Please recommend an old school driver that can still keep up today!

[theothertwo]

My thoughts from experience:

 

Titelist 983K

 

Bridgestone J33

 

Titleist 909D3

 

Taylor Made 510 TP

[BrianMcG]

Add the Titleist 905r

[cardoustie]

Rapture v1 and v2

[craz-e]

Another Titleist, 910 range, D2 or D3

[2_PuttBirdies]

Just went back to my old TM Superfast 2.0TP

[RodC]

The question is WHY?

[Noke]

Wishon 919THI

[theothertwo]

The question is WHY?

 

Putting together a semi semi vintage bag, need a driver to go along with Tommy Armour Silver Scot 845 Irons, crazy yes. I don't even remember what drivers I was using when I was playing these irons in the early 90s. Possibly a Powerbilt Persimmon Citation, Original Big Bertha, Taylor Made Burner, Great Big Bertha which are all obsolete now.

 

May look into the 910D3, I remember liking that driver.

[radiman]

How old school are we talking. If you're thinking from the 983K's timeframe, it'll be hard to top that. If you're looking for something from around your irons day, maybe the 975D or Great Big Bertha. Don't know if they'd keep up with as well though.

[BrianMcG]

The 975D would go with those irons well.

[theothertwo]

How old school are we talking. If you're thinking from the 983K's timeframe, it'll be hard to top that. If you're looking for something from around your irons day, maybe the 975D or Great Big Bertha. Don't know if they'd keep up with as well though.

 

Thanks.

 

Not quite Great Big Bertha era but the 983k and 975D are close. You're right though, I still think these are obsolete and can not keep up, maybe along the lines of the 910 Titleist series, 905R, Ping Rapture and TM Superfast mentioned above.

[MuskieCy]

Adams 9015D,......"Uhhhhhh,.....ball speed".

[radiman]

How old school are we talking. If you're thinking from the 983K's timeframe, it'll be hard to top that. If you're looking for something from around your irons day, maybe the 975D or Great Big Bertha. Don't know if they'd keep up with as well though.

 

Thanks.

 

Not quite Great Big Bertha era but the 983k and 975D are close. You're right though, I still think these are obsolete and can not keep up, maybe along the lines of the 910 Titleist series, 905R, Ping Rapture and TM Superfast mentioned above.

 

All solid options. I wasn't so much a fan of the 910. But, the FT Tour from the same era was a beast. Maybe even the Adams 9015D from a few years earlier. That thing had a lot of praise here. And rightfully so. Get yourself a 9015D with a Harrison Saga shaft and you'd have THE GolfWRX driver from 2009. Everyone seemed to rave about that combo.

 

975D may not keep up. But, I wouldn't be shocked to see the 983K hold it's own. Great classic shape. Smaller club head than what you see these days. Would have that classic bag look and feel to it.

[Exactice808]

With the implementation of the .830 COR / 239 CT Unit time limitation. Back in 2003

 

Meaning at current any Legal Generation of club from 2003 Should be capable if all things equal to keep up.

 

So base point the R510 released in 2003 should by legal specs be just as long an M3/M4 with that anything in-between.

 

The key is generating the maximum amount of speed you as a player can through proper shaft weight, flex and length then add on the head that gives you the greatest ball speed on your average strike on the face and then finally launch conditions.

 

 

OK so got all that blah blah blah out of the way.

 

 

TM Jetspeed driver, out side of the TM 07 Burner. Tech, Shaft, fitting, pricing and personally the most under rated driver I have known. I think they are $50 and deep(as in long) if the stock shaft works for you if not a simple swap of the adapter and the best fitting shaft for you at X length and you are gold.

 

WITH that.... The Generations of club by PRICE for me is what I would gravitate too.

 

910 D2 from Titleist

Ping K15 driver

 

All Great drives with legal .830 /239 Ct units and forgiving as can be.

 

Other than that...in my opinion in the current tech is just spreading the 239ct units across the face as MUCH as possible.... through Speed channels and active recoil channels and increase MOI through weight.....$500 a driver... YIKESSS add in your shaft, fitting YIKESS!!! thats 10 rounds of golf!

[gbartko]

the billy club!

[theothertwo]

I have been golfing for nearly 30 years and I've played with very good and long hitting golfers. No numbers to back it up but based on my observations, golfers are just as long 10 to 15 years ago when they were using older drivers like the Cleveland Launcher, 905Rs and others. Fitting was not such a big deal then so fitting and shafts are the real game changers as opposed to driver club head design?

 

I have played regularly with two guys and they are both long hitters by amateur 40 year old standards, 270 to 285 drives at best. One is using an Epic SZ and a standard Epic. I honestly think they are not longer than when they were using their Titleist 909D3 and 907D1 drivers, they were of course 10 years younger then.

 

I am so old school and behind, I admit I never got fitted for a driver. My irons are fitted for length and lie though.

[Exactice808]

I have been golfing for nearly 30 years and I've played with very good and long hitting golfers. No numbers to back it up but based on my observations, golfers are just as long 10 to 15 years ago when they were using older drivers like the Cleveland Launcher, 905Rs and others. Fitting was not such a big deal then so fitting and shafts are the real game changers as opposed to driver club head design?

 

I am so old school and behind, I admit I never got fitted for a driver. My irons are fitted for length and lie though.

 

In my opinion fitting and the ability to read and compare data is the "game changer"

 

her is the thing in my mind.

 

1.5 smash factor is generically the absolute number you can get in ratio of swing speed to ball speed. (i.e. 100mph swing speed = 150mph Ball speed)

 

Now add in the optimized launch condition (generically, 17* of launch, 1700rpms of back spin) and you basically have the best most optimal distance period)

 

Problem is most humans are NOT machines and cannot produce this with any type of robotic consistency BUT it doenst help trying to get as close as possible ,.

 

With that through the aid of "Tech enhancements" Longer Shafts to help increase ball speeds. Wider MOI to increase forgiveness across the face of a club thus maximizing ball speed. People think they are getting better distance. But alas... The just were able to find a better smash factor on a couple of strikes at the golf store. NOT realizing that likely their smash is averaging no better than 1.40 ish...to maybe 1.45 (per my example, of 100mph swing speed = 140mph to 145mph. this is still leaving 5-10mph of optimal ball speed then distance on the table.)

 

43' Driver swinging @ 100mph with a smash if 1.5 will go Further than the current 45.75" drivers @ 100mph with 1.45 smash. purely on data....there are other factors of course...

 

 

 

LAST thought and here is my thought...... Go somewhere that can measure your swing speed and get an average....meaning after 10 swings your average swing speed is 95..... knowing this.... now apply the 1.5 smash and you have 142.5mph is the absolute realistic ball speed you can obtain.

 

Now plug this in to a flight optimizer.... https://flightscope.com/products/trajectory-optimizer/

 

Mess around with this till you can find the ABSOLUTE distance (example 15* launch, 2000rpm = 241.9 yards carry and 246.7 total) And that is what you COULD and should aim for as in REALISTIC longest of drives.

 

If you are NOT obtaining anywhere near these numbers then the fitter should be able to tune, the launch angle (loft), shaft (flex, kick points overall weight) , length, and spin numbers to at least get closer to it......Thats the secret I have found.....

 

 

My humble opinion that is....jeezz havent posted in 6 months and I feel like Im preaching so sorry about that!

[theothertwo]

I have been golfing for nearly 30 years and I've played with very good and long hitting golfers. No numbers to back it up but based on my observations, golfers are just as long 10 to 15 years ago when they were using older drivers like the Cleveland Launcher, 905Rs and others. Fitting was not such a big deal then so fitting and shafts are the real game changers as opposed to driver club head design?

 

I am so old school and behind, I admit I never got fitted for a driver. My irons are fitted for length and lie though.

 

In my opinion fitting and the ability to read and compare data is the "game changer"

 

her is the thing in my mind.

 

1.5 smash factor is generically the absolute number you can get in ratio of swing speed to ball speed. (i.e. 100mph swing speed = 150mph Ball speed)

 

Now add in the optimized launch condition (generically, 17* of launch, 1700rpms of back spin) and you basically have the best most optimal distance period)

 

Problem is most humans are NOT machines and cannot produce this with any type of robotic consistency BUT it doenst help trying to get as close as possible ,.

 

With that through the aid of "Tech enhancements" Longer Shafts to help increase ball speeds. Wider MOI to increase forgiveness across the face of a club thus maximizing ball speed. People think they are getting better distance. But alas... The just were able to find a better smash factor on a couple of strikes at the golf store. NOT realizing that likely their smash is averaging no better than 1.40 ish...to maybe 1.45 (per my example, of 100mph swing speed = 140mph to 145mph. this is still leaving 5-10mph of optimal ball speed then distance on the table.)

 

43' Driver swinging @ 100mph with a smash if 1.5 will go Further than the current 45.75" drivers @ 100mph with 1.45 smash. purely on data....there are other factors of course...

 

 

 

LAST thought and here is my thought...... Go somewhere that can measure your swing speed and get an average....meaning after 10 swings your average swing speed is 95..... knowing this.... now apply the 1.5 smash and you have 142.5mph is the absolute realistic ball speed you can obtain.

 

Now plug this in to a flight optimizer.... https://flightscope.com/products/trajectory-optimizer/

 

Mess around with this till you can find the ABSOLUTE distance (example 15* launch, 2000rpm = 241.9 yards carry and 246.7 total) And that is what you COULD and should aim for as in REALISTIC longest of drives.

 

If you are NOT obtaining anywhere near these numbers then the fitter should be able to tune, the launch angle (loft), shaft (flex, kick points overall weight) , length, and spin numbers to at least get closer to it......Thats the secret I have found.....

 

 

My humble opinion that is....jeezz havent posted in 6 months and I feel like Im preaching so sorry about that!

 

All good, thanks.

[deca10]

Yes, any 983 titleist.........although right now I’m loving my 905s and t. Played Ping G400 LST most of the summer, and ended with the 905’s. G400 has been sold, great driver, but 905’s get it done.

[cardoustie]

The Bridgestone Whopper was my gamer as a university stick in the early 90's

 

Based on your sig that should be an appealing option

 

Great feel and shape

 

[Mitchell]

R510tp (or any of r500 series that suits you)

Rapture V2

 

Exactice,

Nice to see you posting again bruddah! Keiki must be keeping ya busy- best wishes to you, your wife and all the rest of your ohana.?

[Outpost31]

[ode1]

Ftiz, ugly but effective

[Titleist_PT23]

Titleist 983E if your strike is very good.

 

Titleist 910D2 if you want something that resembles today's forgiveness.

 

I played with an old 983E once this year. It is great when you catch it right but absolutely horrible if you miss at all (both loss of ball speed and direction).

[sfdoddsy]

Depends what you mean by 'Keep up' and how Old School you want to go.

 

There have been some tests on such a thing:

 

https://Not allowed because of spam.com/callaway-epic-vs-biggest-big-bertha/

 

https://Not allowed because of spam.com/taylormade-m1-vs-taylormade-r7-superquad/

 

The only Old School drivers I reckon will match a modern driver distance-wise are the Callaway ERC+ and the Taylormade SLDR.

[Golf64]

G25 ;)

[RobS14526]

Ping G2/5/10 are still fantastic. I still think the longest combo I’ve ever had was an Orlimar HipTi 420 with an early Taylormade Mitsubishi Tour shaft. Russian titanium baby!

[theothertwo]

Titleist 983E if your strike is very good.

 

Titleist 910D2 if you want something that resembles today's forgiveness.

 

I played with an old 983E once this year. It is great when you catch it right but absolutely horrible if you miss at all (both loss of ball speed and direction).

 

Thanks, might go with the 910. I remember the 983E, beautiful club but for very good hitters with a lot of speed I believe, kinda like the 905S.

[Ghostwedge]

I witness this a few times a year. Will tee it up with my son and his band of milennial hotshot ams, they all use the latest and greatest drivers, he still hits the Titleist 910 D2, theyʻre all out there 280-300 yds. Asked him if he wanted a new driver for Christmas, said heʻs good with the 910 and has bought a couple backups the past few years. Think he uses the stock Diamana shaft in them too.

[aquapig]

Not sure what there is to NOT like about the 910D2.

 

My buddies are constantly buying the latest and greatest drivers. And I’m constantly hitting mote fairways and still bomb some past them.

 

I’ve tried hitting their stuff, but nothing feels or sounds nearly as good as the 910D2.