Golf - Buying first driver.

[tadman95]

Lessons start Wednesday!

Good move!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Lessons start Wednesday!

Awesome. Enjoy.

IndyIrishFan1 will tell ya, it's all about range time.

 

[dshans]

"It is a poor workman who blames his tools."

When I started playing golf, woods were really made from wood. 1 and 2 irons were available but not common. The "standard" bag, though, had a 1 and a 3 wood, and 3, 5, 7, 9 irons along with a sand wedge and a putter. I picked up a 5 (wood) wood and an 8 iron in high school.

I played better then than I do now with metal "woods" hybrid and "rescue" clubs.

What is paramount is your swing and swing consistency. I may be able to hit farther with current technology, but a slice is still a slice whether it's 200 or 300 yards. Come to think of it, a 300 yard slice can get you into more trouble than a 200 yard slice ...

 

[ozzman]

TheGrint | Golf Handicap Tracker / Calculator and Mobile App. Free gives you an official usga handicap for free. It also allows you to enter all kinds of data that allow you to run metrics on your game.

 

[koonja]

Alright, so here's what I found out.

I was able to hit some clubs, and I hit them all about the same. Here's my options given my price:

Taylormade RBZ for $200,

Taylormade R9 for $200,

Orange Cobra for $150 (can't remember model),

Taylormade Burner 2.0 for $170,

Taylormade 2009 Burner for $100 (this one is a flex shaft and I was unable to hit this one. The guy who watched me hit said I'm borderline between a flex and a stiff shaft but he thinks stiff is best for me).

The place I work owns a golf course/shop, so I get an additional 15% off of these.

Any suggestions? Like I said, I was able to hit all besides the $100 burner, and I hit them pretty similar.

 

[notredomer23]

If I am you, I am going with the Taylormade RBZ. It was between that and the R9. Cobra was never an option(not a bad club, I just love Taylormade and think they make the best product).

 

[koonja]

The RBZ looks really, really sweet, but I did like that the R9 had a smaller head.

 

[dshans]

Forgive me, but THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!

 

[NankerPhelge]

I had the Taylor Made "Firesole" driver for a long time, and always hit it pretty well. Last year, bought a brand new Taylor Made "RocketBalz." Don't hit it any better. But, it is just great for my ego when everybody calls me "Rocket Balls."

 

[dshans]

Hell, discussions of golf are "low hanging" fruit for innuendo. Ya got your shafts (stiff or flexible), heads (big or small), drivers, wedges (get imaginative), balls, hazards, holes, yardage, aces, iron angles, woods(s) et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

I could go on, but I see no reason to do so. I'm pretty sure that you'd rather I not.

 

[youngblood24]

Bought Adams Speed12 3 wood prior to a round Thursday. For some reason it gave me great confidence from 225+ - hit first one within 5 feet from 225- and instead of my usual pedestrian 84ish I ended up shooting 79- slope is 133- pretty jacked.

 

[GoIrish41]

Bought Adams Speed12 3 wood prior to a round Thursday. For some reason it gave me great confidence from 225+ - hit first one within 5 feet from 225- and instead of my usual pedestrian 84ish I ended up shooting 79- slope is 133- pretty jacked.

I'd be pretty stoked with the pedestrian 84. lol

 

[dshans]

... instead of my usual pedestrian 84ish I ended up shooting 79 ...

I'm with GoIrish. I wanna know what you shot on the back nine!

 

[tadman95]

My sons gave me a R1 for Father's Day. Stll figuring it out but hit some better drives today, mis-hits definitely go farther. I mean they would, if I had one, just guessing they would if I, you know, had a mis-hit.

Got a deal on an Adams Speed12 5-wood. Holy smokes.

 

[cody1smith]

Cobra is what I have always had the best luck with. Very forgiving and make an awesome noise when you hit it right.

 

[koonja]

I chose between the R9 and the RBZ. I chose the rbz because I couldn't tell a difference between and I really liked the colors. I got it for 200 and would suggest it.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I got the Nike VR Pro adjustbale driver about a year ago. I don't get out as much as I'd like. It's the only big name driver I've owned. Hits great compared to any of the cheap drivers I've had before. And, it was on a father's day sale for $99.

 

[Booslum31]

I bought the new Bubble Burner at the same time my buddy bought the "knock off" for $49.00. Last week he switched our drivers to see if I would notice. I hit the knock-off well but I went six holes before noticing. He got me...I was embarrassed.

 

[GowerND11]

I have the Burner 2.0 stiff flex 9.5 degrees. I'm honestly thinking I may have needed a lower degree, like 8.5. Either way I'm really starting to hit it better over the last few rounds (Just got it this year) and working a fade with it. I was trying to fight in a draw, but for now I'm working with what I have. Really enjoy the feel when I hit it.

 

[koonja]

I have the Burner 2.0 stiff flex 9.5 degrees. I'm honestly thinking I may have needed a lower degree, like 8.5. Either way I'm really starting to hit it better over the last few rounds (Just got it this year) and working a fade with it. I was trying to fight in a draw, but for now I'm working with what I have. Really enjoy the feel when I hit it.

You're hitting draws and fades? That makes me depressed, lol. I'm still working on a semi straight drive. Burner 2.0 is a very cool looking club. I was considering that driver but I didn't get a chance to hit it so I passed.

 

[GowerND11]

You're hitting draws and fades? That makes me depressed, lol. I'm still working on a semi straight drive. Burner 2.0 is a very cool looking club. I was considering that driver but I didn't get a chance to hit it so I passed.

Attempting to hit them haha. I've been having a hard time not slicing that driver, so a few tweaks and it turns into a fade. You'll get there!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

This is my new baby. Finally got my timing down and was hitting it so far and so straight...then I threw out my back. Blew the disc right above where I had surgery two years ago. Golf clubs are put up for the summer

For the record, this is my second favorite driver. It was a toss-up on which one to buy. I got a great deal on the 913 so it made my decision easy.

 

[tadman95]

This is my new baby. Finally got my timing down and was hitting it so far and so straight...then I threw out my back. Blew the disc right above where I had surgery two years ago. Golf clubs are put up for the summer



For the record, this is my second favorite driver. It was a toss-up on which one to buy. I got a great deal on the 913 so it made my decision easy.

That sucks! Speedy recovery!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

That sucks! Speedy recovery!

Thankyou. Hoping for good news when I go in for the follow up appointment in three weeks.

 

[ND NYC]

bleed blue: if price was same whcih one would you have gone with? titleist or the ping?

buddy of mine who i trust in "all things golf clubs" (his dad was a club pro and hes been around the game al his life) i told him i was looking for a new driver and he told me i have to try that ping driver that you showed before doing anything. he said that exact club, the "anser". he said to get the "blur" shaft with it. he seemed pretty adamant about how great a club that is, i just hope i dont hit it and fal in love with it and next thing i know i own a $600 driver haha

 

[irishpat183]

First, go hit them. You can go to just about any golf place and take some swings with about any driver on the market. Whatever is comfortable to you. That is my advice. Some people are addicted to name brands. Don't be.

My bag has calloway irons and putter, nike hybrids, and a Taylor made Super quad as my driver.

My driver is the old Super, but I LOVE hitting it. The latest one I have is a used one, because I haven't been comfortable hitting anything else.

 

[ugo2011]

I am in the same boat as the OP was, I have only been playing for 1.5 summers and I am looking for my first driver. I've been playing with a 2010 Taylormade burner 3 wood that I really like a lot for a while, so I think I'll look for a 2010 burner driver or the newer burner 2.0 - I've read nothing but really good reviews for both and I should be able to find one around $75 for the older one and $120 for the 2.0.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

bleed blue: if price was same whcih one would you have gone with? titleist or the ping?

buddy of mine who i trust in "all things golf clubs" (his dad was a club pro and hes been around the game al his life) i told him i was looking for a new driver and he told me i have to try that ping driver that you showed before doing anything. he said that exact club, the "anser". he said to get the "blur" shaft with it. he seemed pretty adamant about how great a club that is, i just hope i dont hit it and fal in love with it and next thing i know i own a $600 driver haha

I've hit a lot of different drivers and the two I hit with any consistency were the Titleist and Ping. From there I hit both on a TrackMan and eventhough I hit the Ping 5-10 yds farther, the left-to-right varied more than the 913 (with my personal swing path). So I decided to sacrifice the distance for a straighter ball flight. On top of that, I got the 913 from a friend's uncle for only $200. Made my choice easier.

If I'm you, hit a bunch of clubs on the TrackMan and once it's narrowed down, get fitted with a pro. Then hit the range! Before I re-injured my back, I was hitting my new driver farther AND straighter than I ever hit that Ping. Probably has 99% to do with my swing mechanics, but it sure does sound and feel sweet coming off a Titleist driver!

 

[Golden Is Thy Fame]

Just picked up a 2011 Cleveland XL270 10.5 with a firm flex shaft for $45. Was Golf Digest 5* Best Buy and $299 new. Love the way it performs and is very forgiving with and oversized head. Consistent distance and straight. Plus a kickass sound on impact.