(T)Less Driver - 2023 Forum Review

[Yellow Ball]

It’s Memorial Day and the family had an afternoon get together to honor all that served for our country. What better time to reflect back on how we are free, because of the brave. After some somber moments of remembrance, we started going about our business of preparing a family meal. It’s been a while since most of us were all together and not in a pond, creek, ditch, woods or a hayfield.

After a belly full, of course the family business of golf came up. I took the opportunity to introduce the TeeLess Driver to the family. First impressions are sometimes the best so let me tell you a little about what they said! Remember YB’s family tells it like it is. I don’t know where I get it from.

Timmy Tight Wad

 

“You’re telling me this thing is supposed to be a fairway finder. Launch the ball high and be long. Dam, I can make some money with this thing.”

Aunt Suzie

“Ohhh but it’s just so pretty. I love the head cover too. The color combinations are just perfect. It’s probably too pretty for the likes of you.” YB: Thanks Aunt Suzie

Sam the Scratch

Sam is a scratch golfer if you couldn’t guess by his name. Don't tell him, but we call him that because he is always scratching his butt. Sam: “Are you kidding me, I’m not going to put this turd in play. This is for someone that needs help. Not for me. No way amigo. You're insulting me.” 

Spooky

“Is it going to hurt when I get hit? Will I really be in the fairway? Will it hurt when I land from being up so high?"

Chomper  

“Hey Spooky, suck it up you Sally. Grit your teeth on impact and enjoy the ride. You’re not getting any younger.”

Captain Chip

“It’s about freaking time someone came out with something like this. I lost an eye and chipped my tooth from hitting so many branches and rocks over the years. I would enjoy the fairways a bit more.”

The Kid

“Hey, will this really launch the ball into the stratosphere. I always wanted to be part of the mile high club!”  YB: Kids, what else can I say except more YB’s are coming!

Happy Hanna

"I’m just so glad we could all be here together. That’s a nice club Yellow Ball. More Sweet Tea dear?"

Mooch

“Is there any more beer?” YB: Sorry, every family has one of those around that we have to deal with.

Grandpa Grouch

“Dam it Yellow Ball every time we all get together all you want to do is talk about golf. You know we all live and breathe golf every freaking day. Can’t you let it go for one day? Just one dam day.  YB: “But Grandpa this is for the My Golf Spy Forum testing.” Grandpa: “Well ok I’ll let you slide this time. They do some fine work. Wait a minute they chose you. Ha ha ha I would put a LMAO emoji here but I’m Grandpa Grouch I laugh for no one.”

There you have it a wonderful family reunion and some questionable comments. What else would you expect. There were a few immediate family members missing but you can guess where they were. Out playing golf as usual. 

[Paul Hedrick]

I played last Friday again with a new grip on the TlessDriver.  I experimented with my stance, swing and where in my stance I had the ball while using the TlessDriver.  I am pleased to say that I did achieve higher ball flight and slightly longer distance, but it still is far shorter than my Callaway Driver.  As with my previous attempts, the TlessDriver hit straight more easily than my 3 Wood.  I am still likely to keep it in my bag as a replacement for my 3 Wood.  I will continue to work with it in hopes of learning how to hit it longer

My next opportunity to play with it will be either this Wednesday or Friday

[Paul Hedrick]

It just occurred to me that I can show you how much shorter I am hitting the TLessDriver compared to my Callaway Driver using my ShotScope app. My current Driver is shown above the TlessDriver. This is the average from my last round of golf.

[Josh Ross]

3 minutes ago, Paul Hedrick said:

It just occurred to me that I can show you how much shorter I am hitting the TLessDriver compared to my Callaway Driver using my ShotScope app. My current Driver is shown above the TlessDriver. This is the average from my last round of golf.

That's pretty substantial! 

[russtopherb]

6 minutes ago, Paul Hedrick said:

It just occurred to me that I can show you how much shorter I am hitting the TLessDriver compared to my Callaway Driver using my ShotScope app. My current Driver is shown above the TlessDriver. This is the average from my last round of golf.

Wow, that's.... a LOT.

[Yellow Ball]

2 hours ago, Paul Hedrick said:

It just occurred to me that I can show you how much shorter I am hitting the TLessDriver compared to my Callaway Driver using my ShotScope app. My current Driver is shown above the TlessDriver. This is the average from my last round of golf.

I found similar results. This is not a driver replacement if you can hit your driver. I was around 50 yards longer with my driver. I'm curious to see what the difference is between your 3 wood and the TeeLess. 

[chisag]

19 minutes ago, Yellow Ball said:

I found similar results. This is not a driver replacement if you can hit your driver. I was around 50 yards longer with my driver. I'm curious to see what the difference is between your 3 wood and the TeeLess. 

 

... 50 yds more with your driver?!? So what you are saying is you are hitting the Tlessdriver 149 yds?

[Yellow Ball]

23 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... 50 yds more with your driver?!? So what you are saying is you are hitting the Tlessdriver 149 yds?

No, but roughly the same ratio more or less. 245 /250 with a driver to 200 with the tee less give or take. 215/ 220 with a 3 wood. Softer fairways so with the high flight it does not roll out much. Actually, had some plug.   

[russtopherb]

19 minutes ago, Yellow Ball said:

No, but roughly the same ratio more or less. 245 /250 with a driver to 200 with the tee less give or take. 215/ 220 with a 3 wood. Softer fairways so with the high flight it does not roll out much. Actually, had some plug.   

I genuinely don't see a spot for this club if it's even shorter than a 3 wood. 

[Yellow Ball]

6 minutes ago, russtopherb said:

I genuinely don't see a spot for this club if it's even shorter than a 3 wood. 

It all depends on if you can hit a 3 wood well. Some people can't and I think this is geared toward that type of individual. It is a fairway finder as well so if you slice or hook a 3 wood then this could have a place in the golfer's bag.  

Edited May 31, 2023 by Yellow Ball

[tony@CIC]

On 5/30/2023 at 2:37 PM, Yellow Ball said:

I found similar results. This is not a driver replacement if you can hit your driver. I was around 50 yards longer with my driver. I'm curious to see what the difference is between your 3 wood and the TeeLess. 

Hmmmm no arms or legs and you're hitting yourself with the Tlessdriver? - or are you just running scared to get away from it? 

[Yellow Ball]

17 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

Hmmmm no arms or legs and you're hitting yourself with the Tlessdriver? - or are you just running scared to get away from it? 

Just scared of the sound! Even for a guy with no ears it hurts.

[Paul Hedrick]

Today was my latest round with the T(less)Driver.  Once again, I just could not get it to perform as I wanted.  The delta between its distance and the distance I can get with my current driver was less, but I think that has more to do with that I was not hitting Driver as well as previously.  Once again, the T(less)Driver hit straight for me,  just far shorter than my current Driver.  I will try one more round with it next week before I start writing my final review.

[Paul Hedrick]

As a follow up;  I have a range session scheduled for this Friday and a golf round scheduled for this Sunday.  While I will not exclusively work the T(less)Driver at the range, I will work with it in hopes of improving performance on Sunday.

 

 

;

[GolfSpy_APH]

Would kinda love to see someone put the teeless driver up against a series of mini drivers. I know slightly different purposes, but I believe the demographic could be similar.

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Would kinda love to see someone put the teeless driver up against a series of mini drivers. I know slightly different purposes, but I believe the demographic could be similar.

That would probably be a better comparison than against a driver as based on my understanding that it is more of a 3 wood replacement.  Still a tough comparison because I believe the intent of a mini driver is to work the ball the opposite direction of the driver and the tless is designed to go straight 

[GolfSpy_APH]

4 minutes ago, cnosil said:

That would probably be a better comparison than against a driver as based on my understanding that it is more of a 3 wood replacement.  Still a tough comparison because I believe the intent of a mini driver is to work the ball the opposite direction  driver and the tless is designed to go straight 

You mean backwards?

For sure, and I when I have used mini drivers I have really enjoyed them. 

I do think they (mini drivers and TLess) have different purposes, but would be interesting if there was a sweet spot!

[scotter032]

24 minutes ago, cnosil said:

That would probably be a better comparison than against a driver as based on my understanding that it is more of a 3 wood replacement.  Still a tough comparison because I believe the intent of a mini driver is to work the ball the opposite direction of the driver and the tless is designed to go straight 

You are correct. It's actually a challenge to turn the TLess. I tried to test out it's workability and to be honest it just goes straight! I am by no means a pro (or even a solid low handicap ) but I can usually work the ball right and left if I have to, and this just likes to fight it. I'll see if I can get a mini driver from a friend to treat against it here soon. 

[EasyPutter]

On 4/12/2023 at 9:14 AM, Yellow Ball said:

On a serious note. Thank you to MGS and the Teeless Driver for this testing opportunity. 

Just curious, oh yellow one, was this your first test for MGS?  Since there is no underwater breathing apparatus for golf balls on the market, I wonder what else you have been fortunate enough to test.

Also if you could test anything for MGS Forum, what (in your wildest dreams) would you want to test?  As I think I have seen that asked by a Mod in other places but have not seen a YB response to those inquiries.

Playing a little catch up here as I did receive your (T)Less Driver by UPS you so generously sent to me, and it did arrive in time for the Pinehurst Open MGS Forum meetup last weekend  

Here's a link to the post made on that thread:

 

[Yellow Ball]

11 hours ago, EasyPutter said:

Just curious, oh yellow one, was this your first test for MGS?  Since there is no underwater breathing apparatus for golf balls on the market, I wonder what else you have been fortunate enough to test.

Also if you could test anything for MGS Forum, what (in your wildest dreams) would you want to test?  As I think I have seen that asked by a Mod in other places but have not seen a YB response to those inquiries.

Playing a little catch up here as I did receive your (T)Less Driver by UPS you so generously sent to me, and it did arrive in time for the Pinehurst Open MGS Forum meetup last weekend  

 

This was the first test I applied for. I wanted to see if this club would help you you guys keep me in the fairway more often. So it was a selfish test on my part. 

So, to all you higher handicap guys that struggle to find the fairway. Please go by a TLess Driver. My family and I would appreciate it.

I really don't know what I would want to test next. Floating yellow golf balls perhaps

[Paul Hedrick]

I had a range session with the tless last Friday. It was cut short due to rain.  Up until the rain, I was getting pretty much the same results as I have been; not great.  I just got home from a round of golf with the tless, and again, the results are pretty much the same for me..  I will give the tless one more go before I banish it to the back of my closet to gather dust.   I would love to meet someone who found this club to be of benefit to them to determine what I am doing wrong

[GolfSpy TCB]

53 minutes ago, Paul Hedrick said:

I had a range session with the tless last Friday. It was cut short due to rain.  Up until the rain, I was getting pretty much the same results as I have been; not great.  I just got home from a round of golf with the tless, and again, the results are pretty much the same for me..  I will give the tless one more go before I banish it to the back of my closet to gather dust.   I would love to meet someone who found this club to be of benefit to them to determine what I am doing wrong

Those of you testing the Tless... tell me how you think it would work as a Utility Club for a young/less experienced golfer.  Say... an early teen getting into the game - as the top of their bag.  Is there any advantage there?  I was just thinking it may be a good confidence builder for getting the ball up in the air and keeping it quasi in the fairway while learning the swing?  Thoughts??

[cnosil]

5 hours ago, Paul Hedrick said:

  I would love to meet someone who found this club to be of benefit to them to determine what I am doing wrong

Why do you think you are doing something wrong?   Not all clubs work for all people.    From my experience and observation, the club is a good 3 wood replacement for players that struggle to hit a traditional 3 wood and need more spin.   I don't think it replaces a driver; which is what you have been comparing it too.   if you hit your 3 wood well, it probably won't beat that out either.    

I saw a post from @EasyPutter and he seems to be getting good performance and is actually outperforming his driver.  He can provide more details.  

 

[Yellow Ball]

7 hours ago, GolfSpy TCB said:

Those of you testing the Tless... tell me how you think it would work as a Utility Club for a young/less experienced golfer.  Say... an early teen getting into the game - as the top of their bag.  Is there any advantage there?  I was just thinking it may be a good confidence builder for getting the ball up in the air and keeping it quasi in the fairway while learning the swing?  Thoughts??

This is something that I didn’t think of. I think this would be a great fit for a young/ less experienced golfer. Hitting the fairway would instill confidence. 

[EasyPutter]

7 hours ago, Paul Hedrick said:

I had a range session with the tless last Friday. It was cut short due to rain.  Up until the rain, I was getting pretty much the same results as I have been; not great.  I just got home from a round of golf with the tless, and again, the results are pretty much the same for me..  I will give the tless one more go before I banish it to the back of my closet to gather dust.   I would love to meet someone who found this club to be of benefit to them to determine what I am doing wrong

Hello Paul, will have to read back to see what your experience is with the (T)Less Driver.  I have been doing some experimenting with it to get it to work with at first dubious results but as I worked it down to about a 3/4" tee height one ball diameter forward of the center line of my stance and a firm glove hand grip making sure my thumb is firmly pressed into the grip and remaining balanced on my feet (without any movement back and forth) I have had some tremendous shots off the tee.

2 hours ago, cnosil said:

I saw a post from @EasyPutter and he seems to be getting good performance and is actually outperforming his driver.  He can provide more details.  

My First Strike Rattlesnake 10.5* driver has given me problems since the weekend before the PGA Championship, so about a month now.  Not the return to a slice but the opposite, a pull that sends the ball far left and short from the tee, totally frustrating and resembling more a case of the yips than swing trouble.  The (T)Less was sent to me by none other than @Yellow Ball after his review of the (T)Less and I probably should not have tried my first hits with it while playing Mid South Club.  Rattlesnake driver actually woke up and performed well during the second round of the day at Pine Needles Club playing with Tom @Tom the Golf Nut sending some remarkable tee drives as if I had not had any problems in the last month.  That effect evaporated the next morning at Talamore Club when Rattlesnake Driver again started behaving badly off the tee but not so bad to cause disillusionment.

The decision to swap out to (T)Less began more as an intentional test as soon as I was hitting at my home course this past week.  Quite by trial and error I was using the club exclusively on all par-4 and par-5 holes in place of the Rattlesnake driver and quickly found the tee height and position that was working best in the front 9 and then refined it on the back 9.  Not a stellar round by any means but some increasingly spectacular drives from a short tee.  I must say I have not really put any attention to the OEM claim it will play fairways and divots and sand yet as my Tommy Armour 19* Hybrid has been performing well for second shots and I have yet to find a fairway sand hazard to play from.

I do not have a fast swing.  It is rare I feel like my swing has much power, except when considering something that makes me outraged or angry and then I can feel the club alive in my hands and a strong swing that results in a spectacular hit that flies long and mostly straight.  To be honest, I escape TO golf to avoid such thoughts but as with all things with the mind, some thoughts intrude and cannot be voided - I certainly will not entertain these kinds of thinking voluntarily for better swings/ball flight.  But the fine line of channeling thoughts that ends up in adrenaline boost without an emotional downswing also requires a complete absence of interruption by others around me and that precludes playing with another person at all.  But that is not the whole story.

Friday afternoon I was playing with 2 regular partners for 9 holes and had a remarkable string of hits and holes that led to a 42 +7 for the evening round.  That is about half of my +25 handicap so a truly remarkable round.  It was a social round with plenty of dad jokes and talking about MyGolfSpy and other things so scratch the adrenaline boost as necessary for making (T)Less work.  These were just good swings, good club choices, and good response of every club used including (T)Less.

More will be reported as I continue to explore the club.  Next opportunity tomorrow, federal holiday Monday at Thousand Islands Country Club Lake Course.   

[Paul Hedrick]

21 hours ago, GolfSpy TCB said:

Those of you testing the Tless... tell me how you think it would work as a Utility Club for a young/less experienced golfer.  Say... an early teen getting into the game - as the top of their bag.  Is there any advantage there?  I was just thinking it may be a good confidence builder for getting the ball up in the air and keeping it quasi in the fairway while learning the swing?  Thoughts??

I had not thought of this.  It sounds like a really good idea to me