FORE Magazine

Top Menu

  • About Me
  • Contact Us
  • Home

Main Menu

  • Current Issue
  • Digital Book
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login

logo

FORE Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Digital Book
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
EquipmentSpring 2019
Home›Equipment›The Equipment Nerd: Bombs Away

The Equipment Nerd: Bombs Away

By Scott Kramer
April 26, 2019
9535
0
Share:


Maybe you sliced some tee shots. Or suddenly realized that your buddies are regularly bombing their drives past you now. Either way, it’s apparent you and your current driver are headed for Splitsville. What to replace it with? We have a few suggestions.

1: TaylorMade M5 

This driver is all about being fast, straight and long. Its “speed injected” ultra-thin titanium Twist Face helps you attain all three by maximizing ball speed and reducing sidespin. You can also tune the driver to one of 21,000 ball flight and launch settings to work best with your swing, by sliding two 10-gram weights along a track on the sole and adjusting loft. A revised, more flexible Hammerhead slot behind the face works in conjunction with it, to produce a larger sweet spot and preserve ball speed on off-center hits. $550

2: Ping G410 Plus

When PING engineers designed this multi-material driver, they wanted it to be simple for you to adjust. Mission accomplished. An easy-to-use movable weight on the extreme rear of the head — with three clearly marked settings for draw, neutral and fade — lets you customize CG location and directional control, without sacrificing MOI or ball speed. That amounts to roughly a 20-yard left-to-right span. You can also adjust loft to eight positions via the hosel, for plus or minus 1.5 degrees of loft. This driver is geared for all skill levels. $540

3: Titleist TS2

This 460cc, shiny black model is built to help you pick up ball velocity and distance. Its “Speed Chassis” consists of an ultra-thin titanium cast crown that causes in discretionary weight to be shifted low and deep in the clubhead; a thin-and-fast clubface; streamlined aerodynamic shaping that significantly reduces drag so that you can boost clubhead speed for more distance; and optimized weight distribution that creates clubhead speed and stability. It has a fixed CG and high MOI, so it’s ultra-forgiving. Score lines are laser-engraved on the face, to help frame the ball at address. $499

4: COBRA KING F9 SPEEDBACK

With sports car-style looks, this driver features an aerodynamic design that helps increase clubhead speed through impact. The combination of a low center of gravity, soft clubface-side edges around the crown, tall skirt, and low-and-deep titanium weights helps tee shots get airborne with ease. The carbon fiber crown wraps around the edges, saving discretionary weight that the manufacturer uses elsewhere to gain even more speed. You can adjust the included 2- and 14-gram weights to alter ball flight. And the loft is adjustable as well. $449

5: HONMA TW747 460

With a nice, conservative appearance at address, this driver looks even better once you realize what it can do for your ball flight. It’s constructed to generate plenty of ball speed at a high trajectory with low spin — a recipe for long shots and generous carry distance. You can adjust the center of gravity to your liking, as well as the lie angle. Officials claim the ribbed carbon crown is the world’s thinnest and lightest. Internal fangs in four places right behind the face enhance rigidity around the perimeter and increase impact elasticity over the face for distance. $599

6: Callaway Epic Flash

The new Flash Face technology in the forged titanium clubface helps you maximize ball speed for more distance. Its underside has topography of varying thicknesses that bolsters im-pact and optimizes ball flight. You will see a notable power boost — especially when you make solid contact. The driver’s Jailbreak technology allows the face to take on a larger impact load to promote ball speed and boost distance. Adjustable weighting lets you shape draws, fades or a straighter flight. $530

Previous Article

Ernie’s at PGA WEST: In With The ...

Next Article

A Class Unto Itself: California’s Coachella Valley

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Scott Kramer

Veteran golf writer Scott Kramer has covered the golf equipment market full-time since 1990. His career has spanned senior editor positions at both Golf Pro Magazine and GOLF Magazine. He now works on a freelance basis for many consumer and trade publications, including the SCGA’s FORE magazine.

Related articles More from author

  • EquipmentProfilesSpring 2017

    The Visionary: Sean Toulon Wants To Manipulate Your Ego for Better Golf

    April 26, 2017
    By Ted Johnson
  • Equipment

    Checking out Srixon’s new Q-STAR Tour

    March 20, 2017
    By Scott Kramer
  • Putter Grips
    Equipment

    Helping Handles: Get a Grip on Your Putting

    July 1, 2014
    By Scott Kramer
  • EquipmentSpring 2015

    A Primer on Golf Fashion: From Knickers to Snickers in 300 short years

    April 1, 2015
    By George Fuller
  • Equipment

    Bridgestone Balls Keep Rolling Along

    September 20, 2017
    By Scott Kramer
  • Equipment

    Innovative New Clubfaces

    January 7, 2019
    By Scott Kramer

Recent Posts

  • FeaturedPublic AffairsSummer 2026

    Golf Goes to Washington

  • FeaturedOn The TeeSummer 2026

    Coastal Cool

  • At The TurnFeaturedSummer 2026

    A Quiet Refuge

  • FeaturedProfilesSummer 2026

    A Gathering of Dear Friends

  • 19th HoleFeaturedSummer 2026

    Lark Lounge

FeaturedPublic AffairsSummer 2026

Golf Goes to Washington

The long distance run of advocacy pays off in ways small and large. Every year I travel to Washington D.C. to participate in the American Golf Industry Coalition’s (AGIC) National ...
  • Bill Spiller

    By Joe Passov
    August 18, 2026
  • Lark Lounge

    By David Weiss
    August 18, 2026
  • Following Her Own Path

    By Tom Mackin
    August 18, 2026
  • Deloitte Steps Forward

    By Michael Arkush
    August 18, 2026
© 2016 FORE Magazine About Us | Contact Us | Advertise