THIS $500 DRIVER Is Now JUST $100... But WHY!?

THIS $500 DRIVER Is Now JUST $100... But WHY!? When we see new driver releases we always think that the technology must be the best yet! They must be the longest driver, the most forgiving driver, the best driver of the year? In this video I take a look at a driver from almost 10 years ago which promised to be the latest greatest golf club ever and the technology would change the world of golf clubs as we know it… just for it to be dropped a year later and we moved on… let’s do it and let’s do it now!

[theChef]

Can you do a video on the taylormade P770 2 iron? The website is not listing it as a UDI or anything, just says 2 iron

[berniedonoghue]

I still game this driver today. The only reason people give up on this driver is that marketers want to sell you new drivers.

[Bahanaman]

I've tried hitting more modern drivers since returning to golf two years ago after stopping playing in 2010 and have gone back to my trusty Ping G5 each time. It might be a few yards shorter but is a lot straighter. Also has much better feel and feedback in the hands.

[jameshopcroft]

Just picked myself up a 2018 rogue for £90 off eBay as an upgrade for my 2014 x2 hot. Came with a £100 upgrade shaft in - guess that’s a win

[bobpegram]

The 816 Alpha DBD had the same gravity core, but with 4 possible compartments to place it in with the weight up of down: toe up, toe down, heel up, or heel down. One additional setting I use is removing the core altogether. I did that because the club is significantly longer than standard and I wanted to keep the swingweight within a reasonable range. I find it fairly easy to hit straight and it is long. I have matching 3 and 5 fairways which I also like a lot. I use 215 Alpha 2 and 3 hybrids.

[garethlloyd]

I used to game the 816. Fantastic club,

[rb]

New to golf last year, I picked up an FT Optiforce from Callaway Pre-owned for pretty cheap and I have no complaints about the performance. My only issue is the tinny sound which I attribute to the lightweight build, but I did swap in a Diamana shaft. No reason to spend 300+ on a driver

[michaelreilly]

James: It's not really about the tech or the performance really (although that's what drives the story). It's about the marketing of the product. The Callaway 815 Alpha driver was a wonderful piece of kit but every manufacturer is competing for marketshare and the profits derived from that share of overall global sales. Every year or two, each business in the space (including Callaway) starts the product process all over again. If Callaway or its competitors built the ultimate driver (or putter, or iron, or fairway) that could never be beat one year, they would have little to sell next year except maintenance and reconditioning services for last year's ultimate product. They might as well close the business. It's the way it works for millions of businesses manufacturing products and product life cycle. Dr. Reilly, Professor of Business, Emeritus UA

[montegustafson]

I used the Alpha 816 driver for a season (the difference from the 815 being where you could place the gravity weight bar). I fine club! I switched ultimately to a 2017 M1 for the looks, slightly better forgiveness, and the use of carbon fiber to redistribute the weight. I gave the 816 to a friend who is still using it today.

[SmokeyRobbo]

Aren’t all premium drivers from 2014 about £100?

G25, TM Jetspeed, Cobra BioCell?

[dougiekara]

My senior pro had 1 I loved the sound of it. It was solid feeling

[markknight]

Great James, to the point and concise.

[somebodyhere]

I still play the 815 Alpha today. Its been a game changer for my tee shots. I did fiddle around with the weights and the hosel to what felt comfortable and its gave me the confidence that each drive is going straight and long. Might be all in my head but what works, works tbh.

[sub_second_life]

My Titleist TS3 driver had the same design but it was horizontal and you could set it wither way.

[tommiethatcher]

My son is still gaming it James and it was a joy watching you hit it

[shepardsmith]

I thought the Taylormade M2 driver was the best driver ever made and is still competiitive, It had a nice feel to it. A bit head heavy so you could feel it. Still have it too.

[MrAshtute]

I used a square driver and 3+5 woods and 1 season...then i changed driver and fairway woods but the hybrids were great kept them for 3 years

[brianmcpeake]

Every year something new and shiny comes out and it only like 5 yards longer than a 10 year old model. I think it's a better value to upgrade wedges than driver.

[MrHasenfeffer]

I owned that driver a few years, but with the Fujiyama shaft. Easy to hit, but way too much spin. Maybe it was the shaft? I switched to the Epic Flash and gained 15 yards, same weight and flex shaft. The driver looked great too. I wasn't a fan of the sound. It's fairly loud and more of a metallic clank than than a thwack. That said, it was a fairway finder. Very forgiving. A great club for a mid to high handicap golfer.

[erock]

My buddy switched from that BB Alpha to the epic Flash 2 years ago and gained 20-25 yds. Alpha did nothing but hit balloon balls. He’s an accomplished former college golfer too. So it wasn’t a swing change.