Equipment
Today from the Forums: “True game-changing drivers from each company in the last decade?”
Today from the Forums, we delve into the topic of drivers from the last 10-years from major manufacturers which have had a game-changing effect. WRX member, PepsiDuck, asks fellow members: “Which drivers (over the last decade) really pushed the bar forward in driver performance? And do you think the latest batch of drivers will make the list?” Our members have been having their say.
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.
- plim123: “2018-19 was probably the biggest collective leap forward in drivers. Ping G400, Titleist TS, Callaway Epic Flash, Cobra F9, Mizuno ST190 (although TM’s M1 was before). Before that, they were a lot of evolutions, not revolutions (Titleist 910-917, ping g10-g30, Callaway Raxr x to x hot to xr16, etc., and Cobra/Mizuno had barely any driver market share).”
- Titleist84: “Overall biggest advances were adjustable heads for both weight and shafts, as well as maintaining distance on off-center hits.”
- AmazinBlue: “For Taylormade, it’s to be the SLDR. It brought two major factors to the forefront ok not of custom fitting that is at the center of driver design today. 1. The low/forward CG ti allow for lower spin and higher launch to create greater carry. 2. The sliding moveable weight that has been the staple of TM drivers for years since and Callaway was so threatened they patented every “sliding” term used in describing a driver ever since. Overall the greatest invention was the adjustable hosel adapter, allowing fitters and consumers the opportunity to swap shafts in seconds and find the right shaft for a player, not just the shaft that comes standard.”
- cardoustie: “TM510tp and 2016 m2. Ping has had multiple, Tisi Tec, original Rapture, g400. Titleist is 975d. Callaway, way back, the first big bertha. EVERYONE has one, ditto for Great Big Bertha and then Biggest Big Bertha. I ignored the ten years.”
Entire Thread: “True game-changing drivers from each company in the last decade?”
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Craig
Feb 7, 2020 at 7:25 pm
There have been some pretty clear generations
1. Wood drivers
2. Metal drivers – TaylorMade Burner or Pittsburg Persimmon
3. Oversize drivers (190cc +) – Big Bertha
4a. Adjustable drivers – TaylorMade R7
4b. Mega oversize drivers (300cc +) – Heaps of brands
4a & 4b were around the same time, although you could argue the Biggest Big Bertha was the original mega oversize at 290cc.
The introduction of Tour/Subzero drivers get honorable mention.
Tom54
Feb 7, 2020 at 5:08 pm
I have to agree with the others about the R510TP that 757 speeder shaft was awesome and gorgeous with the red/chrome graphics. From what I remember was extremely pricey even by today’s standards.
jgpl001
Feb 7, 2020 at 6:28 am
Ditto, same combo for me too
R510TP with the 757 always brings a smile to my face, probably the biggest game changer I ever had back in the day
Saying that the Original Great Big Bertha was a stunning leap forward at the time of its release and served me well for many years
Moses
Feb 6, 2020 at 6:28 pm
The R510 TP was a game changer driver for me. I never hit a driver so long and accurate and it was the first time an OEM gave us a club with a true premium shaft in the legendary Fuji 757. Not so sure I agree with some of the other clubs mentioned above.