I don’t trust any of the things I read anywhere else, so let’s create our own base of info about the 2021 drivers that are coming out. Feel free to compare or provide any insight, as informal as it may be, and also let’s see what each of us starts with and ends up with by the end of the year. The obvious contenders are the Epic line, SIM2, g425, Tsi, Srixon, etc.... I got to see the 425 LST head and ugh, it sets up really well. I still think my fall back this year will be the Tsi3 in 10 degree. Going to be able to test the SIM2 pretty thoroughly soon as well.

Looking forward to the reviews. I’m not a chronic upgrader of the driver. The only reason I have a SIM is because TM replaced an M6 for me and I requested a SIM over the Max.

I’ve been a G400max Ho the last couple years. I did not jive with the G410 so I went and stockpiled backups in the 9* and 10.5* heads. There has just been too much hype from the G425 users that I am going to give the LST and the Max a go this week. Stay Tuned .....

Ping G425Max and LST head I have hit both heads extensively now and I will say I have ordered one of these. The LST is noticeably smaller than the Max and it is very low spin. I almost have trouble spinning the 10.5 enough to stay in the air. The LST also is a little more muted than the Max. I am going to go with the Max because I can get the swing weight down to something more reasonable with the lighter weight. The LST comes with either a 14g or 17g weight while the Max comes with the 23g weight. The Max head with the 14g weight head came in at 193.5 which works well with the 45.5 cut length that I will be playing it at. Epic Speed Epic Max The shape of the Epic Speed reminds me more of the Subzero and it has a good amount of bulge and roll. The spin was relatively low but it definitely had more left bias for me which I do not prefer. The Max head looks like the Ping G425Max. Just big and forgiving but the spin was not as low as I would like it to be. I think the LS head would be the one I would be looking at but they did not have the demo in stock for me to try. Srixon ZX5 and 7 From a looks perspective these look really good but they super low spin. All I could get were knuckleballs. Srixon should put these at $450 to under cut the competition. At $529 there are way too many options for people to even consider a Srixon driver. SIM2 #staytuned

dphatt I think the LS head would be the one I would be looking at but they did not have the demo in stock for me to try. Is the LS head now more like the triple diamond instead of the SZ head?

I’m looking forward to trying out the Epic Speed. I like the traditional look & the potential of some added forgiveness. We’ll see if it can knock the TS3 out of the bag.

Eddie I am waiting to see how the LS looks. There will be a Epic Speed Triple Diamond that will come to retail. It will have the usual subzero front and back weight.

There are actually three different triple diamond heads on tour apparently. Callaway has gone a bit mad imo with all these heads.

Golfingfanatic just like the good ole TaylorMade days

I feel like there has always been a hot driver or two every year for the past decade. This is the year that I feel like there could be 5 legitimate big dogs. I sort of wish I had that club champion/tourspec adapter on my shaft so I could try a lot of different heads but we all know that I'll just buy 4 shafts and different adapters. Problem is finding more of my beloved 5 year old Accra Tour Z shafts. Eddie's paintsplash Accra will have a the Ping G410/425 adapter on it momentarily in hopes that its the gamer. It has always been my interchangeable go to when the tempo got quick since it worked better for whatever reason.

2021 Community Driver Chronicles

ckay

Didn't take any screenshots last night, but I was between 13-14* launch and spin around 1900 with correct ball and club setting on the TM. I tried setting the adapter onto a higher loft setting and I can't deal with the closed look. I always play Standard sleeve. I may look for a 10* head as the SIM2 deliveries start to ramp up and SIM prices come down. I'll try and get some screenshots next week. The place was packed last night and couldn't jump into the bay prior to my league match.

We did card -12 on Hudson National front 9 in our match though with a 31 on my own ball. I think I am ready for Q school.

aharrelson358

ckay I would think at a spin that low, you almost create a knuckleball effect, which takes away some of the effect of your influence on the ball, and you're also losing some of the lift effect created by backspin. I would think you'd benefit to see more in the 2200-2400 range. An in-to-out path knocks spin off, so try to straight that up some and see how that changes numbers. Hitting some pull-cuts with an alignment stick stuck in the ground on my start line is my go-to when I am starting the ball too far right.

Just don't get too far down the rabbit hole and cut off your nose to spite your face haha. With a 31 on your own ball, you're obviously a good stick. If tight courses are the only place you're struggling, try developing a "second serve" style drive that's a 280 fairway finder.

*Disclaimer: I'm just a med student masquerading as a mediocre golfer living vicariously through you guys while staring at books. @dphatt knows way more than I do about club fitting, so feel free to correct me as needed.

ckay

aharrelson358 Are you reading my thoughts? Two things I need to work on is knock a couple degrees off of my path with the driver and a "second serve."

Like you mentioned, I do not want to overhaul anything as I don't have the time to do so, and my golf is pretty limited where I don't want to go through a season of getting used a drastic swing change and end up putting my clubs away for a while. This happened once where I didn't know if I wanted to start playing again.

As far as being a good stick, I also carded a 96 or something at Hidden Creek so let's just call it a squirrel finding a nut yesterday.

aharrelson358

ckay haha we seem to have a very similar game. I fight the big driver miss, and my last three rounds were a 71 from the tips (5s) at Shoal Creek, 83 at a RTJ in the area, and 91 at Shoal from the 4s.

Eddie

I would venture to guess if your second backup goto tee shot was a “low cut” it would probably be something that was +3 and still 3 degrees in to out and very playable.

When I used to play a draw, I would tell everyone in my group that I’m hitting a low cut and swing with that in mind, and everyone would say “bro that ain’t no cut, it’s just a straight ball”.

KDBeach

😎

dphatt

KDBeach TSi4?

KDBeach

dphatt Yes sir.

KDBeach

TSi4 came today and I’m hitting the simulator tomorrow morning to see which shaft works the best.

dphatt

KDBeach some interesting profiles there

maxbianchi

KDBeach that head with the rip would just look meannn

KDBeach

dphatt Yea. All ones that I’ve used in the past that have the adapter, so I figured to just give them all some swings.

TFixer5

KDBeach I’ll be doing the same next week. Mine is due Monday.

KDBeach

TFixer5 Nice! What specs did you go with?

TFixer5

KDBeach

Titleist TSi4 Driver
Model: TSi4 Driver
Orientation: Right Hand
Loft: 10°
Shaft: TENSEI AV Blue 65
Shaft Flex: X-Stiff
Shaft Length: Standard
Shaft Tipping: Standard
Grip: Tour Velvet 360° Gray Flat Cap
Grip Size: Standard Size
Grip Assembly Option: Grip in Box
Club Swing Weight Adjustment: Standard
Club Hosel Adjustment: A1 (Loft: Std, Lie: Std)

agadawg1717

Alright time to get in on this... I basically have the entire Golf Digest hotlist for drivers right now....

RAD Speed - Motore F3
Ping G425 LST - Ventus Black 60x
Ping G425 Max - Ventus Black 60x
Titleist TSI3 8* and 9* - Ventus Black 60x
Titleist TSi4 9* Ventus Black 60x
Callaway Epic Speed MMT 70X
Callaway Epic Speed MMT 70X
SIM2 9* Ventus Black 6-X

So now to what I’ve seen so far.

Callaways- Launch Super High! May be the shaft or my swing but they launch higher than any others. Long with good ball speed with very little roll.

Pings-
G425 LST has spent the most time in the bag. Long and boring ball flight. Good roll and great feel. Numbers are close to perfect. Lacks in forgiveness especially off the toe.

G425 Max- find me a way to knock the spin down on this and it goes straight in the bag to stay! Extremely forgiving and LONG! I’ve got to find a way to get the launch and spin down.

RAD Speed- Long and hot! If I’m swinging my best this one is in the bag for sure. Lacks forgiveness. But on the Pure shots it’s longer than any of the rest. Only other complaint is the sound and the head is light. May try some hot melt in this one.

TSI3’s
These have spent the most time in the bag. I absolutely love the look at address! So clean! Long and forgiving. This is the one for all the others to beat out right now. Just a all around good driver!

SIM2- Will report back. Haven’t had a chance to hit it yet.

TSi4- Haven’t hit it yet. Will report back.

Moni_SLO

agadawg1717 What a fleet you've got! What happens to all these that don't make the cut??? Let me know if you're ever open to lending out a driver for us common folk to try 😉

agadawg1717

Weekend Updates..

TSi4 is GONE! Looks like a watermelon on a stick! Very square shape at setup. It’s going to take a special eye to like these. Forgiveness is non existent and feels terrible even on center cut dead on the sweet spot shots. Lacked distance as well. There will be a lot of these on the classifieds and the used bin.

SIM2- Played 9 holes. Looks are 🔥 as usual. Paired it with a Ventus Black 6x and the feel is also incredible! A little more pop than last years model but not a ton. Feels like my SIM did with hot melt last year. Very solid and great looking at setup!

wbarber1

Moni_SLO I second that...

agadawg1717

Moni_SLO 🤣. They go on the auction block. I’m not one to collect drivers. 🤣

tcmatese

In 2020 played the Sim Max 9.0 with Fuji Evo IV 757 Stiff. Super forgiving but had issues with high spin on misses. I did a fitting with my guy at Club Champion (Rockville, MD) recently and ended up with the TSI3 10.0 (D2 setting) with Fuji Motore X F1. I have tried most everything over the past 3 years and the TSI3 is the best mix of looks, feel, and (most importantly) performance that I have tried. I really wanted to love the G425 but couldn’t get the spin where I needed it to be. I think it will
be tough to kick the TSI3 out of the bag.