Equipment

Forum Thread of the Day: “Are there any old-school drivers that can keep up with today’s models?”

Published

7 years ago

Dec 19, 2018

Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from theothertwo, who asks fellow GolfWRX members if they feel that there is an old-school driver that can keep up with today’s models. Our members have been giving their views on the subject, with many believing that there are plenty of older models that can still enhance your game.

Here are a few posts from the thread but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

DixieD: “510tp, J33r, FT Tour. Have all these in my collection, and they still make it into my bag and don’t lose any distance to my 917. I’d say the J33r may be slightly shorter, but we are talking 5 yards on good hits with my 105 swing speed. The feel of them is unmatched by today’s offerings.”
seleezyt: “Ping g15. I’m sure you could go back even more to g10 and rapture, but the g15 was just as long in a recent test for me. Hit against ts2 and g400 and m3.”
agolf1: “Titleist 983E if your strike is very good. Titleist 910D2 if you want something that resembles today’s forgiveness. I played with an old 983E once this year. It is great when you catch it right but absolutely horrible if you miss at all (both loss of ball speed and direction).”
RobS14526: “Ping G2/5/10 are still fantastic. I still think the longest combo I’ve ever had was an Orlimar HipTi 420 with an early Taylormade Mitsubishi Tour shaft. Russian titanium baby!”

Entire Thread: “Are there any old-school drivers that can keep up with today’s models?”

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Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected]

21 Comments

Sam

Jan 16, 2019 at 4:27 pm

We have to keep in mind as well that club fitting has really changed things. I have been fitting people for 15 years and seen how drastic of a change the right shaft and head combo can make. If you require a custom club, I could put pretty much any driver in your hands and it would wouldn’t change much. new drivers would be more forgiving and probably 5+ yards longer. The biggest I’ve seen though is reducing the spin and optimizing ball flight. I used to love the 983k and erc fusion heads for their shape and overall playability. I compared my 983k from over 10 years ago to my Custom Fit Epic Subzero and its on average about 34 yards of difference. Still, straightest driver I’ve hit to this day is the Callaway C4 haha. sounded like a marshmallow and the distance was terrible but man it the ball only flew straight.

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Tom

Jan 8, 2019 at 5:00 pm

Yes, as long as they don’t suffer metal fatigue, older models are the same as what is being touted as “better” designs of today. The USGA rules mandate that clubs CANNOT exceed defined performance standards, thus, performance cannot be improved….
These performance standards set by the USGA have been in place for the past several years… if not longer.

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Michael

Dec 21, 2018 at 5:23 pm

Still using the TM Burner Superfast TP. Haven’t found anything better.

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- Art Williams
  
  Dec 22, 2018 at 2:37 pm
  
  Was playing my 2013 Callaway Razr Fit Extreme for a few years with mixed results. Went back this past fall to my 2008 Hyper X. Was just as long but it felt better and sounded better. Will stick to it for now. Don’t remember why I left it. Couldn’t resist the marketing I guess.
  
  Reply Report comment
Steve Cantwell

Dec 21, 2018 at 3:14 pm

It’s the Christmas season. New clubs sure would look nice under the tree. However, as good as that sounds, I sure love my R7 TP irons as well as my Burner driver and 3 woid. While my clubs are more than 10 years old, and I have tinkered with newer products over the years, I always find myself coming back to this trusted set up. New clubs? No thank you! Maybe next year…

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TONEY P

Dec 21, 2018 at 3:09 pm

The 983K was one of the best drivers made for a good golfer. The R 7 superquad is one of the straightest drivers ever built.

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Robert

Dec 21, 2018 at 1:47 pm

Is Fred Couples still using a Taylormade Sldr? I remember something on TV this past year where he did not want to bother with another driver fitting. Believe Sei Young Kim set the LPGA scoring record this past year in Wisconsin using a Sldr and Mizuno MP18-SC irons.

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Dennis

Dec 20, 2018 at 11:37 am

Played yesterday with my 07 Burner TP and my new TS3 and virtually no difference in distance.I actually like the feel of the Burner better.

Reply Report comment
- Vince
  
  Dec 21, 2018 at 11:27 am
  
  I played the last 2 years with a Callaway Hawkeye v f t titanium
  9 degree and it is great
  It is just 10-15yards shorter than new models but
  I can hit it straight as a arrow and it is light
  
  Reply Report comment
Richard Douglas

Dec 20, 2018 at 2:20 am

I haven’t played a 3-wood since I put the TM SLDR Mini-Driver in the bag. It functions like a second, slightly shorter driver that can still be hit off the deck. I use it for all tight drives; it’s probably 20 yards longer than my old 3-wood.

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ogo

Dec 19, 2018 at 6:33 pm

The design of the driver clubhead represents ~10% of the driver’s performance. 90% is the shaft… without doubt…. and anybody who thinks differently is just a gullible gearhead !

Reply Report comment
- Brad
  
  Dec 19, 2018 at 9:10 pm
  
  This is easily the silliest thing I’ve read in recent memory.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Gunter Eisenberg
  
  Dec 19, 2018 at 10:43 pm
  
  I totally agree. I stuck a $500 exotic shaft into my 1983 Titleist Tour Model Persimmon Driver and I outdrove a buddy of mine with his M4 with similar swing speed.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tom

Dec 19, 2018 at 2:03 pm

Of course, all this stuff is the same over the last 6-8 years, just repackaged and marketed as something better, USGA rules dictate the level of potential product innovation, not manufacturers….Sellers be Sellin!

Upgrade your graphite wood shafts and re-grip, that’s all you need to spend money on..

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David Sims

Dec 19, 2018 at 12:21 pm

Titleist 905R, still as straight and long as anything out there. Much straighter and right there with all my buddies M1,M4’s and Callys.

Reply Report comment
- TONEY P
  
  Dec 21, 2018 at 3:02 pm
  
  That 905R is great driver.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Brian S.
    
    Jan 8, 2019 at 4:20 pm
    
    Yep, still have mine too with the Proforce Shaft. Put a 910D3 in play this past year (yes, i know that is still old school, LOL), but it was an upgrade to the 905. I can honestly say, i havent seen much difference. The old girl is still standing by and might end up back in the bag this year.. We’ll see!
    
    Reply Report comment
Kyle R

Dec 19, 2018 at 12:14 pm

Taylormade r7 Superquad for me is the club I have fell in love with. I have tried numerous drivers to upgrade over the years, However the fairway finding ability of the R7 Superquad can not be matched for me. I even picked up a backup one to keep on hand. Distance wise I may leave 10 or so yards on the table, however I still average 280-290 with the R7 at 110-115mph Driver speed, plenty long.

Reply Report comment
- chad
  
  Dec 19, 2018 at 12:20 pm
  
  i second the r7 superquad. best driver ever made. Bought a like new head off ebay and i put an oban kiyoshi white stiff shaft in. The thing cant miss a fairway. i dont care if i give up 10 yards when you’re 40 yards right in the weeds and im in the fairway
  
  Reply Report comment
- Regis
  
  Dec 21, 2018 at 12:57 pm
  
  Yeh I’ve kept mine as well. Also the R9 Super Tri. I never spent the time to experiment by fitting them with different high end shafts but I will some day. Maybe this weekend
  
  Reply Report comment
- Dan Malloy
  
  Dec 21, 2018 at 1:02 pm
  
  Last I saw Tom Lehman was still using an R-7 superquad
  
  Reply Report comment

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Whats in the Bag

Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100

Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.

Equipment

TaylorMade MySpider Tour and Tour X: More customizable build options now available

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.

The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.

One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.

Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.

See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:

MySpider Tour

MySpider Tour X

Equipment

Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.

McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.

So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?

Driver

2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)

McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.

What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)

The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.

Fairway woods

2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.

The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.

Irons

2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0

The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.

With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.

Wedges

2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.

Putter

2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.

Ball

2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)

As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

Grips

2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC

Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.