Read this whole post before entering
A couple of weeks ago, we had Jason Finley on THP Live talking about a new THP Experience coming this year called the Grandmama. A spin off of the Grandaddy of em All and we are super excited for what some members of this forum will get to experience.
It is an all expenses paid trip of a lifetime.
What’s Included
Airfare
Hotels
Club Fitting at ECPC
Full bag of clubs
Tour Callaway
Meet R&D
Play Golf with members of the team there
And so much more
This will take place in early December
At the Grandaddy each year, 12 lucky THPers experience something special, but it comes with a job of reviewing their equipment to the masses through the THP Forum once it is released. This year, there are only 4, but they will be doing the job of 12, so we are looking for the committed. The person that loves to talk about this game, the equipment and share his honest assessment of everything they learn through content and reviews.
Qualifying
You must be a 2020 Albatross Club Member to enter. The club is open to anybody and helps benefit a wonderful charity. All of the details and benefits are here.
The Contest
Drivers are always a hot topic on the THP Forum and we look forward to you the forum member to provide tons of feedback on what you are playing. Reviews and thoughts come in all shapes and sizes and there are not only no two alike, but there is not a right and wrong. For this contest, take the driver in your bag currently, or one you have tried this year and review it in this thread.
How to Enter
Tell us in 100 words or less, about your driver, in a way that would bring conversation, thoughts and questions from other THPers.
Good luck everybody. This contest will remain open for about a week.
Driver is a journey. Playing Maverik SZ 10.5 with Aldila Rogue White 70X. Tried many shafts, including the Ventus series. Picked up the sweet-sounding Max and found more spin and too much right to left. Local pro helped me re-test the heads, and we settled on SZ as the best fit. Flight, spin, and sound were all in my range. I don’t have the kraken in my arsenal but do pop out some distances and placements that setup holes very well. Will test the SZ head to head with G410 LST in weeks to come. Journey. Stay tuned.
Do you enjoy hitting the ball a long way, with precise accuracy and a sound as pure as a babies laugh? The Cobra King F9 SpeedBack is the one. This is one of the most aerodynamic, fastest drivers out there. It’s low CG, carbon crown, and circular milled CNC face make it the King of the course. The best part, you don’t need to go drop $500 for one of the best drivers out there, this thing is inexpensive. Cobra has changed the game and really made a statement with this driver. All hail the F9!
I struggle with the right miss off the tee. I learned to play the fade tee shot, but I knew I was leaving yards on the table and sacrificing dispersion as well. Enter the Callaway Mavrik Max. Claiming to correct up to 20yds without sacrificing forgiveness. Add in a new A.I. face and you have a combination that delivers optimal ball speeds as well. It not only tightened up my drives, but also introduced the occasional draw. Your mileage will vary, but if you struggle with the right miss, pick up the Mavrik Max and give it a shot.
I am playing the Callaway Rogue. It has solid forgiveness with pretty impressive distance. It has a nice sound to it as well. It has helped me dial back my massive slice to what is usually just an annoying cut…most of the time. I know that it is the guy swinging the club and not the club itself, but finding a driver that helps reduce that right side miss is huge. Callaway has the best drivers on the market and I am anxious to test something newer to see if it can reduce that cut even more.
wifedriver.Is Drive for Show; Punch-out for dough your thing? It’s not my thing because I have a Mavrik SZ. Since putting this driver in the bag my FIR has gone from 50% to 64%. The Mavrik is Uber forgiving on miss hits & maintains ball speed all across the face.
Do you want to:
Hit more fairways? ?
Blow it past your friends? ?
Lower your scores? ?
If the answer is, “Yes”, then give the Mavrik line of Drivers a hard look. Golf is easier when you are hitting it long & finding FIR, don’t make it harder on yourself.
I feel like for my slower speed, I have maxed distanced…i.e. technology can’y help any more. What it CAN do, though, is reduce the severity of my misses. That’s what I look for when I’m trying new things out.
The Cobra F9 Speedback has incredible technology and immediately vaulted Cobra into the "Best of 2019" conversation. I’ve found that the distance, forgiveness, and sheer intimidation factor of the yellow head causes opponents to simultaneously quiver and admire the buzzsaw they’re about to run into. But, could orange be the new yellow? Is Mavrik the king of 2020? Reminiscent of the memorable 1987 Ohio State Fair Bell Pepper competition, orange and yellow are back on top. Let’s see who wins in the battle of 2020 supremacy…
With Mavrik SZ, I’m having fun playing golf again. I have a level of confidence with Mav I haven’t had since my Titleist 905 with which I played my very best golf. Good swings yield beautiful, high and long-flying baby draws. My usual miss – low toe – is forgiven. Even on those, you’ll want to pose. I’ve added right at 15 yards with Mav and FWs hit have gone from roughly 40% to just over 50. I love it. As I told a playing partner yesterday, get fit, get Mav, get better.
You and I have a toxic love-hate relationship. Too often you hit me with your heel, and sometimes even your toe, and my gosh…it hurts every single time. We argue a lot with your main rationale being "it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian" to which I have no response. But what keeps me crawling back to you every single time is the way you will kiss the center of my face, leaving me to admire the beauty you are and give you a solid twirl. I hate you, but I love you.
Yours Truly,
paul_golfs
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Accuracy, WITH distance. F9 simply bombs it off the tee
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Your buddies will be green with envy as they watch you bomb your drives while giving you the confidence to attack holes that they play safe. Speed. Distance. Accuracy. Aesthetics. The F9 Speedback’s aesthetics is bringing SexyBack.
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Currently gaming the Ping G400 Max, arguably one of 2018’s most popular drivers for its performance and forgiveness, and its been in my bag for over a year now. Even without crazy distance gains, this driver is a win for me as I’m hitting more fairways, or barely in the rough even on mis-hits, and having more GIR. The ball screams off the Forged Face, and the turbulators give me confidence at address. There is a nice sound at contact, and the feel of hitting that sweet spot is so pure. Overall, a solid driver from Ping!
Submission:
Watch the Birdie
by xThor
You’ve got the need for speed, and you’re ready to buzz the tower.
You’ve found that loving feeling, now that you’ve got the power.
Your ego writes checks – this driver cashes like money.
They say ‘You big stud’ – you say ‘That’s me honey’.
It’s the walk to the 18th, the score is tied and time for the big one.
You up for this one Mavrik? Just a walk in the park for this Top Gun.
"What other people may find in poetry, I find in the flight of a good drive."
-Arnold Palmer
Since putting it in play, driving has become one of my strengths and I have the utmost confidence the ball will be in play. The left miss is gone, distance is up, and goodbye to stressing that tee shot.
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Entry:
We all chase the distance dragon, but consistency and reliability are the knight to slay the dragon. Being in play and out of trouble is really the name of the game for amateurs. Pesky penalties rack up the score. The Ping G410+ is incredibly dependable. The look isn’t classic by any means. Flat black and stealthy with turbulators to support more speed. The sound based on strike point, can vary and have a bit tinny, empty feel at times, but when the ball barrels toward your intended, committed target, some sins may be forgiven. We all need a little forgiveness.
Sound is slightly higher then the average club but not too loud . Off the club the ball seems to have great ball speeds with a nice medium / high trajectory with roll out .
Distance and dispersion I would put up there with the most drivers. When you put a good swing on the driver the results are what makes us come back to hit more and more. Straight and long keeping up or longer then your playing competition.
Rating:
Looks: 9/10
Feel: 9/10
Playability : 9/10
If you are looking for a forgiving driver which inspires confidence , enjoy the larger head drivers this would be one I would put on my list. Price point is decent , lots of adjustability .
I have an Callaway Epic Flash 9 with an evenflow regular shaft. The 9 seems low for my swing speed but I catch it with a slight upswing and get plenty of height. I picked it up in October of 2019 after reading countless reviews on THP that confirmed it was the best driver for a sub 100 swing speed kinda guy. I’m knocking the snot out of it and loved it so much picked up the matching 3 wood. I’m hitting that a country mile. Love the Callaway innovation and highly recommend these clubs for all THPers.
CONFIDENCE INSPIRING- Those are the words that describes this club when standing over the ball. The big high face along with the extended crown makes it feel like the club head is huge. While it may not be as forgiving in terms of distance on off center hits. It has proven over the years that balls of the heel or toe will still find there way to the short grass. The ball feels like it explodes off the face and makes a "ping" which has been described by playing partners as a little league baseball bat. Sound like BOMBS past you!
My official entry:
You were fit into me in less than 30 swings in 30 minutes, all the numbers said you were right for me. Where did that go? I know it can’t be me (can it?) but lately we don’t seem to be in synch, is it because you have seen the new Mizuno ST200 head waiting for a new shaft? Or is it me because the new ST200G is being built as we speak? My first fitted driver is close to a first love, but we move on, you remain in the bag for now but once the new friends show up we will have to see if we are still in the same place together. I believe our days together are numbered on the course my Titleist 917D2.
Not saying the F9 isn’t a great choice, as we all know it held the "King of 2019" title. I’ve learned, as I indulge in the game more, not all clubs are created equal for you! Shaft and over-all club setup play a huge role in the outcome. Many players buy off convenience, "off the self" vs understanding the technology that goes into the club and how it can fit your game. The opportunity to learn about the dynamics of the club truly has been fascinating part of my game.
Until I met Mavrik Max.
I didn’t think a driver as light as Mavrik Max could carry such a punch, but I was wrong! Not only does it out drive G410 by at least 10-15 yards, the standard weight setup in Mavrik sends the ball straight…really, really straight!! It’s weird knowing exactly where my golf ball is going off the driver, but I like it!