ball speed with used driver

[A.G.Blade]

get better or worse

I am somewhat new to all the tech that has come out in recent years. I play a 2007 taylormade Burner driver, 75 gm ust stiff. Over the 4 years I estimate around 300 to 350 rounds on it with a fair bit of range time. Ive heard that drivers used this much can go "dead' so to speak, and lose some of their cor. Ive also heard the contrary; with more use the face become thinner and thinner and the cor actually increases. I ask this because my ball speed with this driver is 155 to 164. But with the new R11 I was 166 plus, with a few off center hits. It does seem that the old stick doesnt get as far as it used to; do drivers have a life span? Im around 104 to 107 ss

[sanderslongdrive]

AG,

First of all one needs to stop thinking about 'drivers' and consider driver components. Asking about the life of a driver is akin to asking about the life of a motor vehicle. Sure, some parts wear out but others do not. The engine will eventually wear out but not the windscreen, unless it suffers from accident damage.

Some parts of a driver will wear out, whilst other parts will not. Working from the top:

The grip is usually the first to go and its life duration very much depends not only on useage but also on how it is treated.

Next, the graphite shaft. This should last at least the lifetime of its owner if it is properly fitted, stored out of regular baking sunlight, and not abused if changing heads a few times.

Further down appears the ferrule. Again this will essentially last for ever.

Finally comes the head. Ignoring longdrive competitors, but rather considering 'normal golfers' with middle of the road swing speeds, if one can consistently strike centre face then 95% + of driver heads are capable of lasting for nine months if used for two hours a day on the driving range. That should equate with about 550 hours of use.

There is however one particular very popular driver head manufacturer whose expensive heads have a life expectancy of no more than ten hours, but I refuse to name.

[A.G.Blade]

[quote name='sanderslongdrive' timestamp='1298586708' post='3006400']
AG,

First of all one needs to stop thinking about 'drivers' and consider driver components. Asking about the life of a driver is akin to asking about the life of a motor vehicle. Sure, some parts wear out but others do not. The engine will eventually wear out but not the windscreen, unless it suffers from accident damage.

Some parts of a driver will wear out, whilst other parts will not. Working from the top:

The grip is usually the first to go and its life duration very much depends not only on useage but also on how it is treated.

Next, the graphite shaft. This should last at least the lifetime of its owner if it is properly fitted, stored out of regular baking sunlight, and not abused if changing heads a few times.

Further down appears the ferrule. Again this will essentially last for ever.

Finally comes the head. Ignoring longdrive competitors, but rather considering 'normal golfers' with middle of the road swing speeds, if one can consistently strike centre face then 95% + of driver heads are capable of lasting for nine months if used for two hours a day on the driving range. That should equate with about 550 hours of use.

There is however one particular very popular driver head manufacturer whose expensive heads have a life expectancy of no more than ten hours, but I refuse to name.
[/quote]

Thank you. that answers my question. Really appreciate the info!