To change a driver or not to change?

D

donutwheels

Medal Winner
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
26
Visit site
I'm contemplating changing my driver (with the new R9 it's hard not to thinkabout it). Thing is, I love the yonex nanospeed i I have already.

A month ago, I went to my local driving range and the pro there put me on the lauch monitor with my existing driver and noted that the flex, lauch angle was all wrong not mention the excessive side-spin i had on it. He then gave me a 12 degree stiff flex ping g10 draw and obviously it went further with a high flight and I hit the back of the range net. I didn't buy the driver at the time due to cash flow, not to mention I find ping clubs rather ugly (sorry).

Since then, I've taken a bunch of lessons and there has been a drastic improvement to my swing. Gone is the sidespin, my drives sound more like a nail gun rather than a hollow baked bean tin, gained a further 10 to 20 yards (230 to240 then, now 240-250) and Im'hitting the back of the range with my current driver. I also noticed the ball flight has changed from a high rainbow trajectory to a penetrating parabola. Obviously the lessons with the PGA pro helped but my question is, has my swing changed to match my current driver or would I sill benifit from upgrading. Does it matter?
 
If it aint broke....

Whats the point in spunking ££££££££'s of pounds on the new R9 if you're hitting your Yonex driver good for the sake of a few extra yards off the tee?

If you're happy with it, continue using it!
 
If it ain't broke........etc

But if you can afford it, really want it and won't concentrate on your current driver properly until you've tried it why not get a custom fitting and demo the best one. You can always go back to the Yonex if you prefer.
 
I wouldn’t go there at this time. Clearly you’re still taking lessons, so there’s more to come. I’ve toyed with the idea so many times but I’m still with my old 460 Nike. A week past Wednesday, first medal, round in 78 blows CSS 72. Saturday, medal, round in 76 blows CSS 70. It will take an exceptional driver for me to part with my Nike…or part with the wad of cash needed for the R9.
 
i bought my driver 3 years ago for 80 quid and its staying there im not convinced that my driving can improve with new kit the only thing i can do is improve my swing.
 
Great point MVP, a new driver may make you feel nice and warm inside but if you aint got da swing you wont make it sing!
 
How many lessons can you buy for the cost of a new R9. If you really want something to splurge cash on a new putter would be my bet especially as it is the most used club in the bag.

However I think you and your wallet are doing the right thing in resisting all temptation
 
I went to my local driving range and the pro there put me on the lauch monitor with my existing driver and noted that the flex, lauch angle was all wrong not mention the excessive side-spin i had on it. He then gave me a 12 degree stiff flex ping g10 draw and obviously it went further with a high flight and I hit the back of the range net. I didn't buy the driver at the time due to cash flow, not to mention I find ping clubs rather ugly (sorry).
Click to expand...

Well, my opinion is that you need to do some thinking.
If a 12 degree "obviously" went further than your current Yonex 10.5, then something's up. If I went and hit a new driver with a stiff graphite, I'd lose distance, I'm sure. But if your swing is better suited to stiff graphite, then maybe another try with some new models is in order.

Just because you buy another driver, doesn't mean you can't swap from one to another. I'd been hitting my 10 degree a bit low and put a 13 back in the bag....which will stay there until I feel it's going too high again.
If a stiff 12 goes further, then in my logic, you'll do better with that in the long run. More loft means easier to hit and a tiny improvement in unwanted side-spin when it goes wrong.

I really think you need to get on another monitor and work out your swing speed. Mine is highly unlikely to ever get consistently over 100 mph. If yours IS 100 mph or more (get advice, not just listen to me) then you should consign the Yonex to ebay....

Unless I've misunderstood, of course.
 
What's a Yonex??? :)

I'd DEFINATELY get a new driver. Getting the right shaft in it is the key. Sounds like your pro has all the right tools there to be able to get something that is right for you.
 
Really, the only reasons we should be buying anything new are if the old stuff is worn out or we find something that works better than what we already have.
If your Driver works, don't fiddle.

I know to my cost that the 2 reasons above are generally not the reasons we buy something new - we just like having shiny new kit!! :D :D :D
 
I think all the replies are a little hypocritical.

Your assessment is that you like your driver but hit another model (with a different flex shaft) more and it went further.

If I discovered a Driver that gave me more distance and suspected mine was not giving me the best return because the shaft was the wrong choice, I'd look into a new one.

Go see a C/F pro or shop.

I'd ALSO get lessons.....

Can't say fairer than that......
 
I was having a nightmare with the R7 Limited at the range this morning (looks like the honeymoon is over). Went up to Ascot this afternoon primarily to work on my putting following a lesson this morning but took my old Cleveland Hi Bore LXS (draw version) and hit 9/10 flush. Stopped at a range on the way back through for 20 balls to try and see if I should keep the XLS for tomorrow and started hooking and skying all ober the place. I'm now stuck between my R7 which I know isn't working well and my Hi Bore which started well this afternoon and then fell away on me.
 
'which started well this afternoon and then fell away on me'

Homer - not picking on you , honestly, but that statement just doesnt make sense.
There simply isnt a club out there that can 'fall away from you' , its the singer not the song that matters.

If any of us catch an occasional drive well and see it fly like a bullet in a controlled draw, ending up 300yds down the middle, then thats what the club is capable of for you every time you take it out of the bag.
The fact that they all dont is down to us, and us alone.

However, sure, if you find a Driver that flies that few yards further and straighter for you, then it obviously is more suited for you, and that is what Custom Fitting can do for you, and hopefully help you minimise your bad ones.

My new 909D2 this year (Thx Golf Monthly) has already put me in places futher off the Tee than I have been before, and has gone 300yds+ for me on numerous occasions already this year, so Custom Fitting has undoubtably helped enormously, and I cant wait for the summer.

(Oh, and before anyone says ' ahh but how do you know how far it went' , Driver & 5 iron (170yds) to our 16th, 469yds. :D )
 
Would it really have mattered how I felt as you'd already posted (not the first post recently you've had a sly dig - v-easy!!) It fell away from me was a euphemism for not swinging it too well. I think I was over tired and there were too many moving parts to the swing and I was in a hurry so tempo was rubbish and the swing probably overlong.
 
Homer - not picking on you , honestly, but that statement just doesnt make sense.
There simply isnt a club out there that can 'fall away from you, its the singer not the song that matters.
Click to expand...

I'm in a philosophical mood tonight. I'm not taking any line on this but...here's a question

All the golf manufacturers are falling over themselves to offer us (to buy!) different kit. Draw bias here, high launch shaft there, offset irons, balls to suit different styles. My game changes from game to game. I'd been slicing my Ping G5 so I tweaked my grip and then pulled a few "key hole" drives straight left into the trees (and a few o.o.b.)
I swapped to my old faithful draw bias Callaway, forgot about strengthening my grip and just hit the thing. I didn't pull one for 2 rounds, but a few "failed" to get airborne and went 200 yards along the ground! :mad:

I change from driver to driver and used to swap my putter until I had just one C/F....which I'm sticking with.

Keen amateurs with inconsistent swings might find one club suits them better one day and then another a different day.
When I played Snooker (and I was both serious and good) I had 2 or 3 cues and often swapped. They had different tip size (9/10/11mm) and different weights.....

Is it OK to chop and change? I think so.....
 
Homer: I take it back. I was clearly having a momentary lapse of reason, .....slightly worrying considering there wasnt any alcohol involved :D


"Is it OK to chop and change? I think so....."

Couldn't disagree more with that tho. If we all have inconsistent swings, which we do to a differing extent, then why the heck throw in clubs with differing swing characteristics too into the mix ???

'Draw' bias Driver one day, normal the next, ....10* one day, ......12.5* the next.....how the devil are you to stand confidently over anything when you chop & change like that ? :D

I used a set of Zing 2's for over 10yrs, and didnt even carry a Driver until 3yrs ago, and I had been off 12 for some years by then. Once I tried the G5 and got on with it, it went in the bag, and stayed there performing pretty well until my 909 came along this year. (courtesy of GM)

I think far too many amateur golfers chop & change their equipment far too often, and really dont concentrate on what really matters, ....swing, tempo & course management.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Slab
Driver Shaft Change
Replies
12
Views
877
Slab
Slab
Tashyboy
Ping G430 v Titliest TSR2
2 3
Replies
43
Views
1K
PJ87
PJ87
N
Driver alternative
Replies
15
Views
3K
Patster1969
P
S
Shorter driver shaft?
2
Replies
24
Views
803
Dunesman
D
Orikoru
Changing Weights in Driver
2 3 4
Replies
70
Views
2K
Orikoru
Orikoru
Top