Hello all!

Thoughts on how big of a difference newer technology makes in a driver? I'm thinking TM R5 versus something from the last 5 years. The TM R5 is titanium, 460 cc, .83 COR, etc.

I have no doubt that newer technology will allow a golfer to swing slightly faster, will be slightly more forgiving, etc. But it's not going to turn a flushed 270 yard drive into a 300 yard drive, right? Or have I missed the boat?

    GimC jmo, but it's not so much about any extra yardages. Then again, yes, it will probably give more, but doubting 30, for most.
    Yesterday I was having a helluva time with drivers, hitting all over the face. High toe, center toe, center heel, etc.. But....I found nearly all fairways and with acceptable distances. Very happy I was not using something older.

      GimC The distance on off center hits will be a lot better with the new one. And probably the direction as well.

        I would advocate that a more recent release would have significant gains in forgiveness! Still gotta find a decent fit to max distance.....and you could see a big distance discrepancy going from ill fit to a good fit. I think distance has been optimized more so understanding launch and spin a bit better with all the gizmos at ones disposal. 👈That being said I'm of the belief that golf is still played on the course and not into a screen😉

          I have not seen a driver increase in distance in the past 20 years, but those are also years between 40 - 60 where people tend to lose speed/flexibility. What I have seen, since about 2017, is much lower dispersion. Despite playing very infrequently in recent years, I hit many more fairways than I ever have in a round. Playing worse overall, but the driver (currently G400, which is 7 years behind now) is my best club and it's not close.

          GimC I do think drivers have gotten more forgiving especially if you a still using a 20 year old model. True COR is capped, but I think off center performance is improved for less than elite ballstrikers. Of course you may struggle if you are going from a 44.5" driver weighing 325g to a 45.75" at 290g.

              ode That being said I'm of the belief that golf is still played on the course and not into a screen

              There ya go! 👍

              • SMT likes this.

                KCee but I think off center performance is improved for less than elite ballstrikers.

                Yep well said. What does that say about today's golfers. 😉

                    scotts33 What does that say about today's golfers.

                    I think us hackers have been around since the game began lol I use the excuse that I didn't start playing until I was 30, but I probably would still suck even if I started at 3 yrs old.

                        I have seen pretty big jumps in forgiveness, both directionally and off center distance just by moving up 7 years, forget 20. It’s not that you are gaining a ton on perfect contact, but when you miss by 1/4” it’s a big difference.

                        KCee I think us hackers have been around since the game began lol I use the excuse that I didn't start playing until I was 30, but I probably would still suck even if I started at 3 yrs old.

                        Give a golfer today a 195cc persimmon and they'd give up the game. LOL Not really because like Harney Penick and Ben Crenshaw always said take out your 3 wood (modern size 180cc) and make a nice pass. Same basic size as an old persimmon and playing length 43.50".

                            scotts33 I wouldn't mind experimenting around some with a persimmon wood. Might be fun when I get out and play 9 late in the afternoon/early evening and see what it's all about!

                                scotts33 Hey Scott...it is 2024...look at the calendar. 😄

                                But, yesterday there was a group of young guys ahead of us. We got backed up a few times on the tee, so we got to watch them as they teed off. 1 of them pulled out a steel shafted driver(might have been a 3) and proceeded to hammer the snot out of it....high launch, straight as an arrow and wayyyy the hell out there! Made me smile.
                                I may take mine out for S&G, but whenever I used them 'back then' they were banana makers; always used my 4 wood off the tee. Dead straight with it.

                                  ode 😄Want me to send you a few Molitors to make it even more fun?

                                    ode Watch out Chad you'll get addicted to the persimmon wood "click". ☺

                                    • ode likes this.

                                      Thanks all! I ask because my 17 year old is really getting into golf. I found some of my old sticks and put together a set, but the TM R5 gave me pause. Don't want to give him inferior stuff, but if it's more of a forgiveness thing than anything else (which was my thinking), I'll wait until next year to buy him a new driver.

                                        GimC Don't want to give him inferior stuff, but if it's more of a forgiveness thing than anything else (which was my thinking), I'll wait until next year to buy him a new driver.

                                        Make sure he learns on inferior stuff as he'll appreciate the newer better stuff. That's how most of us all started. 😉

                                            GimC Learning that he needs to hit the sweet spot is not a bad thing.

                                            Have him use some face stickers or foot powder spray to really check where on the face he hits it.
                                            Make a game of it.... 😉

                                              scotts33 I started with persimmon woods 3, 5 and a Ginty. Those were my favorite probably because the rest of the bag my dad gave me had some very tiny blades. It was a relief when my father-in-law gave me his Eye2 irons even though they were fugly. I forget what the blades were, but apparently they were worth something and when my dad heard that he immediately took them back and sold them lol.