My driver is actually my best club typically (not so much for my 5 wood that I rarely use). In both cases my miss hits tend to be duck hook style shots. My irons I typically pull and draw (trying to get to just the draw part...), my driver is more just a straight flyer except when I duck hook it. I currently use a Cobra driver with 10.5 degree loft and its from like 2001 or so.

My skill level is that I shoot in the mid-90's most of the time, but off the tee is rarely a reason for a bad round (putting and around the green I struggle and I tend to lack accuracy with my irons --- you saw where I said I pull them and hit a draw if I swing natural, not the best combo).

So with all of that said, does anyone have a good suggestion on a particular driver or maybe a place in Dallas I should go? I would prefer to buy used or maybe buy one of last years models to save a few bucks. I would probably also like to get a new 3 and 5 wood.

If you're looking at some used options, why not just go to PGA Super Store, Golf Galaxy, Dick's, etc. and hit some different models to see which of them get along best with your swing?

Due to a couple of horrible experiences I avoid Golf Galaxy like the plague, but they do have a nice selection so I would start there or any other golf specific store.

As for recommendations the big names will always have the most options.

Taylor Made, Callaway, Nike, Cobra and Ping have released new drivers recently so their previous models may get a reduced price soon. Go grab some out of the demo bags and hit them.

PGA Supserstore in Denver would let you borrow a club like you would a library book. Give them a credit card and then you can take it to a range for a couple days or play a round with it to give it a try. I think it was free but if it cost anything it wasn't expensive. Not sure if they do that everywhere.

Interesting Bagger... I may have to see if I can find a place here in DFW to try that.

As for trying clubs out at a place like Golf Galaxy with an indoor driving range, are those things even close to accurate?

No, not completely accurate. They may be off, but it's not about accuracy as much as comparison to other clubs you're hitting at the time. In general, if you hit 6-8 balls each with 4 or 5 different options, I suspect one or two will stand out that are (a) longer than the rest, (b) more consistent than the rest, (c) or both.

All the major OEMs make good equipment these days. It's really more about finding equipment whose shaft best performs under your swing's characteristics.

Went to 4 different places and the PGA superstore was hands down the best.

As for what I learned, the Calloway X2 Hot driver was the club for me. So now I am trying to decide if it's worth it to pay $330 for that when I could buy the X Hot for about $130....

Check E-bay. Never buy retail. I just built me a new driver using a used R1 head, new shaft and grip for $140. After I sell my G20 on eBay I'll be out around $40.

Yea. That's more of an urban myth than anything. Buy used on eBay and that should eliminate most risk. Stay away from the brand new, stock pictured sales with little feedback.

Well maybe not a myth but very little.

Went back to PGA superstore and hit the 1 yr old technology (xhot, rbz) and they just didn't compare to my performance with the X2 Hot. I guess I'll go with eBay...

Got my X2hot and took it to the range. Ill just say wow, huge upgrade. Makes my old Cobra driver look like it was made not 10 years ago but 25 or 30 years ago. The sound difference, the size of the club face difference, and most importantly the consistency of performance difference. My first five swings with the X2 Hot at the range all landed in probably a 10-20 yard radius. They all started off dead straight and had a draw that took them about 10 yards left of center. After about 10 swings I started playing with my swing trying to start the ball a little right of center and when I did that it lost the draw action unfortunately. So Ill have to play with it some more, but as of now, very impressed.