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Best Driver for 80+

• alosso 21,073 Posts

  Sat, Mar 10 2012 8:13 AM

  MainzMan:

  There's a much bigger difference between the L62 and L80 R9 drivers than the stats suggest.  Go for the L80 one, you won't regret it.

  ty.

  I'll buy one when I need it, which will be when I've improved by .56

  Until then, I'm happy to beat the occasional Master and TM as a TP without a driver :o)

   

• Reaytj 114 Posts

  Sat, Mar 10 2012 8:47 AM

  Go with the R9 by all means....quicker meter, but with the right ball its a winner...

  Good luck

• Steve442 710 Posts

  Sat, Mar 10 2012 10:02 AM

  strikerseasy:

  this is an on going debate with my friend who just bought the r 11  to be its a waste of money  the r9 out drives it most of the time and i believe it has a bit more forgiveness. i don't plan to change as i progress upward at this point.  don my friend thinks he needs time to adjust to it and says the meter is slower on it.  i am 66 and have finally mastered the meter speed at this point for the r9 280 and it has really helped me with master.  i even dropped all woods as the distance i need most of the time requires a wedge.  however i have not sold them as i have played legends and can see the need for them if i make it to that tier   so bottom line buy the r9 now you wont be sorry and i don't think you will want the r11 when you get there  strikerseasy 

  Sorry i have to disagree big style! The R11 is far superior to the R9. Meter speed is slower which means you ding it more often and it's precision  is way better for those tight fairways.

  Yes the R9 may be able to match or slightly exceed distance of the R11 into a strong wind but with a following wind.....

  Having said all that I would go with the R9 until you reach lvl 88 then upgrade to the R11

• MainzMan 9,591 Posts

  Sun, Mar 11 2012 12:47 AM

  I also used to outdrive players who used the R11 when I still had the R9, not every drive but pretty regularly.  Of course, when I reached L88 I went straight to the pro shop and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed at first.  The R11 seemed to lack the punch of the R9 and I wondered if I'd made a mistake.  After a few rounds I got used to it though and it is better than the R9 90% of the time in my opinion.  A strong headwind knocks more distance off due to the high flight but with a touch of t/s it will still hit the ball a long way.   With a decent ball you can pretty much count on 300 yards of carry.

  At the moment the R11 is the best driver available, the R9 is close but not quite as good.

   

• mnshiner 1,382 Posts

  Sun, Mar 11 2012 1:14 AM

  strikerseasy:

   i am 66 and have finally mastered the meter speed at this point for the r9 280 and it has really helped me with master.  i even dropped all woods as the distance i need most of the time requires a wedge.  however i have not sold them as i have played legends and can see the need for them if i make it to that tier

  Now that is the most honest reply I have read on here in a long time.

• StrokerLee 94 Posts

  Sun, Mar 11 2012 1:53 AM

  For me (and I am at level 84 but only at 'Master' Tier) the R-9 275 yard driver from level 62 is plenty to carry me up to level 88...the med. loft allows a good lick...and the meter (for me) is not too fast and it is not too slow !! the meter is straight up on the chart !!! this is how my bag is right now !!! >> R-9 275 yard Driver (lvl 62)>> R-9 235 yard 3 wood (also lvl 62) >> you can't get these anymore but for irons >> I use the G-10's from level 59 (210 yards down to 115 yards and they are high loft for better approach shot landings) >>I use 3 wedges  Satin z 50 yarder...Satin z 77 yarder and finally a Cleveland 105 yarder!!! now I know that these clubs are not all that impressive...BUT they all have the 'EXACT' same 'SWING METER SPEED'...every last club (except for my putter) !!! So when I get to level 85, I will purchase the R-11 240 yard 3 wood (which has the same swing meter speed as the 3 wood I am using right now)...and of course when I get to level 88, I will buy the R-11 282 yard BIG Driver (which also has the same swing meter speed as the R-9 Driver from lvl 62 that I am using right now) !!! to me keeping your 'SWING METER SPEED' is crucial to hitting more on the 'Ding' (if you will)...but let me remind you that I am playing from the 'Master' tier tees...and not the further back 'Legend' tier tees !!! So this formula works for me!!! and I plan to keep it that way until I get to level 90...that is when I will purchase the R-11 iron set !!! and that will be basically for distance...however, they will take some time for me to get use to, because they have a little faster 'Swing Meter Speed' than what I am used too!!! but, at the same time I will not get rid of my G-10 set!!! it's only after having these clubs in this progression(s) that I mention...that I will then start working on lowering my average to hopefully move up to the 'Tour Master' tier and then on to the 'Legend' Tier!!!

• phiber 2,795 Posts

  Sun, Mar 11 2012 6:13 PM

  R9 TP 8.5° Driver (L80+)

  much smoother swing meter in the last inch or so of movement, still has a faster swing meter, I would wait and see what the G20 is first, could be better but who knows, the slower swing meter is somewhat attractive.  I have the Tri and it performs well but I am used to the meter somewhat now.  I didn't see that much difference in distance between the tri and the TP. 

• alfano27 7 Posts

  Tue, Mar 13 2012 12:39 PM

  im using the level 81 g20 driver now and like it alot better than the r9

• skccvb 799 Posts

  Tue, Mar 13 2012 2:48 PM

  alfano27:

  im using the level 81 g20 driver now and like it alot better than the r9

  Just purchased same today - this Driver ROCKS! It will easily keep up with the R11 (within a few yards), and it is no slouch into the wind (using topspin) - but more importantly, it is smooooth and (relatively) slooooow and hitting on or close to the ding is assured - which always means a good shot! I played an AS game today and was never 'outdriven' once, neither by R11 or R9 (280 club). I am going to sell my R9 and probably pass on the R11 - when I get to the next level any day now where I could purchase it. 

  Also - the G20 3 wood (higher level) is a bazooka - it easily equals or surpasses the level 83 R 11 3 wood - and is very easy to 'ding'. With Nike ball goes 265-270.

• gatordee 281 Posts

  Tue, Mar 13 2012 5:47 PM

  If I you I would definitely go for the G 20 level 81. They are on the heels of the R 11's. Trajectory is what I look for in clubs. I will give up very little if any distance, to accuracy. The R9 mat beat the R 11 out sometimes because of the long roll you get which I try to stay away from on most of my drives. But the G 20'S LOOK awesome!