Titleist 983K?!

[tmw4h5]

Like a lot of you, I played a Titleist 983K years ago. It was fantastic. For some reason, that's the ONE driver I've always kept in the golf closet in an old bag. I've had a ton of drivers come and go, but that one always sits there.

So, yesterday I decided to hit the range with my M4 (Diamana S+ 60x) and bring the old 983K (Aldila NV 65-s) and hit some balls with both. I had tighter dispersion and more consistency with the 983k vs the M4. I was only 5-10 yards longer with the M4 vs the 983k. 

What in the world?! 

[cgasucks]

It just goes to show you how much driver tech has plateaued since then.  Your M4 is marginally longer because of the larger head size which has increased ball speeds on off center hits and offers higher launch and lower spin.

[setter02]

983K was the first 'real' club I bought for myself about a year after it came out.  Had a 13* 980F and 18* with a steel shaft.  Sold as a package on ebay years later but always think so fondly of that set up I had.

[kkrenzke]

I have a Tour issed one that I can repeatedly hit nice babt draws with... this thread has me pulling it out and holding it again!!

 

[kro88]

I still have one with a Graffalloy Blue that I'll take out from time to time.  Thing is mint

[FOOTJOY16]

I still tell stories about some of the drives I hit with my 8.5 983K with the stock speeder shaft.. that thing was a cannon...

[azgreg]

I've got three of these. Don't use them anymore.

 

[bnperrone]

7 hours ago, tmw4h5 said:

M4 (Diamana S+ 60x) and bring the old 983K (Aldila NV 65-s

That's a significant difference in flex. You might consider a change in your M4.

[tmw4h5]

3 minutes ago, bnperrone said:

That's a significant difference in flex. You might consider a change in your M4.

 

I also have a PX Yellow 63g 6.0 that I've used in the M4. I oddly hit it about the same as the Diamana S+ 60x. 
PX Yellow 6.5 76g in my 4 wood -- love it.
KBS Tour 130x in the irons -- love them.

 

[bnperrone]

Just now, tmw4h5 said:

 

I also have a PX Yellow 63g 6.0 that I've used in the M4. I oddly hit it about the same as the Diamana S+ 60x. 
PX Yellow 6.5 76g in my 4 wood -- love it.
KBS Tour 130x in the irons -- love them.

 

Could also be something about the bend profile in the Aldila that really speaks to you. It's great you're getting that much performance out of the Titleist, don't get me wrong, but I feel like there's more progress in the tech and you're an ideal shaft away from taking advantage of it. I've been wrong before, though.

[tmw4h5]

2 minutes ago, bnperrone said:

Could also be something about the bend profile in the Aldila that really speaks to you. It's great you're getting that much performance out of the Titleist, don't get me wrong, but I feel like there's more progress in the tech and you're an ideal shaft away from taking advantage of it. I've been wrong before, though.

Totally get where you're coming from. I'm going to hopefully do a full-bag fitting later this month. Hoping to wait for a good deal from Club Champion.

[Hougz79]

I loved my 983K.  Put a NV-85X in it, such a missile launcher.  

[Valtiel]

Check all the basic specs (length, swingweight, total weight) to see where the differences are in the clubs. There is a good chance that if near stock that the 983k is both shorter and heavier, which for many people can lead to more consistency and better strikes. You're also dealing with different shaft profiles with different flexes, which combined with any differences in weight and length could easily explain the performance. The good news is that you can take what you learn from the different specs and apply them to the M4 to improve your consistency. The 983k may be as much as an inch shorter than the M4, and the head may be anywhere from 5-10g heavier, both things you can bring over to the M4 with aftermarket weights and cutting down the shaft so you can have your cake and eat it too. 👍

[tomc262]

22 hours ago, tmw4h5 said:

Like a lot of you, I played a Titleist 983K years ago. It was fantastic. For some reason, that's the ONE driver I've always kept in the golf closet in an old bag. I've had a ton of drivers come and go, but that one always sits there.

So, yesterday I decided to hit the range with my M4 (Diamana S+ 60x) and bring the old 983K (Aldila NV 65-s) and hit some balls with both. I had tighter dispersion and more consistency with the 983k vs the M4. I was only 5-10 yards longer with the M4 vs the 983k. 

What in the world?! 

Still hitting my 983e with the same shaft!  Those are pure woods!

[tmw4h5]

11 hours ago, Valtiel said:

Check all the basic specs (length, swingweight, total weight) to see where the differences are in the clubs. There is a good chance that if near stock that the 983k is both shorter and heavier, which for many people can lead to more consistency and better strikes. You're also dealing with different shaft profiles with different flexes, which combined with any differences in weight and length could easily explain the performance. The good news is that you can take what you learn from the different specs and apply them to the M4 to improve your consistency. The 983k may be as much as an inch shorter than the M4, and the head may be anywhere from 5-10g heavier, both things you can bring over to the M4 with aftermarket weights and cutting down the shaft so you can have your cake and eat it too. 👍

I definitely need to check out shaft profile and swing weight. 

The 983k is 1/2" longer than my cut-down M4. But the 983k feels noticeably heavier than the M4. It just feels good.

[evoviiiyou]

Its a great driver and my gamer for many years from launch till the R11 came out. Its just not nearly as forgiving as the modern gen.  If you hit the sweetness, its as long as anything but off sweet spot hits are punished. Good ball strikers could probably game this with the right shaft and be as long anyone in their group

[Gsea]

It never appealed to me but I still have and play often the 975D and 975fs. Always thought the 975D was a cannon and very forgiving, especially toe hits.

[brennanms22]

On 11/1/2020 at 6:58 PM, kro88 said:

I still have one with a Graffalloy Blue that I'll take out from time to time.  Thing is mint

Any chance its for sale? 

[kro88]

1 hour ago, brennanms22 said:

Any chance its for sale? 

is not.  has some sentimental value which is one of the reasons i still have it

[PixlPutterman]

It's the real deal in steel

 

 

[jplroper]

5 hours ago, PixlPutterman said:

It's the real deal in steel

 

 

Big fan of steel shafted drivers.

[PixlPutterman]

5 hours ago, jplroper said:

Big fan of steel shafted drivers.

Me too, right now Im baggin a TM OO Mini with x100 at 43"

[RogerinNewZealand]

On my 3rd Ping Rapture ,this stays in the Fairway.......the Nike VR  S 3 wood was gifted last xmas,added my PLBlue.When hit well, its a great club and TM Vsteel 7,20  found a month ago.Way longer for a 20 than anticipated.915 is being tested vs TS3,just arrived.I dont seem to need the added forgiveness ....my Impact mid season is usually quite good..so its just shaft matching thats my key area.Loved the 905T..400cc🙂

[cbjuhr]

Still have a 983e I give a whack every once in a while. I'm seeing a bigger advantage than the 5-10 yrds mentioned with the new stuff but the 983 still feels great to hit, especially with a Professional.

[blink3665]

I have 2 983Ks and a 983E. They are all so much fun to hit. I need the extra forgiveness that 'modern' drivers offer, but its fun to get out with the old guard once in a while.

[Abh159]

Up until this year my 905R that I got in 2008 was till in the bag (I did have the 983K prior). It was one hell of a club. I switched to the SIM after doing a fitting. I ended up gaining about 15 yard of distance, but the main difference between the 905R and the SIM was the forgiveness. My mishits were almost 30 yard shorter and 40 yards offline with the 905R compared to just 15 yards shorter and only 20 yards offline with the SIM. 

 

Either way it goes to show that no matter what the OEM's marketing teams want us to believe, driver technology really hasn't changed all that much over a span of 12 years.

[Buzzkill]

Great driver, still as good as new stuff out there IMO!

[PorkChopExpress]

Like someone said above, mishits is where new technology is. 

 

[BCULAW]

I went through a spell about 5-6 years ago where I was really struggling to find distance and consistency off the tee. There was one particular hole on my course with a moderate forced carry that used to eat me alive!!!!  I spent a ton of money trying to make that carry!  Ha ha!  
 

the answer for me, ultimately, was a $9 Titleist 983E With a Pro-Lite stiff. It was longer, straighter, and more consistent than any of the “modern” drivers I had been bagging. I played it for 2 full seasons, and still have it in the garage. Best $10 I’ve ever spent. 

[Fairway14]

My driver shots are consistently straighter with my 355 CC head size KZG SP700 than with any of the 450 CC plus size drivers I've played.

I think a 350 size head is easier to square at impact than a 450 size head.

The Titleist 983K has a 365  CC head size.