983K Is this a decent driver?

[steve617]

I am a high handi capper and have been using a 3 wood to drive with. A friend gave me his old Titleist 983K it is a 9.5 with a regular shaft. I really only hit just a few balls with it. My main thing is just having something that I can hit decent with on my drives. Just dont know if I should stay with my 3 wood or learn to hit the driver and also is the newer technology better on the newer drivers than the 983K is. Thanks for any info.

[Harry Longshanks]

I am a high handi capper and have been using a 3 wood to drive with. A friend gave me his old Titleist 983K it is a 9.5 with a regular shaft. I really only hit just a few balls with it. My main thing is just having something that I can hit decent with on my drives. Just dont know if I should stay with my 3 wood or learn to hit the driver and also is the newer technology better on the newer drivers than the 983K is. Thanks for any info.

Steve, the 983k is an excellent driver.

However , compared to more recent drivers, the head on the 983k is relatively small (365cc vs 460cc). For a high capper, you will probably be better off with a bigger and more forgiving driver. If you want to stick with Titleist and want something that you might be able to pick up fairly cheap, I would recommend the Titleist 905R. It is a full 460cc head and is widely considered to be one of the best drivers Titleist has ever made. If you are going to spend a little money, and are open to other brands, then I would say just go out to stores, ranges, demo days, etc. and just hit whatever you can get your hands on until you find one you like.

[erikpmort]

i had a 983 k and it was great. sure its not the newest but plenty good

[jking]

Steve, the 983k is an excellent driver.

I agree with Harry, although I will make the point that the 983k might be a good transitional driver to work with for a while, especially since it was a gift. A bigger and more forgiving driver is definitely better, but if the OP is used to hitting with a 3 wood, the large head size of the 460cc might be a little off-putting. To each his own.

[Harry Longshanks]

I agree with Harry, although I will make the point that the 983k might be a good transitional driver to work with for a while, especially since it was a gift. A bigger and more forgiving driver is definitely better, but if the OP is used to hitting with a 3 wood, the large head size of the 460cc might be a little off-putting. To each his own.

You know what, I completely missed that the 983k was a gift. I misread and thought he was thinking about buying the 983k from his friend.

Steve, swing away with the 983k until you are ready to buy a driver. It's an excellent driver.

[goblue107501]

Steve, swing away with the 983k until you are ready to buy a driver. It's an excellent driver.

Totally agree. For free it is a great driver. I actually still have a 983E and I hit it longer and straighter than any of the newer, bigger drivers that are out there today.

[steve617]

Thanks

Yes it was a gift. I have just gotten comfortable with the 3 wood on the tee so I believe I will try the driver at the driving range.

Thanks

[steve617]

Just came in from hitting the 983K I am looking I guess at the positives. I hit about 20 balls. My longest went 30 yards longer than my longest ever with using my 3 wood. Most of my balls went right not a slice just went to the right. There was a couple sliced but tthe majority just went to the right. Lately I have been concentrating slowing my backswing and not overswinging. I also been trying to keep my grip loose. I also been working on keeping my left arm straight and keeping my right elbow inside on my backswing. I tried rolling my wrist on my forward swing and that seemed to help some in keeping the ball straighter. Thanks looks like I have found a driver I just need to perfect my swing.

[bigoak]

983K is a great driver head. for a beginning golfer you might find the percussion center is small. you don't get the whole face like you would with a Cobra head. It is still a great driver. I would use it at the range for practice and then pull out big headed driver and it will seem like one of those plastic toy clubs for kids and you'll just feel that you cannot miss hit it.

[ks8829]

Steve, the 983k is an excellent driver.

I agree with Harry, the 983K has a small sweet spot compared to other drivers that you can purchase for about $150 - $200

[shortgrass lover]

I borrowed our club pro's to test drive one week. I liked it and could put it out there about 280 on my good swings, so I would say the technology is good. But I agree with the other guys, it is fairly small. However, compared to the three wood you have been using, I think it would only be an improvement from what you have been hitting...

[M2R]

... A friend gave me his old Titleist 983K it is a 9.5 with a regular shaft. ...

The 983K is still my choice and those specs. sound reasonable. I feel the 983K is more responsive than either of my 905's or any of the other big headed drivers I've tried. That's probably just another way of saying the sweet spot is smaller, as several other posters have already replied.

In one of your posts you mention that some of the initial balls went out to the right. My only comment is if the shaft is a Grafalloy Blue, even in a regular flex, it will take a reasonable swing speed (90 mph minimum?) to make it work. The Blue regular flex is similar to a lot of other stiff shafts (the popular ProForce V2 stiff for example).

[steve617]

The shaft is a Titleist 4560.

[M2R]

The shaft is a Titleist 4560.

I don't know the specs on that shaft but have hit it, my guess is you should be all set.

[Island Par]

where on the web stores can i get a new one? all i see on ebay are used ones.

[erikpmort]

i doubt anyone has new ones anymore, and why would you buy a brand new one, when for the same price you can get something with newer tech that is better. i just bought a d1 and put my 905r up for sale, it is amazingly forgiving.

[Island Par]

hi erikpmort,

i'm having problems hitting big headed drivers (i know, weird and should go to a pro etc., etc.,) but am hitting my 3 wood very consistently like steve617. I tried a friend's 983K and was a lot more in the fairway than my 460 cc driver. This smaller headed driver helped me stay in the fairway and give me additional distance over my 3 wood.

But i guess you're right its not worth getting a new 983K for a price similar to the newer ones. Will probably check out 2nd hand ones. Thanks!

[steve617]

Yesterday I played 18 holes and used the 983K on all holes except the par 3's and I have to say even though I sliced the ball a couple of times bad. I hit the ball much more consistant with the 983K than I did with the 3 wood.