Golfspy_CG2 2024 Driver Shootout

[Golfspy_CG2]

7 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Clearly with 3 it took a big hit

Yeah a bit, but a part of it is also my history with Mizuno and Cobra. Both very good drivers, but haven't been anything special for me in the past, so when I inevitably move on from them, it's usually at pretty good loss as they happen to be two of the lower ones in holding value.   But granted Mizuno has gotten better and belter with each of it's last 3 releases, so maybe this would be the year

 

[golfinnut]

Must be nice to be able to get Graphite Design shafts to test.  

[Teach pittsburgh]

@golfinnut that’s why he’s sharing the results with you.

[golfinnut]

40 minutes ago, Teach pittsburgh said:

@golfinnut that’s why he’s sharing the results with you.

So I can go out & buy a $300 shaft?  I don't think so 

[Golfspy_CG2]

5 hours ago, Rex_D said:

Request adding Tour Edge for the budget conscious and XXIO for the slower swingers 

Yeah, as a charter member of that club if I can XXIO to it, I'd love to.   We shall see they haven't been the most cooperative e however to deal with     

5 hours ago, Up and Down said:

Have been a Titleist driver guy for a while but my interest is peaked on the new TMQi10 - Looks great and can't wait to hit it.

The Qi10 definitely peaked my interest as well.   Will try and get on course this afternoon with it and maybe my KBS TD shaft in the PING and see what happens. 

2 hours ago, golfinnut said:

Must be nice to be able to get Graphite Design shafts to test.  

Anyone can order them, that's what I did!

[Quigleyd]

dont sleep on the darkspeed.. 

[Golfspy_CG2]

9 hours ago, Quigleyd said:

dont sleep on the darkspeed.. 

yeah. I’m know. I addressed that earlier.  Testing budget tight this year.  

[Quigleyd]

18 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

yeah. I’m know. I addressed that earlier.  Testing budget tight this year.  

Should have skipped the ping

[Golfspy_CG2]

2 hours ago, Quigleyd said:

Should have skipped the ping

Didn’t pay for that one

[Erin B]

19 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

Didn’t pay for that one

I’m interested in the titleist. But am a fan of the ping, cobra, and taylormade.

[RangerGrey]

Put a Graphite Design shaft in a Callaway anyway would be my pick as I have the CQ in my Paradym Smoke Ai Max D 3W and love it. I just so happen to have the Fujikura Speeder Blue NX in my Ai Smoke Max D which is money. The TM had a premium shaft compared to stock offerings in the 10K and Ai Smoke, not the same when testing 

Edited February 13 by RangerGrey
typing error

[GolfSpy_APH]

I know it isn't part of your shootout, but how have you traditionally got along with PXG drivers? Seems to be a bit added hype around them this season. 

 

[Norris Jackson]

I have a PING 425MAX driver and I really like it. Very forgiving and gives me great distance.

[Quigleyd]

20 hours ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

Didn’t pay for that one

Well. Then. Please!! Proceed!! Lol

[Golfspy_CG2]

16 hours ago, RangerGrey said:

Put a Graphite Design shaft in a Callaway anyway would be my pick as I have the CQ in my Paradym X 3W and love it. I just so happen to have the Fujikura Speeder Blue NX in my Ai Smoke Max D which is money. The TM had a premium shaft compared to stock offerings in the 10K and Ai Smoke, not the same when testing 

You know that strikes me that I might look into ordering a Grpahite Design with the All Fit Tip if I can from  WP or somewhere. 

[Golfspy_CG2]

16 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I know it isn't part of your shootout, but how have you traditionally got along with PXG drivers? Seems to be a bit added hype around them this season. 

 

Yeah, the new one is definitely getting good  reviews.  I had the Gen 5 I believe, and it was pretty good.  I can't recall if I stuck that one in the 2022 Shootout toward the end or not.  

[Golfspy_CG2]

The latest session this week didn't got so well,  You ever have one of those days that your swing decides it's going to just do anything but what it's supposed to.  I mean not even close.   That was my session this week.   Out of 30 or 40 shots with 3 different drivers I may have hit half a dozen useable shots.   For example my usual driver AOA is 2-4 degrees up,  90% of the drives were 2-3 degrees down which was giving me crazy spin near and over 4,000 RPM 

I took out the Qi10, PING 10K with the KBS TD Shaft--I have decided that's not a good shaft for me and the defending Champ TSR1 with the GD Di 5.   The best drive of the day was with the TSR1 at 227 and 123 ball speed, but other than that the TSR1 and Qsi10 were both pretty consistent and near each other in and around the 206 mark.   But the bad swign, combined with some chilly temps and wind, didn't make it too worth while. 

Will try again in the next day or two.

[ILMgolfnut]

33 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

You know that strikes me that I might look into ordering a Grpahite Design

Since I'm thinking about reshafting my Mizuno, I emailed the Graphite Design folks last week asking for their recommendation given my swing speed and ball flight. They got right back to me, which is great, and told me which of their shafts would probably suit me. Then I looked it up on their website and gagged. $500!!!! Uh, that ain't happening.

[Willie T]

Yes - bet cold windy weather played a big part in the less than optimal results….

[Golfspy_CG2]

So I played my first 9 holes since Thanksgiving Friday today.   Yeah, it's been that long, lots going on this winter. 

It was an extremely nice February day here, low 60's and a bit of a breeze but not horrible.  Took the QI10 out, results were very positive.  

Fairways hit 5/7 and the two misses were about 2 feet into the rough on each hole.  I was pleased with the distance for the time of year and lack of being in playing shape.   Most drives (GPS measured) were mid 190's with a long of 217.   Of the 7 holes 5 of them played into that slight breeze. 

The best thing about the driver, is it sets up to the ball beautifully and is very easy to swing.   I do think the shaft might be providing a bit too much spin for me, I saw that on my last range session with the Full Swing as well.  I have a Graphite Design VR coming which is a bit firmer in the tip.  I'm ordering the All Fit system for it, so I'll be able to try each head with that shaft. 

The buddy I played with today professed he thinks the shootout is over, and I should just keep this in the bag, saying there's no way the other drivers are going to beat it.   HA 

[TJ Hall]

3 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

So I played my first 9 holes since Thanksgiving Friday today.   Yeah, it's been that long, lots going on this winter. 

It was an extremely nice February day here, low 60's and a bit of a breeze but not horrible.  Took the QI10 out, results were very positive.  

Fairways hit 5/7 and the two misses were about 2 feet into the rough on each hole.  I was pleased with the distance for the time of year and lack of being in playing shape.   Most drives (GPS measured) were mid 190's with a long of 217.   Of the 7 holes 5 of them played into that slight breeze. 

The best thing about the driver, is it sets up to the ball beautifully and is very easy to swing.   I do think the shaft might be providing a bit too much spin for me, I saw that on my last range session with the Full Swing as well.  I have a Graphite Design VR coming which is a bit firmer in the tip.  I'm ordering the All Fit system for it, so I'll be able to try each head with that shaft. 

The buddy I played with today professed he thinks the shootout is over, and I should just keep this in the bag, saying there's no way the other drivers are going to beat it.   HA 

Good feedback so far.  How did the distance compare to your “typical” drive previously?

Were you striking the ball well or was the forgiveness of the club helping keep the ball in the fairway?

[ronnieg]

Very interested to hear thoughts on the g430 10k vs the Qi10 max. Both 10k MOI drivers. I wonder which will have the best results

[Luisddavila]

Will be lloking forward for what you can say about these drivers

[Golfspy_CG2]

3 hours ago, TJ Hall said:

Good feedback so far.  How did the distance compare to your “typical” drive previously?

Were you striking the ball well or was the forgiveness of the club helping keep the ball in the fairway?

Thanks. I’d say on average k was 10 yards further than my normal drives wjfb tbr TSR1.   
Great question on if I stuck it well or the forgiveness.   Defiantly two drives that I defiantly had a good strike on led to my two longer drives.  Tbe one 217 and another at 212. 
 

But to the forgiveness.  There was one that was a dead push to the right—intentionally so as there is a water hazard all the way down the left.  But k hit it higher than I wanted and it got into the wind.  I got down to the ball and it was about 10 yards past a bunker that I have been short of before on decent bits.  So a ballon ball into the wind measures at 191 where I promise you that with my other driver would have bend 178 go maybe 180. 
 

I really don’t want to get caught up in the honeymoon hyperbole of a new shiny toy.  But there really is something special about this driver.  

[Golfspy_CG2]

2 hours ago, ronnieg said:

Very interested to hear thoughts on the g430 10k vs the Qi10 max. Both 10k MOI drivers. I wonder which will have the best results

No doubt. It willl get a more fair shot once I get the Graphite Design shaft with the All Fit adapter so I csn hit all the drivers with that shaft. 

2 hours ago, Luisddavila said:

Will be lloking forward for what you can say about these drivers

Definitely stay tuned.  More to come. 

[TJ Hall]

5 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

Thanks. I’d say on average k was 10 yards further than my normal drives wjfb tbr TSR1.   
Great question on if I stuck it well or the forgiveness.   Defiantly two drives that I defiantly had a good strike on led to my two longer drives.  Tbe one 217 and another at 212. 
 

But to the forgiveness.  There was one that was a dead push to the right—intentionally so as there is a water hazard all the way down the left.  But k hit it higher than I wanted and it got into the wind.  I got down to the ball and it was about 10 yards past a bunker that I have been short of before on decent bits.  So a ballon ball into the wind measures at 191 where I promise you that with my other driver would have bend 178 go maybe 180. 
 

I really don’t want to get caught up in the honeymoon hyperbole of a new shiny toy.  But there really is something special about this driver.  

Awesome to hear…I am super excited to have a TM fitting next Friday and see how the Qi feels/performs. The club just looks nice sitting on the ground.

[Golfspy_CG2]

19 hours ago, TJ Hall said:

Awesome to hear…I am super excited to have a TM fitting next Friday and see how the Qi feels/performs. The club just looks nice sitting on the ground.

You should definitely be excited.  Also don’t sleep on the 3 wood.  I don’t hit it off the tee yesterday. But k had two from the fairway that were launched.  And normally I don’t have a lot of luck with 3woods off the deck. 

[TJ Hall]

5 minutes ago, Golfspy_CG2 said:

You should definitely be excited.  Also don’t sleep on the 3 wood.  I don’t hit it off the tee yesterday. But k had two from the fairway that were launched.  And normally I don’t have a lot of luck with 3woods off the deck. 

I thought this was a driver shootout, what are you doing with fairway woods???

I struggled for years with my 3 wood and stopped using it for a while, carried it around but it never came out of the bag.  Switched to the TM M6 and had good success and then went to the Stealth…absolutely love that club from both tee and fairway.

[Golfspy_CG2]

2 minutes ago, TJ Hall said:

I thought this was a driver shootout, what are you doing with fairway woods???

I struggled for years with my 3 wood and stopped using it for a while, carried it around but it never came out of the bag.  Switched to the TM M6 and had good success and then went to the Stealth…absolutely love that club from both tee and fairway.

Ha. I had to ha e matching headcovers.  Maybe I should start a FW shootout.  Ha

On second ty…..nah!!

[THE GOLF GUY]

I have hit them all and I always come back to my gamer !!!!!!

Taylormade Stealth 2 driver  10.5* (upright standard setting )

Incidentally, I was fitted with this driver and the rest of my clubs at the Jones Creek Club Champion . Matt fitted me with a 1” tipped stiff shaft over the X Stiff that I was playing . Conversely allowing me to work a consistent fade with my driver that I have always struggled to hit ! I have a Fujikura Ventus 5S shaft .

Edited February 10 by THE GOLF GUY