2024 Driver Choice

[woods991]

The mizzy line is hard not to mention in the conversation 

[lefthack]

I'm still really enjoying my Haywood but I have some store credit to burn. I am torn between the Stealth and the Stealth 2. I had the Stealth HD and didn't like the sweet spot placement. I might get the 2 because it's better or something. 

[Rpete33]

I hit both the ai smoke TD 10.5 turned down to 9.5, really enjoyed it. Also hit the Qi10 10.5 open 1 click, weight in the heel. My miss is a toe strike and I lost all spin with the Taylormade. I think if I got some more weight in the back it could be a winner. To me the Taylormade looks like titleist and the original stealth had a baby. 

[Hookasaurus Rex]

19 hours ago, Mp14forlife said:

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. 

Man, I feel like the Paradym triple diamond is super forgiving.

[Avidswampthing66]

5 hours 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+

Same!  A hot 4/5 wood is where my race will be run.  I'm a big dum dum and let my alignment rod scratch up my Sim 2 Ti 5 wood. 😞 It did everything perfect.  I loved that club but time for something new. 

 

[Pens #1 fan]

Got fit for TSR3 at CC with TB diamana, still have yet to order it. Going to CC Monday to hit all the drivers. I really liked the shaft so I’m probably just going to hit that shaft in a bunch of heads and whatever is best I’ll get. I should have got TSR when it came out. I don’t like knowing if I ordered it today by the time I get it and the weather breaks in Pittsburgh a new one will be out in less than 6 months. But on the other hand I’m a junkie I will own a few new ones I’m sure 

[puttingmatt]

The paradym triple diamond is easily staying in the bag for 2024. Choosing to save money.

[Wonderboy]

On 1/12/2024 at 8:37 AM, Trippels said:

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

This is what I will be waiting for next year.  I am in the TSR2 and its my favorite driver by far.  

[Wonderboy]

20 hours ago, Pens #1 fan said:

Got fit for TSR3 at CC with TB diamana, still have yet to order it. Going to CC Monday to hit all the drivers. I really liked the shaft so I’m probably just going to hit that shaft in a bunch of heads and whatever is best I’ll get. I should have got TSR when it came out. I don’t like knowing if I ordered it today by the time I get it and the weather breaks in Pittsburgh a new one will be out in less than 6 months. But on the other hand I’m a junkie I will own a few new ones I’m sure 

The TSR is amazing so I say get it.  We won't even start to hear about what Titleist is coming out with until the latter part of the year.  

[Hat Trick]

TSR2 - not changing!

[SBH9458]

On 1/12/2024 at 1:39 PM, 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+

Thinking the same thing!  Get it to set just a little open at 16/16.5° would be fantastic. 

[adamwon84]

I have been having great success with the Ping G430 Max, long and straight but after getting to hit the 10k and seeing my numbers....the 10k is def longer and gives me the mix of forgiveness with low spin so I might pull the trigger on that guy.......

[glm]

when the sim2 driver does not behave the pxg 3 wood does

no need to spend a boat load of money on anything else

[nickosbad]

Nothing yet has managed to kick my SIM2 Max w/Smoke Green out of the bag (it’s just so damn forgiving and plenty long) - TSR3 tried but only lasted 1 month

 

Liking the look of Qi10 and this years Paradym look far nicer so will have to try them both in a month or so but not sure what they are gonna give me for the extra £££

 

I’m thinking the only way the SIm2 Max is going is if it breaks!!

[elwhippy]

G425 honeymoon is over. Will test new Cobra, Mizuno and Callaway. 

[Kaspenson24]

I have a Titleist TSi3 that I have had since Mid Summer 2022 and heading to CC in early February.  Hoping to get to try all the new stuff.  All this “10K MOI” and “Qi” stuff intrigues me as I can get very loose with the driver when I’m not swinging it my best so I think this was a good year for me to get fit.  

 

Also made the mistake last time of trying to go a little cost cutting on the shaft.  Won’t be making that mistake again! 

[dalillama47]

Still loving my G430 Max/VA Nemesis combo.  Going to have to be something really special to knock that out.  It won't hurt for trying though.  Did try the Ping 10K with stock shaft indoors and not even close , will try it with my shaft.  New TM, meh for me.  Can't wait to try the others.

[Pens #1 fan]

Got to hit 430 Max and 10k today, asked for 10k ended hitting 430 Max and didn’t realize it. Then hit 10k with differences for me. I know that I will not be buying this one right away. 

[WillieGnarls]

currently using TSR3 with ventus blue 6x. Love it but I could use some more forgiveness. AIM and shoot as some say..
 

I’ve preordered the new g430 10k max in 9*. Got 15% discount so figured why not. Hoping it won’t produce too much spin.. around 114-120 ss. Will have to mess around with shafts, got three ventus available at home and will probably set it down to 7.5*.  

 

also decided I’ll wait and buy the dark speed LS in 8* around mid summer when it goes on sale, or snatch one of eBay. The 10k will be my fairway finder, the ds will be my rocket for when confidence is high🚀

Edited January 15, 2024 by WillieGnarls

[ewaldbeukes]

Love the new releases. Cobra Dark Speed LS would be a definate one to check out just changed into a Srixon ZX5LS and really enjoying it... I really struggle to get fit with proper shafts with any decent weight (70+ grams in X Flex) that Its hard to bother with anything other than Titleist. Might pick up a fairway wood change there... Ping always has some good stuff and I would though be very very curios to test the G430 10k - think its perfect for higher speed players with a higher variance to centre contact haha.

[Habitual Flipper]

On 1/12/2024 at 8:29 AM, grochol17 said:

 

The 10K MOI is somewhat misleading marketing.  The USGA limits the MOI of a driver head to 5900 gm/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. 

I know this is petty, but with all of the MOI talk during this years release, I'm seeing it everywhere...

 

The unit for MOI is g-cm² not g/cm².

 

g/cm²  (grams per cm²) is a measurement of surface density not MOI. 

[KingKong]

I have less than zero desire to try any driver that's coming out...and that's really off-brand for me. I usually buy, try, then sell. I'm at a place now with my 430 Max that I truly don't think anything can be better to the point of making sense to make a change. 

[grochol17]

2 hours ago, Habitual Flipper said:

I know this is petty, but with all of the MOI talk during this years release, I'm seeing it everywhere...

 

The unit for MOI is g-cm² not g/cm².

 

g/cm²  (grams per cm²) is a measurement of surface density not MOI. 

 

Thanks for catching the typo.  I've corrected it in my original post.

[this_is_golf]

Sticking with TSr2 but trying a couple different shafts. 

[QuigleyDU]

As of right now darkspeed LS has the lead.

[SBH9458]

10 hours ago, QuigleyDU said:

As of right now darkspeed LS has the lead.

I did not expect it, but I agree. Between G430 LST and Darkspeed LS for me. 

[underwater]

I hit a few of the new drivers.  As a 4.1 index (who does not necessarily need a low-spin driver, but can play them) I have a few early findings in my first testing session (and I will have another session before season starts.  ProV1 RCT balls on Trackman with Ventus VC Blue in each)

 

1. PING 10k - Sound was a bit loud but not terribly off-putting.  But I was in a bay with black carpet on the walls. Clubhead speed and ball speed was lower than any of the other contenders.  Nothing I could do to get this near the leader.  And it was about negative 3mph clubheed speed.  Quite straight as advertised, but you could certainly miss it.  Biases neutral - not draw or cut.  Good club, fairway finder - about 12y shorter than leader in initial testing.  Spin lived around 2400 avg with 110 swing speed.

 

2. TaylorMade QI10 LS - the fastest of the bunch.  And as someone who played both the Stealth Plus and G430LST at different times last year, MUCH more forgiving than either.  Spin wasn't stupid low like I'm seeing in some reviews.  Sounds muted and perfect, frankly.  And let me repeat - INFINITELY more forgiving than last year. Love it

 

3. TaylorMade Qi10 Standard - Couldn't seem to get constant middle contact.  Def looks larger than the LS but not off-putting.  Louder but again, not bad. But couldn't figure out why I couldn't hit it.  I went back to the LS and hit it fine, and jumped back to standard Qi10 and couldn't' hit it. I will re-visit this.  

 

4. Callaway Smoke Triple and standard  - Couldn't stand the look of them.  The gray carbon on the bottom comes across as INTERESTING in photos.  In person it looks much more cheap.  And while the carbon on the crown is ok, the blue AI SMOKE logo font on the top is obnoxious and breaks up the clean look.  I wouldn't play this driver on a bet.  And I hit them all over the the place.  Sorry, I know subjective, but it was over the top and I didn't like it.

 

I'd like to go back and hit the Qi10 Max 10k and revisit the PING 10k.  But right now, the Qi10 LS is the leader in the clubhouse.  And the headcover is gorgeous 😉

 

Edited January 17, 2024 by underwater

[agui23]

I went ahead and did a driver fitting the other day. After hitting the Qi10, TSR3, Stealth 2 and AiSmoke I went with the AiSmoke TD shortened by .5 in a 9 degree loft. I went from my old gamer which was the OG stealth. I thought I was going to land on the Qi10 LS but the Smoke TD just flew off the face for me. 

 

I don't expect to make a change in the next 3-5 years unless something so new comes out that i'm losing too many yards with the Smoke. 

[wfrogge1]

On 1/12/2024 at 7:37 AM, Trippels said:

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

TS Dark AI 360 Fastjet triple diamond 

[Golfinfloridaafter40]

2022 TSR3 is still king!