What is the best driver?

[GolfSpy_APH]

Pretty simple question. What is the best driver you have ever used? 

Maybe it is a blast from the past you wish you had back or maybe it is your current big stick... so lets  hear it!

[rkj427]

Best driver I ever used, would actually involve a couple different ones, that were played at various ages or "stages" of my golf activities.

1. Titleist 975D - used this with a Dynamic Gold S-300 steel shaft in my younger years, and when I played many more competitive rounds. Not the longest, but always a fairway finder.

2. Titleist GT2 -- recently fitted for this model, and at this stage it is the easiest to have full confidence in on the tee box that unless it runs through a fairway, it will end up in the short grass. Higher launching and a more forgiving face than any other I have used or demoed.

 

Quite certain there will be many responses, but the key to finding what is best for anyone is to go and get properly fit. 

[cnosil]

G400 Max.  Can’t find anything to knock it out of the bag.   

[Bad Golfer]

The best I have ever used is the Callaway Rogue St Ls. It is pretty darn forgiving but I haven't hit any drivers that are newer than that so I'm sure the newer drivers with higher MOI are better. 

[Shapotomous]

There have been a couple at different stages of my golf life...

Waaaaay back it was a Powerbuilt Citation persimmon driver.  Cant tell you loft or anything since it only had a '1' on the sole plate!  With a DG X stiff shaft in it it worked great for many years with my heavily influenced baseball swing.  Until the head cracked. 

More recent was the Ping G10 with a Prolaunch Red shaft.  Played that successfully for many years.  Moved to a Ping G410 then a Sub70 849 Pro in 9* which were fine until i needed more loft with declining SS.

Now its a Ping G410 LST 10.5* / Hzrdus 6.5 shaft combo that is extremely reliable.  I am not even looking to experiment, which says a lot!

[Indy_Oz]

36 minutes ago, Bad Golfer said:

The best I have ever used is the Callaway Rogue St Ls. It is pretty darn forgiving but I haven't hit any drivers that are newer than that so I'm sure the newer drivers with higher MOI are better. 

The Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max is the Rogue ST Max LS’ spiritual successor. 
I have a Rogue LS I games until last fall and my only issue with it was anything in the toe resulting in a low spinning pull or hook. The Ai TD max doesn’t have that miss so far. But it is both forgiving and a fairly low spinning bomber. Definitely more forgiving than the stock Ai TD. 
if you’re looking to update, that would be one to track down and test. 

[Bad Golfer]

41 minutes ago, Indy_Oz said:

The Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max is the Rogue ST Max LS’ spiritual successor. 
I have a Rogue LS I games until last fall and my only issue with it was anything in the toe resulting in a low spinning pull or hook. The Ai TD max doesn’t have that miss so far. But it is both forgiving and a fairly low spinning bomber. Definitely more forgiving than the stock Ai TD. 
if you’re looking to update, that would be one to track down and test. 

Thank you for the information! I will look into that when I'm ready to upgrade. 

[poprocksncoke]

for me its the SLDR (I know I need an upgrade )  that's why I have stuck with it for so long.

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Titleist GT2 has been supreme in my bag so far and I can't see it going anywhere anytime soon. 

G400 is a close second for me.

[ctg44]

3 hours ago, rkj427 said:

Best driver I ever used, would actually involve a couple different ones, that were played at various ages or "stages" of my golf activities.

1. Titleist 975D - used this with a Dynamic Gold S-300 steel shaft in my younger years, and when I played many more competitive rounds. Not the longest, but always a fairway finder.

2. Titleist GT2 -- recently fitted for this model, and at this stage it is the easiest to have full confidence in on the tee box that unless it runs through a fairway, it will end up in the short grass. Higher launching and a more forgiving face than any other I have used or demoed.

 

Quite certain there will be many responses, but the key to finding what is best for anyone is to go and get properly fit. 

Both great choices...and your #2 would be my favorite and I've only had mine for a few weeks.

[ClarkWGriswoldIII]

Waaaaaaay back, I loved the original Cleveland Launcher.  More recent, about 10 years ago, the Callaway XR.  I haven't found one to stick with for more than a year or two since.

[Fongle]

I got an Arnie's Own Oversized (250cc) Arnold Palmer driver as a kid, and it was an absolute weapon of a club at the time. Just had the most satisfying crack off the face, and it took me to the state Junior championships a few times. Still have it, hanging up in my office now, enjoying its retirement.

[RTH1]

Second the "ages and stages" sentiment, for pure distance probably a tie between the Titleist TSI 3 and the Srixon Z 785. (MGS review years ago prompted my interest in trying out the Srixon brand), at this stage it's a Titleist TSR 2, A bit shorter than the TSI but a bit more forgiving. 

["Mr. 72"]

I'm not sure I've ever found THE best driver for me, but I'll say the Ping G15 with a stock stiff shaft. It's certainly has been in my bag the longest.

I recently replaced it with a Paradym AI Smoke TD/Tensei AV Blue 55 stiff. The anticipation of its premier in my bag rivaled that of SW The Phantom Menace. The reviews are about the same. Pretty good, but not exactly what I was hoping it was going to be.

Edited 9 hours ago by "Mr. 72"

[somalley60]

Early golfing - TM Pittsburgh Persimmon (circa 1979 - still have it)

Now - Ping G430

Edited 8 hours ago by somalley60

[MarvChamp]

All depends on the shaft I guess. I have fondness for my Nike Vapor Fly with Mitsu Tensei Blue C Series 50 in A Flex, and I break it out from time to time. (I am, after all, SO-O-O-O old!) That club just seems to sit naturally behine the ball. My other old faves would be a Callaway Diablo. Best, -Marv

[dandad]

The Original Taylor Made Metal changed the game more than any.

[Bohnson]

2016 Taylormade M1. I still use it and the three wood. 

[bens197]

G400LST hands down has been my favorite, best performing driver. It’s a unicorn. 

[Rock3Putt]

Titleist 975D was my favorite. Years ago when I was young I had Tommy Armour 1 iron thru w4 in my back and only wood was a Titleist 975D 9 1/2 degree driver, yea, I carried 15 clubs cause I had whole set. Loved em. Eagled same par 5 - 3 times in one day hitting 975 as my 3 wood when needed. Great driver. 

[NCDuffer]

G400Max, but went to a TSi2.  The Max was a fairway finder but just too much spin.  The TSi2 gained me 18 yards on average.  Some days I do wish I had the Max, but it’s not often.

[Bob Thompson]

For it's time and technology biggest big Bertha.  Only complaint is that shafts were inconsistent 

[KMac420]

Taylormade R5, stiff shaft can't remember weight tho, but it was 8.5 loft, didn't bother me however I gamed the heck out of that thing , still miss it.

[MIGregB]

22 hours ago, Indy_Oz said:

The Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max is the Rogue ST Max LS’ spiritual successor. 
I have a Rogue LS I games until last fall and my only issue with it was anything in the toe resulting in a low spinning pull or hook. The Ai TD max doesn’t have that miss so far. But it is both forgiving and a fairly low spinning bomber. Definitely more forgiving than the stock Ai TD. 
if you’re looking to update, that would be one to track down and test. 

Well... I sincerely hope the Ai Smoke TD is a great driver, since I just took delivery on one and will be putting into play for the 1st time tomorrow! My range session says it's pretty darn straight, but I was still getting more spin than I wanted. Higher spin is expected with range balls, but still.

But the driver that I remember most fondly is a Callaway X Hot; I could bomb that thing! But that was 10 or so years ago when I still had a reasonably fast swing. I'm embarrassed to think about the number of drivers I've had since then as I chase nirvana!!

Oh, and my son still has the X Hot where I get to use it on occasion. But he's in Phoenix and everything goes much farther in Phoenix!

Edited 7 hours ago by MIGregB

[Hacker Milt]

Currently playing the Ping G430.  By far, the best driver I have ever played.  Easy to hit AND long.  I played a Callaway Epic for a long time but the G430 is clearly better.

 Added the G430 3 wood last year and turned the loft up and made it a 4 wood.  Really easy to hit!

Looking at the G430 hybrid now.

[golfinnut]

1998 - Titleist 975D 

This was 'THE' best driver I ever had in the bag.  It was automatic.  Fairway finder & long!  Maybe it was that I had a better swing back then & was younger & could generate more club head speed to hit it further but.  This will always be my all time favorite.  Still have it sitting in the 'Nut Cave as well.   

[boylerz1]

SLDR 430. It is still in my bag loaded with a Speeder 757 S shaft. 

I've tried to get rid of it and get fit for a new driver multiple times over the past 4 seasons, but every time I don't see any better numbers. 

[Canada8888]

Sim 2

 

[kch112654]

Titleist 983k.Still have mine and go back to it from time to time.

[Old Justice]

For me it was the original big Bertha driver. At the time steel shafts were still prominent in drivers and the metal heads coming out to replace the persimmon/maple ones were built to the same size and shape as their wooden predecessors. If anyone remembers the Taylormade Burner/ lynx, or Titleist offerings etc, they might agree with me that they were incredibly unforgiving to hit (although long when struck out of the sweet spot) .
 

The big Bertha, with its oversized head (little bigger than a modern rescue) unique hosel, rounded low profile, matching RCH graphite shaft - which you could also get in a new “firm” flex between regular and stiff - as well as the branded grip and super desirable head cover, made this Driver unlike anything seen before.

 

Add to that the forgiveness, distance and that high pitched scream and flash off the face compared to wooden clubs, and in my opinion you had the most seismic shift in the history of drivers - comparable to when the Ping Anser showed the world it’s unique shape and balance. 
 

I remember at the time thinking that Drivers couldn't get any better. I wonder if, in 30-40 years, there will be a similar nostalgia for the current crop, and a comparable leap in performance. Ah, nostalgia…