2024 Driver Choice

[Lumberjack627]

2024 seems like a good year drivers. Do you think this year is the best ever year for a new driver with all the tech and boundaries being pushed to the max?  . Figure it would be a good discussion for if you’re going to get a new driver model in 2024 and why.

[mogc60]

Hard to say best year, but definitely a lot of intrigue around this years models. With Ping and Titleist and Srixon on different cycles it’s too difficult to claim which year is best. The quality of all the drivers today is unreal it really comes down to what you want out of your driver performance and looks and you can find it. I tried basically every driver model last year and ended up back in a Cobra which I have since the FlyZ+. I’ll be adding the DarkSpeed LS shortly to replace my AerojetLS. 

 

[Mp14forlife]

The TM release hasn't impressed me, at least in the reviews. The ping max 10k looks like a success and what TM was trying to do. If they've made the ai smoke triple diamond more forgiving then the paradym triple diamond, I think that's one to look at. 

[byoshio82]

Personally without seeing most in person I’m leaning TSR3 or Paradym AI triple diamond. Haven’t played a Callaway driver since HS (GBB) but I’m very intrigued by this one. Maybe the Taylormade as from the photos it’s looks way better than the stealth series which I wasn’t a fan of and just wasn’t all that good for me compared to my SIM2 driver or past TM products. I want to like cobra but their head shape just doesn’t fit my eye for whatever reason. 

[Kyfra]

Every year is the best year.

[getitdaily]

I hit everything last year. 

 

I have a stealth2+ that I got via a warranty on my og stealth+. I ended up getting a standard paradym when callaway offered the 2x trade in September/ Oct. 

 

My stealth2+ has a 21g backweight and 9g front weight. In that setup, it's really, really good. 

 

The standard paradym surprised me immediately. Higher launch than my stealth2+ with the same spin. Tighter dispersion. But it's just a bit slower than stealth2+.

 

Aerojet drivers were just OK. The standard model was just bulky from a looks and feel perspective. The LS was wild enough indoors that had me knowing I'd question where the ball was going outdoors. 

 

From the reviews I've seen, nothing is jumping out EXCEPT, potentially the Cobra darkspeed LS with the weight back. If that head has given high launch and low spin with speed and stability then it could be really, really good. 

 

I'm actually intrigued to see what titleist does later this year. But overall, there is nothing special about this year's crop. I like where callaway is headed with their face tech tho.

[cassel191919]

Nothing is going to take the tsr 3 out of the bag, we will see what they release in September

[flubberlange]

I got fit for a Titleist TSR2 with Ventus Velocore 5x shaft. I hit it fine - super forgiving on mishits and some deep ones when I somehow manage to hit the sweetspot. That driver head has a 4500/4800 MOI, I believe.

 

The new Ping and Callaway heads have MOI in the 10,000 range. I’m not a physicist and I’m not super into the specs of clubs but this seems nuts to me and has me curious. At least in my screwed up head, I’ve associated MOI with forgiveness so these new heads can be over twice as forgiving??? Will be going in to hit all the heads in a few weeks.

 

 

[Trippels]

17 minutes ago, cassel191919 said:

Nothing is going to take the tsr 3 out of the bag, we will see what they release in September

Which letter are they going with? TSX? TSM? TSY?

[jwb10]

  Joe Powell, six screw oil-hardened insert, TT XS 200, tipped 2'

 

 

 

[cassel191919]

46 minutes ago, Trippels said:

Which letter are they going with? TSX? TSM? TSY?

TSX sounds pretty sexy lol

[Warrick]

Not even interested in anything new, TSR4 not going anywhere.

[JohnKHawk]

Cobra DarkSpeed has me interested just on looks but will have to demo to see if it can outperform my current driver. Hopefully it sounds/feels better than the Aerojet which I did not really like. As far as the new Ping, Callaway & TM drivers I will be patient & eventually snag off of eBay. I'm sure I'll find a deal by May or June.

[Cellis]

Might pull the trigger on a DarkSpeed LS.... Not convinced myself yet. The Aerojet LS is such an animal I have a hard time believing something can be that much better....  Aside from the driver talk, definitely adding a DarkSpeed 3 wood to my bag this seaon.

[grochol17]

On 1/12/2024 at 8:36 AM, flubberlange said:

I got fit for a Titleist TSR2 with Ventus Velocore 5x shaft. I hit it fine - super forgiving on mishits and some deep ones when I somehow manage to hit the sweetspot. That driver head has a 4500/4800 MOI, I believe.

 

The new Ping and Callaway heads have MOI in the 10,000 range. I’m not a physicist and I’m not super into the specs of clubs but this seems nuts to me and has me curious. At least in my screwed up head, I’ve associated MOI with forgiveness so these new heads can be over twice as forgiving??? Will be going in to hit all the heads in a few weeks.

 

 

 

The 10K MOI is somewhat misleading marketing.  The USGA limits the MOI of a driver head to 5900 g-cm^2, but only in the heel-toe direction.  PING and TM are both including the crown-sole direction MOI calculation and thus calling it the *total* MOI.  So, to answer your question, no, the new 10K drivers are *not* twice as forgiving as your TSR2. 

Edited January 15, 2024 by grochol17
edited to correct my original gm/cm^2 typo to the correct units for MOI.

[MattM97]

After seeing what has been released and what's out there I'm excited to test, it's gonna be a low spin fest for me:

 

- AI Smoke TD

- AI Smoke Max

- Darkspeed LS

- G430 LST

- TSR4

- Qi10 LS

- Black Ops 

 

Almost everything is in play, will have to see what wins in testing. 

[muniman]

Nothing took the Rogue ST Max out of my bag last year. Paradym tried to, but I didn't see enough of a difference to change. This year, I  may try the Black Ops 0311 driver out of curiosity. The one I  am excited about is the Mizuno St Max. I'll have to wait until February on that one.

Edited January 12, 2024 by muniman

[getitdaily]

31 minutes ago, Cellis said:

Might pull the trigger on a DarkSpeed LS.... Not convinced myself yet. The Aerojet LS is such an animal I have a hard time believing something can be that much better....  Aside from the driver talk, definitely adding a DarkSpeed 3 wood to my bag this seaon.

The Cobra ls 3w is the only thing that has me intrigued. 

 

18g of tungsten in lead heel/toe...each side. 

 

Then the ability to put 3g in both front weight ports and load up that rear weight. 

 

Could be a super stable 3w in a smaller profile. With a faster Ti face. Could be a 15 set to 16 that goes like heck and gets in the air...

Edited January 12, 2024 by getitdaily

[scotty_2987]

16 minutes ago, muniman said:

Nothing took the Rogue ST Max out of my bag last year. Paradym tried to, but I didn't see enough of a difference to change. This year, I  may try the Black Ops 0311 driver out of curiosity. The one I  am excited about is the Mizuno St Max. I'll have to wait until February on that one.

I’m still rolling with the Rogue ST max as well. Tried a few other drivers but nothing has beat it out. Since all the talk is on MOI right now I wonder what it specs at, it’s super forgiving for me. The new Smoke Max has my attention though, really like the looks. 

[dirtyrug33]

Going in for a fitting on Thursday, want to see if the Smoke max can knock the Rogue ST Max out of the bag. Didn't see enough out of the Paradym last year to pull the trigger. I plan to give the new 10ks a look as well, but would be surprised if I don't end up back in the Rogue or in the Smoke max.  

[Glock917]

2 hours ago, getitdaily said:

The Cobra ls 3w is the only thing that has me intrigued. 

 

18g of tungsten in lead heel/toe...each side. 

 

Then the ability to put 3g in both front weight ports and load up that rear weight. 

 

Could be a super stable 3w in a smaller profile. With a faster Ti face. Could be a 15 set to 16 that goes like heck and gets in the air...

Very intrigued as well. I was thinking of 5w since it plays at 17.5* stock and can turn it down to 16* making the same type of club but actually seeing loft at address.

They're actually putting numbers out saying it has a lower and deeper CG than TM S2+ which means swing for swing it should go higher and further than the S2+

[Radeon962]

Intrigued by the new offerings but switched from a Callaway Paradym TD in the fall to a G430 LST so I hope to stick with that at least until I can actually play again here in Michigan. Hard time for me when I can’t play, I tend to impulse buy. 

[eric61]

6 hours ago, Kyfra said:

Every year is the best year.

Might've been meant sarcastically, but there's truth to this! Every player might not find improvement every single year, but directionally all the OEMs are pushing boundaries and making incremental improvements that eventually add up. I think lots of the releases this year are exciting. 

 

The two that have really piqued my interest are the G430 Max 10K (though I'm concerned about the shallowness of the face) and the PXG Black Ops. The PXG, especially, looks really nice. And since I have a PXG store like a 15-minute drive from home, it's pretty cool to be able to take advantage of $25 fittings and see if they earn the spot. 

 

I want to try to find a 7W this year too, and @knudson81's review of the PXG woods has me hoping to try one of the PXGs out. I'm looking for a slightly bigger profile than the TSR2 7W, a taller face than the G430 Max 7W and a flatter lie angle than the QI 10 7W -- plus it has to be offered in lefty, which rules out the Paradym AI Smoke Triple Diamond -- it's a bit of a unicorn that I'm searching for. 

[getitdaily]

23 minutes ago, Glock917 said:

Very intrigued as well. I was thinking of 5w since it plays at 17.5* stock and can turn it down to 16* making the same type of club but actually seeing loft at address.

They're actually putting numbers out saying it has a lower and deeper CG than TM S2+ which means swing for swing it should go higher and further than the S2+

There's a lot of versatility with the ls head in both driver and fairways with that backweight added. 

 

Color me intrigued. 

[Kyfra]

1 hour ago, eric61 said:

Might've been meant sarcastically, but there's truth to this! Every player might not find improvement every single year, but directionally all the OEMs are pushing boundaries and making incremental improvements that eventually add up. I think lots of the releases this year are exciting. 

 

The two that have really piqued my interest are the G430 Max 10K (though I'm concerned about the shallowness of the face) and the PXG Black Ops. The PXG, especially, looks really nice. And since I have a PXG store like a 15-minute drive from home, it's pretty cool to be able to take advantage of $25 fittings and see if they earn the spot. 

 

I want to try to find a 7W this year too, and @knudson81's review of the PXG woods has me hoping to try one of the PXGs out. I'm looking for a slightly bigger profile than the TSR2 7W, a taller face than the G430 Max 7W and a flatter lie angle than the QI 10 7W -- plus it has to be offered in lefty, which rules out the Paradym AI Smoke Triple Diamond -- it's a bit of a unicorn that I'm searching for. 

No sarcasm at all. Even if it's just small increments the drivers should be better.

 

 

Just wait until you see the crop for next year!

[JAM01]

5 hours ago, MattM97 said:

After seeing what has been released and what's out there I'm excited to test, it's gonna be a low spin fest for me:

 

- AI Smoke TD

- AI Smoke Max

- Darkspeed LS

- G430 LST

- TSR4

- Qi10 LS

- Black Ops 

 

Almost everything is in play, will have to see what wins in testing. 

My thinking. Happy with my Ping G430, if I decide on anything new, I’m going in a different direction to see if a 2024 low spin option moves the needle. (Typed as 6-8 inches of snow on the way ugh) 

[Phabs]

6 hours ago, Warrick said:

Not even interested in anything new, TSR4 not going anywhere.

Same page.. 

[eric61]

1 hour ago, Kyfra said:

No sarcasm at all. Even if it's just small increments the drivers should be better.

 

 

Just wait until you see the crop for next year!

Totally. We as consumers benefit from releases with incremental improvements, as long as our expectations are reasonable and if we're worried about price, we hang tight for stuff like used heads a couple hundred bucks off, or Callaway's 2x trade-in promo, etc.

[MattM97]

15 minutes ago, JAM01 said:

My thinking. Happy with my Ping G430, if I decide on anything new, I’m going in a different direction to see if a 2024 low spin option moves the needle. (Typed as 6-8 inches of snow on the way ugh) 

 

I need a low spin head as I produce a lot of spin with my swing delivery so I'm usually in the hardest to hit heads. But luckily lately these have gotten more and more forgiving lately. I'm still in the Cobra LTDxLS head, it's still a beast, just the shaft setup is lacking for me right now.

 

Like you possible snow on the way and like 90+ days left of winter. 

[2Down]

Playing a 430 max now.  If the 10 is more forgiving I kinda think it might be in the bag soon.   Usually have a few bets when playing and if there is even a small amount of better I want it in the bag.