New Driver

[Skibum 3]

I’m thinking about getting a new driver. I have a Callaway Great Big Bertha Driver. It’s the relaunch of the Big Bertha driver line from 2013 I believe. I’m just wondering if I would get any more distance out of an new driver. I have a swing speed of 85 mph. I’m drives are between 200 and 225 yards.  I’m open to any drivers really. I don’t have a club fitter near me. The closest is 45 minutes away. 

[blackngold_blood 6,993]

If you go by Trackmans chart you are very close to optimum.  New drivers may or may not give you more distance.  If your near the center of the face which I’m guessing you are you may not see any improvements.  New drivers could give you more distance on mishits.  
 

One way to get more distance is head weight  adding more mass to the head and swinging it the same speed can result in more distance.  It’s part of the draw to counter balanced shafts for some people.

[RollingGreens 2,395]

42 minutes ago, Skibum said:

I’m thinking about getting a new driver. I have a Callaway Great Big Bertha Driver. It’s the relaunch of the Big Bertha driver line from 2013 I believe. I’m just wondering if I would get any more distance out of an new driver. I have a swing speed of 85 mph. I’m drives are between 200 and 225 yards.  I’m open to any drivers really. I don’t have a club fitter near me. The closest is 45 minutes away. 

I think it's worthwhile to at least consider. New technology every 3-4 years can help you to add more distance, the question is will it be meaningful distance. I would think you would surely be able to see an improvement in dispersion, and probably improved distance on off center hits.  You might be able to get a shaft that will better optimize your swing and or improve swing speed if you are able to let loose more because of your comfort

[tschott 59]

Check out Sub 70 golf. They have 2 models and won't break the bank with the cost. Recently picked up the 849D and it has replaced by Ping G410

[YourKillingMeSmalls 51]

16 hours ago, Skibum said:

I’m thinking about getting a new driver. I have a Callaway Great Big Bertha Driver. It’s the relaunch of the Big Bertha driver line from 2013 I believe. I’m just wondering if I would get any more distance out of an new driver. I have a swing speed of 85 mph. I’m drives are between 200 and 225 yards.  I’m open to any drivers really. I don’t have a club fitter near me. The closest is 45 minutes away. 

There are some good deals on the buy and sell site on MGS, for instance, i am selling a 1 year old driver in great shape for $350.

[stuka44 453]

17 hours ago, Skibum said:

I’m thinking about getting a new driver.

I just did.  Hoping computer numbers translate to course.  I too just replaced my circa 2012 Nike VR Pro, and bought a two year old model (new) Cobra  Speedzone for $300.  The numbers on the computer say I should get 10-15 yards more we will see.

[Skibum 3]

Thank you for the responses. I pretty much hit my driver pretty close to center. I have a little fade, but that has more to do with my swing. I just hate how much drivers cost. 
 

Thanks again,

Bill

[ChuckZ 236]

The engine that drives the club head is a good shaft.  That is where the fitter comes into play.  Am 75, my fitter put a Fujikura Speeder 661 TR in my Titleist TSi3.  Clubhead speed 93mph, ball speed 132, spin 2200, and I have reached 280 with the driver, but my norm is around 250.  Made a big difference over my previous 917D3, Fujikura Pro Speeder 64.  Both are stiff shafts.  The new Titleist drivers are great, but with the right shaft they are awesome.  

[RickyBobby_PR 10,044]

47 minutes ago, ChuckZ said:

The engine that drives the club head is a good shaft.  That is where the fitter comes into play.  Am 75, my fitter put a Fujikura Speeder 661 TR in my Titleist TSi3.  Clubhead speed 93mph, ball speed 132, spin 2200, and I have reached 280 with the driver, but my norm is around 250.  Made a big difference over my previous 917D3, Fujikura Pro Speeder 64.  Both are stiff shafts.  The new Titleist drivers are great, but with the right shaft they are awesome.  

The shaft being the engine is a myth. The shaft does two things. It’s for the weight and feel.

From Tom Wishon

Shaft Myth #1 – The shaft is the engine of the golf club 

If I had a dollar for every time I have heard this statement, I might not be rich, but I definitely would be able to go to a nice restaurant and enjoy a good dinner with a good bottle of wine! It is far more truthful to say that “the golfer is the engine,” while “the shaft is the transmission of the golf club.” 

A shaft does not create energy during the swing. It is simply the component that takes the energy generated by the golfer and transmits it to the clubhead to hit the ball. It is true that if certain elements of the shaft are not properly fit to the golfer’s specific swing characteristics, the golfer can lose distance by experiencing a lower clubhead speed or more off-center hits than he could generate from using a correctly fit shaft. At the same token, if the shaft is accurately fit, the golfer has a much better chance of fully optimizing his/her potential to hit the ball to the best of their ability. 

Performance wise, the shaft, 1) can affect the dynamic loft of the clubhead at impact within a narrow range of 2 to 3 degrees, but only for those golfers with a later to very late release; 2) will chiefly control the total weight of the club, which in turn can have an effect on the golfer’s clubhead speed, 3) can affect some golfers’ (not all) confidence and swing consistency by displaying a “bending feel” during the swing that is either more preferred or less preferred by the golfer. That’s it, that’s the full list of what the shaft can do.

[HDTVMAN 164]

Go to an outdoor golf event and compare your driver to the Ping G425MAX. Hands down the best!

[Alfred DuPuy 5]

It took me 5 or 6 years to beat my 2015 Great Big Bertha driver! I switched last year to a Titleist TSi2 with a KuroKage SFW 50g stiff shaft. But I am currently testing a TourEdge Exotics C722 with a Tensei Orange 65g stiff shaft (per their recommendation based on some data I gave them).

The above just as context that indeed it may take a while to change!

I would definitely go to a fitter, especially if you haven't been for a while. My preferred fitter is 45 minutes away (Miles of Golf Cincinnati) and worth every minute to/from and whatever small fee they get from me for the fitting (most, if not all, gets refunded if I buy). I have fitted everything but wedges there (and not sure why I haven't fitted those!).

The other option as I have recently discovered is to engage the excellent TourEdge Exotics customer service team (you fill out a quick form on their site - find "Contact Us" and they will get back with you quickly). They have a fantastic 30-day trial period. You literally order, pay for the driver and try it out for that time and as long as your return within the 30 days, you get a full refund. I tried the TrueGolfFit tool and it suggested the TourEdge Exotics Pro 721 driver, so I bought it, but quickly found out it wasn't the right driver. I then worked with customer service and voila, trialing what looks to be a very competitive C722. Give them a try - highly recommended.

Good luck!

[IONEPUTT 121]

I would NOT think that a 45 minute drive would be too much of a barriet  to improve your driver performance. If it is then I wish you all the luck you can get. I would think spending $500 to $600 on a new driver without getting fit would be a bad choice for most any golfer. 

[revkev 25,662]

On 3/16/2022 at 7:29 PM, RickyBobby_PR said:

The shaft being the engine is a myth. The shaft does two things. It’s for the weight and feel.

From Tom Wishon

Shaft Myth #1 – The shaft is the engine of the golf club 

If I had a dollar for every time I have heard this statement, I might not be rich, but I definitely would be able to go to a nice restaurant and enjoy a good dinner with a good bottle of wine! It is far more truthful to say that “the golfer is the engine,” while “the shaft is the transmission of the golf club.” 

A shaft does not create energy during the swing. It is simply the component that takes the energy generated by the golfer and transmits it to the clubhead to hit the ball. It is true that if certain elements of the shaft are not properly fit to the golfer’s specific swing characteristics, the golfer can lose distance by experiencing a lower clubhead speed or more off-center hits than he could generate from using a correctly fit shaft. At the same token, if the shaft is accurately fit, the golfer has a much better chance of fully optimizing his/her potential to hit the ball to the best of their ability. 

Performance wise, the shaft, 1) can affect the dynamic loft of the clubhead at impact within a narrow range of 2 to 3 degrees, but only for those golfers with a later to very late release; 2) will chiefly control the total weight of the club, which in turn can have an effect on the golfer’s clubhead speed, 3) can affect some golfers’ (not all) confidence and swing consistency by displaying a “bending feel” during the swing that is either more preferred or less preferred by the golfer. That’s it, that’s the full list of what the shaft can do.

I'm so glad you responded before I did - I didn't want to jump in on a 75 year old.  Thanks!

 

I would suggest that the OP try true fit - why not?  For about $5 you can get a good sense of what might work best for you rather than having each one of us tell you about his or her favorite driver and how great it works (for us of course, not necessarily you.)  Even getting an estimate of 200-225 on an 85 mph swing speed doesn't help much.  With a skybum nickname perhaps you live at elevation making that number inflated - if you are driving it 200-225 at Sea Level in Florida in the wet conditions we typically play in here - you are maxed out.  But is that on all hits or solid strikes?  Could a newer model offer more forgiveness?

 

I'd try MGS tru fit and see what it gives you.  

 

Good luck!

[cnosil 26,073]

2 hours ago, revkev said:

I'm so glad you responded before I did - I didn't want to jump in on a 75 year old.  Thanks!

 

I would suggest that the OP try true fit - why not?  For about $5 you can get a good sense of what might work best for you rather than having each one of us tell you about his or her favorite driver and how great it works (for us of course, not necessarily you.)  Even getting an estimate of 200-225 on an 85 mph swing speed doesn't help much.  With a skybum nickname perhaps you live at elevation making that number inflated - if you are driving it 200-225 at Sea Level in Florida in the wet conditions we typically play in here - you are maxed out.  But is that on all hits or solid strikes?  Could a newer model offer more forgiveness?

 

I'd try MGS tru fit and see what it gives you.  

 

Good luck!

TrueGolfFit.com is now FREE!!!  Fittings should be free

 

[ChuckZ 236]

On 3/18/2022 at 8:18 PM, cnosil said:

TrueGolfFit.com is now FREE!!!  Fittings should be free

 

This 75 year has big shoulders and he is right, it is the Indian.  And you are right you should not jump on 75 year old disabled veterans.  With respect.  

[JFish350 736]

On 3/16/2022 at 6:16 AM, tschott said:

Check out Sub 70 golf. They have 2 models and won't break the bank with the cost. Recently picked up the 849D and it has replaced by Ping G410

How is the switch going? What made you get the 849 D over the 849 pro? The D to my understanding in more draw biased if a person is more of a fade/slice type. Just wondering if that's the case or it just worked better for you. 

[tschott 59]

On 4/12/2022 at 7:08 PM, JFish350 said:

How is the switch going? What made you get the 849 D over the 849 pro? The D to my understanding in more draw biased if a person is more of a fade/slice type. Just wondering if that's the case or it just worked better for you. 

So far so good. I went with the D due to getting older and not consistently hitting the center of the club face although thinking about trying my buddy's Pro head to see how I like it. My normal flight was slight fade and figured that this would help straighten that out and hopefully gain a few yards. I'm a pretty consistent driver usually hitting 10-11 fairways a round and have picked up a few yards although still messing with the settings. Hopefully this helps your selection if you're looking for a new driver.

[tony@CIC 22,660]

On 3/17/2022 at 4:32 PM, IONEPUTT said:

I would NOT think that a 45 minute drive would be too much of a barriet  to improve your driver performance. If it is then I wish you all the luck you can get. I would think spending $500 to $600 on a new driver without getting fit would be a bad choice for most any golfer. 

Definitely this . Having gone to 2 driver fittings over the past couple of years I can personally attest to some driver/shaft combos that will benefit you and others that won't. Gas is pretty expensive today but not as expensive and buying the wrong $600. driver. or one that gives you the same result as your current one. Plus as some members have said a shaft change might give you the results you're looking for. . 

Signed 

75 yr old

[IONEPUTT 121]

I just finished using the TrueGolffit  FREE driver fitting and I was NOT impressed at all. The app came up with a driver that they said would get me 9.5 more yards and 5.4 yard better accuracy. I have NO idea how they came to those numbers when the app has NO idea of how far I'm hitting my current driver, nor how accurate I hit it. The top pick they came up with was using a 65 gram shaft, and the second option used a 55 grams shaft.  Those two shaft weight MAY be find for some, but not for me. When I was fit by a club fitter hitting balls on a launcher the result came back that 75 grams shaft was the best fit for me and my swing. NOT exactly what this online fitting app came up with.  This online fitting app did NOT even ask me what loft head I was using and that does matter, so again I'm not impressed with this free online fitting.

While I openly admit that what works for me may or may not work for others,  but I think I'll stick with a real driver fitting using a real launch monitor and a varity of clubheads and shafts before I spend MY money on a new driver. Just my opinion of course, but I think a lot of others will agree that a real fitting is a better way to go than any online app fitting. 

[IONEPUTT 121]

I just went back to the TrueGolfFit site and went to the Buy Now option. I was surprised to see what drivers popped up, The top pick was a 10.5* Driver with a Stiff flex shaft. The second option came up with Senior flex 12* driver.  Very big difference from one to the other. I can understand how a 10.5* or a 12* head might work well for me as I'm used both in the past. But NOT sure how that  50 grams Senior flex shaft is going to do with my 105 MPH swing speed. I think I'll stick with S flex until I see a good reason to go softer. 

I also want to say I made a mistake about the shaft in the top pick, it was a 60 not the 65 I posted in my first post on this. My mistake guys.