Modern Driver Woe's

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Mungoscorner

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Just wondered if there are any lower handicap forummers who don't,won't or can't use the bigger headed drivers (460cc)
Having returned to the game in August last year after a 3 year break,i've noticed that most of the Driver manufacturers seem to favour the driver heads around the 460cc limit now,with the exception of one or two who do produce "Tour" versions with slightly smaller heads.
I don't have a driver in the bag at the moment,the reason being that at my home course i don't really need one,but when playing Scrambles my team mates are moaning about me not carrying one,as it may offer an advantage without penalty when playing this format.
My present driver is a Taylor Made 425 TP,but is now refferred to as my "Taylor Made Maraca" since a piece of glue came loose in the head.A friend has loaned me his 909 D2 9.5 Stiff Voodoo shaft,and last week i decided to hit a few balls with it on the range.First few shots weren't great,but after a while i started banging balls out of the range with it,ball flight was nice,and it sounded nice also,not your usual titanium ring,but more of a muted thwack much like my Taylor Made.No matter what i did i could only hit the ball straight,which believe it or not i wasn't entirely happy with.I just don't feel comfortable with a ball flight i have no control over,admittedly straight is what most crave ,but i'd rather move the ball one way or the other and feel like i can maniuplate the driver to do this,but i couldn't.Not only this,but it looked horrible behind the ball,like a turtle on a stick,a shallower face,but with far too much club stretching back behind the ball,and i could hear the driver "swishing" as i took the club back.
Does anybody else have similar views,or am i just too old fashioned and stuck in my ways ? is there a modern alternative to 460cc Drivers ?
 
I returned to the game four years ago after a long lay off. Started back with my persimmon wood, but soon bought one of the new big drivers. Still struggle to hit it and have had three in four years. Rest of the clubs, irons wedges, putter have been fine, but the driver:mad: Currently got a Titleist 910 D3 which is the best one so far with a slightly smaller head. Still struggle with the look of it, and the head is so light. Does go a lot further than the old woods, but not necessarily in the right direction.
 
Mungoscorner said:
Just wondered if there are any lower handicap forummers who don't,won't or can't use the bigger headed drivers (460cc)
Having returned to the game in August last year after a 3 year break,i've noticed that most of the Driver manufacturers seem to favour the driver heads around the 460cc limit now,with the exception of one or two who do produce "Tour" versions with slightly smaller heads.
I don't have a driver in the bag at the moment,the reason being that at my home course i don't really need one,but when playing Scrambles my team mates are moaning about me not carrying one,as it may offer an advantage without penalty when playing this format.
My present driver is a Taylor Made 425 TP,but is now refferred to as my "Taylor Made Maraca" since a piece of glue came loose in the head.A friend has loaned me his 909 D2 9.5 Stiff Voodoo shaft,and last week i decided to hit a few balls with it on the range.First few shots weren't great,but after a while i started banging balls out of the range with it,ball flight was nice,and it sounded nice also,not your usual titanium ring,but more of a muted thwack much like my Taylor Made.No matter what i did i could only hit the ball straight,which believe it or not i wasn't entirely happy with.I just don't feel comfortable with a ball flight i have no control over,admittedly straight is what most crave ,but i'd rather move the ball one way or the other and feel like i can maniuplate the driver to do this,but i couldn't.Not only this,but it looked horrible behind the ball,like a turtle on a stick,a shallower face,but with far too much club stretching back behind the ball,and i could hear the driver "swishing" as i took the club back.
Does anybody else have similar views,or am i just too old fashioned and stuck in my ways ? is there a modern alternative to 460cc Drivers ?
Click to expand...
I don’t consider myself a low handicapper and I hate 460 heads.

For me a smaller club head just looks and feels better. I currently have the Mizuno 630 FT and I thinks that’s 440 but I looks much smaller against the not FT version. I used to have the TM425 myself and though I liked it I never used the weight ports. Something went in the shaft and swapped the head for my last driver the Mizuno 600.
 
Like many prefer the look of a smaller driver head but its hard to argue about the benefits the bigger head bring. That said I have days where I put the driver away and am much happier looking at a 13 degree 3 wood instead :)
 
fundy said:
Like many prefer the look of a smaller driver head but its hard to argue about the benefits the bigger head bring. That said I have days where I put the driver away and am much happier looking at a 13 degree 3 wood instead :)
Click to expand...

The 910 D3 doesn't look all that big. The Mizuno MP 630 again looks quite small. I looked at a Callaway one a while back (FT Tour perhaps?) and the head on that did look really small compared to some of the monsters out there.

Have you thought about getting a 3+ wood? 13* 3 wood that you can hit off the tee?

Whilst I do have one for sale I promise I'm not doing a Bobmac sniffing a v-easy buyer :)
 
jocko... your a man after my own heart, if he doesnt like these new big drivers, i know of a lovely 2 wood cally going for pennies, which my pro proved goes like a rocket with a decent swing thrown at it.:whistle:
 
I totally agree. I like my 909, but working the ball with it is difficult (even though it's the D3). The 910 is a big improvement, but still it looks massive to me. I like to fade or draw it so i've an idea of where it's going, it's very difficult with these monstrosities. I remember i got my Killer Whale in 1995, and everybody peed their y's at it's humongous 250cc head, and it did seem enormous at the time. there are times when it's difficult to do anything other than hit it straight and high
 
The new TM R11S has deliberately gone from a smaller head to the 460cc. I like a big headed driver. It gives me confidence and as its an area I struggle with, I really enjoy looking down on the reassuring sight of a large head and hope this is the one that gets me into the 300 yard category so I can hold my head up on the forum.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
The new TM R11S has deliberately gone from a smaller head to the 460cc. I like a big headed driver. It gives me confidence and as its an area I struggle with, I really enjoy looking down on the reassuring sight of a large head and hope this is the one that gets me into the 300 yard category so I can hold my head up on the forum and say hi im homer and im an average hitter.
Click to expand...

fixed:whistle:
 
PMSL thanks for your concerns lads,but i have a very nice Tour Edge 3 wood here already,goes an absolute mile but its not the most confidence inspiring club to try and hit on the first tee after a night on the ale.One end of the spectrum to the other i guess.
 
Oddsocks said:
fixed:whistle:
Click to expand...

HomerJSimpson said:
The new TM R11S has deliberately gone from a smaller head to the 460cc. I like a big headed driver. It gives me confidence and as its an area I struggle with, I really enjoy looking down on the reassuring sight of a large head and hope this is the one that gets me into the 300 yard category so I can hold my head up on the forum.
Click to expand...

OS you are a prize k**b I'll put that down in my little black book ready for the next meet
 
When I started woods were wood. I remember getting my first metal driver. Just the same as a wood wood really size an shape wise. Remember when a Mate got A Hippo driver blimmy that did look big. I then had to stop golf from injury. Just started back, and I could not belive the size of the wood heads. Think a 7 wood today is about the same size as my old driver (still got it). Plus the shaft length is around 1.5 inches longer on the modern ones. The old one I have is a TM one with a 8* loft still hit it straight. But my R9 goes 30yrds further on a good day. Still find it hard to look at, and its not as large as the 460 ones now.
 
I am new to golf and really cannot get on with any of the drivers I have tried (all 460cc heads) whereas my 3 wood is just perfect as are my hybrids, I guess maybe I prefer something with a smaller head

what drivers available (maybe around 2 years old) come in less than 460cc versions?

Gonna ebay for a bargain or go the 13deg 3 wood route
 
gibbo, ive got a cally 416 or 415, its awesome but non conforming, its currently on loan to a mate, when i see him ill get some images, mine has the red cross (non conforming face) but thy do a conforming version, its so easy to hit its scary
 
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