Demo a driver on the course vs. hitting into a net

Is it better to demo a new driver on the course rather than hit it into a net at a golf store?

I like to see the hitting stats in store, ignoring distance, and then on the range see how the ball flight is and the real distance.

I like that idea, knowing the ball spin etc is good info to have, but how do you try a new driver, such as the R11s on the range? I would love to hit it on the range, or even better, on the course!

I was allowed to demo by securing the price of the club with a credit card.  I had 24 hours to return it unblimished or as close to it as possible.

That's sounds great. I need to find a place like that in AZ. Could you demo newly released drivers, or were they at least a year old?

Thanks for the info.

Im pretty sure they would let me hit any of them as long as the credit card was good.  Also, Look for an outdoor demo day or a fitter that will let you take it for a test drive, but it may cost you some money though.

Hitting into a net won't tell you much unless there's also a launch monitor. And then, only if you are also hitting your current driver for a direct comparison. No matter how inaccurate the monitor may be, it's inaccurate for both clubs so you can still see if one works better than the other. On the course would be best if you can find a course that will let you take one out and play with it. There are a couple of courses around me that will do that. I think TGW has a 30 day full refund no questions return policy on clubs.

The golf course/driving range I practice at gets lots of demos but they don't seem to advertise it. They will let folks they know take any demo to any course for a few days. I would ask at the ranges you frequent.

I've found that demo days are probably the best way to try and select a driver.  Hitting into a net no matter what the technology is so contrived and I just think that having the flexibility to try out a club in a real environment is the way to go...

Interested that some ranges allow you to take away the club for a few rounds - definitely the best way to go about it BUT I have never come across that opportunity before.  Interested to get your views on how you select?  I have a post in one of the forums asking how best to select and demo the drivers given the vast choices and most of the top models all get 4 or 5 stars etc.

I think most of the time they will give you a credit but you won't always get 100% credit if you have demo'd a club.  This is still one of my biggest challenges - how to really demo a club properly...

I purchased clubs from Golfsmith. They have a "playability guarantee", and you have 90 days to evaluate the club. If you don't like it you can get any club to replace it. The only issue is, if the new club is any better than the one you just tried out. Never tried it, though. I'm not good enough to gain anything from a minor change in club. They all seem to go high and about 240 yards or so with virtually no roll.

You get 90% back on that playability program, not a full refund.

And therein is the problem I think with these playability and mulligan guarantees- it is for a store credit and you only ever get back a percentage of the price that you have already paid out...