"Bring it back, Bring it back!!!" - Driver Edition

[golfgolfguru]

Aeroburner tp or og sim. 

[ProV1Killa]

On 9/28/2023 at 1:26 PM, gvogel said:

Titleist 910 D2.  A classic.

Don't leave the 910 D3 out.

[Orchardist]

Precept Tour Premium 9degree

[Valtiel]

On 9/28/2023 at 4:20 AM, mvhoffman said:

As we all know, over the past few years driver technology has faded.  They can't be made bigger.  There's all sorts of specialty materials being used now.  Ultimately when you buy a new driver it will essentially go "longer" because of the material management adding more stability.

 

If you could choose an "old" driver for companies to bring back and revamp with today's technology, what would it be?

 

I would love to see the 2016 Nike Vapor Fly be brought from the dead with some different materials adding stability to make it more playable today and be able to stand up to today's drivers.

It's funny that you mention the Vapor drivers straight off the bat as they were such a design blunder that i'm still curious about them today. It was 2016 and it seemed to be pretty clear what the future of driver design was going to be thanks to modern launch monitor data/research and multi material tech. Getting CG down out of the upper half of the face and back far enough to balance forgiveness and spin was where EVERYONE started heading. Every single "bigger" release that got and kept attention went this way, and Nike just straight up left the chat and released both one of the highest CG drivers in the modern era in one of the ugliest colorways. It was to the point that internal engineering and corporate sabotage made more sense than a room full of smart people thinking that a cavity back driver that removes weight from where everyone else was trying to add it was a good idea 😆

People calling for the return of super deep face drivers are asking for something similar from a design standpoint, because the deeper the face the higher and more forward the CG will be vs. an identical driver with a shallower face, and the progressive march towards moving CG lower and further back has been one of the big performance related advancements in modern drivers. 

 

[JungleJimbo]

On 9/28/2023 at 7:20 PM, mvhoffman said:

As we all know, over the past few years driver technology has faded.  They can't be made bigger.  There's all sorts of specialty materials being used now.  Ultimately when you buy a new driver it will essentially go "longer" because of the material management adding more stability.

 

If you could choose an "old" driver for companies to bring back and revamp with today's technology, what would it be?

 

I would love to see the 2016 Nike Vapor Fly be brought from the dead with some different materials adding stability to make it more playable today and be able to stand up to today's drivers.

 

Happy to go nostalgic with the Bridgestone J33R (without the modern tech)

[sheepdawg]

Callaway Razr Fit. I never hit a driver better.

[dodgyman]

King LTD, but for real this time. With an updated space port etc... 

[st1800e]

Well.... It would be the original Ping I3 driver - "toaster on a stick". I don't really need that driver, I need the swing I had 22 years ago.......

[craz-e]

Not too bothered about any of the older drivers coming back, but wouldn't mind Ping bringing back the Rapture. I would be keen on seeing the return of the TP Line from Taylormade though.  

[manima1]

I cannot believe there are 3 pages here and not a single mention of the GOAT... the 2016 OG M2.  Would love to see how that head would perform with a carbon face 

[mvhoffman]

42 minutes ago, manima1 said:

I cannot believe there are 3 pages here and not a single mention of the GOAT... the 2016 OG M2.  Would love to see how that head would perform with a carbon face 

I don't think that there are many drivers that can even touch that driver to this day.  I think that is what most companies are trying to get to.

 

[MagicMan79]

I have 2 Epic Speed Triple Diamond LS heads on the back-up/emergency shelf. Have bought and sold several times, finally just hung on to 2 clean heads. For a people that need to kill spin, these are amazing. These are wayyy more durable that the Paradyms. Please bring back (higher %) titanium body drivers, with front & rear weight adjustment

 

[Ben B]

2 favorite drivers of all time, and I still have them. 

 

1. Titleist 975D 9.5 with DG S300 playing 43.5" 

2. Bridgestone J40 430 9.5 with the original Diamana Blueboard 93X playing 44" 

 

The Titleist may be a bit more difficult to bring back with today's tech, but the Bridgestone would be a monster which an AI face and adjustable hosel. I know Bridgestone had a few adjustable drivers and I have the J715, but nothing compares to the way the J40 430 felt and controlled the ball flight. 

[ApostateDrive]

1 hour ago, MagicMan79 said:

I have 2 Epic Speed Triple Diamond LS heads on the back-up/emergency shelf. Have bought and sold several times, finally just hung on to 2 clean heads. For a people that need to kill spin, these are amazing. These are wayyy more durable that the Paradyms. Please bring back (higher %) titanium body drivers, with front & rear weight adjustment

 

 

I believe word on the street is that Cobras 2024 driver is all titanium, IIRC

[Philfil]

Cleveland Classic XL!

 

DEEP face!!!

 

 

[vamosjackets]

Ping i15.

Also, I remember a Precept Driver from the mid-90's that belonged to a buddy of mine. I hit it once and it was spectacular.  

[leftyb]

On 9/28/2023 at 9:05 AM, Wonka said:

Nike Covert

 

Yes!!! It was ugly, top and bottom, but dang did that thing perform. I had the tour version...now you have me on an ebay quest

[Atomas]

Hi-Cor drivers. All of them.

[bladehunter]

Srixon Z745. That face.  That sound.  

[mvhoffman]

I have been thinking about old drivers I used to use.  I had a Cobra LD driver from 2008 that was absolutely a bomber for me.  I used the regular and the offset and had great success with the offset model.  It was a great driver for me back then.  I had the shaft break for me mid swing and it was never the same.  No matter what shaft I put in it (even the stock option that was in it) it just never worked out.  It looked ugly as sh*t and sounded even worse but was a great addition in the bag back then.

[nsxguy]

Ahhhhhh, nostalgia. Isn't it wonderful ?

 

At least in movies. About all I watch nowadaze are movies from the 30s and 40s.

 

But drivers ? No chance.

 

While I have some fond memories of my TM Tour Burner, Titleist 983K, and Rapture V2, none of them can touch my current Epic Flash SZ w/Ventus Blue.

 

Then again, at some point, my EFSZ will be a "bring it back" driver,,,,,,,, if it isn't already.

[centralmsccaf]

On 9/28/2023 at 7:39 PM, DoughBack18 said:

Maybe not in a driver, but definitely in a fairway wood or hybrid. That copper was sick. 
 

983K remake would be a good one, would also love modern tech in an old PT style Titleist head. 
 

Don’t burn me at the stake here, but I also wonder what the square headed drivers would perform like in 2023. If they could get the sound ironed out and the ball speeds in line with a conventional shape, i’d be curious if that could ever get some traction. Just felt like too many negatives to outweigh the positives when these were out 15+ years ago.

I’d love to see one shaped like the 983K. Throw in the purple and gold ProForce and I’m in. 

Edited October 17, 2023 by centralmsccaf

[mcputter]

The one that I still play:  Adams 9015D.

[southpaw72]

Cleveland classic with the  Miyazaki shaft options in a black scheme. Thanks 

[NevadaGolfGuy]

20 hours ago, Philfil said:

Cleveland Classic XL!

 

DEEP face!!!

 

 

I included this in mine as well...I still have two very minty heads with adapters in the garage for a rainy day.

[The Mad Bomber]

My heart says the Lynx BOOM BOOM, it was the first driver I ever truly loved, but my brain says modernize the 905R. The shape was just so good

[Wisconsin Terrapin]

909D series, with just modern shaft selections. 

[birdieman72]

TaylorMade M2, best driver ever.

I still play it, and in case it cracks I have a spare clubhead at home.

[Joe85]

983E....with a 400cc head and adjustable weights. 

[longballjs]

Titleist 905s. Played that driver for 10 years and held its own till the very end. Favorite driver I’ve ever played.