Golf Drivers

[Confusion]

I've been playing golf for a few years now and I'm thinking about buying a better driver. The ones I have right now are a beginners set and the driver is fairly small, which I find is hard to hit the ball with. I usually top it or slice it, so I'm hoping a larger head will help me find the sweet spot and hit it farther and straighter. This is my first time looking for a driver so I'm not too sure about the different degrees and flexes, but I'd like something around $250ish or lower. I don't want anything too fancy or expensive because I'm still kind of new to golf. I'm pretty much just looking to upgrade my old driver to a bigger head. Could you guys give me some suggestions of some good drivers in my price range?

[matt-]

R7!

[Verty]

I personally wouldn't suggest you buying a better driver before you get better at controlling the ball. This is my own opinion and I'm sure several people will disagree but whatever :D The thing is, usually, better drivers will give you more performance, but that doesn't necessarily always translate into accuracy. A couple of years ago, I bought a Callaway Big Berta 10°. Unfortunatly, I hated it at first because I had some control issues that were just exacerbated by the fact that it was a more powerful tool. So, had I corrected my swing first, I would have liked it better. I still have it though, it just took me a lot of practice (and I mean at least 5 years) to get to control it better, but it's still a bit unreliable and unless I have a big wide opening in front of me, I drive with a 3 wood instead.

But, as I said, that's my own opinion! If you're really into getting a new driver but still have a few control problems, just go in a golf shop and ask for a good all-around driver that's best for control, not necessarily power, because control is really subjective to the type of golfer you are.

Oh and one more thing. I personally prefer aluminum shafts rather than carbon shafts (once again, I know people will think I'm crazy). I think they don't flex as much and they help me with my control. That's partly why I still have some problems with my Big Berta I think.

[|2on]

i prefer aluminum shafts too, gives me more control. then again i haven't hit a different shaft in a while now... a few years at least. maybe i'll give it a go this summer.

[Sutterkane]

Well, for 250 you can get a pretty good driver. That said, I'd highly recommend getting a new wood set instead, so that your 3w and 5w are the same type as your driver.

Personally, I prefer smaller headed drivers as it allows you to hit them out of the fairway if you have a good enough lie or if you're playing it up everywhere at a goat ranch.

Getting a bigger clubface is just going to exaggerate any kind of subtle miss you might have, and is not going to make you hit the ball any straighter. The only time people "suddenly" hit the ball better with different clubs is because they feel confident in the new club they're swinging, and they aren't thinking about all the things they usually do wrong in their swing. 2 weeks later, you've spent 300 bucks on new clubs and you have the same problems you had with your last set of clubs.

If you insist on getting a new driver, I highly suggest Taylor Made. I swear by any kind of drivers they make. Calloways are usually way too big in my opinion. I have a 420 10.5 and an old school burner bubble 9.5 that I change out depending on the course and weather conditions. You're welcome to get one of those drivers that has the weight system in it, but I'll almost guarantee they'll make your swing just that much worse with the rest of your clubs. When it comes down to it for swing corrections, it's about 60% player, 30% mental, and 10% golf club.

[spin]

a few months ago i got an old callaway hawk eye pro series (250cc club head) on ebay for 30 bucks basically brand new. and i can probably still out drive the nubs with the 'dinner plate on a stick' drivers :p but then again i have been playing golf for around 13 years.

best advice i can give you is go into your local golf shop and hit their test clubs into the net. if you find one you like, see if you can rent it or something and go play a round with it. but dont just go out and buy a club just because some pro says its leet sauce

[Magus]

If you want cheap, good drivers, go to www.callawaypreowned.com , at this site I got a big bertha driver, about 2 years ago, for like 20 bucks. Good for a person with your experience, find out if you are comfortable with different shafts, etc, at your local golf store, then go online and buy one. I actually use a women's driver, 200 yards, down the pike every time. 11 degrees ;)

[ass*assassin]

I would definately get my swing fixed before i went out and spent heavy dollars on a driver.. the driver shaft, is matched, along with the head weight, to your swing in mph.. getting a shaft, that is too stiff or too whippy will make you hook or slice the ball terribly.. go get your swing measured at a good golf store, as far as head speed thru the sweet zone.. my swing is very fast, but it is all wrists.. from lots of practice.. :) hence, i have a very stiff shaft.. (golf too.. hehehe) however, once you get your swing fixed, then you can go out and use some test clubs at a golf shop like someone else said, and find something that feels good to swing too.. a good feel is really important, because it gives you the confidence to swing away and knock the snot outta the ball.

i use a kingcobra driver.. i know, old school.. small head.. i had a custom steel shaft fitted to the head, that matches my height and swing speed thru the sweet zone.. (I am 6'2 so 'off the shelf' clubs are too short for me) made everything just right when i did it.. i can pick a ball outta the fairway, and knock it 260-270 yards that way.. i have tried to do this with oversized drivers, and i cannot.. also, a smaller head is better to get your club thru tall grass or rough.. A large head will drag and again, cause you to slice or fade..

i drive 280-290 off the tee with this club pretty consistantly.. i have been playing tho, since i was a kid.. 40+ years. once you get your swing, at least stabilized, then i would go to a pro and get a good set of clubs..

[Confusion]

hmm maybe i'll just wait like everyone is suggesting. what would cause me to top the ball? it seems to have a ton of downspin and sometimes bounces off the ground a few feet in front of me. i tried using taller tees, which seems to help, but sometimes i end up putting it too high up and i get way under it. i use to play baseball so maybe i'm putting too much weight on my back foot as i swing through and the club lifts off the ground more or something. either that or i'm trying to hit it too hard since it doesnt go very far unless i do so. dunno but it pisses me off. i figured a larger head would help me hit the ball easier, but it sounds like it's a matter of my swing and not really the current club.

[Verty]

If you top it off, 95% of the time it's because you raise your head too fast.

[dylan]

That or you're swinging too hard.

[atheist]

Or you drop your shoulder :( Like me.

[Bp-2X]

for 250$ you could take a R5 (TaylorMade) since the price is in the range.

its a good "good driver" to start with cause of the 2 weight in it to help you to control your hook or slice

but also, driving long is not usefull if you suck at every other aspect of golf.
in a round, your drive about 12-14 time. all the other (putt, chip, middle iron) are more important.
I suggest you to invest in a good set of iron instead of a driver.

[Sutterkane]

things i can think of to fix topping the ball:

-not keeping your knees bent
-not keeping your head down(if you look up too quick to see where the ball is going, you usually don't have to look far)
-dipping your right shoulder instead of unwinding the torque you've built up(common of baseball players i've found)
-standing too far away from the ball
-standing too close to the ball
-teeing the ball too far foward in your stance (this will also cause a slice at times)

here's another place that might help you out:

http://www.tomsgolftips.com/fatthin.html
http://www.tomsgolftips.com/topping.html

[kidmO]

The biggest mistake new players make is swinging too hard. You will be amazed at how far the ball will fly with a nice, easy, smooth swing.

If you are looking for a new driver, and are a high handicapper, you might want to think about the Cleveland OS Sport. I have never used it but my friends rant and rave about it. It is a driver designed for high handicappers, which is hard to find. It is made by a reputable company and is also very cheap. I bet you could find a driver, 3 wood, and 5 wood for 250 brand new. One thing about the high end drivers is that they are hard to hit. Also buying a used driver can be a bit of a gamble because drivers do lose their pop.

I'd suggest finding a golf store where you can go to an outdoor range and hit the club. A lot of golf stores outside of large cities have this. You don't just want to hit into a net, you want to see the trajectory of your ball.

Also the most important club in your bag is your putter. You'd be suprised at the difference a new putter can make (balance and how the ball comes off the face of the putter are most important).

[atheist]

-dipping your right shoulder instead of unwinding the torque you've built up(common of baseball players i've found)


That's mostly my problem. Also, some others I notice.

-Not aiming at the target correctly(Usually I line up behind the ball and point the head to the target then square my feet)
-Shoulders aren't parallel(I have a problem dipping my back shoulder due to baseball and shoulder injury)
-Going to fast on the down swing
-Looking up too fast
-No follow through

Usually I just make sure my legs are bent a little and on the practice swing my club goes a little behind the ball so you get air instead of hitting on top. I just really need to work on my fairway woods.

[Sutterkane]

I just don't buy into the whole "this driver is designed to make you better".

[ass*assassin]

I just don't buy into the whole "this driver is designed to make you better".


i tend to agree.. practice makes you better.. get some lessons with either a pro, or someone that is a good friend, that is a low-handicapper.. if you are topping the ball, a few outings to a good driving range with someone knowledgable will fix most of your problems..

driving is for show, putting is for go.. the old saying.. i actually don't practice my driving much.. i practice my short irons more than anything.. my wedge, 9, 8, thru my 5 iron.. these are what makes my game go.. from inside 175 yards to the pin, i am deadly.. practice hitting the ball a consistant range..

this is what i try to hit with my normal swings:

5 iron - 175 yards dead on
6 iron - 160 yards
7 iron - 150 yards
8 iron - 135 yards
9 iron - 120 yards
full wedge 100 yards

i can then get to the green consistantly and close to the pin, so i don't have to do marathon 90 yard putts to get down.. it's important to get your swing down and consistant.. either straight, or slight fade or slight hook.. it's up to your style.. i prefer to hit it dead straight, others.. well, it's up to them..

[Kobe]

you really only hit your driver so many shots per round and honestly at our level if you have control issues with a driver then try a nice 3 wood, i hit a knockoff 3 wood as good or better than my taylor made, only when i'm really on do i pull the driver out. my 3 wood doesn't slice near as much and most often hardly at all, the extra length i get with my banana stick (driver) doesnt matter as most of it is a *cough* hard fade :rolleyes:

the short game is where you'll shave alot of strokes off your round with consistency...I grew up on a resort so had the luxury of having alot of area in the spring and fall when the resort was empty to practice my short game. spending free time chipping to trees/power poles you name it, and hitting up over cabins and doing all kinds of creative shit made my short game deadly. 40 yards and in and i have a very high percentage of getting up and down. plus its fun to, with a couple buddies and some cold ones you can make small wagers and drinking games AND improve your golf game immensely

soooooooooooo imo spend a fair amount on a good 3 wood and drop the rest of your money on a nice wedge...

[MasterBlaster]

PM Techn9ne in #grannyapples

I guarantee he can hook you up, or at least give you advice.

When he's not playing golf, he's thinking about playing golf, so ask him about it.

[saltyk9]

it's about 60% player, 30% mental, and 10% golf club.

i'd say more like 90% mental, but i guess that's when you've got the fundamentals down.

I've been playing golf for all but 3 years of my life and have played at 2 ncaa D1 schools, if you really wanna get the most for your money, id say invest in some lessons. A pro can get you settled in with what you need to work on the most based on where you are at now and give you something to work on when he's not there. There is so much to golf and everyone thinks they know what to do, but most of the time you are just getting bad advice. The clubs really dont make a whole lot of different until you get to an elite level.