I have nike ignite I bought back in 2005. 460 cc

What's the difference between that and today's drivers? I hit drivers for the first time today and hit the Taylor made jetspeed pretty well. But I wouldn't say there was a huge difference.

Fyi. My ignite is an 8.5 degree loft with a very stiff shaft. Swing speed is 110 to 115.

I am also afraid I will be hitting the tm a little too high with too much spin. It was ~3300 while my ignite was closer to ~3100. Launch angles with the tm were 12-14. Nike was 10-12.

I do think the tm was more forgiving.

[This message has been edited by harge57 (edited 6/10/2014 2:28p).]

Get a new one.

I think you answered your question. The biggest difference in my opinion is the forgiveness.

I have a guy in my foresome who just bought a new Taylor Made to replace his 5-6 year old model and he can't hit it as far.

Now........I'm a firm beleiver that a new model should be 5-10 yards better than a 5-6 year old model............IF......IF.........it's properly fitted.

He bought a new one with different loft (although it's adjustable) and with a different shaft. My guess is that the modern technology of the new driver can't overcome the fact that the driver does not fit him well. Result ...............about 10 less yards.

I'm struggling with the same thing now. I've got a Callaway x460 that I've had for going on almost 8 years now. I've heard all these great things about the SLDR and have been interesting in switching but is it really worth it? I'm not the worlds greatest driver of the ball but I hit it plenty far to deal with most of the courses I play. At what point does it make sense to switch to new technology.

I think an 8 year difference would justify the change, but if you're going Taylormade wait about 10 months and buy used on ebay. You'll pay about 1/3 of the new price right now.

I am in the same situation as the OP. I currently play a Cleveland Launcher Comp (I think it was came out around 2005) and I hit it decent, but I was wondering if the new drivers today are that much better? I've hit a few of them at Golfsmith and the TaylorMade, Callaway, and Titleist I hit pretty well but its hard to tell much of a difference hitting into an indoor net. Any thoughts/knowledge on what the new drivers give you over a driver 8-9 years ago?

There is more of a change in golf balls than there is in clubs. It is hard to compare balls from 8 years ago, to present day balls.

Driver every 4-5 years, irons every 7-10 years, wedges every 3..... For me.

[This message has been edited by Dre06 (edited 6/10/2014 5:48p).]

Dre,

How often do you play?

3 years on wedges is a lot. Grooves in my opinion are almost gone after a year.

~25-30 rounds a year. My wedges seem to last longer. I have two (54/58) and rarely hit a full wedge.

Harge said:
I am also afraid I will be hitting the tm a little too high with too much spin. It was ~3300 while my ignite was closer to ~3100. Launch angles with the tm were 12-14. Nike was 10-12.
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The whole concept of the SLDR is far less spin. If you get down from 3100, you should see more distance and less cut/draw. Might give the SLDR a shot -- not immediate purchase, but go hit one.

aggiedent -- I think you hit the nail on the head re: your friend. Unless you've got something unique that a model can account for in adjustability, it's all about finding the driver whose shaft best fits a player's swing characteristics.

If you are concerned about RPM on the ball try the Ping i20. Factory stuff shift has for well for me.

I get about 1800 rpm on center hits and 1200 off the toe. I might as well be hitting knuckle balls.

DRE,

That's crazy about your wedges, I typically play as many rounds as you but mine were toast after a year.

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That's crazy about your wedges, I typically play as many rounds as you but mine were toast after a year.

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I think it takes at least a year just to break them in.



As for drivers. I just switched from a TM R9 to a TM RBZ Stage 2. I have hit the TM R9 very well over the 4+ years I have had it and was reluctant to try something different. The first round I played with The RBZ I cleared the water hazard(on accident) on 6 at Grapevine that cuts the right side of the hole off for the first time ever. I also cleared the furthest point of the hazard on 9 and was 170. I am going to guess I picked up 15 yards off the tee.

I don't see any way wedges would be toast after 30 rounds unless you were hitting the range about 4 times a week.

Hmm, I've used some wedges forever, including BeNi Cleveland for over a decade.

I switch out drivers every other year or so. The technology differences are worth it to me. I really loved my R1, but the SLDR with Oban Tour Limited shaft has me longer and straighter. And that shaft feels unbelievably solid.

I highly recommend you purchase my R1TP and give it a whirl.

I practice a lot and I throw them.

Probably doesn't help.

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I have a guy in my foresome who just bought a new Taylor Made to replace his 5-6 year old model and he can't hit it as far.

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Just a guess, but was his old driver a TM R7?

I play a Titleist 983K from '03. I hit bombs.

But I think the benefit of a newer model would definitely be forgiveness, as stated earlier. Every now and then, I'll catch one off the toe or low on the face and lose some distance.

I've never hit a 460cc driver well, probably because I've never found a shaft that I like. I'll likely pick up an RBZ2 sometime soon.

New driver but make sure you go for a fitting.

I kept my Cleveland comp 460 for about 10 years before I got something new...maybe an extra 5 or 10 yards wasn't worth it...when that number jumped to 15 yards more carry with the new big bertha I switched...New stuff is more forgiving and longer

so my old 1990's TM Burner Plus needs to go....

Actually don't even have a driver in the bag right now. Just replaced my OLD irons, with 2yr old TM's, also bought a 3H, 4H, and a 3W. Usually hit the 3W or 3H off the tee.

[This message has been edited by agracer (edited 6/11/2014 11:24a).]

I have a Ping rapture v2 that's probably 6 years old and I still hit it farther than my 2 year old driver. Just can't hit it straight.

I'd add that TM has fantastic customer service, too.

Not to derail the thread and I know we have a few people that think golf balls dont matter, but I think it is important to marry the ball too. I know equimpent guys would agree with that. I have played TM balls since the original Penta and gave up on the ProV with the 2011 ball. But I got a couple dozen free ProV1s in a charity event the other day. Every drive I have hit with my new driver since that went much further than my old was hit with that ball. I didnt notice any distance impact with the TM or the Prov1x. I only have a sample size of three rounds. Two with the new Prov1 and one with a combination of a Prov1x and the Lethal. It may not be enough sample size, but I really noticed it with the Prov1. I still have two dozen Lethals so I will know soon enough.

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I play a Titleist 983K from '03. I hit bombs.

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Me too. For whatever reason, I haven't found a new driver that I can hit as far, or even as consistent, as my Titleist. I think it has everything to do with my swing because the technology should make it work the other way around, but I've never taken the time to work on that.

Plus, these new drivers just feel way too light to me...guess I could add some lead tape to the head or something.

Any recommendations on driver fitting in DFW area.

Does outdoor vs. indoor matter?

Hit outdoor if you can. Leonards golf links in west fw/aledo is great.

FWIW, I hit my 11 y/o 983K like crap today. Unlike last week, I couldn't keep anything in the fairway.

I have a Ping Rapture with a V2 shaft that took me forever to decide/get fitted on. I went to PGA Superstore a few months back and probably hit no less than 20 new Driver/shaft combos and none were as consistant, straight and distance as my current setup. Now if I did the same method as before, I could probably find a right combo that will do better but I hardly ever play anymore to justify it.