What is your driver for 2024?

[KOG]

37 minutes ago, Donn lost in San Diego said:

Do you, or anybody else here, think thi Honma TR 20 440 driver head is still competitive in today's market, for a mid speed swing?  I have a few reg flex and a few senior flex drivers and 3 woods that work.  shorter than 3 wood, I can swing reg flex ok.  I am bargain hunting in driver-land.  I might grab a new TR 20 driver head on ebay and shaft it with a Riptide or an ACCRa shaft.  

Without question. Honma is as good or better than most OEMS. Check out some reviews.

https://www.golfmonthly.com/reviews/drivers/honma-tr20-440-driver-review

The Vizard shafts are excellent but play a little softer than typical shafts due to the mid bend point on most and often are sub 50 grams typical japanese spec. So a stiff is more like a r+ and a reg flex is like a soft regular.  This actually works very well for mid speed and the build the shafts to match the heads as a pair. each driver shaft is spine aligned and their adjustments keeps the shaft in the same place retaining the spine. It really is a hugely overlooked company in america. Other Honma drivers to look at is the Tw GS Speed and TW XP-1 as well as the TR20 460 all same price range. I personally played the XP-1 for a year and also have the hybrid. Entire line from woods to irons are phenomenal for a very clean GI setup. The xp-1 is very forgiving an aimed towards moderate swing speeds. Mild draw bias. Super clean. You can get them for $100 mint and The retail was $600

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196295915232

Also gets great reviews specifically for moderate speed players

But the Honma driver I want is the tw757. Waiting for the head to go for $100 as theyre still pricey. Longer than the Stealth 2 

https://www.golfmonthly.com/reviews/drivers/honma-tw757-s-driver-review

I also play this 3 wood because I was able to buy the head for $45 and its one of my fav 3 woods of all time.

https://golfersauthority.com/honma-tr21-fairway-big-lb-review/

I also use the TR21x as my 5 iron and I believe it is superior to the p790s

If youre looking for a bargain with all the tech and wish to keep it classy, Honma is the best deal out right now with the heavy discounts.

Edited March 21 by KOG

[Donn lost in San Diego]

15 hours ago, Pat McGroin said:

After a 45 minute fitting session, 6 brands, the winner is the Callaway Ai Smoke Max. Should be in this weekend, super excited. 

I will not!

[Huse343]

I just picked up the Stealth 2 last week when they went on sale. It’s replacing my Sim Max driver. My Sim was a 10.5° loft. I changed my grip/swing a bit and now I’m hitting it super high, apex of 140’+, too high for my liking. I haven’t gotten a round in yet with my new Stealth 2.0 (Northern Illinois and hasn’t been warm enough for when I was available). I have been to the range/simulator with it 3 times though. My height is so much better as this is a 9.0. Apex is around 120’ - which is perfect for me. I have already noticed my dispersion is much tighter and I’m about 6-10 yards longer - on average. I also switched from a Stiff shaft to the X-stiff Hzrdous Red. When I hit it pure, it feels absolutely incredible. Super excited to have this in my bag this year. My 2024 goal is to go from a 3 handicap to 0 or +. Will be an interesting season! 
 

- Here’s a video of it from my last range session. 

[arodrig29]

On 3/18/2024 at 6:48 PM, CudaKota66 said:

After 5 years with an Epic Flash, shafted w/ an Evenflow Green 55g S shaft, I traded it in for a Paradym & kept the same 'transmission' - EvenFlow Green 55g S.

That shaft fits my swing & the Paradym has shown to be both longer & more accurate

I have done the same thing. I was fitted for the Tour AD IZ-6 in a stiff and have just graduated heads as released. That being said the Rogue ST Max has been the longest and most stable thus far. Have you tried the new AI Smoke max yet?

[StrokerAce]

Having recently played for 3 consecutive days with a new-to-me Aerojet LS and having hit some boomers I'm 100% in on it for the season.

Love the looks, feel and sound. 

 

[jbern]

I went to the simulator yesterday and officially am making the switch from the PXG 0811X Gen4 (Mitsubishi Tensei Raw Blue stiff shaft) to the Cobra LTDx (Project X HZRDUS Blue Smoke 6.0 shaft) for this season. It's consistently had tighter dispersion and has been an average of 4-6 yards longer each time I do the side-by-side comparisons. I've also had my longest drives recorded on the simulator with the LTDx. 

Here's to 2024 being the year of long & straight drives!

[Steve F]

 

Cobra Aerojet LS. This will be in my bag for a long time! Unless a certain bug bites me... 

[Steve F]

2 hours ago, jbern said:

I went to the simulator yesterday and officially am making the switch from the PXG 0811X Gen4 (Mitsubishi Tensei Raw Blue stiff shaft) to the Cobra LTDx (Project X HZRDUS Blue Smoke 6.0 shaft) for this season. It's consistently had tighter dispersion and has been an average of 4-6 yards longer each time I do the side-by-side comparisons. I've also had my longest drives recorded on the simulator with the LTDx. 

Here's to 2024 being the year of long & straight drives!

... nice @jbern! Time to change that signature! lol!

[Steve F]

3 hours ago, StrokerAce said:

Having recently played for 3 consecutive days with a new-to-me Aerojet LS and having hit some boomers I'm 100% in on it for the season.

Love the looks, feel and sound. 

 

I agree @StrokerAce! 

[jbern]

1 hour ago, Steve F said:

... nice @jbern! Time to change that signature! lol!

You're right! I guess it's not officially official then! 

[CudaKota66]

10 hours ago, arodrig29 said:

 Have you tried the new AI Smoke max yet?

I have not.  I scheduled a fitting, but cancelled it. I got my Paradym for a very reasonable price at the end of 2023 through Callaway Pre-Owned. I couldn't justify, to myself, to pay another $200-300 for the Ai Smoke   Trust me....I tried 

So far, the Paradym has given me enough gains - especially in accuracy over my Epic Flash - that I'm able to sleep at night.....until one of the guys in the Mens Club blows his Ai Smoke past me consistently this season 

[BreakfastBall15]

PXG Black Ops. Got fit for that and the TaylorMade Qi10 line and demoed the AI Smoke. Distance and dispersion were better across the board with the PXG. Their hero’s pricing was pretty solid on the new lineup so made it hard to say no 

[Jon Richmond]

Still playing the Cobra LTDX but looking to upgrade to the new Cobra Darkspeed LS or the new PXG Black Ops, both look very long and forgiving 

[SLAMDUNK]

Mine is an abused Ping 410.  The adjustable weight is secured, "trapped"  in the center position and cannot be adjusted to a draw or fade function.  I got the club from ebay and tried several approaches to moving or replacing the weight without success.  Several club mechanics could not remove the weight.  Anyway, the center position is good for my normal swing and the end result is satisfactory.  

[BobBC78]

The same Ping G400 Max which I played in 2023, but shafted with a Kuro Kage HBP Black 2nd Gen senior flex shaft at 44.5". Based on a recent Trackman session, this combo results in a tighter dispersion (30-yards versus 44-yards) with no loss of distance (majority of drives between 180-yards to 190-yards). Yeah, I still have a slow swing speed, despite my speed training in 2023!

[MBARRIE]

I have a Ping G425 MAX and I love it. Compared to my old driver G25 my miss hits are not nearly as bad and very forgiving. 
 

Hitting it consistently around 250 carry which I am very happy with, although all these reviews of the G430 MAX 10K are giving me major FOMO. 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Headed to PGASS the other day for some much needed relief after work (it’s been hectic to say the least).

Hit the AI smoke, Qi10 and dark speed. Definitly in the market to replace my radspeed in the 1st half of the season.

AI smoke was a no go. Could’ve dived in more but initial setup wasn’t right and the feel was ehhhh. I did like the overall look too down but didn’t love the face. Was pulling everything which only took about 5 shots and moved onto the Qi10.

Qi10 I hit well and was very consistent. I just didn’t like the feel at all, must have been the face. Also didn’t like the look at address, it almost looked like I had the face close, just looked odd.

Then got the dark speed. Was consistent like the Qi10 and I just love the look of the matte tops, it looks and feels like a more compact head at address. Feel was spot on so look Ike I’m sticking with cobra. See if there are any golf balls.com deals in the near future

[geeman8]

I wasn’t intending on purchasing a driver this year, as my Paradym Triple Diamond treated me quite well the second half of last year. Went to a fitting and got to swing everything, expecting to only walk out with a new 3 or 5 wood. 
 

Ended up purchasing the PXG Black OPS 9* with the LA Golf DJ 65-4 shaft. That setup was stupidly consistent, got my spin and launch in the perfect window, and picked up more carry. 
 

This year’s PXG lineup is no joke!

[Hacker60521]

This will be my second season with the Taylormade Stealth 2+. But I’ll probably try out a few drivers later this season at outdoor demo days and keep the specs for any that I find interesting. If I make a switch I’d consider buying a ‘24 model in ‘25 right after the big show in Florida

Also thinking of swapping my 3W for a 3H but that’s a ways off. 

[GolfSpy_KFT]

Currently have a TSi3 going on season 3 and the Aerojet Max. TSi3 gets more play, but the Max is also very good. Been looking at Aerojet LS heads as well recently as I hit the Darkspeed LS and got some really good club and ball speed. Makes me wonder what I could do with AJ LS vs. Max

[cnosil]

Right now I have the G400 Max in the bag and I am wondering if the new drivers would provide some measurable improvement.     Wasn't able to participate in most wanted driver testing so I didn't get to do the side by side testing I wanted.   Once I can swing again,  I may start doing some testing to see if something can take the top spot.   My wife broke her phone and had to get a new one and while we were purchasing I said that means I get some new golf clubs and she agreed.  The phone guy even said that was the cost of a new driver      

So the answer to the what is my driver for 2024:  Unknown at this time.   

 

 

[Jonknowsgolf]

I just got the Qi10 LS, as a warranty replacement after the sole cracked on my less than 6 months old Stealth 2 (which was a warranty replacement for a Stealth). After having two TaylorMade heads crack on me in less than a year's time I was considering giving the Paradym a go. But I have been thoroughly impressed with the Qi10 so far. It has been very forgiving and extremely accurate. And it has been long for me, noticeably longer on mis-hitstoo.

While it is nice that it goes straighter, it's also not as easy to move one way or the other when I want to.

[GolfSpy_APH]

Just for fun I went through and looked at the different used drivers available near me. Nothing stuck out to me so I think the PTD is safe!

[CB Lobo 4 Life]

There is nothing that is going to take my Qi10 LS from me. I have been hitting it far too well! Can't wait for the new Virtual Tour to begin!!!

[dpaulus]

Picked up a Callaway Rogue 10.5 degree adjustable driver with a senior shaft that I really like. Got it on the Callaway used site at a price I can afford.

[ILMgolfnut]

I'm gonna wait until I finish Fit For Golf/Rypstick before I think about a new driver; my suspicion/hope is that my swing will change in the next three months and anything I was fitted for now would not be as good a match in June (or after I get back from Scotland). 

[Moe79]

Going to make a purchase next month. Either going to be a TSR2 or an AI Smoke Max D; both 9*.

 

EDIT- currently playing a Callaway Epic Speed set to 9.5*

Edited March 25 by Moe79

[injectedcutty]

I've been playing a PXG Gen4 0811X for almost 2 years now and it has been such a game changer for me! My prior driver was a Taylormade RBZ but it was whippy and I definitely couldn't control the ball. Since the switch to the PXG I can hit command drives as needed, gained a literal 30 yards, and the sweet spot just blasts the ball. I'd love to try the G430, or one of the TSR's, or maybe a Callaway (had the first Big Bertha in high school), but these new drivers are pricey!!!!

Edited March 25 by injectedcutty
Spell check

[ZackS]

TSR3 with a TPT shaft upgrade coming soon! 

[Joe Maxwell]

I’ve got the Taylormade Q10 max. I really like it but am wanting to try the Newton Motion shaft in it. Anyone on here tried this new shaft yet?