Best driver for $199.99?

[e-man]

I was at Golfsmith today hitting balls in the simulator. I'm looking to upgrade my GBB II (380 cc) and I've got around $200 to play with. In your opinion, what's the best driver for less than $200? To give you an idea, here are a few of the clubs that Golfsmith is selling at the $199.99 price point:

TM R7 425
TM R7 460 (draw and non-draw)
Callaway X460 (tour and non-tour)
Callaway BB 460
Cobra _____ speed (can't recall the exact name)

For $299.99, you can add the TM Burner and FT-3 to the list.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

e

[golf_junkie27]

I was at Golfsmith today hitting balls in the simulator. I'm looking to upgrade my GBB II (380 cc) and I've got around $200 to play with. In your opinion, what's the best driver for less than $200? To give you an idea, here are a few of the clubs that Golfsmith is selling at the $199.99 price point:

E,

Do you want to purchase these new? I only ask because you can find some great deals in their used item section or on the web. The TM R7 is a nice club. Like I said, though, if being brand new is not important to you, take a look at the Titleist 905R. I know it's not on your list but it's a really nice driver.

[joshiemac25]

e,

I think there are a large amount of Drivers that they should have @ the $199 price point as the new releases for this year are out which will put most of last year's models at $199. There should be the Cleveland HiBore XL (and Tour), Sasquatch Sumo (and Squared), plus many more.

If I were in the market, I would be looking at the Sasquatch (as I play the first Sasquatch now) or the Callaway X460 Tour, as they were the best feeling drivers that I had a chance to hit last season. I was also able to hit the HiBore XL and also enjoyed it, but did not feel as crisp as the Sasquatch or X460 Tour.

Josh

[kehanra99]

I like my Mizuno, Nickent also makes a great driver for $199...

[e-man]

E,

New is not important to me. Over the years, I've probably bought and sold somewhere between 50-75 preowned drivers on ebay. I just turned 40 last week, and someone gave me a gift card for $200 to Golfsmith, so I'm kind of locked into it.

I liked the R7 425 more than R7 460, but I found the 425 to be a little on the heavy side. As for the 905R, is that more of a player's club? I am a 7, with a 95-97 swing speed, and I've always played Callaway and TM game improvements clubs. I did play a 975d and 975jv-s back in the day, but I'd like as much help as possible out on the course, and, right or wrong, my impression of Titleist is different than that.

[slimeberry]

No doubt, the Callaway Hyper X (replaced the X460, which is also great). Golf galaxy, Golfsmith, etc. are selling it for $329.00 or so, but you can find it on ebay for around $100.00 less. I just switched from a Ping G2 ( I also occasionally hit a Cobra F Speed) and I love it. Classic look, brand new technology, great ball flight, and an all around great club. I think that if Callaway wasn't selling the FT-5 for so much (over $400.00), this might be a more expensive club. It is, after all, brand new. I don't know why the price is so much less than other new clubs (by about $70.00), but I, for one, will not complain. Try it. I think you will like it.

[golf_junkie27]

New is not important to me. Over the years, I've probably bought and sold somewhere between 50-75 preowned drivers on ebay. I just turned 40 last week, and someone gave me a gift card for $200 to Golfsmith, so I'm kind of locked into it.

I do know that the Titleist 905R is an upgrade from the 905T, which I am using. The club is easy to hit, you can work the ball, pretty easily. It's a great club but since I invested some cash in upgrading and puring the shaft on my driver, I'm going to hold off.

[e-man]

e,

Thanks Josh. Of all the clubs I hit today, I wanted to like the R7 425 the best, but I actually thought that the X460 (non-tour) felt the most solid. I'm not sure about the funky sole plate, though. I sometimes will hit driver off the deck, and I think the sole might make that difficult.

e

[e-man]

No doubt, the Callaway Hyper X (replaced the X460, which is also great). Golf galaxy, Golfsmith, etc. are selling it for $329.00 or so, but you can find it on ebay for around $100.00 less. I just switched from a Ping G2 ( I also occasionally hit a Cobra F Speed) and I love it. Classic look, brand new technology, great ball flight, and an all around great club. I think that if Callaway wasn't selling the FT-5 for so much (over $400.00), this might be a more expensive club. It is, after all, brand new. I don't know why the price is so much less than other new clubs (by about $70.00), but I, for one, will not complain. Try it. I think you will like it.

I didn't try the Hyper X today, but I think I'll go back and check it out. I don't need to have the latest and greatest, though, so if it's not much different from the X460, I would probably save the $100+ and go with the X460.

[joshiemac25]

Thanks Josh. Of all the clubs I hit today, I wanted to like the R7 425 the best, but I actually thought that the X460 (non-tour) felt the most solid. I'm not sure about the funky sole plate, though. I sometimes will hit driver off the deck, and I think the sole might make that difficult.

Yeah, I was taken aback by the unique sole when first looking at it. Kind of awkward feeling at first, but man did it hit the ball solid. I did not try it off the deck when I had a while with it, so I cannot comment on that part, but I could see it being cumbersome (at least at first). Happy shopping though, lots of great drivers out there, and this is my favorite time to shop and buy last years gear at such reduced prices...

[slimeberry]

Actually that funky X sole plate helps to stabilize the club at address off of the turf. I have hit mine (Hyper) off of the deck a few times and it really comes off nice. The X460 is just last years version of the hyper. I have hit it as well. Great club, and a very good choice.

[e-man]

Actually that funky X sole plate helps to stabilize the club at address off of the turf. I have hit mine (Hyper) off of the deck a few times and it really comes off nice. The X460 is just last years version of the hyper. I have hit it as well. Great club, and a very good choice.

So the hyper X has that sole plate as well? Are there any real differences between the two clubs?

[slimeberry]

The Hyper X actually has a little bit more of a pronounced sole plate than the X460. So, really, if you are concerned with that being cumbersome, maybe the X460 would be better suited for you. Here are images of both...

[joshiemac25]

The Hyper X actually has a little bit more of a pronounced sole plate than the X460. So, really, if you are concerned with that being cumbersome, maybe the X460 would be better suited for you. Here are images of both...

hmm, not seeing the HyperX in person yet, it appears it has more of a sole plate than the X460 which when seeing it in person seemed almost like more of a depression. I can't wait to get back to a Golf store to see the Hyper X in person to see & feel the difference. (Closest Store, Dicks Sporting Goods, is 1.5 hours away)

[e-man]

The Hyper X actually has a little bit more of a pronounced sole plate than the X460. So, really, if you are concerned with that being cumbersome, maybe the X460 would be better suited for you. Here are images of both...

Is it me, or is the sole plate on the Hyper X the inverse of the sole plate on the X460? In other words, it looks like the sole plate on the Hyper X is raised in the middle, while the sole plate on the X460 is raised on the sides.

EDIT -- actually, I just took a close look, and the sole plate on the X460 is raised in the front and the back (i.e., perpendicular to the target line). My comment on the sole plate on the Hyper X remains the same -- it looks raised in the middle, running from the front to the back of the head.

[e-man]

hmm, not seeing the HyperX in person yet, it appears it has more of a sole plate than the X460 which when seeing it in person seemed almost like more of a depression. I can't wait to get back to a Golf store to see the Hyper X in person to see & feel the difference. (Closest Store, Dicks Sporting Goods, is 1.5 hours away)

I agree. The X460 has a depression that runs across the middle of the sole plate from heel to toe. The Hyper X looks like it has a raised section that runs from the face to the back of the club. If anything, it looks like it would be easier to hit off the deck. It's funny, because I'm making a big deal out of this driver off the deck thing like I actually do it that much. I did it twice last season (both times successfully with my GBB II 10 degree).

[slimeberry]

Yes, that would be an accurate description. The X460 is raised more on the outside, while the Hyper is more in the center of the sole. Keep in mind, it is raised a miniscule amount, but I really like the way the hyper sets up. You mentioned hitting it off of the deck. I have a VERY long, uphill, par 5 on my home course. I usually hit driver, 3w, wedge, but... I have hit it off the deck several times. Hitting uphill obviously helped get the ball in the air a little quicker, but I really liked the way the ball came off of this club face hitting it off of the deck. I almost always dug w/ my G2 off of the deck. So far not the case w/ the Hyper.

[e-man]

Yes, that would be an accurate description. The X460 is raised more on the outside, while the Hyper is more in the center of the sole. Keep in mind, it is raised a miniscule amount, but I really like the way the hyper sets up. You mentioned hitting it off of the deck. I have a VERY long, uphill, par 5 on my home course. I usually hit driver, 3w, wedge, but... I have hit it off the deck several times. Hitting uphill obviously helped get the ball in the air a little quicker, but I really liked the way the ball came off of this club face hitting it off of the deck. I almost always dug w/ my G2 off of the deck. So far not the case w/ the Hyper.

Scott -- what's your swing speed with the driver? How does the stiff feel? My GBB II is a 10 firm, so I would probably want to hit your exact driver.

e