how much better is a modern driver golf club

Modern clubs are longer, straighter and have less of a drop off in distance on off-centre hits. More importantly, getting your clubs fit for you can be a huge benefit to you. New clubs are also more fun – it is nice hitting the ball so far and having to be less precise with our face strike in order to do so.

Full Answer

What are modern golf clubs and why are they better?

Modern clubs are longer, straighter and have less of a drop off in distance on off-centre hits. More importantly, getting your clubs fit for you can be a huge benefit to you. New clubs are also more fun – it is nice hitting the ball so far and having to be less precise with our face strike in order to do so.

Are new golf drivers longer than old drivers?

Unsurprisingly, we found that new drivers are significantly longer than old drivers. When looking at the group average, the modern driver was 30 yards ahead of the persimmon driver and 13 yards ahead of the driver from the 90’s. Interestingly, the modern driver was edged out by our 2000’s driver. There are a couple reasons for this.

What are the advantages of modern driver?

Modern drivers offer much larger faces, which allows golfers to increase their ball speed (and distance) on off-center strikes. Additionally, the lighter weight of the head and shaft makes it easier to generate more swing speed.

What makes a great golf driver?

1.) Oversize metal drivers aiding off-center hits and encouraging golfers to swing harder without fear. 2.) Trampoline faces. 3.) The ball. 4.) Shaft technology. 5.) More athleticism ( see Billy Casper, above, versus Dustin Johnson ). 6.)

Are modern golf drivers really better?

Newer drivers have newer technology that helps give golfers more distance but it depends on the year it was made in terms of drastic differences in length. A 20 year-old driver will have less distance than a new driver. Ball speed and driver faces are two factors that have changed over time.

Do new golf drivers make a difference?

If you're a golfer who hits the ball too low, and you're playing with older golf equipment, it's likely that new equipment can be a game changer. By launching the ball higher into the air, you could gain distance off the tee and control with your irons.

Do modern golf clubs make a difference?

Modern drivers offer much larger faces, which allows golfers to increase their ball speed (and distance) on off-center strikes. Additionally, the lighter weight of the head and shaft makes it easier to generate more swing speed.

Does an expensive golf driver make a difference?

Price is not necessarily an indication of value. You can't buy a good game – even with the latest and most expensive driver and irons you can still go out and shoot 100. And in reality, the most expensive clubs will be harder to hit than the mid-range clubs, so won't do you any favours.

Are 30 year old golf clubs still good?

There is no evidence that golf clubs deteriorate over time. Well maintained clubs will last a lifetime. 10+ year old clubs should be checked for better options but clubs less than 5 years old do not need replacing except for wear and tear issues to which wedges and forged irons are most vulnerable.

How often should I get a new golf driver?

3 to 5 yearsKeep in mind that 3 to 5 years of use is a general guideline and differs for all golfers. If you play 30 to 40 rounds per year then based on normal wear and tear you should consider getting a new driver every 5 years. If you play less than that, then you could wait for 5 to 7 years.

Is it worth upgrading golf clubs?

It is suggested that amateur and casual players should change their clubs every two to three years. Of course, that means casual players should be putting in quite a lot of time on the golf course. Advancements in technology means golfers can improve numerous areas with new clubs.

Do modern golf balls go further?

Using a modern golf ball, players are able to drive the ball much farther than players could when many courses were designed.

How long do golf drivers last?

five yearsHow Long Should A Driver Last? How Many Rounds? If you play thirty to forty rounds per year, a reasonable number for an average golfer, your driver should easily last five years. This includes range time and any mulligans/provisional balls you may need.

Is it worth it to buy a new driver?

The quick answer is, Yes. A new/better driver can help any player, but it isn't a magic wand and may not be worth that size investment. Nothing replaces good old-fashioned practice. There are several things to consider before you spend a small mortgage payment on a new club.

Do expensive drivers go further?

As a rule, expensive drivers are of a higher quality than cheaper drivers and will likely improve your game. But they may not differ as much as some companies will have you believe.

How much should you spend on a golf driver?

Price of Golf Drivers New golf drivers from reputable manufacturers will cost you $250 to $600. The branded golf drivers are a bit more expensive. But, there are some less famous brands available as well, with low rated golf club drivers. This is where you'll find new drivers for as little as $120 (USD).

Why do golfers use drivers?

Modern drivers offer much larger faces , which allows golfers to increase their ball speed (and distance) on off-center strikes . Additionally, the lighter weight of the head and shaft makes it easier to generate more swing speed .

How has golf equipment changed over the years?

Golf equipment has changed dramatically over the past several decades. Manufacturers have hired top engineering talent and invested massively in research and development in an effort to win over consumers. Compared with the persimmon drivers and blade irons of old, there is now a real opportunity to get clubs that are completely dialed in for your particular golf swing.

What is the Pro V1?

The invention of the Pro V1 by Titleist marked a major shift in golf ball technology. It has allowed golfers to get the best of both worlds – longer distances with the driver and optimal spin conditions when you need them.

What is the old adage about persimmon drivers?

The old adage on persimmon drivers was that you had to “hit it on the screws,” which requires a bit of precision since the faces of the club are so much smaller.

How fast is a Titleist golf ball?

Additionally, the ball speeds were very different – 139mph versus 151 mph.

How far can you add to a driver's head?

I have seen it with my own eyes. By simply changing a driver’s head, one could add 25 yards in distance, or by adjusting an iron you can add more distance, height, and accuracy. There is a sea of options out there, but you want to make sure you have the right mixture for your swing.

When did Woody start building clubs?

He first started building clubs in the 1980s and since then has seen massive changes in technology and club design. Back in the early 80s when Woody first started in the industry, there were no means of measuring club performance – it was mostly about how the equipment looked.

What is the new technology in golf drivers?

New technology in drivers can include improved head speeds so you can swing the club faster, increased moment of inertia so the club won’t twist and adjusted weights so the club can swing smoothly and naturally on different swing planes.

What to look for in a driver?

Forgiveness is a key attribute to look for in drivers. Especially for beginner golfers with high handicaps. Players who are new to the game or don’t play often should look to buy a forgiving driver so they can strike the large sweet spot and make good contact more often than not. This will lead to longer and accurate drives.

Do 20 year old drivers have more distance?

A 20 year-old driver will have less distance than a new driver.

How does ping change the way clubs are put?

To change the way to get clubs up to final head weight, for Ping this usually meant using a CTP (custom tuning port) in the middle of the cavity, but for the G410 they changed it up and moved the weight away from the middle and to the perimeter . This allowed the engineers to create a club that is not only more forgiving but is smaller compared to the previous generation – meaning for golfers wanting game improvement irons in a smaller package Ping was able to deliver.

When better isn't better?

When better isn’t better. With all this “rah-rah” about how things are better, it’s important to offer the counter-argument that for some players better, or newer, isn’t always better, and there is truly no more perfect example than the clubs which Tiger Woods continues to use.

What is the end result of the King Tour iron?

The end results in the case of the King Tour is an iron that not only looks the part but also delivers in other categories that golfers value, including looks and feel. This creates a performance advantage for the target golfer and once properly fit with the rest of the components you have a better golf club than the one that came before it .

Why does Tiger use blade irons?

Tiger has famously used a set of blade irons dating back to college and for essentially the last 25 years has continued to use the same style of iron because of the benefits they offer to him as an individual. Blade irons are unforgiving, but a nice way to say it is they are “workable” and this workability allows golfers who want maximum control to have that option.

Is new golf club better than old?

Yes , new clubs are by every account better, honestly did you really expect a different answer? But when we go into the how and why it gets more complicated and depending on the target golfer and what engineers are trying to accomplish, better doesn’t always mean better for YOU… but we’ll get to that in a moment.

What is SLDR in motorsport?

The SLDR represented some seriously different thinking from TaylorMade. It was the first driver to go all-out for low-forward weighting (to deliver high launch with low spin), and it also showcased a sliding weight, rather than just moveable weights. The message with the SLDR was to “Loft Up”, because TaylorMade knew the SLDR wasn’t the most forgiving driver they’d ever made.

Why would you plump for an eight year old driver?

If, by gaming a favourite old driver, you reinstall confidence to your game (even if you’re giving up a few yards), then it’s probably worth it. But for lots of everyday golfers, the decision between using old or new comes down to cost.

Is a well fitted driver a good driver?

It doesn’t mean there won’t be gains, but they are likely to be smaller. As long as your swing hasn’t dramatically changed, a well-fitted driver is still a well fitted driver, even after three or four years in the bag.

Why are modern golf clubs so good?

Modern clubs are longer, straighter and have less of a drop off in distance on off-centre hits. More importantly, getting your clubs fit for you can be a huge benefit to you. New clubs are also more fun – it is nice hitting the ball so far and having to be less precise with our face strike in order to do so.

How far away is the flag in golf?

The flag is 150 yards away. The player pulls out their 6 iron – the club they hit 150 if they flush it.

Why do modern irons go so far?

We have said that one of the reasons modern irons go so far is that they have a higher COR. A golf ball might come off a modern club at 1.42 times the speed of the clubhead – we call this smash factor. With an older model, the ball might come off the face with a 1.35 smash factor. Look at my new trampoline-effect irons.

What is the loft of a 5 iron?

A look at a recent 5 iron showed a loft of just 21 degrees. Combine this with a longer shaft length and that 5 iron you are holding is very likely just a 3 iron with a different number at the bottom.

Where do flushed shots land in golf?

That’s right – the player will get some flushed shots which land in the green zone, a lot of average shots landing in the yellow zone, and some slightly bigger miss-hits landing in the red zone.

Can you duff a golf shot?

Sure, we can also duff it completely, but for most golfers who have been playing many years, most of their shots will fall into one of the above 3 categories.

Do golf clubs have more forgiveness?

While it is true that modern clubs have a higher resistance to twisting (moment of inertia) and larger sweet spots (resulting in more consistent distances on heel and toe hits), the clubs can’t offer any more forgiveness on a ground contact error.

How often do golfers change their equipment?

Golfers on average change their equipment every four or five years. If you don't, you risk getting left behind in technology. Equipment Editor Mike Johnson's analysis of the 102 players on the PGA Tour who qualified for distance-stat tracking in 2013 and again in 2017 shows the average distance gain was 2.2 yards, from 289.8 to 292.0 yards. Sixty-eight players got longer; 34 got shorter. Rory McIlroy gained the most: 15 yards. Experts will tell you distance gain is actually greater because pros can hit it farther when they want to. There were 29 drives of 400 yards or more last year on the tour. But let's talk about us, not them, and why you should use this 15th edition of the Hot List ( View the complete 2018 Hot List) as a shopping guide. I'm calling in Senior Editor of Equipment Mike Stachura to testify:

How long is a driver shaft?

Driver lengths have settled back down, generally to around 45½ inches. Longer isn't longer; properly fit for length (and loft and face angle and weight and bend profile) is longer. Although longer shafts generate more speed, shorter shafts might give you more distance because you find the center of the face more often.

How many yards longer is a driver on center hit?

At the extremes, we saw some new drivers that were nearly 10 yards longer for on-center hits and 13 yards longer on off-center hits than older models.

Is a $1000 golf set a good investment?

However, if you play three or four times a week, competing in tournaments and looking to play to the best of your abilities, then an expensive set is definitely a good investment.

Do the pull shots fly with expensive clubs?

With the more expensive clubs, the shots absolutely flew in my opinion. But it ?s when I didn?t quite catch the ball so well, I wasn?t punished anywhere near as much as the cheap clubs. The pull shots that were heading well left of the target with my cheap irons were no longer so far away from the target .

Golfers Did Not Have Many Options

See more on pluggedingolf.com

What Changed?

The Modern Blade vs The Classic

Persimmon vs The Modern Driver

Ball Comparison

Wrapping It Up