Is it time for a new driver

[dmighty]

I have been playing a lot of golf lately and with the help of my coach, starting to feel more consistent and comfortable with my swing and game. 
I have been playing with Callaway X22 irons and just purchased a set of XR irons off callaway's preowned site after hitting them at edwin watts.  Im debating now on purchasing a newer driver.  I currently have a Taylormade Rocketballz driver which i NEVER hit up until the last month when i put it back in my bag.  I have been hitting it well over the last few rounds averaging around 230-240.   Im told my driver is antiquate and the newer technology available may give me another 20-35 yards which is the main reason i bought clubs.  My swing speed averages around 107. I hit my 9 iron 145-150 and my 7 roughly 165-170.  Can i expect to see that drastic a gain in distance with a newer driver?

Considering the XR driver stiff with the fujikura speeder 565 graphite shaft.

Appreciate your thoughts

[IndianaDundee]

240 yards with 107 mph sounds short to me.  Depending on course conditions a 9 degree driver at 105 mph should get you in the 250 to 270 yard range.  Of course you have to hit the sweet spot and take advantage of the best contact path to get the most out of your drives.  I hit my Cleveland HiBore over 300 yards before I got injured and lost my swing speed.  It is older than the Rocketballz and now with a 105 mph swing it still goes over 250.  If you have a coach work on getting your swing on plane and hitting the sweet spot.  You can also go hit lots of drivers at Edwin Watts.  That is where I got my HiBore at years ago.  Finding a shaft that fits your swing is better than the best club on the market with a shaft that doesn't fit you.  There are new technologically advanced drivers out there but $300 for the newest driver is wasted money if a $50 used driver from 5 years ago fits your swing better.

Edited August 6, 2016 by IndianaDundee
Typo

[gregsandiego]

4 hours ago, dmighty said:

I have been playing a lot of golf lately and with the help of my coach, starting to feel more consistent and comfortable with my swing and game. 
I have been playing with Callaway X22 irons and just purchased a set of XR irons off callaway's preowned site after hitting them at edwin watts.  Im debating now on purchasing a newer driver.  I currently have a Taylormade Rocketballz driver which i NEVER hit up until the last month when i put it back in my bag.  I have been hitting it well over the last few rounds averaging around 230-240.   Im told my driver is antiquate and the newer technology available may give me another 20-35 yards which is the main reason i bought clubs.  My swing speed averages around 107. I hit my 9 iron 145-150 and my 7 roughly 165-170.  Can i expect to see that drastic a gain in distance with a newer driver?

Considering the XR driver stiff with the fujikura speeder 565 graphite shaft.

Appreciate your thoughts

Yes for the simple reason you'll probably enjoy having a new one. And so you'll probably hit better.

[dmighty]

1 hour ago, IndianaDundee said:

240 yards with 107 mph sounds short to me.  Depending on course conditions a 9 degree driver at 105 mph should get you in the 250 to 270 yard range.  Of course you have to hit the sweet spot and take advantage of the best contact path to get the most out of your drives.  I hit my Cleveland HiBore over 300 yards before I got injured and lost my swing speed.  It is older than the Rocketballz and now with a 105 mph swing it still goes over 250.  If you have a coach work on getting your swing on plane and hitting the sweet spot.  You can also go hit lots of drivers at Edwin Watts.  That is where I got my HiBore at years ago.  Finding a shaft that fits your swing is better than the best club on the market with a shaft that doesn't fit you.  There are new technologically advanced drivers out there but $300 for the newest driver is wasted money if a $50 used driver from 5 years ago fits your swing better.

Thanks IndianaDundee....sorry to hear about your injury but glad to know you are still enjoying the game.

I was recently at edwin watts and that swing speed noted was with irons. I never swung the driver but I know i am much slower with my driver to ensure good/decent contact.
I dont hit the sweet spot consistently as i have hit 260+ yard drives.  Just browsing the forum, i can see how important club fitting is.  The club noted, i was going to purchase used for 180 but maybe i will do a club fitting for the driver at edwin watts.  I hate doing such without making a purchase... Thats just me...

 

Thanks 
 

2 minutes ago, gregsandiego said:

Yes for the simple reason you'll probably enjoy having a new one. And so you'll probably hit better.

Simple enough, lol

[Gator Hazard]

That is a great swing speed!  I just bought a new 12 degree Talormade Aeroburner in regular flex for about 135 off global golf. Going to hit it for first time ever Monday morning at Champions Gate National course playing 18. I left my old one at home but I suck so it shouldn't matter much anyway getting used to it during a round. My old one was 11 degrees senior flex so hoping this deiver will come around and the face square up better with my swing speed plus give me more air since I'm a newer golfer. It's obviously not this years model but that doesn't mean much since studies show technology has not changed distances (at the pro level) by anything statistically significant over the past ten or so years. Someone posted a study on it here a while back. I don't know how old your other driver is but if can get a new one at a bargain that has a shaft better suited to your swing speed it should help a bit. I'm no expert by any means. At the end of the day, if you have the means, it makes sense, and feels good, do it!

And welcome to TST!

[dmighty]

34 minutes ago, Gator Hazard said:

That is a great swing speed!  I just bought a new 12 degree Talormade Aeroburner in regular flex for about 135 off global golf. Going to hit it for first time ever Monday morning at Champions Gate National course playing 18. I left my old one at home but I suck so it shouldn't matter much anyway getting used to it during a round. My old one was 11 degrees senior flex so hoping this deiver will come around and the face square up better with my swing speed plus give me more air since I'm a newer golfer. It's obviously not this years model but that doesn't mean much since studies show technology has not changed distances (at the pro level) by anything statistically significant over the past ten or so years. Someone posted a study on it here a while back. I don't know how old your other driver is but if can get a new one at a bargain that has a shaft better suited to your swing speed it should help a bit. I'm no expert by any means. At the end of the day, if you have the means, it makes sense, and feels good, do it!

And welcome to TST!

Im in orlando and have played Championships gate several times, great track.  If you are willing to troop from tampa there, you should check out disneys magnolia and palm's course.  You can get a round there for $25 after 2pm and they are both in GREAT condition.  I was thinking of going with a 9 degree stiff flex.  they have a few options available but may get fitted for the appropriate shaft before purchasing.  Many stress how important that is so i will take their advice.  Good luck with that new driver, should be fun.

[Gator Hazard]

4 minutes ago, dmighty said:

Im in orlando and have played Championships gate several times, great track.  If you are willing to troop from tampa there, you should check out disneys magnolia and palm's course.  You can get a round there for $25 after 2pm and they are both in GREAT condition.  I was thinking of going with a 9 degree stiff flex.  they have a few options available but may get fitted for the appropriate shaft before purchasing.  Many stress how important that is so i will take their advice.  Good luck with that new driver, should be fun.

Thanks for that. I'll report back next week on how the driver feels for me. We have a packed schedule but I will keep that course in mind for the future as we like to go to Disney on a 3 or 4 park pass about once every two years since we have young ones. 

[pganapathy]

The shaft is much more important than the head in a lot of ways.  Most driver heads in the last 5-10 years or so have not evolved too significantly.  Provided you are hitting the sweet spot of the driver, which can vary from club to club, you will be close to maximum distance for your swing speed provided you use the correct shaft and launch the ball at the correct angle.

[dmighty]

1 minute ago, pganapathy said:

The shaft is much more important than the head in a lot of ways.  Most driver heads in the last 5-10 years or so have not evolved too significantly.  Provided you are hitting the sweet spot of the driver, which can vary from club to club, you will be close to maximum distance for your swing speed provided you use the correct shaft and launch the ball at the correct angle.

Now that you mention that, the rocketballz driver as an adjustable loft.  The club is a 10.5 and i recently change the loft setting to highest which means it may now be a 12-13. i wonder how much that may be impacting the distance. I need to revert that back to standard and measure the distance.

[pganapathy]

30 minutes ago, dmighty said:

Now that you mention that, the rocketballz driver as an adjustable loft.  The club is a 10.5 and i recently change the loft setting to highest which means it may now be a 12-13. i wonder how much that may be impacting the distance. I need to revert that back to standard and measure the distance.

My bad.  I actually should have mentioned that detail.  There has been very little difference in distance of drivers over the last couple of years.  What has evolved dramatically is the adjustability of the driver head.  Assuming you hit a driver in the sweet spot (which can vary depend on your settings and driver head) with the correct launch angle, you will actually be getting the maximum distance for your swing.  Note that the swing speed alone does not determine your shaft.  It also matters how you load up on the shaft.  Kick point, torque and flex are all variables in the shaft.  Get it tested by a professional and choose your shaft appropriately.  Also, don't adjust your head loft, lie and face angle indiscriminately.  Preferably do that with a pro using a launch monitor

[chilepepper]

Not to sound rude but your a 30 hcp .......your money may well be better spent on lessons not a new driver. It took me awhile to figure out coaching would go further bettering my game than new tools

[dmighty]

6 hours ago, pganapathy said:

My bad.  I actually should have mentioned that detail.  There has been very little difference in distance of drivers over the last couple of years.  What has evolved dramatically is the adjustability of the driver head.  Assuming you hit a driver in the sweet spot (which can vary depend on your settings and driver head) with the correct launch angle, you will actually be getting the maximum distance for your swing.  Note that the swing speed alone does not determine your shaft.  It also matters how you load up on the shaft.  Kick point, torque and flex are all variables in the shaft.  Get it tested by a professional and choose your shaft appropriately.  Also, don't adjust your head loft, lie and face angle indiscriminately.  Preferably do that with a pro using a launch monitor

Great advice, thank you.. I will do just that

28 minutes ago, chilepepper said:

Not to sound rude but your a 30 hcp .......your money may well be better spent on lessons not a new driver. It took me awhile to figure out coaching would go further bettering my game than new tools

When i first joined Sandtrap, that probably was my handicap and i got it down to as low as 19 playing regularly.  However, that changed after i had my first child. prior to that last 2 months,  I played maybe 20 rounds over 2 years. However, Over the last 2 months i have played around 20 rounds of golf, been to the range a number of times and got back with my coach taking lesson.  After a number of sessions, range work and course play i have been recently shooting +13-+16.  I have always believed if i played more and dedicated the time i could get down to a single digit handicap (im sure most have this same belief). As i mentioned in my opening post, i have been hitting the ball more consistent and feeling confident about my game thus the reason why i decided to update my irons and was now thinking of doing the same with the driver. Also note, i refuse to buy anything new and purchase preowned equipment from callaway.

I know where you are coming from.  Im a bowler that averages 218 with numerous 300s / 800s and i see people all the time purchase $200 bowling balls as if it will help them score better.  No... Its your technique, work on that!! I have this same approach with golf.
 

Edited August 6, 2016 by dmighty

[WUTiger]

On 8/5/2016 at 5:00 PM, dmighty said:

...  I currently have a Taylormade Rocketballz driver which i NEVER hit up until the last month when i put it back in my bag.  I have been hitting it well over the last few rounds averaging around 230-240.   Im told my driver is antiquate and the newer technology available may give me another 20-35 yards...

Why not get on the launch monitor and see which one works best? The original standard RBZ driver and FWs had shafts of about 45 grams. Very light... I had control problems with both the RBZ FWs (I bought) and driver (on launch monitor).

The stock RBZ Tour shaft was a Matrix HD6 that came in at about 67 grams for most flexes. The XCon 6 was slightly heavier.

The follow-up: The standard RBZ Stage 2 driver (50 gram) and FWs (60-gram) stock shafts.

I got fitted for a driver this spring. The XR16 Pro won out, with an R-flex Speeder Evolution TS II 665 shaft. (I'm handsy, and the lower torque 665 helped straighten things out).

Last year's XR drivers flew well also, so see what the launch monitor tells you. The original XR driver (2015) had a 55-gram Project X LZ Blue 50 stock shaft. With your swing speed, at least try the XR Pro with a stiffer shaft.

[Rainmaker]

20-35 yards seems unrealistic just based on technology alone - however, if you were to get a full custom driver fitting (loft, shaft, spin . .all that) - then it might be more realistic. 

What I do is make sure my clubs are all around 10 years old . .that's new enough so they're basically just as good as anything out there but old enough that I can blame my old crappy clubs for my bad shots.