivers. while getting fit for a driver would be your best bet, with one of those 2 drivers you could just get a used one off ebay as long as you know which flex shaft you need and save a lot of money that way. all you really need to know in this case would be what your driver swingspeed is. then decide whether you need regular flex, stiff, or x flex....

[Fraser]

Welcome to the forum!

I'm not sure what a Wilson Overdrive is but for me getting a decent driver (the Callaway Biggest Big Bertha many years back) was what kicked off my handicap dropping from 36 down to 16. In todays market there are some great deals to be had and I think if you are having thoughts of switching out to a better club now's a great time.

On a related note I had a spare 30mins or so at the mall yesterday and went into Dick's Sporting Goods. I was looking at the new Callaway FT-IQ and the sales person was eager for me to try it in the simulator (must be desperate for sales!) so off I went. I was surprised to find out that I should probably be playing a stiff shafted driver instead of a regular flex. I didn't think I had that big a swing but there was a noticeable difference between the stiff and regular when I tried them which I haven't noticed with my current driver. The guy said I was probably naturally compensating for the small slice/fade I was putting on it with my current one. Pretty much all the regular flex shots faded away and the stiffs went surprisingly straight!

Food for thought for other mid to high handicappers.

[Stacey_E]

I'm not really familiar with that driver in your sig, but if you are hitting it well it might be OK. But if you were looking for an upgrade I'd look to a driver or a putter first. It seems you have some pretty good irons, and the Vokey sand wedge will serve you well. But you hit the driver probably 8-14 times a round and the putter about 30ish times. So investing in either of those would probably be wise.

Also, I do think it is an OK idea to go even 2 or 3 years old on a driver. The important thing is to make sure the loft of the head and the shaft flex fit you well. Other things to consider is shaft length, swing weight and flex profile (although the later is often reported to have little effect on ball flight unless you have a late wrist release).

I'd decide on a driver or putter. But either way you go, get some input from others by researching reviews on the web and in magazines. Once you've narrowed it down to some models you are interested in, go out and put those models in your hands and hit some balls on the range. The great thing about buying a driver used is that most stores will let you check them out and take them to the range or the course so you can see what they do for you in a real situation.

Good luck!...and welcome to the forums!

[RocketSauce]

yeah, i 2nd the putter thing too. get rid of that Knight putter. get yourself a decent Odyssey putter. you can get certain models pretty cheap on ebay.

[JackClark82]

Yah. I had thought about replacing hte putter. I'm pretty decent with that right now, I average 2 puts or less in the rounds I played this year. Prob only had 1 or two 3 puts in each of the rounds I played.

I had looked at the Nike OZ putters at the golf town stoer around here, and was really making eerything from everydistance I tried. Perhaps I'll go with that or something similiar for now and wait unitl spring when the ranges around here will open up again and I can test a dirver or two on the range. Thanks for the advice folks.

[Stacey_E]

If I may add one more thing?

If you were considering a Nike Oz, you might look into the Nike Unitized putters as well. I did the same and the reviews were pretty good. Plus for the price right now, I think they aren't much more than an OZ. My girlfriend is getting me one for Christmas that I found on TGW for $85. They were $250 a year or two ago. They are forged out of the same steel as the Cameron and Redwood putters (303 steel) and then the face is milled. Just thought I'd mention that in case you were looking into Nike putters. You could have your pick of models from the topline for just a few more dollars than an OZ.

But really putters are quite individualized. If you are dropping them with your Knight, keep playing it.

[Fraser]

I had looked at the Nike OZ putters at the golf town stoer around here, and was really making eerything from everydistance I tried.

I have a little theory about that, especially at some golf stores.

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16754 Since posting that thread back in August I've tried that putting green a few times and it is as noticeable, if not more than it was.

[titaniummd]

Hey folks, new to the forum. I recenlty broke 90 and only just started to consistently hit fairways off the tee. Obviously not a coincidence.

Most important is to have a driver that matches your swing parameters such as swing speed, launch angle and ball flight tendencies. I would recommend getting fitted versus just trial and error for a driver.

[ks8829]

My answer is maybe. My brother was hitting my old TM driver and he recently bought a Callaway, I think its a Ft-5 and it corrected his big slice and hitting some drivers almost as far as mine.

I would bring your driver and test out some at the golf store and see what result you consistently get and what price is worth the step up in accuracy and distance is worth to you, if any?

[hamletsdead]

If you're averaging less than 2 putts per green and like your putter why change it? I have a love/hate relationship with my putters, and have a bunch of them that I switch out according to how badly I putted. If I have 38 putts, then the putter comes out of the bag; if I have 28 putts, then whatever putter I had that day has favored-nation status until it betrays me again.

As far as drivers go, new is not necessarily better, and name-brand is not necessarily a measure of anything except money spent on advertising. 240 and in the fairway is pretty much happyland for most people. If you have to have a new driver (and I know the feeling, believe me), then ebay has a ton of last year's models on sale for $149 or less (marked down from $399), and www.callawaypreowned.com has great deals on Callys. I'm pretty sure you can get the Hyper X there for $129. The technology this year isn't much changed -- just more hype, really.

[I KyotE I]

If you are hitting more fairways off the tee right now. it should only get better. I think that most people will agree that accuracy is better than distance and if you buy a new driver it is a hit or miss on you hitting it better or worse than your current one. That being said, it is always nice to have something new every now and then. do what you feel is best though. only you know your game and your learning curve. If distance is what you really want and are willing to take the risk of losing accuracy for a breif learning period then go for it. Congrats on taking over the 90 mark.

[ebough]

I asked myself this question. The best answer I read (somewhere) was: "If the pros use 460 drivers what makes you think you shouldn't."

So I went out to the driving range with my old driver and four demos. Simple fact, and not very surprising, is that the bigger heads provide more consistency. The sweet spot is bigger. Slight mis-hits go further than they would otherwise.

Really this is simple physics and statistics. If nothing else in your swing changes, a bigger driver that feels comfortable will give you better results.

To go back to my first comment. Pros have nearly flawless consistent swings and don't change equipment for any reason other than results. Almost all use 460 drivers of one kind or another.

[Grndslmhttr3]

I have a Nike Sumo2 (not the newer model) and it hits bombs. I probably won't be getting a new one for a couple years or so.

[ks8829]

bring your driver into the golf store and try out as many other driver you are considering and what the sales person recommends you try and see how the distance and forgiveness on the launch monitor is between your driver and the ones you are considering.

If price is an issue buy the same make driver used on ebay. I feel you can still buy a great driver for about $150 - $200s used.

[trooper]

putter...keep your head down.dont look up til ball is halfway to hole.driver,get an accurate "swing speed,ball speed isnt good enough.dont by into the hype. a certified golf fitter,npt some one froma spoirting goods store,will build you a driver for about 250.it wont have a fancy name but it will go farther than anything that phony from the sporting goods store will sell you...and... it will be made for YOU, not 5 million other people.good luck

[Goonsidious]

Do you have a golfsmith near you? they have a deal going on for Callaway ft-iz drivers [my avatar]. i bought mine for 99$ and was in the same boat as you.. except I had about a 10yr old driver.

i hits like a dream.. and its amazing what a newer driver, different design driver will do for you. So I do recommend you upgrade, you WILL feel a difference.

Just make sure it's the same length you're use to.. unless u want it longer/shorter Callaway ft-iz are 45"