23 replies to this topic

[titleist296]

Hi guys, I'm a freshman in high school this year and golf tryouts are coming up. I need a new driver and 3 wood to replace the old Adams driver and 3 wood I've been using.  I shoot around 45 for 9 holes right now and I'm looking to spend around $300~.  I plan to test out a few at carl's golf land but need help narrowing it down to a few.  What do you guys think of the G20/G15, i15, and k15?  I've looked at the TM's but it's ridiculous they come out with a new club every month and are constantly making their "old" ones cheaper.  Also, I'm thinking regular flex and 10.5*

What do you recommend?


Thanks for the help,
Sean

[tmgolf25]

I don't really see why TaylorMade putting out drivers faster than other OEMs would make you not want one. The SF 2.0 is relatively cheap right now, and is quite the bomber. Also very straight and forgiving.

[MadGolfer76]

The G15 is a nice club, but needs a good shaft to make it work. Personally, I would look around very hard for a PING Rapture V2 with the stock Diamana Blueboard as a stock option. I don't know anything about your swing, but lots of different folks have gamed that one successfully, including me. Another cheaper option for fairways is the Adams Fast 10. You can also find the Callaway Diablo Edge Tours pretty cheap.

I'm recommending older models just because 300 bucks runs out quick with the newer stuff.

[titleist296]

tmgolf25, on 10 January 2012 - 08:30 PM, said:

I don't really see why TaylorMade putting out drivers faster than other OEMs would make you not want one. The SF 2.0 is relatively cheap right now, and is quite the bomber. Also very straight and forgiving.

Alright, I'll definitely try that out, it's only around $150. Have you used the R9 super tri?  That's around $200-300 now, but I'm not sure if it's very forgiving.

MadGolfer76, on 10 January 2012 - 08:33 PM, said:

The G15 is a nice club, but needs a good shaft to make it work. Personally, I would look around very hard for a PING Rapture V2 with the stock Diamana Blueboard as a stock option. I don't know anything about your swing, but lots of different folks have gamed that one successfully, including me. Another cheaper option for fairways is the Adams Fast 10. You can also find the Callaway Diablo Edge Tours pretty cheap.

I'm recommending older models just because 300 bucks runs out quick with the newer stuff.

What shaft would you recommend in the G15 (or any driver?).  What would you recommend with a higher budget?

Edited by titleist296, 10 January 2012 - 08:39 PM.

[CelticFan3]

Alot of companies make good performing drivers that are in your price range, but they will all be a few years old. I for one am a big fan of the Nike Machspeed Black. I think the Fubuki shaft would work well for you. You could go on globalgolf.com and get one in mint condition for $130.

[ajschn06]

MadGolfer76, on 10 January 2012 - 08:33 PM, said:

The G15 is a nice club, but needs a good shaft to make it work. Personally, I would look around very hard for a PING Rapture V2 with the stock Diamana Blueboard as a stock option. I don't know anything about your swing, but lots of different folks have gamed that one successfully, including me. Another cheaper option for fairways is the Adams Fast 10. You can also find the Callaway Diablo Edge Tours pretty cheap.

I'm recommending older models just because 300 bucks runs out quick with the newer stuff.

I think a HS freshman who shoots around 90 would do just fine with a G15 that has a stock shaft.  I shoot around 80 and can't see a discernable difference between the stock TFC shaft and the upgraded shafts.  Not enough of a difference that would lead me to believe that a certain club would work "only with a good shaft" anyways...

[Tyler08]

Depends on your miss off the tee do you fade or slice?

I mean I have seen high school kids with r11's and 910's that slice the ball.  I can't suggest the K15 enough to a high school kid that struggles off the tee. It's a easy straight forgiving club.

My suggestion is easily the K15

[eric_b]

If you're looking for forgiving.....G15, TM Superfast or pretty much any Adams driver....I'd actually recommend Adams as the forgiving choice as they have the added bonus of generally being cost effective.

If you're looking for slice correction (i.e. draw bias)....K15 or an Adams driver labelled 'draw'

Going to the TM R series would be if you want adjustability.....but I don't think that's what you're looking for

Finally, chances are a stock regular or stiff shaft would work for you.....might not be totally optimal, but would definately work (definately when you consider you're limited in cost.....like us all).  Best way to pick a shaft is to give them a swing and take the better feeling one.....

If you want to optimize (i.e. want the best driver and shaft), you're best bet is to go to a fitter.....but that gets pricey.....really quick.

Good luck!

[bmpnugls]

This question sounds right down the alley of my recent experience.... Just picked golf back up after about 15 years off...and my buddies son is just starting HS golf and he and I have both been trying out drivers for both distance, forgiving, and MOST of all...correcting a slice until we get our swings in order....

I personally (since I have a full time job) have tried just about every driver on the market right now!!  with multiple shaft combinations on some of my prefered drivers (I'm not joking here)...gamed each a good couple weeks to a month or longer until I landed on one or two I can't seem to go wrong with!!...and funny enough...the HS kid has narrowed it down to the same couple drivers!!..

Below is a consolidated list of the drivers I've tried that have given the best of every aspect!

#1:  K15 Driver, 10.5*, stiff flex Matrix Ozik XCON-6 (VERY LONG, VERY STRAIGHT, and pretty forgiving).
#2  (VERY CLOSE TO #1:)  G15 w/Voodoo SNV6 shaft butt trimmed to play at 44.5" (long, pretty straight, and forgiving).
#3:  G20 9.5* Stock stiff tour shaft - Also very close to a 3 way tie w the K15 and G15 for the lead!!  STRAIGHT, FORGIVING, AND LONG!...for myself it seemed that the G20 could maintain straight shots at a slightly lower loft too).
#4:  Callaway FT-Tour, 9*, PX 7C7 shaft pull from a newer Razor driver, spined/aligned (decent distance, fairly straight when hit in the sweet spot, but not the most forgiving).
#5:  TM Superfast 1.0 Stock reg flex shaft 10.5* (good distance, pretty forgiving, not the straightest when compared to the G15 or K15).
#6:  R11 10.5* w/Diamana Whiteboard in reg flex (great distance, pretty forgiving, and if you get the settings/weighting right you can compensate for a slice and I came close but never found the perfect setting to get as straight as the G15 or K15  -  only reason the Superfast is above this is due to $ spent vs results - bang for your buck).

I could go on and on...but in my driver experiment the last 6-8 months some of the key points is:
- if you have a slice problem or trouble being consistent off the tee stick with a 10.5* driver.
- The shaft is a KEY component!!!!!  But that will take some trial and error or a good fitting to get the perfect shaft!  I've tried probably 100 shafts but best in terms of bang for my buck were Voodoo's, UST V2's, Matrix Ozik, and the slightly prices Diamana Whiteboards (Redboards I tried weren't bad either if you need to get the ball up)..
- def try a slightly shorter shaft for increased percentage of "sweet spot hits" (seemed to help me a TON at ~ 44.5").

Just my $0.02....thought I'd share cause it's all been trial and error for me and you seem to be at the same place I was when I started!

Edited by bmpnugls, 11 January 2012 - 01:56 PM.

[bldolat]

You also could buy a gently used driver & Fwy wood if you can't afford what works for you new!

[MadGolfer76]

ajschn06, on 10 January 2012 - 08:41 PM, said:

MadGolfer76, on 10 January 2012 - 08:33 PM, said:

The G15 is a nice club, but needs a good shaft to make it work. Personally, I would look around very hard for a PING Rapture V2 with the stock Diamana Blueboard as a stock option. I don't know anything about your swing, but lots of different folks have gamed that one successfully, including me. Another cheaper option for fairways is the Adams Fast 10. You can also find the Callaway Diablo Edge Tours pretty cheap.

I'm recommending older models just because 300 bucks runs out quick with the newer stuff.

I think a HS freshman who shoots around 90 would do just fine with a G15 that has a stock shaft.  I shoot around 80 and can't see a discernable difference between the stock TFC shaft and the upgraded shafts.  Not enough of a difference that would lead me to believe that a certain club would work "only with a good shaft" anyways...

If it doesn't make a difference, then he would be just as well served by the cheaper/longer (meaning Rapture V2) driver with the really good aftermarket shaft because, if for no other reason, he could pull the shaft, sell the parts separately, and make back most of his investment if he didn't like it.

[RocketBallz Fiend]

RAPTURE Is great DRIVER and G15 is great DRIVER. I love TMAG ROCKETBALLZ but when i was starting out PING is best club. Always get PING because you cant go rong. PING is LIKE TOUR ISSUE FOR AMATEURS besides they got BUBBA on stAFF

[TheMackDaddy]

Take it from me, another highschool golfer. You don't need to spend $300 to get a good driver. Technology in drivers is not increasing by much as of late, and you can find good drivers at good prices. I would reccoment the K15. It seems like a hacker's club, but it gives great results. I have a freind who hits the ball a long way (275, freshman) he used to only hit it 240 and miss lots of fairways and he started with the K15 and boom! Im not saying it will be thismagical for you but I wouldn't be surprised. As for fairway woods, k15 is also a great one. good luck!

[highlaunch_lowspin_monster]

most definitely do not get trailormade. about as reliable as having hot slam piece beverage cart girl at home course(jay rock ridge). i feel like if the beverage cart girls treated their bodies more like ping treats their company, private, all of the members at jay rock would be much happier.

[BENNYSUPREME]

Becasue I like Adams, I going to stay Adams.  Try the 9064LS.  Low spin and launch.  I actually just put a DI6 in mine and hit it high while keeping the spin down.  Hit up a local demo or go get fitted.

[southpaw72]

The k15 is an awesome club, if you struggle hitting fairways consistently this club should help. I would say try as many as you can and pick your favorite. good luck

[titleist296]

Thanks guys seems like K15/G20/G15 and maybe adams will be the way to go.  Over the summer I had corrected my slice very well and was bombing my dads old adams driver... but I snapped the head off when I threw my bag in the trunk (whoops), but it was old anyway.  When I went to carls golf land the slice was definitely back even with the G15/G20.. but I only got to hit about 20 balls for testing.  I do have the G15 hybrid and like it very much though.  Didn't try the K15 though, but I'll definitely have to.  It sounds like a lot of you suggest that from experience.

Thanks for the help

Edited by titleist296, 16 January 2012 - 07:34 PM.

[fore_life]

Look at proclubsdirect if you want to find used! Just google it

[TJC]

The adams 9064ls is very nice as are the g10 and r9 460, can find all three cery cheap used on ebay or golfsmith. Or any of the Tour Edge Exotics stuff is very nice and insanely long, I'd look into that too

[wakeusam]

i20 10.5* with project x black 5.5
its the best driver ever
im dead serious, you cant go wrong
its amazing
but if youre not gonna get the px black...
DONT GET THE I20!
Get the rocketballz with stock regular or stiff

Edited by wakeusam, 02 April 2012 - 06:44 PM.

[jollysammy]

My son has Superast 2.0TP 8.5 with RIP Phenom Regular / Superfast 2.0 9.5 with Matrix X-con senior flex / Superfast 1.0 10.5  with Matrix x-con regular and a Ping G15 9.0 with Aldila Serrano regular.

The easiest to hit is the Ping G15, the most powerful for him is the 8.5 SF 2.0 TP with RIP Phenom.

I would say the PING would have the most control for narrow fairway conditions and trees.  His shortest driver is the Ping with 45.75 inch shaft followed by the Superfast from 46 to 46.5 inches.

[tyler-49]

ping g10,g15,g20 3 wood are all solid options

[esketores]

K15 stock regualr shaft. Very underrated weapon. And can be had at a decent price.
While I don't play a K15, my playing partner does. He wishes everytime we play he'd had the K15 forty years ago. Put a R11S in retirement.
3 wood... I like Wishon's 3 woods.

Edited by esketores, 14 January 2013 - 05:14 PM.

[GanoGolf808]

Ping Rapture- Best feeling in my opinion
ust competion 65 shaft

switched from my 913 d3
project x 7c3

going classic