"Best" bonded hosel driver head

[bigdriveandy]

Hey all - my 2023 equipment journey is going to involve building a short set and I want to try to build it with used clubs from years past that are close in performance to today's clubs, but light on all the bells and whistles featured in the most modern equipment. I suppose my design philosophy is something along the lines of clubs that evoke a minimalist aesthetic or spirit, with as little loss of performance as possible that would make the game harder than it needs to be. 

 

My first line item is to find a driver head that requires no adapter and a relatively plain look behind the ball, but still has some game enhancing features like low and rearward COG. What comes to mind for you?

[Binson]

Ping was the last of the major manufacturers to adopt adjustable hosels in all their drivers. 

 

The G10/15/20 has a bonded hosel.  As does anything in the i range up to the i20.

 

 

[the bishop]

Good question.  You could look at older but still effective component heads like the Bang Golf Bang-O-Matic or Geek Golf Dom-Com-This, commonly known as the DCT.  Legendary heads in the component field.  On the OEM side you could try a Wilson Staff D7.  Decently performing head but it's real light and I had to add some lead tape to get it to feel right for me.  It's ok and probably cheap on the used market.

[Sparty4202]

Tour Edge currently makes a bonded hosel driver that you can find on eBay for a pretty low price and their equipment is good quality. 

[ChristopherMcDonald]

JDM is your best bet https://www.tourspecgolf.com/japanese-golf-clubs/drivers.html

[Ri_Redneck]

My favorite is the Titleist 905R with the stock Speeder. I still have mine and it is super dependable even today. As a matter of fact, it is THE ONLY driver I have with a stock shaft in it!

 

BT

[Rapidcat]

What about the Callaway Diablo Octane Tour head at 9.5 deg and 450cc's?

[golfwb]

I would think any of tigers drivers before nike shut it down.

I had the lime green one, forget what it was called, but it was a great club, the stock blue board was not the best however

[jholz]

11 minutes ago, Rapidcat said:

What about the Callaway Diablo Octane Tour head at 9.5 deg and 450cc's?

 

Great and very underrated head.

 

Something a bit more current - that also has a great price and the "enhancing" features you speak of - would be the 2018 Cleveland Launcher HB, or the 2020 Launcher HB Turbo. Both very capable clubheads that received positive reviews at launch.

 

Unfortunately, neither of those heads may fit your desire of 'minimalist." The Launcher HB has a step-down on the crown that serves as an alignment aid, while the HB Turbo incorporates turbulators.

 

But, as far as (relatively) current bonded drivers are concerned, the Clevelands hit a lot of marks.

[Net67]

this guy right here. 

[AdamMH]

3 hours ago, the bishop said:

Good question.  You could look at older but still effective component heads like the Bang Golf Bang-O-Matic or Geek Golf Dom-Com-This, commonly known as the DCT.  Legendary heads in the component field.  On the OEM side you could try a Wilson Staff D7.  Decently performing head but it's real light and I had to add some lead tape to get it to feel right for me.  It's ok and probably cheap on the used market.

I was going to suggest some component heads as well. The DCT looks great behind the ball, the BOM looks flashy though. I'm partial to the SMT 455 DB but you can't buy a new one today like with the DCT/BOM. Alpha is also still in business and the V5 head looks very plain at address.

Unfortunately none of the club heads either of us have mentioned have particularly low/rear COG locations. They are all 100% titanium and somewhat geared towards long drive originally.

[boggyman]

G15/20, Ping I series, or something from ADAMS, 9064 or Fast10 should do the trick.

[texcellence86]

@ckay how's the R5TP Dual?

[Drivingrangehero]

1 hour ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

JDM is your best bet https://www.tourspecgolf.com/japanese-golf-clubs/drivers.html

Some cheaper options that are Japanese and not almost $1,000 

 

Yamaha 

Royal collection (sonartec)

Yonex 

 

[golferdude54]

3 hours ago, Binson said:

Ping was the last of the major manufacturers to adopt adjustable hosels in all their drivers. 

 

The G10/15/20 has a bonded hosel.  As does anything in the i range up to the i20.

 

 

The G line in that era didn’t have long enough hosels for bending if OP is interested in finding a bonded driver that can be bent. The i15 and i20 did. 
 

For TaylorMade, you can find an Aeroburner TP that’s their most recent bonded driver with long hosel. 

 

For Callaway, Diablo Octane Tour as someone mentioned earlier in the thread, also Diablo Edge Tour, Razr Hawk Tour, and FT Tour. 
 

Titleist had the 909D2/D3 as their most recent while Nike had the VR Pro Limited Edition.

[Hammer_Hands]

I play a Cleveland Launcher 400.  It is (chef's kiss).

[kwcsports]

6 hours ago, bigdriveandy said:

Hey all - my 2023 equipment journey is going to involve building a short set and I want to try to build it with used clubs from years past that are close in performance to today's clubs, but light on all the bells and whistles featured in the most modern equipment. I suppose my design philosophy is something along the lines of clubs that evoke a minimalist aesthetic or spirit, with as little loss of performance as possible that would make the game harder than it needs to be. 

 

My first line item is to find a driver head that requires no adapter and a relatively plain look behind the ball, but still has some game enhancing features like low and rearward COG. What comes to mind for you?

Ping G10, 15, 20. 

[Nard_S]

Mizuno MP650, it's a great head. Fairway finder, feels and looks are terrific.

Edited January 13, 2023 by Nard_S

[RogerinNewZealand]

Titleist 909d

Titleist 905t400cc

Yonex ezone 2012

Nike VrTour420

Ping i20

[hammergolf]

Taylormade 580 TP

[cz13X4]

Bridgestone j33. I like the p and the 420 

[EaglesGolf99]

Taylormade R510 DF Prototype. 

 

A-Grind Classic 350.

 

Callaway Epic Forged. 

 

Callaway Epic Flash Star. 

[Binson]

Just remembered... the Cleveland Classic and Classic XL (there's a version without an adjustable hosel) are terrific options as well.  

 

Certainly a cool look especially for a "simplistic" looking bag. 

 

Wish I had kept mine. 

[DC300]

On 1/13/2023 at 12:11 PM, AdamMH said:

I was going to suggest some component heads as well. The DCT looks great behind the ball, the BOM looks flashy though. I'm partial to the SMT 455 DB but you can't buy a new one today like with the DCT/BOM. Alpha is also still in business and the V5 head looks very plain at address.

Unfortunately none of the club heads either of us have mentioned have particularly low/rear COG locations. They are all 100% titanium and somewhat geared towards long drive originally.

The DB455 was sooooooo hard to knock out of my bag and to be 100% honest, I’m not sure it was worth it, I still won’t sell mine, it’s my guaranteed winner driver.   
 

OP, I have a Launcher and a Highbore Tour that are awesome, lower lifts, not sure what you are after, but if you fit in the 7.5-8.5 degree range, I could throw you some stuff in the cheap.

 

As for my personal opinion, the Highbore is awesome, I’d also look at the Wishon 919, stupid easy to hit and plenty long, soft hosel so you can bend them to your specs if you want.  Bonus, if you buy one, they hold value really well.

[pingfool]

Cleveland Classic Tour w/ kusala white shaft

[MattM97]

Avian 455 maybe?? 

[DaveGoodrich]

Adams 9064ls

[James the Hogan Fan]

The Cleveland Hibore is an absolute canon in sound and ability to send it. You feel like the ball is getting murdered when you use a hibore.

 

From the complete other end of the spectrum, the Wilson D7 and D9 are newer releases with bomded hosels.

[coops]

You know how so many drivers now have that spine along the sole from front to back? Stealth, that new Callaway thing...

 

Get the bonded original instead that 'inspired' them...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/295336031589?hash=item44c3663565:g:eEgAAOSwfUFjcRv4

 

 

I recommend this because I play one... with a Kai'Li Blue shaft.

 

 

 

the Callaway

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by coops

[Swingingk]

Another vote for the G20.  I'll also add TaylorMade R580xd.  Love that head...