Driver prices .... WOW!

[Deleted member 21258]

I got sucked in by the hype and bought an M2, my old TM driver was a R510 - I thought technology etc wold have come a long way in the 10 years or so so splashed £250.....

the M2 is definitely more forgiving - my driving accuracy and distance hasn't really changed. A lot of money to look down at a bit of carbon weave instead of gloss paint.

Interesting you should say what you say, as I have an old TM 360Ti(just before the 510 IIRC) and been comparing it to my sons cobra fly Z and all but agree with you and almost disappointed by it.

Things I have noted, hitting both on the course(normally two drives on each tee) :-

1) The cobra fly z is more forgiving on off hits (normally 10-20 yards)
2) The cobra fly z seems to hit it a little bit further generally on better struck shots (normally 10ish yards)
3) The cobra fly z seems to hit it straighter
4) Sometimes I just seem to get flyers of the cobra, and these go 20-30 yards further than the 360, on what I thought were similar strikes (only about 1 a round)
5) The cobra (on the same loft), definitely launchs higher [which is a good thing as I launch at about 9-10 with my 360ti, haven't check the cobra on flightscope yet)

As a result I am going to buy a new last years model of cobra(AG sell them for £150 or £170 depending on model IIRC), due mainly down to the forgiveness, as I am not the purest of strikers!!

My summary would be not to buy new, buy last years model and keep it for years, as it doesn't change a lot.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Worse than scorty putters!

I agree they are high. Take a look at other brands, I just hit a Lynx 5 wood and it was super!

Buy one of the brands that does not spend billions on marketing to save money.

 

[delc]

The R&A/USGA should never have allowed big headed drivers in the first place IMHO. If a volume limit of say 300 cc had been imposed, there would be less need to use exotic materials such as Titanium or composites, so drivers could be about the same price as fairway woods.

 

[Alex1975]

The R&A/USGA should never have allowed big headed drivers in the first place IMHO. If a volume limit of say 300 cc had been imposed, there would be less need to use exotic materials such as Titanium or composites, so drivers could be about the same price as fairway woods.

What an utter load of rubbish.... Do you really think that?

 

[Trini swinger]

Check out Peter Finch or Rick Shiels on youtube. They did a very good piece on 2nd clubs they got from the golf bidder store near the M25 for a 500 quid budget. Some stuff they got was very old for sentimental value, but believed they could have basically kitted themselves out with all equipment that was probably less 2 years old and still be within the budget of 500 dabs.

 

[delc]

What an utter load of rubbish.... Do you really think that?

Yes! When I started playing golf back in the 1960's when all drivers and fairway woods had small wooden heads, drivers were about the same price as fairway woods.

BTW, the original Callaway Big Bertha driver had a head capacity of only 190 cm3, considered huge at the time, and was constructed of stainless steel, so nothing too exotic!

 

[Alex1975]

Yes! When I started playing golf back in the 1960's when all drivers and fairway woods had small wooden heads, drivers were about the same price as fairway woods.

And was that the last time you did any free thinking? Seriously we are not going to talk about this are we? If the head size would have stayed the same the manufactures would not now use exotic materials... your going to defend that statement?

 

[delc]

And was that the last time you did any free thinking? Seriously we are not going to talk about this are we? If the head size would have stayed the same the manufactures would not now use exotic materials... your going to defend that statement?

If you made the head of a 460cc with non-exotic materials, it would either be too heavy or too weak. Alternatively you would have to use a shorter shaft to keep the swing weight within reasonable bounds, which would lose some distance. In my golfing lifetime, average shaft lengths have gone up from 43 to 46", and there are some available at the maximum legal length of 48".

 

[Alex1975]

No matter what people try and improve things. Faces would get harder and thinner, crowns lighter and so on and so on, head size is not the determining factor in the materials used. NO MATTER WHAT, we always try and make things better than they were before.... Try to stop thinking that everything has to stay the same as when you were xyz.... Nothing stays the same, not golf fashion, tech, nothing. We evolve... Broad sweeping statements like "average shaft lengths have gone up from 43 to 46" are poor arguments as you have absolutely no way to back them up.

If you made the head smaller they would still make it lighter and then use even more exotic materials to get the weight low, gold perhaps. Your a smart guy, you know this...

 

[delc]

No matter what people try and improve things. Faces would get harder and thinner, crowns lighter and so on and so on, head size is not the determining factor in the materials used. NO MATTER WHAT, we always try and make things better than they were before.... Try to stop thinking that everything has to stay the same as when you were xyz.... Nothing stays the same, not golf fashion, tech, nothing. We evolve... Broad sweeping statements like "average shaft lengths have gone up from 43 to 46" are poor arguments as you have absolutely no way to back them up.

If you made the head smaller they would still make it lighter and then use even more exotic materials to get the weight low, gold perhaps. Your a smart guy, you know this...

You needs clubs to be within a certain swing weight range to suit the average golfer. A small, very lightweight club might not swing too well for most players, and would transfer less energy to the golf ball.

 

[Alex1975]

You needs clubs to be within a certain swing weight range to suit the average golfer. A small, very lightweight club might not swing too well for most players, and would transfer less energy to the golf ball.

Re-read my post.

 

[duncan mackie]

Re-read my post.

You assume it read it the first time....

(I completely agree with your argument and, arguably, the TM mini Driver proved you correct )

 

[Pearbo]

I got sucked in by the hype and bought an M2, my old TM driver was a R510 - I thought technology etc wold have come a long way in the 10 years or so so splashed £250.....

the M2 is definitely more forgiving - my driving accuracy and distance hasn't really changed. A lot of money to look down at a bit of carbon weave instead of gloss paint.

Similar story with my old Spalding excellence irons and my new 850's

will be keeping my £10 Wilson Augusta 2 putter forever.....

I bought a set of clubs off a carboot for 8 quid and there was a Wilson Augusta 2 putter in there, used to use it on the par 3. It was cheaper to buy a set than hire em for one round between the 4 of us.

 

[delc]

You assume it read it the first time....

(I completely agree with your argument and, arguably, the TM mini Driver proved you correct )

How much of a driver price is advertising hype and sponsorship of players? I note that the Taylor Made Aeroburner Mini Driver had an original MRRP of £219.00 and is now on sale at American Golf for £129.99, which is considerably cheaper than the latest 460 cc drivers, which rather proves my point!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

How much of a driver price is advertising hype and sponsorship of players? I note that the Taylor Made Aeroburner Mini Driver had an original MRRP of £219.00 and is now on sale at American Golf for £129.99, which is considerably cheaper than the latest 460 cc drivers, which rather proves my point!

You can get a Taylor Made Aeroburner Driver (460cc) for £129.99 - same price as the mini driver. Which point were you trying to prove ?

 

[delc]

You can get a Taylor Made Aeroburner Driver (460cc) for £129.99 - same price as the mini driver. Which point were you trying to prove ?

The original MRRP for the 460cc Aeroburner was £269.00, i.e. £50 more than the Mini Driver, and AG are selling them at £179.99 at the moment, which is still £50 more!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The original MRRP for the 460cc Aeroburner was £269.00, i.e. £50 more than the Mini Driver, and AG are selling them at £179.99 at the moment, which is still £50 more!

And you can get them cheaper elsewhere and the SLDR mini Driver when on sale at the same price as the SLDR

But there is a simple solution

If you believe they are too expensive or should be over 300cc then don't buy them or use them

But then you used an R1 for years which is a 460cc and very expensive so it seems you don't have an issue playing with a 460cc driver

 

[delc]

And you can get them cheaper elsewhere and the SLDR mini Driver when on sale at the same price as the SLDR

But there is a simple solution

If you believe they are too expensive or should be over 300cc then don't buy them or use them

But then you used an R1 for years which is a 460cc and very expensive so it seems you don't have an issue playing with a 460cc driver

My R1 cost £100 secondhand, and the Cobra Fly Z I use now cost £149 in this years AG Jan sale. Both were last year's model at the time I bought them.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

My R1 cost £100 secondhand, and the Cobra Fly Z I use now cost £149 in this years AG Jan sale. Both were last year's model at the time.

So good drivers can be bought at decent prices - good point proven :thup:

 

[delc]

So good drivers can be bought at decent prices - good point proven :thup:

Not the latest model new ones though! Taylor Made M1 £429, M2 £329!