Adjustable Drivers - not all they're cracked up to be

[ManinBlack]

If anyone can find me a handicap golfer between 28 and 5 that can repeat a swing twice then I will agree with loft and face angle adjustments. Put a top PGA touring pro on the end and yes I can see how they could see a difference but your common or garden sat/sun golfer surely cannot see any benefit.
Marketing that is all it is.

I have a lot of sympathy with that view.

 

[Foxholer]

Everything you do at address affects impact; otherwise I almost agree.

Now that's slightly different again! Bit off topic, so....

I have never understood the need for adjustable drivers at all. Once you have tweaked it to your optimum settings, then you are very unlikely to change it ever again. So why not spend the dosh on proper custom fitting for a non-adjustable quality driver, and you then know that everything is set up right for you. You then won't be able to tweak it to something that doesn't suit your game.

Because if your game, or environment, changes you can tweak it without going through the custom fit expense and rigmarole again!

As I posted earlier, it's of more benefit to the manufacturers, enabling them to provide a smaller range of product that will suit a wider range of customer - and it has a Marketing benefit too.

 

[Region3]

I can vouch for the sliding weight in the SLDR having an effect on ball flight. I also have it 1/2 degree lower than std loft - not to lower the loft, but to open the face a touch.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I've often said adjustable drivers are more for the benefit of manufacturers, retailers and fitters than the golfer themselves. Manufacturers benefit from having to make less part, retailers and fitters benefit from having to stock less parts. Golfers are able to tinker to their hearts content, but whether they are actually benefiting from the tinkering is impossible to say.

I'm not bothered whether my driver is adjustable or not, it is set to the setting the fitter told me was best and I haven't moved it since.

 

[Region3]

I've often said adjustable drivers are more for the benefit of manufacturers, retailers and fitters than the golfer themselves. Manufacturers benefit from having to make less part, retailers and fitters benefit from having to stock less parts. Golfers are able to tinker to their hearts content, but whether they are actually benefiting from the tinkering is impossible to say.

I'm not bothered whether my driver is adjustable or not, it is set to the setting the fitter told me was best and I haven't moved it since.

If - somewhere down the line - your swing changes so that you hit up more on the driver, you will be able to adjust your current one to suit the new swing rather than having to buy a new lower lofted driver. That's where I see the advantage, not so that people can tinker with it because they hit 3 bad shots in their last round.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

If - somewhere down the line - your swing changes so that you hit up more on the driver, you will be able to adjust your current one to suit the new swing rather than having to buy a new lower lofted driver. That's where I see the advantage, not so that people can tinker with it because they hit 3 bad shots in their last round.

Very true

 

[patricks148]

The last 3 drivers Ive had, had adjustable weights in the heads. I don't think i moved or changed those at any time. Ive now go a driver with an Adj hosel, but again not changed from the N setting.

A bit of a gimmick most of the time.

 

[Garush34]

I like to change the settings on my driver to see the effect on ball flight. But i always return it to the neutral settings after. I bought the driver as it was cheap and seemed like a good buy.

I think its good to have as if like me you go for lessons and your swing changes then you can change the settings on the driver to suit without having to buy a new driver.

But for me the biggest change has been a change in shaft that has given the most benefit. Went from a stiff to a firm got rid of the major slice and moved to a nice gental fade. I would have prefered a regular shaft but couldnt get a hold of one with the adapter on it. Ive even managed to start fitting a few draws in the last week i think this is a result of an improved swing but also more flex in a shaft.

 

[Delh1982]

Been thinking of trying an adjustable driver my self , i have a kack handed grip so have a massive slice but i have used cheapo offsets before and they worked , and recently bought a used cobra speed ld 5000 inertia offset and boy its straight , been looking at the amp cell offset as its replacement in the future , but im reluctant to change now , ive not tried the adjustble but no doubt will