Golf Geeks - 2015

[KSB2424 3,082]

I'm in the market for a new Driver. I still play with a TaylorMade Burner I bought in 2009. I am comfortable with it and like it but I think it's time for some new technology. A couple buddies of mine are now out-driving me simply because they have new drivers. Those S.O.B's never outdrove me before.

 

Here's the caveat. I refuse to spend more than 200 bucks. I'm just not going to do it for one golf club. So all the new 2015 Drivers are out. I'm looking at was was "hot" in 2013 and now you can purchase for half of what they used to cost.

 

Any suggestions?

[dain11279 927]

rockbottomgolf.com

golfgalaxy.com

3balls.com

 

Not sure exactly what you wanna get but there's good specials on those sites on drivers that are a couple years old. I need to update mine as well, I've got a Nike driver that was prolly made 5 or 6 years ago.

[cbfalcon 824]

I was always a Callaway guy, but a couple years ago I was hitting my buddy's Ping G15 and loved it. A few months later it was time for me to get something new, tested out a bunch, and the G15 won again. Best feeling driver I've ever hit, and I have no intention of even thinking about a new driver anytime soon

[KSB2424 3,082]

I was always a Callaway guy, but a couple years ago I was hitting my buddy's Ping G15 and loved it. A few months later it was time for me to get something new, tested out a bunch, and the G15 won again. Best feeling driver I've ever hit, and I have no intention of even thinking about a new driver anytime soon

 

Interesting. I've heard good things about PING drivers by others as well. I don't see the G15 though. And I don't really understand how PING differenciates between the same club, they have what appears to be the same club with several different types. This shiot can get way to complicated.

 

Which one would you reccomend from this batch? It's Golf Galaxy PING Drives all for $199.

 

http://www.golfgalaxy.com/mens-drivers/ping-190---200/9323-_p190_200/search

 

 

The other one I was looking at was the TaylorMade RocketBallz Stage 2 Driver. I've always had TaylorMade Drivers in the past.

 

Here: http://www.golfgalaxy.com/taylormade-mens-rbz-stage-2-bonded-driver/fa13tmrbzstg2bndvr/product

[Cruzer 1,992]

I'm a big Ping driver fan - been playing my G10 since 2010. I hit some a little bit further, but nothing noticeably - and I've yet to find one I like better... I appreciate all the new adjustment features on the new drivers - but I hate the way they look on the club, so damn clanky and robotic.... You will not find a driver more forgiving any easy to hit than the Ping line... I do not like the Ping15 though - it has a huge spoon like tail to it that looks like a bicycle racing helmet. This club also launches the ball entirely too high for my liking - spin rates on it are generally higher. I do like the i25 - it has a more traditional looking head and a solid feel to it.

[cbfalcon 824]

 

Interesting. I've heard good things about PING drivers by others as well. I don't see the G15 though. And I don't really understand how PING differenciates between the same club, they have what appears to be the same club with several different types. This shiot can get way to complicated.

 

Which one would you reccomend from this batch? It's Golf Galaxy PING Drives all for $199.

 

http://www.golfgalaxy.com/mens-drivers/ping-190---200/9323-_p190_200/search

 

 

 

The G20 is just one generation later.

 

If I remember correctly, Cruzer claims his Ping G10 is the best driver he ever hit. And I would estimate Cruzer is a 5-7 handicap.

I'm maybe an 11 handicap, and the G15 is the best driver I've ever hit.

 

I assume you can still buy those used. Or buy the G20 new....assuming you test it and like it.

[Cruzer 1,992]

If I remember correctly, Cruzer claims his Ping G10 is the best driver he ever hit. And I would estimate Cruzer is a 5-7 handicap.

To date, it's the best driver (for me) I've ever hit...... And my current USGA index is 3.1.

[KSB2424 3,082]

Well damn. I guess I'll go hit the PING G20 this afternoon at GolfSmith.

 

No love out there for the TaylorMade Rocketballz? They get great online reviews.

 

Also, I'm a 14 handicap, so fock you both.

[Cruzer 1,992]

KSB2424, on 29 Jan 2015 - 09:42 AM, said:

No love out there for the TaylorMade Rocketballz? They get great online reviews.

 

Also, I'm a 14 handicap, so fock you both.

I love the Rocketballz line - my 3wood is one as a matter of fact... And trust me, I'd much rather play a 1 handicap in a tournament than a 14 - those guys are impossible to beat when getting that many strokes.

[edjr 5,552]

 

 

Also, I'm a 14 handicap, so fock you both.

 

Another thing everyone is honest about.

 

up there with wife, weight, salary and cack size.

[KSB2424 3,082]

 

Another thing everyone is honest about.

 

up there with wife, weight, salary and cack size.

 

Why would somebody lie about their golf handicap?

 

Actually I've found when most golfers lie about handicap, its the other way...to sandbag.....so they get more strokes in a tournament or gambling.

 

I have this app on my iphone, Golf Logix. I use it for GPS distance when I play but it also calculates my handicap. 14.1 on the dot. It's not like that is great or anything.

[edjr 5,552]

 

Why would somebody lie about their golf handicap?

 

 

Why would someone lie about their salary or cack size?

[vuduchile 1,941]

I'm still playing an old Ping driver and irons I got back in 2000. I paid what seemed like a fortune at the time, but they're still in great shape and I'm very comfortable with them.

 

I know there have been tremendous advances in club design in the last 15 years and I've tried some of them. Many of them felt great, but an extra 10-15 yds isn't worth $500 to me.

 

Hard to go wrong with almost anything from Ping.

[edjr 5,552]

on a golf note.

 

I dropped my irons off to get re-gripped Saturday and they didn't call me back yet and I am going to the range Saturday.

[Cruzer 1,992]

I dropped my irons off to get re-gripped Saturday and they didn't call me back yet and I am going to the range Saturday.

Re-gripping clubs is the easiest thing in the world to do... Never tried doing at home?

[edjr 5,552]

Re-gripping clubs is the easiest thing in the world to do... Never tried doing at home?

 

my 1st time actually having them done.

 

I don't really have time or a place to do it with a 17 month old running around.

 

He is infatuated with balls (just like daddy har har)

 

Ball ball ball ball ball ball ball

 

all he wants to do is grab anything that resembles a stick/club and smack any ball he sees.

[patweisers44 697]

Re-gripping clubs is the easiest thing in the world to do... Never tried doing at home?

If anything for the fact that you can sniff the solvents and glue.

[BunnysBastatrds 1,913]

I've been playing with the same irons for ten years now. They're Precept Tour Premium Forged with SL 300 shafts. I love the feel of them but I can tell it's time to let them go. I hit the new Taylor Made irons last year in a medium flex shaft and hit them ten to fifteen yards longer. But they don't have that forged feel. Age is slowly catching up to my game. Anybody make the switch from forged to regular? Stiff shafts to medium and see a difference?

[KSB2424 3,082]

I've been playing with the same irons for ten years now. They're Precept Tour Premium Forged with SL 300 shafts. I love the feel of them but I can tell it's time to let them go. I hit the new Taylor Made irons last year in a medium flex shaft and hit them ten to fifteen yards longer. But they don't have that forged feel. Age is slowly catching up to my game. Anybody make the switch from forged to regular? Stiff shafts to medium and see a difference?

 

I'm similar too. I've had my Mizuno irons for 10 years. It's pretty much the only nice irons I've ever had as I only started played golf like 12 years ago. I love them but I often wonder if I hit these uber cavity backed things like my buddies use my game wouldn't get better, as they are more forgiving.

 

If you are getting new irons, I'd go get fitted. Even if its just a quick little fitting at a Golf Store. They can at least tell you your swing speed which would help with the type of shaft (flex or stiff) you need. Do a little internet search, pick out 2 or 3 of the iron sets you want and go hit em' with a guy calculating your launch angle and speed. Then just buy the ones that feel best at what specs he tells you you need for your stats.

[Cruzer 1,992]

I've been playing with the same irons for ten years now. They're Precept Tour Premium Forged with SL 300 shafts. I love the feel of them but I can tell it's time to let them go. I hit the new Taylor Made irons last year in a medium flex shaft and hit them ten to fifteen yards longer. But they don't have that forged feel. Age is slowly catching up to my game. Anybody make the switch from forged to regular? Stiff shafts to medium and see a difference?

I'm not taking a shot at you Bunny - but 8 times out of 10 when I see somebody walking up with forged irons, the sky lights up with $$$ signs... I can't count how many 15 handicaps that I've seen say, "Oh I only play forged bcoz I love the feel." That's great and all - but the game is about scoring. If feel is all you like - stay on the range - forged clubs benefit nobody unless you can actually hit the center more often than not.

 

TM, Cleveland and a few others out there have gone to stronger lofts in their irons. This combined with perimeter/cast weighting and advances in shafts are to credit for the longer distance most are getting with clubs of today... Example: TM's old Burner LCG: 7 iron - loft 33 degrees, pw - loft 45 degrees...... Now TM's new RSi1 line: 7 iron - 30.5 degrees, pw - 44 degrees.

 

Shafts today are also more specialized than ever. I'd say a good 70% of golfers are playing shafts too stiff for them. TM and Callaway have done a great job of introducing the Uniflex options in shaft technology. I think those are a great choice for those looking to gain ball speed, height and distance on their irons.

[patweisers44 697]

To echo cruzers point, I heard someone say (Butch Harmon or someone similar) that maybe 1% of golfers should be playing forged.

[KSB2424 3,082]

Alright, I need a tutorial it seems.

 

I thought the issue was cavity back versus blades. I thought the forged versus cast iron was just "how" they were made, as in what kind of and how the metal was poured or made. But the issue or choice was cavity back versus blades.

 

I'm so confused.

[BunnysBastatrds 1,913]

I'm not taking a shot at you Bunny - but 8 times out of 10 when I see somebody walking up with forged irons, the sky lights up with $$$ signs... I can't count how many 15 handicaps that I've seen say, "Oh I only play forged bcoz I love the feel." That's great and all - but the game is about scoring. If feel is all you like - stay on the range - forged clubs benefit nobody unless you can actually hit the center more often than not.

 

TM, Cleveland and a few others out there have gone to stronger lofts in their irons. This combined with perimeter/cast weighting and advances in shafts are to credit for the longer distance most are getting with clubs of today... Example: TM's old Burner LCG: 7 iron - loft 33 degrees, pw - loft 45 degrees...... Now TM's new RSi1 line: 7 iron - 30.5 degrees, pw - 44 degrees.

 

Shafts today are also more specialized than ever. I'd say a good 70% of golfers are playing shafts too stiff for them. TM and Callaway have done a great job of introducing the Uniflex options in shaft technology. I think those are a great choice for those looking to gain ball speed, height and distance on their irons.

 

 

I know I have no business hitting these clubs anymore. It was my first set of nice irons. Had a lot of great rounds with them. Very sentimental about them. I was thinking about re-shafting them but it would cost the same as getting a nice set of last years TM's. Time to let go.

 

I also have a Titleist 905 3-Wood with a really stiff shaft that i'm having trouble hitting lately. Read somewhere that most PGA golfers don't have stiff shafts on their woods.

[patweisers44 697]

Alright, I need a tutorial it seems.

 

I thought the issue was cavity back versus blades. I thought the forged versus cast iron was just "how" they were made, as in what kind of and how the metal was poured or made. But the issue or choice was cavity back versus blades.

 

I'm so confused.

Same difference. Blades is an older term. Very, very few players can benefit from playing them. A top player can do more with a blade than anyone could do with a cavity back and also allegedly blades give good players more feedback. Again, when I say good, I am referring to the top 1-2% of golfers.

[DankNuggs 305]

I just did a full swing analysis and tried out a ton of the new drivers and shaft options. Amazing the difference you get with various shaft kickpoints and weights. The combo that was the best for me was the new ping. The head is matte black with these little fins on the top I guess for airflow. I forget the name of the shaft, but it was purple and had more of a mid shaft kick point... The combo brought my spin rate down sub to the 2500-3000 rpm range. I'm going to get a driver and 3W with the same shaft combo, and may even do a 3H, but unsure if i want to spend another 500 on that.

 

Everyone raves about the new titleist driver... I personally didn't like it. Weird teardrop shape.

 

But you could probably find an older model maybe used (secondswing website is a good one). I think you need to hit them somewhere as you swing will dictate what works well for you.

 

I previously had a cr@ppy old big bertha. I hit it ok, but trajectory was way too high and spin rate way too high.

[DankNuggs 305]

I've been playing with the same irons for ten years now. They're Precept Tour Premium Forged with SL 300 shafts. I love the feel of them but I can tell it's time to let them go. I hit the new Taylor Made irons last year in a medium flex shaft and hit them ten to fifteen yards longer. But they don't have that forged feel. Age is slowly catching up to my game. Anybody make the switch from forged to regular? Stiff shafts to medium and see a difference?

I have a 12yr old set of Hogan Apex Edge Pro irons which are forged. T4 shafts.. The club fitter told me never to get rid of them, and no need to reshaft them. Over the years the lies and lofts got slightly out of whack and he bent them back into proper spec. Guy also gapped my wedges. definitely worth the money to go through the swing analysis/fitting.

 

My putter (scotty cameron Del Mar 3) i've had for 12 years or so had 4 degrees of loft. Its funny he asked me if i had trouble with skipping longer putts (which i did)... He took it down to 2 degrees of loft and it seems like i was rolling it much better, i'll have to calibrate to it again this season.

 

Keep your old set. Distance is just a factor of club selection... Most of those longer clubs just have less loft, so their 8iron is your 7iron... Its just marketing

[DankNuggs 305]

 

my 1st time actually having them done.

 

I don't really have time or a place to do it with a 17 month old running around.

 

He is infatuated with balls (just like daddy har har)

 

Ball ball ball ball ball ball ball

 

all he wants to do is grab anything that resembles a stick/club and smack any ball he sees.

Makes a HUGE difference. I regripped everything 2 years ago with the golf pride new decade, cord upper (i wear a glove) and rubber lower. Awesome.

[vuduchile 1,941]

I'm not taking a shot at you Bunny - but 8 times out of 10 when I see somebody walking up with forged irons, the sky lights up with $$$ signs... I can't count how many 15 handicaps that I've seen say, "Oh I only play forged bcoz I love the feel." That's great and all - but the game is about scoring. If feel is all you like - stay on the range - forged clubs benefit nobody unless you can actually hit the center more often than not.

 

TM, Cleveland and a few others out there have gone to stronger lofts in their irons. This combined with perimeter/cast weighting and advances in shafts are to credit for the longer distance most are getting with clubs of today... Example: TM's old Burner LCG: 7 iron - loft 33 degrees, pw - loft 45 degrees...... Now TM's new RSi1 line: 7 iron - 30.5 degrees, pw - 44 degrees.

 

Shafts today are also more specialized than ever. I'd say a good 70% of golfers are playing shafts too stiff for them. TM and Callaway have done a great job of introducing the Uniflex options in shaft technology. I think those are a great choice for those looking to gain ball speed, height and distance on their irons.

One of the guys I play with regularly is a 4. Last year, he decided he really wanted to get a set of Titleist blades. He dedicated half the season trying to hit those things consistently until he finally gave them up. He sold 'em on ebay to some other wannabe.

[DankNuggs 305]

I'm not taking a shot at you Bunny - but 8 times out of 10 when I see somebody walking up with forged irons, the sky lights up with $$$ signs... I can't count how many 15 handicaps that I've seen say, "Oh I only play forged bcoz I love the feel." That's great and all - but the game is about scoring. If feel is all you like - stay on the range - forged clubs benefit nobody unless you can actually hit the center more often than not.

 

TM, Cleveland and a few others out there have gone to stronger lofts in their irons. This combined with perimeter/cast weighting and advances in shafts are to credit for the longer distance most are getting with clubs of today... Example: TM's old Burner LCG: 7 iron - loft 33 degrees, pw - loft 45 degrees...... Now TM's new RSi1 line: 7 iron - 30.5 degrees, pw - 44 degrees.

 

 

My PW is a 48. So TM's PW is my 9 iron.

[edjr 5,552]

When and where is the 1st annual Geek Golf Meet/Tourney

[KSB2424 3,082]

When and where is the 1st annual Geek Golf Meet/Tourney

 

I don't know but count me in. It would be epic.

[edjr 5,552]

 

I don't know but count me in.

 

Pats and I had privately discussed a couple a months ago.

 

Not sure where the perfect place is?

[KSB2424 3,082]

 

Pats and I had privately discussed a couple a months ago.

 

Not sure where the perfect place is?

 

Prolly just see who all is interested then try to find the best, most central locality.

[Scooby 0]

 

Interesting. I've heard good things about PING drivers by others as well. I don't see the G15 though. And I don't really understand how PING differenciates between the same club, they have what appears to be the same club with several different types. This shiot can get way to complicated.

 

Which one would you reccomend from this batch? It's Golf Galaxy PING Drives all for $199.

 

http://www.golfgalaxy.com/mens-drivers/ping-190---200/9323-_p190_200/search

 

 

The other one I was looking at was the TaylorMade RocketBallz Stage 2 Driver. I've always had TaylorMade Drivers in the past.

 

Here: http://www.golfgalaxy.com/taylormade-mens-rbz-stage-2-bonded-driver/fa13tmrbzstg2bndvr/product

I am hitting the rocketballz 1 driver and love it, could only imagine the 2 would be even better

[WhiteWonder 2,171]

I use a rocketballz. Best driver I've ever hit in terms of length amd accuracy but the most important aspect is the shaft and having the proper one for you.

 

I bought the tour model because it's a smaller head and the stock shaft is good quality matrix ozik.

 

Try everything out in stores but purchase via ebay. Lot of reputable dealers such as golfetail, 3balls, rockbottom. Etc..

[edjr 5,552]

3balls

 

MDC's favorite site

[Cruzer 1,992]

Anyone check out Snedeker's bag this week? He won the ATT in record fashion using a driver that came out in 2010.

Sneds' driver is a TaylorMade Burner SuperFast -- a driver introduced in 2010 and one with a current trade-in value of $20.34.

New doesn't make it better.

[edjr 5,552]

New doesn't make it better.

 

Just like driving a nice car.

 

It's only for show

[Cruzer 1,992]

Just like driving a nice car.

 

It's only for show

I played Friday, Saturday and yesterday - in shorts. Thought about you in all that cold Edro.

[WhiteWonder 2,171]

Same difference. Blades is an older term. Very, very few players can benefit from playing them. A top player can do more with a blade than anyone could do with a cavity back and also allegedly blades give good players more feedback. Again, when I say good, I am referring to the top 1-2% of golfers.

 

not the same difference at all.

 

sorry i didn't see this earlier. forged vs cast is all in the construction of the head i.e. forged out of once piece of material and generally a better feedback.

 

im on board with what cruzer is saying regarding 15 handicaps playing clubs they shouldnt be playing.... but more so in regards to blades. blades offer more "workability" and feedback to that top % of golfers.

 

many forged cavity backs exist, which many brands offer and are great, especially if you like a thinner top line and more of a "blade" look in your scoring irons.