Well-engineered and designed golf club drivers cost higher because they require more time, high-end resources, expertise, and effort to create them and offer a better experience. About ten years ago, most golf clubs and drivers almost resembled each other. Today, there are very fancy and efficient drivers, and most golfers are buying them.
Full Answer
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 makes the best golf drivers of all time?
The best golf drivers of all time have one thing in common – improved technology that assists in your swing and the ability to optimize your distance even when you have an unfortunate mishit. (Trust us, we’ve all been there!)
Why do golfers hit longer drives?
For regular golfers to PGA Tour players, it leads to better results and a smaller standard deviation when not hit perfectly, which leads to consistently longer drives over the long hauls.
Are golf clubs better now than 40 years ago?
On the whole, the clubs being produced now are very impressive. It would be difficult to argue that any golfer could pick up a club from 40 years ago and have better performance than one produced today.
Are golf drivers better now than 10 years ago?
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.
Should I replace my 10 year old driver?
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.
Are new golf drivers longer?
Year-over-year, distance increases in new equipment are generally minimal. If you bought a driver in 2019, the 2020 model may only be 1-2 yards longer. But, if you have a driver from 2004, then the 2020 model could be 20+ yards longer.
What is the life of a golf driver?
a five-yearA driver has about a five-year lifespan. For those who play golf often, drivers will likely have less than a five-year lifespan. Sadly, the lifespan of drivers isn't quite as long as that of irons.
Do golf club drivers wear out?
So, Do Drivers Wear Out Over Time? The fact of the matter is that, even though I may have been getting ahead of myself in the anecdote above, drivers can lose their pop over time. They can wear out and they start to lose efficiency in the face. This means that they transfer far less energy to the ball at impact.
Does a golf driver go bad?
A golf driver can go dead and lose its pop when there is a crack, or defect, in the club face. This can be caused by faulty manufacturing or weakness in the driver head, and affects distance and performance.
Is my golf driver too old?
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.
What is the longest driver on the market today?
#1 - PING G425 LST 1 spot for longest driver of 2021 so far is the PING G425 LST driver. PING launched three G425 driver models this year, but the LST (Low Spin Technology) came out as the longest driver our equipment editor Alex has hit this year, with an average distance of 317 yards.
What is the longest hitting golf driver?
The TaylorMade Stealth Plus driver was the longest on test. The TaylorMade Stealth Plus driver was the longest on test. The TaylorMade Stealth driver was among the 10 longest on test. The Titleist TSi2 was one of the longest on test.
How often should you replace your golf clubs?
A good rule of thumb to follow is if you're a golfer with a low handicap or just a casual golfer is to replace your golf irons somewhere around every four to five years or after around three hundred rounds.
Why do golfers lose distance with age?
The key to distance in the golf swing is the ability to make a full turn away from the ball and swing the club smoothly and swiftly back through. Older golfers lose the ability to do this, as their muscles become less flexible and they lose strength in their stomachs, arms, legs and shoulders.
Do I really need a new driver?
For most golfers, you'll want to replace your driver every five years. Golf drivers do not wear out as easily as they did even 15 years ago. If you treat your driver well, there's no reason it cannot last multiple seasons. And yes, that even goes for golfers that play frequently.
Does Newer Mean Better?
Every year, equipment manufacturers tell us that their latest products are the longest, straightest clubs ever created, and every year, thousands of golfers buy new drivers in the hope that it’s true.
How We Tested
We brought together five testers and four drivers, each from a different decade – the 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, and 2010’s. Each player hit each driver five times, and every shot was recorded.
The Results
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.
Conclusion
The next time you see an ad touting the latest driver as being the longest ever, remember what you’ve seen here: a driver that’s nearly 10 years old went toe-to-toe with the best driver of the year because of a well-fit shaft. It’s true that drivers do improve every year, but the improvements are gradual.
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.
Reasons Why Golf Club Drivers Are Expensive
Golf club companies charge highly for their equipment for myriad reasons. Some of these reasons include;
How Much Does a Good Golf Driver Cost?
Most new golfers tend to borrow or rent golf clubs when they feel like playing. Some avoid buying their golf club set due to their high prices, but in the long run, you’ll realize owning your set is more economical than renting it unless you’re planning to play only once or twice.
Are Expensive Drivers Worth It?
Yes, expensive drivers are worthwhile, but only if you’ll use them maximally. For an established golfer, getting an expensive and well-built driver can significantly improve your game and experience. But for starters, it might not be worth it.
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.
Is golf harder than playing?
As you know golf is a very challenging game, and playing the wrong equipment will make it that much harder for you. On the whole, the clubs being produced now are very impressive. It would be difficult to argue that any golfer could pick up a club from 40 years ago and have better performance than one produced today.
Is the PXG loft higher than the McGregor?
So while the loft on the PXG is much lower, it has the ability to travel farther, straighter, and higher than the McGregor, which is what the technology claims to do. For an approach shot, you certainly want enough height to stop the ball on the greens, which is exactly what my irons are able to do on the course.
What is the best golf driver for forgiveness?
We’ve found that one of the best golf drivers of all time that have remarkable forgiveness is the Ping G400 Driver 12° Golf Club. Ping is one of the top brands in the golfing industry and is used by pros worldwide.
Who is Jay in golf?
Jay is an avid golfer who has been playing for 25 years. While you can find him on the golf course every weekend, he also spends his time testing clubs and all the latest gadgets. He strives to share high-quality unbiased reviews and the most up-to-date information on all things golf.
Is a golf driver useless?
You can have the most expensive, state-of-the-art, impressive golf driver on the market today – but if you’re not comfortable using it, it’s actually quite useless! Remember, confidence is key to mastering the game of golf – and if you’re not comfortable, then chances are you won’t be confident in your skills either.
How long should a golf driver last?
According to Golf Channel, drivers should last approximately 5 years assuming reasonable use (30-40 rounds per year). This means players who play less than 30-40 rounds per year should consider replacing their driver every 5-7 years, while players who play more than this should replace their driver every 3-5 years.
What can cause a golfer to lose distance off the tee?
Injuries – many common golf injuries (back, knees, golfer’s elbow) can significantly reduce clubhead speed and decrease distance off the tee. Improper swing path – swinging on an over-the-top plane is one of the biggest distance-killers out there. Changes in elevation – at higher altitudes, the golf ball will travel further. ...
What happens if you notice a drop off on the tee?
1. You Notice a Sudden Decrease in Distance. If you notice a significant drop off in your distance off the tee for no apparent reason, it might be time to consider replacing your driver. Often, this is a result of a small crack in the clubface that is barely visible to the naked eye.
How far can you hit the golf ball at 40 degrees?
Changes in temperature – cold weather can significantly reduce your distance off the tee. At 40 degrees, you can expect to hit the ball up to 10 yards shorter than you would at 70-90 degrees.
Do golf driver wear out?
Yes, after a certain amount of time (or use) your driver will wear out. So if you’re a range rat who hits a bucket of balls before and after every round, your driver won’t last as long. Keep in mind, if you have a fast swing speed, your driver will wear out much quicker compared to someone with a slow swing speed.
How long does it take to play 125 rounds of golf?
Also, 125 rounds of golf will take someone playing 35-40 games a year 3 years to get to. So although wedges are definitely worth keeping the closest eye on when it comes to wear and tear and consequent peformance degradation you need to ask yourself honestly how much a replacement may help your game.
What does it mean when you start hitting the ball more than you used to?
When people you have played with regularly over the years are starting either hitting the ball much further than it seemed they used to or becoming more consistent or both this can be a warning sign about your current clubs.
Do golf clubs deteriorate over time?
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.
Is it dangerous to change a winning formula in golf?
Whilst it’s always dangerous in golf to change a winning formula it’s possible if your game has come on in leaps and bounds it’s worth checking whether your old clubs are the best fit for your new improved game. Or whether an upgrade could help take your game even further. 3. Regular wear and tear.
Do fairway woods wear out?
Because fairway woods are more likely to be used off the fairway and in other conditions the hitting of the ground or paths or tree roots can lead to them wearing less than well than your driver.
Does Newer Mean Better?
The Myths
- Myth #1: New drivers are longer than old drivers Myth #2: New drivers are more accurate than old drivers Myth #3: New drivers are more forgiving than old drivers
How We Tested
- We brought together five testers and four drivers, each from a different decade – the 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, and 2010’s. Each player hit each driver five times, and every shot was recorded. Hopefully this is obvious, but I’ll say it anyway: this is meant to be a fun test. There are huge differences in the shafts of each driver, and that obviously had a large impact on the performance of the clubs…
The Results
- 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 driverand 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. First, the modern driver’s average was hurt by a coupl…
Conclusion
- The next time you see an ad touting the latest driver as being the longest ever, remember what you’ve seen here: a driver that’s nearly 10 years old went toe-to-toe with the best driver of the year because of a well-fit shaft. It’s true that drivers do improve every year, but the improvements are gradual. If you want to really see a jump in perform...