I bought a new driver a few weeks ago - Callaway's newest Big Bertha. I put it in play today, found a course open about an hour south of here... it felt nice, mis-hits were playable, and I think it did pretty well based on me not having played in nearly two months.

But honestly - it's not going to be this huge difference-maker for me. I knew that already going in. My older driver is getting pretty worn, and I figured now's as good a time as any to upgrade, hopefully to get a feel for it with a few rounds by the time the season officially starts.

I don't change drivers too often, so this was kinda new territory for me. Hybrids, on the other hand... I could host a demo day at my club for lefties!

    My brother, who plays to scratch with hickory clubs, decided to do some standard driver testing a few months ago, when he considered trying to qualify for the USGA Mid-Am. So he went down to his local golf store and proceeded to demo all the latest and greatest on the launch monitor. He said he couldn't hit any of the best new drivers beyond 275.

    So to get a fair comparison he brought his Taylor Made Driver that he's had for at least 15 years, which he commenced in hitting 290 consistently. After those numbers he turned to the sales guy and said, "thanks for saving me $400.

    Moral of the story is, newer is not always better, and don't judge a book by it's cover. Golf clubs are all about comfort. I've been playing the same irons, driver, fairway wood and putter for over 10 years, and they work just fine. I'm very comfortable with them, and when I swing right, they still offer me the best chance of hitting a good shot versus any of the countless varieties of newer fancier crap that the OEM's keep pimping to the market.

    Bottom line, I'll replace a golf club or irons when I notice a deterioration in their ability to produce consistently good shots when struck well. The last driver I bought was the result of me literally exploding the head of my old one on the driving range one day.

    And that's all I have to say about that.

    R500 Taylormade series, R9 Superdeep. I still haven't hit a better driver for me than these. Driving isn't my weakness, but I quit buying them after I accumulated a stash of each of the models I wanted. A mint Superdeep was just a by chance purchase from the used rack at a Golf Galaxy and then I bought a new in the wrapper tour issue as a spare.

    I don't like the white heads or the size of the 460 heads. I prefer around 400-430. Once in awhile, I hit my 265 cc 975D Titelist and it is still the best feeling metal wood I have ever hit.

    I tell ya - I'd be screwed if I had to go back to the circa 1990's sized driver heads. Totally screwed. I'd probably have to slow my swing down so much that I'd be lucky to hit the ball 200 yards.

    Of course, back in those days, I could hit a small-headed 5wood 230 yards, which was a pretty good strike for me. Not any more. I'm no longer that guy. The advancements in technology will never completely trump practice and knowing your swing, but this technology has helped me make up some of the difference that would otherwise be mitigated by age and lack of athleticism.

    But still... if you have a driver that is somewhere between 5-7 years old, or just about any piece of equipment for that matter (except for maybe hybrids - which have improved leaps and bounds over the years) it's still just as advanced as the drivers today, with exception of the ability to change the directional bias and loft settings. But even then - I'm not so sure that this is a can't-live-without feature. It just so happens that they all pretty much come standard that way now.

    Shot 72 today on a par-71 layout. It was short (6100 yards) - which is a far cry from the 6500+ yards I typically play, and we rolled the ball everywhere, so there were no really bad lies. But 15 years ago, back even when I was younger and much more physically fit - I couldn't take two months off, then go out and shoot +1 in my next round back. I've actually lost distance over the years, but have become a much better player despite that. There's gotta be some sort of advantage to these more forgiving clubs, even if only the slightest.

    I am wondering the same thing myself. I used to use a Titleist 975D and boy that felt great when hit on the screws. I don't use it now but look at it fondly in my garage. I use a RBZ Tour and have tried others, they are more forgiving distance wise on mishits but also less accurate at times.
    This thread got me thinking. I use Adams Super S irons, which are ultra forgiving and long. I recently hit my friend's Titleist DCI irons so well that I picked up a set of 762's. I have a set of Infiniti AW-2 irons down in Florida that are smaller sized cavity backs that I hit extremely well so I look forward to see how these fare. Maybe gain some accuracy. I also have a steel shafted Titleist 975F 5 wood I may put back in the bag since I have this old school vibe going.

    Getting ready to play a TM R7 Quad just as soon as I pick a shaft. Mainly because I wanted a cheap option to mess with some weights.

    kenner
    Yes it is.
    It's a better choice if you are ever going to bag the old set of golf club in the future, even just for a few rounds.
    Instead of selling it and then later on buying the same makes and model back because you miss it.

    Of course, it'll be best to sell / donate if you will never play it again in the future and won't miss it.

    Beware, your wife might have an excuse preventing your next purchase.

      The best golfer I play with is a 6 handicapper. We play the blue tees in this group. His Callaway woods and TM irons are all 2001 models. His putter is 40 years old. Dude is the Anti-Ho. New doesn't mean better. I'm gaming a PING G5 driver right now and I don't think I could hit anything else better.

      Oh, and don;t forget the everlasting playability of the PING Eye 2 irons........................oh boy, if they made those again in modern lofts...................

        sdandrea1

        Just hit one more club or remember the loft instead the number on the sole.
        I don't like the long irons in Eye2 but you won't have that problem...........

            Release Just hit one more club or remember the loft instead the number on the sole.
            I don't like the long irons in Eye2 but you won't have that problem...........

            I can't hit anything longer than a 5 iron with any consistency or height! I have used Eye 2 irons and yes, I have to go up a club on each shot. I was just lusting on the fantasy of PING making brandy spanking new ones. 8*)

                sdandrea1

                I have a guy complaining of low trajectory and lost of distance. He has a bunch of issues with his golf swing but the major one is lack of the snap through the golf ball. In short, he has no release of the wrist through impact. Too stiff trying to maintain direction control. No snap, no elevation. Sometimes he complete the wrist action way before he should have release it.

                    Release I have a guy complaining of low trajectory and lost of distance. He has a bunch of issues with his golf swing but the major one is lack of the snap through the golf ball. In short, he has no release of the wrist through impact. Too stiff trying to maintain direction control. No snap, no elevation. Sometimes he complete the wrist action way before he should have release it.

                    Yep - that move (or lack thereof) kills clubhead speed and launch angle.

                      LBlack14

                      Nice! I considered the Alpha, but decided to go with the new one. I miss those days when I could actually load a stiff shaft. 🙁

                          LBlack14

                          I have the same driver....Alpha 815?, R flex, but have yet to hit it.
                          The adjustable weighting appeals to me, especially if I go to a shorter shaft.
                          Therefore, I really am excited about the potential / options this provides.
                          But, no guaranty.