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

[grm24]

12 minutes ago, ace919 said:

It's one inch too long with the rule change. 

LOL! No. Driver lengths were not rolled back for regular everyday amateur golfers. They can still be used up to 48" under under the ROG. 

 

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/usga-ra-make-local-rule-cap-pros-driver-length-46-inches

[ace919]

42 minutes ago, pak said:

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

I once gave a buddy my last sleeve of Pro V1s with the expectation that he'd get me on the next sleeve. He didn't have to. He played one of his better rounds and never lost a single ball because the price to lose it must have been too high for him. An interesting lesson about improvement from simple course management (not being the hero on every shot). 

[ace919]

12 minutes ago, grm24 said:

LOL! No. Driver lengths were not rolled back for regular everyday amateur golfers. They can still be used up to 48" under under the ROG. 

 

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/usga-ra-make-local-rule-cap-pros-driver-length-46-inches

I really did not want to be that guy who buys a $600 driver so I am very relieved to learn this. 

[grm24]

4 minutes ago, ace919 said:

I really did not want to be that guy who buys a $600 driver so I am very relieved to learn this. 

As mentioned in this thread you can buy a new driver a genertion old new or in mint condition for well under $600.

[BirdieBob]

Yes...bought three... TSR 2, 3, and 4 drivers last fall....BUT I have sold them.

Now have two Stealth 2 + drivers, 8*, 9*.   Usually try to buy heads only.

 

Glad you didnt ask about new sets of irons....😉

Edited August 23, 2023 by BirdieBob

[596]

For some people that's well less then 1 hours income. They don't care what it costs. 

[ace919]

11 minutes ago, grm24 said:

As mentioned in this thread you can buy a new driver a genertion old new or in mint condition for well under $600.

I'm aware of the alternative options. My point is I've seen far too many hacks who are in possession of The $600 Driver. That's the idea. 

[grm24]

19 minutes ago, ace919 said:

I'm aware of the alternative options. My point is I've seen far too many hacks who are in possession of The $600 Driver. That's the idea. 

It's their right to spend $600 or more for a new driver whether they are a "hack" per your words or not. Not certain what your real agenda is in this thread other than to criticize others on how they spend their cash. 

Edited August 23, 2023 by grm24

[PlatinumNike]

I bought a used $300 ping 430 head and a used $200 ventus shaft. 
 

$500 isn’t bad for something that cost $900 from a retailer new

 

plus I haven’t bought a driver in 5 years, definitely no need to upgrade every year 

[vman]

People who spend it, well, it's because they've got to have it...simple.

We know ALL that stuff is overpriced and doesn't really affect performance that much.....but humans crave, non stop.....everyday. 

[phizzy30]

2 hours ago, MattM97 said:

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

People spend money on all sorts of stupid s***.  Golfers are no exception.  But yes, I agree, it's nobody's business how one spends their own money. 

[MattM97]

1 minute ago, phizzy30 said:

People spend money on all sorts of stupid s***.  Golfers are no exception.  But yes, I agree, it's nobody's business how one spends their own money. 

 

Exactly I know some people that will drop crazy money to go party for a night. But I'm insane for buying golf clubs. 

[MountainKing]

Last I checked I'm spending my money, not your money.  Amazing there's people who care how people spend their hard earned money....that's far worse than anybody buying any $600 driver.

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

36 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

Exactly I know some people that will drop crazy money to go party for a night. But I'm insane for buying golf clubs. 

 

When put that way, I feel really stupid about my water chiller prototype project where I spent loads of money just to design and build one.... LOL

[Ghostwedge]

2 hours ago, craz-e said:

I wish they were that cheap over here in Australia! 

Joes jet fuel isn't cheap....

[tatertot]

3 hours ago, tippethor said:

I would never fork out $600 for a new driver. Just ordered a TSR4 with gen4 black tx for $480 🥳😂

Man's got to know his limitations.

[Shilgy]

4 hours ago, ace919 said:

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

 

Edit: If you have any personal experience in answering this question please share. 

Ok….why does it concern you how others spend their money?🤑

[North Butte]

I've bought a couple drivers that were more than half that much but only when I had trade-in credit to burn at a used club seller. 

[DoughBack18]

A good local senior player in my area bought a $950 driver last year, super upgraded shaft, the whole works. I was asking him about it and he gave a great answer. He said if he was able to see the gains on the course that he saw during his fitting, that the club would pay for itself easily by time it came to replace it. 1 win at a decent calcutta and thats been paid for half a dozen times over. So depending on the type of game you have, that sort of purchase could be easily justified.

[Binson]

Someone has to buy them new in order for others to buy them 2nd hand years down the road. 

[miles2go]

Depends on your budget. Golf and related equipment seem like a pretty cheap hobby compared to something like fishing (have you seen the price for a good rod and reel plus gas, insurance, maintenance and storage) or flying (repairs, fuel, insurance, training, hangar)?  Not to mention the initial asset cost. $600 for a hobby you love?  Dirt cheap.  
 

[mantan]

1 hour ago, MountainKing said:

Last I checked I'm spending my money, not your money.  Amazing there's people who care how people spend their hard earned money....that's far worse than anybody buying any $600 driver.

 

This.  As my dad told me, it's none of your business how another man spends their money.

 

Golf is an expensive game.  As @Pepperturbo said, the costs to play add up quick.  I play every weekend on  public courses in DFW.  With the current golf boom, I'm easily spending $400-$500 on month between green fees, range balls, any food/bev bought at the course. And doesn't even add in staples to play.

 

The good thing about golf is everybody can find what fits THEIR budget and enjoy the game.  You don't have to buy the latest or greatest. 

 

But a lot of guys enjoy the equipment aspect of the game.  It's not the expectation of suddenly cutting their handicap in half. It's the fun of researching, getting fit or throwing a dart at new equipment and seeing how it performs for you. That's as enjoyable for many of the type of obsessed golfers you'll find on a golf forum than actually playing.

 

People can always look at hobbies and question 'is it worth it?'  My best friend loves guns. I don't own one.  He'll drop $700 for a new gun for his collection and be happy as a clam.  I can't imagine dropping that much on a gun to sit in a safe 99% of the time and go the range the other 1%.  But back to my original point, it's not my business what he does with his money.

 

 

Edited August 24, 2023 by mantan

[North Butte]

6 minutes ago, Binson said:

Someone has to buy them new in order for others to buy them 2nd hand years down the road. 

And we "someones" really do appreciate it! 

[eric61]

On the OP's price vs. performance point ... I get a little frustrated by the incorrect assumption that if a golfer buys new equipment, they must think that equipment is going to make a huge difference in their performance. 

 

This is GolfWRX. We're nerds about this stuff. Sometimes we like to mess with new stuff because it's fun to mess with new stuff, see what it does, how it works, how it's different, how we can tweak it, etc. 

 

It's like any other hobby, or passion. Do you know any IT folks who used to take apart electronics when they were kids just to figure out how it works and how to put it back together? Photographers who have collected more lenses than they could ever need for a shoot? Sometimes part of a hobby is just having fun tinkering with the gear.

[Orchardist]

New driver or 1 round for 1 at Pebble.

[North Butte]

16 minutes ago, eric61 said:

On the OP's price vs. performance point ... I get a little frustrated by the incorrect assumption that if a golfer buys new equipment, they must think that equipment is going to make a huge difference in their performance. 

 

This is GolfWRX. We're nerds about this stuff. Sometimes we like to mess with new stuff because it's fun to mess with new stuff, see what it does, how it works, how it's different, how we can tweak it, etc. 

 

It's like any other hobby, or passion. Do you know any IT folks who used to take apart electronics when they were kids just to figure out how it works and how to put it back together? Photographers who have collected more lenses than they could ever need for a shoot? Sometimes part of a hobby is just having fun tinkering with the gear.

Yep, what Eric said.

[phizzy30]

Just now, Orchardist said:

New driver or 1 round for 1 at Pebble.

Pebble every single time.  The Monterey Peninsula in general is beautiful.  Bayonet, Poppy Hills, Spanish Bay and Spy Glass are all must play in that area for those of you guys that haven't made the trip up there yet. 

[2Down]

Initially a new driver is a good purchase. But it is a diminishing return. The farther out you go the more it subtracts.   A new one every year with the old as a trade keeps you just under that 600 limit you set.  Far lower if you cash a bet or three.

 

[DoubleDawg22]

Many years ago I worked summers at a high end course - most super/ultra/mega rich people had cheaper/economical buying habits from the cars they drove and clubs they used.
 

It took me awhile to realize/accept that the WITBs I saw while cleaning clubs was often 2-3 generations behind current and basic gear. 
 

Obviously there are exceptions and skill level/passion influences a persons gear choices. 
 

Contrast this with my drastically lower income/net worth but wildly larger monthly/yearly expenditures on clubs/bags/shoes/tech!

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I play occasionally with a wealthy guy. A year or two ago, he wanted a new driver, one of the upmarket Honma ones. He couldn't find one with the loft and shaft he wanted in the city where he lived, but found a shop with one in stock nearly 400 miles away, so he drove there, got a quick fitting, and bought the driver he was after for a little under $900. 

 

For good measure, he also bought a new Callaway driver for $400 or so.

 

Then he drove back, hit the shiny new driver twice at the range, decided he didn't like it, and sold it at half price to a friend. He hung on to the Callaway.

 

New driver: $900

Callaway: $400

Expressway tolls (return trip): $135

Petrol: ??? But he drives a big expensive car that's not known for fuel-efficiency. Admittedly, petrol was much cheaper back when he went than it is now.

 

So he paid well over $1,000 to get a driver that he quickly decided was not for him.

 

Now, I've hit that driver, and it DOES perform. The first time I played it, I had a bit of muscle pain in my side and was pretty much only swinging 70%. With my normal driver, I was hitting the ball noticeably shorter than I normally do. With that Honma, I was hitting the ball as far--if not further--than my normal driver.

 

Problem was, the shaft was very whippy so hard to control.

 

But the club certainly did what it was supposed to do, which was hit the ball a long way with minimal effort.