um...driver/3W distance?

[Gioguy21]

So, I was testing out some new irons since I'm in desperate need for them (been gaming the same Ping's since 1996). I typically hit my 7 iron about 165-170 at MOST with what i have now, only to get fitted for new R9 and 2009 Burner irons, hitting the 7 iron a very nice 185-190. I then hit the 6, 5, and 4 accordingly going out to about 225-230 with the 4 iron. Now, I can hit my driver on my best day a solid 265 with a stiff, 9* Cleveland Launcher (2009) and 245 or so with my 3W of the same make. Would a greater degree (9.5+) driver help with extra yardage? Are there any drivers out there some of you guys found to be definitively longer than the Cleveland (through own experience)? Any help/suggestions/opinions would be awesome...
-Paul

[lcfd42]

Did own a Launcher and traded it. I was inconsistent much too often to keep it (I didn't like it enough to front a shaft change). As for the loft, that is a quesrion of what your optimal launch angle is. Yo would need to go get on on of those launch monitors to determine that and your spin rate. Shafts have a tremandous amount to do with these numbers as well. If I were concernd as you are, I would go to and get checked in a LM to learn this info (LA and SR) and get fitted on the shafts. Just remember what is a S or X-flex in anything may be ok, its most important to know" when" during the swing the club actually bends and straightens, and "where" it bends in the length of the shaft. Try these things, that way you will have a good idea what loft drive/shft combo you should look into.

[Scott_K]

I agree, get your launch angle, spin rate and other numbers checked out. I didn't do a lot of research when picking out a driver. I hit a bunch of drivers and based my decision off the SS, carry and overall distance. I didn't know what the LA and spinrate numbers meant at the time. The Burner was producing the best results for me (longer and higher SS). After using the Burner for a season and researching, the overall shaft length and weight is probably why it was the driver with the highest SS/distance.

I'm fairly pleased last season as I was able to fudge my driving by changing balls and adjusting my tee height to get my desired trajectory. I'm working on a few different things in the off season, so I'll wait until I can hit balls again to see if my changes are enough to tolerate my current shaft. So far the signs are that I need a heavier shaft to help control my dispersion.

Since you're pumping your irons out there pretty far, I suspect you're missing yards with your current driver setup.

[sean_miller]

You hit a 230 yard 4 irons consistently? What do you even need a 3 wood for? The Burner irons sounded ridiculously long (pointlessly long?) when I read the site review, and here's more proof.

Does Taylormade have a Burner 2-iron? You'd probably put that out about 280-ish.

[Gioguy21]

Since you're pumping your irons out there pretty far, I suspect you're missing yards with your current driver setup.

Yea, with the upgraded irons i'm looking into the driving yardage should be of greater distance, according to the guy at the shop as well as logic lol. I'll get fitted for a driver next i guess after the irons are taken care of. Thanks for your suggestion...

[Gioguy21]

You hit a 230 yard 4 irons consistently? What do you even need a 3 wood for? The Burner irons sounded ridiculously long (pointlessly long?) when I read the site review, and here's more proof.

I don't like using any higher iron than a 4, I change out my hybrids and fairways pending how i'm hitting them. I have a 5 and heaven wood original bertha's with graffaloy blues that i absolutely love and can count on. I need a club for the long/longer par 5's to try and reach home in 2. I hit my 4 iron consistently 220-225...Oh and those Burners really are dirty long.

[sean_miller]

I don't like using any higher iron than a 4, I change out my hybrids and fairways pending how i'm hitting them. I have a 5 and heaven wood original bertha's with graffaloy blues that i absolutely love and can count on. I need a club for the long/longer par 5's to try and reach home in 2. I hit my 4 iron consistently 220-225...Oh and those Burners really are dirty long.

If you like older Callaway woods like I do (love my 9* BB Warbird to death), the Launcher may not be your friend. I tried a few 2008/2009 drivers and based on my Launcher 15* 3 wood that I have (Red S shaft) I thought I'd be crazy about their driver. Turns out I actually disliked it very much.

Two other drivers stood out - I liked the weight distribution, general appearance, and distance - the Wilson Staff (Spine or something - whatever Padraig was gaming) and the PING G10. I went with the PING. It's so long that I don't even put it in the bag at indoor golf (left with too many wedge approaches) - I use actual wooden woods there, which is another way to get the most out of a newer driver when you hit the course.

[luckyluke699]

Yea, with the upgraded irons i'm looking into the driving yardage should be of greater distance, according to the guy at the shop as well as logic lol. I'll get fitted for a driver next i guess after the irons are taken care of. Thanks for your suggestion...

I agree, your distances are very impressive. You consistently hit all your irons further than the average PGA touring pro by a descent distance... According to trackman, the average PGA pro hits his 7 iron 177 yards (162 metres) so 190 is incredible given the difference in calibre of golf between a PGA tour golfer and and the low figures amateur golfer!

http://mytrackman.com/TrackMan.Onlin...GANumbers.html Normally there's a much bigger difference between a 4 iron and driver than you are showing, so hope it goes well for you!

[Scott_K]

I read some where that the burner irons and others manufacturers are bent a little on the strong side compared to irons from the 90s. I just looked out of curiosity and the burner 7 iron is 3 degrees stronger and a 1/4" longer than my 7 iron.......hmmmm my 7 iron is used for my 160 yard shots.....hmmmm

If your current pings are +1.75" and you're going to go longer than a stock burner set, then that makes sense......grip it and rip it.

[Gioguy21]

I agree, your distances are very impressive. You consistently hit all your irons further than the average PGA touring pro by a descent distance... According to trackman, the average PGA pro hits his 7 iron 177 yards (162 metres) so 190 is incredible given the difference in calibre of golf between a PGA tour golfer and and the low figures amateur golfer!

I was hitting a stock, standard lie, standard length 2009 Burner with a stock Taylormade shaft on the monitor avg 192 yards. (don't remember the swing speed). I'm 6'3" 210 lbs and my pings are 2* upright and 1.75" long which as noted by the PGA Pro there to be about a club difference (meaning the stock 6 would be in relative terms like what my 7 iron would be).

I read some where that the burner irons and others manufacturers are bent a little on the strong side compared to irons from the 90s. I just looked out of curiosity and the burner 7 iron is 3 degrees stronger and a 1/4" longer than my 7 iron.......hmmmm my 7 iron is used for my 160 yard shots.....hmmmm

Yea, I noticed it too and mentioned it to him regarding the degree difference from my Ping's, he said they were definitely stronger which could equate for some more of the distance but I'm going to go soon again and bring back some #'s so Mr. Luke doesn't think i'm bs'in haha...

[McIlroy_man]

the new taylormade irons are crazy long! i demoed them before they came out when the t/made tour truck came to my work. He was saying that they have made the face as thin as possible in order to maximise the trampoline effect, which we all know is limited in drivers. im not sure if there are limits for irons or not. the loft is also stronger on these irons compared to t/mades standard loft

Anyway, when i was hitting the burners, i hit the 6 iron as far as i hit my own 4 iron!!

howver you get no feel from them at all and i couldnt shape them at all.
but for any mid-high handicapper these irons would be a great set!

[James_Black]

Cobra clubs are great.
They even do forged irons now.

The LV range of drivers get the ball going high,long and straight.

But there's one problem with them, if your used to hitting a draw and you aim right the ball will go straight and prob OB.
that's what I've found anyway.

[WUTiger]

I agree, get your launch angle, spin rate and other numbers checked out. ...

Check out some driver and shaft combinations on a launch monitor. As starter on tests, hit current driver to see if this store's launch monitor has inflated yardage. (If you normally hit the 9* Launcher 265 yds. outdoors, but boom it 300 on their monitor, their monitor may be exaggerating club yardage).

Proper shaft kickpoint and clubhead design/loft are key to get best driver for you. What is your current trajectory and shot shape with your Launcher? (In the store I go to, they have their monitor set about 2% conservative, because they don't want to exaggerate distance yardage on clubs.)

[Scott_K]

Check out some driver and shaft combinations on a launch monitor. As starter on tests, hit current driver to see if this store's launch monitor has inflated yardage. (If you normally hit the 9* Launcher 265 yds. outdoors, but boom it 300 on their monitor, their monitor may be exaggerating club yardage).

Thanks. I know I should get fitted. I bought my driver off the shelf last year just to get myself back into golf. They said that the indoor yardage was not that accurate, but the SS, ball speed, la were pretty close. It isn't a trackman, which is now something I'm reading up on as it seems to be the best out there. I may have to drive a couple hours to find a fitter who has a trackman and someone I'll feel comfortable with. I know my shaft is too light and feels a little on the "whippy" side.

My current trajectory, or at least the one I aim for, is the penetrating flight out of the box with a mild rise to the apex, top out and then come down. I feel that is the most controlled shot I have when I hit it. They usually have a baby fade affect when I get a hold of it. I'm also rethinking my trajectory with the discussion going on in the "hitting up on the ball" thread. I don't remember what it looks like on the monitor.

[kpaulhus]

Ill trade you my FT-5 for your Cleveland?

[doof_dizzler]

I don't hit my clubs as far, but I know how you feel. I can hit a 2h or 5W 210+ relatively easily, but have to really hammer it to get 250 out of a driver. It's not the club or shaft, I have 7 or 8 drivers and a dozen shafts. It just doesn't seem like a large enough yardage gap from an 18* club to a 10* club. I'm satisfied with not being a big hitter, I had half a finger amputated 4 years ago, so I had to modify my grip&swing; when I took up golf again, but I don't get why I don't get the corresponding distance out of my driver/3W. My distances go something like this - 7i:150 6i:160 5h:175 4h:190 2h:205 5W:215 3W:225 D:240 - I feel like it shouldn't be that hard to expect 260ish from my driver, looking at the trend.... Is this kind of how you're feeling?? "Why doesn't it go farther??"

[Shanks A Million]

I agree, your distances are very impressive. You consistently hit all your irons further than the average PGA touring pro by a descent distance... According to trackman, the average PGA pro hits his 7 iron 177 yards (162 metres) so 190 is incredible given the difference in calibre of golf between a PGA tour golfer and and the low figures amateur golfer!

Are you all kidding?

Of course he hits his new irons farther, they're stronger ! The TM irons simply have a lower number stamped on the heel. The TM Pitching wedge is 45°! My last pitching wedge was 48°. Why does everyone, year after year, fall for this fallacy? Why do you think we miraculously need a gap wedge now? Back in the 1970s, the PW was 52°, in the 80s it was 50°, and in the 90s it was 48°, and now it's 46°. And we wonder why we hit them farther? A 1970s 2 iron is about the same as a modern TaylorMade 4 iron. One company makes theirs stronger, then all the others follow suit. When a company claims you'll hit their new irons farther, drop them and walk away, never buy from that company. You never want to hit your irons farther. I hit my PW 135 yards, and have no reason to hit it farther! We had 3-PW, then 4-AW, what's next? 5-DW, 6-FW, 7-RW, 9-YW, PW-VW? When will we start buying clubs with 21° pitching wedges? I can safely say that he hits his irons the same distance as most of us. I hit my 3 iron 235, which is equal to the TM 4 iron. I hit my 6 iron 185-190, which is the same as the TM 7 iron. Don't buy this BS, an iron by any other number is still the same.

[Gioguy21]

...yes, they are stronger in terms of loft, lol i am by NO means a pro-level golfer...hahahaha