If you had $300 bucks to spend on a new driver...

[hoosiervolunteer]

What would it be?

It has to be retail.

[kkhere]

hmmm prob a g5 w/ a prolaunch or a macgregor mac tec (thing is beastly long)

[jbombardieri]

hmmm prob a g5 w/ a prolaunch or a macgregor mac tec (thing is beastly long)

70260[/snapback]

G5

[crispies]

MacTec, no lie. And you can get an Eye-O-Matic 3 wood to go with it all for that price.

[GolfSLO]

I just did... I spent $299 on a new Nike SasQuatch 460 - 9.5 stiff flex.

[Sakman]

It has to be retail.

70259[/snapback]

 

Retail as in "brick & mortar" or "retail vs. tour"

 

Are you set on picking up something new? If not, there's quite a few selections in the BST section that are easily worth checking out.

[hoosiervolunteer]

Wife wants to get me a new driver for Christmas and wants to go to the store with me to get fit and take it home. So new retail is my option. I'm leaning towards the G5 or SQ. I play to a 7 handicap, so I can make most things work. Keep the recommendations coming!!! It's the wife's money, not mine!

 

Retail as in brick and mortar.

[kgk]

Bridgestone J33R 460. This driver is great, and you can get the relatively cheap. Sets up square/open, deep face, pear shape, just perfect to my eye. Buy one and put in any shaft you like - I really dislike the NV65S that came in mine, but I'm putting in a GD PM702 which should make this club pretty much perfect.

[Steve_FLA]

My vote for the Nike SQ. I bought one two weeks ago...it just wants to go straight!

 

-Steve

[JHR]

TaylorMade 580 XD.

[spring70]

It has to be retail.

70259[/snapback]

 

 

J33R 460

[myurick2]

G5 with Pro Launch.

[m3nace]

I have hit just about every retail (US) driver and all the TM tour heads. The J33R 460 beat them all. You have to really put a wicked bad swing on the ball to snap hook it. :P And it's loooong.

[ScottWS33]

Ping G5. Really forgiving driver and available with Aldila NV or Graffaloy ProLauch upgrades at no extra cost. It would be a good choice.

[ohmslaw]

I'd look at the J33R 460 or the Launcher Comp or the Launcher 460 Ti

 

JMHO

[Ryun]

I am in the same position and after many launch sessions, I decided to go with the R7 quad. The Ping G2/G5 hit waaaay too high for me.

I know its being replaced by the 425 but for 250ish with a decent shaft, its a pretty good buy if it works for you

[IMAGOLFER]

It has to be retail.

70259[/snapback]

 

 

J33R 460

70414[/snapback]

 

Gets my vote as well. :tongue:

[tickyboy]

Another for the J33R 460. You could even find the 420 for cheaper, and that's no slouch of a driver either.

[golfer_junior]

I'll add a vote for Bridgestone J33R 460 if you tend to miss left. If you miss right then Nike SQ Max.

[hoosiervolunteer]

Good Stuff Guys! Thanks. Here is the tally so far:

 

Bridgestone: 10

Ping G5: 7

SQ: 4

MacTec: 2

Cobra: 1

TMade R7: 1

TMade 580XD: 1

Cleveland: 1

Bertha 454: 3

Keep the posts coming! I'm surprised the Bridgestone has so much love. I never really thought about their stuff before.

[bert-b]

I can't believe there isn't a vote for the Callaway Big Bertha Titanium 454.... Upgrade the shaft to the Graphite Design YS-6+ for less than $300.... It's a simple, great driver, and I've tried just about all of them and keep coming back to the 454....

 

Thanks,

Bert-B

[dolleris]

Cleveland Comp.

R5 N.

G5.

Bstone R 460.

Cally 454.

Titleist 905T.

 

But we don't exacly know what You are looking for?

A draw machine?

A fade machine?

 

You have already got all sorts of answers......

[hermes]

bb 454 with upgraded shaft! gotta get one!

[handz98]

Count another vote for the G5.

[SwingMan]

I think it depends on your swing.

 

 

For smooth wide swings with a neutral or ascending blow and forgiveness, I'd say SQ Max. It can be a beast. But one can be put off by its looks. The SQ Tour is an alternative.

 

The Bridgestone (demoed the 420 head in the spring) is a very solid beast that needs a higher loft to get it up there.

[rookjs80]

G5 or Bridgestone 460

[hoosiervolunteer]

Good Stuff Guys!  Thanks.  Here is the tally so far:

 

Bridgestone: 10

Ping G5: 7

SQ: 4

MacTec: 2

Cobra: 1

TMade R7: 1

TMade 580XD: 1

Cleveland: 1

Bertha 454: 3

Keep the posts coming!  I'm surprised the Bridgestone has so much love.  I never really thought about their stuff before.

70626[/snapback]

 

Thanks for all the great replies. I appreciate all the help. I hit the Nike SQ today. Every shot was dead straight and great length. The big size didn't bother me. Don't laugh but I kind of liked it! Something different besides all the gray, blue, and black pears. Not really a Nike fanboy but I can't say anything bad about the SQ. Keep the good recommendations coming!

[Oaks]

B'Stone 460

[millercg]

Cleveland Launcher 460 Comp (best driver I've hit to date)

Cleveland Launcher Ti 460

Titleist 905T

Callaway FT3

Ping G5

Titleist 983K

Cobra SZ 400

TM R580XD

Ping G2

Callaway BB 454

TM R7 Quad

Nike Ignite 460

Nike SQ (A boat on a stick)

TM R5 Dual (very disappointed in this one)

[SirShanksAlot]

bb 454 with upgraded shaft! gotta get one!

71058[/snapback]

 

Ya I like that one too