Here are the testers for the Pre-Show Driver Shoot Out and a little bit about them. Hopefully you will be able to identify with some of them and it will give our readers a great understanding of how the event unfolds. We asked each golfer that is participating in this to fill out a short survey that tells us a little bit about themselves.
None of these golfers are affiliated with THP or any equipment companies. We put a small note in 3 different local courses for people to sign up and we take the 1st 8 in each handicap index group. All players must keep a real handicap in order to participate.
High Handicaps – Over 20
Bill F – Currently Playing Ping G10 w/Regular Flex Shaft
Bill has been playing the game for about 7 years and recently started taking lessons. His handicap has gone from a 29 to a 22 in 4 months and he started using the Ping G10. His natural shot shape is a small fade, but that turns into a slice a few times a round. His average drive is 240-250 yards with a high ball flight.
Todd D – Currently Playing Callaway FT-I w/Stiff Shaft
Todd is new to the game last year and is working hard to get his swing in shape. His biggest struggle is off the tee where he has a bad slice. he plays to a 26 handicap. He has switched to his current driver which works well for him to keep it straighter. His average drive is 220-235 with a low-mid ball flight.
Tim O – Currently Playing Taylormade R9 w/Stiff Shaft
Tim is a life long golfer that has been as low as a 14 handicap but now resides around a 21. His struggles are blow up holes and they usually start off the tee. His miss is a snap hook or when playing for that a double cross in which he has a wicked slice come into play. The R9 has worked well for him, but he is a tinkerer and is looking to replace his driver in 2010. His average drive is 240-255 with a low ball flight.
Trevor M – Currently Playing Taylormade R7 425 TP w/Stiff Shaft
Trevor is a self proclaimed weekend hacker that is far more interested in equipment than his swing. He plays to a 29 handicap. He has a nasty slice off the tee and struggles to get it under control. He has been playing this driver for about a year and really likes the look of it, but struggles with control so much that he usually tees off with his 3 wood. His average drive is 225-240 with a high ball flight.
Edward Y – Currently Playing Titleist 909D2 w/Stiff Shaft
Edward has been playing golf for a decade but decided to take it seriously this year and got new equipment and lessons. Right now his handicap is 25. His biggest issue is his short game but struggles with distance off the tee. He likes having a bag full of the same branded equipment, but is not thrilled with his driver compared to others he has tested and is in the market for a new one. His average drive is about 210-225 with a mid ball flight.
Peter B – Currently Playing Callaway FT-5 w/ Regular Shaft
Peter is a weekend golfer that is struggling with distance off the tee. He plays to a 22 handicap but his issues are not missing right or left, but distance and short game. He is not looking to change equipment right now, but if he were dazzled with a driver for distance, he would make the switch. He is our most senior golfer for the shoot out at the age of 68 years young. His average drive is 180-190 yards with a low ball flight.
Steve H – Currently Playing Nike Sumo2 w/Stiff Shaft
Steve is “one driver away from being great at this game” and has gone through about 10 in just 2009. He struggles with control issues off the tee, but his irons and short game are working well for him. He has gone from a 31 to a 24 handicap and is convinced that if he could fix his tee shots, he could be a 15. He is in the market to find the driver that is best for his game. His average drive is 250-260 yards with a high ball flight.
Matthew C – Currently Playing Cobra L4V w/Stiff Shaft
Matthew is in love with his current driver’s distance and accuracy, but is struggling with the sound of it. Is interested in looking at something with a more traditional look and sound. His misses are pull hooks and would like to trade that in for a natural small fade. He plays to a 21 handicap and is not one to change equipment very often. He plays all Cobra clubs at this time other than the putter. His average drive is 240-250 yards with a mid-high ball flight.
Mid Handicaps – 10 to 18 handicaps
Craig D – Currently Playing 2007 Taylormade Burner w/Regular Shaft
Craig is a Taylormade driver guy and has always played them. He is not super long off the tee, but likes the consistency that his driver gives him. He plays to a 11 handicap and his misses are pushes that turn into slices a couple of times a round. He is a consistent player for the most part that is looking to pick up a new driver in 2010 that will give him a little more distance. His average drive is 230-240 yards with a mid ball flight.
Dan S – Currently Playing Ping G10 Draw w/Stiff Shaft
Dan is a fairly long hitter that is trying is fairly straight off the tee. When he misses, it is a fade but for the most part he does not struggle off the tee. He plays to a 11 handicap and plays twice per week. He is not looking to change drivers this season, but loves hitting new equipment. His average drive is 275-290 yards with a high ball flight.
Chip B – Currently Playing Taylormade R9 w/Regular Shaft
Chip plays to a 14 handicap and plays twice per week. He plays a draw off the tee and his misses are when that same drive turns into a snap hook. he likes the R9 a lot for its ability to change the ball flight and is not looking for a new driver. His average drive is 235-250 yards with a mid ball flight.
Larry B – Currently Playing Taylormade R9 460 w/Regular Shaft
Larry plays a straight ball off the tee but can move the ball to either side when necessary. He is playing to a 13 handicap and since moving to his new course, which is longer, is looking to gain a little distance. His misses are slight pushes. His is always looking for new equipment that could help his game. His average drive is 225-240 yards with a low-mid ball flight.
John F – Currently Playing Titleist 907 D1 w/X Stiff Shaft
John is a long hitter off the tee that can struggle with control at times. He plays to a 16 handicap and does believe that if he got better control off the tee, he would drop to a 10-12. His misses are slices that appear 3-4 times per round, and he is currently looking for a new driver for 2010. His average drive is 275-290 yards with a mid ball flight.
Lee P – Currently Playing Tour Edge Bazooka w/Regular Shaft
Lee is a senior golfer that is looking for a little bit more distance. He plays almost daily and does not miss much off the tee, but when he does it is a pull hook. His index is currently at 11 and his short game saves him there. He likes his current driver, but wants something with a little more “pop” off the tee. His average drive is 200-210 yards with a low ball flight.
Walter B – Currently Playing Taylormade Burner TP w/Stiff Shaft
Walter is our youngest tester and and plays to a 10 index. He picked up his new driver about 6 months ago and got the added distance he wanted and likes the performance overall, but has a small hook problem with it. Something he did not have with his previous driver he says. He is looking to replace this driver in 2010 with something a little more forgiving without sacrificing distance. His average drive is 260-275 yards with a mid ball flight.
Pete B – Currently Playing Ping G5 w/Stiff Shaft
Pete is a Ping loyalist and has his entire bag with that company. He currently plays to a 15 handicap and is struggling with his drives this season. He is looking to change drivers for 2010 and says that he “would like to stay with Ping, but is open to others” if they work. He has not tested any equipment other than Ping in 8 years. His current misses are slices a few times a round. His average drive is 245-260 yards with a high ball flight.
Low Handicaps – 0 to 6
Jim B – Currently Playing Taylormade R7 Quad TP w/Regular Shaft
Jim is definitely in the market for a new driver as this one has “run its course”. He plays to a 5 handicap and plays 3 times per week. His misses are hooks and they happen “once or twice a round”. He has been using a Taylormade Driver since the early 90s and is ready to try anything that will work. He wants something that is less total weight for his swing. His average drive is 245-255 yards with a low ball flight.
John P – Currently Playing Callaway Hyper X w/X Stiff Shaft
A former mini-tour player John is ridiculously long off the tee and plays twice a week. He plays to a scratch index and plays twice per week now. His misses are big snap hooks but says “at most its once a round”. He is looking for a new driver that will add a little more consistency in ball flight to his game. His average drive is 295-305 yards with a mid-high ball flight.
Curtis N – Currently Playing Adams Speedline 9032 LS w/Stiff Shaft
A local teaching professional that struggled with distance for a couple of years until switching to his current driver. He is not looking at changing anytime soon, but is “always curious”. He plays once a week now and does not miss too often off the tee. Plays a small cut as his normal shot and wants to keep it that way. He currently plays to a 2 handicap and said “it could be lower if I could practice more”. His average drive is 265-275 yards with a high ball flight.
Alan G – Currently Playing Cobra S9 Pro D w/Stiff Shaft
Alan is a local club champion that takes his game extremely seriously and his equipment changes are often and “for the better”. He has changed drivers 3 times in 2009 and currently wants to change again because “I hate this driver and want to break it in 2”. He plays to a 1 handicap and is looking for something with a little more consistency. His average drive is 260-270 yards with a small draw and mid ball flight. His misses are snap hooks.
Brandon N – Currently Playing Cleveland Hibore XLS Monster w/Stiff Shaft
Brandon switches drivers once a year and is looking to change out the Monster. While he loves the fact that “it is long and straight” he says the sound is just too loud and he has a tough time moving the ball right and left with it. He currently plays to a 4 handicap and is pretty consistent off the tee. His average drive is 275-280 yards with a high ball flight.
Jamie P – Currently Playing Nike Str8-Fit w/Stiff Shaft
Jamie is a local teaching professional that loves his current driver. He is not in the market for a change, but loves trying new things. He plays to a scratch handicap and does not really struggle off the tee much. However he does want to add a little distance if possible (“who doesn’t”). His normal ball flight is extremely high with a small draw. His average drive is 265-275 yards.
Tyler W – Currently Playing Mizuno MP-600 w/Stiff Shaft
Tyler is a former tour player that gave up golf for 8 years and took it back up again just 2 years ago. He plays to a 1 handicap right now and is currently looking for a new driver. He hopes it will be another Mizuno because “they feel right in my hands”. His misses are draws that turn into hooks but is pretty consistent off the tee. His average drive is 275 yards with a mid ball flight.
Randy F – Currently Playing Taylormade R7 Limited w/Regular Shaft
Randy has “lost all confidence in his current driver” and cannot wait to try some new equipment out. He plays to a 5 handicap and is currently struggling with his small fades becoming slices 3-4 times per round. His average drive is 250-260 yards with a very high ball flight.
Here are a list of the club companies currently involved in this event. Some companies have sent multiple driver lines.
*Taylormade
*Nike
*Callaway
*Cleveland
*Srixon
*Wilson Staff
*Bridgestone
*Adams
*Cobra
*Ping
*Tour Edge
*Fourteen
*Piranha
*Powerbilt
To read further about the clubs being tested or the manufacturers involved, or why a club is not on the list yet, check out this link.
Pre Show Driver Shoot Out – The Hackers Paradise
