Are 430CC drivers popular ?

[square]

About 18 months ago I tried both a 430Cc driver and a 380CC (both Yonex brand). After a dozen trial rounds, I chose the 390CC because it was easier for me to swing and square at impact.

The 430CC , really, was not a significant difference from 460CC drivers I have played.

Are 430CC drivers popular and do you think major brands will be introducing 400CC (or 390) size drivers ?I think it would be good for the game. 390-400 is still a very large head, offering lots of forgiveness, but with the benefit of being a bit easier to swing and square than a 460 size head.

The recently introduced "mini drivers", which I believe are in the 220Cc to 250CC size range, I think have not sold well because they

are considered to be more of a 3-wood substitute rather than a driver.

[DaRiz]

I like the 445cc size of the D3 and enjoyed the 440 size of the bio cell pro when I played it. It looks slightly more compact yet still performs like a 460cc head, which is what most of us want. I have never tried the TM 430 heads but they do look better than 460cc heads.

So yes they are popular with people who want less spin and no I don't think they will get much smaller. 430 from what I've read starts to get noticeably unforgiving while at 445 it does not (for me). Also not sure if going under 430cc will lower spin any more, because if not and it's just a tiny unforgiving driver there's no way they will manufacture them.

[MtlJeff]

People are drawn to "anchors", this has been shown psychologically. Once you set the limit at 460cc people think they are missing something by not having it there. A manufacturer would have to heavily market a lower CC club and aggressively promote it's benefits. TMAG would be the type of company to do this

But the market isn't going to drive the demand end. Short of a minority of players who like it

[setter02]

[quote name='DaRiz' timestamp='1451754925' post='12792268']
I like the 445cc size of the D3 and enjoyed the 440 size of the bio cell pro when I played it. It looks slightly more compact yet still performs like a 460cc head, which is what most of us want. I have never tried the TM 430 heads but they do look better than 460cc heads.

So yes they are popular with people who want less spin and no I don't think they will get much smaller. 430 from what I've read starts to get noticeably unforgiving while at 445 it does not (for me). Also not sure if going under 430cc will lower spin any more, because if not and it's just a tiny unforgiving driver there's no way they will manufacture them.
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I think your talking more about design than the aspects of volume. Comparing a G25 to a Cleveland Deep faced is not an apples to apples comparison, yet both are '460' drivers. I'm sure if they wanted they could produce shallower faced drivers that are sub 430 cc just as well as deeper faced 460 cc drivers. The 460 cc number is just an arbitrary number pulled out by the governing bodies. There is no way they put any $'s into actual research to find what works, they are a reactionary group who don't actually do anything to help the game, just hinder progress in the name of history and over react to what the top 0.2% of golfers in the world do...

[llewol007]

I too played the 430 versus 460 comparison. Only time I have experimented with lesser cc was withe the new Cleveland classic drivers when they first came out which are around 290 cc. I like the 430 heads which seem to be the right size fore me. It does seem that with the smaller heads now, I seem to be losing some yardage. It's really trial and error. If you are comfortable with more ccs go for it. Does not always equate to straighter shots but golf is a very mental game so whatever gets you the most yardage down the middle of the fairway is what you go with.

[BMC]

There are different shapes within a size, and my 460 Titleist is not nearly as deep as my 400 Cleveland Launcher.

I'd like a 400cc had that is not too deep. Know of one?

[RogerinNewZealand]

[attachment=3086626:IMG_1203.JPG]Square, I had a 420cc Nike VR Tour a few years ago, liked it.

Recently bought a 905T 10.5 and i really like the 400cc look.
Looking for a lower lofted 9.5 905T or S.
I had to buy the 420 Yonex E Zone 9 when it was available recently, but i really need higher loft!

[Golfrnut]

440 V2 Supertri...own two.

Still have...
430CC SLDR

Had....
440 Bio Cell Pro
420 R9

460 heads have always looked too big to me...and I have never visually been able to get used to them. Popular by a majority? Don't know. Popular to me? Yes.

[square]

[quote name='BMC' timestamp='1451769464' post='12793026']
There are different shapes within a size, and my 460 Titleist is not nearly as deep as my 400 Cleveland Launcher.

I'd like a 400cc had that is not too deep. Know of one?
[/quote]

Any driver over about 300CC will have a deep face.
For example, a 400CC driver, to achieve that much head size volume, must get it with sole-to-top-line height. Otherwise (to get 400CC volume), the head would have to be either extremely long from heel-to-toe, or very wide from front-to-back, both of which would make for a too bulky looking of a club head.
The last driver I consider to have had a "shallow face" was the old 260CC head size 975D, and even that one was not especially shallow.

[square]

[quote name='RogerinNewZealand' timestamp='1451770238' post='12793078']
[attachment=3086626:IMG_1203.JPG]Square, I had a 420cc Nike VR Tour a few years ago, liked it.

Recently bought a 905T 10.5 and i really like the 400cc look.
Looking for a lower lofted 9.5 905T or S.
I had to buy the 420 Yonex E Zone 9 when it was available recently, but i really need higher loft!
[/quote]

Try a Yonex ezone 380. I have both the Yonex 420 and 380, and much prefer the 380. Both are 10* loft.

[Uncle T]

I bought an Adams GT 363 TI this past winter and dropped a Fubuki shaft in it. The shaft is from a Nike Vapor pro? But I am excited to hit it this spring.

[Noke]

Sounds like 430cc drivers are popular for you.

 

They aren't for everyone.

[JustTheTips]

People are drawn to "anchors", this has been shown psychologically. Once you set the limit at 460cc people think they are missing something by not having it there. A manufacturer would have to heavily market a lower CC club and aggressively promote it's benefits. TMAG would be the type of company to do this

 

But the market isn't going to drive the demand end. Short of a minority of players who like it

 

Isn't that why people buy 430 clubs? They get to buy a "pro" or "tour" model and have their ego stroked? People swing 460s because they work for most people.

[MelloYello]

I believe the Nike VR Pro Ltd. model that I'm currently playing is about 440cc. It's meant to be a slightly more refined looking "big driver." It was an evolution of the 420cc VR Tour which was a very compact driver.

 

On that note, does any of it really matter: 420cc, 440c, or 460cc? You're splitting hairs either way. Keep in mind that most 460 heads are meant to achieve a higher level of forgiveness versus their smaller brethren. The change in launch and forgiveness is not a function of size as much as it is in the placement of weight inside the heads. After all, that's the reason we occasionally see 460cc heads which are surprisingly hard to hit and 420-430cc heads which are surprisingly easy to use.

 

Size is only one parameter in design. It certainly is not the be-all, end-all thing which decides how a driver will play.

[donaldp83]

Square, I had a 420cc Nike VR Tour a few years ago, liked it.

 

Recently bought a 905T 10.5 and i really like the 400cc look.

Looking for a lower lofted 9.5 905T or S.

I had to buy the 420 Yonex E Zone 9 when it was available recently, but i really need higher loft!

 

Try a Yonex ezone 380. I have both the Yonex 420 and 380, and much prefer the 380. Both are 10* loft.

 

What is it that was better about the 380 for you?

 

I have hit 983Ks since they came out in '03, but am always looking. I bought the 420 last year, and love the look and it is a great head- I just haven't found a shaft pairing I love with it. I am looking for a 380, because I have to try it. You are the the first person I have seen to try both, so I am curious what made the 380 better for you?