Replace the BIG dogg or not???

Just thought I would ask what everyone thought about the golf digest article on driver technology making older clubs obsolete.

I currently hit a taylormade 580XD with a grafalloy Pro shaft. I hit it well, but the aritcle made it sound like I could pick up 10 yards by buying a new club.... I guess the question at the end of the day is 10 yards worth an extra $500NZD...


thoughts anyone???

Get on a Trackman or similar device and try out a few clubs as well as your current weapon of choice.

You - and your local pro - should be able to figure out whether it is worth it or not to change your club, perhaps just the shaft, or spending money on lessons that would increase your distance.

My driver is about 12 years old, but still keeps me in the short grass. It's a 380 cc 12 degree, and still gets me out there at the 220-230 mark. If i could pick up an extra 10-20 yards with a new technology driver, it might be worth $300-$500 to me, if I were playing competitive golf, with the key word being "competitive". I play around 70 -80 rounds of golf a year, all over the U.S.A., and Canada. In all honesty, I seldom see one of the newer high tech drivers out drive my old obsolete driver, and still stay in the short grass. I will take 230 yards in the short stuff, than say 260-300+ yards out the long stuff, with trees, and other obsticles to have to navigate. Now, those of you who can take advantage of the newer technology, and gain noticable, extra yardage with accuracy, I say enjoy the game. Just don't forget, and neglect practicing your short game. GJS

Ian Hancock had it in his signature once...


With companies promising 10 more yards every year, I should be hitting it 500 yards by now.



For 10 more yards, maybe try another degree of loft in a used head XD head. Way cheaper.

Its articles like that that keep these manufacturers in business. With people like us out there they are laughing all the way to the bank. To me its gobbldygook about more distance from certain clubs. Think about it. Would John Daly hit a ball further than yours with your driver? Sure he would. My point is that no two people will hit the same distance with the same club. Natural ability is 80% of the distance achieved.

Robert

Having just switched from an older TM Bubble Driver (the one Ernie used to use as a tour rookie...) to a Shark Tiburon with some success, though, I wouldn't say I am consistently "longer" with the new one. Though I do feel I am far more consistent with it, and subsequently far more confident when reaching for it.

Perhaps its a bit like the difference b/w cavity backs and blades...???

The older drivers may well be simply less forgiving than these newer ones, with the smaller heads and as we keep seeing, each of these newer drivers are bigger and funnier looking.

These newer ones, with larger face areas, must also be more forgiving on marginal off centre hits, throw in all the moveable weights and the rest and whilst maybe you might get and extra yard or 10, chances are you may well also be straighter...

Bottom line, get to a range with a few demo clubs and see whats what...

IMO only then will you really know if the money is worth the spending...

Cheers

__________________
Look at the Target, Look at the Ball, Swing... Dr Bob Rotella...

Wishon has just revealed that they're going to produce a new driver - first to the market - where the overall MOI number may not be as high as, say, a Sumo2 - but the face is constructed in such a way that there's more forgiveness when you miss the middle than any other driver...

So you may want to wait and replace the big dog with the new Wishon 919