Epic speed & SIM2 now selling for $700, that’s a better deal than the new ones that look to be adding very little
Sadly the Australia tax and weak AUD is a real thing, especially as most (all?) OEM's are supplied here through a Distributor ( mostly Brosnan), so thats an extra layer in the channel that has to make money. Unlike say Apple who generally prices their product equally in AU market because no middle man
. The Stealth+ RRP in US is $600 (+ TAX) so AUD835, compared to $1100 inc tax, so really we pay AUD175 more. The stinker is, the price differnce between models in USA is nowhere near 10%
If you wait 6 months, the Sim2 will hit GCO probably around $550 after the use of a code.
Another 6-12 months will then drop to $400.
I moved from the M5 to Sim and the difference was so minimal I wonder why on earth I did it
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Anyone made the move from the original epic to epic speed/ SIM / SIM2? Anything noticeable there? I was thinking maybe more forgiveness across the face but that’s about it.
In terms of the improvement of current drivers against recent driver models, I spent an hour being fitted for a Ping G425 yesterday.
We went through various heads (Max & LST), shafts and then toggling the head weights around to get it just so.
Then I grabbed my 2018 Srixon z785 that I bought off the rack and then had cut down by an inch and sent three drives just as far and straighter.
It’s wild just how little the new drivers really give you vs something less than 7-10 years old.
Trouble for the manufacturers is they can't loft-jack drivers like they do irons. And increasing shaft length is much more noticeable.
I love how the Mygolf spy review reports that they got an extra 2-3mph in ball speed with the Stealth driver, but also adding the shaft was 1/4" longer than they normally used, which would account for 'about' the difference.
Mygolf spy does great stuff, but gee, they do this every time, makes most of their reporting almost useless.
I think forgiveness and ball speed retention on off centre strikes is all they have left.
That's where the tech is.
I use different equipment a fair bit, and some older stuff goes as long out of the middle, just not on the sides.
Course dependant, is longer always better anyway?
I bought an M5 a couple of years ago, no plans to replace it unless the head breaks, can't really see any other driver giving me better results than I already get. A shaft change might but I'll leave that until I get fitted, whenever that happens.
I was chatting to a manager at one of the major retailers just before Christmas. He said to expect a 10-15% price hike on the majority of things in 2022.
Their costs of goods has gone through the roof and they have had to pass it on.
I had noticed a few things that had already jumped up before Christmas and he confirmed these hikes.
Yup... the cost of a shipping container from china to usa has gone from about $2000 to over $10000, so worldwide would be similar. Someones gotta pay for that.
If you're playing anything from the last decade or so properly fitted and well maintained (faces cleaned, grooves not dulled and grips in a clean state you can hold onto) you more than likely already have what you need to you maximise your natural talents. Practise (both physical and mental) and commitment to routines, especially around the short game where tech is less of an influence, is where the improvement in scores exist for most if they're really interested in that.
The OEMs have conditioned Joe Average golfer, who plays irregularly and shots in the 90s+, there's more satisfaction in pulling out the new toy and whacking it further than their playing partners that one time a round than not missing a fairway all day or hitting 10+ greens in reg. Length is the drug they've been selling for years and the golfing masses can't help but swallow it by the handful.
Ignoring the price or how much it goes up/down buying this year's wonderstick/s that promise X mph ball speed gains or "xyz-face" technology can of course deliver gains. However, for most they are short term and likely linked to the fact we get joy out of new shiny things and thus feel better standing over the ball with confidence which can unlock that swing-thought free and unencumbered swing we know is buried deep in our golfing subconscious somewhere. Of course, after a few bad swings (which everyone has) the shine starts to wear off, and we seek yet another new toy to bring the feeling back. Hence, the ho-ing that happens on lightly used equipment here
I must be one of the minority of sorts. I'm more interested in accuracy than being the longest hitter. Rather than keep buying the shiny new toy I've put that money into lessons, which I'm seeing the results of more the more I play and practice. Recently I've reduced my average score by about 5-6 shots per round. My irons are about 20 years old, which I used when I played previously as a teenager before a long hiatus. They will be replaced when it's time to get fitted, which I'll discuss with my pro next lesson. Other than the driver, the only newer clubs I have are a couple of wedges and I recently updated my putter - but it could well stay in the bag until I can't physically play anymore.
Cinderella story, out of nowhere, former greenskeeper, now about to become a Masters champion..... It looks like a mirac.. It's in the hole! It's in the hole!
Last edited by markTHEblake; 6th January 2022 at 08:43 PM.
I’ve picked a really good time to have my bag set and locked!
After reading this Rick Shiels videos came up in my suggested feed (seems the internet has ears and eyes on us at all times). Anyway his latest are tests of the TM & Callaway 2022 Drivers and summarise most of this thread above up pretty well ... TL;DR - he says the differences between the previous models is miniscule and unless you're a fanboi or have $$$ you have top spend last few years models will do the same thing. Guessing he won't be getting Christmas cards from the marketing departments at the OEMs
https://youtu.be/IjZi1ICqQzE
https://youtu.be/XE87lfl5cIo
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