How often should I replace my driver?

[monty09]

I am still in an mavrik and play about 100 rounds a season...   bought new when it came out 

[jacot23]

You've been a WRX member since 2011 only have 1 driver?

 

 

[monty09]

7 minutes ago, jacot23 said:

You've been a WRX member since 2011 only have 1 driver?

 

 

 

 

maverick came out in 2020

[Abh159]

Daily according to some people 🤣!

 

In all seriousness though... I'm sure if you asked 50 people you'd get close to 50 different responses. In my opinion, the average golfer isn't going to see all that much of an improvement year over year in terms of driver technology. For example, I'm a decent player (+ cap and ex DI college golfer) and I'm still using my TM Sim. I've hit the Sim2, Stealth, and Stealth 2 (among other OEMs) and the "gains" were negligible compared to my 3 year old driver. We're talking about <5-7 yards of distance and a few RPMs of spin.

 

I think you'd be fine with replacing it every 4-5 years and even that might be too soon for some people. 

[CallawayOffCenter]

I'm quite the club ho but not as much with drivers. For me, it's once the distance/forgiveness/whatever gains are worth it for the money. Hence why I'm still rocking with my 43" F9. Having a driver I'm confident with is worth it to me more than 3 more mph ball speed and a couple hundred bucks. 

[jacot23]

11 minutes ago, monty09 said:

 

 

maverick came out in 2020

 

That was mainly a bad joke. True WRXer always has 1 for sale, rotating 2-3 in the bag, and 1 inbound...

 

You joined here in 2011 so I figured you might be like the rest of us. 

 

I don't know that you'll find a huge improvement over your Mavrik, but it'd be fun to try 😉

[nvr3putt]

Average 5-7 years for me. But I consider myself a spoiled brat. 😁

[monty09]

14 minutes ago, jacot23 said:

 

That was mainly a bad joke. True WRXer always has 1 for sale, rotating 2-3 in the bag, and 1 inbound...

 

You joined here in 2011 so I figured you might be like the rest of us. 

 

I don't know that you'll find a huge improvement over your Mavrik, but it'd be fun to try 😉

 

 

ahhh.. makes sense now.. 

 

ex baseball player and always felt i made the error not the glove....   feel the same on clubs... its me not the stick

[Hat Trick]

Depends for me... If I have a driver I like then 5-6 years.  Now I'm playing the TRS2 which I just purchased this spring - which so far has been very good to me. 

[bnperrone]

I've had several drivers I loved and I only got rid of them for the face cracking. OG GBB Ruger Head, Callaway FT-5, Taylormade R510TP. I'd possibly still be playing that TP if it had held up. 

 

I'm in a G410LST that I'm really happy with and I don't expect to hold any tryouts anytime soon. 

[ChipNRun]

When you start to have driver problems that a lesson or Trackman session can't solve. This is a case of your physical condition and/or swing motion no longer being a match for that driver's tech package.

 

Also, don't be afraid to do a tune-up fitting to see if a wrench tweak will solve problems with current driver. You can do this with the excellent @Howard_Jones DIY method, or have a clubfitter run you through your paces.

 

With my EXS driver, the first year it worked best delofted to 9.5* and weights set for draw. Last year, following half a season lost to back trouble, the best setting emerged at 10.5* with weights neutral. That's what I'm using this year.

[jacot23]

48 minutes ago, monty09 said:

 

 

ahhh.. makes sense now.. 

 

ex baseball player and always felt i made the error not the glove....   feel the same on clubs... its me not the stick

 

Same here. 

 

I like to experiment though. I still have the R580 I played my best golf with way back when. Used a Callaway GBB for a few years before that.  Quit for a while and came back around 2015 and settled on a Callaway Rogue. Now I'm experimenting again and really liking a Rogue ST Max LS. 

 

Good luck!

 

 

[MattM97]

Depends on what you want to do and what you're comfortable with. I think like a 3-5 year rotation for woods could be a good rule of thumb but you can definitely test yearly if you wish especially if you belong to a club that has fitting days or maybe you pay for a fitting just to test and see. 

[Ghostwedge]

2 hours ago, monty09 said:

I am still in an mavrik and play about 100 rounds a season...   bought new when it came out 

If you're about the same distance you were 3 years ago and like the driver, save some coin. I LOVE my Ping G400 but replaced it recently with well over 500 rds on it. Its still got some pop left but the operator lost a little swing speed, ha !

[Phabs]

Monthly if not weekly. 

[PhilsFanDrew]

I generally get a new one once every 3-4 seasons.  Not because I feel like I am missing out on tech but just because I do like the feeling of having newer equipment.   If my budget allowed me I would probably purchase a new one each year. 

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

GolfWRX aka ClubHo answer, every time something new comes out.

 

Real world answer, after you have tested a potential replacement and the performance improvement justifies the cost.

[moostache]

4-5 years, on average for me. Shafts, that's a different story...

[flubberlange]

Any truth to the notion that a driver face actually gets hotter with age (insert joke here)? Someone mentioned this when Rory was complaining about having to use a new driver. 

[phizzy30]

4 hours ago, Abh159 said:

Daily according to some people 🤣!

 

In all seriousness though... I'm sure if you asked 50 people you'd get close to 50 different responses. In my opinion, the average golfer isn't going to see all that much of an improvement year over year in terms of driver technology. For example, I'm a decent player (+ cap and ex DI college golfer) and I'm still using my TM Sim. I've hit the Sim2, Stealth, and Stealth 2 (among other OEMs) and the "gains" were negligible compared to my 3 year old driver. We're talking about <5-7 yards of distance and a few RPMs of spin.

 

I think you'd be fine with replacing it every 4-5 years and even that might be too soon for some people. 

Most of the scratch to + cap guys I play with have older clubs in the bag.  One of my clients plays on the Mackenzie Tour and is sponsored by TM so he switches often but still has the M2 3 metal in his bag.  He has a stock pile of back up heads at home.  Then you have me who has a sickness and needs to have the latest and greatest for driver every year, lol.  I still have my tour issue Rescue 11 and '08 Newport 2 though and those aren't going anywhere anytime soon.  

Edited May 1, 2023 by phizzy30

[cubuffs]

Have thoroughly enjoyed the "full range" of answers on this one (truthfully 🙂)

 

Here is one perspective:  My son is a senior in HS and will be playing college golf next year.  He has played the Mavrik Sub Zero and when he centers it up, absolutely kills it (he is one of the longer juniors when playing against others in tournaments).  We had a good friend that was a Callaway fitter and had access to the Epic Speed and Rogue releases and the ability to demo with Trakman over multiple sessions.  Both of those just didn't measure up to the Mavrik and he stuck with it.  This year, he is playing the Paradym TD as it is just as long as his Mavrik, but significantly more forgiving all around the face.  This has showed in fittings, and for the first month that he has had it in play.

 

In summary - go demo and get fit and see if the results dictate a change.  

[Acfresh]

Trade up every new release cycle…

[Teebs]

I did an 8 year gap (XHot2 to Rogue ST MAX) and found some fairly significant improvements in forgiveness and overall distance..

[Flyers99]

Similar here to others. About 5 years for me. I still game the M6 and have a slightly older G400 as backup. I have tried every TM and PING driver the last few years and no noticeable gains worth the investment for me.  I agree, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.  

[Cincy_Ken]

I recently went and tested Ping G430 vs my Ping G and the person there said there was a 1 MPH difference for me and there wasn't any negligible difference in shot dispersion.  I went fully intending to upgrade since my driver is a 2016 release at this point but didn't when they noticed no significant difference.

[monty09]

16 hours ago, Ghostwedge said:

If you're about the same distance you were 3 years ago and like the driver, save some coin. I LOVE my Ping G400 but replaced it recently with well over 500 rds on it. Its still got some pop left but the operator lost a little swing speed, ha !

 

haha 

 

its a hair shorter but I am confident i will find the short grass 

[monty09]

15 hours ago, PhilsFanDrew said:

I generally get a new one once every 3-4 seasons.  Not because I feel like I am missing out on tech but just because I do like the feeling of having newer equipment.   If my budget allowed me I would probably purchase a new one each year. 

 

 

I hear ya there brotha....   when did a new driver start costing $1000

[monty09]

12 hours ago, cubuffs said:

Have thoroughly enjoyed the "full range" of answers on this one (truthfully 🙂)

 

Here is one perspective:  My son is a senior in HS and will be playing college golf next year.  He has played the Mavrik Sub Zero and when he centers it up, absolutely kills it (he is one of the longer juniors when playing against others in tournaments).  We had a good friend that was a Callaway fitter and had access to the Epic Speed and Rogue releases and the ability to demo with Trakman over multiple sessions.  Both of those just didn't measure up to the Mavrik and he stuck with it.  This year, he is playing the Paradym TD as it is just as long as his Mavrik, but significantly more forgiving all around the face.  This has showed in fittings, and for the first month that he has had it in play.

 

In summary - go demo and get fit and see if the results dictate a change.  

 

 

I have same club and just love as well.. Good luck to your boy in college

[Mahamilto]

Year to year is minimal. COR is maxed on center so a properly fit driver from 5 (or even 10) seasons ago won’t gain a ton when hit on the screws. 
 

Stability and forgiveness (off center retention of ballspeed AND launch conditions) have improved, but marginally year to year. 
 

Every other product cycle for OEMs with a 2y cycle. 
 

Every 4th product cycle for OEMs with yearly release. 
 

Example - I’ve seen legit improvement in dispersion and off center performance from TS3->TSR3. Had both, TSR3 performs much better on my miss. It’s straighter and more consistent. On center no real difference tho. 

[pricenicky]

70 years young; now a 10 hdcp ; lost some speed but very year try whatever is out .Drivers last 1 -2 years most with me.Even try exotic shafts for more distance with each. LAST 2 MONTHS I have the ping 430 which beat the paradym x I HAD FOR 2 WEEKS.