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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Huge difference for me. My new Mizuno STx is almost a cheat code for me. Center shots go farther because I got the shaft fitted to me, so they launch higher and with much lower spin. But it is on off-center hits where the new driver really shines. Even if I hit it poorly, it gives me acceptable results. Because of that, I have more confidence and swing more freely, which also gibes me slightly better ball speeds.
It's a win-win and a positive reinforcement cycle. All the new drivers are fantastic, but I would highly recommend looking into the Mizuno offerings. Because they are not one of the 'big five,' their prices are more reasonable. Anything the TM or Titleist or Ping or Cobra or Callaway can do, the Mizuno can do, too.
I've only noticed increases in accuracy and forgiveness (off center performance). That being said, I have picked up a few yards since Callaway introduced the "jailbreak" club head design. Nothing significant, though.
You might see a bigger distance jump in a more modern head if you get a shaft that's a better fit for you.
I also think the spin is more optimized today for a given target market of a given head. If anything, spin is lower overall today.
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/
Sneakylong where are these to be bought?
I've never seen the driver in either Costco near me. I did finally see the wedges and putter a while back. Usually they just have balls and gloves.
ode where are these to be bought?
My nephew bought it at Costco online.
sdandrea1 El Paso shows them
. Nothing is here in FreddyBurg but golf balls and gloves. 
Sneakylong ok....assuming they've been long gone online, but 
ode ok....assuming they've been long gone online, but
He just bought it online Tuesday. Said it arrives tomorrow. He just checked and it says all out of stock. Must've got the last one. lol
sdandrea1 I ordered one off COSTCO website
sdandrea1 BTW, lots of homes here in the great Southwest. Was 104 yesterday.
Sneakylong nice!
Played with my coworker yesterday. He’s not good I think he shot 112 but not because of his drives really. It’s 100 yards in where he falls apart. His driver is an old Taylormade R7 425. He hits it around 200 yards average sometimes he hits it maybe 220. Until yesterday he’s hit nothing else. I let him hit my paradym a couple times and my ping g400 max. His big fade straightened out and was noticeably longer. The 4 drives were at least 220. They still faded a tad right into the rough. I think he wants the ping lol. He can’t have mine though. It’s my 3rd one and I’m keeping it. So I would say if your driver is 20 years old you should see a bump in distance. In his case 20 yards or so. His normal good drive that goes 220 is maybe one every other round. He hit all 4 that well with both modern drivers.
Nice set of clubs for ~ $1000 dollars. Next up some fairway woods. I remember when the ball came out they said that Costco bought something from TaylorMade. A patent or ball manufacturing facility etc., don't remember exactly.
So basically it's a TaylorMade ball.
The irons look similar to TaylorMade's P790's. Is the issue they can't keep up with demand or they've only made a certain amount and that's it? Golf equipment prices have gotten way out of sight for many golfers.
My nephew tells me even used clubs on eBay are crazy. Golf got lucky benefitting from the pandemic. The game was in decline. If golf clubs and greens fees keep going up they could kill the golden goose that fell in their lap.
Sneakylong Golf equipment prices have gotten way out of sight for many golfers.
My nephew tells me even used clubs on eBay are crazy. Golf got lucky benefitting from the pandemic. The game was in decline. If golf clubs and greens fees keep going up they could kill the golden goose that fell in their lap.
If a person is wanting to buy new, there are plenty of really good bargains out there. The buys just have to be a couple years old. And not a thing wrong with that as, imo, there is just not a huge enough difference in the past 2-3 years. Esp. with irons. 2 year old drivers right now are plain ol' dirt cheap, esp. Cobras, and they always perform. Iron sets can be had for under 500. Wedges under 100. So, can still get brand new, name brands, for under 1000/set up.
Can't just open up the wallet and start throwing $$ at things without doing research. Otherwise, yes, 1000 will not go far at all; 2000 will not. "Shopping"......is key.
