GolfSpy Barbajo Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Some questions on a sunny Wednesday: When you guys are actually ready to buy a driver, what are some of the key criteria that affect your decision? I know, I know, it's all performance and nothing else, but how important are some of these key elements? Sound - what kinds of sounds turn you off and say 'no freaking way' even if the driver is a beast? Is there a sound that you like? Feel - closely associated to sound - what "feel" do you like? Graphics - do you hate crown graphics? Does the Nike swoosh bug you or does it not matter? Did the R1 graphics make you happy or angry? Looks and color in general - can you realistically take one look at a club and say "no freakin' way!" What turns you off/on? What level of adjustability do you like? How much is too much or too little? These are things I've never really thought about before -- just get something that fits and go hit it, but all these other things must come in to play when considering what to try and what not to try. This comes from a man who once owned a Nike Sumo Squared for about 6 months. Which was 5 months and 28 days too long. What's in the bag: Driver: TSR3; DynaPWR Carbon FW Wood: DynaPWR 3-wood; TSR 2+ Hybrids: PXG Gen4 18-degree Utility Irons: ZX MkII 20* Irons:; 699/699 Pro V2 Combo; D9 Forged; MT86 (coming soon!); VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; Wedges: RTX6 Zipcore Putter: HB Soft Milled 10.5; Newport Special Select; Willamette, BB8; 8802; MATI Monto Ball: Tour B RXS; Z-STAR Diamond; Triad Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: Follow @golfspybarbajo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmikecpa Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 The first criteria for me is looks and how it sets up behind the ball....anything that even appears closed is out for me. The R1 graphics did not bother me all that much but would have preferred the black version. To me it looked closed so I bought the white version. Second for me is ball flight since it just has to fit my eye. Of course it needs to perform, but just about any top of the line driver on the market will perform fairly well if you know what you are looking for. When I just did my driver fitting I went with the 915 D3 since it met all the criteria for me in the looks department and it performed just as well as everything else that I hit. Truth be told the Cobra Fly Z+ was a bit better, but did not really like the way that it looked to me. WITB 2024 Driver: Qi10 LS 9* Ltd. HZRDUS RDX Smoke Blue 60g TX Fairway: BRNR Mini Driver Copper 13.5* HZRDUS Yellow HC 76g 6.5 Fairway: Sim 19* HZRDUS RDX Smoke Red 75g 6.5 Hybrid: Sim2 Rescue 22* Matrix Black Tie 85x Irons: X Forged CB 5 - PW MMT 105 TX Wedges: Jaws Raw 50*, 54* & 58* TTDG "OG" Spinner Putter: Toulon Madison BGT Fire 34.75" Ball: Z Star Diamond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfilly20 Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Whatever will make me look like I know what I'm doing. In all seriousness though, I hate graphics. Prefer a plain jane head. And it has to look like its going to go straight when its sitting behind the ball. I feel like I can work with anything in that criteria. R15 White 10.5° Accra FX-260 M4 915F 3W Aldila Rogue Black 110 stiff 915H 4H MRC Diamana D+ Whiteboard 90 HY Stiff 716 T-MB 3 iron True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT S-300 Rsi 2's 5-9 - True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT S-300 SM6 46 SM6 52* SM6 56* Mack Daddy 2 PM grind 60* Newport 2.5 Dual Balance ProV1X Game Golf : kfilly20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revkev Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Good questions - as we've seen in other threads I'm not a big one on look or feel - I want results. I know the numbers that I'm shooting for - the ones that work best for me so I'll try head/shaft combos that will produce. I tend to try brands that have worked for me in the past (Ping, TMag and Titleist). I've only been out of that strata once in the past 25 years (a two year Mizuno stint - ugly driver, great results for me at the time.) I like adjustability - I've yet to have to tinker once I was fit but I think it's a security blanket for me. Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60 Aldila R flex - 42.25 inches SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft Ping G410 7, 9 wood Alta 65 R flex Srixon ZX5 MK II 5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex India 52,56 (60 pending) UST recoil 75's R flex Evon roll ER 5 32 inches It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanoito Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Performance aside... Sound - I can't stand the tin can sounds (you and your Sumo). Prefer a muted "thump" Feel - I like "soft" drivers... the kind of feeling where the ball is caught on the face for a second and then launched Graphics - Anything except matte white... just because it gets dirty so easily. Adjustability - Not a must have, but if it's there... then the basic +-1 degrees in every direction SpeedZone 9* w/ Aldila Rogue Silver 60 S X2 Hot 3 Deep 14.5* w/ Aldila Tour Green 75 S JetSpeed 5W 19* w/ Matrix Velox T 69 S OR Super LS 3H 19* w/ Kuro Kage Black 80 S JPX919 Forged 4-PW w/ Modus3 105 S Vokey SM7 50/08F, 54/14F & 58/08M w/ Modus3 115 Wedge ER1 34" w/ SuperStroke Fatso 2.0 Pro / H2NO Lite Cart Bag / 3.0 / NX7 Pro LRF My reviews: MLA Putter // Titleist SM7 // PING i500 // PuttOUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG STU Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I am not brand loyal as most of you know. It does have to appeal to my eye at address to begin with. then it has to feel good to me. Then results used to be raw distance but I will settle for 10 yards less if I can work it and have confidence in it when in actual play. I prefer a plain black head with no graphics. Sound does not bother me one way or another. Adjusters yea or nay I do not care. My driver had an adjuster but it is set neutral in fact the adjuster screw is epoxyed in. I do all my ball flight characteristics by shaft tuning anyhow. Even though I give my friend credit for building the driver to begin with (see my signature) I was right there with imput from the beginning. Actually IF I were searching for a new driver I would prefer to get just a head that appeals to me and go from there. I can get a feel for a head even with a shaft that does not fit me in fact that with the frequency numbers can help me set it up for me Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56* Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Theoo Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Performance and feel mostly. It can't feel dead and it needs to out perform whatever I have in the bag now. Driver: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5 FW: F6 baffler set at 16º Hybrid: NONEIrons: 3i 2014 TP CB 4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400 Wedges: 52º 56º 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped Putter: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kor.A.Door Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Most important for me is how it looks standing at address, closed, open, color, it doesn't matter, if it looks goo to the eye, I will hit it. That said, I've hit many driver that haven't looked good to my eye, because they are supposed to be really good, Titleist, Mulan, TMag, I've hit all of those brands, and none of them performed at all for me, I like results, so looks while at address and results are the 2 most important. Lefties are always in their Right Mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fozcycle Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 I guess I am a bit brand loyal.......Powerbilt clubs are what I grew up with, so when they came out with the notrogen filled driver, I tried it. Cobra has been a brand that fit my game for many years, so when they came out with the Blue clubs, i tried them as well. So i guess these are starting points. The rest is whether they perform with my swing. If the performance is there, then the color and brand follow shortly thereafter. Sound has never been an issue. Driver: 0311 XF 10.5* w/Project X Cypher 40 gram Senior shaft or 0811 XF 12* w/Evenflo Riptide CB Senior shaft Fairways: 0211 5W & 7W w/ Evenflo Riptide CB regular shaft and Tour Edge E521 9W w/Fubuki HD50 regular shaft Hybrid: None in bag at the moment Irons: Titleist T300 5-PW w/Fubuki MV Senior graphite shafts w/Golf Pride Tour Wedges: Edison forged 49*, 53* and 57* wedges with KB PGI Senior shafts(80 grm). Putter: 33” Evnroll ER2 w/Gravity Grip or ER6 or Bellum Winmore Model 707, or Nike Method Core Drone w/Evnroll Gravity Grip Bag: Vice cart bag(Black/Lime). Ball: Bridgestone RXS Mindset, Snell MTB Prime X, Maxfli Tour/S/X CG, Titleist Pro V1x or Titleist TruFeel Using Shot Scope X5 and Pinned Rangefinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattF Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Performance is the only thing I'd look at...but it can't be dingo ugly either. In the bag: Driver: Darkspeed X 9° UST Mamiya LIN-Q M40X Blue 7F4 Fairway: Apex UW 19° & 21° Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Black 5.5 Irons: JPX 923 HMP 5-PW UST Mamiya Recoil 95 F4 Wedges: T-22 Denim Copper 48°, 52° & 56° UST Mamiya Recoil 95 F4 Putter Sycamore 005 Wide Blade Bag: Fairway 14 stand bag Balls: Chrome Tour Cart: CaddyLite ONE Ver. 8 God Bless America, God save the King, God defend New Zealand and thank Christ for Australia! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfSpy Barbajo Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 Some pretty interesting responses guys. Keep 'em coming -- but remember the questions, what - besides performance - goes into your decision. If two drivers performed the same, what would make you choose one instead of the other? Tried a driver at the PGA show called "High Heat." It just flew, but I couldn't get past the fact that it was called "High Heat" and marketed by a couple of retired engineers. I also hit the Vega driver -and it may have been the best one I hit that day. But does "off-brand" turn you off or turn you on? What's in the bag: Driver: TSR3; DynaPWR Carbon FW Wood: DynaPWR 3-wood; TSR 2+ Hybrids: PXG Gen4 18-degree Utility Irons: ZX MkII 20* Irons:; 699/699 Pro V2 Combo; D9 Forged; MT86 (coming soon!); VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; Wedges: RTX6 Zipcore Putter: HB Soft Milled 10.5; Newport Special Select; Willamette, BB8; 8802; MATI Monto Ball: Tour B RXS; Z-STAR Diamond; Triad Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: Follow @golfspybarbajo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfilly20 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Some pretty interesting responses guys. Keep 'em coming -- but remember the questions, what - besides performance - goes into your decision. If two drivers performed the same, what would make you choose one instead of the other? Tried a driver at the PGA show called "High Heat." It just flew, but I couldn't get past the fact that it was called "High Heat" and marketed by a couple of retired engineers. I also hit the Vega driver -and it may have been the best one I hit that day. But does "off-brand" turn you off or turn you on? For some reason I doubt I would buy a driver outside of the big 4 comps. No good reason why, I just probably wouldn't. All things the same I stick with TM. R15 White 10.5° Accra FX-260 M4 915F 3W Aldila Rogue Black 110 stiff 915H 4H MRC Diamana D+ Whiteboard 90 HY Stiff 716 T-MB 3 iron True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT S-300 Rsi 2's 5-9 - True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT S-300 SM6 46 SM6 52* SM6 56* Mack Daddy 2 PM grind 60* Newport 2.5 Dual Balance ProV1X Game Golf : kfilly20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenGolfer Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 For me its: Sound: Loud. I love the tin can pop. One of my favorite drivers ever is still the old Mizuno MX-560. It was so loud. Graphics: I prefer a minimal amount of graphics. Maybe give me a small graphic in the middle of the crown to align myself with and thats it. Adjustability: I like adjustability. I like that my JPX 850 has the adjustable loft and has the weights that you can move around to fine tune the spin and the ballflight. Im not sure that I buy into the notion that moving the weights makes a huge difference but it does make a difference. "I suppose its better to be a master of 7 than to be vaguely familiar with 14." - Chick Evans Whats in my Sun Mountain 2.5+ stand bag? Woods: Tommy Armour Atomic 10.5* Hybrid: Mizuno MP Fli-Hi 3H Irons: Mizuno T-Zoid True 5, 7 and 9-irons Wedge: Mizuno S18 54* and Top Flite chipper Putter: Mizuno Bettinardi A-02 Ball: Maxfli Tour X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evershady Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Sound is big for me I have a big swing and like it to sound as powerful as it looks. You know the good ole Nuke Laloosh announce my presence with authority. Also not Callaway i don't know what it is I have never been able to hit a Callaway club. I went in and tested the new Big Bertha because it is supposed to be the longest out there. I Couldn't get anything over 250. Last Friday I put my tee shot with my Ping Rapture 2I in the water that was 273 yards away with a head wind. Chippewa Falls Wisconsin 10.3 Index Right Handed What's in the bag: Driver: FG Tour F5 8* Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution Tour Spec X-flex, Anser 8*, Black Grafalloy Bi-Matrix X-Flex; King LTD Pro Orange Grafalloy Bi-Matrix X-Flex FW Wood: FG Tour F5 15* Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution Tour Spec X-Flex Anse14*, Fujikura Speeder 757 US Open Edition , X-Stiff Irons: FG Tour V4 2 utility Iron, 3-PW, +0.25, 2* Upright, True Temper Dynamic Gold X-100 Wedges: FG Tour PMP Gun Blue 52* bent to 51*, 56* True Temper Dynamic Gold X-100 Shafts E2 35", 8802 35.5", Scottsdale, Wolverine C 35" Anser Milled, Anser 2 34" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superduper Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 criteria 1: on sale (50% off or more) the best example: Taylormade drivers after 6 months.... criteria 2: pear shape and compact (the best example: Covert Tour 2.0) criteria 3: doesn't have an adjustable hosel because it's pretty useless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NRJyzr Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I'll bite Performance is my biggest interest. It's all about how it works for me. That goes for both clubhead and shaft. Spin and trajectory have been an issue for me going all the way back. I love the adjustability thing. Being able to swap out shafts easily, in case it's necessary, is only amazing. Plug N Play! Being able to change the face angle on a clubhead to suit me is also only amazing. Sound is not really a player. For those of you old who have built your own, and old enough to remember these... I went out of my way to acquire two or three Dynacraft Grand Limited driver heads, and played them with pride. I still have them. (for those of you who know not, the Grand Limited is a 250cc driver made from 15-5 stainless, and it sounds like a cowbell when you hit it. it's glorious) Such is my take Driver: TM Original One 11.5* set to 11*, Aldila NV75 X, 43.5" -or- SpeedZone, HZRDUS Black 75 6.5, 43.5" 3w: Cobra King LTD, RIP Beta 90, 42" -or- Stage 2 Tour, NV105 X, 42.5" 2h or 3h: TaylorMade Stage 2 Tour, Aldila NV105 S -or- RIP Alpha 105 S Irons: 3-PW Mizuno MP37, Recoil Proto 125 F4 (reshaft in progress, slowly); 1i & 3-PW Golden Ram TW276, NV105 S; 2-PW Golden Ram TW282, RIP Tour 115 R GW: Dynacraft Dual Milled CNC 52*, Steelfiber 125 S; Scratch 8620 DS 53*, Steelfiber 125 S SW: Ram TG-898 56*, DGX ss2x; Ram Tom Watson 55*, DGX ss2x; Wilson Staff PMP 58*, DGS; PM Grind 19 58*, stock shaft Putter: Snake Eyes Viper Tour Sv1, 34"; Ping Scottsdale TR Craz-E, 35"; Cleveland Huntington Beach 1, 35" Ball: Wilson Staff Duo Professional, Bridgestone Tour B-RXS, Callaway Chrome Soft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbrodeur86 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Visually, it has too look right. I do not care for heavy graphics on the head (although it says exotics you don't really see it under your nose), feel, flight, spin, distance, playability all come into play for me. DRIVER: Stealth 2, 9*, Mitsubishi Kai' Li red, 60g Stiff flex, Golf Pride CP2 Pro Midsize Woods: Sim Max 3 Wood, 15*, Fujikura Ventus 6 Blue 65g, Stiff flex, Golf Pride CP2 Pro Midsize HYBRIDS: JPX 850 hybrid 19*, UST Proforce V2 85g, Stiff, Golf Pride CP2 Pro Midsize IRONS: MP-20 HMB 4 iron, Project X LZ 6.5 shaft, Stiff+, Ping Midsize grip JPX 919 Tour 5i-pw, Project X LZ 6.5 shafts, Stiff+, Ping Midsize grips WEDGES: New Level Golf 50*, 55*, 60* M-Type Wedges with True Temper Elevate Tour X-Stiff flex, New Level Midsize grips PUTTER: Heppler Ketsch 35", Ping PP62 Pistol Grip BALL: Pro Pro V1 (2021 + 2023 Versions) BAG: TM19 Select Plus Cart Bag Shoes: Under Armour HOVR Fade 2 SL Spikeless Shoes Tech: NX7 Pro Slope golf laser Rangefinder Frogger Golf Towels, 4 more Yard blue/ yellow golf tees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver & black Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 If it looks hideous I won't play it, no matter how well it works. Wrong attitude, I know, but It has to be appealing to my eye in order for me to use it. My buddy had one of the original square head drivers that I could hit really well, but I hated the way it looked. No way I would use it or purchase one...lol. I have used Titleist drivers for the last 10 years because I like the simple pear shaped design and lack of graphic clutter. It helps that I hit them well, also. I want to hit the G30, but I'm afraid I'll like it and then I will have to stare at turbulators..... and I just can't do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N8ball Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 For me, I have to like the look of the face(height primarily) I don't like shallow face drivers. Next is how much it feels like it twists back on forth on toe hits. I can't stand non stable feeling drivers. Then is shaft feel/weight, I seem to hit center more often with a little heavier shaft. I'm not too picky. However, there is one company whose name is the same as a popular sci-fi movie franchise starring Ted "Theodore" Logan as Neo, whose products I never seem to get along with. After that I go for color(orange or blue please) and cost(typically last years model only). Sound plays a little role as long as all else is equal, I like a loudish crack sound more than a high pitched ting. Driver - XR16 Pro 10.5 Kuro Kage Black 60-SFairway wood - Taylormade Aeroburner mini (16*) Tour Edge XCG7 7-wood 21*/XR16 7 woodHybrid - Adams Pro Mini 23*Irons - Mizuno EZ forged 5-GWWedges - Mizuno JPX 54*Bridgestone 60* Putter - Wilson Staff Infinite South SIde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RookieBlue7 Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 For me, it's several factors. Head shape, face angle, if it's aesthetically pleasing. Sound comes in too. But it's not going in the bag unless it's better. 46 tries in I'm still trying to find one to replace my gamer In The BagDriver: TaylorMade M2 (2017) w/ Project X T1100 HZRDUS Handcrafted 65x Strong 3 wood: Taylormade M1 15* w/ ProjectX T1100 HZRDUS handcrafted 75x3 Hybrid: Adams PRO 18* w/ KBS Tour Hybrid S flex tipped 1/2"4 Hybrid: Adams PRO 20* (bent to 21*) w/ KBS Tour Hybrid S flex tipped 1/2"4-AW: TaylorMade P770 w/ Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Black Onyx S400 SW: 56* Scratch Tour Dept(CC grooves) w/ Dynamic Gold SpinnerLW: 60* Scratch Tour Department (CC grooves) w/ Dynamic Gold SpinnerXW: 64* Cally XForged Vintage w/ DG X100 8 iron tiger steppedPutter: Nike Method Prototype 006 at 34"Have a ton of back-ups in all categories, but there are always 14 clubs in the bag that differ depending on the course and set-up. Bomb and gouge. Yes, I'm a club gigolo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaidJacket Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Looks at address, performance/dispursion, sound. My Sun Mountain bag currently includes: 771CSI 5i - PW and PFC Micro Tour-c 52°, 56°, 60 wedges EXS 10.5*, 929-HS FW4 16.5* Willimette w/GolfPride Contour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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