I was doing my usual monthly visit to the Pro Shop yesterday, as I needed a few bits and bobs to stock up the old bag. After purchasing a new glove, balls, tee's and a towel I thought I would have a go at some drivers in the nets which I sometimes do...Most of the time having no intention of purchasing one at all.
I decided to have a few swings with the clubs available on WGT and decide if the stats fit the feel of the real club.
The X-Hot driver is fantastic! It has a traditional driver shape and feel unlike some of the more advanced adjustable drivers on show these days. Its fairly light weight too so you get a huge amount of speed while hitting through the ball but a very soft feel on impact, which makes you feel you can hit it harder...But I really don't think you need to as the club head seems to do most of the work for you.
My Club head speeds were about 105-115 with average distances around 280-288.
I only Tried the tour version of the Covert. I must say the tour driver has a significantly smaller head than the standard Covert which can have both pro's and con's. I found my average club head speed to be right up there at 115+ but I was not always getting great distance as it was harder to control resulting in the odd slice. But when I gave it the beans and hit it square my longest drive was 295, which is huge! Having said that I was throwing in the odd swing at 115 and only going about 245 because of a slide or skull. Still feels weird swinging a club that has a big gaping hole in the back of it. All in all, my least favorite driver of the day. But I should have tried the standard as well to give a better review.
This is the one right here! I must say I do not like overly adjustable drivers...Once you start fiddling with a club you start swing in strange inconsistent ways. So this club suits me down to the ground. I used the 10.5 degree option with a stiff shaft. The club head feels huge which gives you that confidence when swing with some anger at the ball because you feel you just cannot miss. I was getting consistently straight results with very good distance...Around 280 time and time again with a solid 110 club head speed each swing. If you're looking for a driver to buy...Look no further! Unlike the tour option Covert which will give you the odd 300+ drive this bad boy will give you great forgiveness and consistent results more often than not.
The R1 is well...Your typical Taylormade club. It involves the sales clerk having to give you about a 30 minute run down on how it works before you can actually use it. It's more like a miniature spaceship than a stick used to play a long distance sport with. I did like the fact you could adjust your loft on it as I do sometimes go through patches where I feel a 9.5 setup is perfect for me but then crave a little more loft when I'm not hitting the ball well. This club gives you that option and about 62 other options. Swinging it feels different too...You have a bit of a faded butt end so it feel light, but has brute strength on impact. I guess the best way to describe that feeling is that it felt like I was hitting the ball and not just swinging through it. But all in all not a driver I see myself buying, as the options are too complicated, the price tag too hefty and it just didn't suit my swing at all.
So now if we look at the stats WGT have given some of these drivers I would have to say on the whole they seem fair...However they have massively under sold the X-Hot driver. This was a beaut! It has a stupid name of course...But so do a lot of newer golf clubs coming out these days. The G-20 is the one for all swing types I reckon...I know its for a good cause...But I will not be buying a pink driver anytime soon. I feel like the Covert has also fallen short of it's true potential when looking at the WGT stats. This beast is long! A little unpredictable but it goes a mile. It feels as weird as it looks though, which could be a pro or a con I suppose with a lot of weekend golfers trying to more often look the part than play the part.
So who wins?
The R1 of course. It's Awkward, has too many options and takes some getting used to when swinging it for the first time. But this club has it all. Everything the other clubs have and more. If you have the time, money and patience you can make this club into the perfect tool for any swing speed or type. It is brilliant....And I hate it :)