Age 55 and older

[braincramp52]

Just wanted to get a idea of what some of us older guys are playing for drivers. I'm 61 and still hit the ball decent.Drives are usually 210-230 and I am rarely in trouble off the tee. Every once in a while I'll hit one 250 but that only happens maybe once a round. I use a Cleveland Classic 290 with a stiff stock shaft. What are some of you other old farts using?

[first tee]

62 here. Similar distances to yours

I have been playing a 12 degree Ping G15, stock stiff. Recently picked up a 10.5 degree 913D2 with a Phenom stiff. My best drives are better than the Ping and my worst drives are worse. Not sure about that trade-off. Need to spend more time with the 913.

[pingman1]

I am 66, very similar distances as yours.

PING K15, I haven't found anything that performs any better.....for me.

[oldschoolrocker]

Some of us have switched back to playing persimmons and classic sets. Drop by the Classic Forum and chew the fat with us.
With the modern stuff I went back to a smaller headed driver last year, Titlest 975d and had it shafted with a lightweight shaft cut to 43.5 inches. Found it to be more consistent off the tee than the 460cc heads with 45-46 inch shafts, while not losing any distance due to more solid ballstriking.
I also have a couple of year old TEE head on a 45 inch shaft, all fit for my swing, but still not as consistent with it as the shorter shafts.
59 years old with all the usual physical aliments that come with us at that age.

[braincramp52]

[quote name='oldschoolrocker' timestamp='1375270650' post='7574642']
Some of us have switched back to playing persimmons and classic sets. Drop by the Classic Forum and chew the fat with us.
With the modern stuff I went back to a smaller headed driver last year, Titlest 975d and had it shafted with a lightweight shaft cut to 43.5 inches. Found it to be more consistent off the tee than the 460cc heads with 45-46 inch shafts, while not losing any distance due to more solid ballstriking.
I also have a couple of year old TEE head on a 45 inch shaft, all fit for my swing, but still not as consistent with it as the shorter shafts.
59 years old with all the usual physical aliments that come with us at that age.
[/quote]

I know I would be better off hitting a 44" driver. Consistent contact is still the key as you said. I wonder if Ping would make me a 44" G25 driver with a D3 swingweight. I would imagine they will make about anything a guy wants if you're willing to pay for it.

[Oldplayer]

I am 56 and have used a few drivers in the last year. One of them a cleveland classic 9.5 with the stock shaft in reg. Great fairway finder but perhaps not the longest. Spun a bit too much possibly. G20 was ok also. Currently playing an i20 with a reg prolaunch axis blue. Pretty good combo and gives pretty good length when hit properly. Good sound, feel, and forgivness. My swing speed in=s in the mid to high ninties with driver and I am hitting the i20 anywhere between 220 to 250 depending on conditions.
Still always think there is a better one out there.

[Gbyeball]

I am 55 years old and average drive is 240 - 250, if my back is feeling good can get it out to 260+ . You guys understand the sore back, knees, elbows, etc. issues LOL? I have been using a Ping Rapture V2 with a Diamana Blue Board shaft in regular flex, going on 3 seasons.This is the best driver I have even had, shaft seems to work perfectly with my swing.

[Terp]

Have been playing the original RBZ HL for 2 seasons now with the stock shaft in a senior flex. Works for me. Even picked up the 3HL in the same shaft.

[pingman1]

[quote name='lawsonman' timestamp='1375271227' post='7574658']
[quote name='oldschoolrocker' timestamp='1375270650' post='7574642']
Some of us have switched back to playing persimmons and classic sets. Drop by the Classic Forum and chew the fat with us.
With the modern stuff I went back to a smaller headed driver last year, Titlest 975d and had it shafted with a lightweight shaft cut to 43.5 inches. Found it to be more consistent off the tee than the 460cc heads with 45-46 inch shafts, while not losing any distance due to more solid ballstriking.
I also have a couple of year old TEE head on a 45 inch shaft, all fit for my swing, but still not as consistent with it as the shorter shafts.
59 years old with all the usual physical aliments that come with us at that age.
[/quote]

I know I would be better off hitting a 44" driver. Consistent contact is still the key as you said. I wonder if Ping would make me a 44" G25 driver with a D3 swingweight. I would imagine they will make about anything a guy wants if you're willing to pay for it.
[/quote]

I believe PING will build the driver for you with no upcharge, as long as the components are stock.

[oldschoolrocker]

[quote name='lawsonman' timestamp='1375271227' post='7574658']
[quote name='oldschoolrocker' timestamp='1375270650' post='7574642']
Some of us have switched back to playing persimmons and classic sets. Drop by the Classic Forum and chew the fat with us.
With the modern stuff I went back to a smaller headed driver last year, Titlest 975d and had it shafted with a lightweight shaft cut to 43.5 inches. Found it to be more consistent off the tee than the 460cc heads with 45-46 inch shafts, while not losing any distance due to more solid ballstriking.
I also have a couple of year old TEE head on a 45 inch shaft, all fit for my swing, but still not as consistent with it as the shorter shafts.
59 years old with all the usual physical aliments that come with us at that age.
[/quote]

I know I would be better off hitting a 44" driver. Consistent contact is still the key as you said. I wonder if Ping would make me a 44" G25 driver with a D3 swingweight. I would imagine they will make about anything a guy wants if you're willing to pay for it.
[/quote]

Swing weight was an issue with the lighter shaft and shorter head, especially the feel difference with respect to the persimmon swing weigh. As the screen name implies I use a couple of strips of lead tape to get it to my specs, but, as you said, money talks and am sure Ping would hook you up for a price.
You might go on the bay, or find a good second hand place, pick up something, cut it down, add some lead and see how it performs for you before you part with the coin to Ping. If you got them to make you one and you didn't like it, it could turn out to be a white elephant for you- hard to get rid off. Just my take.

[jmvargas]

i am 67 with similar distances as you and will be following this thread closely as am also interested in possible options vs what i'm using now..

i have been experimenting with ultralite shafts and sub-300 gram drivers for some time now but am always in the look-out for something better..

my current gamer is a Giga XF07 10* driver with the stock japan spec mamiya-op HXL graphite shaft in S flex which plays soft..it weighs 295 grams..

my back-up is an Adams 9088UL 10.5* driver with the stock matrix radix 4.1 graphite shaft in lite-flex and weighs 295 grams too...

both drivers have similar frequencies of around 230..

i originally presumed that the JDM drivers would be my best bet as they have a good selection of ultralite shafts/drivers but have noticed that even the US brands now have similar offerings..

looking forward to some more options here..

[Funkey]

I'm 65. Use a 913D2 with a senior flex shaft. I get about the same distance as you. Very seldom miss the fairway with this club. Mine is 10.5* but just changed it to 12* last night. I would like to get a little higher ball flight. We will see how it works.

[oldschoolrocker]

A couple of things we need to consider at this point of our games, with respect to age and physical ability is not to be caught up in the higher loft and softer flex being the save all solution.

Remember spin is a double edged sword, so be careful that the equipment still agrees with your transition tempo and launch angle for optimum distance and accuracy.

[Dragonfly]

[quote name='lawsonman' timestamp='1375268896' post='7574592']
Just wanted to get a idea of what some of us older guys are playing for drivers. I'm 61 and still hit the ball decent.Drives are usually 210-230 and I am rarely in trouble off the tee. Every once in a while I'll hit one 250 but that only happens maybe once a round. I use a Cleveland Classic 290 with a stiff stock shaft. What are some of you other old farts using?
[/quote]

64. Cleveland 290 10.5, stiff stock Myazaki 43. The stiff butt and mid, uber soft tip just works for me.
210-250 depending on which back shows up to play.

[presser34]

Finally, realistic numbers in a WRX thread Never thought I'd see it!!!

[myspinonit]

I'm 62, playing R11s regular shaft set at 11.25*, adjusted effective ASP to square. Cut at butt 1/2" to 45.25. Added 10g in heel, 6g in toe playing just over D2 (as measured twice at GolfTown).

Agree with oldschoolrocker not to get hyped with the labels or just go for lighter and softer. Have two heads, one 10.5, one a 12 (when I thought I'd try it at 12). The second 12* came with supposedly the same stock reg that was way too soft, so am playing the old stock reg shaft in the new 12* head, adjusted as above.

I've posted this elsewhere, but I bought the 12* on eBay after demoing a R1 set at 12* with the stock 55g [u]stiff[/u]. The phenom stiff was actually a little smoother for me than the stock reg in my R11s, but results were similar side by side at demo, so I bought a second R11s as backup for half the price.

I've used other "stiff" labelled drivers for a round or two in the last year and they are fine though I'm only around 85 swingspeed but faster transition. I did better with a RBZ Tour 5 in stiff for distance and dispersion on the LM than the stock 5 RBZ reg last winter. (Didn't keep it though as couldn't get comfortable with the turf interaction on the RBZ.)

[596]

For accuracy I play my Ping K15 12*, stock stiff TFC shaft at standard length. It's boring playing fairways all day long. I get about 230 with it. All carry nearly no roll.

When I'm swinging really well I pull out the RBZ Tour 10.5, stock regular shaft. Increases yardage about 15 yards, so I'm approaching 250. I'll hit a few in the rough with it each round. Lower flight then above, but I get more roll. I really like the look and feel of the slightly smaller head.

btw - I'm 59 and about a 7 handicap now, since I recently moved and not playing enough, courses play totally different here, so it's up from a 2.

[nikonut]

Adams speedline tech reg flex. 56yrs old. 90-ish swing speed have the face in closed setting

[leonard sly]

62. I have tried three drivers since I came back to golf a couple of years ago, Ping g20 12 degree reg shaft, Titleist 913 12 degree with bassara reg shaft and currently Callaway shot 11.5 with reg shaft. Of those three, the Callaway's longer/most consistent, the Ping comes in second and the Titleist third.

Got xhot 4 and 7 to match

[ishank1]

Similar stats to the OP (age 61, 210-230 avg drive with the occasional 240-250 "super drive"). I play a 9.5 Ping G20 with the stock TFC shaft in regular flex. I will occasionally switch to a 8.5 Ping G20 with stock regular shaft when I want more roll (I tend to have a high spin rate, NOT a high swing speed). Increasing loft above 9.5 has not been good for me. I know it is more of a swing issue and angle of attack issue for me, but attempting to change that has not been very successful.

[NJpatbee]

61 and I have found no reason to stop using my older Ping G5 9 degree with a regular shaft. I average 220-230 but can occasionally crack one 250+. I have tried the PiNG G25 and prefer the G5 - I also don't like clubs with moving parts.

[Lobber]

56 and hit drives 260-290. Optiforce 440 Diamana Stiff

[scomac2002]

Age 55
Driver distance 210-230 with the rare 250
Callaway Diablo Octane 11.5° w/stock Project X 6.0 cut down to 45" D3 swing weight.

I went with this combo as I don't care for the ultra light drivers. As other have said, they mess with you tempo and as a feel player while I can adapt to light equipment on the range it generally throws a spanner into the works during a round when you are switching between clubs constantly. As far as adjustability is concerned; it's great for the OEMs and it's a great way to demo the exact set-up, but once it's set, I forget it. I have played extensively with a TM R7 425 and more recently with a Cobra AMP 3W and had never found any benefit to these clubs to be adjusted off of neutral settings, so why bother? I've seen far too many recreational players sucked into the promise of adjustability only to end up with worse results than what they had with conventional gear because of the constant fussing with settings.

[BirdieBob]

[quote name='lawsonman' timestamp='1375268896' post='7574592']
Just wanted to get a idea of what some of us older guys are playing for drivers. I'm 61 and still hit the ball decent.Drives are usually 210-230 and I am rarely in trouble off the tee. Every once in a while I'll hit one 250 but that only happens maybe once a round. I use a Cleveland Classic 290 with a stiff stock shaft. [b]What are some of you other old farts using[/b]?
[/quote]

66....
Playing the TM R1 V1 w/ Graphite Design AD BB 6x.
Fly it about 260 yards. Best driver I have ever used! Love the adjustability of this driver and I have it at 45 3/8" @ D3 SW.
Also using the TM Stage 2 13* TS and 16.5* FWs w/AD DI 7x shafts....best FWs I have ever used.

[Bensdad]

61, playing an Adams Fast 12 LS, 9.5 with stock stiff shaft. Set the loft to plus .5 so I guess it's actually 10 degrees. Still hit the ball in the 260 range with an occasional bullet out to 280. Looking to go to 10.5 loft to get a bit more height on the tee ball. Current index is 0.7.

[johnnythunders]

[sub]Have a control driver 44.5" xcaliber axe tour regular 65 grams on a 10.5 Cobra Encore zl and the driver I have been playing the last few months an Cobra Amp Cell with a Venylix Alphina 50 gram in regular flex set a 9.5 and 45. [/sub]

[sub]61 with golfers elbow in both, neck, back, hip issues about 90mph when I crank it. Not too conccerned with how far but how straight. I play match play in a league and I only play 18 holes a week, no practice. For me the Cobras are the straightest drivers I have tried and I have tried every one. Just tried the new Optiforce and it was pretty good length wise but it was ;eft and right not consistent. I'll try the sdlr but doubt it will be that much better than the Cobra.And you can pick up anew ZL or Cell on ebay for less than $150 new. [/sub]

[duffer18]

61. Back, knees, elbows all can go anytime, not to mention large stomach. 93-98 driver swing speed, 15 handicap. The driver I find myself using more often is a Tour Edge Exotic XCG 6 3 wood, with 11.5 loft, stiff. I don't know why it works as well as it does, but so far it's beaten out a Callaway Extreme Razor Fit or whatever it was called, and it's more consistent and generally almost as long as a Cobra Amp Cell. Regularly get 230-240, but if I hit it right, I've gotten 250 and more. And I'm in the short stuff and not in the trees a whole lot more. Great club--have even occasionally hit it off a really nice fairway lie.

[rufus mangler]

58 years old. 220-235 yards with a smooth tempo.

TM RBZ Tour 9 with the HD6 shaft in regular flex.

[TMBob]

56 next month....9 Degree R11s has been very good to me the past 15 months with a GD DI 6 Stiff. Ball Speed 148-151 Carry 235-243 when swinging good.
Driver tends to be my best club in the back and my LM numbers are always darn good, I am lucky.

[Tarkata]

55. I have a shoulder issue but I can still get it out there 270 but mostly 250 with roll.
I am using a Mizuno mp630 ft with the stock fubuki. It's a gorgeous driver but it IS somewhat of a players stick and I am thinking of trying something more friendly.
Either a Callie rfx or maybe a Ping g25. But I think I'll need to wait for my post injury game b4 choosing a new one.
I have zero interest in a colored driver...