New Driver help

[ryan772]

Im looking to buy a "new" potentially used driver. Im looking in the 100$ range. Ive seen some TM SLDR S drivers for sale on ebay for 100 and used for about 70. I currently have a TM superfast 2.0 that i got used but im not crazy about at all. Anyone have any suggestions? At the play it again store near me i saw a few different drivers around 100$. A few were the titalist 910D2, Ping I15, Ping I25, and callaway razr x.

[mvmac]

Im looking to buy a "new" potentially used driver. Im looking in the 100$ range. Ive seen some TM SLDR S drivers for sale on ebay for 100 and used for about 70. I currently have a TM superfast 2.0 that i got used but im not crazy about at all. Anyone have any suggestions? At the play it again store near me i saw a few different drivers around 100$. A few were the titalist 910D2, Ping I15, Ping I25, and callaway razr x.

All those are good drivers but they have different performance features. The i15 and i25 are mid launch/low spin, the Titleist is mid launch/medium spin, TaylorMade SLDR S is high launch/low spin and the Razr X is high launch/medium spin.

[ryan772]

How can i tell what best suits my game. Ive worked hard to get bettern ive been scoring in the 80s from the blues at my local course,but im really new to the game so terminology and a good deeper understanding of the game hasnt come yet. Driving is definately the weakest part of my game. I have a sigh of relief whenever i keep it on or near the fairway witout a big hook or slice.

[mvmac]

How can i tell what best suits my game. Ive worked hard to get bettern ive been scoring in the 80s from the blues at my local course,but im really new to the game so terminology and a good deeper understanding of the game hasnt come yet. Driving is definately the weakest part of my game. I have a sigh of relief whenever i keep it on or near the fairway witout a big hook or slice.

Make a visit to a golf store, hit some balls on a launch monitor and get some numbers. A sales person should be able to narrow it down to a couple drivers. Then just buy the same model from a few years back

[ryan772]

Would a golfsmith be able to do that for me? I have never hit off one before but i guess there is a golfsmith about an hour from me.

[mvmac]

Would a golfsmith be able to do that for me? I have never hit off one before but i guess there is a golfsmith about an hour from me.

Yes they should.

[Mr. Desmond]

As recommended above, hop on a simulator at your local Golfsmith, find a few drivers you like, and see what works.

If driving is the weakest part of your game with a slice, then the less demanding (more forgiving) drivers were not on your list. The Razr X and Titleist 910D2 might be the most forgiving of the drivers you listed. I played a 910, it is forgiving, but I think you have better alternatives. Also, be careful of the shaft when you find a Titleist as they had many alternatives. The feel of the Razr X is um, questionable. --

Others in price range of 60-110 that are forgiving and were very popular are Taylormade RBZ, TM Jetspeed, Adams 9088UL, Cobra Biocell, Callaway XHot, and Callaway X2Hot.

Also, if a Driver is more than 45 inches in length, then grip down when checking it out. That will make it easier to make center contact. Depending on your results, having them cut the shaft down slightly - .5 inches - to get it near 45 inches may help.

My personal favorite of those is the X2Hot in the Aldila Tour Blue Shaft -- the shaft plays slightly soft. A very forgiving, nice feeling combo. If you have a little more money, the Callaway Big Bertha 2014 may be one to check out, and if you can find a Ping G25 at a decent price, that may be the motherlode. The G25 and the X2Ho t are forgiving and long.

Check 'em out at Golfsmith.

[Mr. Desmond]

Forgot, if you have a slice, and in that price range, give the Ping K15 a look.

In all of these try enough loft ... at least 10.5 plus adjustments.

[meenman]

If you have a little more money, the Callaway Big Bertha 2014 may be one to check out

I picked one of these up when  my 913 D2 was being fixed and i needed a driver for a tournament.

I played it for a month and was never able to hit it right, never sounded right and my drives (good and bad) were 30 yards shorter than i hit the Titleist. One of my friends has one and absolutely kills it it. Is there some hidden glitch with this club that I am not aware of?

[Mr. Desmond]

I picked one of these up when  my 913 D2 was being fixed and i needed a driver for a tournament.

I played it for a month and was never able to hit it right, never sounded right and my drives (good and bad) were 30 yards shorter than i hit the Titleist. One of my friends has one and absolutely kills it it. Is there some hidden glitch with this club that I am not aware of?

If it was the Big Bertha Alpha 2014, then that is a different animal than plain ole Big Bertha 2014.

If it was the Big Bertha 2014, then I'd put the issue at the shaft. The stock Tour Blue shaft can spin too much and is softer than one would expect - a poor shaft fit can account for a big loss in distance.

Otherwise, for some reason I've demoed a lot of drivers that are 20 yards less carry than others. Why? Confidence, shape, shaft, the nature of your miss and how that driver responds to your miss? Could be anything.

[meenman]

If it was the Big Bertha Alpha 2014, then that is a different animal than plain ole Big Bertha 2014.

If it was the Big Bertha 2014, then I'd put the issue at the shaft. The stock Tour Blue shaft can spin too much and is softer than one would expect - a poor shaft fit can account for a big loss in distance.

Otherwise, for some reason I've demoed a lot of drivers that are 20 yards less carry than others. Why? Confidence, shape, shaft, the nature of your miss and how that driver responds to your miss? Could be anything.

It was the regular bertha, went with the same weight shaft i have in the 913 (which i was fitted for)  unfortunately i got out of work at 9pm that day and needed something for the next morning. I tried it for 8 rounds and multiple range sessions, but i wont take a big loss on it as i bought it on sale.

[Mr. Desmond]

It was the regular bertha, went with the same weight shaft i have in the 913 (which i was fitted for)  unfortunately i got out of work at 9pm that day and needed something for the next morning. I tried it for 8 rounds and multiple range sessions, but i wont take a big loss on it as i bought it on sale.

I preferred the X2Hot over the BB.

Oh, and I made an error -- the BB had the Fubuki 50 shaft as stock, the X2Hot had the Tour Blue (nice feel in a shaft).

I think the BB 815 is a great improvement over 2014 -  more forgiving, lighter head, higher launcher, better ball speeds with the new MOTO face, better stock shaft. Waiting for it to show up on callawaypreowned.

As to the OP, I think if you hit on a X2Hot or Ping G25 (the X2Hot should be next to nothing in terms of $$ and was highly rated, the Ping G25 is one of the longest and most forgiving on the market), and like either, you've scored. But one man's golf gold is another man's trade-in.

[ryan772]

Well if i picked up one of the clubs at play it again i could trade in my driver now and save a few bucks. I have 5 kids and my wife stays at home so i am really on a budget.

[cooke119]

I would stay away from pre-owned on ebay, just my opinion. Golfsmith always has trade-ins and last years model on sale. Check out the Cobras, I've had good luck with them.

[Rip62]

It's kind of a sleeper but I have an Adams Speedline Super S. I find it very forgiving and long. Someone mentioned Cobra and the Amp cell and Bio cells are good also.

[Mac62]

Forgot, if you have a slice, and in that price range, give the Ping K15 a look....

Great choice.  The K15 is a very forgiving driver and should fit the OPs budget.  I find the G30 even a bit more forgiving, but it may be more difficult to find a good used one in that price range.