So, I went to Play It Again Sports on Satruday and was browsing their used drivers. They had a couple that I had been eyeing used from one source or another for a few months. TM R5 Dual-D (10.5 loft) and R580xd (8.5 loft). They let me take them to the driving range down the street to try them out. I had read a number of reviews, and had it in my mind already that I was probably going to like the R580xd better. Was I ever wrong.
The range was 200yds long, with a 200ft catch fence at the end to keep the balls from going into the woods.

I swung the Dual first. Right off the first swing, I was shocked. I put the ball straight down the range, and into the catch-fence, about 40ft up. I swung a few more, and ended up putting 4 or 5 over the fence. And, my slice was GONE. Dead straight, almost every time. Some went a little right, but onyl 3 or 4 yards. I also had a few go left a couple yards. Much different than my normal 200yds out and 30yds right.

I swung the 580 next, and knew after a couple swings that it was not the club for me. I think the lower loft had a great deal to do with it. It felt nice when I made good contact, but the lower loft was VERY unforgiving. I think if it had been a 10.5, like the Dual, I would have had a much tougher decision.

I traded in my "stock" driver from my set, and a cheap Dunlop 5-wood, and got out with my new TM R5 Dual-D for about $60.

Hopefully, I can duplicate on the course what I've been doing for the last couple days on the range.

Wow, that's cool! Let us know how you do on the course!

Well, first round finally in the bag, so to speak.

I had some ups and downs with it, but I expected it. When I did hit it well, it was beautiful. I've got to stop trying to compensate for the slice I used to hit with my old driver. I put a few into the left rough that actually went dead straight, because out of habit I lined up that way. I mishit one and drove it about 200 yards dead straight and into a hazard. I used to come up short of the hazard with a perfectly struck drive.

Overall, I'm happy with the way the driver performed. It's very forgiving, but also gives me feedback to know when I mishit it. So I know I've hit it poorly, but I don't get punished as badly. With the old driver, it was difficult to tell what I did wrong, and I would usually end up with a lost ball.

I also did something I have literally never done before on any course. I hit a duck-hook. ON the first tee, I saw my ball head out and then make a sharp left. It was strange. Usually, it used to make a sharp right. Even that mishit left me in decent shape, about 150 yards out in the rough.

2 rounds with the new driver, and looking at the stats for it, I'm only hitting about 2% fewer fairways. I'm still getting used to it, so by the end of the season, I'll hopefully be up into the 50-60% range.

A couple more rounds, and I've got a new problem. Not a bad problem to have, but I'm hitting the ball too far. My round yesterday I was crushing the ball, but with slight dog legs on most of the holes, I ended up driving through the fairway into the rough on the left or right depending which way the dogleg turned.

I also had a "Tin Cup" moment on the 5th tee. There is a hazard about 215 from the tees, and I swore I was going to carry it. There was a slight wind blowing in my face, but I thought I could make it. I was wrong... 3 times. Ended up maxing out, and moving on. I'll get it over that hazard one of these days, I swear.

mjaber wrote:

A couple more rounds, and I've got a new problem. Not a bad problem to have, but I'm hitting the ball too far. My round yesterday I was crushing the ball, but with slight dog legs on most of the holes, I ended up driving through the fairway into the rough on the left or right depending which way the dogleg turned.

Honestly...one of the decisions I love to make is whether or not to hit my driver on a hole where my driver could get me into trouble. These days, the reason for making this decision has more to do with my inability to hit my driver straight than my ability to hit it too far.

bjohn13 wrote:

Honestly...one of the decisions I love to make is whether or not to hit my driver on a hole where my driver could get me into trouble. These days, the reason for making this decision has more to do with my inability to hit my driver straight than my ability to hit it too far.

I've gained alot of confidence with the new driver. Unfortunately, I don't have any confidence in my 3w, 3i or 4i, so I'm either pulling the driver (200+) or hitting my 6i (150ish). I'd like to drop the 3w, 3i and 4i and replace them with a couple hybrids and a gap wedge (currently have 3 PW, SW, LW), but that will have to wait until the money appears out of thin air.

I am taking some lessons. I'm hoping the instructor can get my swing working with the longer irons.

Do you have a 5i? I'm curious because the huge change from a 6i all the way down to a 4i can really be a problem if you're not used to shooting a 5i.

bjohn13 wrote:

Do you have a 5i? I'm curious because the huge change from a 6i all the way down to a 4i can really be a problem if you're not used to shooting a 5i.

I do have a 5i, but I'm not as consistent with it as am I with the 6i. If I have to off the tee in a spot where I can't hit driver, I go down to the 6i because it's alot safer than the 5i. I know there isn't a huge difference between the 2, and it may be more mental, but it is what it is.

I think it has a lot to do with the swing. For me, the difference between hitting a 5i and a 4i is like night and day. I can't hit a 4i to save my life, so I hit a 4h instead. To be honest, though, most of the time I'm using my 5i is to bump and run around the green.