Durable driver needed

[Tanner25]

I've had two Wilson drivers snap at the tip (one was 15 years old), the other an Amazon special with similar reviews. Plus a TE crack, which was replaced. What are the most durable drivers, prior gen or a few years older? Anyone else snap and crack drivers this easily?

Edited October 5, 2024 by Tanner25

[Nessism]

15 years old is a right fine service life.  And as far as snapping shafts, vs cracking heads, those are different failure modes.

 

One thing I'd say straight out, stay clear of those Ventus shafts.  There is an epic long thread here with people complaining about failures, and Fuji's refusal to warranty.  

 

Non-scientific observation is that Taylormade driver heads tend to crack more than others.  It's mostly the high swing speed guys that break drivers of any brand, though.  

 

Another consideration is warranty coverage.  Most OEM's are good, but some better than others.  Not sure who's best.

[Dpavs]

1 hour ago, Tanner25 said:

I've had two Wilson drivers snap at the tip (one was 15 years old), the other an Amazon special with similar reviews. Plus a TE crack, which was replaced. What are the most durable drivers, prior gen or a few years older? Anyone else snap and crack drivers this easily?

 

If durability and warranty are paramount, maybe consider Tour Edge, they are guaranteed for life. They are well made, cost less and they even have a new 10K release that just came out.

Edited October 5, 2024 by Dpavs

[poor_putting]

2 hours ago, Nessism said:

15 years old is a right fine service life.  And as far as snapping shafts, vs cracking heads, those are different failure modes.

 

One thing I'd say straight out, stay clear of those Ventus shafts.  There is an epic long thread here with people complaining about failures, and Fuji's refusal to warranty.  

 

Non-scientific observation is that Taylormade driver heads tend to crack more than others.  It's mostly the high swing speed guys that break drivers of any brand, though.  

 

Another consideration is warranty coverage.  Most OEM's are good, but some better than others.  Not sure who's best.

 

2 hours ago, Dpavs said:

 

If durability and warranty are paramount, maybe consider Tour Edge, they are guaranteed for life. They are well made, cost less and they even have a new 10K release that just came out.

 

 

Never had issues with Ventus, but only been a couple years with them. Mitsubishi though I’ve broken about a half dozen. 
 

The mit’s were in a Tour Edge driver. They always warrantied them but got tired of needing them. 

[trying2scratch]

2 hours ago, Dpavs said:

 

If durability and warranty are paramount, maybe consider Tour Edge, they are guaranteed for life. They are well made, cost less and they even have a new 10K release that just came out.

Hard to beat TE if these are your primary concerns. Their pre-owned section is awesome too and I think carries the same warranty. Plus gives you some shaft options. The turn around times are probably the quickest I have ever seen.  

[Archimedes65]

Not a Taylor Made.  Great drivers, but disposable.

 

BTW, I’d call a driver that lasted 15 years, durable. 

 

Edited October 5, 2024 by Archimedes65

[nsxguy]

3 hours ago, Tanner25 said:

I've had two Wilson drivers snap at the tip (one was 15 years old), the other an Amazon special with similar reviews. Plus a TE crack, which was replaced. What are the most durable drivers, prior gen or a few years older? Anyone else snap and crack drivers this easily?

 

OK, so you're senior, likely without the SS needed to crack a driver head unless it's defective in the first place. Given a (probable) lower swing speed I'd have to think defective was the answer.

 

And since the TE was seemingly replaced by a new one for you, I'm assuming the new one isn't a problem.

 

Cracking the face is almost universally because of either a defective club head OR, more likely, a very high swing speed. So, in your case, likely defective, and likely the reason TE replaced it for you.

 

But the apparent lack of ss to crack a normal head also makes me wonder how the shafts snap at the tip. The first one, as nessy indicates was 15 years old, so no issue there. But the 2nd one ? Then again, the tip of the shaft, aiui, gets the most stress during the swing.

 

Do you heel your driver often ? Hit the (hard ?) ground often ? I don't know about the Ventus shafts in general, having only hit a premium (Velocore) one for about 18 months now in my driver w/o a problem.

 

But nessy's more tuned into this stuff than I (& you seemingly have edited out the Ventus mention in your op ?). Was the Ventus a Velocore ? I'm guessing, if it was in the TE, it was not.

 

Anyway, I have almost zero 1st-hand experience with either Wilson or TE, especially within the last 20 years, but I expect they're a bit behind the big 4 in most things golf.

 

So, the most durable drivers ? They ALL s/b, but I'd go with one of the big 4. Ironically (?) the only driver shaft I can ever remember snapping at the tip was a Wilson driver, some 40 years ago in Hawaii. 

 

Good luck

[iNeedMoreGolf]

It wasnt the d9 driver was it? I just bought that and like it and really dont want it to snap loll.

[JAM01]

I’d go back to before carbon crowns and thin faces with light shafts. Taylormade R510, original graffaloy pro launch red 75 grams or a proforce v2 75 grams

[GDB67]

Krank. 🔥 

[bekgolf]

The TEE return policy when it comes to sales (all money back plus shipping first 30 days no reason needed) and the lifetime warranty on CPO and new products is industry leading.  It means that no matter what you will be taken care of.  They also offer a nice veterans discount on all items.

 

The descriptions of technology used on Tour Edge Exotics products appear to be on par or better than anything else out there imo.  My bag went from mostly Callaway to mostly Tour Edge Exotics over the last two years.  Most of this was due to performance of the clubs combined with the fantastic deals on their CPO site and my strange habit of trying new things.

[MtlJeff]

Buy any new driver from a major OEM. They all have similar and good return policies 

[bekgolf]

27 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

Buy any new driver from a major OEM. They all have similar and good return policies 

 

They are not the same.  Especially after a year or two.