Sub 70 849 Pro Driver – Official MGS Forum Review by Peaksy68
Intro
I’m testing a 10.5˚ Sub70 849 Pro with a Project X Evenflow Riptide 65gm 6.0 shaft, chosen from the list of stock options available.
Thanks to MyGolfSpy and Sub70.I’m really excited to have been one of the first (if not the first) to play a Sub70 849 Pro in Australia
I've been playing for nearly 30 years, 20 of those seriously. The vast majority of my golf is in formal competitions, which is normal for golf in Australia. Only competition rounds are allowed for handicapping, and every competition round is entered into the Golf Australia handicap site.
On course, (and off) I love a bit of banter, and try to enjoy myself, while still trying to score the best I can. I spent the first half of my golf “career” just turning up and playing, never practicing at all.
My oldest daughter started playing when she was about 6, and started attending weekly junior clinics with the club pro when she was about 10. While these were on, I filled in time with some practice, and my handicap dropped from 10-12 down to 6 in 4 months. Amazing to see what a bit of practice can do.
I love the constant challenge that golf offers, and both the competitive and social aspect of the game. While I enjoy the occasional scramble or 4BBB, I love the fact that what I score on the course is usually entirely up to me, be it good or bad.
My Game
My handicap is currently 6.8, based mainly around a solid game off the tee, solid fairway woods and a competent chipping and putting game. Covid has had an impact on both my ability to play and practice. Taken with major works at my club closing the practice green and severely limiting other short game practice I’m reasonably happy with where my game is at.To be realistic the last year I’ve been more focussed on golf as an escape from the daily grind of being a healthcare worker during a pandemic.
My current driver is a Ping G400 SFT, which I was fitted into. I was fitted into an Aldila Xtorsion shaft, and is longer than any driver I have previously played. Perhaps the Xtorsion being counterbalanced has allowed this.I have been implementing some changes to my swing over the few months preceding this test, mainly to do with set up and alignment. This has resulted in significantly more misses left, and a more pronounced left to right ball flight.
My swing is reasonably short, with limited hand/wrist action after a series of injuries to my left wrist. I can incorporate more wrist cock, but it becomes too painful so I just avoid looking at my abbreviated swing as much as possible.After surgery for a frozen right shoulder, I’ve had to rely on a full shoulder turn and staying attached to get club head speed.Any over swing causes a significant chicken wing of my right arm, resulting in my bad miss, a very ugly block cut.
I’m in no way long off the tee, but not short either.
The biggest strength of my game is attitude. I never quit, and I'm more interested in the score I write down than how I did it. I hit around 2/3 of fairways, with most misses slight and on the good side.
First Impressions
Having never seen a Sub70 club in the flesh, I was a little unsure what to expect.On removing it from the packaging, I was immediately impressed.The Sub70 849 Pro is a very good-looking driver.Nothing too fancy or flashy, but in no way boring.The finish is blemish free.
At address it looks great, the carbon fibre crown looks classy and modern, but still understated.
The number of loft/face angle and weight combinations available is perhaps a little overwhelming. I would love to see some information included that details what different weights would usually do to ball flight in different positions.
My aim at the onset of test the Sub70 849 Pro is to determine whether it’s performance for me is good enough to warrant replacing my current driver.I’ll be using data from Shotscope to make the comparison as accurate as possible.Overall driving stats are probably most important for me, definitely not just distance.My course has extreme rough not far off most fairways so keeping the ball in play is imperative.
I decided to give MyGolfSpy forum readers an inside look at the Sub70 849 Pro in more ways than one.
My initial plan to get the driver settings optimized was to utilize my club’s range using their Toptracer setup, but a combination of worn range balls, technical issues with Toptracer and lack of appropriate tee heights moved my setting up on course.
After really struggling initially, I gripped down about an inch and got much better contact and results. I subsequently cut the shaft down about ½ an inch.
Final Review
Looks (10 out of 10 points)
I really like the look of this driver. I’d probably describe it as sleek and modern, but with classic lines.The head pairs well with the Project X Evenflow Riptide Shaft. As a disclaimer, unless the looks were so distracting to influence my swing, I’m not too fussed with appearances.Happily, the Sub70 849 Pro actually looks good, and I like the clean lines at address.
Sound & Feel (10 out of 10 points)
The sound is great, and very well suited to my ear. Solid clank, pretty much Goldilocks. Not too loud, not too metallic and definitely not high pitched.
The feedback I get from the head is perhaps better than any other driver I have played. I can tell almost exactly where the ball has come off the face, even before seeing the ball flight.
Basic Characteristics (16 out of 20 points)
As discussed earlier, I was planning to dial in my settings using Toptracer at my club’s range, but unfortunately this wasn’t possible.
I played a couple of rounds playing with a couple of loft settings and putting a 6 gram weight in the heel, replacing the 3 gram weight.After shortening the shaft I settled on one notch higher loft and standard weight configuration.
I started the testing hitting with a low to medium ball flight. I’ve increased my tee height, and ball flight is now more in the mid range.The different shaft took a bit of adjusting to, but I’m starting to feel comfortable with it.
The ball flight is very penetrating, and seems to bore through the wind very well. Given that I play most of my golf in 10-25mph wind, that’s a real bonus.
Good swings result in an extremely straight ball flight, with solid distance. Heel or toe contact does see a drop in distance, but nothing too significant and the ball has stayed in play. All of my very poor drives have been the result of very poor swings!
As I get more comfortable with the driver I’m taking slightly more aggressive lines, and have been taking driver on holes I often take 3 or 5 wood to avoid trouble at driver distance.
On-Course Performance (24 out of 30 points)
The more I’ve played the 849 Pro, the more it’s growing on me.
This was a well struck drive, 240 yards into the wind, dead centre.
The penetrating ball flight really impresses me, as does the feedback it gives. The Shotscope Data shows a performance average drop of 4 yards from my Ping G400 SFT. This includes most of my set-up period, and most of my play has been of unseasonably wet fairways.I’m looking forward to playing it when the fairways are in their usual very firm and fast condition. I fully expect the stats to improve as I get more used to the club .and conditions improve. The Sub70 849 Pro is listed as a 2 wood on my Shotscope.
A couple of highlights of the testing have been driving the green on par 4’s. The first was with an audience of old guys who let me play through. I think they thought I was better than I really am.
During my last round of testing I drove the shortened par 4 10th at my club. Slightly uphill and into the wind. The slopes short of the green mean the window for hitting the green is only about 5 yards wide, and I thought I was a real chance of a hole in 1, finished 8 feet past the hole after missing the pin by a few inches.
Miscellaneous (4 out of 10 points)
Probably the biggest negative (and only significant one) is the headcover.It looks great, but is very difficult to get on
It is even tougher to get on when its warm, the rolled in outer material really sticks to the club head.
As someone who is a little visually challenged, I’d love to see the weights more clearly marked. It’s almost impossible to see the labelling with the naked eye.
Some more information regarding what different weight will do to spin and launch would be very useful in helping to dial in the settings.
Play it or Trade it? (16 out of 20 points)
I’m planning on keeping the Sub70 849 Pro in the bag. The penetrating ball flight is very well suited to the windy conditions I usually play in, and the feedback is great. I'm looking forward to a long relationship, I think we can be good friends.
Conclusion
I’d encourage anyone who is a reasonable ball striker to strongly consider the Sub70 849 Pro.Even without taking price into consideration, this is a very good driver. When price is factored in it becomes an extremely attractive proposition, particularly if you are able to get fitted or demo it.The outstanding feedback, adjustability and shaft options really make it really worth a look.Give one of the little guys a chance.
Sub70 849 Pro Driver
Posted
The Review 15th November 2021
Sub 70 849 Pro Driver – Official MGS Forum Review by Peaksy68
Intro
I’m testing a 10.5˚ Sub70 849 Pro with a Project X Evenflow Riptide 65gm 6.0 shaft, chosen from the list of stock options available.
Thanks to MyGolfSpy and Sub70. I’m really excited to have been one of the first (if not the first) to play a Sub70 849 Pro in Australia
I've been playing for nearly 30 years, 20 of those seriously. The vast majority of my golf is in formal competitions, which is normal for golf in Australia. Only competition rounds are allowed for handicapping, and every competition round is entered into the Golf Australia handicap site.
On course, (and off) I love a bit of banter, and try to enjoy myself, while still trying to score the best I can. I spent the first half of my golf “career” just turning up and playing, never practicing at all.
My oldest daughter started playing when she was about 6, and started attending weekly junior clinics with the club pro when she was about 10. While these were on, I filled in time with some practice, and my handicap dropped from 10-12 down to 6 in 4 months. Amazing to see what a bit of practice can do.
I love the constant challenge that golf offers, and both the competitive and social aspect of the game. While I enjoy the occasional scramble or 4BBB, I love the fact that what I score on the course is usually entirely up to me, be it good or bad.
My Game
My handicap is currently 6.8, based mainly around a solid game off the tee, solid fairway woods and a competent chipping and putting game. Covid has had an impact on both my ability to play and practice. Taken with major works at my club closing the practice green and severely limiting other short game practice I’m reasonably happy with where my game is at. To be realistic the last year I’ve been more focussed on golf as an escape from the daily grind of being a healthcare worker during a pandemic.
My current driver is a Ping G400 SFT, which I was fitted into. I was fitted into an Aldila Xtorsion shaft, and is longer than any driver I have previously played. Perhaps the Xtorsion being counterbalanced has allowed this. I have been implementing some changes to my swing over the few months preceding this test, mainly to do with set up and alignment. This has resulted in significantly more misses left, and a more pronounced left to right ball flight.
My swing is reasonably short, with limited hand/wrist action after a series of injuries to my left wrist. I can incorporate more wrist cock, but it becomes too painful so I just avoid looking at my abbreviated swing as much as possible. After surgery for a frozen right shoulder, I’ve had to rely on a full shoulder turn and staying attached to get club head speed. Any over swing causes a significant chicken wing of my right arm, resulting in my bad miss, a very ugly block cut.
I’m in no way long off the tee, but not short either.
The biggest strength of my game is attitude. I never quit, and I'm more interested in the score I write down than how I did it. I hit around 2/3 of fairways, with most misses slight and on the good side.
First Impressions
Having never seen a Sub70 club in the flesh, I was a little unsure what to expect. On removing it from the packaging, I was immediately impressed. The Sub70 849 Pro is a very good-looking driver. Nothing too fancy or flashy, but in no way boring. The finish is blemish free.
At address it looks great, the carbon fibre crown looks classy and modern, but still understated.
The number of loft/face angle and weight combinations available is perhaps a little overwhelming. I would love to see some information included that details what different weights would usually do to ball flight in different positions.
My aim at the onset of test the Sub70 849 Pro is to determine whether it’s performance for me is good enough to warrant replacing my current driver. I’ll be using data from Shotscope to make the comparison as accurate as possible. Overall driving stats are probably most important for me, definitely not just distance. My course has extreme rough not far off most fairways so keeping the ball in play is imperative.
I decided to give MyGolfSpy forum readers an inside look at the Sub70 849 Pro in more ways than one.
My initial plan to get the driver settings optimized was to utilize my club’s range using their Toptracer setup, but a combination of worn range balls, technical issues with Toptracer and lack of appropriate tee heights moved my setting up on course.
After really struggling initially, I gripped down about an inch and got much better contact and results. I subsequently cut the shaft down about ½ an inch.
Final Review
Looks (10 out of 10 points)
I really like the look of this driver. I’d probably describe it as sleek and modern, but with classic lines. The head pairs well with the Project X Evenflow Riptide Shaft. As a disclaimer, unless the looks were so distracting to influence my swing, I’m not too fussed with appearances. Happily, the Sub70 849 Pro actually looks good, and I like the clean lines at address.
Sound & Feel (10 out of 10 points)
The sound is great, and very well suited to my ear. Solid clank, pretty much Goldilocks. Not too loud, not too metallic and definitely not high pitched.
The feedback I get from the head is perhaps better than any other driver I have played. I can tell almost exactly where the ball has come off the face, even before seeing the ball flight.
Basic Characteristics (16 out of 20 points)
As discussed earlier, I was planning to dial in my settings using Toptracer at my club’s range, but unfortunately this wasn’t possible.
I played a couple of rounds playing with a couple of loft settings and putting a 6 gram weight in the heel, replacing the 3 gram weight. After shortening the shaft I settled on one notch higher loft and standard weight configuration.
I started the testing hitting with a low to medium ball flight. I’ve increased my tee height, and ball flight is now more in the mid range. The different shaft took a bit of adjusting to, but I’m starting to feel comfortable with it.
The ball flight is very penetrating, and seems to bore through the wind very well. Given that I play most of my golf in 10-25mph wind, that’s a real bonus.
Good swings result in an extremely straight ball flight, with solid distance. Heel or toe contact does see a drop in distance, but nothing too significant and the ball has stayed in play. All of my very poor drives have been the result of very poor swings!
As I get more comfortable with the driver I’m taking slightly more aggressive lines, and have been taking driver on holes I often take 3 or 5 wood to avoid trouble at driver distance.
On-Course Performance (24 out of 30 points)
The more I’ve played the 849 Pro, the more it’s growing on me.
This was a well struck drive, 240 yards into the wind, dead centre.
The penetrating ball flight really impresses me, as does the feedback it gives. The Shotscope Data shows a performance average drop of 4 yards from my Ping G400 SFT. This includes most of my set-up period, and most of my play has been of unseasonably wet fairways. I’m looking forward to playing it when the fairways are in their usual very firm and fast condition. I fully expect the stats to improve as I get more used to the club .and conditions improve. The Sub70 849 Pro is listed as a 2 wood on my Shotscope.
A couple of highlights of the testing have been driving the green on par 4’s. The first was with an audience of old guys who let me play through. I think they thought I was better than I really am.
During my last round of testing I drove the shortened par 4 10th at my club. Slightly uphill and into the wind. The slopes short of the green mean the window for hitting the green is only about 5 yards wide, and I thought I was a real chance of a hole in 1, finished 8 feet past the hole after missing the pin by a few inches.
Miscellaneous (4 out of 10 points)
Probably the biggest negative (and only significant one) is the headcover. It looks great, but is very difficult to get on
It is even tougher to get on when its warm, the rolled in outer material really sticks to the club head.
As someone who is a little visually challenged, I’d love to see the weights more clearly marked. It’s almost impossible to see the labelling with the naked eye.
Some more information regarding what different weight will do to spin and launch would be very useful in helping to dial in the settings.
Play it or Trade it? (16 out of 20 points)
I’m planning on keeping the Sub70 849 Pro in the bag. The penetrating ball flight is very well suited to the windy conditions I usually play in, and the feedback is great. I'm looking forward to a long relationship, I think we can be good friends.
Conclusion
I’d encourage anyone who is a reasonable ball striker to strongly consider the Sub70 849 Pro. Even without taking price into consideration, this is a very good driver. When price is factored in it becomes an extremely attractive proposition, particularly if you are able to get fitted or demo it. The outstanding feedback, adjustability and shaft options really make it really worth a look. Give one of the little guys a chance.
Final Score: (80 out of 100 points)