Equipment
Top 5 drivers of all time: 400cc and under
With modern driver technology, 460cc is the club head volume that reigns supreme. Even modern “tour” drivers being offered by OEMs are over 430cc, and those releases are becoming less popular as modern players are choosing total forgiveness over workability.
But there was a time not too long ago when 350cc was considered “a toaster on a stick.” As technology and manufacturing techniques improved, those 350cc toasters became 400cc “Volkswagen vans.” If you didn’t hear one of these phrases muttered when you pulled out a new driver in the early 2000s, you’re lucky!
The 400cc-and-under drivers of the early and mid-2000s shifted the way golfers now look at technology, and with let’s take a look back at the top five 400cc-and-under drivers of all time.
Taylormade R510 TP
The driver for which an entire half-decade of clubs were compared to. You couldn’t hit a driver or talk about new clubs without someone saying “is it as good as the R510 TP?”
TaylorMade’s dominance in the driver category didn’t start with the R500 series though, it was the previous 300 Series that was revolutionary in changing the way golfers looked at driver models to fit their game by offering three completely different heads (300, 320, and 360) to fit player types and preferences.
The R500 Series took the multi-release concept a step further with the 510, 540, and 580 drivers, but then came the “holy grail” R510 TP (Tour Preferred), and the rest is history; an open look from address, inverted cone clubface, a real-deal Fujikura 757 Speeder shaft (huge deal at the time)—this is a driver people still talk about, and for good reason.
Titleist 905S
With the massive popularity of the Titleist 983K and E drivers, it was going to take a LOT from the Titleist R&D team to convince both tour players and regular golfers to make another switch – but they did it with the 905 Series.
The 905 series, originally launched with the 905T (more pear-shaped ) and the 905S (deeper face) models. These were both eventually followed by Titleist’s first 460cc driver, the 905R.
The 905S was the direct replacement to the player preferred deep faced 983E and to this day is still considered one of the great designs in the 400cc era.
It had a strong titanium face insert to boost ball speed, and aluminum shaft sleeve to help push mass and COG lower into the head because they were still full bore through at the time. The shape of the 905S made it an easy adjustment for players coming from smaller drivers and was just so good looking from address. It came with a nice selection of stock shaft options and a very cool headcover.
Honorable mention to the 905T—a driver used by Steve Stricker for a long time with a ProForce V2 shaft
Cleveland Launcher 400
For Cleveland Golf, the Launcher brand was synonymous with “big” drivers and long drives. Beyond Tiger Woods, there wasn’t a hotter golfer on the planet in the mid-2000s than V.J. Singh, and he was also one of the longest on tour.
The Launcher 400 came after the original 330, and although from the outside it looked simple, from a technology standpoint, it had an extremely light crown that pushed CG as low as possible to offer forgiveness and low spin. At the time, Cleveland Golf was pushing the limits of thin-walled casting, which allowed them to push the driver to the 400cc, which also made it very forgiving.
You can’t forget it came stock with a matte gold finished Fujikura shaft that helped it stand out at retail and on the tee.
Ping ISI Tec
For a long time, the Ping Isi Tec was “THE driver,” and I have some fun facts about it.
It was the last Titanium Driver to ever be made in the United States, which also made it one of the most expensive drivers to ever hit retail shelves.
It was the number one driver on the long drive circuit, before other companies starting coming in and producing speciality heads for those competitors.
It had the first mass market adjustable hosel thanks to the plastic sleeve that could be ordered through the Ping WRX department. Each sleeve had a small code to signify the setting (RSS for example was Regular, Standard, Standard). The biggest issue was to be “adjusted,” it needed to be re-shafted, which wasn’t very economical.
Last but not least, the “loft” on the bottom wasn’t actually the loft at all, “ET” stood for effective trajectory, and like with anything Ping, there is a reason for this. The Isi Tec driver moved the CG a lot more forward that previous model. This made it lower spinning. The actual loft was about 1.5-degrees more than the ET. Ping wanted to make sure that players could keep the ball in the air with the new lower spin design—thus the birth of effective trajectory instead of loft to help players find the right head.
Mizuno MP-001
I’m sure you didn’t open this up expecting to see a Mizuno driver, but the 400cc MP-001 was a huge leap forward in driver technology, and like many things Mizuno, it slid way under the radar—just like the 460cc MP-600 that had the very first sliding weight track in a driver.
The MP-001 was the very first driver to use a carbon composite crown to help bolster mass properties and increase forgiveness. What this also did was make it sound muted and “thuddy” a sound that at the time was very different from other drivers on the market.
In traditional Mizuno style, the MP-001 was understated in its looks but had a lot of technology under the hood to earn its spot in the top five. A forged face helped reduced wasted material that could be positioned around the head to optimize flight. Unlike a lot of drivers at the time, it sat very square to the target making it a club preferred by better players.
What do you think GolfWRXers? Are there any 400cc-or-less drivers you think belong in the top five that aren’t included? Any that are included you don’t think should be? Have your say below!
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During this lockdown, I have done quite a few “Friday Q & A’s” on my IG, and one of the questions I get asked constantly is “have you hit this?” That, and “whaddya think?”
So, in the spirit of organizing my brain, it seemed like the right time to share what new drivers I have actually hit this year…and this is what I think.
Now, it needs to be said that there is a lot of new gear out there, but, to be honest, I’ve only actually hit a select few enough to actually build an opinion. “Enough” in this case is at least 20 balls. Some of these sticks I tested during our pre-launch preview with the OEMs, at the PGA show, a friend has one, or I actually have it in the bag.
Here we go.
TaylorMade SIM
Setup tested: SIM 9 @8.25 w/ Mitsubishi Chemical Kuro Kage XTS 70TX
LOOKS: The best way to describe how SIM looks behind the ball is “comfortable.” TaylorMade has always made drivers that just look correct. The lines are clean, the shape inspires playability, and I dig the paint job. They hit a home run with this one for sure.
FEEL: Best sound out there in my opinion. Heavy, dense, and if you get one dead-nuts center, it lets you know. The feel at contact is just as TaylorMade drivers have always done, center strikes feel like Thor’s hammer and mishits don’t kill your good vibes.
VS THE M5: I get asked this a lot. I loved the M5. Still do. To be honest the two drivers data wise were legit apples to apples. The only difference is my stock shot with M5 was a low spin straight ball and with SIM its a slight draw with a touch more spin and slightly lower launch. I prefer that.
OVERALL: In my opinion, the TaylorMade SIM is the cool kid in high school for 2020. Last year it was F9 followed closely by M5. TM knocked it outta the park on this one.
TaylorMade SIM Max
Setup tested: Sim Max 9 @8.25 w/ Mitsubishi Chemical Kuro Kage XTS 70TX
LOOKS: It has a bit more of a longer face at address, which makes the head appear shallow which inspires a bit more confidence to turn it over. That’s the main thing I noticed with MAX. Other than that its a tried and true TM shape.
FEEL: Like its sibling, it has a nice solid hit audibly at the impact. So, overall its apples to apples with SIM. However, due to the front weight missing on the MAX, the actual strike doesn’t feel AS meaty as SIM. Not a negative necessarily just something I noticed.
VS M6: Both of these sticks I launched a bit too high versus the weighted versions. That’s why they never got any serious consideration to actually put in play.
OVERALL: As a high launch, more forgiving option, it’s an ace.
Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero
Setup tested: Sub Zero 9 w/ Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei Blue AV 65TX
LOOKS: To my eyes, the newer versions of the Callaway drivers have looked a bit more compact than its competition. To me, this always looked “low spin” for whatever reason. The Mavrik has the same shape which is good.
FEEL: They really fixed the sound. The Epic Flash sounded like a pop can to me, and the Mavrik Sub Zero sounds like a sledgehammer. The good thing here is the sound now matches up with what the hit feels like. I think the Mavrik is the best feeling driver Callaway has made since Epic.
VS EPIC FLASH SZ: To me, a complete improvement on all fronts. Sound, feel, and performance for me were all substantially better. Now I must say that the Epic Flash Sub Zero was a great driver, I always got great numbers out of it, but the sound took me out of it. I’m sure there isn’t that much difference audibly between the two, but in this game, even something minor can represent so much. Sound to me is huge.
OVERALL: In all honestly, I haven’t given a Callaway driver a real hard look to actually put in the bag since Epic. The sound got louder wit Rogue and Epic Flash. The Mavrik SZ however is a fantastic driver and will def get some more testing out of me.
Cobra SpeedZone
Setup tested: Cobra Speed Zone 9 @8.5 w/ Fujikura Ventus Black 7X
LOOKS: The F9 was a winner on all fronts. The only critique I had was optically it looked like the driver was a little too fade biased. The SZ with its milled in top line gives it softer look at address and for me, softer lines mean more workability, just what my eyes tell me.
FEEL: As with F9 and the earlier mentioned SIM, the Speed Zone sounds EXACTLY how a driver should sound. It has a very heavy hit audibly and that’s across the face. I love the sound of this driver.
VS F9: Apples to apples, it’s the same. Beyond the optics, it feels, sounds, and performs like the F9. Not a bad thing though, the F9 was the driver of 2019 in my opinion.
OVERALL: Nothing wrong with repeating an already awesome driver. SpeedZone will stand up to anything out there. If I’m being fair, I think F9 elevated things in 2019, and this year the competition caught up to it. Changes nothing about how good this driver is.
Cobra Speed Zone Xtreme
Setup tested: Cobra Speed Zone Xtreme 9 @8.5 w/ Fujikura Ventus Black 7X
LOOKS: Like the other drivers in this higher MOI category, it looks a little longer heel to toe.
FEEL: No different than the SpeedZone, sounds great, the impact is solid across the face, and even thin shots feel solid.
OVERALL: The Xtreme is the sleeper hit of 2020 and I’ve heard the fitters love this thing. It’s by far the easiest to hit and overall good time of any driver on this list. Is it longer? No. But is it Xtremely (no pun) playable and competitive? Hard yes. It’s a blast.
PXG Proto
Setup tested: PXG Proto 9 w/ Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 6 TX
LOOKS: Slick. Like all PXG gear, the look is there. The matte crown and elegant lines make it very pleasing optically. I also appreciate that although it’s designed to look high tech. The lines inspire playability, and who doesn’t love a driver that looks like a stealth bomber?
FEEL: I only hit about 20 balls with the PXG Proto in the short time I had with it, but, wow, did this thing surprise me. The sound oddly enough is a bit higher-pitched than the others on the list but for whatever reason, it’s not a distraction. It actually adds to the experience of the hit. I typically detest that, but this sound matched up with the solid hit I was getting. I’m not sure if this is the final version since its a limited tour proto but what is happening is definitely interesting.
VS GEN2: It’s just better. Feels better, sounds great, more playable across the face. The Gen2 did one thing better than everyone else, it destroyed spin. The problem I had was control. The PXG Proto is still low spin but with the new 4 weight system (no intel on the tech yet) seems to add quality launch to the low spin profile and puts the player in a situation where very few to any sacrifices are made.
OVERALL: I was a fan of Gen2. No doubt. But it never flat out beat M5, F9, or SIM. The Proto has elevated PXG’s driver game. I don’t think its a matter of whether or not the driver stands up with the irons, I believe PXG is on the right track to having a driver that eliminates any “yeah, but…” to the conversation. That’s a huge leap since Gen1. These guys are trending hard.
I hope this was helpful.
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Equipment
What GolfWRXers are saying about the final version of Bryson DeChambeau’s LA Golf ‘Texas Rebar’ wedge shafts
In our forums, our members have been discussing the final version of Bryson DeChambeau’s LA Golf ‘Texas Rebar’ wedge shafts. The look of the ultra-stiff shafts, which originated from Bryson wanting a “graphite shaft that was stiffer than the Dynamic Gold X7″, has impressed our members who have been praising the final version and sharing their thoughts on the concept.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- QuigleyDU: “Awesome.”
- My2dogs: “Really coming out with some great new stuff.”
- HateTheHighDraw: “MMT 125TX are absolute fire, but these must be much stiffer.”
- Robkingasu: “Sweet!”
Entire Thread: “Bryson DeChambeau’s LA Golf ‘Texas Rebar’ wedge shafts”
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In our forums, our members have been discussing the strategy of moving to heavier shafts in irons. WRXer ‘Z1ggy16’ has been making swing changes lately, and the transition has been most challenging for his iron play. ‘Ziggy16’ says:
“Been making some swing changes lately, most notably working to really shallow my club into the downswing. I’m finding that I’m doing this well with my heavy wedge shafts and driver, but I’m struggling a bit in my irons. My strike pattern with my wedges is pretty good, but the irons are a bit all over. Driver is 80g raw, wedges are 132g raw, irons 120g raw. I don’t think I want to go any stiffer, but is there a chance I’ve “outgrown” this weight and need to move to something a bit heavier to help keep these feels going through my set? No idea what swing speed is at this point, but my 7i is normally a smooth/comfortable 175-180 for me.
I really like the feel of my Accra Tour Z Xtreme 475 and my S400’s in the GW-LW. I’m kind of leaning maybe soft stepping modus 120TX or X100’s.. Heck maybe even S200 straight in? Normally I’d just get a fitting, but with Rona still going around, I’m not than keen on it. 2020 is the year of the self fit for me. FWIW, I used modus 120TX 2xSS in my GW & SW last year and that was pretty good feeling. Perhaps a touch too soft… they seemed to really whip/bend hard when hitting from the rough on full swings.”
Our members discuss whether they feel a switch to heavier shafts in the irons will have the desired impact.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Pepperturbo: “You’re not alone. Regardless of age, some of us swing better with heavier shafts. I went from 70g driver and 85g 3wd graphite shafts to 58g Ventus shaft in driver and 70g Ventus shaft in 4wd. In irons went from 130g X to 120g 6.0 PX steel shafts which lasted about fifteen years. Then last year made another downward weight change to Steelfiber (steel & graphite) 110g Stiff shafts, lightest I have ever played. Keep in mind as you transition, changing shaft weight is not the only answer. Increasing swing weight can make up for shaft weight. Though I really like them in 6-3i, not thrilled in SW-7i, so just ordered heavier Steelfiber i125g shafts for my PW-7i blades.”
- Jeff58: “As someone who has gone through and continues to work on what sounds like a similar situation, your ideal iron shafts will likely change. Where they change to isn’t possible to predict with any degree of accuracy. Don’t change your current irons without knowing. It’s frustrating, expensive, and you won’t have any clubs while they’re being changed out. Instead, get a single club from dealsandsteals or similar and experiment with that. Also, the only relevant experience is outdoors under your actual turf conditions. Indoor and mat use can be grossly different.”
- Red4282: “Just depends on your tempo and load and preferences tbh. My numbers are about identical to yours; I play 77g in the driver and 125 in the irons. I don’t think I could go lighter than 125.”
- gvogel: “I have a set of hickory clubs. Of course, hickory shafts are darn heavy, maybe 150 grams or so. I probably hit straighter shots with the irons, and particularly hit better shots with the niblick (wedge). Driver and fairway woods, not so much. That might be a stupid insertion into an intelligent thread, but heavier goes straighter, lighter goes longer. You can go heavier, and it helps in transition, but don’t go too stiff.”
Entire Thread: “Should I switch to heavier iron shafts?”
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Caleb
Nov 18, 2019 at 5:03 pm
I had that ping up to 3 years ago, lots of vibs tho cause hit 300 yards now, went to g30 and that got to loud/hurt ears,. Now g400 lst matrix 82 grams shaft 1/2inch butt trim. I use to hit 275 with hat old driver straight a kid for like 20 years
Carp
Nov 7, 2019 at 4:21 pm
975jvs
Bob Kendall
Nov 10, 2019 at 10:36 am
Ryran, I would add the Titleist 983E.
Mike
Oct 28, 2019 at 2:45 pm
obviously someone born after 1990.
the game changers
– the first Taylormade burner driver-early 80’s
– the Callaway Big Bertha Driver- early 90’s
– the Callaway Great Big Bertha Driver- mid 90’s
– Titleist 975 driver- mid 90’s every good player had one
– Taylor Made R7- game changer with movable weight
Josh
Oct 28, 2019 at 6:47 am
Gotta have the Big Bertha on there as well as the Titleist 975d, Taylormade 360, and King Cobra. I agree on the ISI but think the others are a miss.
Dan
Oct 26, 2019 at 8:48 am
All time?
1. List is irrelevant without Callaway big Bertha.
2. J’s Professional Weapon for us older guys
3. Taylor Made Burner Plus w Aldila Tour Gold
Thanks for
Ygolf
Oct 26, 2019 at 6:21 pm
MacGregor 693 circa 1950, GOAT.
Then BB Memphis 10 shaft and half cord grip. It left the Taylormades in the dust.
Deepred
Oct 26, 2019 at 7:31 am
Wilson Fatshaft Metal Matrix. As long as any driver I’ve ever hit even though it looks like a 3 wood today.
Fergie
Oct 25, 2019 at 10:39 am
Isi Tec was not a reliable fairway finder for me. Launcher 360 I liked for forgiveness, but otherwise unremarkable. Not on the list, but my favorite was Titleist 975J, as sub-400cc drivers went.
Noosh
Oct 24, 2019 at 10:37 pm
Me no likey kooche
Mike T
Oct 25, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Kduooooooooooche, kduoooooooooooooooche, kduooooooooooooooooooche…
turfrex68
Oct 24, 2019 at 10:16 pm
The Northwestern powerkick shaft driver was a beast!!
Ryan Barath
Oct 24, 2019 at 8:20 pm
Hi WRXer’s
Thanks for all the feedback and replies. Some of you have pointed out some amazing honourable mentions including the eZone, and the J33P ( I still have a J33r – 420cc model that comes out multiple times a year ) and others from cobra and callaway.
In fact the J33 was my 6th option since all that driver makes me think about is Stuart Abbleby mashing it around Kapalua in the early 2000s.
I realize that the title leaves something to the imagination as far as “any” driver under 400cc including persimmon but I was sticking to modern just under 400cc clubs. Appreciate all the great replies.
RB
hollabachgt
Oct 25, 2019 at 9:33 am
Might I suggest then you change the name of the article. Something like “Greatest 380-400cc drivers made since 2000”
Your last two “of all times” articles has greatly ignored anything made outside of the last 25 years, which is frankly ignoring a tremendous amount of all time greats.
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that when you make an “of all time” article about irons you’re going to include clubs like the MP-14, MP-29, and Taylor Made TP-MB but not include the originator of that design, the Hogan Precision.
Young Zach Morris
Oct 25, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Should change the title to say “last 20 years” or “recent” instead of “all time.”
myron miller
Nov 27, 2019 at 5:41 pm
Thern why the title? It says best under 400cc, not best since 1990 (“with let’s take a look back at the top five 400cc-and-under drivers of all time.”). Grossly misleading and just flat out lousy writing to mislead people like that. Like others said, Big Bertha has to be on list as did the 975d. Way more classic of both of these than the mizuno or Ping.
In fact, the 975d was the first meetal head driver that I switched to from wood heads. And I switched because it hit the fairway more often, not for the distance. It was overall shorter by about 20-30 yards from my persimmon driver but hit the fairway about 70-80% more.
Taylor Made with Burner shaft is another all time revolutionary driver. Probably caused more people to switch to metal woods than any other club. But again it’s pre-1990.
And I don’t see one Persimmon head driver on your list yet some of them were as revolutionary as anything nowadays. But it seems clear that you have limited experience with any drivers prior to 1990
Moses
Oct 24, 2019 at 7:27 pm
R510TP and TecTI drivers were used to win ALOT of money back in the day. 😀 They were the longest drivers of the day without a doubt for me.
Pineapple
Oct 24, 2019 at 5:05 pm
RB: come on buddy!!!! you are missing here some Legendary Models
Callaway Great Big Bertha
Titleist 975D
Mizuno 300S
King Cobra DeepFace
among others. MP001??? hehehe no way!!!!
BK
May 9, 2020 at 7:42 am
MP 001 absolutely warrented. Fantastic.
Chuck Taylor
Oct 24, 2019 at 5:05 pm
Whaaaat!!! How’a bout the Northwestern driver from Target! That thing was bullet proof! Literally!
Ben
Oct 24, 2019 at 3:49 pm
300 series from Taylormade.
David Wusstig
Oct 24, 2019 at 2:06 pm
You nailed it on the Ping TiSi driver… I replaced mine just a few years ago with the Ping G20. The G20 was not longer, just more forgiving. My ‘miss’ on the TiSI was left and needed the RSL hosel (I’m short and needed a lower lie angle) but Ping (at the Phoenix HQ) could no longer source the adjustable hosels as they were end of life and no longer stocked otherwise I might still be hitting it! As a ~5 HC, I’ve yet to find a newer driver that I hit better or longer than the G20 now (G400 was the last I tested).
t
Oct 24, 2019 at 10:40 am
This list without the Bridgestone J33P is just wrong
Kale
Oct 24, 2019 at 8:58 am
510 TP all day baby.
David
Oct 24, 2019 at 5:58 am
Uhhh. Callaway big Bertha! Cobra deepface!
Mike Barnett
Oct 24, 2019 at 5:56 am
975D. Driver deserves top spot in the hall of fame.
Bobby
Oct 24, 2019 at 5:40 am
Purespin Diamond face driver with the fat kevlar shaft
jgpl001
Oct 24, 2019 at 3:14 am
Great Big Bertha and 983K – 2 greats in their day
Joe
Oct 24, 2019 at 9:44 am
I concur on 983K and Great Big Bertha. I picked up a mint 983K with an aftermarket 757 Speeder for $15 at a sporting goods store a few summers ago. Gamed it for a while and still scratch free. I remember dropping $400 back in the day on it. As for the GBB I had a sweet Red AJ Tech horizontally wound XFlex that used to rip.
George
Oct 24, 2019 at 2:23 pm
Dude you nailed it. The 983 clubs were so solid, especially with the Fujikura 757 Speeder shaft. I got a 983E with the speeder shaft for like $20 preowned from golf galaxy and I let my buddy borrow it when he was having his driver replaced. He was hitting it 350 and I’m just a little bit shorter than him off the tee but we were both bombing it as far or further than clubs that were made 2 years ago. Just such a solid club I think about going back to it all the time!
Dan
Oct 26, 2019 at 8:54 am
I still use my 905R w real 757
Speeder and it’s still the longest driver I’ve ever owned. Longer than TM R1, M3, Callaways etc
Matt
Oct 23, 2019 at 11:42 pm
Kuch sucks
Mad-Mex
Oct 24, 2019 at 4:18 am
Give it a rest loooooooooser! Bet your one of the idiots who screams “mash potatoe” or other equally obnoxious drunken childish remarks during tournaments and is the only one who thinks it’s funny,,, get a life!
beamanandwalkthecourse
Oct 24, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Winners spell potato without an e! ….ps Kutcher should not have been so cheap and ungrateful. The Mexican caddy helped Kutcher get back on the winning track!!!!
Not Mad Mex
Oct 24, 2019 at 4:56 am
No man, he’s a winner. Keep it up with the Matt Kuchar insults, like on every comments board. I like reading them. Kuchar is a fake tool anyways. I come to the comments section to read the stupid stuff. Love seeing people actually get bent because someone took 2 seconds to throw some shade. Deal with it.
Erik Morden
Oct 24, 2019 at 7:52 am
Matt is the Golf WRX troll. You could write something about anything in the golf world and he would hate it. You could be God himself and he would hate you. Like a previous poster said he is a tool his last name maybe Craftsman or Kobalt or SnapOn.
Not Aaron Judge
Oct 24, 2019 at 8:57 am
World needs Trolls too.
Mad-Mex
Oct 25, 2019 at 8:30 pm
Wish their parents had used birth control,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Not on my bridge
Oct 26, 2019 at 9:44 am
Pretty soon, the trolls will take over. They are the terminators of the future. People like you will explode and become non existent. They will be washed out by the power of the troll movement in the 2020’s…
Jeremy
Nov 11, 2019 at 9:59 pm
I totally understand thinking the internet is funny, but what you’re missing is that this is a website about golf. And you’re trolling. It is basically showing that you are not cool or smart or funny enough for 4chan, and come troll on a golf website. Gg.
Rich Douglas
Oct 23, 2019 at 9:30 pm
Big Bertha, because it started the whole revolution towards bigger driver heads.
Great Big Bertha–titanium.
Any driver that was constructed contrary to good engineering–the Pod, Hammer, and whatever that hard (low-COR, it turns out) driver MacGregor came out with.
Matt
Oct 23, 2019 at 8:33 pm
For me it was the Titleist 975J, but it might have been the after marked graphite design ys7 shaft that made it work so well for me. However I did try a golf buddies 510tp around that time and it was the first time I remember flying the bunker on my home courses 15th hole. Need less to say it left quite an impression but so did the seven hundred dollar price tag!
lnholly
Oct 23, 2019 at 7:57 pm
Bridgestone Whopper
tom
Oct 23, 2019 at 7:22 pm
No original Callaway Great Big Bertha Warbird???????? This is the driver that changed everything.
Fhartt Dikkwater
Oct 23, 2019 at 7:21 pm
Today I learned golf started in 1995. There were no good drivers before this. Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer used catapults for their tee shots then used blade irons, which they were the only ones in the galaxy legally allowed to play. Also learned thats its humanly impossible to use a 56* wedge for around the greens. Have to have a 60* with a special grind on it to accomplish this task.
Blowfeldher
Oct 23, 2019 at 8:30 pm
I like your name. I could see that on a Korn Ferry leaderboard right next to Sepp Straka the Bond villian.
Curt
Oct 23, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Nobody could out drive me and my blue nike 400. Just made others mad and out of bounds.
Wish I was Jack Hamm
Oct 23, 2019 at 8:28 pm
Jack Hamm could.
James
Oct 23, 2019 at 7:06 pm
MacGregor M85, Cleveland TC15, Powerbilt Citation, Wood Brothers Texan?
Titleist 905S? Seriously? 975D long before.
Paul
Oct 23, 2019 at 6:18 pm
The Cobra 370 SS unlimited was phenominal in its day, still by far the longest driver I’ve ever hit
Joseph Runtz
Oct 23, 2019 at 5:32 pm
The Tony Penna Innovator- Cobalt was longer than the great Big Bertha, the Cleveland Launcher was a close 2nd as was Titleist’s 983
Head to Head the Innovator took all challenger at that time.
Old Zach Morris
Oct 23, 2019 at 5:07 pm
Opting for the 905S over the OG 975D is a travesty.
And for the rando pick, they should have went with the Goldwin ADVP.
Patrick M.
Oct 23, 2019 at 5:56 pm
975D was great until 983 came out and then the 905s.
975D was the best driver of the 1990s.
TG
Oct 23, 2019 at 4:54 pm
Not including The Great Big Bertha is Hard to understand. So many tour pros played this in the late 90s.
Bernie Mac
Oct 23, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Jack Hamm, HAMMER driver. Nuff said.
Ol Skool
Oct 23, 2019 at 4:48 pm
Titleist Howitzer and Starship were gamechangers. However the Jack Hamm endorsed “Hammer” brought 400 plus yard drives into our bags.
Jim
Oct 23, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Titleist 975D – Just ask that Woods guy.
Jim
Oct 23, 2019 at 4:31 pm
“Of all time” should be removed from the title of this article, as it really means just the last 30 years, while conveniently ignoring clubs of the classic era of golf.
Mardukes
Oct 23, 2019 at 4:19 pm
Toski CZAR 270cc
Jim
Oct 23, 2019 at 4:07 pm
I would take “of all time” out of the title so people will know you are focused only on metal-woods of the last 30 years or so and completely ignoring the classic persimmons of the past.
Jeremy Thompson
Oct 23, 2019 at 4:06 pm
Well the GBB and BBB were all north of 400cc so can’t be included. No original Big Bertha is a serious omission, the driver that was a complete game changer and industry changer. And no 975D either???
Mark it Zero
Oct 23, 2019 at 6:58 pm
+1 on both counts. But an interesting read.
NA
Oct 23, 2019 at 9:48 pm
No they werent. BBB was 300cc
Vas
Oct 23, 2019 at 3:49 pm
Leaving off Callaway is just trying too hard. Also, if you’re going to go Titleist, you’d need to go 983-series instead of the 905s. The 983E with the EI-70 Tour X was a game-changer for me, but most of my friends preferred the K.
Agree about the E Zone 380. Unreal.
joe
Oct 23, 2019 at 10:39 pm
My 983E is still the best ever for me. GD Ys stiff shaft. I could really put it out there comfortably, and I could work it nicely.
Jeff E
Oct 23, 2019 at 3:42 pm
I played a Titliest 975D for years, and it was head and shoulders above the 983 and 905. Loved that driver, and hit it better than the 510TP from Taylor Made as well…. I’d put it #1 on this list.
PC
Oct 23, 2019 at 3:31 pm
Yonex E Zone 380…. the best head ever made.
Ray Bennett
Oct 23, 2019 at 3:26 pm
I am surprised that the KZG PFT 300 didn’t get a mention.
Kevin kelly
Oct 23, 2019 at 3:23 pm
The original Bobby Jones driver was as long as any driver I hit in my lifetime. I played a long time with persimmon and was very slow to switch to metals. Their 7.5 was awesome.
Jose
Oct 23, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Actually I liked the Mizuno MP-001 375 driver because I could hit it of the deck fairly well.
Tiger Woods
Oct 23, 2019 at 3:19 pm
Cmon man — no Great Big or Biggest Big?
EgdewRich
Oct 23, 2019 at 3:18 pm
KZG CHII with Fujikura Vista Pro shaft. Smaller head but right there with TM 500 series!
Ed LeBeau
Oct 23, 2019 at 3:16 pm
You left out Callaway’s Big Bertha
That’s a serious omission
drjacko
Oct 23, 2019 at 2:59 pm
Ryan, this is a great series! There is always a temptation to build a classic set out of your lists.
A. Commoner
Oct 23, 2019 at 2:35 pm
RB: Give it up.