I have a thing for drivers. There’s just something about the club that allows you to send the ball 300 yards down the fairway that’s fascinating. The technology, the engineering, the black magic that the people that build these clubs employ never ceases to amaze me. And so, I tend to accumulate a few drivers.
But you’re only allowed 14 clubs in the bag so when serious golf is on the schedule, I’ll generally only carry one driver at a time. Choosing between them is a delicious dilemma. Generally, I’ll keep two; one to game and another as backup, but this current crop of drivers is so good that I’m loathe to give any of them up.
Here’s a quick introduction to what’s moving in and out of the bag.
First there’s the TaylorMade M Family. That’s right, I have the 2016 M1 that I adore and the new M2. I have two shafts that see time in both drivers depending on what I’m looking for. I have a go-to combo for soft, dry conditions and another for fast and windy weather. I can also tweak the settings on the clubheads to fine-tune the setup and to achieve the result I’m after. I’ve been a longtime fan of the brand and the current adjustable system is among the most stable on the market with compatibility going back to the R1/RBZ Tour series.
The M1 has been my go-to since I got it last year. It’s easy to hit and it’s long. It’s workable and the movable weights allow you to fine-tune the level of fit precisely to your requirements. It easily holds its own against the newcomers. The M2 is huge and is more forgiving than your parish priest. That’s precisely why I like it. It’s nice to have a club like the M2 when you’re not at your best. Cons are that it’s not the most accurate thing. I’d rather hit the M1 into a tight landing zone.
But collectively the M Family rocks. Together, the M1 and M2 make an awesome twosome. They provide a weapon for every occasion. The further addition of shafts will broaden the versatility of these clubs.
The M1’s space in the bag is challenged by the Callaway Big Bertha Epic Subzero. This thing is a gun. I swear it sounds like a muffled 9mm pistol when you hit it flush. Callaway drivers have always been among the longest that I’ve ever owned. The composite drivers the most so. I had an FT5 Pro that was a real weapon.
The Epic Subzero could be the hottest of them all. It’s such a unique feel, it’s addictive. It wouldn’t be if it wasn’t effective and it is. It’s one of the longest in the collection. When you really connect with one it goes for miles. If it has a downside, it’s that for some reason, I just don’t hit it with the same ease as the M1. If the thing wasn’t so bloody long, I would have sold it long ago. But it is stupid long and so I persist.
Then there’s the Mizuno JPX900. This one was a sleeper from a company that isn’t really known for its woods and hybrids. I had the pleasure of owning the first Mizuno adjustable driver, the MP-600. It served me well shafted with a Graphite Design Tour AD YSQ.
The JPX900 is intriguing because I really didn’t expect much from it and it handily exceeded my expectations. The Mizuno has the lightest shaft of the bunch, a 50-gram, stiff flex Fujikura Speeder Evolution II. It’s not the longest club here but it isn’t far behind. I can swing easy with it and get very respectable distances. At this stage of my life, I need a club like this when I’m tired or otherwise not at my best.
If I had to play the game of my life, the M1 is still king of the castle with the Epic Subzero a close second. I am just so much more consistent with the M1. If I’m playing well the Epic Subzero is a real weapon. This is a driver with incredible potential. The M2 is a bit of a sledgehammer. It is gigantic compared to its stablemates and, perhaps, not as accurate as its older brother. When I have issues with my swing the M2 is an easy choice.
The Mizuno sees the least bag time at the moment but that situation could change sooner than I desire. Let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger and as I go, I will probably lose a bit more swing speed. The lighter weight and stable tip of the Fujikura Speeder will allow me to make the most of what I have left to achieve optimum results. You have to be smooth with it, though. It doesn’t like very abrupt changes of direction. But the JPX900 is an investment in my golf future.
You can see my problem. I picked them all up trying to figure out which one was better. In the end, I wound up with four very good clubs with noticeably distinct functions. I’m quite happy to keep the lot and use each as the appropriate need arises.
What you can take away from this little adventure is that you need backups to the clubs in key positions. Drivers, putters and wedges are where you can use them the most. Sometimes an equipment change is an easy way out of a low point in your game. Sometimes it’s just about one club doing the job a little better than the others. It’s also a way to add a bit of variety in your game. As long as the club is properly fitted, you shouldn’t have any trouble adapting. Besides, it makes the game more fun.
Image credits: Mike Besa