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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Whats in the Bag
Presidents Cup WITBs: U.S. Team

Tiger Woods
Driver: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 70 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade M3 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 80 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (3-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade MG 2 “Tiger MT Grind” (56-12, 60-10 degrees)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS
Grip: Ping PP58 Blackout
Golf Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Patrick Reed
Driver: Ping G400 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 70X
3-wood: Nike VR Pro LTD (15 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125 80TX
Irons: Mizuno MP-18 (3), GrindWorks Patrick Reed “Proto” (4-PW)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Artisan (50, 60), Titleist Vokey Design SM5 55
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron “Captain America” Proto
Putter Grip: Iomic
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Xander Schauffele
Driver: Callaway Prototype Sub Zero (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD BB 7X
3-wood: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8X
2 Iron: Mizuno MP-20 HMB
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro “Raw” (4-PW)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 “Raw” (52), Titleist Vokey Design SM6 (56), Titleist Vokey Design BV Proto (60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Odyssey Stroke Lab Double Bend hosel
- 540 weight
- 15g weights
- 34 3/8
Putter grip: SS Traxion 2.0 Tour (40g counter)
Golf Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X
Grips: Golf Pride Z Cord Mid Size
Justin Thomas
Driver: Titleist TS3 (9.5 degrees, B1 setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60 TX (44 7/8″)
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (15 degrees, A1 setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 80 TX
5-wood: Titleist 915 Fd (18 Degrees)
Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 Tour Spec X
Irons: Titleist T100 (4), Titleist 620 MB (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM7 (46-10 @47.5), Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM7 (52-12 @52.5), Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM7 (56-14 @57), Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM7 60T (@60.5)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Tour Issue (46), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (52-60)
Length: Std Lie 64.5
Grip: TVC 60RD USD
Swing weight: D3
Putter: Scotty Cameron X5
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Webb Simpson
Driver: Titleist TS3 (10.5 degrees, A1 setting, Draw CG)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei Blue AV 65 TX (45.25″)
3-wood: Titleist TS2 (15 degrees, A1 setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 70 TX
5-wood: Titleist 915 Fd (18 degrees, B1 setting)
Shaft: UST Mamiya VTS 86 TX
Hybrid 1: Titleist 913 Hd (21 degrees) B2 setting
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X
Hybrid 2: Titleist 913 HD (23.5 degrees) C3 setting
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Irons: Titleist 620MB (5-PW)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM7 (54-14), Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM5 (60-06K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Patrick Cantlay
Driver: Titleist TS3 (10.5 degrees, C1 Setting/Draw CG)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana BF 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist 915F (15 degrees, B1 setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana BF 70 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H2 (21 degrees, B1 setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei Blue 90 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold 120X
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 Raw (46-10, 54-10, 56-08, 62-08)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold S300
Length: Std
Loft: 53, 57, 61
Lie: 63 on all
Grip: TV 58RD USD
Swt: D3, D2, D1, C9
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Ball: Titleist Pro V1X
Tony Finau
Driver: Ping G410 (9 degrees @8) Flat setting
Shaft: Accra TZ6 Proto M5 75 (Tip 1”)
D5, 44.75 Inches
3-wood: Ping G400 (14.5 degrees @14.25)
Shaft: Accra Tour Z 4100 (Tip 1.5”)
D3. 42 Inches
Irons
3-iron: Ping iBlade (20 degrees)
Shaft: Nippon Modus 3 120TX
D3
4-PW: Ping Blueprint
Shaft: Nippon Modus 3 120TX
D3
Wedges: Ping Glide 3.0 (50/SS @51), Titleist Vokey SM7 (56/10S, 60/08M)
Shaft: Nippon Modus 3 125TX
Putter: Piretti Elite “Custom”
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Matt Kuchar
Driver: Bridgestone Tour B JGR (9.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Atmos Tour Spec 6S
3-wood: TaylorMade M6 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder Evolution 757 X
Hybrids: Bridgestone Tour B XD-H (18 degrees), Ping Anser (20)
Shafts: Fujikura Motore Speeder TS 8.8 X flex
Irons: Bridgestone J15CB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 S300 (soft stepped)
Wedges: Bridgestone J40 Forged (52 bent to 51 degrees); Cleveland RTX-4 (58 bent to 57 degrees), TaylorMade HighToe (64 bent to 63 degrees)
Shafts: KBS Tour 120 S
Putter: Bettinardi DASS KM-1 Arm Lock (soft carbon steel, 400 grams, 2.5 degrees loft)
Grip: Lamkin Arm Lock
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X
Grips: Iomic X-Grip
Gary Woodland
Driver: Ping G410 Plus (9 degrees @8)
Shaft: Accra RPG Tour Z M5
3-wood: Titleist TS2
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 100X
Utility: Wilson Staff (18 degrees)
Shaft: KBS C-Taper 130X
Irons: Wilson Staff Forged Blade 4-PW
Shaft: KBS C-Taper 130X
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 (52/12F @53, 58/10/S), TaylorMade Hi-Toe (64)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 125S
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport
Ball: Bridgestone BX
Grips: Golf Pride BCT MidSize
Bryson DeChambeau
Driver: Cobra SpeedZone (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: LA Golf Shafts Tour B.A.D VD3 75TX
3-wood: Cobra King LTD (12.3 degrees)
Shaft: LA Golf Shafts Tour B.A.D 3VD1 75TX
5-wood: Cobra F8+ (17.5 degrees)
Shaft: LA Golf Shafts Tour B.A.D VD1 85-TX
Irons: Cobra King Utility (4, 5), Cobra King Forged (6-PW)
Shafts: LA Golf Shafts B.A.D Prototype Rebar
Wedges: Cobra King Tour Raw (50, 56, 60)
Shafts: LA Golf Shafts B.A.D Prototype Rebar
Putter: Sik C-Series
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS
Grips: Jumbo Max
Rickie Fowler
Driver: Cobra SpeedZone (10.5 degrees set at 9.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 70X 43 inches
3-4 wood: Cobra King F8+ (14.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Synergy 70 X 42 inches
Utility: Cobra F9 Speedback (4, 20 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ Proto
Irons: Cobra “RF Proto” Forged (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Cobra King V-Grind Prototypes (52-10B, 54-10F bent to 56, 60F)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Circle T Newport 2 Proto
Grip: Standard Scotty Cameron Pistol
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align “Rickie Custom”
Golf ball: 2019 TaylorMade TP5x (No. 15) Pix USA
Dustin Johnson
Driver: TaylorMade M5 (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 661 X Tour Spec 2.0
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 6.5 X
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (3-iron), TaylorMade P730 DJ Proto (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Black 6.5 X (P790), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade MG2 Black (52, 60 degrees), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (64 degrees)
Shafts: KBS Tour 120S
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Black
Grip: SuperStroke Pistol GT 1.0
Ball: 2019 TaylorMade TP5x (No. 1) PIX “USA”
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Whats in the Bag
Presidents Cup WITBs: International Team

- see the U.S. squad’s WITBs here
Hideki Matsuyama
Driver: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 8 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M4 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 9 TX
Hybrid: Ping G410 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 115 X
Irons: Srixon Z 965 (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Wedges: Cleveland RTX4 Forged (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Prototype
Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV
Grips: Iomic X-Evolution
Joaquin Niemann
Driver: Ping G400 LST (10 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei White 70 TX
3-wood: Ping G410
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8X
Hybrid: Ping G400
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI Hybrid 95 X
Irons: Ping iBlade (4-9)
Shaft: Project X 6.0
Wedges: Ping Glide 2.0 (46 degrees), Ping Glide Forged (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Putter: Ping Vault 2.0 Anser
Putter Grip: P58 Midsized
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Ribbed
Louis Oostuizen
Driver: Ping G400 LST (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 65
5-wood: Ping G400 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Tour Spec 7.2 X
Driving iron: Ping Blueprint (3-iron)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Red Hybrid
Irons: Ping Blueprint (4-PW)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Ping Glide Forged (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Ping Vault 2.0 Voss
Putter grip: PP58 Midsized Cord
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Custom Switch Grip
Adam Scott
Driver: Titleist TS4
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X
3-wood: Titleist TS2 (16.5 degrees, A1 setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Rombax P95
Irons: Titleist 680 (4-9)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130X
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (48, 52, 56, 60 degrees)
Shafts: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Scotty Cameron Prototype SC-X
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Abraham Ancer
Driver: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero
3-wood: TaylorMade M4
Shaft: LA Golf Shafts 70x White Tie
5-wood: TaylorMade M2
Shaft: Matrix VLCT X
Hybrid: TaylorMade UDI (23 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi OT110 X
Irons: Miura MB-5005
Shaft: Mitsubishi OT110 X
Wedges: Artisan MT Grind (51.5, 56, 60 degrees)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Cameron Smith
Driver: Titleist TS2 (9.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Dj6X
3-wood: Titleist TS2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana BF 70 TX
5-wood: Titleist TS2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei BF 70 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shaft: KBS Tour X
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 Raw (46-10, 52-10, 56-08, 60 degrees)
Shaft: KBS Tour 130X
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Ball: Titleist Pro V1X
Haotong Li
Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 70TX
3-wood: TaylorMade M6 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 80TX
5-wood: TaylorMade M5 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 80X
Irons: TaylorMade M3 (3), TaylorMade P750 (4-9)
Shafts: Nippon Pro Modus3 120X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG (48) High Toe (52) Vokey SM7 (60T)
Shafts: Nippon Pro Modus3 120X
Putter: Bettinardi Custom
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
C.T. Pan
Driver: Titleist TS2 (9.5 degrees, A1 setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Atmos Blue 6X
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees, A1 setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei Red 70 TX
Irons: Titleist U510 (3), Titleist U500 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shaft: Project X HZDRS Red 85 (3), Project X 6.0 (4-9)
Wedges: Vokey Design “Raw Heated” SM7 (46-10F, 52-08F, 58-10K, 62-08M)
Shafts: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Purple S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron 009M
Ball: Titleist Pro V1X
Sung Jae Im
Driver: Titleist TS3 (9.5 degrees, D1 setting, draw CG)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 7X
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (15 degrees) D1
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 8TX
Hybrid: Titleist 818 H2 (19 degrees, A1 setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 Raw (52-08F, 56-08 M, 60-04L)
Shafts: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X-100
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom T6 STR
Ball: Titleist Pro V1X
Byeong Hun An
Driver: Titleist TS3 (8.5 Degrees) B2 Setting, Draw CG
Shafts: Accra TZ5 65 M5
3-wood: Titleist TS2 (13.5 Degrees) D4 Setting
Shaft: Project X HZDRS Smoke Black 80X
Irons: Titleist 716 TMB (3, 4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-9)
Shaft: Nippon Pro Modus Hybrid TX (3), Project X 6.5 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design Raw SM8 (48-10, 52-08, 56-08, 60T)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46, 48, 52), Project X 6.0 (56), True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Proto
Ball: Pro V1X
Marc Leishman
Driver: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (9 Degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution II X
3 wood: Callaway Epic Flash (15 Degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC Tour Spec 9.2X
5 wood: Callaway Epic Flash (18 Degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC Tour Spec 9.2X
Utility: Callaway Apex UT (21 Degrees)
Shaft: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130X
Irons: (3-9): Callaway Apex MB
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130X
Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 (48, 52,56)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130X
Lob wedge: Titleist Vokey SM7(60-08M),
Shaft: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130X
Putter: Odyssey Versa 6 Black
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X
Adam Hadwin
Driver: Callaway Epic Flash (10.5 Degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana D+ 70x
3 wood: Callaway Rogue (14.5 Degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana D+ 72x
Utility: Callaway X Forged (3-4)
Shafts: True Temper Project X 7.0
Irons: (5-PW): Callaway Apex MB,
Shafts: True Temper Project X 7.0
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Mack Daddy MD5
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey Stroke Lab Double Wide
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft
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Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “Is one brand OCD a thing?”

Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from IamMarkMac who asks WRXers whether they feel one brand OCD is a thing. Our members share their thoughts on the subject and discuss the pros and cons of having a one brand bag.
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.
- Tim Sherwood: “I don’t mind having a bag where there’s a mix of manufactures (although my bag is now all Srixon except wedges and putter, as their gear just works for me); however, I cannot stand having a bag that is branded and having none of that OEM’s clubs in it. I recently had to buy an off-brand bag as I couldn’t bring myself to put zero Taylormade clubs in a Taylormade bag. Finding a clean, almost unbranded bag wasn’t easy though.”
- MattyO1984: “It’s something that I have thought about, and I definitely believe that I have OCD when it comes to my bag. I am all Titleist everything. My being a Titleist guy goes back to when I was barely even a teenager. Tiger had a Scotty putter and a 975D driver. I wanted them, and from there, over time, everything became all Titleist everything and everything in the bag has to match. There are plenty of other headcovers that I could have bought for my clubs, but because they aren’t black, white and red, I simply wouldn’t go near them. I even mark my ball with one black dot above the number and red dot below the number. I know it’s weird, but I am OK with it. If anything, I feel more confident using Titleist, and at the end of the day, confidence is a huge factor in golf so I can’t see my changing any time soon…well apart from my AP2’s which will shortly be switched for T100’s.”
- pheenomz4774: “Brand OCD is a thing for me. I sometimes don’t, but when I found a manufacturer, I liked I tend to go all-in. For me it’s not about being looking like anything to anybody else, it’s a trust in a company that’s engineered their own products to match feel, gapping, etc. throughout their own bag. Most manufacturers have several options in every spot in the bag, so while it may have been true in the past, it’s very hard not to find a type of club you want within a single OEM. If I were truly “min/maxing” to squeeze every possible yard and spin rate, I’d probably have several different brands in the bag. For how much I play, that chore seems way too exhausting to sift through, and so I found a manufacturer that got me “close enough” knowing my actual golf scores won’t differ so much.”
- ChipNRun: “Is it OCD, or does focusing on one brand save one time and money? Since about 2012, most of my club choices have been Callaway and Tour Edge. They just seem to fit my eye better. That said, Cobra hybrids have a solid place in the bag. I also like the Cobra FWs, but I can only have so many golf bag sets. As for Callaway, the top two pros at my club are Callaway guys. Golfers at the club get to hit a lot of prototype models the pros get for us prior to general release. They work closely with the Callaway rep, who shows up for general demo days and special Callaway-only visits. You can make a club selection decision over several months rather than after one day on Trackman. Tour Edge is good also. I got to know the regional TE reps very well the past ten years, and the lesson pro I work with is a knowledgeable TE fitter.”
Entire Thread: “Is one brand OCD a thing?”
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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!!!!
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.