Driver Tech

[daled]

Still cold in Ohio, still stuck with indoor golf, ugh. So, I have time to ponder.

I pulled the trigger on new irons. I'm excited and I know my expectations high, maybe unrealistic, but hey, that's part of the fun.

Here's the pondering I'm doing now. I have a Callaway XR driver. Nice club. I can carry it about 230 on a good strike. The XR is a 2015 model. Are the new drivers good enough that it's worth upgrading? I'm about a 24 handicap, but a good deal of that is my putting is horrid. My ball striking is fair to middling. I know, fix the putting, easier said than done. And I know the real answer is, go try new drivers and compare. But, is it even worth going through the process?

What I would want from a new driver is forgiveness. If I bought a whatever, and that driver went 235 carry, but the dispersal was better, it would be worth it. I'm not going to carry the ball 270 yards, those days are behind me. If a new driver kept me in the fairway a couple more times a round, that would be worth it.

I'm interested in what you think of the XR vs. newer clubs?

[Typhoon92]

It would help some but I don’t know how inaccurate you are.  Personally, I’d take a putting lesson.  Your putter might be too long, your alignment off, too close/far from the ball, jabby stroke.  Fastest way to shave strokes, short game.
 

A new driver is $500.  A trade on yours will be $75 tops.  Look around for a used Ping G400max.  You could find a used one around $225 and then trade in the xr.  Ping is uber forgiving and get your putting fixed.

Edited February 22, 2020 by Typhoon92

[daled]

  On 2/22/2020 at 2:05 AM, Typhoon92 said:

A new driver is $500.  A trade on yours will be $75 tops.  Look around for a used Ping G400max.  You could find a used one around $225 and then trade in the xr.  Ping is uber forgiving and get your putting fixed.

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I've had a couple of lessons with other parts of my game that ended up being tragic. I lost a season due to a guy trying to change everything. I'm in a pretty good place with my swing now. I can even self diagnose on the fly, a skill I've only recently acquired.

Putting. I've tried a lot of things. Left hand low, claw, the works. My distance is usually good, my line generally sucks. One thing that I've worked on lately, as much as is possible in the cold, is to quit trying to aim the putter head, loosening my grip, and just letting it go. Seems better, practicing. If I could putt, I'd probably shave 2-3 strokes per 9. I just mean putt as well as my best friend, who not coincidentally is probably 2-3 strokes better than I am per 9.

I'll look around for one of those Ping clubs, that's very affordable to me. I'll keep the XR as a backup and maybe pass it on to my son.

[iacas]

Define “fair to middling.”

I have yet to meet even a 12 handicapper (without massive yips) that I would consider a “fair” ball striker.

Yes, fix your putting… and the driver is probably “okay,” but fix your full swing first and foremost.

[Club Rat]

  On 2/22/2020 at 1:57 AM, daled said:

What I would want from a new driver is forgiveness.

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There is a small window of "forgiveness" in a golf swing, while all manufactures marketing campaigns hype to sell it as more bigger and better.
Callaway products are very good clubs and are comparable to all other manufactures.

The key advantage over any product is mainly in having proper loft, shafts and grips.
A proper shaft will increase confidence which generally increases ball striking. 

I have played Callaway products for many years and still on occasions will bring the trusty Big Bertha out of the dungeon.
They are IMO, one of the easiest clubs to control.

I am a big fan of testing new products every year. 
I preach on this site for anyone interested in new equipment to take their time and Demo clubs.

Every year, we have Demo Days where all manufacture reps are present with the latest and greatest.
They all know me very well as I have always appreciated their time in talking shop.

My question to each of them is "how will your equipment benefit the average golfer?"
Then I say OK, let's hit a few shots and dial in the club.

[Mr22putt]

  On 2/22/2020 at 1:57 AM, daled said:

 

I'm interested in what you think of the XR vs. newer clubs?

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The XR driver is still a pretty good and forgiving driver.

You'll enjoy a newer model new/used driver...but it won't lower your scores.

As a 24 cap....if you want to lower your scores...spend the money on a new/used driver and get some lessons.

[daled]

  On 2/22/2020 at 4:40 PM, Mr22putt said:

As a 24 cap....if you want to lower your scores...spend the money on a new/used driver and get some lessons.

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Tried it twice. One instructor was recommended and horrible. It cost me a whole season to unlearn. The second, also recommended, wasn't as bad, but left me with some lingering issues. At this point, my swing is decent enough, I tinker on my own, but I don't need some guy messing me up. I did get simple advice from the guy fitting me that so far, has the potential to help me tremendously. I'm at the point that's what I need, just a tip here and there.

As was said earlier, my biggest issue is putting. I agree with the line of thought that putts should be 1/2 stroke, (only because I'm that bad).

I'm 62, my goals are simple, beat my golf buddies, do well in my league. If I can get below 20, I'd like that too.  

[daled]

  On 2/22/2020 at 12:52 PM, Club Rat said:

Callaway products are very good clubs and are comparable to all other manufactures.

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I was all Callaway, except putter, until this year. I went to the dark side. I was playing Callaway xhot2 irons, and bought a new set of Cobra SZ with recoil regular flex shafts. The jury is still out, since this isn't exactly the time for golf in Ohio. But, I've been to the simulator, and so far so good, they feel good.

I don't feel like I'm missing a lot with the XR, but the advertising for new clubs is enticing. As was suggested, I'm going to cruise the used driver market.

[billchao]

  On 2/23/2020 at 2:58 PM, daled said:

Tried it twice. One instructor was recommended and horrible. It cost me a whole season to unlearn. The second, also recommended, wasn't as bad, but left me with some lingering issues. At this point, my swing is decent enough, I tinker on my own, but I don't need some guy messing me up. I did get simple advice from the guy fitting me that so far, has the potential to help me tremendously. I'm at the point that's what I need, just a tip here and there.

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It sounds to me like you didn’t give them a fair shake because you think you know more than they do.

  On 2/23/2020 at 2:58 PM, daled said:

As was said earlier, my biggest issue is putting. I agree with the line of thought that putts should be 1/2 stroke, (only because I'm that bad).

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As a 24 handicap player, I doubt putting is your biggest issue.

  On 2/23/2020 at 2:58 PM, daled said:

I'm 62, my goals are simple, beat my golf buddies, do well in my league. If I can get below 20, I'd like that too.

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If you want to beat your golf buddies consistently, you need to be a better ballstriker than they are. Age is not a limiting factor. I know guys in their 60s who are single digit players. Hell, I know a guy who missed shooting his age at 76 by two strokes.

[FlyingAce]

I don’t think I can give credits to my clubs for improving my game. I have been playing the same set since I was a 20hcp to now a single handicap. I have the Callaway XR irons, hybrids, woods and driver. I absolutely love my XR driver and didn’t really need to upgrade to a current model. But I did because I got fitted and my new driver (TaylorMade M5tour) gave me extra 30yds consistently - along with swing improvements from lessons. But that still did not lower my handicap because now I have to make changes to course management and am using different clubs than before. 

I’d do a swing analysis to see if it is your swing or your clubs that needs improvements. Not all instructors are created equal and even if they came highly recommended, he/she may not work for you. I’d totally stay away from anyone who tries to change your swing completely, unless you are doing something seriously wrong. 

Edited February 23, 2020 by FlyingAce

[daled]

  On 2/23/2020 at 5:23 PM, billchao said:

It sounds to me like you didn’t give them a fair shake because you think you know more than they do.

As a 24 handicap player, I doubt putting is your biggest issue.

If you want to beat your golf buddies consistently, you need to be a better ballstriker than they are. Age is not a limiting factor. I know guys in their 60s who are single digit players. Hell, I know a guy who missed shooting his age at 76 by two strokes.

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It's interesting that you can draw such conclusions based on a very small amount of information. 

[daled]

  On 2/23/2020 at 5:59 PM, FlyingAce said:

I’d do a swing analysis to see if it is your swing or your clubs that needs improvements. Not all instructors are created equal and even if they came highly recommended, he/she may not work for you. I’d totally stay away from anyone who tries to change your swing completely, unless you are doing something seriously wrong. 

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Finding an instructor is the problem. I'm gun shy. The first guy, I worked with, let him make the changes, which were unconventional, and it destroyed me. The second guy wasn't as bad, but we didn't click. I'm not a "player". I don't use forged irons. When i make a good swing, it's very good, but I don't always make that swing. I'm not presenting myself as a low handicapper in high handicapper clothes. But, I am a legit 24, and I can, and do play lower on occasion. I'm an 18 hole a week golfer, 9 on Wed. 9 on Sunday. I know you can't buy a game, but I'm certain you can buy a better game. Before I bought the XR, a high percentage of my drives were right, in the trees, or OB. Now, it's not a common thing, but I still do it. The draw bias is huge for me. So with that in mind, I ask opinions about XR vs. newer drivers.

As further explanation, my league is 40 man, 10 4 man teams. C 0-4 handicap, 1 4-9 handicap, 2 9-12 handicap, 3 12 and up. I clock in as a 2 man. I go up and down during the season, as low as 9, and as high as 13. I finished as a 10. It's not uncommon for me to play better than the 1 men when I'm in their group. I'm an average golfer, and age does matter, I've seen my length shorten even while my technique has improved. 

I bought new irons, I'm curious about drivers, and I've been working on the most important tool, my body. It's not easy at 62, but I have built up some strength, and I'm anxious to put that to good use.

But, wherever you go, I guess there are people that can do a detailed diagnosis with fragments of information. I'm not referring to you. So, that is my mindset, and situation.