Old Driver vs New Stuff (913 vs. M3, TS2, and TS3)

[BleederFade]

Today I had the chance to compare some newer drivers on a with my ole faithful for the past 6ish years and I had some pretty interesting results.

 

TL;DR Make sure to test your old driver before AND after being fit.

 

Some background on me: I'm a scratch to low single digit cap with swing speed in the 120s. I swing rather steep with an out to in path and my typical shot is a baby fade.

 

 

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Clubs being tested (tested on GC Quad with new ProV1s, hit 10+ with each)

 

913 D2 9.5 A1 Diamana D+ 72X 45-45.25 (STD "whiteboard" shaft had Cpm measured when I was fit for the M3, it was 281)

vs.

M3 440 9 Fujikura Atmos Tour Spec Black 7TX 45.25-45.5 in

(Weights back with sleight draw preference and loft one notch higher)

TS2 9.5 A1 Diamana DF 70TX 45.25 - 45.5 in

TS3 9.5 A1 Weights favoring heel. Same shaft as TS2

 

 

Started with my 913 after doing a 10 min warm up. Numbers I was getting were as follows:

Ballspeed: 173-176 Launch: 7.5-11* Avg Spin: 2400 ish Avg Carry: 299 Dispersion: very consistent flight, slight left to right shot with avg deviation being 8 yards left. Largest miss was a big pull left

 

 

M3 was next. I was fitted for this by true spec golf but bought the components on my own to save money

Ballspeed: 172-178 Launch: 7-12* Avg Spin: 2600-2700 Avg Carry: 297 Dispersion: More baby fades but started more on line vs. left. Overall tighter / more consistent dispersion with avg being 1 yard right Largest miss was a big push slice.

 

 

TS2 next.

Ballspeed: 174 - 179 Launch: 8.5-11 Avg Spin: 2300-2400 ish Avg Carry: 300 Dispersion: very straight shots slight pull tendency but not much curve Avg deviation 14 left. Biggest miss was a wicked snap hook off the toe (happened a couple times)

 

 

TS3 last.

Ballspeed: 175-182 Launch: 7.5 - 11.5 Avg Spin: 2300-2400 ish Avg Carry: 304 Dispersion: Normal shot was a fade. Avg deviation was 12 yards right. Only 3 shots ended up left of center line and these were less than 10 yards left, so they were straight. Biggest misses being right going right

 

 

Note: Averages are averages. These take into account outliers high and low that I did not leave out of the data.

 

 

After testing I went back through and hit 3 more balls with each to make sure there was no "warm-up effect" going on. All numbers were in line with previous except my old 913! 2 of the last 3 with the 913 had ballspeeds at 179 which no other club hit besides the TS3. Granted they had lower launch and higher spin so overall carry/distance was within its norm.

 

 

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Some final takeaways:

My 913 is not bad and in my opinion the second best in the test. Had great dispersion. Very solid distance and just worked for a driver that's taken a beating over the past 6ish years.

 

The M3 was the straightest and I could trust the most to hit any fairway but didn't have enough gains in it to justify the upgrade.

 

TS2 had most consistent speeds across the face with more launch that I need. But for some reason I had some terrible snap hooks with it, which I never have.

 

The TS3 was the only one to break 180 ballspeed and it also was the only one to consistently carry longer than 300 yards. Launch was lower and had a bad miss right. If I could get launch up a little and straighten out that right miss a bit, this thing would be deadly.

 

I thought my 913 was going to be blown out of the water distance wise but it wasn't. My swing hasn't changed a whole lot over the years and I am pretty consistent with ball striking so I guess it makes sense my old driver still fit. What this told me is the importance of checking before and after a fitting how your current set up works. Improvements were marginal but it looks like I'll be holding onto the TS3 combo and dumping the rest onto the BST here soon.

[RogerinNewZealand]

Love the info just went to 913d2 at xmas. Predictable flite path is worth so much !Just got 915 4wd and set to lite fade it does a Lite Fade!

[Christen_The_Sloop]

If you are a decent player and find the center, there isn't going to be much different, all things being equal. If you are all over the club face, they are building clubs that might help you a little, but lessons and playing is probably better than going for a new driver.

[sir shanks a lot]

Interesting review! Mark Crossfields had a video recently where he did something similar. He hit his TS3 first followed by I think a F9, M5, and Epic Flash. All had similar numbers, but I think the Flash was a few mph faster in ballspeed. Then he hit a "mystery" driver and saw his best numbers. It was the TS3 again.

 

The TS3 has been a winner for me. Best of luck getting it dialed in!

[MelloYello]

Just switched from the 913 D2 over to an M3 460 and I'll concur. I don't find there to be a ton more distance--probably some though.

 

What I like is that the M3 feels way more stable when I miss towards the toe. In that way, I feel it's been a noticeable improvement. And considering I got mine for under $200 I'm pretty impressed and would upgrade again in a heart beat.

[mizunoMX25]

I went from 913D2 to TS3 as well. Put a GD IZ in it and it is a bomber (for me at least).

[BleederFade]

> @"sir shanks a lot" said:

> Interesting review! Mark Crossfields had a video recently where he did something similar. He hit his TS3 first followed by I think a F9, M5, and Epic Flash. All had similar numbers, but I think the Flash was a few mph faster in ballspeed. Then he hit a "mystery" driver and saw his best numbers. It was the TS3 again.

>

> The TS3 has been a winner for me. Best of luck getting it dialed in!

 

I've come to believe that gains from a fitting are more from changes in ones swing and how you deliver the club that day vs how much improved a club may be. Almost seems like it could be worth getting re-fit for a club if you don't want to buy something new