Subtle distinction here -
new
drivers versus
new & expensive
drivers:
Regarding new technology - absolutely. I just got back into golf last fall and bought new clubs. When I last played using an early 90's Palmer driver I would expect something around 210 to 215 carry. And I constantly had to fight the fade.
Bought the new Cleveland expecting to maybe pick up 10 or 20 yards. It's much better than that. Now, a good drive carries around 240 - 250, and last weekend I hit 2 drives in the same round that carried close to 270. I've hit maybe 5 or 6 like that so far, which is encouraging because that means I have the potential to hit that far with a normal swing. Before I saw it for myself, I would have said that kind of distance was physically impossible for my swing speed and strength. And there is no way I could ever hit the old driver over 230 if I killed it on the screws, and those two things never happened at once anyway.
And as far as accuracy, no comparison - now my main fault is trying to overswing which just kills any chance of a good drive. Now that I've seen a few long drives I want them all to go that far...
Whether a new $500 driver is better than a new $300 driver - someone else can offer commentary from their experience.
Cheers.