Disappointment in new driver's to market...after data on ball flight

All the newest drivers on the market (to me anyway) are touting:  more ballspeed, lower launch angle, lower spin.

This might be one of those "user failures", not equipment, but I'll post the data from each I tried.  Data is below.  At a demo day at a range, I did notice that everything I tried seemed to get up a bit quicker than my current 975J.  They ALL were more consistent on poor shots, saving distance and accuracy.

But on the screws, for on the screws, I did not see a "glamorous" difference in ball flight or distance.  Just for consistency sake, I may get either the i20 or Titleist D300 or whatever it is.

I also noticed the machine's estimated carry to be a little off.  Every range I go to locally has the last marker at the back fence at 265, all of the ranges for some reason.  And on all of them I can carry it OVER the 30' tall fence.  I used Google Earth to measure one of them, and it came out damn close to the yardage marker.

Lastly, it seems I won't be able to find a used club in the spec I want.  I feel I want an 8.5deg, x-stiff, in an i20 or the Titleist.  Craigslist occasionally turns up i20 or g20's in 9.5deg stock stiff configuration.

I guess I just expected more since I'm using a 10 year old driver.  Especially given its spin rate was the lowest out of all the newer clubs.  Odd?

Average swing speed for all:  107.5

Current stick:  Titleist 975J, stock stiff shaft, 8.5deg

Ball speed avg:  153

Backspin:  2800-3000

Launch angle:  12.6deg

Ping i20, 9.5deg, stock stiff shaft

Ball speed avg:  155

Backspin:  3300-3500

Launch angle:  13.5-14.0deg

Ping g20, 8.5deg, stock stiff shaft

Ball speed avg:  155

Backspin:  3400-3600

Launch angle:  12.8-13.2

Taylormade r11, 9.0deg, stock stiff shaft

Ball speed avg:  155

Backspin:  3400-3600

Launch angle:  13.0-13.5deg

Backspin

hitting the ball "more solidly" is always good advice. too bad you don't add up smash factor at the end of your round.

So you want to get an X flex, 8.5 degree but you hit higher lofted and softer shafted drivers? That's not what you do. Go back and hit the X flex, your spin is too high anyway. It may not turn out to be a better fit, but it could make a big difference. Stock shafts are notoriously soft across the board, and Ping is even more notorious for that. It also looks like your stock shaft in it is around 95 grams! It probably plays stiffer by a fair bit than what you were hitting. There isn't a stock driver shaft on the market under 80 these days and it means you lose some control both in ball flight and swing tempo. It isn't an apples to apples comparison, and it isn't a real fitting which is the right way to go on a driver.

10 year old drivers are probably shorter by a good inch. Hit a 44.5 inch if you can, but your stock 975 is 45 inches while most drivers are at least 46 right now. Your current driver is about 150cc smaller than most, which changes launch numbers, particularly on mishits.

If you shorten the driver, take a heavier shaft, the proper head loft and shaft flex, and actually get used to it, you'll probably see much better ball speed and dispersion. Get fitted if you want your money's worth, don't just hit clubs off the rack. If you get your spin down, increase your ball speed, and keep your higher launch angle with the new heads, I expect you'll gain a fair bit of yardage. Best way to do that is shorten the club which will help you hit the center of the face.

Thanks.  That makes sense.  I agree with the rack vs. custom fit option.  I need to just go get fitted.  They didn't have an x-stiff option out there, and I did find it hard getting used to the extra inch of length in the shafts.  They all felt kind of "whippy" compared to my current stick.

I wondered about that too. I have a 8.5 TM TI300 that has a 80 gr tour shaft. At least I think it is 80 grams, there is a 80 on it and I used to hit that thing way lower than my current driver.