No driver in the bag, what to do?

rkinsm03 · May 23, 2017

Hello from a new GolfWRX member, and occasional reader of the GolfWRX forums!

As a golf newbie I:

- don't know my handicap, because I don't actually play 9-18 often enough

- play with hand-me-down (awesome) irons my younger bro donated (Cleveland CG2, dynamic gold 300, crossline full cored oversized)

- am fully uncomfortable with the amount of equipment specialization in golf

- can comfortably place an 8 iron within 10ft +/- the 150 yard marker with regularity on the range (can't really putt)

In 2015 I picked up a used driver off of Craigslist, locally, because it was a Ping G10 in good shape with maybe a seniors regular shaft on it. That shaft folded up on a swing follow through after a particularly long range session while I was using whiteboard marker to give myself a better sense of ball placement/contact patterns.

I race sailboats competitively. There's no specialization to the person. If I get my a** kicked racing Lasers, it's because I'm doing it wrong. If I happen to come out on top, it's not because my equipment is personalized.

But a single new driver is expensive, so I went to Spargo in Warwick, RI, and had a great time getting fitted. I don't know what the data attached really means.

Recommendation was:

917 D2 9.5 lof

Diamana White 70 s

16g draw black weight

A1 setting, midsize grip

1) Do I have a chance/opportunity to buy something off the shelf or a season or two removed from "current" in order to save some money?

2) Is it possible to locate something that sounds so specific in the used market? (because I'm cheap and won't play more than 6 rounds this year?

3) Do I just spend the money knowing that I have a low likelihood of breaking what seemed like a significantly stiffer/more robust shaft, and that I'll be more satisfied in my general ability to mash the ball straight?

4) Should I just go playing golf with the non-fitted ping 3 wood and the CG2 3 iron in my bag and just take some more lessons before filling out a more complete fairway/tee-box club collection?

EddieEdwards · May 28, 2017

A used driver 9.5 degrees of loft with a stiff shaft is gonna be close enough. You could also install a stiff shaft in the ping if you saved the head.