[Quigoxito]

I used to play the J! I loved it, in fact I played that club up until I got my R7. It's simply not as long as the R7 though...

Tiger tried to play that small driver head while everyone was moving to big stuff, he eventually gave in, and jeesh did he ever, that sasquatch (non-tour like he plays) is ENORMOUS!

I haven't bought a new driver in a while, and maybe i should because of the advances in technology, but i just love my J. I love the feel at impact, the trajectory i get, the distance, I love the sound, etc.. It's just the perfect club for me.

And to trade it for 10 more yards, I just don't want to.

[kSmica]

And another big thing is confidence. I don't get that confidence standing over the ball with a huge club head. Not sure why... i just don't. I hit my j so well.


I play the newer version (985?) 15 degree three wood. On my second round of golf in two years, I hit a 575 par 5 in two. It was awesome. 315 off the tee and 260 with the 3.

[Michmant]

I've read enough of your posts in here to give you credit that you know what you're talking about in regards to this game, especially about equipment.

The other night in league guys noticed that I was using an older driver, and implying that my sometimes, shorter, off-line drives were due to outdated equipment. Other guys I've been paired up with have mentioined it also. Last year I used a titanium driver, but it was relatively small, probably in the 360 cc range. My buddy busted the head off the shaft taking my bag out of his trunk.

So I went back to my old Taylor-Made-Copperhead knockoff, which was probably even smaller, I'd guess in the 350 cc range. I got no problem with this club, when I make good contact I can get it out there about 250, sometimes farther. But other guys of equal or lesser ability seem to have an advantage off the T-box.

I think I know what you'll say about my choice of driver, that I should look to a larger size. But does it really make that much difference? I've only hit a big driver a couple of times, never enough to get used to one.

Given that, which clubs do you like in the 200-300 dollar range (including used of course, I work for the gubment, damnit!) I saw a used Callaway ERC at the pawn shop for $200, wondered about biting on that.

Any thoughts you have on the matter would be appreciated.

[Elisabetxxx]

Well, without a picture, its tough to tell the size, but - just because the driver is large you won't hit it farther. What you find with new clubs is not only is the titanium superior (they are making lighter and stronger metal) but the setup as a whole is better. Meaning, companies are paying attention to shaft combinations, weighting and etc - all designed to help you be deeper.

The most important thing is the larger driver will make your mishits (rarely do any of us "pure" it on a consistent basis) much better.

There are some really great clubs in the 2 - 3 bill range, the first thing I would do is find a local range/pro shop that will let you hit a few so you can get a feel for weight size and etc. (for example, the new Nike regular Sasquatch is a shallower face than their tour model - personally I found that I like deep faces, Tiger in fact though plays the regular Sasquatch not the tour). If you spend that type of coin, you should be sure the shaft is your ideal flex (i.e. stiff/reg/"senior") and go from there. The shaft is just as important as the club head itself as shaft setups will regulate kickpoints and etc.

Without knowing your handicap/ability level its tough, but here's some good starting points - most of these should be able to be found used, just make sure you don't sacrifice the shaft to save a few bucks - meaning if you hit a r7 with a NV shaft and hit it well, don't get the r7 with the stock shaft to save a few...stick with what you pure.

Of the new(er) drivers:
R7 Quad (Not Taylormade's newest - but I still play it)
http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=4939
Ping G5
http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=6358
Cleveland Launcher Comp
http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=5388

Some older (not necessarily any less in the quality/technology department, but will be cheaper)
Nike Ignite
http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=6346
R5 Dual
http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=5107
Launcher 460 (I would buy this before the Comp I listed above)
http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=6377
Cobra 454
http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=4957

Let me know if you need any other advice - there is just no substance for hitting them on a range though. Also, forget that your friends hit it farther, its about having an 8 iron approach v. a 6iron.

[prmnwoks]

I've read enough of your posts in here to give you credit that you know what you're talking about in regards to this game, especially about equipment.

The other night in league guys noticed that I was using an older driver, and implying that my sometimes, shorter, off-line drives were due to outdated equipment. Other guys I've been paired up with have mentioined it also. Last year I used a titanium driver, but it was relatively small, probably in the 360 cc range. My buddy busted the head off the shaft taking my bag out of his trunk.

So I went back to my old Taylor-Made-Copperhead knockoff, which was probably even smaller, I'd guess in the 350 cc range. I got no problem with this club, when I make good contact I can get it out there about 250, sometimes farther. But other guys of equal or lesser ability seem to have an advantage off the T-box.

I think I know what you'll say about my choice of driver, that I should look to a larger size. But does it really make that much difference? I've only hit a big driver a couple of times, never enough to get used to one.

Given that, which clubs do you like in the 200-300 dollar range (including used of course, I work for the gubment, damnit!) I saw a used Callaway ERC at the pawn shop for $200, wondered about biting on that.

Any thoughts you have on the matter would be appreciated.

ERC is illegal and worth nowhere near $200 (unless you're talking about an ERC Fusion).
I've got an R7 Quad 9.5 stiff but I've been using a Callaway 460X 10 degree with a regular graphite shaft. I love it and it sells in any pro shop for $300. I found mine on golfclubexchange.com new for $175.

The pros now use a lot more loft than they used to and say use the softest shaft you can be accurate with. Backwards of the way I used to be taught. I use stiff shafts in my irons.

[Tij84ye]

ERC is illegal and worth nowhere near $200 (unless you're talking about an ERC Fusion).
I've got an R7 Quad 9.5 stiff but I've been using a Callaway 460X 10 degree with a regular graphite shaft. I love it and it sells in any pro shop for $300. I found mine on golfclubexchange.com new for $175.

The pros now use a lot more loft than they used to and say use the softest shaft you can be accurate with. Backwards of the way I used to be taught. I use stiff shafts in my irons.

I agree, I think the ERC is not a very good stick, but who cares if its illegal unless your playing in USGA sanctioned tourneys

[Sydaycymn]

I think that's the biggest misconception about driver head size. The bigger=the farther.

That's just not true. Like puke said, it'll just reduce your mishits.

Even though it's big, I use a relatively small driver head (titleist 975J), and i hit it well.

The shaft combination and the advanced titanium and technology are what will make you hit the ball farther, not the club head size. I feel i get less wind resistance with a relatively smaller head, and i like it that way. I don't like huge driver heads.

[BenWired306]

I think that's the biggest misconception about driver head size. The bigger=the farther.

That's just not true. Like puke said, it'll just reduce your mishits.

Even though it's big, I use a relatively small driver head (titleist 975J), and i hit it well.

The shaft combination and the advanced titanium and technology are what will make you hit the ball farther, not the club head size. I feel i get less wind resistance with a relatively smaller head, and i like it that way. I don't like huge driver heads.

I used to play the J! I loved it, in fact I played that club up until I got my R7. It's simply not as long as the R7 though...

Tiger tried to play that small driver head while everyone was moving to big stuff, he eventually gave in, and jeesh did he ever, that sasquatch (non-tour like he plays) is ENORMOUS!