Big driver test

[MikeH]

Hi all

we are doing a big 2016 driver test tomorrow - every current model by all the main brands from PING to Benross - at Foresight Sports using their in house studio with GC2 and the sims

If you follow us on social media you'll be able to get a behind the scenes look at what goes on at these days

Plan is for a Facebook live broadcast (around 12 noon TBC) and several Periscope sessions including a battle of the bombers - Tappers vs Joel - ultimate driving contest (longest/straightest driver) towards the end of the day (4ish)

Don't worry if you're not on social We'll be producing a big mag feature and video content from the day but if you do follow us on Twitter and FB I hope tomorrow will be of interest

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Hi all

we are doing a big 2016 driver test tomorrow - every current model by all the main brands from PING to Benross - at Foresight Sports using their in house studio with GC2 and the sims

If you follow us on social media you'll be able to get a behind the scenes look at what goes on at these days

Plan is for a Facebook live broadcast (around 12 noon TBC) and several Periscope sessions including a battle of the bombers - Tappers vs Joel - ultimate driving contest (longest/straightest driver) towards the end of the day (4ish)

Don't worry if you're not on social We'll be producing a big mag feature and video content from the day but if you do follow us on Twitter and FB I hope tomorrow will be of interest

Sounds excellent and I'll be tuning in as best I can at work

 

[SugarPenguin]

Are the 915s going to be involved in the testing?

 

[MikeH]

Are the 915s going to be involved in the testing?

Yep, anything current

Tappers uses 915 so will doubtless feature in the showdown too

 

[harpo_72]

That's a bit short notice to borrow my "big driver" !

 

[evahakool]

I'm sure this will be of interest to many,but for me this is nothing new and would bore me.

I would much rather see a comprehensive review testing new drivers against last years model, this way IMO everyone would see what a waste of money buying a new driver is.

 

[BTatHome]

I'm always viewing and reading these tests not necessarily to see the winner, or losers, but just for curiosity sakes. I'm a firm believer that every person could perform this same test and find different results. Taking one driver and one person (with no custom fit) won't give a definitive result ... it never will unless every driver is custom fit for every tester, and that's just not going to happen. So testing the 'stock' shafts with a 'stock' head will only give one variation of the results (which is probably why many places don't give a top ten table of results anymore) Some people might find a better result with the stock shaft and the 10.5 head but another could gain quite a significant amount with a small tweak of head and/or shaft (you only have to look at the fitting threads to see how some people get little improvement with a new driver and then the fitter swaps loft/shaft and suddenly it works)

So I'll be watching the results and will enjoy the process but ultimately the results are just an indicator ... and if my swing was being tested it could change the results on a day by day basis too

 

[Hacker Khan]

I'm always viewing and reading these tests not necessarily to see the winner, or losers, but just for curiosity sakes. I'm a firm believer that every person could perform this same test and find different results. Taking one driver and one person (with no custom fit) won't give a definitive result ... it never will unless every driver is custom fit for every tester, and that's just not going to happen. So testing the 'stock' shafts with a 'stock' head will only give one variation of the results (which is probably why many places don't give a top ten table of results anymore) Some people might find a better result with the stock shaft and the 10.5 head but another could gain quite a significant amount with a small tweak of head and/or shaft (you only have to look at the fitting threads to see how some people get little improvement with a new driver and then the fitter swaps loft/shaft and suddenly it works)

So I'll be watching the results and will enjoy the process but ultimately the results are just an indicator ... and if my swing was being tested it could change the results on a day by day basis too

True, but just as no one would ever be so stupid nowadays to buy a set of irons because the 7 iron in that new set goes further than the 7 iron from their existing set that is 5 years old , no one would ever be so stupid to buy a driver untested because it came top in a magazine test. Would they??

I like these kind of things, yes it's a bit of fun and as you say if a driver works for one person there is absolutely no correlation that it will work for you. But being a man, I love a list of golf porn.

 

[Tiger]

Despite the technical hitches it was interesting to get an insight on the days testing. I think once the team have ironed out the crinkles this kind of inside view will be top quality.

Well done Tappers on out smoking Joel in the long drive challenge. Looking forward to the full write up in the magazine :thup:

 

[Tiger]

I'm sure this will be of interest to many,but for me this is nothing new and would bore me.

I would much rather see a comprehensive review testing new drivers against last years model, this way IMO everyone would see what a waste of money buying a new driver is.

I think you are missing the point im in the market for a new driver because mine is a 5 year old Cleveland Black not last years model! I am thinking about upgrading so am keen to find out the best on test. I'll probably try a few and settle on the best one for me. My expectations? A few more yards and much more forgiveness. The benefit of buying new is the ability to get custom fit. Personally if I performed best with the stock option I'd probably wait for the price to come down but could then buy in confidence.

 

[chrisd]

I'm just starting to catch up with new media platforms - any chance of a telegram with the results?

 

[Tiger]

I'm just starting to catch up with new media platforms - any chance of a telegram with the results?

:rofl:

 

[Tiger]

Carrier pigeon is on its way Chris

I'd really like to know how it feels the morning after a driver test. Are they all in bits struggling to write/type, popping painkillers with a waft of deep heat circulating the office?

 

[chrisd]

Carrier pigeon is on its way Chris

I'd really like to know how it feels the morning after a driver test. Are they all in bits struggling to write/type, popping painkillers with a waft of deep heat circulating the office?

The heady smell of horse liniment!

 

[MikeH]

Carrier pigeon is on its way Chris

I'd really like to know how it feels the morning after a driver test. Are they all in bits struggling to write/type, popping painkillers with a waft of deep heat circulating the office?

Ive just laid in a bath for 30 minutes!

I only had 50 minute drive home, poor old Joel had 2 plus hours up to Lincolnshire! Then again I am 45 and he's in his 20s so he should be be able to cope better!

 

[MikeH]

I'm always viewing and reading these tests not necessarily to see the winner, or losers, but just for curiosity sakes. I'm a firm believer that every person could perform this same test and find different results. Taking one driver and one person (with no custom fit) won't give a definitive result ... it never will unless every driver is custom fit for every tester, and that's just not going to happen. So testing the 'stock' shafts with a 'stock' head will only give one variation of the results (which is probably why many places don't give a top ten table of results anymore) Some people might find a better result with the stock shaft and the 10.5 head but another could gain quite a significant amount with a small tweak of head and/or shaft (you only have to look at the fitting threads to see how some people get little improvement with a new driver and then the fitter swaps loft/shaft and suddenly it works)

So I'll be watching the results and will enjoy the process but ultimately the results are just an indicator ... and if my swing was being tested it could change the results on a day by day basis too

spot on Brian. it all comes down to getting the right driver for your swing/launch conditions

we dont rank 1-10 or crown 'the best' as would be 6 different sets of results because of the above

I don't think any of the six of us picked the same driver as the one that performed best for us on the day

 

[BTatHome]

spot on Brian. it all comes down to getting the right driver for your swing/launch conditions

we dont rank 1-10 or crown 'the best' as would be 6 different sets of results because of the above

I don't think any of the six of us picked the same driver as the one that performed best for us on the day

And that's probably the way it should be (based on 6 people using stock drivers with 6 quite different swings too). Although it would surprise me if you at least found a few drivers that seemed to tick a few boxes for majority of you.

Can't wait to see the results as I missed most of the vids due to work

 

[Beezerk]

I think you are missing the point im in the market for a new driver because mine is a 5 year old Cleveland Black not last years model! I am thinking about upgrading so am keen to find out the best on test. I'll probably try a few and settle on the best one for me. My expectations? A few more yards and much more forgiveness. The benefit of buying new is the ability to get custom fit. Personally if I performed best with the stock option I'd probably wait for the price to come down but could then buy in confidence.

To be fair i think you're missing his point, some people would like to see just how much a given club has improved since last years model. Test ping g15, g20 etc against the latest offering. I bet manufacturers would turd themselves 😁

 

[HomerJSimpson]

spot on Brian. it all comes down to getting the right driver for your swing/launch conditions

we dont rank 1-10 or crown 'the best' as would be 6 different sets of results because of the above

I don't think any of the six of us picked the same driver as the one that performed best for us on the day

Good to see Tappers still getting it out there in the drive off. How come you didn't enter?

 

[evahakool]

To be fair i think you're missing his point, some people would like to see just how much a given club has improved since last years model. Test ping g15, g20 etc against the latest offering. I bet manufacturers would turd themselves 😁

Thank you my point exactly, don't get me wrong if anyone wants to buy a new driver then good luck to them, but from my point of view i would feel it's a waste of money as a new driver will not perform much better than last years model.