Best Bang for the Buck - Around $300

[Micklars]

Any recommendations for best value under $300 these days? I've been using my TaylorMade Rocketballs Stage 2 long enough! My swing speed is 118, and I'm trying to keep it on the course! Forgiveness/straightness is more important than length/distance.

 

Thanks,
Mick

[PMookie]

Any recommendations for best value under $300 these days? I've been using my TaylorMade Rocketballs Stage 2 long enough! My swing speed is 118, and I'm trying to keep it on the course! Forgiveness/straightness is more important than length/distance.
 
Thanks,
Mick

Man, if you go with drivers from previous years, almost everything is in-play. G400 Max has been the straightest driver I’ve played in the last few years, but spin was a little high, and I didn’t get fitted for it. Great driver. The G30 was the longest/straightest driver I’ve played in the last 5 years. I had it hot melted with some additional weight in the head and it became a beast. That’s the one I should’ve never let get away.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[sirchunksalot]

Just a quick glance at Golf Discount I saw both the Cobra F8 and F9 and Ping G400 and G400 SFT all at or below $300. I can't say I've ever hit the Cobras, but they have a pretty good reputation here on the site. I have a G400 LST and I can say it performs, but don't know about the regular or the SFT. 

[Micklars]

I've never played a Ping driver. I've used Taylor Made, Callaway, and Cleveland. I'm thinking I might try a Ping or Titleist this time! Thanks!

[azstu324]

Are we talking just a driver or set?

I bought my Cobra F8+ for $100 in new condition. Swapped out the shaft for a UST Pro force V2 Black for $60. All in $160 for a beast of a driver that looks, sounds, and performs as good as anything.

the more I practice, the luckier I seem to get..

[PMookie]

I've never played a Ping driver. I've used Taylor Made, Callaway, and Cleveland. I'm thinking I might try a Ping or Titleist this time! Thanks!

TS2 was a little too high spin for me in a fitting, but it was really straight! I ended-up with the TS3 and didn’t have it long as it wasn’t forgiving.

Take a look at last year’s My Golf Spy Driver test and sort it by most accurate, then by longest and see what you might want to try. Worth a look.

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

 

[Micklars]

I'm fine playing previous years and used clubs, but I got burned by some fakes from China a while (10 years) back. Any recommendations for spotting/avoiding fakes, or is this not as much of a problem anymore?

[azstu324]

Also, if you can get your hands on a Ping G400 LST... DO IT!! And thank me later.

the more I practice, the luckier I seem to get..

[Sluggo42]

eBay, g400 LST, easy under $300, epic Flash probably, Tm M5/6. Even the mizzy drivers are good.

might not be a bad idea to find a local fitter who still has the last few years heads, and then get a lightly used one. I’ve almost worn a hole in my g400, and it still bombs them out there for me, but we live in different worlds with swing speeds, so hard to say what’ll work best for you..

[RickyBobby_PR]

2016 M2 drive and fairway both together should keep you around the $300 range.

[Jbmullin]

Ts3 is a great driver, the g410 also really good. The cobra F9 is on sale everywhere.. lots of great under 300 options..


Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, Micklars said:

I'm fine playing previous years and used clubs, but I got burned by some fakes from China a while (10 years) back. Any recommendations for spotting/avoiding fakes, or is this not as much of a problem anymore?

If you buy through reputable online retailers or local stores you should be fine avoiding fakes;  ebay is another story.  Look at places like budget golf,  Global Golf,  callaway preowned,  etc. and you can find yourself some deals.   

[KillerGees]

I picked up the Cobra F9 directly from the factory (online order) for $249. By placing a custom order, I was able to select the shaft, length, grips (you get the picture) for the same price. The research I've seen suggested the newer model had very little improvement over the F9. I am extremely impressed with the performance and the price point is hard to beat.

If you have the time, check this out: 

 

[Rickp]

Lots of great suggestions here.
I’ve gotten a couple of great deals from Rockbottom Golf. I got a new F8 from them a while ago and not sure exact but wasn’t over $200 on one of their sales.


Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[Micklars]

I talking about $300 for the driver, don't know if/when I'll replace the fairway/hybrids. I just ended up with 3 of the RBZs because I really liked the driver and found a good deal on the RBZ 3 and 4. Back when I was playing tournaments, I played an old TM Burner Plus (I think it was 7 or 8 degrees), and a TM Tour Spoon (13 deg), then the 2-pw DTRs, and my Cleveland 588 RTGs. That was my most successful setup. As you can tell, it's been hard for me to move too far away from that lineup. I tried a few other iron sets (Tommy Armour 855s - yuck!, Maxfli Revolution - meh, Cleveland CG1 - thought I was better than I really was at that time!, but loved the AP2s), I tried lots of drivers (Callawat Big Bertha War Bird (loved that one!), TM Burner Bubble 2, Great Big Bertha, Cleveland Launcher, and a couple more Clevelands, then back to TM for the RBZ 2 (I bought a Big Bertha at the same time (2014?), but liked the RBZ and sold the BB without ever really playing it). 

Right now, I'm considering the Ping G400/410?, Cobra F8/9?, and Titleist TS2/3?....I really need to find a place to swing them side by side now. I don't think that will be happening for a while yet, still time to gather more input!

 

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!!

 

Thanks,
Mick

[GolfSpy BOS]

16 hours ago, Micklars said:

I'm fine playing previous years and used clubs, but I got burned by some fakes from China a while (10 years) back. Any recommendations for spotting/avoiding fakes, or is this not as much of a problem anymore?

Take a look at the seller.  2nd Swing, GlobalGolf, etc are all stores that have Ebay shops too.  They offer fair prices too.  Or if going to eBay route just research your seller, ask some questions and see how they respond.  Plenty of good sellers out there and most will have the feedback to show they are legit.

[juspoole]

Titleist has always been the brand that I find the straightest drives and most consistency with.  I've heard good things about Srixon drivers and obviously Ping, but have not actually gamed them just demoed.  

For reference, I've played Callaway and Taylormade as well in the past and have swing speed around 112 - 114.

[RickyBobby_PR]

13 hours ago, Micklars said:

I talking about $300 for the driver, don't know if/when I'll replace the fairway/hybrids. I just ended up with 3 of the RBZs because I really liked the driver and found a good deal on the RBZ 3 and 4. Back when I was playing tournaments, I played an old TM Burner Plus (I think it was 7 or 8 degrees), and a TM Tour Spoon (13 deg), then the 2-pw DTRs, and my Cleveland 588 RTGs. That was my most successful setup. As you can tell, it's been hard for me to move too far away from that lineup. I tried a few other iron sets (Tommy Armour 855s - yuck!, Maxfli Revolution - meh, Cleveland CG1 - thought I was better than I really was at that time!, but loved the AP2s), I tried lots of drivers (Callawat Big Bertha War Bird (loved that one!), TM Burner Bubble 2, Great Big Bertha, Cleveland Launcher, and a couple more Clevelands, then back to TM for the RBZ 2 (I bought a Big Bertha at the same time (2014?), but liked the RBZ and sold the BB without ever really playing it). 

Right now, I'm considering the Ping G400/410?, Cobra F8/9?, and Titleist TS2/3?....I really need to find a place to swing them side by side now. I don't think that will be happening for a while yet, still time to gather more input!

 

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!!

 

Thanks,
Mick

Your post and title didn’t really limit it to just a driver but with that said and what you are looking at all you can’t go wrong with any of the choices but which one of them will work best for you is hard to say because what’s good one for might not be for the other. As you mention you need to go hit them. The ping g400 heads offer several models each designed to do something different. LST for lowering spin, standard head for those not needing spin reduction or too much forgiveness, sft to help straighten ball flight and the max for extra forgiveness. G410 changed a bit with keeping head sizes the same, dropping the max because they couldn’t beat the g400 version and adding moveable and new hosel to adjust lie angle as well as loft. The f8/9 is designed for a large range of swing speeds in the same head. The ts2 is going be more forgiving than the ts3 and have more spin as well.

Based on your liking of the RBZ the the g400/410 standard head or g400 max, either f8/9 or ts2 would be where you might prefer.

The 2016 m2 imo is one of the best drivers still on the market 

[Sluggo42]

So many good drivers available now, one of the options that is important to me is the sound of the driver. You might want to do a little investigation, YouTube ‘ing, etc, to maybe get a feel for that. Like one club that I can’t stand, is the Taylormade due to the dead sound they make. My ping is a pretty sharp crack. And I like that.

just one more thing to think about I suppose...

[Hotdocta]

Man, you can get so many amazing things for under 300.   My list would go as follows:

1. Cobra f9

2.rogue sub zero

3. G400 max

[jkpigott]

Several come to mind from 2019

1) Cobra F9 (seen it nationally at $249)

Great ball speed and good forgiveness. Also with you swing speed, keeping spin down is probably an issue. Cobra spins lower even with heavier weight set in the rear.

2) Mizuno ST190 (under $300 for sure)

Another good ball speed and lower spinning option. Keeps spin down even if you have a lighter weight shaft

Two thoughts on shafts. First shorter. Stock shafts for most mfrs are in the 45.5 to 45.75 inch range. Cobra offers a Tour Length option (44.5"). MUCH easier to make consistent center-face contact and hit more fairways.  At your speed, you won't see much distance drop but bet you will hit more fairways.

Would also look at a heavier/stiffer shaft.  If you were a consistent 115+ I would very likely fit you in a XS, but at minimum look at a 75g S like a Hazardous Smoke or for a little lighter feel a Hazardous Yellow.  Either should offer tighter dispersion than the 60g shaft you have in now.

Good luck!

Edited April 17, 2020 by jkpigott

[dhartmann34]

Ping G400/G400 Max... No contest.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[DHug62]

Speedback from 2019 is a decent value ... bought one in Feb for about $290 per my specs and so far not so bad - modernizing from a G30, which really worked well for me ... ! just saw them on budget golf for $249 today - though shaft selection is thin

[DHug62]

41 minutes ago, jkpigott said:

Several come to mind from 2019

1) Cobra F9 (seen it nationally at $249)

Great ball speed and good forgiveness. Also with you swing speed, keeping spin down is probably an issue. Cobra spins lower even with heavier weight set in the rear.

2) Mizuno ST190 (under $300 for sure)

Another good ball speed and lower spinning option. Keeps spin down even if you have a lighter weight shaft

Two thoughts on shafts. First shorter. Stock shafts for most mfrs are in the 45.5 to 45.75 inch range. Cobra offers a Tour Length option (44.5"). MUCH easier to make consistent center-face contact and hit more fairways.  At your speed, you won't see much distance drop but bet you will hit more fairways.

Would also look at a heavier/stiffer shaft.  If you were a consistent 115+ I would very likely fit you in a XS, but at minimum look at a 75g S like a Hazardous Smoke or for a little lighter feel a Hazardous Yellow.  Either should offer tighter dispersion than the 60g shaft you have in now.

Good luck!

HZRDUS  yellow handcrafted 63 has become my go-to shaft, works well for my swing speed, etc ... have used 6.5, and 6.0 depending upon the head 

[DeAngelis1618]

A few weeks ago for 250 I picked up the Cobra F9 Speedback and I love it. The sound of the ball off the face is amazing and is super forgiving. I've had an easy time being able to shape either a draw or a fade and as a higher handicap my swing speed is right around the 110-112 mark. I have the hazardous 60g stiff flex and its an amazing club. Rich Shiels did a review on the F9 compared to the SZ and the difference is so little that its one of the best drivers for 2019. Highly recommend. Very adjustable for weighting going forward and back along with the loft and draw options. 

Edited April 17, 2020 by DeAngelis1618
typo on price, meant to say 250 not 150

[sowthpaw1231]

Just this off season, I picked up a (LH) EPIC Flash SZ at Callaway Golf Preowned for $150.  Even in "good" condition, it's fantastic.  Took a while watching the clearance rack, but I was thrilled with the deal.  I can't say enough about how great the experience was with the site.  Their service was really off the charts good.  Just getting into the season here in Montana, so I've only had it on the course twice and still getting it dialed in.

Again, recommend CGP site highly!

[funkyjudge]

On 4/5/2020 at 5:11 PM, Micklars said:

Any recommendations for best value under $300 these days? I've been using my TaylorMade Rocketballs Stage 2 long enough! My swing speed is 118, and I'm trying to keep it on the course! Forgiveness/straightness is more important than length/distance.

 

Thanks,
Mick

Mick,

For $349, you can buy a brand-new Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 driver, which was awarded the "Best Value" designation in the 2020 MGS "Most Wanted Driver" comparison.

If you want to keep it below $300, there are many recent-vintage models from which you could choose.  For me, it would be the Ping G400 Max or Cobra F8 or F9, which will set you back less than $300 (probably considerably less).  If you want a real bargain in a driver that is very forgiving and pretty darned long, last year's Exotics EXS driver will certainly fit the description .... and you could get one in nearly-new condition for well below $200.

Edited April 18, 2020 by funkyjudge

[beelzeberto]

Taylormade M5 has done me solid, but I got it with the Hzrdus smoke green shaft for $250 I believe. Lots of combinations of them out there to fit your profile.

[GambyGolfGuy]

This discussion is exactly what I joined the forums for.  

Times have changed.  When I bought my first real driver a decade ago the only knowledge I was working with was this commercial and maybe a paid for golf digest review.  I mean who says no to "the power of a Lamborghini in their golf bag."

Just walked up to the rack and said I'll take that one.  It has worked ok in my bag all those years, but I think I'll give this next one a little more intelligent consideration.

[JDHolmes]

Ping g400
Cobra f8
Callaway epic flash (just bought excellent used for 265)

Less money, still good IMO

Cobra f7 or even the Bio Cell
TM M4
Ping G30 or G

I have them all above (except f8) though am only playing the g400 and flash now. All of the above, for me, at 98 ss, are very similar distance wise.

Sent from my SM-G950U using MyGolfSpy mobile app