Have Taylormade produced a decent driver since 1985?

[Snelly]

In my opinion, no.

Putters aside, I have never been able to get on with TaylorMade clubs. The original metalwood of the mid-80's was very cool and a major innovation in golf. Well done Mr Adams. But since then, I think that their clubs have been second best to the other major manufacturers.

The hideous orange heads, the ludicrous bubble shaft and the current white bin lids are just three elements that make me want to say no to TM every time. Just this week, I had a go for about the third time with my friend's hugely expensive, multi adjustable bright white malt shovel and was as usual, distinctly unimpressed. He uses it to cart the ball all over the course off the tee and it ruins his round every time I play with him. The only fringe benefit being that the places it puts his ball are pretty wild and it means he gets to see interesting fauna that normally avoids human contact; red squirrel, otter, oryx etc.

This week, I asked him why he persevered with it and he had no answer. I persuaded him to have a go with my driver and he hit three nice drives. I then tried his TM white whale and it was awful; lacked feel, felt dead and probably 20-30 yards short of my Ping powered shots.

Of course, any TM fanboy worth his salt will cry foul at this and offer that the poor performance is just down to the wrong shaft, incorrect launch angle, lack of custom fit and so on - a commendable defence but ultimately wrong.

I just don't think that TM clubs, especially the drivers, are very good and certainly not as good as Ping who in my opinion, make the best drivers for the club golfer.

Any thoughts?


Snelly.

 

[scratch]

In my opinion, no.

Putters aside, I have never been able to get on with TaylorMade clubs. The original metalwood of the mid-80's was very cool and a major innovation in golf. Well done Mr Adams. But since then, I think that their clubs have been second best to the other major manufacturers.

The hideous orange heads, the ludicrous bubble shaft and the current white bin lids are just three elements that make me want to say no to TM every time. Just this week, I had a go for about the third time with my friend's hugely expensive, multi adjustable bright white malt shovel and was as usual, distinctly unimpressed. He uses it to cart the ball all over the course off the tee and it ruins his round every time I play with him. The only fringe benefit being that the places it puts his ball are pretty wild and it means he gets to see interesting fauna that normally avoids human contact; red squirrel, otter, oryx etc.

This week, I asked him why he persevered with it and he had no answer. I persuaded him to have a go with my driver and he hit three nice drives. I then tried his TM white whale and it was awful; lacked feel, felt dead and probably 20-30 yards short of my Ping powered shots.

Of course, any TM fanboy worth his salt will cry foul at this and offer that the poor performance is just down to the wrong shaft, incorrect launch angle, lack of custom fit and so on - a commendable defence but ultimately wrong.

I just don't think that TM clubs, especially the drivers, are very good and certainly not as good as Ping who in my opinion, make the best drivers for the club golfer.

Any thoughts?


Snelly.

I agree.

Although for the 'decent' club golfer I would contest that Titleist make the best drivers.

 

[GB72]

My first 'proper' driver was the re-released TM Burner about 6-7 years ago. Think that was the first step down the ever lengthening shaft route and put me off them. I just had no control over the thing. I went over to a Callaway driver as they at least retained the normal length shaft for a while. Now custom fit is the only route for me as I just get nothing out of clubs with a 46 inch plus shaft length.

 

[muttleee]

I persuaded him to have a go with my driver and he hit three nice drives. I then tried his TM white whale and it was awful; lacked feel, felt dead and probably 20-30 yards short of my Ping powered shots.

I just don't think that TM clubs, especially the drivers, are very good and certainly not as good as Ping who in my opinion, make the best drivers for the club golfer.

If there was that big a difference they'd be out of business. One swallow doesn't make a summer and all that...

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

I'd say that it is down to the user and peoples opinion of the brand

I have an RBZ driver and I am getting on with it great. I bought it second hand of another forum user with the standard stiff shaft and got on with it better than any driver before. I loaded it with an R11TP shaft and am getting on even better. I'm not saying I'm hitting every fairway or bombing it 300+ yards but I'm certainly more comfortable with this than any of its predecessors and therefore not looking to change it, which in itself for me is amazing as I'm an ebay addict.

The white heads aren't for everyone, nor will the red Nike Covert or the multicolours of Cobra.

other than this, I know a few golfers with the R9 Superdeep, R11s, Superfast and 2.0 all of which have no complaints

 

[One Planer]

Of course, any TM fanboy worth his salt will cry foul at this and offer that the poor performance is just down to the wrong shaft, incorrect launch angle, lack of custom fit and so on - a commendable defence but ultimately wrong.

Off 2 Snelly, I'm sure you're capable of hitting the ball correctly.

I've had my share of TM drivers. The only decent model I ever owned was the 09 Tour Burner. Really nice driver and as forgiving as John Terrys wife.

I've always found the main flaw with TM woods being their shafts, the are awful and are not even remotley like the shaft they are labelled as.

To me TM are all about the marketing. 17 yards longer being a typical example. Then when the RBZ II was launched they "claimed" another 10 yards. Nonsense, technology doesn't move that fast.

They are all about units sold rather than quality. Flood the market with the next best thing, as, lets be honest. There's always someone who believes the hype.

 

[GB72]

I'd say that it is down to the user and peoples opinion of the brand

I have an RBZ driver and I am getting on with it great. I bought it second hand of another forum user with the standard stiff shaft and got on with it better than any driver before. I loaded it with an R11TP shaft and am getting on even better. I'm not saying I'm hitting every fairway or bombing it 300+ yards but I'm certainly more comfortable with this than any of its predecessors and therefore not looking to change it, which in itself for me is amazing as I'm an ebay addict.

The white heads aren't for everyone, nor will the red Nike Covert or the multicolours of Cobra.

other than this, I know a few golfers with the R9 Superdeep, R11s, Superfast and 2.0 all of which have no complaints

This is something that I have noticed in that the 'lesser' range of some manufacturers is better than the premium offering. I know a few who prefer the RBZ driver to the R1/R11 and the Callaway Hot range seems to be better received than the higher end adjustable kit. Also have noticed this with Mizuno in that the JPX range of drivers and woods has been better received than the MP clubs.

 

[scratch]

The biggest problem for me with TM drivers is that they feel so clunky, absolutely no feedback from them regardless of where you hit them on the face. I used to have an R7, hit it long and straight but just couldn't put up with the lack of feedback, I need to be able to feel where the ball has gone.

 

[Tommo21]

There could be trouble ahead............In many ways I agree, but I do like my RBZ driver although I got rid of the stock shaft. I changed from a 910 so it had to be good for my old swing.

Funny you mention putters........I dont like many TM putters even though I use one, the only TM putter Ive ever used....dont ask, dont ask.

Got to say Ping drivers are good, but Ping are/were way to slow in shaft options and adjustability.

 

[Evesdad]

Funny you should mention this as my playing partners shaft broke in his R11s the other weekend. As it was mid round and just a friendly knock he used our other partners g20 driver with a regular shaft, low and behold every Drive was plumb down the middle and around the 270 mark!!

 

[Tommo21]

The biggest problem for me with TM drivers is that they feel so clunky, absolutely no feedback from them regardless of where you hit them on the face. I used to have an R7, hit it long and straight but just couldn't put up with the lack of feedback, I need to be able to feel where the ball has gone.

Some, like you, like to feel where the ball has gone. Me, I look where it's gone.

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

Some, like you, like to feel where the ball has gone. Me, I look where it's gone.

I'm glad someone else said it

 

[FairwayDodger]

In my opinion, no.

<snip>

Any thoughts?


Snelly.

In my opinion, yes.

I get on pretty well with my R11 - reasonable length and (currently) fairly accurate. I like it and consider it the "best" driver I've had. However, my previous drivers were either very old technology or by a supposed "lesser" brand; I can't really compare the R11 with its modern competitors. If I was in the market for a new driver I'd definitely be considering Ping's offerings (amongst others) but would also look at the latest TM products.

I quite liked the white head at first but, admittedly, yearn for something a bit more classic now.

If "feel" means getting a sense for the type of contact and direction the ball will take then the R11 definitely provides that for me. However the loud gunshot like sound isn't ideal.

Not exactly on topic but I adore the matching fairway woods - great clubs IMO.

 

[shivas irons]

The TM R7 and R9 werent bad sticks but generally I agree their drivers are dire.The drivers you see the TM tour staffers using are so fettled that they are nothing like you get in the shops,basically your shop R11 they wouldn't go near.Best stick with Titleist and Ping when it comes to mass produced drivers.

 

[mab]

The shaft point is a good one. I really liked their 2007 Burner line - I had both the driver and 3 wood and the heads were great. But, the shafts were terrible. I remember a number of occasions where I nailed the 3 wood to have it spin to the moon and drop shamefully short for such a good strike.

I know people say to get fit, but at the time, that meant going to Nevada Bobs, hitting 3 clubs and selecting which was the best of a bad bunch... and choosing R, S or X for the shaft flex. That's not fitting and it doesn't really help anyone.

Tend to do my own fitting and clubwork these days, although I'm sure a visit to a specialist could be beneficial...

 

[richart]

Only Taylormade driver I have ever owned was an original burner circa 1985 which I won in a ProAm. Must admit not a TaylorMade fan, but I am sure there are a lot out there.

 

[El Bandito]

I get on OK with my RBZ 2. I got it a shaft put into it, so don't know about the stock one. I don't really have a problem with the white head - but it certainly seems to get on some people's nerves. I got on well with my previous drivers too. Callaway, Benross, Nike....

I went to a club fitter - and we spent a long time on shaft testing. Once we found one - he said 'right - we're done'. I said "but what about the head? Shouldn't we do some testing?" He replied "What colour do you want?"

I was dumbfounded. He explained that the new Cally, the new Cobra, the new Nike, TM etc...were all good heads. So which ever one I fancied (with a caveat around high spin/low spin) would work....

 

[Piece]

Probably a sweeping statement, but TM drivers from the shop are produced for, and suit, the mass market of mid handicappers. I've tried TM drivers and haven't liked them for their look at address, lack of feel and crabby shaft performance. My golf buddy who drives the ball as well as any pro said he'd never go near a TM driver after using them.

But...

He has now chopped in his Titleist 909 and changed to a RBZ TP Tour driver! The main difference is that he has a £200 after market proper shaft in it. Totally transforms the feel, sound and performance of the driver.

In general I agree with the OP, with the caveat that a proper shaft can make them a decent club! I still wouldn't have one myself...

 

[Jdb2005]

Am no fan TM fan boy but I have no problem with my RBZ driver, much prefer it to my last one which was Callaway . In terms of never made a decent wood 3&5 wood RBZ are awesome pieces of kit. Might go down the nike route next

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I've only ever owned one, my current R11, and I like it.
I tried 5 or 6 different drivers when I bought it and it came out best on stat's, visual results etc.
I don't know how good the shaft I have in it is, but, when I swing well the ball goes a long way & fairly straight.
Other drivers I tried at the time were the Titleist 910 (D2 & D3), Callaway something or other, Ping (I & G 15), a Nike and a few others and the R11 was best by some stretch.
I'm no TM fanboy, having owned Callaway, Nike, Howson, John Letters and Wilson drivers in the past (two of which were Persimmon headed and steal shafted). I'm also pretty sure I don't try as many different clubs as others on this forum so can't comment on TM against other brands in recent times, except that when I had a Cally FT-5 I also tried a R7(?) and didn't like that at all.