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VOTE: What's the Best Driver of 2017?


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Having hit most of these driver models, I voted for the Callaway Epic Sub-Zero, Ping G LS Tech, and Cobra King F7+. I need low-spin drivers to optimize performance for my 107 to 110 MPH driver swing, and these are the driver models that work best FOR ME. For other golfers, there most certainly are better choices.

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I have also Hit nearly all of these drivers. I am biased towards the Callaways, but having sold golf equipment for 13 years now, I saw the biggest technology boost this year in the last couple. Everyone has a different swing and those different clubs will balance better too them. realistically almost any of these drivers could be comparable if they are custom fit properly. I have an EPIC Sub Zero that blew all of these other clubs out of the water when fit. Spin rate is still high, but that is my swing unfortunately. The Sub-Zero was on average 12.2 yards longer than the best fitting M1 I tried. I have also converted 2 of my 3 friends who bought M1s this year to already replace them, the other, the M1 just fit better. If there was one driver that was truelly better than all the others out there, the market would go lopsided and companies would stop making drivers (obviously exaggerated but you catch the point).

 

Driver Sound (Feel):

In all my years of custom fitting, I have always explained to players that sound is feel, and it is also variable. When you swap out shafts in a golf club you essentially re-tune the vibration from impact through a new channel of carbon weaving in the shaft, altering the sound. This is a constant battle for fitting, as you can fit someone to the right shaft, but then they don't like the feel of the club, when in reality their launching specs are spot on. I have also seen it the other way... a gentlemen hit one ball with a driver I gave him, turned around and shook his head; Said he hated the way it sounded. I swapped out the shaft for something that fit him better after a quick analysis on one swing (yeah sometimes that's all you get), and gave him the same driver. He didn't even look at what I gave him, just swung it, loved it, and wanted to buy it on the spot. When I told him it was the same driver he hit the first time, he didn't really have words to explain it, but loved the club and bought it.

 

This is why I selected the Callaway EPIC Sub-Zero as my favorite driver. You hit this club with a variety of shafts and while the sound changes it still feels very rock solid and firm at impact. I was worried that this "Players" version would sacrifice forgiveness, but in the short sample size I have so far, it sacrifices nothing over the standard EPIC in forgiveness.

 

Overall:

Go get custom fit, it makes a difference, and try everything!

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Chose all of the Callaway drivers...

 

1/2. EPIC GBB/Sub Zero pushed the envelop in design and materials to produce increased ball speed and gains. For once a driver did what a company said it would do.

 

3. Uber forgiving but this started the ability for us mere mortals to get a sub 45 driver (44.5) stock from factory. Callaway listen and carried it over to the EPIC line... bravo!

Callaway Epic Speed Triple Diamond LS *9.0 w/ UST Attas 11
Callaway Mavrik *15 w/ UST Attas 11
Callaway Mavrik *18 w/ UST Attas 11
Callaway 19' Apex Pros 4-Pw/ UST Recoil 125 Protos F4 
Callaway MD5 50W & 54W & 58X w/ UST Recoil 125
protos F4

Tyson Lamb Customed Long Neck Allendale 
#lookatthebaby #teamcallaway

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is this not a bit daft? Unless you have tested all of the above drivers how can you make an informed choice?

 

Surely this should be a poll of the most popular driver rather than the best. WRX will be giving out gold, silver and bronze medals next.

 

Yep. Fun little poll but really doesn't mean anything. Better off doing what Wrx has done in the past and giving this poll to professional club fitters.

 

I volunteer!

917D3 8.5* Atmos Blue 6X
917F2 15* Motore Speeder 7.2 X
915Hd 20.5* Rogue Black 85 S
716 AP2 4-PW Project X LZ 5.5 tipped .5"
Vokey SM6 50.12* F, TVD 54* K 58* K
Bettinardi Kuchar Model 2 KBS Tour Custom Black/Blue 34"

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Didnt vote for any of them.

 

Best of this lot are M1 and Cally Epic I suspect, but I have tried both and they cant "hold a candle" to my Cally V series 9.5 with Speeder 565 stiff for a 95 MPH swing speed.

 

My thoughts on the new tech? If Callaway made a proper titanium crown in the first place, they wouldnt get "Crown distortion" at impact and the jailbreak bars would be redundant. Its a case of; fix a weak crown with an otherwise unnecessary feature which probably creates other imbalances!

 

Bet you all two bob that this feature will quietly disappear within two club cycles! :derisive:

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I have tried several of these drivers and so far none of them exceed the distance and accuracy of my TM r7-425. But I liked the feel and shot pattern of the new TM M1 and M2 drivers a lot. I tested both Callaway drivers and the launch was way way way lower and the overall flight characteristics were lousy. Would have needed to go to a 11.5 or even higher degree driver to get even a reasonable distance loss of about 15-20%. And considering i don't hit it that far any way (under 200 usually), that's totally unacceptable.

 

Bridgestone drivers all felt tinny. Cobra and titleist just don't have the distance needed. All way less than current.

 

I really would switch as soon as I find one that consistently is longer than my current one. I want more than 180 yard average. But todays just don't provide that.

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Seriously! Season just starting and picking best driver of the year?? Ask it after everyone has used their choices all year.

[color=#A4A4A4][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=2]Taylormade M2[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#A4A4A4][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=2]Nike Sumo 3w, 5w[/size][/font][/color]
[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#a4a4a4][size=2]Nike CPR 26*[/size][/color][/font]
[color=#A4A4A4][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=2]Mizuno JPX-EZ Forged, 5-PW[/size][/font][/color]
[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#a4a4a4][size=2]Cleveland 588 RTX 50,54,58[/size][/color][/font]
[color=#A4A4A4][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=2]Scotty Futura X7M DB[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#A4A4A4][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=2]Precision Pro NX7 Pro[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#A4A4A4][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=2]Arccos Game Tracker[/size][/font][/color]

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I tested both epics, both new M1 and M2, titleist 917, cobra f7+.... I got the best ball speeds from the taylormade drivers, love the sound of the epics but couldn't get the same ball speeds. The cobra and titleist were just behind the epic for me.

 

However, my 2016 M1 produced exactly the same ball speed as this years M1. (160). The spin rate on the 2017 averaged about -10 rpm and sounds noticeably better but I couldn't justify replacing my gamer at $500 for -10 and better sound.

Taylormade M1- diamana whiteboard x-stiff set at 6.5*
Titleist 915 13.5*- diamana whiteboard x-stiff
Callaway apex/pro combo set- project x 6.5
Callaway Mack daddy 50, 54, 58
Odyssey works versa

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I voted for the F7, Z565 and M2-D. The reason I did is because they are the 3 I will test my R15/Accra F150 M3 against. Nothing last year beat it bad enough to buy a new one so, I'll see if these three can. I may also give the Epic a try but, it seems all drivers now have some internal something or other so, I'll see how the jailbreak does against my current driver.

Driver - Cleveland Launcher Turbo 10.5* Miyazaki 5R
Hybrid - Cleveland Halo #2 16* Miyazaki 6R
Irons - Cleveland CBX 4-PW Miyazaki 6R
Wedges - Cleveland CBX 50* & 54* Rotex
Putter - Cleveland Frontline Elevado
Ball - Srixon Z-Star
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shame no love for the Srixon 565

I feel the same way. If Srixon would get into the US market more, I feel golfers would find out what outstanding golf clubs they make.
Driver - Cleveland Launcher Turbo 10.5* Miyazaki 5R
Hybrid - Cleveland Halo #2 16* Miyazaki 6R
Irons - Cleveland CBX 4-PW Miyazaki 6R
Wedges - Cleveland CBX 50* & 54* Rotex
Putter - Cleveland Frontline Elevado
Ball - Srixon Z-Star
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M1 460 gave me the best results. Was able to increase launch without much added spin with the T slide weight. Feel is good and felt forgiving, dispersion results backing that up.

Epic SZ is solid, but feels harsher and was not as forgiving or optimized.

M2 feels great, can hit it all over the face, was not able to dial in as well as the M1, feels light.

Stealth 2 10.5˚ Ventus TR Red 6-S
Stealth 15˚ Ventus TR Blue 7-S
Stealth 19˚Hy Ventus Blue 8-S
SIM DHY 4 Modus GOST 95
P770 5-PW MMT 105
MG Hi-Toe 3 50˚, 54˚, 58˚ MMT 125
Evnroll ER2v Mid Slant
TP5 Pix
Bushnell Pro X3

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Ping g lst as it is in the bag. It has been as long as my old driver but I'm playing in winter conditions.

 

As others mention though it is a shaft that you hold and I like holding the Alta 55 stiff. No idea who makes it but it works great for me.

G430 MAX 10K 9° w/ventus velocore red 5s

G430 MAX threewood ping chrome tour2 65 S
Taylor Made SIM MAX2 5wood w/ventus velocore blue 7

Adams 23º 9031 proto w' diamana ahina 82
Eye2   3-SW

Oddessy Rossie nsl og slant neck.  

 

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Ping G hands down. Great distance and the most forgiving.

 

What has the Epic done for Phil's accuracy or for that matter any Cally Staffer ?

 

I would never vote for a TM product since in six months they will bring out another "Me Too" driver and DE-Value the one you just bought.

Ping G430 10.5, Ventus Red 60
TM 16.5 HL Wood,  Fuji Red TR 70
TM 7 wood,  Fuji Red TR 70

Ping G430  Hybrid # 22
PXG Gen 6 XP irons 5-GW with MMT 95 shafts

TM M4 54 & 58 Wedges

Odyssey Versa M5  Putter

 

 

 

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. I am not sure that I would consider this a 2017 Driver, but my vote went to the Ping G LS tec. The fact that my G is still holding its own against the latest 2017 releases has me very excited to see what Ping will release later this year. I was excited to demo the Callaway Epic, it not only looks very appealing, but it does perform very well. It is the first driver since the G30 from a manufacture other than Ping that I felt offered a full combination of distance and forgiveness. The reason I ranked my Ping G over the Callaway epic was the epic was equal but not better, so the tie goes to the reigning champ.

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The order from pre-season testing us mizuno jpx 900 then Epic then ping g from last year.

 

Jpx goes straight, best real deal shaft and is long and very adjustable.

Mizuno ST-Max 10.5 Smoke RDX 50 5.5, AI Smoke 10.5 with HZRDOUS RDX RED 50 5.5

Mizuno ST-MaX 5 stock Kail'l R

Mizuno ST-Max 7 stock Kail'l R

AI Smoke HL 7-AW Nippon Neo 85

AI Smoke 7/8 Hybrid HZRDOUS Siver 65 Gen 4 5.5

Cleveland Full Face 52

Cleveland Full Face 56

Odyssey Jailbird 380

Titelist prov1x/Callaway Chrome Soft

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Ping LST .... #1.

Ping G430 10k - 10.5° Driver Tour Chrome 2.0 65 or Ventus Blue 6-S Velo

Ping G430 Max 15° 3 Wood - Tour Chrome 2.0 65 S or Ad Di8-S
Ping G430 Max 21° 7 Wood - Tour Chrome 2.0 75 S

Ping G430’s, 4-P/W - UST Recoil ES 780 F4-S

Ping G430 - 45° & 50° - UST Recoil 95's F4-S

Ping Glide Pro 56° - UST Recoil 95's F4-S

Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380 Limited Edition Putter

Ping DLX Cart Bag

V1 Sport Push Cart - Garmin Approach G80

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I have hit three 2017 drivers on indoor launchmonitors: the Epic, the new M1 and the new M2...none of them are better than the best ones produced between 2015 and 2016.

 

Helluva first post Jon and welcome to WRX

 

 

The answer to better golf is hit it better, farther, and make more putts.

 

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I haven't found a driver to oust my 913 d2 until this year.

 

It boiled down to the Epic and the M1.

 

Both gave me better numbers than my 913.

 

Epic:

Felt great, looked great, numbers were basically 99.9% optimized for my swing.

 

M1:

Much of the same from above. Optimal spin, launch, smash factor...

 

 

 

I ended up going with the M1. It gave me a slightly tighter dispersion, and I liked looking down at it slightly more.

 

That being said, I gave 1 vote to each for this poll.

Callaway, Titleist, Miura, Mizuno, Piretti

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