9.5 degree driver?

[ronaldkuntoro]

The last 9.5 degree driver I had was 2003's Taylormade R580XD. My drives were all over the place with this driver. Then I switched to bunch of drivers with loft ranging from 10.5 to 13 degrees. My drives are a bit consistent with this driver loft. Currently I have Ping G5 10.5 degree.

Now I'm considering going back to 9.5 degree. Considering the high MOI on the latest drivers on the market, I'm expecting more consistent and straighter shots with a lot of rolls. I'm thinking Nike Sumo 5000 drivers.

How's your experience with the latest 9.5 degree drivers? Are they straighter than the old drivers?

[CrazyXGolfer]

I honestly can't help you, Im currently demo'ing a 7.5 superdeep TP from a taylormade rep and I can hit that very consistant. Great driver, I must say.

[ry1808]

I have a TaylorMade R9 TP with 9.5 and that is pretty good at keeping it on the short stuff, I know that the majority of my misses are my fault not the clubs but if you hit a consistent fade or draw then then adjustable face and weights can be used in modern drivers to straighten it up.

[shades9323]

The last 9.5 degree driver I had was 2003's Taylormade R580XD. My drives were all over the place with this driver. Then I switched to bunch of drivers with loft ranging from 10.5 to 13 degrees. My drives are a bit consistent with this driver loft. Currently I have Ping G5 10.5 degree.

Stick with the higher lofted drivers and throw in a low launching shaft like a voodoo, prolaunch red, aldila nv and so on. You can keep your forgiveness of the higher loft and have a lower lauch via the shaft. I hit a nike vr 10.5 degree with a voodoo last weekend and was just bombing it.

[delav]

High MOI drivers may help but this is a bandaid fix, just as playing a 13 degree driver is. There is nothing wrong with the TM R580XD or the Ping G5 (owned both), and they solid clubs. I'd see a pro about improving your mechanics before I go out and spend $$$ on a unneeded new driver.

[jeffrey r]

Was the Ping G5 as "off" with their lofts as the Ping G10? With the Ping G10, which I am currently gaming, the 9* heads are generally 10-10.5* actual, and the 10.5* heads are generally around 12* actual. This can have a big impact on your performance.

The conventional wisdom is that a lower loft is less forgiving and can increase sidespin (slices most likely), while a higher loft is more forgiving with less sidespin. As a high handicapper, I know I can benefit from a higher-lofted driver. But as a high ball driver, I have to keep my driver loft in check. So I was ballooning too many drives with a 10.5* G10, and dropped to a 9* head with more success (though I do have to fight the slice a bit more).

As with any of this, one could try to fix what is wrong with his swing, try different lofts, try different shafts, etc., and see what works and what doesn't. I'll also add that I was gaming a Nike Sumo 5900 square driver last season, starting out with a 10.5* reg flex stock shaft, and switching to a 9.5* stiff flex stock shaft, and I was not successful with either variation. That driver and my swing just did not mix well. Just like a Callaway Diablo 10* Draw that I recently tried--I just hit it like crap (though I know from reviews that it is a good driver). Whereas me and the Ping G10 seem to get along quite well, across different shafts.

Bottom line, it will be hard to generalize across 9.5* heads. Some may work for you, and some may not. Trial and error.

[shades9323]

The conventional wisdom is that a lower loft is less forgiving and can increase sidespin (slices most likely), while a higher loft is more forgiving with less sidespin. As a high handicapper, I know I can benefit from a higher-lofted driver. But as a high ball driver, I have to keep my driver loft in check. So I was ballooning too many drives with a 10.5* G10, and dropped to a 9* head with more success (though I do have to fight the slice a bit more).

So why didn't you keep the forgiveness of the 10.5 head and get a low launching shaft?

[ronaldkuntoro]

High MOI drivers may help but this is a bandaid fix, just as playing a 13 degree driver is. There is nothing wrong with the TM R580XD or the Ping G5 (owned both), and they solid clubs. I'd see a pro about improving your mechanics before I go out and spend $$$ on a unneeded new driver.

Oh I've seen a Golf coach before, there's nothing wrong with my swing. I don't think a 13 degree driver can cure a slice. A slice is a slice.... The reason I used that high loft is because I just got it for a really cheap price.

Just wondering if newest 9.5 degree driver with high MOI stuff is better than the 9.5 degree driver a few years back...

[jeffrey r]

So why didn't you keep the forgiveness of the 10.5 head and get a low launching shaft?

Good question--because the G10 10.5*, being probably closer to 12* actual, is just too high of a loft for me, and I don't think a low launching shaft could make enough of a difference. I still hit the 9* G10 with Prolaunch Red pretty high. Starting with the reviews when it first came out a couple of years ago, the G10 was a notoriously high launching head. I suppose there was a reason that so many people went with the 9* or lower lofted heads with the G10. It really is high launching. The 9* with PL Red gives me a very nice trajectory. I actually also have a 10.5* G10 head with a GD Tour AD YSQ stiff shaft, which I believe is mid-launch, and that can balloon on me as well.

[golfro]

Oh I've seen a Golf coach before, there's nothing wrong with my swing. I don't think a 13 degree driver can cure a slice. A slice is a slice.... The reason I used that high loft is because I just got it for a really cheap price.

theres nothing wrong with your swing yet you can't hit a 9.5* driver consistently?

[sean_miller]

Was the Ping G5 as "off" with their lofts as the Ping G10? With the Ping G10, which I am currently gaming, the 9* heads are generally 10-10.5* actual, and the 10.5* heads are generally around 12* actual. This can have a big impact on your performance.

I've never heard of a 25 capper who changed out shafts and drivers so much.

Where did you get your PING loft concern information? From your ballooning shots? I bet you did have the wrong shaft. I hit my old 9* Callaway BB Warbird much higher than my 9.5* Callaway Hawkeye - one has a BB Stiff and the other has their Tour shaft - surprise.

[ronaldkuntoro]

theres nothing wrong with your swing yet you can't hit a 9.5* driver consistently?

How consistent are you talking about? I hit about 60% fairway.... But I need a higher number like 75%.....

BTW.... My main question is to know if the latest high MOI 9.5 driver is straighter than the old ones.... and nobody has answered that yet....

[golfro]

How consistent do you talking about? I hit about 60% fairway.... But I need a higher number like 75%.....

point being, a lot of people are too quick to want to switch out equipment before looking at their swing. You may want to look into why you're not hitting them consistently before buying a new driver.

[shades9323]

How consistent are you talking about? I hit about 60% fairway.... But I need a higher number like 75%.....

The sumo 5000 series is a few years back.

[sean_miller]

The sumo 5000 series is a few years back.

Did you forget the other threads? The path to enlightenment is always in the purchase of new equipment - constantly being in the "honeymoon phase" is how it's done!

Seriously though - check out youtube for some PGA guys' WITB videos - omg some guys have old stuff in play under their contract OEM headvcovers.

[jeffrey r]

I've never heard of a 25 capper who changed out shafts and drivers so much.

I guess it sounds worse on the board than in practice. I simply traded in my 10.5* 5900 for the 9.5* 5900 within a trial period at the time. The bottom line was, that club was not a good fit for me. If I didn't try out other clubs, then I'd still be hitting that driver poorly. The Ping G10s I have tried are all preowned and in different combos, so I am not literally changing out shafts. They've already depreciated enough that I can try out the club on my own timetable and then sell it or trade it in for what I paid. The Diablo was also preowned and just a lark to try, and that got returned quickly as it was not a good fit. I enjoy trying out the different clubs and combos with little risk, but I think I'm pretty settled right now. My handicap is more a function of simply not having much time or chance to play, and is likely now lower having obtained much better fits for me--irons, driver, etc.

[golfro]

I guess it sounds worse on the board than in practice. I simply traded in my 10.5* 5900 for the 9.5* 5900 within a trial period at the time. The bottom line was, that club was not a good fit for me. If I didn't try out other clubs, then I'd still be hitting that driver poorly. The Ping G10s I have tried are all preowned and in different combos, so I am not literally changing out shafts. They've already depreciated enough that I can try out the club on my own timetable and then sell it or trade it in for what I paid. The Diablo was also preowned and just a lark to try, and that got returned quickly as it was not a good fit. I enjoy trying out the different clubs and combos with little risk, but I think I'm pretty settled right now. My handicap is more a function of simply not having much time or chance to play,

None of my clubs are fitted. maybe my h'cap will drop if I get fitted too.

[sean_miller]

I guess it sounds worse on the board than in practice. I simply traded in my 10.5* 5900 for the 9.5* 5900 within a trial period at the time. The bottom line was, that club was not a good fit for me. If I didn't try out other clubs, then I'd still be hitting that driver poorly. The Ping G10s I have tried are all preowned and in different combos, so I am not literally changing out shafts. They've already depreciated enough that I can try out the club on my own timetable and then sell it or trade it in for what I paid. The Diablo was also preowned and just a lark to try, and that got returned quickly as it was not a good fit. I enjoy trying out the different clubs and combos with little risk, but I think I'm pretty settled right now. My handicap is more a function of simply not having much time or chance to play, and is likely now lower having obtained much better fits for me--irons, driver, etc.

It makes much more sense when you add those details.

Probably about the same amount of tinkering that I do with irons wedges and putters - ironically, other than a Vokey, I'm playing the same irons I was 15 years ago (updated the lofts, lies a grips a few times though - lolz). If your swing is solid (i.e. generates a decent amount of power and is consistent without risking injury) the search for the right driver is worth it. Having a rip on long holes is, if nothing else, a rush. Probably an often overlooked driver option - did all these clubs have the same grip? Once I settled on the Lamkin mid-size, I changed all my woods over to that grip. That alone probably lowered my index a couple strokes. A couple snap hooks can turn into pushes OB right real quick out on the course if the grip is the wrong size. Just my opinion/experience.