Driver: Old v. New ... big difference?

GimC

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?

Par4QC

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.

DonM

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

KCee

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

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😉

scotts33

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! 👍

johnnydoom

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.

scotts33

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. 😉

KCee

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.

scotts33

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".

DC300

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.

ode

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!

Par4QC

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.

KCee

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.

Par4QC

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

scotts33

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

scotts33

ode 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!

Depending on what you want to pay there are some nice Hiro Honma persimmon drivers various flexes graphite 1 and 2 star on Ebay $50 to $100. There is an Extra 90 195cc that is a good head. A few from the US and mainly from Japan. Make sure if you buy that it's a factory installed shaft. I wouldn't pay much if not factory installed unless it was from a reputable clubmaker. Hiro Honma persimmon from 90's was some of the higher quality persimmon out there. Trevino played a Hiro Honma driver in the 80's. Won a British and the 1984 PGA Championship with Hiro Honma persimmon.

I can steer you towards some good MacGregor, Hogan persimmon (Hogan would not allow crap clubs to leave the Ft. Worth facility) and also Toney Penna. This is when your garage sale itch can kick in cuz I have picked up some great persimmon bargains at garage sales.

GimC

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.

scotts33

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. 😉

Sneakylong

GimC I'll wait until next year to buy him a new driver.

If you wanted to get him a new modern driver now, Kirkland has one for $199.00. My nephew just bought one. Can’t beat the price.

https://mygolfspy.com/we-tried-it/we-tried-it-kirkland-signature-driver/

GimC

scotts33

Was thinking the same thing! Learning that he needs to hit the sweet spot is not a bad thing.

Eguller

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.... 😉