If you want to find out what your 'shot shape' is, turn off the monitors/screens, keep the Quad going collecting data, and hit 100 balls or so without seeing what the flight is until you've finished hitting all 100.
@knightriderkitt3000 yes, having switched to the standard Qi10. He played the Stealth2+ last year (which was a low spin model) in which he played a inch shorter shaft
Now I’m not sure about the dark speed, but I have the Aerojet LS. Im a 20 ish handicap, I never really hit hooks or slices, it’s 100% in the swing, the driver is super forgiving
@@wallysnakes2690 If you’re interested in upgrading, don’t let someone else’s experience decide what you should do. I’ve seen someone who was playing for 3 months end up liking a set of Mizuno blades more than any game improvement iron. Just cause it doesn’t work for Rick doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.
This is an actual question - why shorten it permanently instead of just choking up an inch? I’m only in year 3 and just play for fun… mine is too long but just just choke up instead of spending my money on a game that’s already expensive
As Lee Westwood pointed out on Finch's video 'there's a reason most tour pros who aren't signed to a driver make are using the Ping 10k.' Don't see many using the Darkspeed...
exactly. i was given a darkspeed, and i couldn’t keep it in the fairway for the life of me. the sweet spot was so tiny, i felt like i was over working to get it middled.
@@BUMHEAD1100 no other reason for people to use it. it’s definitely fast, but just miserably unforgiving compared to everything else. the fairways aren’t bad though
I had a fitting with a Cobra Rep at my club and tried all 3 variations at the start of this spring to replace a 20 year old driver. By the end of the hour-long session on the range it became clear that forgiveness outweighs distance gains on perfect shots. My swing speed could have worked with the X, but I ultimately went for the most forgiving Max. As someone who doesn't hit the ball super far, being able to confidently hit 230-260 off the tee without worrying about it being wildly off target is so crucial.
Man I needed to hear this. I fell in love with the max during my fitting. It beat every other driver until the last 10 minutes where the x out performed it. However, the misses were fades rather than draws which really worried me as a slicer. After he fitted me into the x I went back on it after and went with the max. I think I could have gotten more distance with the x but I’m just happy with how much more frequently I’m hitting the fairway
I was thinking the same thing when saw it in the video. But that the club I use and I’m biased but it works great. I was thinking he doesn’t want to put an older club in the bag.
When you reach this level, you can either mess up your game by forcing a swing change in the middle of the season or or you fit your clubs so your misses aren't as bad. It's being pragmatic.
@@edge21str I just switched to a Rogue ST Max LS and agree. I tried the standard Max version yesterday and think I'm going to trade it in. The yardage isn't worth the punishment of the mis-hit.
@@RickShielsPGA Tried 1 other club and switched? I seem to recall you getting really good #s with some of the other clubs, like Taylormade, Ping, and Calloway. Would love to see you do 50 balls each and see which one gives the best #s and dispersion. And since you want to start taking this seriously, time to stop worrying about looks and feel and focus 100% on performance.
@@Daniel189HLL I just went back and looked at the Ping video. He carried the G430 10K further (272 yds) than both of these drivers in this video. Ball speed was a bit lower on the Ping, but so was the spin, so the result was better.
Worth trying different drivers, ones that worked for me best were Ping and Taylormade, currently using the SIM2 max and it's suiting my swing perfectly, not only have I gained 20 yards but also straighter drives. For some reason the Mizuno driver I tried everything went to the right, Cobra pretty much everything to the left.
I'm currently using the sim2 max and for the life of me can't get any consistency out of it 😢 when I hit it good I hit it really good but have a hard time keeping it on line
@@cojofoplays1837 I think for me it was the shaft, unfortunately I couldn't swap the shafts over on the drivers I tested. I guess that's where the club fitting comes in and getting a good club fitter that can dial in the best shaft and driver head to suit your swing. Straightest driver I ever played was a Ping G20 just hated the sound and feel but it was very straight. So far the SIM2 max is working well for me.
Rick, When I saw your videos testing all the new drivers 5 months ago, I really thought that one of the Paradym AI Smoke drivers would be in the bag Your numbers were very good and the dispersion was superb. As others have suggested, please go get a driver fitting with Ian Fraser at Club Champion in Canada, he'll sort you out.
I grabbed the Kirkland wedges when I first started golfing in 2020. I upgraded but I didn’t have a complaint about the wedges for the price point. I’d love a chance to get to try out the irons.
I love that you've created a Golfbidder-esque grotto in your own studio. So fitting given the great alliance you've had over the years and it echoes even though I know it's only a set of storage racks; the first thing that comes to mind is "Rick's at Golfbidder again!"
When you had about the spin and shaping issue I was thinking the same thing, can you do a video on aiming and shot shaping because sometimes I find it hard to see where you’re aiming. Keep up the great work !
Great video Rick! That golf emporium of a shed is mint lmao. I made a driver change recently as well went from the stealth 2+ to a Titleist TSR2. I luckily didnt lose distance and my dispersion is much cleaner. Good luck on Break 75!
I do believe that feeling confident using a club is much more important than anything else. I've had various drivers but just feel confident using the Cobra brand, as I've said before and will maintain, that there technology is just miles ahead of the rest. Good change, Rick. You are going to just have better rounds as you confidence levels are up. Happy golfing, my friend.
I tried both the Calloway Paradym and a Cobra this year with little success until I tried different shafts and found that a longer driver on the paradym triple diamond with the heavy weight up front at 8 degrees solved all my issues. Now I'm getting 260 in the air with a roll to 280 and sometimes even 300.
I did the exact same thing with my cobra speedzone…moved the weight back and added some loft and it made a huge difference. Can’t wait to see the difference on the course for you Rick!
Played the LTDx LS last season and went straight back to ping this season. The LS version of cobra models is the least forgiving driver I have ever played
I would love to have seen the swing data that reinforced the "results." The final results are ultimately what really matter but I'm curious about how one club permits a full duck-hook and another does not.
I think this brings up an amazing opportunity. I think both RIck and Guy should get professionally fitted then hit the stock version of that same driver. This will be able to show how much of a benefit a stock vs fitted for two different levels.
I like the look and sound of the Dark Speed's. I used to have Cobra's in my bag, wish i wouldn't of switched to Callaway Big Berhas. Keep up the good videos!
same here.. I initially tried the DarkSpeed LS 9 driver but experienced inconsistent shots, often resulting in errant "wifi" hits. After switching to the LTDx Standard 10.5 driver, I noticed that my shots were consistently straight and centered, with similar distance. Therefore, I've decided to stick with the LTDx for now.
had the x best driver of the year so far. i like to switch. tried ai, qi10, then decided i want back into cobra. got the ls. ls better in sim distance, x better outside. x actually longer outside as well. oddly the ls was very forgiving for me, i had no problems hitting the fairway, x was just easier to hit so my swing was more aggressive i suppose...i tried the weight back in ls and it didnt wow like the x....
What about putting the Dark Speed X in the low spin configuration with the higher weight forward? The more forgiving head in the low spin setting could be the best balance of both.
Sometimes I wonder if we put too much of a premium on the sound and look of a club and exclude testing options that would be longer and straighter. I second the calls for you to do a fitting/link up with Ian Fraser.
Had same conundrum with Ltdx or ltd ls. Actually find the ls better at staying straight due to low spin . A lot of it is feel as well the ls just feels better on impact. Admittedly do have some bad shots but when not chasing distance and slowing swing a bit is best of ones I have tried.
loving the channel! Haven't touched a club since i was a teenager, Went to the range the other week with my two friends and i somehow hit a 240 yard shot with a really cheap driver beating my mates haha. I now want to buy a driver and have a low budget of around 100-150 pounds. What brands would you guys suggest i look at please?
had a hit of the G430 10K today on the course, friend had it, Wow, I have a natural draw but this thing went straight, maybe lost a bit of distance compared to mine, and very little feed back , which takes getting used to. because it's so forgiving, you have troulble working out where you it the face. he said if I wanted more distance to try the QI10.
For someone who loved the Ping G425 so much, not sure why you didn't opt for the Ping G430 10K driver. Peter Finch is playing lights out with that driver!
I thought you had visited Golfbidder when I saw all those clubs then remembered you'd had a storage room built, that's mental, if you're ever having a clear out 😂😂
Get fitted for the TSR3 custome shaft. When it was on it was on but to inconsistent. Went to my mates fitting and tried the Ping 10k so much more consistent than the TSR bought it there and then fantastic forgiving driver. As Lee Westwood said all the tour pros not in contract are using the 10k.
Dammit Rick - I just put a Darkspeed LS in the bag. The good shots are amazing. The misses - suck! I also was only able to get a stiff shaft, think I need the XS. I will test the XS off my Aerojet on the Darkspeed.
It could be the camera angle but it looks like your take away is slightly outside the line mate!!! Maybe look at a straighter take away as a really easy swing thought? Its what I’m working on myself, same issues as you with lack of consistency from the tee 👍👍👍
You’ve got more drivers than Uber! Nice video. Accuracy and consistency are keys to putting together a good round. Look at Luke Donald for example. Got to World Number 1 without any great length. We was just a fairways and greens man with a great scrambling game.
I also HAD a left miss that got me in trouble. A few years ago I switched to midsized grips with an extra wrap on the lower half. The snap is gone and gained a few yards.
Just come from one of your old reviews of the Ping G400 which is the driver I still use and love. You were hitting that 6 year old Ping driver long and straight! Newer is not always better in my honest opinion.
Great stuff Rick , been wanting you to change that driver for a while now. Good luck in your quest to break 75 at open qualifying. You never know, we might be watching you at the real thing. You and Peter. Also , if you have a spare Callaway Rogue ST MAX driver I would be happy to help you unload it lol
Aside from the driver head have you considered changing golf shafts? You can try the Ventus Black golf shaft it basically eliminates left, and should help with any hooks
While changing the shaft is a nice component of changing a clubs feel, shaft does not change direction. It merely changes the movement of the head mid swing in a lateral pattern, any face alignment is still up to the user. Rick might hit it far different than someone else using a ventus black and even if he plays a shaft that's as stiff as a board he'll only lose clubhead speed. Shafts are whatever feels comfortable, fix the swing, not the club
Hi Rick, why don’t you get some aftermarket weights and get your favourite combination. I got the PXG head, with 2.5g weights in toe and heel and 5g at the back. I got the loft up to 11 and 1 degree upright. Over the winter I got my head speed up to 98mph, with 2500-3200 rpm spin and about 200-220m carry (220-240 yards carry). Can’t wait to see where I’m at when temps hit 25• C+. Should get me an extra 10-15m.
I love the Callaway Ai Smoke Max. But i am in the process of using the double trade in through Callaway to get the Ai Smoke tactical version. As a retired Army vet, i couldn't pass up getting it for $27 after trading in my Current Ai Smoke. Over the last 4 years i have built my set of clubs. Gen 6 PXG Irons 4-PW, Cleveland 50 and 56 wedges, Callaway Apex 2 Hybrid, Taylormade Stealth Titanium 3 wood, and this year the Callaway Ai Smoke Max, and a Odyssey White Hot OG Seven Mallet putter. Shouldn't need to buy any clubs for a LONG time. If i do it will be a 54 degree to cover the 100-115 between my 56 and 50 degree wedges.
Watched both of my playing partners go from ping g425 to g430 LS and have some serious distance gains an no loss in forgiveness.I love my rogue st max a proper all rounder
This season i went from a ping g425 lst to a standard Qi10. The difference is unbelievable. Same as this test shows, the bad shots are longer and not as bad as with my old driver. Yet the good ones im not actually seeing that much drop off in terms of distance.
I changed recently from an older Taylormade burner 2.0 superfast to the Callaway paradym AI smoke driver and I've got the same issues. Pulls and hooks all over the place. Switch back and its good again.
To me, the GC Quad can help with look and feel, but the only real test is out on the golf course when/where you really need it. So, when you get "out there" - if it works, great, if it doesn't, time to pull another club off the shelf. BTW - others have recommend a fitting, my opinion is you have all the clubs and the facility you need to figure this out for yourself - just keep your ego (about your ability) out of the way!
I think you should do a Tournament style bracket to find the actual best driver for you. I agree with many others here that the PING G430 MAX 10K would likely be your club.
It's funny. I've been using the Callaway Paradym standard for 5 months or so. I have been driving better than I ever have. Keeping it in play, hitting tons more fairways, and getting it out past most of my buddies. And I got cocky, I was like, I'm driving it awesome maybe I found something in my swing. So I went for the triple diamond head, and although when I hit it, great I hit some crazy bomb drives. But my accuracy went down dramatically, trying to push it and add more distance. I'm back to my standard. Going to keep it for a while. Maybe I'll try the AI smoke version, but I'll wait until the new model comes out so it's cheaper 😉
Maybe a combo video with Ross Walker/Elite Performance would be interesting. He seems to do a great job and his eventual head/shaft/weight combinations are always surprising. I just had a big revelation with a shaft change on my 5 wood. I do like your thinking and what you did here however.
Throw one of the Drivers my way Rick since you don’t need that many. Struggling to get myself to single figures at the moment, and could be doing with hitting more fairways myself. Good lad 👍🏻
Thank god, made the right decision that was much needed. Well done Rick, still think Ping would be even better as Pete is finding out. Good luck with qualifying. Positive start.
I remember your review of the Mizuno driver and how consistent it was. At least in the simulator. Maybe you should rewatch your driver testing videos. :)
I really have to admire the level of standards professionals hold themselves to. For example, you say @6:49 that's a fairway finder but that was a really bad strike, while the shot coasts out to 277 yards. And I'm sitting here telling myself, if I were to plant a drive 277 yards down the fairway, bad strike or not, I promise I'll be grinning from ear to ear.
Call me crazy, but…the last 12 seconds where you say “do I need the driver to be long? Not really, I need it to be long enough but reliable” is literally the answer to the question you asked in the TM mini driver video where you were saying you didn’t understand who that product was for (after hitting it consistently straight for the testing session AND scorching it 300+ yards at the end)!
You should be playing the cobra 3-D printed irons if that’s an option. Your game is so much more solid when hitting a fade. The swing also looks much better. When I first started watching you you would primarily fade your drive. I would always think this guy never misses a fairway. Overtime you’ve switched to playing this hook and it just isn’t a good flight path for you.
Just viewed your Sim2 and Rad Speed videos and you hit those 280ish carry roll out to 300-310. Is this brand new driver really 10-20 yards shorter than a driver three generations back? Or are your simulators not set up the same? Please explain.
Would love to see you get a fitting! Ian Fraser at Club Champion, Cool Clubs in Arizona, and Precision Golf in the UK would be phenomenal!
Damn, had the same thought and saw your comment after, you win.
Couldn’t agree more. Rick getting fit by Ian would be an amazing video
I second this. I would like to see the process.
Rick and Ian full bag fitting would be amazing👍
SGGT in Edinburgh do a really good fit
If you want to find out what your 'shot shape' is, turn off the monitors/screens, keep the Quad going collecting data, and hit 100 balls or so without seeing what the flight is until you've finished hitting all 100.
Classic case of "fix the driver, not the car"
If you liked the LS but need to find the centre of the clubface more, just shorten the shaft by an inch. Helps Rory, could help you Rick
Rory is back to a longer shaft this year.
@knightriderkitt3000 yes, having switched to the standard Qi10. He played the Stealth2+ last year (which was a low spin model) in which he played a inch shorter shaft
Now I’m not sure about the dark speed, but I have the Aerojet LS. Im a 20 ish handicap, I never really hit hooks or slices, it’s 100% in the swing, the driver is super forgiving
@@wallysnakes2690 If you’re interested in upgrading, don’t let someone else’s experience decide what you should do. I’ve seen someone who was playing for 3 months end up liking a set of Mizuno blades more than any game improvement iron. Just cause it doesn’t work for Rick doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.
This is an actual question - why shorten it permanently instead of just choking up an inch? I’m only in year 3 and just play for fun… mine is too long but just just choke up instead of spending my money on a game that’s already expensive
As Lee Westwood pointed out on Finch's video 'there's a reason most tour pros who aren't signed to a driver make are using the Ping 10k.'
Don't see many using the Darkspeed...
So true
exactly. i was given a darkspeed, and i couldn’t keep it in the fairway for the life of me. the sweet spot was so tiny, i felt like i was over working to get it middled.
@@Captainchaos14they must “tip” well…..
I just said something like this I've seen a few pros say the same thing
@@BUMHEAD1100 no other reason for people to use it. it’s definitely fast, but just miserably unforgiving compared to everything else. the fairways aren’t bad though
Thanks for the opportunity Rick! Can't wait to see the full bag video
I had a fitting with a Cobra Rep at my club and tried all 3 variations at the start of this spring to replace a 20 year old driver.
By the end of the hour-long session on the range it became clear that forgiveness outweighs distance gains on perfect shots. My swing speed could have worked with the X, but I ultimately went for the most forgiving Max. As someone who doesn't hit the ball super far, being able to confidently hit 230-260 off the tee without worrying about it being wildly off target is so crucial.
Man I needed to hear this. I fell in love with the max during my fitting. It beat every other driver until the last 10 minutes where the x out performed it. However, the misses were fades rather than draws which really worried me as a slicer. After he fitted me into the x I went back on it after and went with the max. I think I could have gotten more distance with the x but I’m just happy with how much more frequently I’m hitting the fairway
You should bag the Sim2 Max you reviewed previously, not seen you hit anything better tbh!
Just bought one n Saturday.
@@soloking2141 Never heard a truer statement regarding Rick. Also focuses negatively on the color and sound of equipment as opposed to playability.
@@joshberry4813 same here!
I was thinking the same thing when saw it in the video. But that the club I use and I’m biased but it works great. I was thinking he doesn’t want to put an older club in the bag.
@@soloking2141 He's got that "pinkie in the air golfer" mentality. If it's not priced high or new, it's obviously not for him.
You need to set the screen up with a much narrower fairway. That 100 yard fairway just lets you blast away with no consequences.
Fix that hook and slice with equipment… from the golf pro
more like, "use the right equipment, so you don't make your problems worse."
When you reach this level, you can either mess up your game by forcing a swing change in the middle of the season or or you fit your clubs so your misses aren't as bad. It's being pragmatic.
@@edge21str I just switched to a Rogue ST Max LS and agree. I tried the standard Max version yesterday and think I'm going to trade it in. The yardage isn't worth the punishment of the mis-hit.
Hit the nail on the head
TSR2 os for sure a better driver than theese 2.
He’s got more clubs than my local golf shop 😱
at first, I thought he was in a golf shop.
haha true
next edition of the £500 club challenge could be done in Rick's garage rather than golf bidder LOL
@@RickShielsPGARick have you ever thought about trying a different ball?
@@RickShielsPGA Tried 1 other club and switched? I seem to recall you getting really good #s with some of the other clubs, like Taylormade, Ping, and Calloway. Would love to see you do 50 balls each and see which one gives the best #s and dispersion. And since you want to start taking this seriously, time to stop worrying about looks and feel and focus 100% on performance.
Ping 10k is the one.
Yeah, he really drove it well when he had the g425 max. The g430 10k is just more of that. I guess he doesn't like the yellow lol
He thought it was a bit meh though.
@@Daniel189HLL I just went back and looked at the Ping video. He carried the G430 10K further (272 yds) than both of these drivers in this video. Ball speed was a bit lower on the Ping, but so was the spin, so the result was better.
@@edge21str I find it weird that so much emphasis is put on color and sound. They are a non-issue and the only thing that counts is performance.
It's getting to a point where I think Rick is sponsored by Cobra. It just doesn't make sense otherwise.
Rick would taking the X down in loft a degree help open the face and eliminate the left side while bringing the launch and spin down?
Yes
Worth trying different drivers, ones that worked for me best were Ping and Taylormade, currently using the SIM2 max and it's suiting my swing perfectly, not only have I gained 20 yards but also straighter drives. For some reason the Mizuno driver I tried everything went to the right, Cobra pretty much everything to the left.
I'm currently using the sim2 max and for the life of me can't get any consistency out of it 😢 when I hit it good I hit it really good but have a hard time keeping it on line
@@cojofoplays1837 I think for me it was the shaft, unfortunately I couldn't swap the shafts over on the drivers I tested. I guess that's where the club fitting comes in and getting a good club fitter that can dial in the best shaft and driver head to suit your swing. Straightest driver I ever played was a Ping G20 just hated the sound and feel but it was very straight. So far the SIM2 max is working well for me.
Rick, When I saw your videos testing all the new drivers 5 months ago, I really thought that one of the Paradym AI Smoke drivers would be in the bag Your numbers were very good and the dispersion was superb. As others have suggested, please go get a driver fitting with Ian Fraser at Club Champion in Canada, he'll sort you out.
UK based SGGT are highly recommended too
I grabbed the Kirkland wedges when I first started golfing in 2020. I upgraded but I didn’t have a complaint about the wedges for the price point. I’d love a chance to get to try out the irons.
I love that you've created a Golfbidder-esque grotto in your own studio. So fitting given the great alliance you've had over the years and it echoes even though I know it's only a set of storage racks; the first thing that comes to mind is "Rick's at Golfbidder again!"
When you had about the spin and shaping issue I was thinking the same thing, can you do a video on aiming and shot shaping because sometimes I find it hard to see where you’re aiming. Keep up the great work !
@5:21 - do you seriously think thats the driver that made the duck hook? 🤣
Great video Rick! That golf emporium of a shed is mint lmao. I made a driver change recently as well went from the stealth 2+ to a Titleist TSR2. I luckily didnt lose distance and my dispersion is much cleaner. Good luck on Break 75!
Saw some Dynapwr's there on the rack. You seem to hit those very good when reviewing last year. Also biased as I love mine!
I do believe that feeling confident using a club is much more important than anything else. I've had various drivers but just feel confident using the Cobra brand, as I've said before and will maintain, that there technology is just miles ahead of the rest. Good change, Rick. You are going to just have better rounds as you confidence levels are up. Happy golfing, my friend.
I tried both the Calloway Paradym and a Cobra this year with little success until I tried different shafts and found that a longer driver on the paradym triple diamond with the heavy weight up front at 8 degrees solved all my issues. Now I'm getting 260 in the air with a roll to 280 and sometimes even 300.
I did the exact same thing with my cobra speedzone…moved the weight back and added some loft and it made a huge difference. Can’t wait to see the difference on the course for you Rick!
Put that Taylor Made Mini Driver in your bag. Best I've ever seen you hit a driver. Don't let your ego get in the way. Use what works best for you.
Played the LTDx LS last season and went straight back to ping this season. The LS version of cobra models is the least forgiving driver I have ever played
Used LTDx ls for a round. The one shot out of the 5p sized sweet spot went great😂 Back to LTDx Max= that's my level😊
I would love to have seen the swing data that reinforced the "results."
The final results are ultimately what really matter but I'm curious about how one club permits a full duck-hook and another does not.
I think this brings up an amazing opportunity. I think both RIck and Guy should get professionally fitted then hit the stock version of that same driver. This will be able to show how much of a benefit a stock vs fitted for two different levels.
That shed full of drivers almost gave me a heart attack, holy that is crazy! I think i could be there for a month straight and still have fun.
I'd love to see you do a shaft fitting, I think it would be interesting to see how much - if at all - it improves your consistency.
A shaft dosent know what a hook is
I like the look and sound of the Dark Speed's. I used to have Cobra's in my bag, wish i wouldn't of switched to Callaway Big Berhas. Keep up the good videos!
same here.. I initially tried the DarkSpeed LS 9 driver but experienced inconsistent shots, often resulting in errant "wifi" hits. After switching to the LTDx Standard 10.5 driver, I noticed that my shots were consistently straight and centered, with similar distance. Therefore, I've decided to stick with the LTDx for now.
had the x best driver of the year so far. i like to switch. tried ai, qi10, then decided i want back into cobra. got the ls. ls better in sim distance, x better outside. x actually longer outside as well. oddly the ls was very forgiving for me, i had no problems hitting the fairway, x was just easier to hit so my swing was more aggressive i suppose...i tried the weight back in ls and it didnt wow like the x....
What about putting the Dark Speed X in the low spin configuration with the higher weight forward? The more forgiving head in the low spin setting could be the best balance of both.
Sometimes I wonder if we put too much of a premium on the sound and look of a club and exclude testing options that would be longer and straighter. I second the calls for you to do a fitting/link up with Ian Fraser.
Had same conundrum with Ltdx or ltd ls. Actually find the ls better at staying straight due to low spin . A lot of it is feel as well the ls just feels better on impact. Admittedly do have some bad shots but when not chasing distance and slowing swing a bit is best of ones I have tried.
Hi Rick, nice vids on this topic. What I'm wondering though, how do you accomplish less spin and more distance in your head?
Loft down, tee up, hit up on the ball and hit a small draw
loving the channel! Haven't touched a club since i was a teenager, Went to the range the other week with my two friends and i somehow hit a 240 yard shot with a really cheap driver beating my mates haha. I now want to buy a driver and have a low budget of around 100-150 pounds. What brands would you guys suggest i look at please?
had a hit of the G430 10K today on the course, friend had it, Wow, I have a natural draw but this thing went straight, maybe lost a bit of distance compared to mine, and very little feed back , which takes getting used to. because it's so forgiving, you have troulble working out where you it the face.
he said if I wanted more distance to try the QI10.
Great video as usual Rick, nice looking set for the price too and they'd look perfect in my bag 👀 Cheers 😁
For someone who loved the Ping G425 so much, not sure why you didn't opt for the Ping G430 10K driver. Peter Finch is playing lights out with that driver!
I thought you had visited Golfbidder when I saw all those clubs then remembered you'd had a storage room built, that's mental, if you're ever having a clear out 😂😂
Get fitted for the TSR3 custome shaft. When it was on it was on but to inconsistent. Went to my mates fitting and tried the Ping 10k so much more consistent than the TSR bought it there and then fantastic forgiving driver. As Lee Westwood said all the tour pros not in contract are using the 10k.
Straighter is the key Rick and more control 🏌♂️👍
Love the video new golfer here have a bag full of old school hand me downs but I have fun anyway
Can you do a review on the Titleist TRS4 and on the Sf1 driver by performance golf
COBRA make great feel,sound and Forgiving drivers,,,great video.
Good luck Rick,all the best mate 👍
Dammit Rick - I just put a Darkspeed LS in the bag. The good shots are amazing. The misses - suck! I also was only able to get a stiff shaft, think I need the XS. I will test the XS off my Aerojet on the Darkspeed.
Rick Shiels Golf Shop opening up soon?????? Good lord!!
Golf Bidder could have a new competitor soon, but Rick's stuff is "hit once" or "never used" 😂
Hi Rick, surely the Ping G430 10k would be the way forward? Low spin and stable.
Great to see rick making these changes, with a shed full of clubs like that, it could be days before you find the perfect club
It could be the camera angle but it looks like your take away is slightly outside the line mate!!! Maybe look at a straighter take away as a really easy swing thought? Its what I’m working on myself, same issues as you with lack of consistency from the tee 👍👍👍
You’ve got more drivers than Uber! Nice video. Accuracy and consistency are keys to putting together a good round. Look at Luke Donald for example. Got to World Number 1 without any great length. We was just a fairways and greens man with a great scrambling game.
I also HAD a left miss that got me in trouble. A few years ago I switched to midsized grips with an extra wrap on the lower half. The snap is gone and gained a few yards.
Maybe you should consider Qi10 or go back to PING as you seemed to hit that better 😉
Just come from one of your old reviews of the Ping G400 which is the driver I still use and love. You were hitting that 6 year old Ping driver long and straight!
Newer is not always better in my honest opinion.
One area of the game you need to consider before the qualifier is the psychology of competitive golf as opposed to leisure. It'd be great content too.
I’ve made this suggestion multiple times on your previous videos and even on FB. Switching to the Darkspeed X is a great move, RS.
0:34 and that’s the clubs fault is it? Some personal accountability is needed I think. Hopefully the change works for you.
Great stuff Rick , been wanting you to change that driver for a while now. Good luck in your quest to break 75 at open qualifying. You never know, we might be watching you at the real thing. You and Peter.
Also , if you have a spare Callaway Rogue ST MAX driver I would be happy to help you unload it lol
Aside from the driver head have you considered changing golf shafts? You can try the Ventus Black golf shaft it basically eliminates left, and should help with any hooks
While changing the shaft is a nice component of changing a clubs feel, shaft does not change direction. It merely changes the movement of the head mid swing in a lateral pattern, any face alignment is still up to the user. Rick might hit it far different than someone else using a ventus black and even if he plays a shaft that's as stiff as a board he'll only lose clubhead speed.
Shafts are whatever feels comfortable, fix the swing, not the club
🔶️ had the low spin version of the f8 . Same issue.
Now play regular version Aerojet. Hitting more fairways.
Should turn the loft down on the x. It will pronpte the fade more and knock some spin off
Hi Rick, why don’t you get some aftermarket weights and get your favourite combination.
I got the PXG head, with 2.5g weights in toe and heel and 5g at the back. I got the loft up to 11 and 1 degree upright. Over the winter I got my head speed up to 98mph, with 2500-3200 rpm spin and about 200-220m carry (220-240 yards carry). Can’t wait to see where I’m at when temps hit 25• C+. Should get me an extra 10-15m.
Have you played with the LS weights? Heard there’s an MOI hack with the 2-front weights 😎👍
I love the Callaway Ai Smoke Max. But i am in the process of using the double trade in through Callaway to get the Ai Smoke tactical version. As a retired Army vet, i couldn't pass up getting it for $27 after trading in my Current Ai Smoke. Over the last 4 years i have built my set of clubs. Gen 6 PXG Irons 4-PW, Cleveland 50 and 56 wedges, Callaway Apex 2 Hybrid, Taylormade Stealth Titanium 3 wood, and this year the Callaway Ai Smoke Max, and a Odyssey White Hot OG Seven Mallet putter. Shouldn't need to buy any clubs for a LONG time. If i do it will be a 54 degree to cover the 100-115 between my 56 and 50 degree wedges.
Watched both of my playing partners go from ping g425 to g430 LS and have some serious distance gains an no loss in forgiveness.I love my rogue st max a proper all rounder
This season i went from a ping g425 lst to a standard Qi10. The difference is unbelievable. Same as this test shows, the bad shots are longer and not as bad as with my old driver. Yet the good ones im not actually seeing that much drop off in terms of distance.
I changed recently from an older Taylormade burner 2.0 superfast to the Callaway paradym AI smoke driver and I've got the same issues. Pulls and hooks all over the place. Switch back and its good again.
So much more accessible for so many people price wise, will be considering these as there’s no way I can fork out thousands of pounds to start!
I would really recommend Precision Golf for a fitting. They are amazing.
To me, the GC Quad can help with look and feel, but the only real test is out on the golf course when/where you really need it. So, when you get "out there" - if it works, great, if it doesn't, time to pull another club off the shelf. BTW - others have recommend a fitting, my opinion is you have all the clubs and the facility you need to figure this out for yourself - just keep your ego (about your ability) out of the way!
I think you should do a Tournament style bracket to find the actual best driver for you. I agree with many others here that the PING G430 MAX 10K would likely be your club.
Funny that Pete, who is one of the best drivers on TH-cam, chose the 10k yet Rick can’t help but choose clubs he isn’t good enough to hit
Why Rick. Have u never had a proper tour fit. To find perfect driver for u
I haven’t had the chance to use any of the new drivers. I’m still using a Titleist D1 driver
Precsion Golf fitting. Also Darkspeed X vs G430 LST
Rick, I'm struggling so much with the driver this year. I'm watching ALL of your driver content. When you find yours, I'm going to find mine!!
By a 10k. Have a tsi3, tsr3, sim, stmax, krank, all great and fun but the ping is a cheat code;-). So should Rick, no brainer…
Hi Rick, looking to purchase a new driver. You have reviewed my final 3, just curious which you liked best: QI10, AI Smoke max or Darkspeed X. Thanks!
It's funny. I've been using the Callaway Paradym standard for 5 months or so. I have been driving better than I ever have. Keeping it in play, hitting tons more fairways, and getting it out past most of my buddies. And I got cocky, I was like, I'm driving it awesome maybe I found something in my swing. So I went for the triple diamond head, and although when I hit it, great I hit some crazy bomb drives. But my accuracy went down dramatically, trying to push it and add more distance. I'm back to my standard. Going to keep it for a while. Maybe I'll try the AI smoke version, but I'll wait until the new model comes out so it's cheaper 😉
Maybe a combo video with Ross Walker/Elite Performance would be interesting. He seems to do a great job and his eventual head/shaft/weight combinations are always surprising. I just had a big revelation with a shaft change on my 5 wood. I do like your thinking and what you did here however.
When hitting driver the wall mounted camera looks to shake or vibrate, is that on purpose or does it need a gimbal to take that out of the shot?
that driver wall omg you really have a golfers dream!!
Dream or nightmare everything I have a bad round I would be changing clubs
I love Cobra. I got the Darkspeed 3W, just need the driver and hybrid
Throw one of the Drivers my way Rick since you don’t need that many. Struggling to get myself to single figures at the moment, and could be doing with hitting more fairways myself. Good lad 👍🏻
I agree a fitting with Ian at Club Champion(formely TXG) and perhaps look at the 430 10k
On your H.I.T Golf channel you used the TaylorMade Qi10 a few weeks back, got more distance and the shots weren't bad, why not use that club ?
God that Darkspeed looks so good. I'll wait till its a year or two old and grab one. Love the all Blacked out look.
Hey Rick, do you have any sim 2 max fairway woods and hybrids available? I live in Taiwan and I can’t find them anywhere 😅
Gotta put that Sim2 in the bag. It was great when you reviewed it.
Would the wilson dyapwr driver (either titanium or carbon) be able to hang in the same realm as some of the other premium drivers?
Thank god, made the right decision that was much needed. Well done Rick, still think Ping would be even better as Pete is finding out. Good luck with qualifying. Positive start.
I remember your review of the Mizuno driver and how consistent it was. At least in the simulator. Maybe you should rewatch your driver testing videos. :)
Wow, so much swag. Surely you can send on a Wilson Dynapowr driver to someone in need? You won't miss it I promise
Maybe he should put it in the bag
Oh Rick, watched you hit a M1 341 yrds last week. Reason i got a mint R15 and you did a compare. Maybe you might try M1 again.
Thought you'd go for the smoke max, you were impressed with the distance and forgiveness of that
Is the 7iron best to start with for a beginner
I really have to admire the level of standards professionals hold themselves to. For example, you say @6:49 that's a fairway finder but that was a really bad strike, while the shot coasts out to 277 yards. And I'm sitting here telling myself, if I were to plant a drive 277 yards down the fairway, bad strike or not, I promise I'll be grinning from ear to ear.
Call me crazy, but…the last 12 seconds where you say “do I need the driver to be long? Not really, I need it to be long enough but reliable” is literally the answer to the question you asked in the TM mini driver video where you were saying you didn’t understand who that product was for (after hitting it consistently straight for the testing session AND scorching it 300+ yards at the end)!
You should be playing the cobra 3-D printed irons if that’s an option. Your game is so much more solid when hitting a fade. The swing also looks much better. When I first started watching you you would primarily fade your drive. I would always think this guy never misses a fairway. Overtime you’ve switched to playing this hook and it just isn’t a good flight path for you.
Just viewed your Sim2 and Rad Speed videos and you hit those 280ish carry roll out to 300-310. Is this brand new driver really 10-20 yards shorter than a driver three generations back? Or are your simulators not set up the same? Please explain.