What's the difference in Callaway drivers?

[MonkeyClaw]

My wife and I signed up for the ESPN 3-Club course. Originally, it was supposed to include 3 Nike clubs - a driver, a wedge, and a putter. They changed it this year to include a $450 gift certificate to Callaway golf instead (much to my surprise, since their web site still said I'd get the clubs!). Now I want to use the certificate for a new driver...

Any thought on the various drivers? The FT-I looks nice but man it's pricey! The FT-5 also is a possibility, though it's still pricey. The Hyper X is much more reasonable, but I'm not sure about the all-titanium versus the composite bodies of the other two. There's also the Big Bertha but I'm going to be honest here - I'm not sure I could use a club called the 'Big Bertha'.

I'm pretty new and still working on my driver skills. I loaned out my brand new el-cheapo driver to someone who promptly put a dent on the top. I'm going to keep using it until I'm sure I won't do the same though! Hence my reluctance to test out the various drivers at a shop... One of the things I've learned in golf so far - don't borrow someones driver unless you want to buy a dented driver, and don't loan out your driver unless you want to sell a dented driver!

Thanks!
Tim

[x-forged]

I would recommend the Ft-i first, as its made for maximum forgiveness and it still gets good distance. The next i would look into is the hyper-X. Its LONG and fairly forgiving but not as much as forgiving as the ft-i. The Big Bertha is long and forgiving too, but not as long as the Hyper-X. Try them all out and see what you think. I wouldn't go with the FT-5 if your new to the game. The ft-5 is very long like the Hyper-X but designed more along the lines of a "players" driver, with more workability.

[MonkeyClaw]

I would recommend the Ft-i first, as its made for maximum forgiveness and it still gets good distance. The next i would look into is the hyper-X. Its LONG and fairly forgiving but not as much as forgiving as the ft-i. The Big Bertha is long and forgiving too, but not as long as the Hyper-X. Try them all out and see what you think. I wouldn't go with the FT-5 if your new to the game. The ft-5 is very long like the Hyper-X but designed more along the lines of a "players" driver, with more workability.

Thanks for the input. Too bad the FT-i is so expensive! I'm going to get more confidence in hitting my driver before going and testing out the various options.

[Left Is Right]

I would go the hyper x it is 300 bananas and gives good distance and a good amount of forgiveness

[shortgame85]

My wife and I signed up for the ESPN 3-Club course. Originally, it was supposed to include 3 Nike clubs - a driver, a wedge, and a putter. They changed it this year to include a $450 gift certificate to Callaway golf instead (much to my surprise, since their web site still said I'd get the clubs!). Now I want to use the certificate for a new driver...

Since you ask, I will share the following with you. I purchased the Callaway Hyper X driver about three months ago. I never intended to buy the Callaway, but after trying several drivers from different manufacturers on a launch monitor, including a couple of drivers costing $200 more than the Hyper X, I discovered that I hit the Hyper X longer and more consistently than any driver I tried. Why? I suppose it is, in part, because it is very forgiving on off center strikes and, in part, because the stock shaft worked well for me. I am not long off the tee and I need every yard I can get. In the three months I have owned this driver, I have played about 8 rounds. I am hitting more fairways with more consistent distance than with any driver I have had. My recommendation is not that you should get this driver; rather, since you asked for some of us to relate our experience, I am doing just that. What I do suggest is that you give the driver a try, either on a driving range or on a launch monitor in a store. I have certainly been very happy with it. Good luck.

[JoeCanuck]

Take the ones you're interested out for a bang before you buy. I have just tried a ton of drivers. I haven't used a driver for years but this year, I was talked into going for it.

I tried out Hibore xls, g10, all of the callaway clubs, the new adams.
I swung them all The one I liked best was the BB460 with the 13* face and regular shaft. I just bloody love it.

No matter what I do, the ball flies beautifully, goes a ton and the kicker is, I've never hit a ball so straight in my life.

It's not rated as the longest club but it's still pretty damned long. What made my final decision is that it's the nicest feeling and sounding club of all of them...it was also the cheapest.

Before deciding, I took a hibore 10.5* and the BB460 out for a good bash on the range. As far as I could tell, they gave me about the same performance. The BB just felt better.

I love the damned thing...now I'm addicted to golf again...dammit.

[MonkeyClaw]

Thanks for the info, guys! My plan is to get some more lessons on my current, dented steel driver and get more confidence in hitting with it. In a few weeks, I'll go to Golf Galaxy and get a full driver fitting, then order the driver. (GG is the closest place I know of that can do a comprehensive swing analysis and fitting).

I'm still leaning towards the FT-I since I like the idea of a high MOI for forgiveness. The reports I've read state that it tends to have a higher loft and more backspin, with a reduced distance. I'm going to try them all while I'm getting the fitting, though. I like what was said about the Hyper X too.

This is one of the problems being a newby... I don't have much to base my decision on except other's experience! I thought I hit my titanium Snake-eyes driver pretty good today until I got to the ball and my wife's was only about 10 yards shorter! She hit with a 21* steel hybrid off the tee!!! The snake-eyes was given to me by our instructor, but I don't hit it very often because I don't want it to get all dented up like my steel cheap-o.

You have all been a great help. Please keep the recommendations coming!

[JoeCanuck]

The good thing about wacking away on your old driver is you will really notice the difference when you move up. For me, it was night and day.

Good luck in your quest.

[Dub]

I just got back into playing again and need to replace my woods, too. Most of the guys I played with are much better golfers....but somehow when I played with them, my game improved. I asked them what the "hot" sticks were to look at.

Initially I was told by many of them and on here to look hard at the G10. I hit one on the range and was very impressed. It was only a couple of shots as a guy was kind enough to offer for me to hit it. I'd loved more time with the club.

I've also wanted to demo the FTi even though I hear that distance isn't a strong suit. I could take a bit less distance if the ball finds it's way to the fairway more often.

Right now I'm just trying to get some consistency back into my swing and then figure out how I'm hitting the ball for several rounds and then make my decisions.

The clubs I'm gonna be giving a hard look at are:

• PING G10
• Callaway HyperX
• Callaway FTi
• Callway FT-5