Golf Driver on a budget, recommendations?

[NC Golfer]

My budget is around $200, what club would you choose for a sr golfer and higher handicapper? Used or new, was thinking of a Callaway club on CPO. Any recommendations there or other options?

Edited November 13 by NC Golfer

[sixcat]

I'm assuming by your username, you're from North Carolina. If you happen to be within driving distance of Tee-Time Golf Shop in Jonesville, go talk to Barry. He has thousands of driver heads and shafts and will get you fit into something you will be happy with inside your price range. 

[Morebeer]

Kirkland Driver with a regular shaft $199.  Brand new and hits your price target.  Nice head cover too if you can overlook that big Kirkland logo on it.  I bought one to try (stiff shaft though) and to me its just as good as my $500 drivers.  Have it set to 11 degrees and can hit long high bombs with it, carry 290 easily.

[GolfSpy_APH]

2 hours ago, NC Golfer said:

My budget is around $200, what club would you choose for a sr golfer and higher handicapper? Used or new, was thinking of a Callaway club on CPO. Any recommendations there or other options?

G400 or G400 MAX

[Shrek74]

There are multiple Maltby driver options that can be built to your specs that fall under $200 with a couple different head and shaft options.

https://www.golfworks.com/clubs/maltby-paks/?_bc_fsnf=1&Club+Type=Driver&sort=priceasc

[TJ Hall]

If you can go by a shop to hit a few options, I would recommend that.  But also look a couple years old models.  @GolfSpy_APH mentioned the Ping G400, @cnosil plays this (even sampling new models hasn’t knocked this from his bag).

If you know what you want, Global Golf has some decent deals on pre-owned clubs as well.

[ClarkWGriswoldIII]

The Kirkland driver is really solid for $199.  I'd take a look at the MGS recommendations from a couple of years ago as a start then search the reputable used sited like Callaway pre-owned.

Also, this is a great time of year to find deals on drivers that came out early this year and stretching your budget to $299 brings in some great options like the Mizuno ST Max. 

[Bossfan]

Check out Tour Edge. Something 2/3 years old should be in your price range. I currently play their EXS 220 which is 4 years old and it’s been solid. With Sub 70 coming out with their new driver you should be able to pick up the previous generation 849D at a good price. I hit it a couple of years ago it compared well to the Tour Edge I’ve been using the last few years.

[Wolfstrum]

As others have said there are a lot of options that are 2-3 years old from many of the OEMs. If you search the 2022 best drivers report from MGS it gives you some ideas of how each was rated at that time. You mentioned the used Callaway sight. Several other brands have similar sights to buy used and demo clubs. Golf Galaxy sells demo clubs. Someone mentioned Maltby which is a good option. As are some other DTC options. 
 

I bought the Callaway Mavrik from Golf Galaxy and used Rakuten which got me a great rebate as well to get me to $200 for the cost. I did end up buying a different shaft later which added to the cost.

My son bought the Mavrik driver from the CPO sight as well as Mavrik fairway woods and was very happy with the condition of the clubs. 

[GG194]

Tee Time. One of my favorite places in the world!

[Josh Parker]

Right now Callaway pre-owned is having some good sales currently

[sixcat]

On 11/13/2024 at 7:32 AM, sixcat said:

I'm assuming by your username, you're from North Carolina. If you happen to be within driving distance of Tee-Time Golf Shop in Jonesville, go talk to Barry. He has thousands of driver heads and shafts and will get you fit into something you will be happy with inside your price range. 

 

2 hours ago, GG194 said:

Tee Time. One of my favorite places in the world!

It really is worth the trip!!!

[GolfSpy_KFT]

CPO is always a great option. If at all possible, I'd try to find a Golf Galaxy, PGATSS or similar and see what you can find on the used rack. Just going off your handicap index, a Max or Draw biased version of a club may help you the most with performance. I saw the PING G400 mentioned above, and it's a great one. Other options you could check out are the Aerojet Max from Cobra, which I'm fairly certain you could get for sub $200 used from a place like Global Golf. Paradym  or Paradym X could also be a good option. 

I was never a fan of any of the TaylorMade drivers since they switched to carbon faces, but the OG Sim Max and Sim 2 Max are both very good clubs as well.

Again, see if you can find some 2-3 year old models to hit and go from there!

[JAYER38]

On 11/13/2024 at 7:21 AM, NC Golfer said:

My budget is around $200, what club would you choose for a sr golfer and higher handicapper? Used or new, was thinking of a Callaway club on CPO. Any recommendations there or other options?

Please see these and take them very seriously! I have a G400 for my back up to my Callaway Ai Smoke Max D. The G400 is an amazing club in all its models. Bought mine from Callaway Pre Owned actually for under $200.

 

On 11/13/2024 at 9:59 AM, GolfSpy_APH said:

G400 or G400 MAX

On 11/13/2024 at 12:02 PM, TJ Hall said:

If you can go by a shop to hit a few options, I would recommend that.  But also look a couple years old models.  @GolfSpy_APH mentioned the Ping G400, @cnosil plays this (even sampling new models hasn’t knocked this from his bag).

If you know what you want, Global Golf has some decent deals on pre-owned clubs as well.

There is a reason so many recommend this club and it being from 2017 shoes it was ahead of its time!