OK guys, help me spend $150-200 on a driver ... GO --->

Couple things ... I play alot of golf (saturday was my 100th round since Jan. 1), but will never be a great golfer due to back issues.    I play regular flex shafts, hit around 240 yds on avg, and will go with a 10.5° loft.    I'm anal about my equipment - use headcovers on my woods always, so I don't buy used/abused clubs with skymarks, paint chips, etc. - so for what its worth, it's gotta be new.    I do fight a slice (on a good day, its a baby fade; bad day, banana slice) - if that makes a difference in your recommendation.

I could swing $200, but would like to keep it around $150 for a new driver, which leaves me with 2 or 3 year old technology, which is just fine by me.

I get all the online discount house sales emails & there are alot of deals to be had on Nike, Adams, Calloway, Cobra, Cleveland, TM, etc drivers in my price range.

Golfsmith is blowing out the discontinued Ping Rapture for $169 - hit that the other day & was impressed.     I've always liked Adams & Nike stuff as well.    Anyways, let me have your recommendation on what works for you & help me find a good one !!

Thanks

Comes in 10.5 for you. Is currently $199 at PGA superstore. I've been drooling over this driver for a long time. In my opinion this is the sexiest driver on the market by a long shot.

NIKE VRS 10.5 degree driver is 199.99 brand new with a mitsubishi shaft

What don't you like about the Adams? 240 isn't so bad for an average.

Dick's has Superfast 1.0 (not the newer white ones) for $129, just picked a 10.5 regular up for my son.

You can have one of the Cleveland ultralite series drivers from just last year at 150 dollars.

I recently bought a mint condition SL290 from globalgolf that was still in the plastic(both head and grip) and only paid 85 dollars total to have it shipped to my door.

I love my SL290(10.5, C.Kua 59S shaft) after never being a fan of cleveland before now. You can buy any of the ultralite series drivers new on globalgolf right now for 119.99 with 15% off on top of that.  The Cleveland Classic driverrs are priced at 174.99 for mint condition(never been played before).

Back issues?

Adams 9088 UL is selling at PGA Tour Superstore for $149 - UL is an acronym for ultra light - light  Radix swingweight, shaft, and aerodynamics had me swinging 6-7 more mph than a stock Superfast 2.0. I play it in an aftermarket shaft with hot melt - so I don't know how the stock sounds or performs ... and I use the 12.5. I've seen reviews and others like it - may be one to demo. http://adamsgolf.com/products/drivers/speedline_9088ul.php

I've played the Rapture V2 - nice club. I found the Adams an easier club.

I owned a Callaway Razr Hawk, now on sales. for a few weeks - thought the sound and feel were very unsatisfying.

That is my limited experience - but you could wait a few more months and wait for the RBZ and other lines to drop in price as new drivers are introduced.

Thanks guys !!      The Adams driver is nice - when I hit it in the sweet spot, feels wonderful ... but it's a very unforgiving driver compared to others I've owned when I miss the sweet spot.    I want a 10.5 loft to reduce some sidespin also ...

If you go for the Rapture or Rapture V2 - the 10.5 is probably closer to 12, which may help. It is not the highest launcher, but it also depends on the shaft. With back issues, which typically reduce swing speed, a 12 may help with a higher launching shaft because you will require less effort to get it to go.

The Cleveland Classic is nice looking - but I've only heard comments of the big hitters, who like it - I'm not a big hitter. I want forgiveness and speed, and want the club to help. Having said that, the Adams 9088 UL, which I use, is not classified as the most forgiving - but I find it moreso than the Rapture. At the same time, when I don't try to kill it, the Adams (or any club) becomes very forgiving.  :-)

I picked up a used Ping G-15 driver and I like it alot.  Considered getting a new driver just becasue I got the itch for "new" but never did, decided I like my G-15 too much.  I know it was 199$ new at golf galaxy last week when I was there but I'm sure you could find it slightly cheaper if you shop around,  but i think its def worth checking out.

http://www.buy.com/prod/callaway-razr-x-black-graphite-driver-10-5-degree-regular/232161423.html?listingId=-1

I dunno about the driver but it is in your price range...

Yeah I would say the G15.

I love my Ping G15. Easy to hit and forgiving. You'd also be fine if you can find a G10. It's very close to the G15, and I'm sure cheaper.

Well, thanks to everybody ... I took the afternoon off work & spent about 2 hours in the launch monitor at Golfsmith. Here's how the top picks worked out ...

Ping Rapture: Highest launch, faded the most consistently of any driver tested. Definitely not what I was hoping for or expected.

Cleveland Classic: Face is so much higher/taller than any other driver - it's really oddly shaped by comparison. Liked the vintage aesthetics alot. But past that, it just didn't carry as far - sales guy said it agrees more with guys with faster swing speeds & sounded quite a bit different than the others.

Callaway Razr Hawk: Sounded the best, but couldn't find any consistency with it off the monitor - either draws or fades ... nothing down the middle.

Cobra Amp: Never been a Fowler fan, so never considered the club. Do like the graphics on the Aldila RIP shaft. Nice sound - solid feel. Consistently hit it the straightest or with a nice draw. Don't think I hit a fade with it all afternoon. It does have an offset, which isn't distracting at setup, in fact, it's so minor, I didn't even notice it. Average ball height - have to work on getting it lower (not the clubs fault).

Hit a bunch of others G15, S3, K15, Fast12, Diablo - none really stood out from the crowd on the monitor.

Distance was about the same with all of them - but my goal going into this wasn't length, just a little help with the fade and a tad more forgiveness/confidence than my current driver. After breaking a serious sweat and hitting way more balls than I thought I'd be allowed to ... there was no contest. I'm so glad I took your guys advice & hit a ton of clubs and had free reign of a launch monitor. I will never say anything bad about Golfsmith - those guys were great. Traded in a bunch of clubs and basically got a new driver for free after the dust settled. Oh, I forgot ...

There's a Cobra Amp in my bag.

I'm just afraid my buddies are going to insist I wear orange on sundays now ...

That's excellent.

Although my driver is a G15, my 5 metal is a Cobra, and I really like it.

Good luck with the Amp!

Lots of G15s.

I have one too, and really like it. Feels solid when I hit with it.

I tried a right handed Cobra AMP and really liked that as well.

Any thoughts on Titelist Drivers. I have the VR5 by nike but cant seem to get the same distance as I was when I owned the TM r11

Thats great that you found the right club for you! I was actually going to recommend the AMP! I have the 3w and it's the most consistent club I've ever hit. My buddy bought one because I hit mine so good and followed up with the driver!

Great clubs imo.