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Callaway RAZR FIT Driver Editor Review

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GolfWRX Editor Review by: Johnny

Callaways first venture into the adjustable weight and face angle driver category. Out the box the driver comes loaded with 12g and 2g removable weights in the sole in the toe and heel positions. Face angle is adjustable from S (standard) C (closed 1.5 degrees) and O (Open 2.5 degrees).

In addition to being Callaway’s first adjustable driver, the RAZR fit also has the latest technology in a newly designed and optimized hyperbolic face. This new face is designed to maintain ball speeds outside of the main sweetspot and work with the new overall weighting redesign of the head.

PRO’S
· Clean design from address (no alignment aids)
· Not sure how many CC’s but does not seem like 460cc
· Face is adjustable and it’s noticeable when changed
· Familiar feel and sound to FT9-TA (my favorite driver over the years)
· Headcover is nice and easy to use and protective.
· The face angle is adjustable independent of shaft rotation *thank you*
· 12g and 2g weights make noticeable difference as well.
· Golf Pride Dual Multicompound as stock grip
· Can use other MFG wrenches

CONS
· Less adjustments then competitors
· Designed for shaft
· .350 sleeve
· What took you so long

BOTTOM-LINE :
This driver is very close to becoming my gamer and unseating the Callaway FT9-TA that I have had in the bag going on 3 years plus. The ballspeed is nearly equal to the FT9-TA, the forgiveness is superior and right now all I need to do is bring down my spin and landing angle degree which I think I will be able to do with some shaft tweaks. The driver is very playable as is, but being how I am….well I am very particular to the ballflight I want to see. In the words of Tiger Woods “I’m close ”

Click here to see more pics and read the discussion in the forums

LOOKS ( 4.5 Stars)
All business from address, the way it should be. Callaway in my view was very smart to keep it simple with no alignment aids and all black. Yes I prefer the overall shape from the top of the FT9-TA since the RAZR Fit seems ever so slightly elongated to the rear, but I no longer have to look at a glued seam so it’s a trade off that I am willing to live with.

Now to the face which of course has some funny shaped hyperbolic symbol in the center which Callaway in one form or another has been using for years. Do I like it ? Of course not, boy I would just love some simple scoring lines straight across the face, but that’s me. The overall face shape is similar to my FT9-TA with the exception of the heel area which seems to have gotten smaller. The face is not quite as deep as other drivers as well, which should help with launch conditions.

The sole is pretty simple to me, couple weight ports and plenty recognizable emblem for those hawkeyed GolfWRX members that watch TV coverage for equipment changes in SuperG slo mo.

PERFORMANCE/PLAYABILITY (4.5 stars)
You can tell from what I have written about this driver so far, I like it. For me the driver is the most important part of the game and it’s what I struggle with the most. If I hit fairways or minimize the misses I can score. I guess that comes with all the years of having to get myself out of terrible positions because of my weak driving accuracy..ala the late Seve.

Direction: I am not a big worker of the ball with the driver.. maybe 5-10 yards in either direction max. This driver is very straight and I like it. Sure I can move it a little if I try, but honestly it moves it fine by my standards and more important than that, it goes more of less where I am aiming.

Forgiveness. This is where I feel this driver excels the most at. In the 4 rounds I have played with the driver my fairways hit is between 60-65% which for me is extremely good. As mentioned earlier this is a big weakness in my overall game. Now you can’t spray it all of the face and expect any driver to work, but with no change in my normal routine and the percentage up 10-15%… speaks volumes to me.

Ball flight. With the stock RIP’d NV in stiff ball flight was high and a tad spinney compared to what I am used to. Moved on to the Tour AD Di-6s (tipped 1 inch) and ballflight remained high, maybe even slightly higher than the RIP’d NV, but the spin was reduced with the Tour DI and my average drives increased by a few yards. Recently went for shaft #3 just to see and wow !…this might be a winner. I still need to get this combo on the course but I am pleased with what I see . Overall my summary would be higher than stated loft ballflight wise with mid to midhigh launch conditions.

FEEL ( 4.5 stars )
So much of feel for me is attached to the sound and this club does not disappoint in that regard. It’s not loud, it’s not overly muted..Just very very solid sounding. The ball shots off the face and you know instantly where you hit it. Definitely one of the better feeling and sounding drivers I’ve hit in recent memory. Granted you strike it near the center J Extreme heel and toe shots will be punished feel wise as expected.

Now on to the shaft, the club comes stock with Aldilia RIP’D NV which is weighted around 60g. On the frequency meter it just reached the stiff area on the chart. The shaft is pretty good for a stock offering and will probably fit a good number of people looking for mid launch and mid spin characteristics. It held up pretty well to my overswings and had a good overall weight and release at impact. Sure there is always better, but it’s a good overall start.

OVERALL (4.5 stars)
Nothing is a 5 for me.. so 4.5 is just about as high as I could rate any driver or club for that matter. Gone are the worries about melting a seam on their flagship drivers and for someone who changes shafts often this is a welcome design change. Callaway indeed does deliver the good with this new bigstick. The Razr Fit to me combines the best combination of looks, forgiveness and distance performance I’ve seen to date in a driver and was worth the wait.

The Callaway FT9-TA has long been the king of drivers in my bag and this may soon change with my latest shaft change to the RAZR Fit. Expect more FT-9 TA’s to be hitting Ebay soon, I have already sold all my backup FT9-TA already…..

Click here to see more pics and read the discussion in the forums

The retail driver will be available sometime in the first quarter of 2012 for a price estimated to be $399 US and be available in lofts of 8.5, 9.5,10.5,11.5 and come shafted with an Aldila RIP’D NV Shaft.

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27 Comments

27 Comments

  1. Mona

    Jan 12, 2016 at 4:36 am

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  2. Sharon

    Dec 8, 2015 at 3:50 am

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  3. Kapsul Daun Sirsak

    Nov 17, 2015 at 3:54 am

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  4. Keith

    Dec 1, 2013 at 2:45 pm

    I absolutely love my taylormade superfast 2.0 BUT today it took a back shelf to the callaway rzr fit.
    I went to local pro shop today with my brother to help him pick out a new driver, I have golfed longer then him and know a bit more and have a better swing so he wanted me along to help him compare clubs for him. The pro shop was having Black Friday sales going on so we went to outdoor heated range and indoor track man system. I started out with the TM 2.0 (my club) to get a base line was swinging good also tried cobra amp, tm rbz one and stage 2, off set cobra amp, callaway hawk,cleveland black? Also adams? R 1 all in stiff shaft and 10.5 degree I hit about 10 to 11 degree angle ave 108 mph swing and the callaway rzr fit was by far for me the winner I would hit around 255 with a 270yard poke once in awhile with mostly straight with a fade now and then with my driver the TM 2.0 all the other drivers we tried today gave the same results some more consistent straight but not as far thought I had the best driver for me then I got to the callaway and used a 9.5 adjusted closed to 10.5 degree also tried a 11.5 degree opened to a 10.5 degree and the 11.5 was slightly better all around then my current club but not enough to buy it then I tried the 9.5 and gained about 15 real yards no bull crap like most people say in these reviews I really averaged 15 yards more and so straight it was very easy to hit this club I turned the club to its original 9.5 and it got better I always struggle with 9.5 and truly believe most guys should hit a 10.5 or higher for accuracy but would ever reason the ball flight was killer low and long I played with the weights and I could draw it the adjustability really works. I’m 6 foot tall 240 pounds and swing smooth but fast 105 average and I can hit this one 275ish over and over I can hit it 10.5 degree or 9.5 degree both straight or draw this club does what it says love it by now I’m sure you figured out I walked out with one on sale for 117.00 highly recommend doing the fitting track man thing It made a big difference in finding my club and degree and extra yards that were always there but I was not set up with proper equipment. Funny thing is my brother couldn’t find anything that he liked. When we walked out to outdoor range and started hitting the select few that track man recommended it was clear to booth of us the callaway fit was the winner very straight very long love it highly recommend you try it before you buy other club at least throw it in with the others you try.

  5. W. Huizinga

    Oct 5, 2013 at 12:05 pm

    I just bought this driver for just $99 after reading this review and the comments. Before i had a 10.5 stiff driver with 300cc of 7 years old. I have an average of 220 meters with that. Tomorrow i will hit the Razr Fit for the first time with 11.5 and stiff flex. I will let you guys know the difference between old and this modern driver…

    Man, Handicap 18.2 and 33 years old

  6. Gill

    Jul 25, 2013 at 8:08 am

    I recently switched to the Razr Fit around 6 months ago. I originally purchased the 9.5 degree, but have since switched for an 8.5 degree head. I also switched the stock stiff shaft our for an Accra shaft. This driver is outstanding (long and very straight). I am literally out distancing my Supertri, G20, and K15 by 20 to 35 yards on every drive. I also tried the Razr Extreme, and the Fit was far superior for me.

  7. Guy

    Jul 19, 2013 at 10:25 pm

    I’ve been playing the RAZR Fit for 6 months now. I recently tried all of the “new” drivers is a simulator (RAZR fit extreme, R1, RBZ Stage 2,Ping g25, and others). None outperformed my RAZR Fit. The closest was the RBZ Stage 2, but it launched a little too high.

    I’m a 5 hcp and use the 9.5 degree set open with the stock weight placement, stiff RIP’D shaft. I absolutely love the feel of the RAZR Fit. When you hit it solid you know it. It’s muted and just sounds perfect. Ball flight is mid to low and runs out great. I would recommend anyone buy this driver while you can still find it.

  8. Chad Harding

    Jun 16, 2013 at 7:37 pm

    How does this compare to the R1?

    • Don B

      Feb 4, 2014 at 9:11 pm

      I bought the R1 from my buddy, and the Razr FIT just jumps off the face. I was just hitting again today (I hve a 103 MPH swing), and the R1 seems just dead when I hit it. The Razr FIT smoked it. My driver is my crux, and I have tried everything. Nothing is better than the Razr FIT.

  9. Henrik

    Apr 26, 2013 at 11:11 pm

    Just tried my Razrfit driver 10.5 r flex (that I bought before the Wisconsin winter) – added at leases 35 yards to my distance.. Normally I’m a 220 – with this I have for the first time ever consistent been on 250+, some instances 269+
    Feels good too.

  10. Pingback: Top 5 Golf Drivers | Best Golf Drivers, Callaway X Hot Reviews, Callaway X Hot Driver, Callaway X Hot Irons, R11S Fairway Wood Reviews

  11. Pingback: GolfWRX.com – Callaway RAZR FIT Driver Editor Review | Golf Products Reviews

  12. Reevo

    Sep 8, 2012 at 7:25 am

    This club is unbelievable long and accurate. I hit some bombs yesterday absolute bombs when you hit the center of the club watch this bad boy go go go go go g oooooooooooooooooooo………. 5 STAR..

  13. Asher

    Aug 24, 2012 at 4:59 am

    I bought one of the RAZR’s and played it for a while. I really liked the distance but couldn’t shape the ball nearly as well as I can with my R11s. Also I couldn’t find anywhere that sells it “stock” with an x flex shaft. The stiff was supposedly rated to 110mph which is only slightly lower than my swing speed. However I found that when i reached back for a few extra yards it always produced a horrible slice. I liked the few extra yards it gave me but in the end was not worth the extra $300 I was going to have to pay to get a nice shaft that fit my swing and get it installed.

    I am a 10 handicap and play a R11s with an Aldila RIP beta 70g xflex

  14. Troy Vayanos

    Aug 3, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    I just bought the Razr Fit driver last week and had my first couple of games with it. Feels great over the ball and the head is not too large compared to others on the market today.

    Still experimenting with the weights to find out what is right for me. So far though I really love this driver.

  15. randy

    Jul 13, 2012 at 7:45 am

    I just bought the Razr Fit and I couldn’t believe the difference. Hitting more farways and about 20 yards futher. I like the sound at impact. It does not seem like it is going to go futher but it just keeps going. The different adjustments make a huge difference also. I am hooked it is the best driver I have ever hit.

  16. Danny

    Jul 3, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    I purchased the Nike mach speed back in December and have struggled ever since, i’ve been looking for a driver that will hit the slight draw which gives consistent distance and shape. I’ve tried out the titleist 910d3 9.5 stiff with aldila rip and found it to dip to quickly thus resulting in less carry and distance. Basically, just want to know from people who have the razr fit driver and have swing speed of around 95-98 if it Flies further than your previous drivers and what shafts you have in it?

    • phil

      Jun 3, 2013 at 11:00 pm

      I too had the Nike machspeed srt8 driver. Didn’t like when you adjust it the grip is out of place. So I bought the Calloway RAZR fit driver and Wow!!!!! 280 of the bat. I have a natural draw and tend to hit a hook. Changed the face to open and was hitting straight shots with light draw. But I got more flight and more roll with the RAZR fit. Plus I use pro v1x and with that ball it just flys off the face. Plus I added to the wight. I put some zinc washers in the top wight. Went to range and wow straight as an arrow . Hope this helped.

  17. Andy Marcolini

    Jun 29, 2012 at 7:46 am

    John the revue was very informative – but you failed to mention the 3rd shaft option that you ended up going with – please let me know what it was and what it did to your ball flight – cheers.

  18. Mike

    Jun 25, 2012 at 7:54 pm

    Suzanne, change the face angle to closed to start, if that doesn’t fix the rights, switch the weights.

  19. Suzanne Smith

    Jun 22, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    I purchased this driver and it came with 6 and 2 weights. I am really having trouble with my drives going to the right now. What adjustments can I make? More weight on the toe? Change the face? I have it on open. I have the 11.5 loft and that is working well. Every shot is going right. What the heck am I doing wrong?

  20. Hans

    Jun 6, 2012 at 12:29 pm

    I ended up with Razr tour and the project x stiff. Just cannot get Aldiss shafts to perform for me. Had played the r11 for about a month and couldn’t keep it in the fairway. My last 6 rounds with the Razr are all in the low 80’s because I am I. The fairway and not punching out for the trees. Previous rounds with the r11 were I the high 90’s.

  21. Edddie par

    May 23, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    I too switched from a Taylor Superfast and I am not sorry. This club has given me 27 more yards consistently. It’s just an amazing driver. Now if they developed a razr putter hmm.

  22. Iron2850

    May 21, 2012 at 5:54 pm

    Like Joe S I started with an R11S. In store I hit it fine, but on course it went right and farther right. Hit the Razr Fit at PGA Superstore in the PING simulator. I hit PING G20, Titleist D2. Didn’t hit either well, fadey, and not great distance. Could not get comfortable with either one. Finally
    I hit the Razr Fit in all varieties. My swing speed was about 95 mph. 2400 RPM spin on average, 14 degrees of launch angle. For me the best fit was a 10.5, Stiff flex standard shaft. Hit it 260 in store with some draw (light weight in the toe). On Saturday I played 18 and hit the ball ( new Callaway Black) about 250-270 with a little draw. I hit 12 fairways. I need to dial it in a bit, but the club worked very well for me. I am 57, 5’9, play to a 5 handicap with driver being my weakness. Play twice a week.

  23. Joe S

    Apr 30, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    Nice review. I originally purchased the r11s the week it came out. My local Roger Dunn shop lets me play it for 90 days or I can swap it if I don’t love it. As my 90th day was fast approaching, I figured I did my self a dis-service by just assuming TMade was the best. I took out the Cobra, RBZ-Tour, my r11s, and the RAZR fit. Quickly I narrowed it down to the RAZR – RBZ Tour was junk. I hit 5 with r11s, 5 with RAZR, and back and forth for 30 balls (after I was already warmed up). My misses (probably about 10% of the time) with the r11s were horrible and have been horrible during regular play – snap hooks that barely left the ground, the miss hits with the RAZR just turned into pulls, but still got out 240 and would have been playable for sure. This alone made me want the club, but the pure distance increase was ridiculous. My buddy (5 handi) was with me. Hitting the r11s on the screws, 245 carry, probably 260 roll out at the range (there was a hill and on the hill was a 250 flag). The r11s made it over the hill maybe 4 times in my 20 shots. The RAZR fit was over the hill EVERYTIME. The carry was at least 10 more yards. I wouldn’t believe me if I wasnt there either..I know. My friend was freaking out that the r11s was so weak compared to this. Needless to say, I switched.

    About me:
    RAZR fit Stiff 9.5. I am a 11 handicap, but have shot in the mid 70’s on occasion. I play weekly. Live in Orange County, CA…hope this helps

  24. Alejandro Roy

    Apr 4, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    This is the absolute best driver ever made. I bought mine this morning, and the difference between my drives today vs my drives using my previous driver (Taylormade Burner Superfast) was ASTONISHING!!!

    The Razr Fit is EXTREMELY long and accurate. The off center hits are very forgiving and the ball keeps flying decently.

    This is a MUST BUY for everyone. Trust me, you won’t regret it! This is the ONLY club for which I would say “it helps improve your game”. Even if you have a lousy swing such as I do.

  25. Mark

    Feb 14, 2012 at 1:47 am

    Speaking of shaft tweaks…how do you feel the club would perform with a Bassara ultra-lightweight shaft. I produce a 95mph swing on average with a slight slice. I’d like to add some distance to my drives while reducing spin. Any suggestions on a good shaft?

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Driver Reviews

GolfWRX Spotlight: Tour Edge Exotics C721 driver

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Tour Edge’s Exotics line of high-end golf clubs has been known for excellent fairway wood and hybrid performance over the years. The Chicago-based company has been consistently putting out high-quality products, and golfers are really taking notice. The new line of C721 drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids take yet another big leap forward from last year’s EXS line. 

The new C721 driver takes a lot of technology from the 2020 EXS line and further refines and expands on it. I know it is a little cliche when companies say every model is their best ever, but Tour Edge is 100 percent right this time.

When unboxing the C721 the first thing I noticed was the much-improved looks and shape over the previous Tour Edge drivers. The biggest change to my eye is the added bulge, giving a more rounded and softened topline.

The overall shape of the C721 is slightly stretched from front to back, giving it just a hint of a triangular look. The Ridgeback is a titanium spine flanked by two carbon fiber wings that add stability and forgiveness to the head, but they can also work together and an additional aiming device to ensure you are lined up down the center of the fairway. 

Getting the C721 out on the course is where you really start to appreciate all the technology that went into this driver. Well-struck shots are very long, very boring, and will hang with anything out on the market today. Center contact is rewarded with a long and very low spin shot that is just fun to hit.

The sound and feel are very solid, you can really feel the ball compress on the face as it leaves at high speed. The sound is more of a muted crack and much quieter than I anticipated. If you practice on an enclosed range your ears will thank you for your choice in drivers. Shots hit away from the center of the face retain a lot of ball speed and stay online really well.

My miss is low on the heel and those misses stayed in the air fairly well and went a good ways. Shots hit down on the heel or higher on the toe side still stay online really well due to the Ridgeback spine and rear weight. The C721 is just slightly higher than mid-launch for me, but the low spinning head never allowed my shots to balloon or rise even into the wind. I do wish the face was just a touch deeper as I had to play with my tee height in order to find the optimal setup. The better players will enjoy the neutral weighting and there seems to be very minimal draw built into the driver.

Overall, the Tour Edge Exotics C721 driver is a great club that will probably be overlooked by too many golfers. If you are looking for added distance, a lot of forgiveness and want to keep some money in your pocket, then you should seriously take a look at Tour Edge.

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Driver Reviews

Review: Ping’s G400 and G400 LST Drivers

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I still remember the first time I hit Ping’s G30 driver. It was July 2014, and I was at Ping’s HQ in Phoenix. Super low-spin drivers were all the rage at the time. With their forward center of gravity, they were helping golfers optimize their launch conditions beyond their wildest dreams: crazy high launch, ridiculously low spin. Many in the business, including myself, had one of these drivers and spent many launch monitor sessions trying to figure out how to get more distance from these high knuckleballs. The bad news was that forward-CG drivers, by nature, were really unforgiving. Bad shots were really short and crooked.

Before I knew the G30 was a big deal, Marty Jertson, Ping’s Director of Product Development, explained to me his vision for the perfect driver inside a conference room at Ping Headquarters. In his eyes, the perfect driver didn’t have the low, forward center of gravity (CG) that was being touted at the time. Its CG was located as low and as rearward in the driver head as possible, which he said would offer the best of both worlds: optimized launch conditions on good shots, as well as the best possible forgiveness on bad shots.

Building the perfect driver was a long way off (and still is), but Jertson was excited where Ping had landed with the G30. When it was released, the driver was a powerful testament to his vision. Its rear-CG design created great distance on good and bad shots, and it was also a very straight driver. The G30 sold incredibly well and, as a result, the industry mostly shifted away from forward-CG drivers.

It’s been nearly three years since the release of the G30, and Ping has just made another counterintuitive driver release. The company shrunk the size of its new G400 drivers in a climate where full-size drivers have become the norm. Granted, it’s only 15 cubic centimeters smaller, but it’s noticeable at address. Compared to the Ping G drivers they replace (which replaced the G30), the G400’s look like they cut carbs.

Despite their slimmer frames, however, the G400 drivers are actually more forgiving than the G drivers (which were even more forgiving than the G30). That’s why Ping representatives say smaller is actually better in the G400’s case. The drivers have the lowest, most rearward CG of any Ping drivers ever, and their smaller size is said to improve their aerodynamics so golfers can swing them fractionally faster. The other big change is a new face material made of T9S+ titanium, which is thinner and more flexible to help golfers generate more ball speed.

Ping_G400_LST_2

For this review, I wanted to put the G400 and G400 LST to the test against the G and the G LST drivers that they replace, so I took them to the Launch Pad at Carl’s Golfland in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. I hit five shots with each driver on Trackman IV, and to ensure as much of an apples-to-apples comparison as possible, I tested each driver head with the same shaft. Each driver head was adjusted to the same loft, or as close as possible.

Note: The G, G LST, and G400 drivers I tested were 10.5-degree heads adjusted to 9.5 degrees. The G400 LST had a loft of 10 degrees, and it was adjusted to 9.4 degrees.

The Test

PingG400_2017

In my personal driver tests, I don’t usually see a huge uptick in distance or accuracy when comparing the latest drivers to the most recent models from the same manufacturer. Improvements generally come in the form of improved head shaping, a better feel, or enhanced adjustability. That’s why I was surprised to see such a big change in my launch conditions and dispersion with the G400 drivers.

G400 Test Results: With the G400, I launched my drives an average of 1.6-degrees higher than I did with the G while dropping spin an average of 416 rpm. That led to a significant improvement in distance. With my swing speed and ball speed staying about the same, I added an average of 7.2 yards more carry distance and 8.7 yards more total distance.

G400 LST Test Results: First, a note about the G400 LST. It has a CG that’s slightly lower and more forward than the standard G400 driver to help golfers reduce spin. Like the G30 LST and G LST, it’s still very much a rear-CG driver, but its design helps high-speed golfers who can consistently find the center of the club face maximize distance without highjacking forgiveness. When I test Ping drivers, the LST is generally the model that creates the best performance, and the G400 LST was no exception. I saw an average of a 1.2-degree higher launch angle with all other things staying about the same when I compared it to the G LST. The result was an average of 6.6 yards more carry distance and 3.1 yards more total distance. It was the longest and straightest driver I hit in the test.

Note: Ping also sells a G400 SFT (Straight Flight Technology) driver, which has added draw bias. To learn more about it, click through to tech story on the G400, G400 LST and G400 SFT drivers. 

Dispersion

G400_Dispertion

One way to explain the improved launch conditions is that I hit the G400 drivers more consistently. As you can see in the Trackman dispersion chart, I hit the G400 and G400 LST drivers straighter on average than the G and G LST. Is that its slightly enhanced forgiveness shining through? Maybe, maybe not.

To me, the changes Ping made to the look and feel of the driver were just as important as the performance difference I saw on Trackman. I’ve always preferred smaller driver heads, or at least 460-cubic-centimeter drivers that appear smaller than their size. For that reason, I felt more confident with the G400 drivers in my hands. I didn’t mind that I didn’t see any added swing speed or ball speed from the smaller driver head. I was sold on the looks alone.

I also preferred the sound of the G400 drivers to the G drivers. There was definitely much more of a “thwack” than a “ping” at impact, which made the G400’s feel more powerful. Looks and feel are subjective, of course, but to me the improvement was night and day. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that my fondness for the looks and feel of the G400 was at least a contributing factor to my improved performance in the test, if not the most important factor. When I like the way a club look at address, I tend to hit it better, and I know I’m not alone.

I do want readers to keep in mind that this was a one-person test and I hit a limited amount of balls. Yes, it’s a great indication that the G400 driver can be measurably better than a G driver, but it’s not a guarantee.

I also want to address the weaknesses of the G400 drivers. While they’re few, they could push golfers into another driver model in a fitting. Unlike Callaway’s GBB EpicTaylorMade’s M1 or Titleist’s 917 drivers, the G400’s don’t have CG adjustability. That means there’s no way to fine tune ball flight outside of a shaft or loft adjustment. A bigger deal for some golfers might be the G400 crowns. Despite their smaller size, there’s still a lot to look at address, as was the case with the G drivers.

Ping_G400_LST_4

Aerodynamic features on the front of the crowns, “Turbulators,” have been thickened for the G400 release. There’s also Ping’s “DragonFly Technology,” a geometry on the back of the driver crowns that helps push CG lower and more rearward in the driver heads. I personally think the G400 crowns give the drivers an old-school, muscle car-like look, but there’s no question they won’t fly with all golfers.

Whatever your thoughts about what’s on top of the G400 drivers, there’s no question that what’s under the hood can offer something the G and G30 drivers did not. Maybe you’ll like the smaller head. Maybe you’ll prefer the quieter sound. Maybe the improved forgiveness will show up on a launch monitor or on the course. Or maybe you’ll just flat out rip a G400 farther and straighter down the middle like I did.

If that last bit happens, try not to second-guess it.

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Driver Reviews

Members Choice: The Best Driver of 2017

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What determines the best driver on the market; is it the opinion of professional club fitters, professional golfers or testing results from a group of amateurs?

At GolfWRX, we believe all three sources can lead golfers to an answer. Being a website founded by passionate golfers with a mission to serve passionate golfers, though, we place a special emphasis on the opinions of our GolfWRX Members — the most knowledgeable group of golfers on the planet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively as GolfWRX Members. So who better to poll to get an initial indication of the best performing drivers so far in 2017?

So we asked them, “What’s the best driver of 2017?” They voted for the three drivers they felt most worthy of the title and provided feedback about their selections in our special forum thread. You can see the results below (as of the first three weeks of voting), as well as quotes we pulled from GolfWRX Members about the drivers from our forum.

Remember that our polls will remain open for voting throughout the year, and we’re going to keep an eye on the percentages as more and more golfers have an opportunity to test these drivers. We’re also working on another Best Driver list, which will evaluate clubs in another important way. Stay tuned!

Keep in mind that there’s no single driver on the market that is the absolute best option for every golfer: that’s why nearly every manufacturer makes at least two different models. As this list indicates, however, some drivers are working better than others this year. Happy Testing!

Note: Forum posts were minimally edited for grammar, style, spelling and clarity.

Cobra King LTD Black (3.00 percent of votes)

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  • The General: All-black LTD is really clean looking. I’m about to cover up the orange on my LTD with lead tape. Orange is played out
  • mh7vwLove my LTD, but wish the black finish (or even this gray) didn’t have that subtle checkering you see in some like. Prefer plain black.
  • dbleagI am a fan of the black/orange combo. The performance and sound of the LTD is very appealing to me. I also like that the standard length is 45 inches. For me, that helps it be super-accurate. With the low-spin design, I hit it longest of the current offerings and can’t remember the last time I missed a fairway. Straight, solid, low spin and nice.
Further Reading

Mizuno JPX-900 (3.20 percent)

Mizuno_JPX_900_Driver

  • johnnythundersJPX goes straight. Best real-deal shaft and is long and very adjustable.
  • KT35That blue head looks awesome sitting on the ground. I hit balls off the toe and heel and didn’t see the big drop off in distance like the previous models.
  • nmortonThe JPX-900 is definitely more forgiving compared to the JPX-850, and sounds much better. Though they did sacrifice a bit by going with a little larger profile, but it’s easy to get used to. The graphics are so so, but this driver performs. I’m really digging the Evo II (shaft).
  • jay65I can see that Mizuno is really making a decent effort with its drivers/fairways in terms of tech and aesthetics, and they compliment the new JPX-900 line of irons really well, but if they’re going to make any inroads they really have to address this issue of their custom shafts options. It’s rubbish.
  • bok006The JPX-900, after being properly adjusted by the fitter, gave me an extra 20 yards just like that. My swing speed suggested I was borderline S to X (flex), but the fitter said unless I was fighting a hook I should stick with the S.
  • bubbagump: …the JPX-900, when properly fit, is just as long on a consistent basis than all the new models I tried in real life situations. It looks great, sounds solid and just knows the way to keep the ball in play.  
  • ChazbI’m 69 years old, have a swing speed of 91 mph and played nine with the JPX-900 this morning. It was in the 40s with a brisk wind hit it around 220 to 230 yards. It was a fairway finder, has great feel and is one of the easiest to control drivers I have ever hit. I can’t wait ’til it is warmer and can dial it in more. So far I have the two weights all the way forward for a lower flight and the other set with a draw bias with 10.5 degrees of loft. This driver is the real deal; it may not be the longest or the shortest, but it is a fairway finder which IMO makes it a winner.
Further Reading

Ping G (3.80 percent)

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  • Wesquire: Ping G is the most forgiving so it wins.
  • bopper53: Ping G hands down. Great distance and the most forgiving.
  • Dannydubbbs: The Ping G series is just too forgiving. The distance is comparable between most models, but Ping always seems to win out with forgiveness.
  • Bruin BearThe Ping G is going to be overlooked because it’s looked at as “game improvement,” but this driver is a beast. I liked the LS, but it requires a faster swing to get results and in the cold outdoors I just don’t have that all the time. I think the G is the perfect blend of performance and forgiveness.
  • cmrl1986Only reason I switched from the Ping G25 was that the G felt less harsh off the face. Same distance just about.
Further Reading

Cobra King F7+ (3.90 percent)

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  • EntourageLife: Ball really flies off face. Driver head controls spin well. Not one drive “ballooned” and trajectory was high and best of all… very easy to work ball right to left for a confident draw.
  • GollieThe F7+ is another great offering from Cobra… I didn’t get the “MAN, this is gonna take my LTD out of the bag” feeling, but it has very good sound, feel and performance.
  • J13F7+ is a great offering from Cobra and IMO is in the top-3 drivers this year. Epic is the standout for me numbers wise, then M series and F7+ are right behind it. Love the Agera (shaft) in there!!! Such a great shaft; I can’t seem to get mine out of the bag.
  • Golfer from MOHit both Cobras lefty and as a lefty the LTD is the shizzle. Last year it was the LTD and Big Bertha down to the absolute wire… the F7+ is more workable than the LTD, but not longer and a little worse on mishits.
  • BoognishI took a few swings with the F7+ at Golf Galaxy yesterday. 9.5 degrees with heaviest weight forward. The stock shaft is actually the same model I play in my GBB (albeit in smoked black instead of yellow). Ball flight and distance were similar to my GBB with good consistent sub-3000 backspin. Sound was OK, feel was harder than the GBB.
  • thechief16Just from the range (no LM), I didn’t see a noticeable performance improvement with the F7+ over the original King LTD. And I like the look and sound/feel of the LTD better.
Further Reading

Ping G LS Tec (4.90 percent)

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  • drvrwdgeI played the G LS with the Ping Tour 65X (shaft) tipped an inch for about a year. Just put the HZRDUS Yellow 75 6.5 tipped an inch and never thought it was possible, but it’s longer and straighter. Best driver shaft combo I’ve ever hit. You can feel that HZRDUS throughout the entire swing. Really gives you a solid connected feel.
  • Mtngolfer1: I am not sure that I would consider this a 2017 Driver, but my vote went to the Ping G LS Tec. The fact that my G is still holding its own against the latest 2017 releases has me very excited to see what Ping will release later this year.
  • 3woodvt: Fairway finder and plenty long.
  • pitchinwedgeI’ve found the LS to be nearly as fade biased as the M family. I get pretty good results with the LS by making a conscious effort to make more of an in-to-out swing. Any lapse in concentration and everything goes right. The M’s require even more effort, which is the reason I stayed with the LS instead.
  • 3 Jack ParAfter an up and down year with the G LS, I’ve actually recently gone back to my G30 LS head. I only have a couple of rounds as a sample so far, so I can’t really draw a conclusion about whether one or the other is better, but with the same shaft it seems like my G30 head might be a little longer. Honestly, the performance differences are pretty minimal if you really compare the two generations.
Further Reading

Titleist 917D3 (5.30 percent)

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  • GavaThe 917D3 is in my bag now, and I’ve found it incredibly long with a recently purchased Graphite Design Tour AD MJ 7TX shaft. Feel and accuracy has been a real improvement as well.
  • Togatown22I find my 917D3 to be just as forgiving as my 915D2 was, and man do I prefer looking down at the head shape and color versus the 915. Very confidence inspiring.
  • NIxhex524I would definitely give the D3 a whirl. I feel like Titleist has made great strides at making the smaller head way more hittable for us ams.
  • KPH808So in conclusion, I was hitting the ball about 9 yards further on average and 3-4 mph faster ball speeds with the 917D3 vs. the 915 D4. The biggest thing for me was the forgiveness between the two; the 917D3 was more forgiving on mishits.
  • brushieThe 917D3 head feels soft like the 910 and sounds great. I never had an issue with the 915 sound; it wasn’t great, but it didn’t bother me too much. This is much better, though. The 917D3 head shape is perfect to my eye as well. The area where the 917 shines is forgiveness. 

Further Reading

TaylorMade M1 440 (5.35 percent)

TaylorMade_M1_440_Feat

  • Tigermatt31: The M1 440 is best driver I’ve had ever.
  • TollBros: The M1 440 is definitely lower spin than the M1 460 or M2 from last year. Launch angle isn’t really any lower, but spin is lower for sure.
  • specimania: This year’s 440 is more forgiving.
  • MCozYes, this 440 is more forgiving, and yet it also appears to be more workable than both of the previous M1 and M2s.
  • nitramTo save you a bunch of reading and crunching numbers, I quickly concluded there was a little more forgiveness and exactly +0.4 mph ball speed with the 440. By forgiveness I simply mean this: A 1.48 smash 440 will give you the same ball speed and distance as a 1.49/1.50 430. But if you get a 1.50 from both there is no measurable gain. Side-to-side dispersion was better by 4.7 feet with the 440. Workability was a wash between them, although the 430 seems a bit more fade biased whereas I’ll describe the 440 as a scosche more neutral.
  • tj24: I hit the M1 440 with my Aldila RIP at an 80-gram X-flex. For me, the spin numbers were around 1700 rpm which is probably to low for my swing. I did, however, like the shape of the head and I felt like I could easily work the ball both ways.
  • halfsumoI really think they nailed it with the shape of this 440 head. Nice pear shape, no weird bulges or ridges that you have to get used to.
Further Reading

Titleist 917D2 (6.65 percent)

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  • tsletten: Love the sound of the 917D2.
  • bladehunter: No doubt the 917D2 is an accurate, forgiving driver that doesn’t look as big as it is and sounds fantastic.
  • JStangMaybe it’s just me, but I find the face to be more shallow (top to bottom) with the 917D2 than other drivers that I’ve tried lately.
  • LuckyLowbrowI was actually spinning it too low with the D4. Going up to the D2 normalized my spin rate, but led to such an improvement in consistency across the face.

Further Reading

TaylorMade M1 460 2017 (11.81 percent)

TaylorMade_M1_460-Feat

  • Ereim: I ended up going with the M1 460. It gave me a slightly tighter dispersion, and I liked looking down at it slightly more.
  • jdenham15: The 2017 TaylorMade M1 is a great driver, but I tend to miss wide right and struggled to turn it over.
  • ZBigStick: The M1 460 gave me the best results. Was able to increase launch without much added spin with the (T-Track) weight. Feel is good and felt forgiving; dispersion results backing that up.
  • BillMurrayGolfingThe face is hot, receptive, thin and makes a nice sound. I like that.
  • JStangSound and feel were both fantastic. I couldn’t ask for much more in the sound and feel department than what this club offers. Plenty of feedback was provided based on impact as I would expect. I could easily tell where I missed based on feel.
  • tnordJust as another tester found, moving the weight back and forward absolutely does impact how the club sounds. I’m much more a fan of the weight back.
  • chickenpotpieMoving the slider to the draw position made the feel of the driver a little harsher. Feel was much much smoother with that weight in the middle. I didn’t see any such changes with the front/rear slider.
Further Reading

TaylorMade M2 2017 (11.86 percent)

M2_Speed_Pocket

  • ZBigStickI liked the feel of the new M2 but seemed to get better results and numbers with the new M1. Could be the extra 5 grams of head weight?
    It was dynamite with the GD TP-6 (shaft)!
  • erock9174On Trackman it didn’t put up the most ball speed, but counting all shots the M2 had the longest average distance.
  • gripandripThe M2 seems to have a little bit of a fade bias for me. And the head is HUGE. Maybe it’s a mental thing to be able to turnover a head that large.
  • Bomber_11M2 has very big shoes to fill, as the 2016 M2 was arguably one of the best drivers of the last 3-4 years.
  • LONG&STR8It’s hard to ignore the sound of the new M2. That may be TaylorMade’s biggest fail with that driver, as the sound and feel was one of the best things about the first version that I’ll have in the bag until something better comes along.
  • Z1ggy16The new M2 was terrible for me, not sure why. Unsure if it was the shaft I used but it spun up like a monster and ball speeds weren’t any better than previous M2.
  • Peanut191I don’t really think that the new M2 was much of a step backward, probably more that it doesn’t seem like a big step forward compared to last year’s model. I was hitting my 2016 M2 against a 2017 M2 indoors (which usually amplifies the louder, more obnoxious sound) and I didn’t notice that much of a difference in sound. It could have been that I might have just happened to get a hold of a head that was more muted than normal with the new one, but I just didn’t notice much difference. Performance wise, I could tell that the 2017 was slightly more forgiving than the 2016 model, but I was basically getting the same ball speed and spin numbers, so I didn’t see the need to upgrade.
  • gioguy21: Played 54 holes this weekend. The M2 was as reliable as it could get. I hit 11/12 fairways Friday, 10/12 Saturday and 5/9 or so yesterday (windy). Controllable, just wants to go straight. The sound no longer bothers me. I think it’s when hitting indoors or in range bays that it gets unbearably loud. Makes a different sound when hit on the screws I’ve found, similar to last years M2/M1 with less high-pitched ring. The forgiveness is very obvious, as I hit a couple that were close to center of the face but either high or little out toward the toe that flew similar trajectory and distance to how a well struck shot would react. I think where this driver really shines is the ability to either tee it high and hit it with higher trajectory or the ability to hit it lower with a low tee (3/4 of the ball under the crown) and hit laser beams that don’t move left or right.
  • G-BoneFrom what I’ve seen on Trackman, 2017 M1 was a big jump from 2016; however, 2016 M2 was so good, 2017 is a minor jump.
Further Reading

Callaway GBB Epic (14.91 percent)

GBB_Epic_Hero

  • HDTVMAN: I hit both the Callaway Big Bertha Fusion and Epic with a 44.5-inch UST Recoil F3 shaft and the results were very close. From customer testing, it appears the Epic is longer for those with higher (95+) swing speeds. I have also seen that 44.25-44.5-inch lengths promote tighter dispersion with customers, no loss of distance and better over-all drives.
  • mbbrewer: Tried them all and for me Epic was the one. Fastest ball speed, lowest spin and tightest dispersion.
  • Ereim: Epic felt great, looked great and the numbers were basically 99.9 percent optimized for my swing.
  • johnnylongballz72There is Epic and there is the M series… then there is everyone else. The votes here show it, the PGA Tour use shows it and launch monitors everywhere show it.
  • misplacedtexan83: GBB Epic/Sub Zero pushed the envelop in design and materials to produce increased ball speed and gains. For once a driver did what a company said it would do.
Further Reading

Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero (16.91 percent)

GBB_Epic_Sub_Zero_Hero

  • jdenham15: I tested the Epic Sub Zero and Epic against my 2016 TaylorMade M1 and the ball speed was 5 mph higher on average, which gave me about 10 yards more carry disstance. That was great, but the part that sold me was the forgiveness. I love my Epic Sub Zero. I feel like it’s easier to turn over and I can work it both ways.
  • Z1ggy16Sub Zero was hands down the best, including my gaming M1 (yeah, not even top-3) due to the combination of lower spin, good forgiveness and feel and looks.
  • jimhaire: I had a 2016 M2 and went with the Epic Sub Zero. The look at address suited my eye and the feel off the face was better for me. And the club went straight.
  • Sef: I have tested a lot of these drivers and for me the Epic Sub Zero was so much better than everything else. I wish I could just apply all three votes to it.
Further Reading

Members Choice 2017

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