Are there any smaller head drivers left?

[shades9323]

I haven't been really into golf in about 6 years(when I moved out of my parents house and it ceased to be free ). I started leisurely looking at drivers. They all look like frying pans on a stick! How do you hit these monsters? Are there any smaller head drivers left out there?

[lumpuckeroo]

None left, but you will be surprised at how far and straight the frying pans hit!!!

[shades9323]

None left, but you will be surprised at how far and straight the frying pans hit!!!

Are they taking the skill out of golf?

[youngskip40]

Titleist has a 440cc head... that's almost small by today's standard, haha.

I hear you, I wasn't out of the game for quite that long, but I didn't even look into upgrading my driver for 8 or 9 years, and I just upgraded a month ago from a 312cc head to a 460cc head.

Give it an hour on the driving range or a couple of rounds of golf, you'll get used to the look of it and then your old driver will look too small to inspire the same amount of confidence.

That said, some of the clubs that were new 2 or 3 years ago you can pick up for a pretty good bargain, some of them are a little smaller than the max 460cc that pretty much every new club is. Before you go looking for a smaller one though, try some of the newer 460cc drivers either at a demo day or at an outdoor range, and compare it with your current driver. You might be pleasantly surprised and how quickly you can get used to hitting it long and straight.

[Danattherock]

"Are they taking skill out of the game"

Of course they are. In every aspect of the game. The only thing left is a faster golf cart and a smoother writing pencil. All other areas have been covered pretty well.

[lumpuckeroo]

Not for my handicap. I think it makes it more exciting.

[Danattherock]

Are there any smaller head drivers left out there?

I have a Callaway Big Bertha Ti driver that was made in 2004. I was just on the Callaway Preowned site and see they have some that are "like new". I have bought from here before and would do so again in a second. Got my last set of irons on that site. Check out the driver. It is around 300 cc from what I recall. Awesome driver and at $87, a hell of a deal. Paid $300 for mine

http://callawaygolfpreowned.com/driv...s-bb-2004.aspx Prior to this driver, I had used a Callaway Steelhead Plus for a few years. Loved it! And it is 205cc and cost like $65 for a "like new" model on the Callaway preowned site. Killer deals if you ask me. Like you, I am not keen on the "frying pans". Might be getting a Louisville wood driver if things keep up. Bought a Callaway Big Bertha 460cc just last week. Awesome club, but a very different feel/look than I am used to. I can appreciate the concerns you echo. .

[SandyFeet]

I use a Titleist 983K which has a 365cc head. It's a few years old, but it's awesome. My brother still uses his Titleist 975 hahahahahaha.

As far as skill, unless you're in the PGA tour, golf still pretty much owns you. With all due respect (and I really mean that) I don't think better equipment is taking skill out of a game where 90% of the patrons who play it is consistently over par on just about every hole.

The way I think about it is that if you think equipment takes skill out, it implies that golf with "good equipment" is made easy, but its still no where near easy and people struggle with it on a daily basis. But that's why we love the game. It's a struggle. I LOVE it!!!

[shades9323]

I saw an old burner bubble(use to have one but gave it away ) in the used bin at the golf store here. If it wasn't a 8.5, I would have bought it.

[PiKapp23]

Many of the PGA Tour players that are Nike guys are using a new 'tour' version of the Nike Dymo that is 385cc (I think that's the size - it's definitely under 400). I was told that those would be on the market sometime this spring/summer.

From FranklyGolf.com (I bolded the pertinent information):

Drivers of the Future

Frank
Received your book last year and really enjoyed it as well as your web site. Great to have someone with the knowledge about all aspects of the game to share with us avid amateurs, especially the honest truth about equipment.
I purchased a Callaway FT-5 with a ALDILA NVS 65-R 350 shaft, 11 degree based on a swing monitor analysis at a fitting center in Dallas. I have been playing with a Titleist 983K, 4560-R shaft and 9.5 degrees which I hit straight. I am a smooth swinger with about 90mph swing speed. My problem is that the FT-5 results in a higher launch with less distance which I do not want, plus I hit the Titleist straighter because I do not square the FT-5 as well as the 983K. Could this be the result of the shafts? Also, I would like to know the specs of the Titleist 4560? I have and Adams 3 & 5 wood with the ALDILA ultralite Speedline G75-R low torque shafts that work well for me.
Thanks for your help.
John


John,
First let me thank you for your kind comments about the weekly column and I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed my book Just Hit It.
With regard to your question about the new driver you purchased; first the shaft in your new driver -- new in that it may not have been used but an older model -- is good and should not be the problem. The loft is not what I would recommend for a swing speed of 90 mph unless you have an extraordinary swing path, which is probably not the case, because you have had (and continue to have) so much success with your Titleist 983K driver with a loft of 9.5 degrees. I think that you may have been the victim of a “Launch Monster”.
If your trajectory was lower than it should have been for your swing speed of 90 mph – this should be close to 13 degrees with a spin rate of about 2,300 to 2,500 rpm -- to get maximum distance, then an increase of one degree may have been appropriate with the same model driver . If you change driver type with different design properties, an 11-degree loft may be too much.
The 4560-R shaft was the standard for the 983K . As far as various shaft specs are concerned you may want to do some searching on the internet as there are hundreds of shafts now available.
For your information your Titleist 983K driver has a smaller head --about 100 cc smaller -- than the FT-5 and has a lower MOI (Moment of Inertia) but that doesn’t mean it is not an efficient implement for what you are trying to achieve.
With many of the “Bigger, Higher MOI, Adjustable” drivers -- and whatever else is being offered to get your attention -- we are starting to get some feedback from our readers that they are finding it difficult to square the face of these monsters at impact and losing, their seemingly good shots, to the right. I have experienced the same thing.
I have been reviewing some of the present design properties of drivers and reports regarding their performance. From this investigation I believe that the next generation of drivers will have the following properties: About 400 cc in volume – 460 will always be around for ‘real men’ -- no more than 5,000 gm. cc² in MOI, and maximum (.830) COR with a length of between 44.5 and 45 inches long – that chosen by the touring pros who can have any length they want. The loft and shaft flex will be the only essential variables and if these can be varied independently then that’s all we will ever need.
John, bigger is not always better.
Frank

[shades9323]

I use a Titleist 983K which has a 365cc head. It's a few years old, but it's awesome. My brother still uses his Titleist 975 hahahahahaha.

Easy is a relative term. Sure, they don't make the game easy. But they do make the game easier than with older equipment. How am I going to know if my swing is better and more consistent if I am using clubs with a sweet spot the size of Texas?

[Rob]

I`ve been using Titleist drivers for some time now.Used the 983K and went to the 905S,which has about a 420cc head,as opposed to the 905T and 905R,which are 460`s.My 905 got stolen,went to the 907 D2,hated it,and bought another 905 S on ebay,like new,for $80,shipped,and I`m killing it. I`ve also got a Cobra 400cc.I`m with you on the smaller heads.I just seem to generate more speed without swinging a canalope on the end of a shaft.

[Grndslmhttr3]

"Are they taking skill out of the game"

I hope you're kidding.

[youngskip40]

TOTALLY taking the skill out of the game. Pretty much everyone I know who was a 10 handicap before 460cc drivers came out is now on the PGA Tour.

It's unbelievable.

[pjsnyc]

I agree with some of the statements on this thread - namely the fact that I feel more confident hitting the ball with a SMALLER head.

Even though I enjoy hitting my Nike SQ (I only hit it about 5 or 6 times per round on my home course), there are times during a round where bad thoughts enter my head and I just don't feel comfortable with the ridiculous size. My next driver (which will be my last purchase) will probably be the slightly smaller 440cc Titleist I demoed the other day. Feels great, though not as great as my OLD OLD driver which shall remain nameless :P

I'd be interested to try out that sub 400cc DYMO club though

[duffer888]

I knew there was a good reason why I kept my r7 425....

[Leftygolfer]

That is rediculous to think that the skill is getting taken out of golf. Despite the amazing advances in equipment people's handicaps are not going down. I play with different people all the time and they have the last and greatest but still hit it sideways.

Scoring is all short game and no equipment can replace good touch, being able to square the club face, hitting it close to the sweet spot.

This game is super hard and 95% of golfers do not break 100. No skill??? Yeah right.

[shades9323]

That is rediculous to think that the skill is getting taken out of golf. Despite the amazing advances in equipment people's handicaps are not going down. I play with different people all the time and they have the last and greatest but still hit it sideways.

Are you implying that it isn't easier to hit the sweet spot on these giant clubs, than an old Calloway warbird or original Burner Bubble?