So what a difference a newer driver makes, now considering more modern woods

[cutchemist42]

While, after hearing from too way many people my driver was seriously lacking to anything made in the past 10 years, I decided to blindly buy a used TM R7. Finally got to the range, and WOW!! Wish I made the move sooner!! Do these make these modern drivers easier to hit straight because that was the most surprising aspect to me. (2nd being the easy distance to attain vs my old driver)

My 2nd thought is that I should maybe now consider more modern woods. These are the woods I currently have from the early 90s Lynx set my dad has been allowing me to use since starting 2 months ago.

[Mr. Desmond]

I guess we all must evolve ... the R7 is ancient, but you are getting in the ballpark.

Yes, get some modern fairways ... see callaway or taylormade preowned, 3 balls golf, rocksolidgolf, etc.

[Rip62]

Replace the fairway woods. New ones are so much easier to hit.

[WUTiger]

Replace the fairway woods. New ones are so much easier to hit.

When looking for fairway woods, be aware of the different modern head designs and the head's center of gravity (COG) location.

COG Position 1: Heads with a higher, more forward center of gravity will launch the ball lower, and with somewhat less spin. This creates the "low, boring shot" you see in the product ads. Players with higher swing speeds need less head-generated spin, and can get more distance with the low-spin shot.

COG Position 2: Heads with a lower, more rearward center of gravity will launch the ball higher, and with more spin. People with average swing speeds will get better distance with some spin on the ball.

Also, FW heads with a low profile (shallow face depth) will tend to launch the ball higher than larger clubheads.

Note: The FW's shaft also influences how high or low the club will launch the ball.

[Hatchman]

Made a big difference for me. Bought fixed modern then went to adjustable. Even better! Study before you buy.

[iacas]

When looking for fairway woods, be aware of the different modern head designs and the head's center of gravity (COG) location.

COG Position 1: Heads with a higher, more forward center of gravity will launch the ball lower, and with somewhat less spin. This creates the "low, boring shot" you see in the product ads. Players with higher swing speeds need less head-generated spin, and can get more distance with the low-spin shot.

COG Position 2: Heads with a lower, more rearward center of gravity will launch the ball higher, and with more spin. People with average swing speeds will get better distance with some spin on the ball.

Not so sure you're right about the spin. A lower CG will effectively result in a strike more "above" the CG, which would reduce backspin.

[WUTiger]

Not so sure you're right about the spin. A lower CG will effectively result in a strike more "above" the CG, which would reduce backspin.

Eric,

You are correct, if the CG is lower and forward - something increasingly common in the loft-up era. The clubhead diagram in question comes from the RBZ Stage 2 FW - pre loft-up - which came out in 2013. The RBZs2 pix only shows two possible CG locations. (I will need more than one diagram for future discussions).

Since your comment, I have located a very interesting and detailed research report on CG, done by Tutelman Group in 2013. Tutelman also identifies some other influences on spin which rarely get mentioned in golf ads.

Over the next day or two I will summarize info from Tutelman and a couple of other sources I've found to better explain CG/spin.

[mvmac]

Eric,

You are correct, if the CG is lower and forward - something increasingly common in the loft-up era. The clubhead diagram in question comes from the RBZ Stage 2 FW - pre loft-up - which came out in 2013. The RBZs2 pix only shows two possible CG locations. (I will need more than one diagram for future discussions).

Yeah when the CG is low, that will lower spin. G30 driver is low and back and it's a high launch/low spin driver. TaylorMade likes it forward because they feel it helps increase ball speed.