We test 17 new drivers : Using robots and real golfers, we analyze clubs for shot shape and trajectory tendencies - Evaluation - Statistical Data Included

Chances are you have stood on the tee, watched your playing partner rip one down the fairway and then borrowed that same club to give it a try. Sometimes the result is another center- cut bomb; other times the ball flies so far out-of-bounds all you can do is laugh. The culprit is often the club, not the swing. Not all drivers work identically. They may look similar and cost approximately the same, but like computers, cars and most other high-priced toys, the differences between drivers can be both subtle and immense.

If you're like most golfers, you don't have access to the high-tech gadgetry used by tour pros to measure the critical elements for successful driving: spin rate, ball speed and launch angle. In light of that, Golf Digest has, for the third time, put 17 drivers through extensive testing--both robotic and player testing--to help determine the relative performance tendencies of each driver. The chart on the following pages is not a ranking system of drivers, but rather a breakdown of the relative performance tendencies of the clubs. The chart should be used as a starting point in your search for a new driver.

Other magazines use strictly player testing, in which a small player pool comments on feel, looks and performance. We believe this methodology is overly subjective and omits the scientific analysis necessary for a fully informed buying decision.

The tests we performed are more objective and quantitative. In addition to the robotic testing, in which we compared every driver to a pair of GOLF DIGEST baseline clubs, we had more than 100 golfers of various handicap abilities (1 through 21) hit the drivers. The shot shape and trajectory for every single shot was noted. After analyzing all the data, we categorized a "relative performance tendency" for each driver based on these player and robotic tests.

We also measured each shaft for flex and torque to come up with an overall-stiffness ranking (softer, soft, medium, stiff and very stiff). It is not uncommon for one company's stiff shaft to be more flexible than another company's regular shaft. The overall stiffness ranking used here is a unique feature of this test and cannot be found anywhere else.

Case study

Many drivers performed the same in the robotic and player testing. Others, however, had dissimilar performances. One driver, for instance, hit a slight draw on the robot, but clearly produced a more left-to-right flight with the live testing. Players obviously had more trouble closing the face with this driver than did the robot. Three reasons: shaft stiffness (flex plays a larger role for a person than for a robot), clubhead size (the robot's strong downswing can close the face easier on a driver with a larger clubhead), and alignment (the unique design of this particular driver made inconsistent face alignment at address more common for the player).

"Those differences [between robot and players] don't surprise me," says Callaway's Dick Helmstetter. "A robot operator completely controls the face angle, and the robot has, essentially, unlimited strength. Players have other problems, like insufficient strength to overcome a club's tendencies."

Now take a close look at the accompanying chart to see which drivers might improve your game.

How 17 drivers stack up

Club specifications of sample clubs measured by the Golf Digest
Technical Panel

How to use this chart The colored boxes describe the
drivers' tendencies from live testing. Someone
seeking a high draw, for instance, should look for
high trajectory and a draw curvature.

                  Driver tendencies
         SHAFT
         FLEX      Trajectory   Curvature      Stiffness

Adams SC      R      Low         Draw         Medium
Series Fade   S      Medium      Straight      Very Stiff
Control
Suggested
retail
price: $370

Armour      R      Medium      Fade         Very Soft
845s         S      Low         Draw         Medium
Titanium
$208

Callaway      R      Medium      Straight      Soft
GBB         S      Medium      Fade         Medium
Hawk Eye
$500

Cleveland      R      Low         Draw         Very Soft
QuadPro      S      Low         Straight      Soft
$250

Cobra      R      Medium      Fade         Soft
Gravity      S      High         Straight      Medium
Back
$375

Liquid-      R      Medium      Fade         Stiff
metal Pure   S      Medium      Straight      Stiff
Energy
Transfer
$665

MacGregor      R      Medium      Straight      Very Soft
Tourney      S      Medium      Draw         Stiff
Titanium
$430

McHenry      R      Medium      Fade         Medium
Metals      S      Medium      Fade         Medium
TourPure
$500

Mizuno      R      Medium      Draw         Very Soft
T-Zoid T3      S      High         Straight      Soft
Pro
Titanium
$434

Orlimar      R      Medium      Draw         Medium
TriMetal      S      High   `      Fade         Stiff
$270
Ping TiSI      R      High         Fade         Very Soft
Titanium      S      High         Fade         Very Stiff
$495

Snake Eyes   R      High         Straight      Medium
Elasteel      S      Low         Draw         Very Stiff
$200

Taylor Made   R      Medium      Straight      Stiff
FireSole      S      Medium      Draw         Very Stiff
Titanium
$399

Titleist      R      Low         Draw         Soft
Titanium      S      Medium      Straight      Stiff
975D
$500

Wilson      R      High         Fade         Soft
Fat Shaft Ti   S      High         Straight      Very Stiff
Super
Oversize
$425

Wright      R      High         Straight      Very Soft
Poweright      S      High         Fade         Medium
Titanium
Xtreme
$300

Yonex      R      Low         Straight      Medium
Rekin Super   S      High         Fade         Medium
03
$395

            Loft            Swing-   Face         Length
                        Weight   angle      (inches)

Adams SC      R   10.5 [degrees]      D-2      2.75 [degrees]   45
Series Fade                        closed
Control      S   10.5 [degrees]      D-2      1.5 [degrees]   44 31/44
Suggested                           closed
retail
price: $370

Armour      R   11 [degrees]      D-0      .25 [degrees]   44 11/48
845s                              open
Titanium      S   11 [degrees]      C-9      2 [degrees]   44 11/48
$208                              open

Callaway      R   10 [degrees]      C-9      1 [degree]   45
GBB                              closed
Hawk Eye      S   10 [degrees]      D-1      .75 [degrees]   45
$500                              closed

Cleveland      R   10.5 [degrees]      D-2      .5 [degrees]   44 11/44
QuadPro                           closed
$250         S   10.5 [degrees]      D-2      2.5         44 11/44
                              open

Cobra      R   10 [degrees]      D-2      1 [degree]   45
Gravity                           closed
Back         S   10.5 [degrees]      D-2      .5 [degrees]   45
$375                              closed

Liquid-      R   11 [degrees]      D-6      .5 [degrees]   45 11/44
metal Pure                        open
Energy      S   10 [degrees]      D-5      .5 [degrees]   45 11/44
Transfer                           closed
$665

MacGregor      R   11.5 [degrees]      D-4      2 [degrees]   45 11/44
Tourney                           closed
Titanium      S   10 [degrees]      C-7      2 [degrees]   45
$430                              closed

McHenry      R   11 [degrees]      D-6      .5 [degrees]   44 71/48
Metals                           closed
TourPure      S   11 [degrees]      D-5      .5 [degrees]   44 71/48
$500                              closed

Mizuno      R   9.5 [degrees]      D-6      1 [degree]   45 71/48
T-Zoid T3                           closed
Pro         S   10 [degrees]      D-6      .5 [degrees]   46
Titanium                           closed
$434

Orlimar      R   10.5 [degrees]      D-3      .75 [degrees]   44 31/44
TriMetal                           closed
$270         S   10.5 [degrees]      D-5      Square      45

Ping TiSI      R   10 [degrees]      D-2      Square      45 11/44
Titanium      S   10 [degrees]      D-2      Square      45 11/44
$495

Snake Eyes   R   10 [degrees]      D-2      Square      44 11/42
Elasteel      S   9 [degrees]      D-2      Square      44 11/42
$200

Taylor Made   R   10 [degrees]      D-5      .25 [degrees]   44 31/44
FireSole                           open
Titanium      S   11 [degrees]      D-6      1 [degree]   44 31/44
$399                              closed

Titleist      R   10.5 [degrees]      D-4      .75 [degrees]   44 71/48
Titanium                           open
975D         S   10.5 [degrees]      D-1      Square      44 51/48
$500

Wilson      R   10.5 [degrees]      C-9      1 [degree]   45
Fat Shaft Ti                        closed
Super Over-   S   10.5 [degrees]      D-0      1 [degree]   45
Size                              Closed
$425

Wright      R   11 [degrees]      D-1      .5 [degrees]   44 71/48
Poweright                           closed
Titanium      S   10 [degrees]      D-4      .25 [degrees]   44 71/48
Xtreme                           closed$300

Yonex      R   10.5 [degrees]      D-0      Square      45
Rekin Super    S   10.5 [degrees]      D-1      .75 [degrees]   45
03                              closed
$395

         Manufacturer comments

         Golf Digest has refined its testing procedure by
         supplementing robotic testing with live testing.
         The live testers varied in ability from a
         1-handicapper to a 21.
         Listed below are comments from the manufacturers
         concerning their respective drivers.

Adams SC      Adams' SC Series features four models: Hook control,
Series Fade   Neutral, Fade Control (the club tested) and Fade
Control      Control Plus. "This is the first-ever series of four
Suggested      drivers that feature a precisely manufactured
retail      asymmetrical [uneven] face-curvature system," says
price: $370   the company.

Armour      The 845s driver uses a lightweight titanium face
845s         insert in a stainless- steel shell, which allows for
Titanium      a bigger clubhead and increased perimeter weighting.
$208         "The result is a metal wood with an oversize sweet
         spot and a high moment of inertia, producing less
         twist at impact and maximum forgiveness," says the
         company.

Callaway      The Hawk Eye driver combines a thin titanium crown
GBB         plate, a lightweight titanium body and a tungsten plug
Hawk Eye      in the sole to lower the center of gravity. "The
$500         position of the Tungsten Gravity Screw on the driver
         [back toward the heel] helps the average golfer bring
         the clubhead back to square at impact more easily,"
         says the company.

Cleveland      The QuadPro features a thin maraging-steel face, a
QuadPro      copper face ring to reduce and isolate harsh vibrations
$250         and a copper-tungsten back weight to make the center of
         gravity low and deep for more stability and accuracy.
         "Its unique design and weight placement give it truly
         remarkable performance even on off-center hits," says the
         company.

Cobra      "The Gravity Back driver uses a bi-metal construction
Gravity      that allows the center of gravity to be moved lower and
Back         farther back," says the company. "Moving the CG back helps
$375         increase the dynamic loft of the club, which makes it
         easier to get the ball up in the air." The stronger-lofted
         models feature deeper clubfaces.

Liquid-      The Pure Energy Transfer driver combines a titanium shell
metal Pure   and a Liquidmetal face insert. "Liquidmetal is two to
Energy      three times stronger than titanium or stainless steel and
Transfer      has a greater ability to dampen vibration than titanium or
$665         stainless steel," says the company.

MacGregor      The Tourney driver is available in four lofts and
Tourney      features a four-way roll face that helps optimize
Titanium      ball-flight correction on mis-hits. "The low-drag
$430         rail sole enhances playability, and internal stabilizing
         bars strengthen the head and help reduce
         vibrations," says the company.

McHenry      The TourPure driver uses multi-metal technology: a
Metals      lightweight titanium clubhead, a thin beta-titanium face
TourPure      insert and a strategically placed 16-gram tungsten/copper
$500         power ring on the back of the clubhead for greater
         stability.

Mizuno      "The T3 Pro has an ultra-wide sweet spot suitable for all
T-Zoid T3      types of players," says the company. A modified T-Zoid
Pro         power bar provides "maximum vertical structural integrity
Titanium      of the head, producing a more rigid head and maximum
$434         initial velocity."

Orlimar      The TriMetal driver incorporates the same
TriMetal      three metals as the company's fairway woods:
$270         a stainless-steel head, an alpha-maraging face
         twice as strong as titanium and copper/tungsten
         weights on the sole to promote stability
         on mis-hits and lower the center of gravity.

Ping TiSI      At 323cc displacement, the TiSI is the largest
Titanium      totally custom-fit titanium driver available.
$495         "The structurally rigid clubhead is designed to
         reduce deformation at impact and transfer more
         energy to the ball for longer tee shots," says
         the company. The multi-functional JX hosel is
         designed to offer 10 custom-fitting options.

Snake Eyes   "The Snake Eyes Elasteel is the only family of
Elasteel      drivers in the game that is computer engineered to
$200         have a different face thickness for different swing
         speeds," says the company. The purpose is to maximize
         face deflection for different levels of playing ability.

Taylor Made   The FireSole driver features a tungsten sole plug
FireSole      positioned directly behind the sweet spot for a low
Titanium      center of gravity that reduces backspin and produces the
$399         proper launch angle.The clubhead's crown has been
         stiffened to eliminate crown flexing for greater
         stability at impact.

Titleist      "The 975D is designed to manage the strength and
Titanium      weight benefits of titanium and to create shots that
975D         fly with a harder, more penetrating trajectory," says
$500         the company. This model features a deep-face pear shape
         that appeals to serious players' preference for clean
         lines and classic designs.

Wilson      The Fat Shaft Ti Super Oversize features one of the
Fat Shaft Ti   largest driver faces available (33cm2). "The increased
Super Over-   size is located where it is most needed, in the face, so
Size $425      the larger clubhead is able to maintain a classic design
         and shape," says the company

Wright      The Poweright Xtreme is designed for golfers of all skill
Poweright      levels. "The club has a huge sweet spot for easy hitting
Titanium      and minimizing loss of distance on off-center hits. A
Xtreme      patent-pending weighting system produces optimal
$300         trajectory and spin ratio," says the company.

Yonex      The Rekin Super 03 features a forged titanium face, a
Rekin Super   tungsten insert in the sole for a lower and deeper center
03 of gravity and an enlarged sweet spot for added
$395         forgiveness. Available in 9- and 10.5-degree lofts. For
         golfers with slow to moderate swing speeds.

KEY:

Shaft flex

R Regular flex
S Stiff flex

Trajectory: Describes ball flight during live testing: Low, Medium
and High.
Curvature: Describes shot-shape tendency from the live testing:
Draw, Straight and Fade.
Stiffness: The flex and torque of each shaft (R & S combined) for an
overall stiffness rating.

All of the robotic comparisons in the testing were done in relation
to a Golf Digest test club, which was assembled with components using
the average specifications from the sample drivers

RELATED ARTICLE: Man versus machine

GOLF DIGEST is using a combination of robotic and player testing in our "club tendency" recommendations. When there is a discrepancy, we side with the player testing. Many major club manufacturers use this same method.

Callaway uses a 70/30 player-robot ratio. "Players are used for distance and dispersion tests, comparisons with existing drivers and other 'touchy-feely' variations," says Callaway's Dick Helmstetter. "Robots are used for face-mapping, USGA rebound-velocity tests and to see how different balls react."

Taylor Made uses both to test its driv-ers for durability, performance and perception. "The purpose is to predict how a club will work for the consumer," says Taylor Made's Dick Rugge. "Robots predict how a club will work for a robot. But robots don't play golf. Golfers play golf."

The key is rigorous statistical analysis of a wide variety of golfers, which we have done and which is presented here.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to read the driver chart on the following pages

This third installment of driver testing is a departure from our two previous tests (Golf Digest, February 1997 and June 1997). This time, instead of having players assess their games and choose a driver accordingly, we assess the drivers' general tendencies through robotic and player testing. To use this chart, know what you want in a driver--a quick fix or an enhancement of your present game--and then find the corresponding models that will best suit your swing.

COPYRIGHT 1999 New York Times Company Magazine Group, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group