Are there really people here spending $600 on a new driver?

[PNW]

Honey, is that you? I promise that TSR3 showing up in a few days is just a used demo. They just packed it up nicely for me. Yes I know I just got the Aerojet LS a few months ago but everyone on WRX says the TSR3 is great so have to give it a fair shake.

[North Butte]

1 hour ago, ace919 said:

...straighter and further than, let's say, a 2011 Cobra Long Tom. 

I'm pretty sure almost everyone on this forum owns a driver they hit straighter and farther than a 2011 Cobra Long Tom.

 

Talk about a fad that died in a skinny minute. Long Tom wasn't even a thing when it was a thing, if you get my meaning.

[MattM97]

35 minutes ago, Chunkitgood said:

Yes because the prices people pay for things sets the prices other people have to pay for things.

 

Yet people keep on buying, they just grumble a bit then rinse and repeat every 1-2 years. 

 

31 minutes ago, ace919 said:

The how is of no concern to me. It's the why. 

 

 

 

That's fair here's my why. I don't buy drivers yearly, I like the process of getting fit, I like going out and seeing if there is anything better not marginally but much better to my eyes, if so I'll buy it. Golf is my hobby, I don't have many others right now so I'll spend more on it for my enjoyment. 

 

What's others why I cannot answer but that's mine. 

 

21 minutes ago, supadupachalupa said:

 

Well my wife is here and she definitely cares how I spend my (<-- she calls it "our") money so yea............

 

Does she care if you're 25 further in the middle of the fairway? Cause that's a good reason lol.

 

[TheBear95]

5 minutes ago, North Butte said:

I'm pretty sure almost everyone on this forum owns a driver they hit straighter and farther than a 2011 Cobra Long Tom.

 

Talk about a fad that died in a skinny minute. Long Tom wasn't even a thing when it was a thing, if you get my meaning.

 

I was thinking the same. Is the OP playing the Long Tom?

 

Because, boy, he might be in for a surprise if he were to try out one of these $600 drivers.

Edited August 23, 2023 by TheBear95

[ace919]

8 minutes ago, OakRockHacker said:

 

Yes, you will almost certainly see a measurable difference in distance and possibly dispersion if you get properly fit for a driver that is 12 years newer than what you have.  Even if your 2011 driver is (still) a perfect fit, driver technology has improved enough that you will (again, almost certainly) see an increase in ball speed.  I see that the Long Tom is a 48inch driver with a lightweight head, so if this is some kind of a trick question, congrats, you baited me into a serious answer.

 

That being said, you can absolutely spend less than $600 on a new (or new to you) driver that will also give you increased performance.  Obviously everyone has different priorities so exactly how much someone is willing to spend for what amount of increased performance comes down to many many different factors.  $600 every year (even without recouping any money from trading in or reselling last years driver) is a drop in the bucket of golf expenses to some, and completely out of the question for others.

 

I got fit last winter for a new driver that I hit further and straighter than the roughly 6 year old driver I had been playing.  I went with a year old model that had just been discounted because the newest one was either just out or about to come out.

There are many ways to spend money, and spending $600 on a driver may very well be one of them. 

 

There are also many ways to get better at golf. I guess I'm just hear to say spending $600 on a driver is not one of them. 

[ace919]

Just now, ace919 said:

There are many ways to spend money, and spending $600 on a driver may very well be one of them. 

 

There are also many ways to get better at golf. I guess I'm just here to say spending $600 on a driver is not one of them. 

Edit: grammar 

[Ri_Redneck]

1 hour ago, Mikey_HACKilroy said:

 

How about this driver?

https://www.pgatoursuperstore.com/beres-07-4-star-47g/1119154003.html?country=US&currency=USD&gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8u9jxnYS6rGiOxi2jUTr5oHZhaLXS0PsdMAo1DE705MBcM5eHlN6qxoCwVYQAvD_BwE

MAN!! Gotta have that MOLE FACE driver!!!!! Gotta be good for another 17 yds!

 

BT

[Ri_Redneck]

YES, there are people buying drivers for far more then $600 and some of them are here. But most do what I do.

 

The most I've spent on a single driver is $400. I bought a new head from someone who bought the club for the shaft. I then bought a new shaft that I wanted and knew fit my swing. Bought a new grip and built and balanced it for my swing. FAR better club than I would get ANYWHERE else.

 

I do the same thing with FWs, irons, wedges and putters.

 

BT

[Springsteennut]

My last two were year old models and combined didn’t even cost me that.

[OakRockHacker]

5 minutes ago, ace919 said:

There are many ways to spend money, and spending $600 on a driver may very well be one of them. 

 

There are also many ways to get better at golf. I guess I'm just hear to say spending $600 on a driver is not one of them. 

I would disagree, spending $600 dollars on a driver that gives you increased performance is definitely one way to get better at golf.  Maybe not the best or most efficient way to spend money to get better for everyone, but definitely a way.

[Davidv]

If you want it and you have the disposable income and that is what you enjoy doing then why not. 

[ace919]

18 minutes ago, TheBear95 said:

 

I was thinking the same. Is the OP playing the Long Tom?

 

Because, boy, he might be in for a surprise if he were to try out one of these $600 drivers.

One of the reasons behind my stubbornness is because the game is getting easier, yet players are not improving at the rate the technology suggests. 

[Phabs]

Yes - thousands of them.  

[ace919]

10 minutes ago, OakRockHacker said:

I would disagree, spending $600 dollars on a driver that gives you increased performance is definitely one way to get better at golf.  Maybe not the best or most efficient way to spend money to get better for everyone, but definitely a way.

 

I'm stubborn because I'll never forget the first time I hit a Taylormade Rocketballz when it came out. It felt like a rocket. I was a bit sad to trade it away for the Cobra Long Tom in 2014, but the reason I haven't gotten rid of it is because my enitre swing was built using this club. I had to learn how to use my body more than my arms to effectively hit that club. That translated to the rest of my game and did wonders for ball striking. Can't imagine a game without it. And now I'm learning its illegal. 

[Sean124]

WTF is a Long Tom?
 

I’ll continue to buy whatever I want. 

[pak]

If its a good fit, a $600 driver should last longer than $50+ dozen of Pro V1's.

[ace919]

55 minutes ago, Anser3 said:

Performance gains across generations of new clubs are negligible in many cases  (almost all major breakthroughs a person may see are the result of a properly fitted club).  This is not new. 

I have a theory that getting fitted clubs works against amateur players in the long term. Why would a player who is looking to improve (think mid - high HC), tailor their clubs to a swing that represents their current skill level they no longer wish to be? 

[Mrgreen36]

I have teenagers, I buy other people's cast away clubs. I'm poor. 

[Kai Slater]

I paid $140 for my 2021 Callaway epic speed driver. Just wait a year or two for the prices to come down

Edited August 23, 2023 by Kai Slater

[ace919]

23 minutes ago, Sean124 said:

WTF is a Long Tom?
 

I’ll continue to buy whatever I want. 

You're a +1 handicap so clearly that $600 driver is doing wonders for you. 

[SollyinGA]

Yeah, I’ve bought 5 new drivers over the past year and half alone 🙂

 

TM Stealth Plus-Face delaminated. Warranty replacement head sold

 

Miz STZ-220 - with upgraded shaft. Used it for about 6 months. Still have it collecting dust in the corner.

 

Ping G430 Max- Used for about a month. Sold head

 

Miz STZ230 with upgraded shaft- Used about 4 months. Sitting in the corner collecting dust, but I will sell it eventually 

 

TSR3 8 degree- Love this thing. It will be around for a while. Yes, I’m still in the honeymoon phase WRX style.

 

Don’t even ask me about iron’s because I’ve spent way more on those and had more sets than I want to count over that same time period.

 

two more purchases before I start leading with:

 

Hello, my name is David and I’m a clubaholic….

Edited August 23, 2023 by SollyinGA

[caniac6]

Still using a 5 year old driver. Tested it against a couple new drivers, and it beat both of them. If I find something that works, I usually stick with it for awhile.

[Puttersaurus Rex]

1 hour ago, MattM97 said:

Are there really people here that worry how others spend their own money? 

Another “shaming thread”

[Kai Slater]

34 minutes ago, ace919 said:

 

I'm stubborn because I'll never forget the first time I hit a Taylormade Rocketballz when it came out. It felt like a rocket. I was a bit sad to trade it away for the Cobra Long Tom in 2014, but the reason I haven't gotten rid of it is because my enitre swing was built using this club. I had to learn how to use my body more than my arms to effectively hit that club. That translated to the rest of my game and did wonders for ball striking. Can't imagine a game without it. And now I'm learning its illegal. 

What do you mean it’s illegal? What happens if you get caught playing a round of golf with it? What are the consequences?

[Puttersaurus Rex]

Is this a Louis Poser alt account?

[ahenderX]

It’s no different than other hobbies. I can spend $2000 on a pair of stereo speakers or a nice camera but my limit on a driver or wood is $150. Others may have a set of clubs costing $2000 but buy a cheap sound bar for $150. In the group I play with, other than me, the average age of their golf clubs is 15 years old.

[ace919]

1 minute ago, Kai Slater said:

What do you mean it’s illegal? What happens if you get caught playing a round of golf with it? What are the consequences?

Minimum 3-5 years in federal prison. It's one inch too long with the rule change. 

[PNW]

3 minutes ago, ace919 said:

Minimum 3-5 years in federal prison. It's one inch too long with the rule change. 

 

If your whole swing is built around a driver that's illegally too long then there's not much you can do. Sounds like you'll have to give up golf then. Bummer.

[craz-e]

I wish they were that cheap over here in Australia! 

[SollyinGA]

15 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

Still using a 5 year old driver. Tested it against a couple new drivers, and it beat both of them. If I find something that works, I usually stick with it for awhile.

I will say that although I have purchased a lot of new gear, there isn’t a lot of difference in the performance for the most part. I have a home SIM and can see the metrics. 
 

with that said my efficiency numbers with my TSR3 are a good bit better than the other drivers that I’ve had. It’s hard to quantify actual distance gained though due to the fact that I’m not a robot.

Edited August 23, 2023 by SollyinGA