Rogue Sub-Zero Worth Upgrading?

[checkerfred]

I currently play a Rogue Subzero 9* with Project X Hzrdus Yellow 75 Stiff shaft.  I've never been fitted but landed on this one and hit it pretty well.  Would a more current driver offer anything more than the Subzero?  I'm not talking about distance really because I'm sure most heads are similar.  I'm talking more about things like forgiveness and stability.

[ChetlovesMer]

17 minutes ago, checkerfred said:

Would a more current driver offer anything more than the Subzero?

That's impossible to say without testing you hitting your driver vs a "more current" driver. 

What I will say is "normally" if your driver fits you, than anything in the last 7, 8 years or so are pretty equal. If, however, your driver is ill-fit than there may be big gains to be made with a correctly fit driver. Other than fit issues there is nothing that has come out which is revolutionary. If anything the gains are very incremental. 

Have said all of that. I love shiny things. So, if you want a new driver, get a new driver. 

[checkerfred]

13 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

That's impossible to say without testing you hitting your driver vs a "more current" driver. 

What I will say is "normally" if your driver fits you, than anything in the last 7, 8 years or so are pretty equal. If, however, your driver is ill-fit than there may be big gains to be made with a correctly fit driver. Other than fit issues there is nothing that has come out which is revolutionary. If anything the gains are very incremental. 

Have said all of that. I love shiny things. So, if you want a new driver, get a new driver. 

That's exactly the info I was wanting....I know that clubs are to the limits as far as distance but wasn't sure if some clubs are engineered to be more forgiving, straight, etc. I plan on getting fit soon just to see if I'm leaving something on the table.

[ChetlovesMer]

1 minute ago, checkerfred said:

That's exactly the info I was wanting....I know that clubs are to the limits as far as distance but wasn't sure if some clubs are engineered to be more forgiving, straight, etc. I plan on getting fit soon just to see if I'm leaving something on the table.

Cool.

Incidentally, I usually get a new driver every 3 to 5 years, because it is at that point that all the "idiot marks" on the crown get too embarrassing to keep on playing it. 

[checkerfred]

6 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

Cool.

Incidentally, I usually get a new driver every 3 to 5 years, because it is at that point that all the "idiot marks" on the crown get too embarrassing to keep on playing it. 

hahaha nice....I typically keep it somewhere near center with the occasional heel shot but knock on wood, haven't had a sky mark in a very long time

[DeadMan]

I have a driver from 2014 that still works great for me. I'm thinking about upgrading in the next few years, but I'm not sure I'll get much benefit out of something newer. If you are hitting your driver well and know the launch angle and spin is in the ideal range, I'm not sure there's a good reason to switch.

[ChetlovesMer]

1 hour ago, DeadMan said:

I'm not sure there's a good reason to switch.

There are two:

1 - Too many "idiot marks".

2 - I like shiny things. 

[DeadMan]

To be fair, I said “good” reasons…

[Adam C]

There are more forgiving drivers out there. However this has very little to do with the age of the club and everything to do with the fact that it's the sub zero model. The forward CG models will always be less forgiving but will offer the greatest distance on well struck shots. You have to decide what matters more while also taking into consideration spin rate and launch height.

[ChetlovesMer]

46 minutes ago, Adam C said:

There are more forgiving drivers out there. However this has very little to do with the age of the club and everything to do with the fact that it's the sub zero model. The forward CG models will always be less forgiving but will offer the greatest distance on well struck shots. You have to decide what matters more while also taking into consideration spin rate and launch height.

This is a very good point. 

[pganapathy]

How do you find your current Sub Zero driver in terms of forgiveness.  If it works with your swing and you don't see a problem with the dispersion, why change.  Realistically, there are more forgiving drivers out there, but the specs may or may not suit you.  Go for a fitting where you can hit different drivers and see if you actually will benefit from a new club.  Based on that you can decide

[Double Mocha Man]

21 hours ago, ChetlovesMer said:

Incidentally, I usually get a new driver every 3 to 5 years, because it is at that point that all the "idiot marks" on the crown get too embarrassing to keep on playing it. 

That's what matching spray paint is for...

[checkerfred]

14 hours ago, pganapathy said:

How do you find your current Sub Zero driver in terms of forgiveness.  If it works with your swing and you don't see a problem with the dispersion, why change.  Realistically, there are more forgiving drivers out there, but the specs may or may not suit you.  Go for a fitting where you can hit different drivers and see if you actually will benefit from a new club.  Based on that you can decide

I mean I like it and usually drive it ok but sometimes spray a few.  I’m sure that’s not the driver.  I’d say when I miss currently it’s more to the heel side and I get a spinny cut that doesn’t roll out, or I hit a pull draw.  My normal ball flight is a baby draw. As for dispersion I don’t really know because I don’t know what a really good fitted driver would yield in that area. I think it’s decent.  I’m going to try and go get fitted in the next few weeks. I’d just hate to spend the money and then find out that any improvements are minimal…at least I would know though 

[ncates00]

On 8/20/2021 at 9:07 AM, Adam C said:

There are more forgiving drivers out there. However this has very little to do with the age of the club and everything to do with the fact that it's the sub zero model. The forward CG models will always be less forgiving but will offer the greatest distance on well struck shots. You have to decide what matters more while also taking into consideration spin rate and launch height.

Meh. That stuff is overrated when you put the human element into it. You’re talking marginal, if any, progress since his club. It’s mostly marketing by the manufacturers, club fitters, and builders. That Rogue Sub Zero driver is a really good driver; I only upgraded because the carbon crown on mine cracked and the whole top came off a long while back. Callaway sent me brand new (at the time) Epic Flash equivalent. I’ve been using it ever since. 
 

@checkerfred, to settle it for yourself, take your current driver with you, hit on a good simulator, and compare with other, newer clubs. Some places will let you do it for free. Make sure you swing like you normally would. Also, make sure the fitter doesn’t nothing crazy like add speed/distance boosts, downwind, downhill, or other nonsense to get you to believe your driver is inferior. Remember, these manufacturers, fitters, and club builders have a vested interest in making sure you believe that you need to upgrade because you’re totally missing out on distance, forgiveness/stability, and all that other crap. Truth is, if you’ve been fitted (which you have not) for clubs fairly recently, and you nor your swing has materially changed, then it’s all hogwash. Don’t send me YouTube club reviews or robot-tested data trying to debunk me; again, these folks have vested interests. 

[Typhoon92]

On 8/20/2021 at 9:07 AM, Adam C said:

There are more forgiving drivers out there. However this has very little to do with the age of the club and everything to do with the fact that it's the sub zero model. The forward CG models will always be less forgiving but will offer the greatest distance on well struck shots. You have to decide what matters more while also taking into consideration spin rate and launch height.

My thoughts too as I was reading through the posts.  The Subzero model is the least forgiving of the Callaway drivers.  It might actually be hurting you because of the low spin/ weight forward design.

Age of the club is fine, but you might get more out of a different model head.

[Adam C]

22 hours ago, ncates00 said:

Meh. That stuff is overrated when you put the human element into it. You’re talking marginal, if any, progress since his club. It’s mostly marketing by the manufacturers, club fitters, and builders. That Rogue Sub Zero driver is a really good driver; I only upgraded because the carbon crown on mine cracked and the whole top came off a long while back. Callaway sent me brand new (at the time) Epic Flash equivalent. I’ve been using it ever since. 

Not sure you read my post? I said the age has little to no impact on forgiveness. The physical design of that type of head does. The sub zero line will always be less forgiving. Any forward CG head will be. Think of the Taylormade SLDR. Maybe the longest driver ever created, but no one could hit it for that same reason.