madandra
Money List Winner
I got an e-mail from Callaway today regarding this club so what do you think folks??????????
Callaway FT-iQ driver
- Thread starter madandra
- Start date
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Yet another driver that promises the world as long as we part with more hard-earned cash.
I'm getting fed up with Callaway,Taylor-made et al. They bring out the "best thing since sliced bread", then 3 months later its "but that was no good - now you want this"
Times are getting harder. Sure there will be people who will succumb to the urge but how long can we keep upgrading our kit every 6 months?
I've settled ny clubs in the bag and will only replace if one wears out. Can't see me upgrading for a couple of years at least.
I'm getting fed up with Callaway,Taylor-made et al. They bring out the "best thing since sliced bread", then 3 months later its "but that was no good - now you want this"
Times are getting harder. Sure there will be people who will succumb to the urge but how long can we keep upgrading our kit every 6 months?
I've settled ny clubs in the bag and will only replace if one wears out. Can't see me upgrading for a couple of years at least.
Cernunnos
Journeyman Pro
I tried the previous FTi driver last year out of curiosity...
... Yep was straight.
... Yep expensive.
... Yep was still butt ugly & looked like a brick on a stick.
... But boy did it feel dead when you hit a ball with it.
The new one looks like the brick has been blended with a UFO & stealth technology. Might try the new iQ version, but it'll be way too expensive. But it'll be good news for anyone wanting to buy the previous model me thinks.
... Yep was straight.
... Yep expensive.
... Yep was still butt ugly & looked like a brick on a stick.
... But boy did it feel dead when you hit a ball with it.
The new one looks like the brick has been blended with a UFO & stealth technology. Might try the new iQ version, but it'll be way too expensive. But it'll be good news for anyone wanting to buy the previous model me thinks.
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
Got to agree with that. Look at Mizunos iron line up change on their web site. They've dropped the MX19s already, less than 2 years old. Yes the new clubs look nice (except the new 'Y' range of MX's). But what's with the new kit coming out so often? As a retailer myself (another sport, not golf), it really hacks me off when companies keep bringing out new 'hardware'. The old stuff becomes worthless as far as trying to make a profit on it, and yet only the week before reps would still be trying to load you up with the 'current' kit. Gits.
As a customer I could feel that I don't have the best / latest kit and therefore my game is suffering because of that, and therefore I should buy the latest stuff that is easier to hit, goes straighter and further. Perhaps it's this physcology that the manufactuers prey on.
Well I ain't gonna fall for it. My MX19s were (oops!) are good enough for me, And will last many (I hope not too many!) years until I upgraded to a better player iron like the new MP52. (Or whatever they are in one, two, three, four, five ...............years time).
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
Sorry.
Just realized the hi-jack.
Tried the original on the course. Didn't like the look, the sound, or the price. What's different about this one on those three counts?
Phew! Back on subject.
Just realized the hi-jack.
Tried the original on the course. Didn't like the look, the sound, or the price. What's different about this one on those three counts?
Phew! Back on subject.
GB72
Money List Winner
I have tried out quite a bit of Callaway kit recently just to see if it is any better than the lower cost gear that I have at the moment. Driver wise I was not a fan of the FTi but I did really like the FT-5. If I was in the market for a new dirver I would give one a try now they are about £170.00 and is a good example of a club that does the business nearly 2 years after release. The new FT looks a bit too odd for me and I am not convinced by square drivers. Do any pros still use them?
Tried the FTi hybrid and really liked it but could not really justify paying £40 more than a Baffler or such like.
Really liked the FTi irons but could never see me paying neary £1000.00 for a set of irons.
As for the lifespan of modern kit, I cannot believe that the latest range of driver were released on March, price reduced in July and nearly half price by September as the replacement is announced. You cannot tell me that companies are putting that much into developing kit that only has a 6 month lifespan. I suspect they all have big 'breakthrough' products in the pipeline that take years to develop properly and these are stopgaps to keep the coffers topped up in the meantime.
Tried the FTi hybrid and really liked it but could not really justify paying £40 more than a Baffler or such like.
Really liked the FTi irons but could never see me paying neary £1000.00 for a set of irons.
As for the lifespan of modern kit, I cannot believe that the latest range of driver were released on March, price reduced in July and nearly half price by September as the replacement is announced. You cannot tell me that companies are putting that much into developing kit that only has a 6 month lifespan. I suspect they all have big 'breakthrough' products in the pipeline that take years to develop properly and these are stopgaps to keep the coffers topped up in the meantime.
TonyN
Money List Winner
Els uses a square driver every now and then, sure he had 2 in the bag this year, at the same time. FT-I and FT-5
RGuk
Tour Winner
I never liked the first square Callaway.
I like the Ft-3 and Ft-5 and Ping G5/10. That's it....I have one of each (the older versions!!)
I'm sure Callaway have found the odd way to make it better, but.....i.m.h.o. The makers know full well that *most" sane golfers won't buy this version over the old, but they aim the new kit at folks with clubs nowhere near the newest who go in and ask for the "latest". If you understand me, what I'm trying to suggest is this sort of scenario.
Bloke goes into pro shop/AG with 2 year old driver. He likes 2 or three makes generally and is offered club a,b,c, to try.
a) and b) have been out a year, c) is the "latest" technology...how can he resist? not only might it work 0.0001 % better than the others, but he'll look mighty cool with it on the first against his vain mates!!!
I have no such vanity.....If I tried 3 and they were all about the same, I'd go for the cheapest!!! or maybe the one that actually looks like a golf club....
I like the Ft-3 and Ft-5 and Ping G5/10. That's it....I have one of each (the older versions!!)
I'm sure Callaway have found the odd way to make it better, but.....i.m.h.o. The makers know full well that *most" sane golfers won't buy this version over the old, but they aim the new kit at folks with clubs nowhere near the newest who go in and ask for the "latest". If you understand me, what I'm trying to suggest is this sort of scenario.
Bloke goes into pro shop/AG with 2 year old driver. He likes 2 or three makes generally and is offered club a,b,c, to try.
a) and b) have been out a year, c) is the "latest" technology...how can he resist? not only might it work 0.0001 % better than the others, but he'll look mighty cool with it on the first against his vain mates!!!
I have no such vanity.....If I tried 3 and they were all about the same, I'd go for the cheapest!!! or maybe the one that actually looks like a golf club....
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Callaway have got a demo day on the 17th near me. I was going to give it a miss (impulse buying and all that) but I may wander down and see if they have any of these new models on display (purely in the name of research for my fellow forummers). I have to say with it being so new I think it will be Christmas time before the likes of me get to see them but you never know.
madandra
Money List Winner
Mike, if you get a 10.5 reg or stiff to test can I have a pop at it 
??????
??????stevelockie
Head Pro
Oh dear, I may have to give this a try. My ft-i has transformed my game, driving was my weakest area (couldn't hit a fairway), now it's my strongest.
Cernunnos
Journeyman Pro
I may like styling but performance & price rules the day, espcially when the previous models are better. Hence why I wasn't going to be upgrading my C280 irons for anything in the new Yonex catalogue. Infact, had I found the Ping S58 irons cheaper than the new S57 irons It would have been a simple answer.
Its like the Motocaddy I bought mine when they'd been out for a little while & were coming down in price slightly. Now I like some of the ideas used in the new S1 digital over my model, but can't stand the look of that cheap looking red plastic knob on top & to me is a pho-parr. My WilsonStaff Driver I got at just the right price £99. The V2 shaft working well.
Vanity doesn't nesecerily, mean getting the newest, but haveing a sense of style & performance, even when its not really necessary to change something that works.
Changing something just to keep up with the Jones's has no point, & a worthless excercise, by pandering to others.
Changing something because it makes you feel better or works better on the other hand, whether really needed or not is refreshing & healthy.
I've been thinking what I'd be using equipmentwise at least. That works well enough for my needs both then & now Items I was quite happy using without really feeling a valid reason to change & the bag would actually consist thus of items as follows
Lynx CST-1 irons Yonex Cyberstar Nanospeed Driver Yonex £ wood Yonex 5 wood Hippo 60' lob wedge (or the NV Drew lob & gap Wedge, as the hippo lob would probably have been worn through by now) Odyssey DFX1100 putter (Though I probably would be using the John Letters putter by now anyway, as bladed putters work best for me) Lynx Stand bag.
Its like the Motocaddy I bought mine when they'd been out for a little while & were coming down in price slightly. Now I like some of the ideas used in the new S1 digital over my model, but can't stand the look of that cheap looking red plastic knob on top & to me is a pho-parr. My WilsonStaff Driver I got at just the right price £99. The V2 shaft working well.
Vanity doesn't nesecerily, mean getting the newest, but haveing a sense of style & performance, even when its not really necessary to change something that works.
Changing something just to keep up with the Jones's has no point, & a worthless excercise, by pandering to others.
Changing something because it makes you feel better or works better on the other hand, whether really needed or not is refreshing & healthy.
I've been thinking what I'd be using equipmentwise at least. That works well enough for my needs both then & now Items I was quite happy using without really feeling a valid reason to change & the bag would actually consist thus of items as follows
Lynx CST-1 irons Yonex Cyberstar Nanospeed Driver Yonex £ wood Yonex 5 wood Hippo 60' lob wedge (or the NV Drew lob & gap Wedge, as the hippo lob would probably have been worn through by now) Odyssey DFX1100 putter (Though I probably would be using the John Letters putter by now anyway, as bladed putters work best for me) Lynx Stand bag.
