You’ve had your eye on it all year long. The brand new tour level driver that’s guaranteed to take your game to the next level.
The question is, do you really need it? Our take is that the new tour-level driver is probably not the best decision for your game; here are 5 reasons why.
1. Last season drivers have just dropped in price
There may be no reason to spend $550 or more on a new driver when the models from last year have dropped in price.
You can find some great choices for $399 or even less. Is your golf game good enough to notice the difference between a driver released last year and this year?
When we compare drivers from four or five years ago, we see big differences in technology. However, when we compare last year’s technology to this, the differences are small.
Is the extra $200 or more going to be worth it?
2. Your custom fitting matters more than the driver itself
Don’t worry so much about the technology if you haven’t even been fitted for the driver. The fitting is probably more important than the driver.
Custom fitting helpsoptimize launch, sp,in and dispersion. Let’s face it : The tour-level club may not match your game. It’s perfectly acceptable to play with the game improvement model, that’s what it’s there for.
Look at a golf club like Scottie Scheffler’s driver and ask yourself if you have the same swing dynamics and techniques that would be necessary to hit a club like that.
At a custom fitting you can move past marketing and look at facts and data to make more informed decisions.
3. Extra yards compared to what?
Golf club manufacturers love to talk about getting extra yards from their new equipment. However, you need to go and test this for yourself. Sometimes, you’ll see something that says “10 yards longer”.
Unless you compare your current driver to this new club, you have no way of telling if it’s actually ten yards longer.
Try not to fall for marketing lines like this. That 10 yards is relative; you need data to make an informed purchase.
4. Is it the area where your game needs the most help
Spending $500 or 600 dollars on a tour-level driver is much easier if you know it will save you three or four strokes.
However, if you haven’t taken the time to analyze your game and check on your strengths and weaknesses, you may be investing in the wrong area.
Most golfers need help with their wedges (100 yards and in), or have a large gap in the fairway woods or hybrids that requires adding a new club to the bag. Most players don’t need the new driver to drop shots.
5. Your game is not tour-level
The technology featured in many of the tour model drivers includes a slightly open clubface and lower spin.
Combining an open clubface and lower spin makes these clubs much less forgiving.
Before investing, ask yourself if tour-level forgiveness will benefit your game or bring it down.
