Please recommend an old school driver that can still keep up today!

[CISM Wayne]

My thoughts from experience:

 

Titelist 983K

 

Bridgestone J33

 

Titleist 909D3

 

Taylor Made 510 TP

 

The R11 and R11S, if you can find one, can still keep up with the newest stuff.

[otw]

Ping G2/5/10 are still fantastic. I still think the longest combo I’ve ever had was an Orlimar HipTi 420 with an early Taylormade Mitsubishi Tour shaft. Russian titanium baby!

 

Yeah the Orlimar HipTi 420 was and still is ridiculously good.

Have 3 , two 9.5 and one 10.5. With a shaft that fits the head will keep up without a doubt.

[jgolf215]

Callaway XR16 for me, but I realize that's not that old. It keeps up with my GBB Epic on everything but dead center hits, and even then there's not much in it. And forgiveness goes to the XR16 no question in my mind.

If that's not old enough I really liked the Razr Hawk Tour.

[SubaruWRX]

Any TM R5xx XD

 

And I’ve seen them on the bHey in good condition for under $40 shipped

[Cwebb]

Callaway XR16 for me, but I realize that's not that old. It keeps up with my GBB Epic on everything but dead center hits, and even then there's not much in it. And forgiveness goes to the XR16 no question in my mind.

If that's not old enough I really liked the Razr Hawk Tour.

 

That was a 2016 release :lol:

[Dizz]

When you ask this question— what are you referring to?

 

Strictly ball speed?

 

Maximizing launch conditions?

 

Simply taking an older driver on the course with your brand new 2019 model that’s fully custom fit and having the old one keep up? No Trackman, no Flightscope, no simulators... just golf course results?

 

I think the answer is yes, especially to the the latter of my hypothetical questions. For example, one driver that I never got rid of is (in my opinion) the best driver of all time and the one that truly paved the way for “tour issue” golf clubs. I was obsessed with golf clubs, tinkering and trying to find the absolute best clubs for me even when I was in high school. BSG started selling the first tour issue TaylorMade clubs— it was the 300 Tour, some called the “holy grail” of clubs, especially for that era. I bought one of the first batch of 50 he got in, 9.5 degrees with a Mitsubishi Rayon shaft that I immediately reshafted with DG X-100 @ 43.75”. I found steel gave me the best results back then and I really swung at it hard as a 16-17-18 year old. I bet I was every bit of 120 club head speed... I hit PW 150 back then before I learned how to dial things in. I still own that driver and I hit it well... straight and it’s optimized as well on Trackman. It’s slightly slower than my current driver... 2 mph less ball speed or so and 10-12 total yards on Trackman. But on the course it’s negligible— more like 5-8 yards and I do find myself hitting more fairways with my misses being far less penal. So you ask yourself what’s most important in that situation?

 

Heads that I also think can compete that are at least 8+ years old...

 

TaylorMade R510DF / R510TP

 

TaylorMade 500 Tour (tour issue only)

 

PING G2

 

PING TiSi Tec

 

Titleist 905S (with the right human being swinging the club)

 

Titleist 905R

 

I’m sure there are more that will come to me as I keep thinking— those are just from the top of my head.

 

I don’t want to put anything on here that’s 5 years old as they should keep up!

[Shaftology]

TaylorMade Burner "08

 

TaylorMade R7 425

 

Cleveland Launcher 10.5 (initial release was non-conforming!!)

 

Cobra ZL and ZL Encore

 

A few others along the way but these stand out...

[jcikotas]

Cleveland Launcher Titanium. I routinely test this club against newer options on a trackman and it always outperforms both on a consistency and distance level (even cut 1/2 inch shorter). That said, I cannot overemphasize the importance of getting fit. I have been told by several fitters that I found the perfect shaft for my swing (Graffaloy Blue X 65g).

[Scooter McGavin]

I went through this recently at a TXG fitting. Current driver is an R7 SuperQuad with a PX Black 5.5. I swing around 95, and ball speed was around 137.5 with 17 launch and 2400 spin. Tried G400, G400 Max, Rogue SZ, M3 and nothing came within 1.5 mph of the ball speed. Will go back to see them to try again when I haven't got 100+ iron swings behind me.

[Malc]

Still not finding much to out blast my 430 SLDR TP. Head is a bit heavy as i had to toe weight it to cut out the loose cannon low left but pair it up with the correct shaft and it's long. Promising myself a new weapon next year though so we'll see.

[Shaftology]

TaylorMade Burner '08

 

TaylorMade R7 425

 

Cleveland Launcher 10.5* (deemed non-conforming after its initial release!)

 

Cobra ZL and ZL Encore

 

Several others but these stand out...

[lvmike]

Callaway XR16 for me, but I realize that's not that old. It keeps up with my GBB Epic on everything but dead center hits, and even then there's not much in it. And forgiveness goes to the XR16 no question in my mind.

If that's not old enough I really liked the Razr Hawk Tour.

 

I'm with you on the Razr Hawk Tour. Even think the headcover can keep up with today's boxing glove style (which I'm fine with).

[schnauzerine]

Taylormade R11-S , with the Phenom 60 gram shaft and the loft set to 12* .

[shotmark]

Dunno if it qualifies as Old School but I replaced my '08 Burner with a Rocketballz mk 1 when it came out and it's still in the bag. It's not for the lack of trying, I go to a TM driver fitting every year and the only thing to come near was the 2016 M2 which was slightly longer but with much worse dispersion.

[Padreruf]

Ha -- just put the Taylormade Burner Draw back in my bag -- it is as long as any and corrects for when I get the club stuck behind me. My TM M2 is in time out -- probably permanently. 2 years and I still cannot trust it...have to play a big fade with it.

[ago33]

SMT 455 Deep Bore was the longest driver for me back in the day.

 

The problem was that most of those drivers spun too much. The deep bore didn’t. If I still had it, I’d throw it on a sim against my epic.

 

455 deep bore

Tee CB2

Mizzy MP 32

Vokey og spin milled

Yes putter

[braveheart]

Attempted using a few of the modern adjustable drivers but tired of the inconsistency in accuracy and feel.

Enjoying the TaylorMade Burner 2007 and the Burner Superfast much more. Solid, long with better sound and feel for me.

[homergolf]

Nike VR Tour with the original Project X Blue real deal shaft

[Willsdr]

I would nominate the TM R7 Superquad TP

 

I've set up 40 of them for my friends - it's the most tuneable club I've ever run into.

 

SST Pureing the TP Rombax shaft allows the shafts really perform and they were made in 14 different flexes/ weights within the R, S, & X ranges. The 4 weight ports allow you dial in feel and flight shape.

 

The guys I've given these to average +35 yards longer than the club played before, and we've been able to manage effective accuracy out to 420 yards.

[3woodvt]

TM 540XD. Started it all imo

TM 580XD was just as awesome.

[CDLgolf]

Cleveland Launcher 400, 460 or comp.

[jasonTeI3]

I would nominate the TM R7 Superquad TP

 

I've set up 40 of them for my friends - it's the most tuneable club I've ever run into.

 

SST Pureing the TP Rombax shaft allows the shafts really perform and they were made in 14 different flexes/ weights within the R, S, & X ranges. The 4 weight ports allow you dial in feel and flight shape.

 

The guys I've given these to average +35 yards longer than the club played before, and we've been able to manage effective accuracy out to 420 yards.

 

I could take a driver that least fits my game and one that fits it perfect and not gain 35+ yards. If you can get me an extra 35 with a Superquad I’ll pay $1000 for that!

[JoeHatesSnow]

I hit my longest drives ever with a TM R580xd 8.5 with a Precision Saber Tour Vector 75 shaft. I'd like to try another one to see how it would do. Next best was a Cleveland Launcher 400 8.5 with original Graphite Design YS-7. One more sleeper: MacGregor MT 8.5 with Grafalloy ProLaunch Red.

[billh17]

Still playing an R9. I have demo'ed most of the new models over the years,but this one is still right up there with them distance wise. Just

cant find one that feels as good,and gives me the results it does. I have found a couple recently that really seemed to be just very easy to

hit,but then I may just be getting the buying bug !

[billh17]

I would nominate the TM R7 Superquad TP

 

I've set up 40 of them for my friends - it's the most tuneable club I've ever run into.

 

SST Pureing the TP Rombax shaft allows the shafts really perform and they were made in 14 different flexes/ weights within the R, S, & X ranges. The 4 weight ports allow you dial in feel and flight shape.

 

The guys I've given these to average +35 yards longer than the club played before, and we've been able to manage effective accuracy out to 420 yards.

 

GEE...wonder why every tour player doesn't have one of these? They're missing the boat !

[BIG STU]

I would nominate the TM R7 Superquad TP

 

I've set up 40 of them for my friends - it's the most tuneable club I've ever run into.

 

SST Pureing the TP Rombax shaft allows the shafts really perform and they were made in 14 different flexes/ weights within the R, S, & X ranges. The 4 weight ports allow you dial in feel and flight shape.

 

The guys I've given these to average +35 yards longer than the club played before, and we've been able to manage effective accuracy out to 420 yards.

Believe it or not there is a certain group of retirees around here that still play those woods now. Kinda has a cult like following within that bunch along with Ping Eye2 irons--- Trust me that bunch will clean your clock off the senior tees--- The old fart retirees at my course will not mess with that bunch

[PeteW]

For me it’s the cobra fly z+. It still gets time in the bag when my G400 LST needs a time out.

[malonso23]

I'm still using my R9 with a custom Project X shaft. It used to be my dad's. He played a few rounds with a Project X rep, who fitted him for the shaft. I still average about 260 with it. Hit it 300 in the last round I played. I'm never giving it up.

[ChipNRun]

I thought old-school drivers had persimmon heads...

[Hilltopper413]

Cleveland Launcher Comp - I can play a little (1.2 index) and I still have one in my bag. The accuracy is unparalleled and every time I’ve tried to give it up (many times) the extra 5-7 yards I get from the new technology does not warrant the loss of accuracy.