Xhot2 or Big Bertha...SLDR or JetSpeed

I find it confusing today when you are looking for a driver, which one to go with.  I love Callaway drivers, however, it appears stats have both the Big Bertha and Xhot2 hit basically the same distance....then you have the fantastic TaylorMade SLDR and the Jetspeed, both which appear to have similar stats as well.  Has it really come to the point where there isn't anything technology wise that will separate drivers anymore?  It seems that if you normally drive a ball 250 yards with a driver, more than likely you can go into a golf store and buy a new driver and guess what...still 250 yards.  I am starting to wonder if it has just come down to looks now...and if that is the case are we going to see a price war?  I honestly hope so, I really don't know where this ($400.00) for a driver number came in as a standard, but it is a joke.

On the drivers you posted

SLDR, VERY LOW Spin, and low launch

Jetspeed, low spin, medium-low launch

xhot2, med-low spin, medium launch

Big Bertha, med-low spin, medium-low launch

Differences in launch might be 1-2 degrees giver or take. As for spin, I saw a drop of about 10% of spin from xHot 2 to Jetspeed, and another 10% down the the SLDR.

As for picking a driver, it certainly does come down to looks. It comes down to forgiveness. How much distance do you get on off center hits. For me it comes down to shaft options as well. Really which combination gives you confidence coupled with optimizing your launch conditions.

For me, I am going to the SLDR. I have a very HIGH ball speed. So I need a low spinning low launching driver. I can easily say I can loose 10-15 yards of distance if my rpm's go up by 500-600. Getting a higher launch with lower spin allows me to maximize my distance carry and roll.

The majority of "technology" in drivers nowadays I believe is focused around off-centre hits so you'll get less curvature and less distance lost if impact's not ideal. How it looks when addressing the ball though is of major importance as you'll be far happier and more confident looking down at a club head which suits your eye.

Tests I have seen elsewhere but the SLDR on top for just about every swing speed, closely followed by the Ping G25 and believe it or not the Covert 2.0. Callaway seemed to be top dog in tests last year but seem to have dropped off in performance with the new models this year despite all the hoopla. Xhot 2 seems to be the hottest of the Cally offerings

I've seen too many negative comments on the SLDR to believe it's on top for everyone. It may produce ball speed but high ball speed sprayed everywhere does not make a great driver for a particular golfer -- there is no panacea.

People react differently to shape and design. And for swings 90 and below, from most accounts, you will need 14 degrees of SLDR loft to get the ball going ...  and TM is coming out late with that loft. So those of us with "moderate" swing speeds can check it out.

I guess that's one of my issues with TM -- they say they're the latest and greatest, and sell drivers and fairways that the average golfer can't get in the air or hit consistently. For example, the SLDR, the RBZ fairways, to name a few. The RBZ fairways are fine off the tee, but the lower lofts belong in the hands of golfers with driver speeds above 95 mph and need to be cut down ... I think that's why you see the JetSpeed ... it's a fairway a regular Joe can possibly hit.

Yeah I get where you are coming from and I am not buying into the whole TM thing by any means. I am tossing up with the Ping G25, Covert VRS 2.0 or probably the X Hot 2. For no particular reason I have always steered clear of TM. Perhaps I like to have something slightly less common in my bag- they are just everywhere (aaghh, that likely why I am still having troubles getting my old original Machspeed out of my bag some 4 years on!). I like the comments the old MS gets- OMG that thing is ugly etc.... normally followed my WTF that thing is long... my you haven't missed many fairways today!