Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “Best driver for a short-hitting senior?”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from platgolf who is on the hunt for a driver suited to a senior player in the 240 yards off the tee category. Currently playing a Fusion 12-degree driver, platgolf is looking to change things up, and our members give their suggestions on the big-stick that could work best.
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.
- stmike: “I’m in the same “senior” hitting situation, and tried a couple of different new drivers last year. The one that gave me the most success is the Callaway Epic 10.5. But we all have different swings, and what works for others may not be for you.”
- Markrip: “Sounds like your experience with the F8 weren’t good. You should try the F7. I have one, and the ball goes a long way. It also has an extra weight port the F8 doesn’t, and it really helps keep the ball from going right. I don’t use it in that setting because it makes the ball go way left for me. It also has draw settings with the loft adjustments if you needed that.”
- CarolinaGolfer2: “Titleist TS1 10.5 with the Fubuki 45g shaft beats them all for me, and I’ve played or demoed them all. Titleist got it right with the weighting in this one. Usually, I can’t stand ultra-lite drivers. But this doesn’t feel too light, and I picked up 3 to 5 mph swing speed with it.”
- golftejas: “You might demo a Ping G400 Max at 10.5* if you get a chance … this is a higher-spin head, so you might find it provides enough spin to provide good stability/accuracy/height for your shots. I’ve found this head to be extremely forgiving with good shot heights for me. And if you loft-it-up 1* to play at 11.5*, the face will be a little more closed to help with any right-miss tendencies.”
In our forums, users are talking about top of bag setups that are non-traditional or thought-provoking in some way. Original poster @SuperSpurs106 inquired about other members who might use unorthodox set-ups to help with gapping issues or weak spots.
They wrote:
“I currently have a PING G430 driver, TM Qi35 3W and a TM Qi4D 7W. Driver and 7W are fine but can’t get on with my 3W and have always struggling with this club over the years. Thinking of adding a 2H which I know would look odd. Just wondering if anyone else had a weird set up at the top of their bag?”
Our members in the forum have offered up their thoughts and personal experiences with non-traditional top of bag set-ups, and their reasoning for thinking outside of the box to begin with. 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.
- BowMain42: “Don’t worry about what “looks” odd. If the club does what you need it to do, it’s the right club.”
- scooterhd2: “I cant hit 3 woods either. Thats why I roll with a unicorn XL Hibore 2 wood. 400 cc head at 16 degrees of loft and its just a monster 3 wood off the tee. Off the deck, we are playing the f6 baffler. 5 wood at 41.75 inches and its easy to control.”
- phizzy30: “I had driver, 3 metal, 2/4 hybrid once upon a time as a higher ss player. 4 hybrid is gone and in place is a driving iron nowadays. I don’t think what you’re proposing is weird in anyway, however the yardage gap might be glaringly huge between driver and 2 hybrid. What is it about your 3 metal that has got you all messed up? You could always go 4 metal with shorter shaft and see if that works.”
Entire Thread: “Interesting clubs at top of bag”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
In our forums, one user has gone searching for fellow users of a mini driver. In a post, @TightFade asked for other mini driver users to chime in with their weapon of choice, the reason for employing a mini, and what club follows it in the bag.
@TightFade asked:
“What mini are you playing? What spot in the bag did it take over? What’s the next club after it? For me: Elyte mini 13.5. Replacing 3w. Next up club looks like it’ll be 5w.”
Our members in the forum have been sharing their own bag setups featuring the mini driver, and the various reasons they purchased one in the first place. 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.
- RCGA: “Ping G430 Max 12* ‘Thriver.’ Next club is a 4w and 2i (I play a weird course).”
- JMB3: “R7 at 12.75 with Diamana BB 63s. 3w replacement. Next Club: Elyte Ti 5w at 17*.”
- ColdOkieGolf: “R7 15.5 turned down to 13.5 It replaces the 3w. I found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck, and it’s very rare that I need or want to hit something beyond 250 from the fairway, so next club is my 7w.”
- ChaosTheory: “I’m sub-90 MPH with driver. But I’m able to hit DOD. I have been wanting something like the R7 15.5, so I just ordered one. I have a spot in the bag so nothing has to go. But I could see it replacing my trusty 4 wood, which I never use for approach shots. Just tee shots and lay ups. If I drop the 4 wood, I will turn my 7 wood down to ~20 degrees and will have good gaps. I recently tried a thriver build: 12 degree driver turned to 14, with a heavier 44 inch shaft and added head weight. I hit it great. Very accurate and not overly high, but the problem was that it sometimes went as far as a typical drive. And that’s not what I needed. So I will probably turn the 15.5 up to 16.5 or even 17.5. It’s all theoretical at this point. ?”
Entire Thread: “Members of the Mini Driver Club…Check In.”
If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!
- Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @8), Ping G440 LST (7.5 degrees)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS T1100 Handcrafted 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black TX 80 g
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), Bridgestone Tour B 220 MB (4-9)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (46, 52, 56, 60)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset
Check out more in-hand photos of Chris Gotterup’s clubs here.
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Mike Barnard
Nov 5, 2019 at 3:10 am
240 yds… short , give us a break and get real.
Why publish such utter nonsense , oh wait I’m forgetting , all WRX non seniors hit it over 300yds with XX-stiff shafts weighing 85g, so it all makes sense now.
Nonsense but made WRX forum of the day…
john flavia
Oct 11, 2019 at 8:07 am
I would suggest dropping down in shaft stiffness. I’ve done that recently with a club that had a ‘stiff’ shaft, although I liked the way the shaft felt compared to other shafts, I got a ‘Reg’ flex in the same brand of shaft and it went ~10 yrds further. After hitting that Reg-flex for a while, I got to thinking, let me try the Senior flex in the same brand, so I got that and jumped another 10-15 yards (although with each jump my dispersion increased, but I learned to play it. So other than dropping flex, there’s always going to a more forward tee as has been suggested. I feel sorry for lady golfers who only have the 1 tee to work with.
Morris
Sep 30, 2019 at 7:19 pm
Seriously? Best driver for SHORT HITTING SR’s who can only hit it about 240 off the tee. I’m 66 years old, I’ve played golf for 40+ years, and I’m a 9 handicap. I play golf 3-5 times a week pretty regularly. When I hit my driver on the “screws” I may hit 220-225 yards. I watch 50 other 65+ seniors play every week and MAYBE 10% of the seniors I know can hit their driver over 220 yards. Once again, another article not targeted to 90% of the amateurs playing golf every day.
myron miller
Oct 28, 2019 at 2:52 pm
Fully concur!!! I play with a lot of true Seniors (well over 70 most of them) and very very few hit it average of 240. Best hit it about 220-230 at best. 240 is very very unusual for most seniors, in fact it seems unusual for the average golfer as well. Especially considering several major studies that say the average golfer carries it 200 and rolls it another 25 for a total of 225. And that average is for all ages. And most studies say the average senior 65 and over are lucky to average 200+ total. So 240 is not typical of the normal senior in my experience.
Me, I’m in my mid 70s and seriously disabled as well as old. Severe arthritis and a severely torn oblique muscle that hasn’t healed well at all limit me to about 150 average on good days with a lot of days an average of 135-140. Would I love more distance, sure, but it isn’t going to happen, I fully realize and new drivers make zero difference. I’ve done extensive testing with many many different combinations of new drivers and shafts, including several fittings and so far nothing exceeds my current driver. And I do play forward tees. Fully recognize back is too long for me. Some courses don’t provide ratings for tees short enough for senior men. Only rate to normal white tees.
Stephen Pearcy
Sep 23, 2019 at 4:45 pm
The best driver for a short hitter is called “Forward Tee”
Jim Barnett
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:24 pm
Precisely. And the best club to use If the swing speed is less than 95 mph swinging at 80% of effort is most likely a Wishon 919 with a 13° loft with Its GRT ( graduated roll technology ), and a shaft no longer than 44 inches using Wishon’s s2s (swing to speed) shaft. You will hit it further, straighter, and will not spend anywhere near $500 for an overhyped “major brand” club. Try it, you will like it
A 71-year-old senior.
M Gaston
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:57 pm
Best thing is get a driver custom fitted to your swing dynamucs. Ive been building and teaching golf for years. The proper fitted and designed club will give you all the performance you need. Send specs and ill send reccomendations.