old vs new driver

[tourpure]

I was browsing Youtube for reviews on drivers the past 10 years and noticed something interesting. Alot of older driver have spin rates and ball speeds similar to todays clubs so is it all just marketing hype or are the golfers just bigger stronger and swing faster than the guys from the 90s and early 2000's?

[Albatrosss]

Face spring effect and MOI are regulated since 2010 I believe, so the difference is not huge. Material and production processes have developed making more extreme CG locations possible in heads but else drivers are very similar the last 10 years. Balls have also developed a bit explaining some of increased yardage. Else its about swing technique, equipment fitting and a part of pro golfers working out more and are taller than before I guess.

[NRJyzr]

COR was regulated in the early 2000s, maybe even in the year 2000. I admit I don't remember the exact year. :) MOI regulations came along a bit later.

 

The biggest difference between the early days and now is the relative forgiveness, and especially spin profiles, of driver clubheads. Where drivers get more interesting is the equipment companies finding a way to combine the two. There was a time low spin was almost by definition unforgiving, but there are plenty of drivers that now produce reasonably low spin while also providing healthy levels of forgiveness.

 

Even the much discussed and occasionally reviled SLDR has an MOI considerably higher than drivers of the 90s or early 2000s. :)

 

I have a J's Professional Weapon driver. It's the first of the uber-lowspin drivers. By virtue of its small size (persimmons are bigger), it's not the most forgiving club I've ever hit. But, hit decently, it will produce distances on par with my newer, low spin sticks (King LTD, Fly-Z+, XCG7 Beta). Along those lines, I also have a TM R510 (not 510TP). Centered, it will also produce distance on par with the best of the new. However, it's only 330cc, it can't stick with the forgiveness side of that equation. ;)

[GSDriver]

I still have my J's Prof Weapon, the first deep face driver which sort of started all this low spin stuff....head the size of a modern day SGI hybrid, but long for it's day.

R510TP and FT3 Tour are as long as any unfortunately sweet spot size of a dime.

[tourpure]

So todays drivers stretch out the sweet spot over the face but if hit on center they all are pretty equal?

[NRJyzr]

So todays drivers stretch out the sweet spot over the face

 

They try to do that, their success at it is debatable in some cases. :)

 

 

but if hit on center they all are pretty equal?

 

There are still differences from model to model. CG locations, spin production, etc. ;)

[tourpure]

In addition to all that we are all guilty to some extent of wanting to play what "they" play. We forget they are mostly getting paid large sums to play the latest and greatest so if you are hitting Old bertha well and she is keeping you in the game stay with her til she caves in or cracks.

[sdandrea]

The answer is "it depends". Most of the replies above are true if you test the old vs new head in fixed conditions (a lab). The truth is in the dirt for practical application. Many of us ho's who try everything have discovered that an old model river with the perfect combination of shaft, length, loft, lie and grip can easily outperform the latest and greatest that may not fit you as well. I had a 2007 TM Burner that was the Holy Grail for me until it got 86'ed by my Cobra Max.

[starrman77]

I have a Ping G driver, Rocketbalz Stage 2, Cobra Flyz, Ping Rapture, Tour Edge V25 and several more. Best of the bunch is my Ping G15, 10.5*, 44.5" with an aftermarket shaft.

[tourpure]

I think I saw a article here on WRX about DJ hitting(carry yardage) Jacks old persimmon 290. So when youre good youre good and it doesn't matter what you play and the opposite is true.If you stink you stink and it doesn't matter what you play. It's just the stink is a bit less.

[SetTheBarrHigh]

I think my old Adams gets the same ball speed on a solid hit as any current model, but I'm looking into the G400 Max for the increased forgiveness on not so solid hits.

[Chuck905]

There was a chapter when I was falling behind on distance and accuracy by getting older.

 

Most recently, I have taken advantaged of the modern equipment to optimally match my swing and maximize my distance.

 

The courses we track, I’m back to hitting from familiar scoring zones or closer now.

 

My break thru, one was swing lessons, shafts, equipment fitting and utilizing the launch monitors for optimal launch, spin and yardage gapping.

 

If you do have the time, a full fitting takes all the guess work out.

 

So yeah, the modern equipment works for me. I even have clubs from 18 years ago to compare lol.

[Fubuman]

I have three drivers, my gamer,

XR16 Pro/ Matrix White Tie 7x3, ball speed 168 mph

Razr Fit / Fubuki K 70x, ball speed 170mph

FTiz Tour / Fubuki Tour 63x, ball speed 166mph

As you can see the RF has the highest ball speed but the launch & spin conditions puts it just behind the XR16 Pro with the FTiz tour just behind it.

They are all so close but the XR16 Pro has the best combination of distance, spin, side spin, launch, look & weight, as a result it is swung with absolute confidence.

BTW, I’ve had numerous drivers in between all of these but these three were the top of the pile.

[tourpure]

I think that Fred Couples was playing a R9 460 for quite some time before he changed.

[Booker]

I think that Fred Couples was playing a R9 460 for quite some time before he changed.

 

Freddy doesn't change often, he played an sldr for around 5 seasons until just recently. Ive heard him talk about it in Calgary during the charity classic on the range. Along with his equipment contract. He said he cant find anything better than the sldr or his squareway 3wood. They do everything he wants them to.

[Fubuman]

Took my Razr Fit / Fubuki K70x out for a game yesterday, been playing my XR16 Pro / Matrix WT 7x3 for a while & really loving it.

Yesterday’s game was a big question mark, why did I try 6 drivers after the Razr Fit?

Some background, swing speed is usually in the 113-119 zone & im usually about 10-15m past my closest buddy, yesterday was crazy with most being 20-25m ahead.

Confirmation coming from the same buddy saying that I hit the RF better, then came a freak drive, par5, 565m long, after 4 near perfect drives from all of us, my ball was 60m past the nearest & I was left with 187m into the green.

We will not talk about the par made but the Razr Fit showed up to kick but, it was crazy long on every drive & is in the bag for now. I have to say though, I hardly ever miss a fairway with my XR16 Pro & the RF missed at least half of my fairways, gonna try & get the RF as consistent as the XR & it should be in the bag for a while. An 8 year old driver that is bombing it better than ever.