Equipment

[xtreme872]

My daughter 13 currently hits stealth 2 driver and hits it good. Doesn’t seem to be as forgiving as some. She averages about 200-215 yards. Anyone been from stealth 2 something newer and noticed difference. Worth upgrading?

 

also hitting a Mizuno putter. I think she needs a change. Any kids hitting zero gravity putters? 

[Jeff58]

just IMO.
 

When you are a learning golfer, feedback is a very important aspect of equipment selection. The Stealth series is the worst in this regard of any modern driver, although the 2 was a significant improvement over the original. It’s just very difficult to hit it “perfectly” straight. A high percentage of drives have some degree of curvature on what the player considers a good swing mechanic.

 

Get a Ping 430Max or 10k.

 

Putter - Get a SpiderX slant or L neck. They are very intuitive to align, have very good off-center impact response, and the really cool guys on TV use them. They also are a good bit lighter feeling and quicker than most Mizuno models in stock form.

[xtreme872]

Ping better than qi? Just asking as AJGA discount is one Taylor made and callaway. But I am willing to get the ping if need too

[Jeff58]

8 minutes ago, xtreme872 said:

Ping better than qi? Just asking as AJGA discount is one Taylor made and callaway. But I am willing to get the ping if need too

In the opinion of a fair percentage of users, the QI10 is the current top of the TaylorMade heap. The SIM2 Max is also a great option, and is still available through TM. I've owned both the G430 and QI10. Both are excellent. The Ping is still easier to hit straight, particularly the 10k.

 

The QI10 and g430 series are currently on sale for $450, the SIM2 for $350. Often discount codes such as AJGA won’t apply/add to items already on sale. Ping doesn’t sell directly, so no discount from them.

[Ghostwedge]

OP, you've provided limited information about your daughter. Is she tall and athletic ?  Is 200-215 her max drive ? Has she been fitted for her driver ? etc. No one needs a  zero gravity putter -period. She needs to get a basic putter fitting and then use what she likes.

If funds are limited a TM Sim 2 is a good choice, a Ping G430 is a better option, got to put her in the right shaft, that can be a 20-30 yd distance gain right there.

[xtreme872]

Sorry. Yes 210-215 max. She is 13 5’7”.  She was fitted for new irons with men’s regular flex shafts. Hitting standard men’s length 

[xtreme872]

She has a qi35 5 wood and 4 hybrid and loves them 

[MB19]

16 hours ago, xtreme872 said:

Sorry. Yes 210-215 max. She is 13 5’7”.  She was fitted for new irons with men’s regular flex shafts. Hitting standard men’s length 

Our daughters are the same age and height, same iron shaft flex.  We just played a fairly competitive event in South FL, though not quite AJGA caliber or yardage.  The 13 yo we played with for two days was consistently totaling 180-190 with her driver and I would say she's perhaps just into the top 40 players in her class.  A 12yo we played with was noticably longer, is a TM supported player (latest TM through the bag) and totaled 220-230 on drives.  Top 15 player in her class in FL.

 

Is 210-215 the total or carry number?  Swing speed in the mid-to-high 80's if she's in regular shafts, I assume?  There are definitely better options out there than the Stealth for both length, forgiveness and dispersion.  What shaft is she using?  Loft?

 

Both of my kids had been in the G430 Max for the past 18 months and it has been a pretty good driver.  They both recently upgraded to the 10K (selling a 10.5* 430 Max soon, btw), and I have to say it's slightly longer and the dispersion is a little better.

 

We have been through many different shafts with both my kids (my son is 12, just moved to a stiff shaft for driver and FW), and I have to say that is the most important part of the whole driver setup for them.  If you don't want to take the time to get into the weeds with learning shaft profiles and what your daughter needs, that is understandable--but get her fit, or at the very least on a launch monitor in front of someone who knows what to look for (preferably a fitter).

17 hours ago, Ghostwedge said:

No one needs a  zero gravity putter -period. She needs to get a basic putter fitting and then use what she likes.

While I agree that nobody *needs* a zero-gravity putter, I could also argue that nobody needs to carry hybrids.  So why do people carry hybrids?

 

On 6/15/2025 at 7:38 PM, xtreme872 said:

also hitting a Mizuno putter. I think she needs a change. Any kids hitting zero gravity putters? 

Which Mizuno putter is she hitting?  The latest M-Craft by them is really nice.

 

There are quite a few of us on this board who have kids hitting zero-gravity putters.  My daughter was fit professionally by a fitter I know and trust, who has no gear loyalties.  She ended up with a L.A.B. Df-3 after a 45 minute fitting session where she tried about 10 putters (half of them various L.A.B. models with varying lofts, shafts and grips).  He used the L.A.B. fitting tool/putter during this process.

 

While I can't 100% credit her putting improvement to using the Df-3, I can tell you that it has helped her with her greatest weakness--long and uphill putts.  Putting lessons with Aimpoint certified instructors, the most recent one with the L.A.B, have been a huge factor in her improvement.  While I haven't crunched numbers lately, her putting at a USKG Regional last year kept her firmly out of contention--38 putts one day, 40 putts the next.  Our most recent event last week, she had 32 and 34.  Not ideal numbers yet, but that first-day 32 kept her from a really big number.

 

As it is often said on this forum--it's the Indian, not the bow.  That said, a really good bow helps arrows hit their target more often.  The L.A.B. is an elite bow.

 

With all that said, my son lost his Spider GTx a couple months ago.  It was a cool stick, and he has been working to pay it back ever since.  During this time, he had a one-day event to play and he borrowed my 25yo Ping VSL... and had just 28 putts with it, using a modified Bryson-style stiff-posture.  There are just days where he gets hot and can putt with anything, I guess.  Even though I can get him a L.A.B. at a discount, he's going to have to earn it first.

Edited June 17 by MB19

[Movingday]

@MB19hit the nail on the head. Simple answer is to get her fit by someone that knows what they are doing. Once they are tall enough and fast enough to be in full adult clubs the equipment game becomes a lot less confusing. Get them fit and put them in what fits. If you don’t want new, you can use the specs to purchase older models. If you’re using the AJGA discount then only try Callaway, TaylorMade, and Mizuno. You will find something in there that works. Both my boys have mixed bags with all 3 brands. They hit Callaway drivers better, TaylorMade fairways and irons, and Mizuno wedges. One is in a LAB and the other a Spider for putters. Fit for everything 

 

The putter fitting was really eye opening. It showed how much a “fit” putter can change alignment issues, consistency of center hits, path, etc. 

 

Before they were big enough to get fit, I had a garage full of shafts and heads. Had a blast tinkering and trying to dial them in. Not as much fun, but definitely easier now lol