2024 drivers vs the 2023 range

I know the marketing departments at the top brands will tell you otherwise, but can us average Joe soaps get the minuscule improved results year on year, that the tech in these new drivers suggests we should.

Myself, I’m currently playing off 5.7 and I’d average between 250-270 on a good day from the tee. At the height of summer on a warm evening, if I really stripe it, Ill push that out over 280. But that’s on a very rare day.

I play a TM M1 that I got fitted for in 2016. I flirted with the idea of upgrading last year, I was buying myself a new putter, so I decided I’d look at a driver too. I tried the TM Stealth, Callaway Paradym and Titleist TR3 in various shaft and head adjustments and there was no discernible difference with what I had. The only slight improvement was with the Stealth, in the 20 odd drives tested against my own club, I think it was on average 3 yards longer. But my miss hits with were dreadful, my own M1 was a lot more forgiving on the miss-hits.

Maybe the tech in the 2024 drivers has improved massively from last year, but I remain skeptical.  

I'm the same, I do love looking at the shiny new gear, but I just couldn't justify paying €600 for a new driver, when anything I try makes zero to little difference on what I have.

I haven't upgraded significantly in either irons or driver the past few years. Driver I've had since 2016 and I got fitted for the ping i500's in 2018, and they still do the trick. My one big purchase in the last 5 years was a Scotty putter last year, but that has always been a dream purchase so I don't mind that.

I am however a softie when it comes to golf clobber! I've spent a nice few quid on top of the range wet gear and Ill regularly buy tops, trousers, shoes etc whenever my golf expenditure kitty reaches the allowable quota!

Couldn't agree more 🤣🤣

Think the concensus from most testing groups/companies would be that realistically you'd need at least 5 years between equipment for there to be a reasonable potential gain that could justify a change

I would ask that fitter why he chose the shaft he has in his or in his customers driver.

Answer being it best suits his speed tempo and release characteristics of his swing.

You will have many fitters of world renown (trottie from Taylor made and Ian Turner of txg fame on youtube) tell you shaft is the most important factor in fitting process

What driver do you have? and did you notice a sufficient difference with the ones you tested? The Cobra is getting great reviews

My driver is 4 years old and a 9° head. The biggest issue I think was loft for me. But I was getting better carry overall when I used the higher lofted TSr2 and Darkspeed. More than I was getting from the Qi10 and Callaway range in the higher lofts too.

Shaft made a difference aswell. Well worth booking in for a good fitting imo as everyone is different.