In this video, I’m going to talk about golf drivers and if they are all the same. A lot of people seem to think that all golf drivers are the same, but that’s not really true. There are a lot of different factors that go into making a good golf driver. In this video, I’ll test out some new golf clubs and show you how to pick the right one for yourself.
Mark Crossfield is testing the Titleist TSR3 driver along with the TaylorMade Stealth driver. See how close these drivers are to each other while at the same time being quite different.
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42 Comments
Yes, they are all the same…please pass the G425 Max which is also coming down in price due to the new G430 coming out. LOL I actually had my old G10 vs. the G425 at the range…couldn't get any difference in distance or strike really. The only REAL difference is sound and feel. The newer club feeling better, and a softer sound.
This is a very interesting topic. Given the max COR for a driver is .830 and has been for a number of years now, how much more can really be improved upon? About 15 years ago I had a Snake Eyes driver with a stated COR of exactly .830 and I hit it miles. Granted I was 30 years old vs 45 now, but I hit it further than my current driver. The only thing I've honestly noticed in those 15 years and many different brands and models of drivers later is improved forgiveness. That Snake Eyes on off center hits lost a noticeable amount of distance and my newest addition which is a Gen 4 PXG 0811 XT maintains an acceptable level of distance. Anyway, great video as always and I appreciate what you do, Mark.
170💪
Jesus Mark!! I haven’t watched your videos in a few years. Your speed increase is incredible!
Find a driver that works, has good feel, and optimal numbers and move on. I’ve given up trying to replace my driver that’s 4 generations back (f8+) because the numbers are so optimal. I’ve tried both sims, ping 425, mizuno stx (I think), and xxio x black (a newer Bridgestone in there too). None have beat the consistency of low spin or distance. Since giving up on driver replacement I’ve been finding other ways to improve the bag. Recently went graphite in the irons which I would recommend everyone give a try in a few different brands flexes and weights, and I’ve thrown in a 13.5 ti rocket. My fairways were getting too spinny on fades and it works perfectly for that as it’s my go to for dogleg right tee shots. I draw everything else, but I have a good feel for fading fairways.
Mark, shouldn't you compared Stealth Plus to TSR3 or Stealth to TSR2?
I think the most important factor is your swing tendencies and where you make contact on the club face most often. For the average golfer, which I consider myself to fall in, certain drivers seem to perform differently based on my strike pattern. I’m always looking for best distance and tightest dispersion. I’ll give up 5 to 10 yards for a tighter dispersion. I just tried a bunch of the newest drivers and found the TSR2 came out on top. I’m waiting for the new Ping G430. I’m still playing my Ping G400 and haven’t found any new drivers that can beat it including the TSR2.
While there have been some minor improvements in COR, the last truly significant advancement in drivers was the TM quad R7. Yes, today's drivers are better than that, but they're not really all that different from each other.
Technology in irons hasn't change since multi-metal options emerged. Technology in drivers hasn't changed since the USGA and R&A decided to limit the driver (in terms of COR, size. and length.)
Buy the clubs that are fit for you. D-uh!
Going back a ways, I used a series of Big Berthas, culminating in the Biggest Big Bertha at 9*. The best driving I had done in my life up to that point. Then somehow I was persuaded to change to the Titleist 975D at 9.5* with a ridiculously upmarket shaft. Hated it but kept at it and eventually came to terms with it. Finally replaced it with an M6 at 10.5*, quickly cranked down to 9*. It's a completely different beast. Driver used to be a hard club to hit. No longer. The difference between the M6 and any of the slightly-more-current clubs is completely swamped by how much more forgiving any of the recent ones will be than the older clubs. I don't love the M6 particularly but it's quite good enough.
Yes
I was fitted for my current driver in 1988. It's had a few new grips and whipping over the years and recently some new varnish but otherwise it's just the same. #Play Persimmon
I tend to lean towards ball speed, hence if you have trouble hitting it straight (enough), then probably a slightly more lofted or more spinning head would become more preferable.
My choise has been the low spinning one. But for someone, who’s not able to hit such fast enough, the ball would fall off the sky or wouldn’t reach enough height to go any further than a more spinning driver and would have significant risk of having to try control the uncontrollable, roll-out.
Also, less back-spin is more prone to curve more than intended, cause the ratio between side-spin and total spin will lean more towards the side, was the overall spin less as the ratio will increase relatively more.
My current gamer is a stick, that was quite quicly pulled out off from tour players bags and was replaced with an older model till they got new wersions available. I also heard that a fellow competitor had bought similar club to mine, and the excess set of weights to tinker it to his liking, but it did not pay off. Sold it after a couple of weeks later finding it really poor performance wise not suiting his swing and swing speeds. The current did not really work untill the third shaft. It was intresting, cause I felt, like I need to hold back to make it work with the 65-series shafts, that came along with the head. Could be, that an extra stiff of the later 65-series version could’ve worked, but the last is weighing 76 grams in stiff. The minute I installed it, the club lit up and shuffled right into my swing rythm.
Yes, it is a touch more scrumpy than my old drivers in general. The best are way better than they used to be, but also the worst are even worse than with the old ones. That is my gamble gainining significant number of yards, but need to keep in mind, that the newest will punish, if I hit a bad shot.
Mark has it right again, if you don’t have the opportunity to tinker and change between shafts and the weighing of the clubhead yourself, get a proper fitting!
Custom fitting for me in rural France at least a 3 hour drive each way, !!
Drivers have been the same for years now. Hit any in the middle with the same club speed and launch and the results will be very close. It would be the same if they made similar rules for irons.
Stealth cuts up plastic tees… all my brand new tour tees have chunks taken out cause of the bottom lip of the driver … bloody annoying
They are all the same ———. Overpriced!
Should we not be picking a driver based on the standard deviation? We have seen in so many video's that these new drivers are all so close in performance that really what it comes down to for the average amateur golfer is the dispersion of shots left and right of target as well as the length of the drive. I think if I was going to choose between two drivers that I would want the driver with the least standard deviation.
Love this content. Have lost faith in a YT reviewer TXG who claim one is better than another whilst also showing clearly differing strike locations. Also ones that might be spinning more that could just be improved via a fitting.
The faces can't get any hotter, and shape must by now be optimised for weight distribution and forgiveness. Making things lighter so they can be swung quicker is the hot selling point. Ever lighter shafts and thinner crowns. Playing around with face shape and spin characteristics can also be tinkered with. So there is variance allowing for a high and low spin player etc.
Most people can’t hit a driver as hard as they can because they haven’t got the accuracy. Always holding back. The odd time at the range I absolutely send a rocket down range. But on a course I would probably go at 80% because I know there’s a very good chance of ending up in the dunes.
Once you’re absolutely whacking it as hard as possible every time, then spending half a grand on a driver might make sense. There might be 10-20 yards to be gained. Maybe. For the rest of us, anything released since the Big Bertha is probably good enough.
Found this question really interesting. I upgraded my package set driver to the 10.5° PXG 0211 driver with a stiff shaft earlier this year and paid £205, fitted and delivered. I have since set it to 9° and strangely this works well for me when on my game (I can certainly slice and hook as good as anyone!). As a low 20s h'cap player to spend nearly £500 on a club seemed crazy. Would the extra spend have made any real difference? I certainly doubt it. Anyone who purchased this PXG driver recently for £129 from PXG's end of range sale has got the bargain of the year!
I game a 913 d3 never been fit, would there be much to be gained for getting fit for a new model
My last driver lasted me 20 years. Actually I still have the head. The shaft broke last December so I had to jump online and get a new one ordered. But I didn't go in blind. I live in an area where it's easy to test all the new drivers even with different shafts in them and with different adjustments. So I ordered through one of the places that made that possible. Chose the cheapest of the small group I sort of liked. And I'm thrilled with it. It's great. A Speedzone. My distance is up thanks in equal parts to a shaft that is better suited to my current swing and your video's documenting your search for speed. That's been a decided help btw. And my accuracy is as good or better than ever. I've had a couple eagle ops on holes I haven't reached in two in years lately on the a couple of the bigger courses in the area and get them almost daily now on the little executive I live on. Accuracy is way up. Some days. lol
I think with everything in golf it’s at its limits and red tape has been put up to not go beyond the limits, therefore it’s all down to personal preference, 👍🏻🏌🏻♂️⛳️
i think youve shown that technic and data and speed have the biggest effect on distance. in sport confidence is everything especially under pressure!!
They should change some rules so the pros have a tougher time. They made it too easy for them. They should change the rules on size of the heads, smaller. And then go after the size in all the clubs.
Would of liked to see a test like this with the PXG 211 cheap driver. Are you losing anything or just paying more. I would think you’ll get the same results but would be nice to see.
I think there are differences, but they're so minute that the player overtakes them. Even in MGS's most wanted 2021, the strokes gain difference is like .04 between first and 17th. I think the club can have a bigger influence for higher handicap players who are less consistent in their swing/strike
I had a driver fitting just last week Mark. I was really keen on having a go with the TSR 2 and the TSR3, current driver is the TM M5. After thrashing both of these drivers at the screen to no avail I then tried the Stealth, it was, in the end the better driver for me and the fitter concurred that it was and he said as a bonus your getting better numbers from the Stealth. So that's what I got. Best fitting I've had here in Vienna Austria ever. Kudos to Nicolas.
You talk a lot of sense Mark. Keep it up.
for the majority of us the 'little differences' account for nothing'.
Want to hit it further , hit the gym
What id like to know is this. If I swing my Callaway X2 Hot driver with 158mph ball speed and get 270 carry and then hit a Titleist TSr 3 Stealth the same ball speed will the ball carry the same distance or will the tech improve the distance??
I’ve always loved your club reviews Mark. Not only are you using hard numbers, but you give insight into so many aspects of this… I think I’m one who aspires to be a Titlelist driver, but I’m also not easily put off by the Stealth either. I suppose the thing to do is to wait and get them used. 😂
Yes, No, and Indifferent..Names differ, looks some what. sound and feel, yes and now the price of these can also make a big difference…As for results, very close because all the companies buy the other brands and test them to make their Driver some what better…A Old Pro told me years ago when you buy clubs, find on that fits your eye and go from there…Good Advice..Love your reviews….Thank You
The real difference between drivers Is the person swinging the club because you won't swing it exactly the same ever time so you will get different results I will say it's scandalous what they charge I mean come on these things are made in china for about 2 quid
Not the same but very similar! Spending the money on lessons instead would be better for >95% of the weekend golfers incl myself😁
Could you please test the SIM 2 against the TSR3 and STEALTH+
Love the vids, but a “better” comparison, would be Stealth + vs TSR3 🤷🏻♂️
I’m currently gaming a nike covert 2.0 driver bought on eBay for $89 as I’ve been playing very little do to injured arm, didn’t feel buying expensive driver was justified. Even though thought about ts3 upgrade if found one below $200, but does a 7 to 10 year old driver really make a difference to a 2018 to 2022?
For me, TaylorMade still haven't improved on the M1/M2 drivers. I hate the way the Stealth looks, it looks like a four year old designed it. I do however, think their golf balls are incredibly underrated. The TP5X is still the best ball I've ever used. With Titleist, you know what you're getting – classy looks and dependable performance.
personally, it’s all about forgiveness. took advantage of PXG Gen 5 driver sale. instantly doubled fairways hit, and missed fairways were CLOSE. Over and over, show my buddies ball imprint at end of toe or low on heel; result: fairway and at least as far as my fitted Honma 747. when i do hit the middle, big gain in difference (carrying trees or bunkers 1st time all year, from one set of tees back at that. Having weights on heel and toe forward is a demonstrable difference. And i don’t even like the brand and its ads.