Aside from the teaching videos, the equipment tests are my favorite because it spares people from making purchases based solely on what they see advertised. So many new clubs on the market, I appreciate you Rick for the tests on the so-called "latest and greatest" equipment.
@@RickShielsPGA can't wait find a straight ball in the trees at my course lol. That gold driver tho 😂 could you not brought this out b4 I got the F9 lol I'd of been quids in lol
Haha. I nearly bought the golf balls the other day but after reading some inconsistent reviews I thought I better just learn to drive better. I see they're all out of stock now so must have had a surge. I heard the company filed for bankruptcy anyway so aren't making anymore.🤔
My golf partner saw your video some time ago and bought one he plays off 15. He's gained 30yrds on his drive. He showed our other partner who plays off 6. He tried it and gained 40yds. Now are both proud owners of a new drivers. I'm sticking to my ping . As I still out hit the 15 handicapper and I'm off 15.7 and 75yrs old. Love your videos. Dave B . Chichester West Sussex
Surprised how close it got to the Cobra, would be interesting to see how long it would last at high performance levels or would cheaper materials fade quickly.
Either way its the entry cost that beginning golfers would be interested in. Any cost savings just to find out if you even like the game, every penny is worth it.
Hey my name is Joe and been playing golf for 5 years now. Ive had not had any hands on lessons but ive been watching you since the day I started. Watching reviews and lessons on how to hit drivers, long irons and wedges. I'm now a single diget handicapper. So thanks for all of your tips and insight. I owe alot of my golf game to your youtube swinging lessons. So once again thank you. Now on another note, I hope big named golf brands see videos like this one and start to lower their price point on their clubs. They are charging way to much for their clubs and there are clubs that perform just as well for a much lower price. Id like to see if I can get my handicap to lower just a little more but I cant afford to upgrade my clubs due to cost... Keep helping to get the cost down. Thanks sir and best wishes
I would have like to see you tell the guys the specs, have them drive a few, guess the price, and then the Big Price Reveal! Great video as always! Cheers From Vancouver, WA.!
When I’m in Ross checking out the discount UA/PGA/Nike golf apparel I find a nice color scheme and along comes my S.O. with “is that your little golf costume” and I immediately put it back. Apparently salmon pink and sky blue don’t look great on a 300lb Hawaiian lmao
Absolutely correct. I know a guy that can make a Ukulele sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan. When I played it, it sounded like a Ukulele! Probably would get the same results with the gold driver!
True, but the interesting thing was the consistency of the cheap one. Are some of the big name drivers now getting too technical to set themselves apart, and inconsistency that the player needs to overcome🤔
I retired 3 years ago and this spring started playing golf after a 20 year absence... My arms were like spaghetti... I'd hit the ground 6" behind the ball or maybe completely miss over the ball... I'd start playing about 6"30am because I didn't want anyone to see me... I've averaged 5 times per week since April... I'm finally getting some consistency and watch a lot of golf videos trying to learn... I wish I had your smooth swing..... thanks for the video
I bought this driver a few months ago. I'm pretty new to the sport and thought that £87 for a driver was really expensive! Glad to see it get a decent review
Rick Just bought it from Amazon. I believe at my current golf game I'm not ready to spend $400 - $500 fir a driver. I kept in mind that this driver is not a branded club...but per your video gave me hope I can be effective on my drives...and didn't cost me a third of a branded club. I will follow up when I receive the club to let you know how it help or not on my drives.
Great video as always. I’m just getting into golf and golf shops are very confusing and intimidating. Your videos have helped me make a few buying decisions though - picked up some second hand clubs and taking some lessons now. Keep up the good content!
Just bought the Gold Driver from Amazon last week Rick, just took it to the driving range today. Felt kinda funky for a bit. Finally found my stride with it and WOW! My last drives went right down the pipe, straight as an arrow!!! Where I golf, the putting green is behind the driving range and I could hear folks saying "OH WOW"! Never had that happen before. Can't wait to try the irons!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man your, content, editing, flow of your vids recently have been stratospheric. You have taken every aspect of your vids to a whole new level. I’m hooked. Very well done.
As someone getting BACK into golf after 10 years.. I have both the PGX Offset and now this Mazel titanium driver.. and the Mazel is by far superior, titanium head (not alloy) still has the offset head (which i like).. was able to get a stiff shaft (PGX only available in R) and it does come with a headcover now!
A Chinese business man in the export trade , playing on the West Links at Northberwick (tourist golfer) assured me that the factory out the door price for a M2 tailormade driver would be the equivalent of around $28 in Guangdong china
I got told by a man once , who was in the golf trade that the Odyssey 2 ball putter cost about 28 quid to make , that was a few years ago , but it does make you wonder ??
Lol. I saw that club and thought it looked familiar. It is the same brand driver I just replaced in my bag. Just checked the model. Mine is also a Z35, 9.5 degree loft. It is the exact same club. It is not a bad club, but I have had it for a couple years and decided to upgrade to Callaway.
Enjoyed this one a lot. As a young boy and man I never bought the best equipment. My 3 and 5 wood are Tour Edge titanium with Aldila Rogue shafts. Saw the shafts on Hireko Golf for $285.00 each. Bought both clubs for $49.00 each. Amazing what you can get on sale.
When I was younger I had a gold driver. Don't know what brand it was or what angle or anything, but the whole head aside from the face was gold including the whole shaft. Even had a gold and black twisting grip.
You brought up one of my main painpoints with golfing right around the 8:00 mark. I did a few golfing camps with range clubs back in my high school days, and I noticed a huge difference between manufacturers, heads, sizes, etc... I noticed ridiculously dramatic result differences between clubs. But then once I began researching... it's just not only such an expensive, subjective preference, but also can make or break you're entire game as a new golfer, I knew my preferences would change, but then potentially require an absolutely new set of clubs. No idea why golfing is even in my home page, but this is incredibly interesting, and glad to join your sub base... Subs are free, your passionate, the videos are well done, you deserve more!
This would be a perfect entry level driver for most. Rick, I feel that if this had a shaft more suited to your swing speed, it would totally outperform your Cobra. It was keeping up, as it turned out. I guess that we don’t need to be spending over 3 times the cost for major brands.
@@jonbrollinsface2420 Agreed. I think big names are more worthwhile because of warranty && sizing at this point. The biggest issue with something like this - in my opinion - is that you don't have the option to get it fitted for you. A properly fitted club in terms of loft, lie, length, flex, and grip is what gives the biggest perfomance boosts when you look at a lot of modern clubs. If you look at the Stealth vs SIM 2, or LTDx vs F9, the distance gaIns aren't really massive. Buying new lets you get it tuned for you though, which helps a ton with consistency. Of course you could get a used club sized in, but when you add up the cost of the club, shaft, grips, and fitting, it ends up getting closer to the cost of a new club. The difference in price can be viewed as the warranty/service costs for a new club I suppose. Anywho, thats a longwinded explanation. I think new, fitted clubs are a great idea for most people, but there's no need to do it every year. I plan on getting a Rogue or LTDx soon, and expcet it to be my main driver for probably 3-5+ years (unless there's some groundbreaking technology that boosts distance or forgiveness). This golden club is definitely a great starter club in my eyes, as it'll still perform plenty well when hit right, and it'd make for a great tool until someone can afford to get a proper fitting.
@@williamturner9450 I’ve been using an r9 for a few years (driver and 5 wood) and some burner irons. I will probably be getting a stealth, sim 2, or a ping fitted in the next month or 2 because I stopped playing baseball and football. Golf is the only sport left and I didn’t think of it as more of hobby until now. Fitted clubs definitely matter when competition is there, thank you for the insight.
This driver is now $290 in Canada. The main problem with this stuff is that there is no trustable history to back it up. I'd rather buy locally...even if buying outside of the major brands, as you are more likely to at least get a very durable product...and a fitted product. I use Founders Club stuff...from Golftown...at just over $500 for the set when I bought them...and the clubs are all pretty decent...nothing to complain about...and it's not like taking a shot in the dark with clubs from some place in China that has no corporate presence at all in the golf scene here in either North America or Europe.
Bought a brand new TaylorMade SLDR "C" (non-adjustable) for about those prices ($105 & £85) here in South Africa about 2 years ago. Hit a 306metre drive just this past weekend (hard winter fairways helped, lol). But for the most part I keep it straight - 250m - 260m drives on average and I didn't have to break the bank! I do think golf club prices are heavily overpriced and for all the improved tech and innovation - it doesn't result in much greater results as advertised.. Thanks as always for the video and great content Rick!! 👊🏼
My Honma broke in fall and my mom just got me this until I find another driver. This thing might just be my go to for the next couple seasons! Can’t wait to hit it!
I’d love to see the results of a higher handicap golfer putting these side by side as well. Rick, you were smashing these way out there with both, but is the Cobra substantially more forgiving, or is this really a situation where us more amateur players are far better saving some money on the clubs, and putting that into green fees and lessons?
Great video. Seeing the difference (or lack thereof) in premium clubs and off-the-shelf clubs will lead novice golfers to trust their ability to play instead of relying on expensive clubs. I for one will play more golf now.
@Flatus Antiquitous he is probably not headed out to the tour. But if you start outdriving your buddies then they are gonna ask. Soon your longer drives will be accompanied by, it's a cheater club by your buddies.
As ever Rick, a great video proving what most here have said.. it's the swing, not what is being swung... but what I don't get is why the world thinks an expensive club MUST be made with more expensive materials than a cheaper one.. Price is what people will pay, its NOT a calculation based on cost, so as long as you guys keep buying $500 drivers, big brands will sell them to you for $500, whether it cost them $20 or $200 to make... most of your money goes into sponsorship/ marketing not exotic materials... or making gold putters for pro's if you buy Ping...
Totally baffled me that video. Your enthusiasm and honesty made it such a great video.i would buy one just to get noticed all for the wrong reasons. If I could put ear defenders on that would solve any noise issues. Thoroughly enjoyable.
yesss...thats what I am saying since I ve started golfing. As a mechanical engineer I always look for fir clubs after study particular technical characteristics...I have a Taylormade SIM, I love the way it feels and sound...but a few days ago I bought an Acer XV brand new driver from a local clubs assembler (Argentina), this driver was made in 2017 by an american golf club maker in USA (Hireko Golf) and it is amazing for only U$S 80 !! I am literally smashing it in the southest golf course of south america
I brought a Mazel driver (black rather than gold) last year and have loved it, hit some of my best drives with it and miss it since switching to a callaway x hot.. just goes to show doesn’t it!
I remember when I first started playing golf aged 15, I bought a set of golf clubs with some money i'd inherited. It was my grandmother's wishes that I should spend it on something I enjoyed, and id been 'playing' golf for a year with a set bought at a bootfair. I remember spending all of the money on the irons , the putter and the bag (not that it was a great deal of money anyway) but i neglected the driver, solely because it was something id never really used at that age. After a search online for an affordable driver to complete my bag, I bought a RAM driver (much to the consternation of my friends). I can distinctly remember a friend of mine (who is now a club pro and a scratch golfer) hitting a ghastly shot off of the tee with his driver, which i'm sure was' top notch'. He saw me hit a shot down the fairway with my tiny headed RAM driver and asked to borrow it for a swing. I obliged of course, he then found the green of a par four. He was surprised, I wasn't. For me this driver worked and for him this driver worked (he hit it sweetly a couple more times over the course of the same round). Sometimes its not about investment, its about buying a driver that will do the job. No extra yardage, no adjustable weights or angles, just a driver that will put you further down there than your irons do.
I played with a $45 driver I got at Walmart when I was in my 'I Hate Drivers' phase and played it for 4 years. Hit it just as well as my partners hit their $400+ drivers. I've played Calloways, Lynx, Ping before I bought the cheap one and finally settled on a TaylorMade M3. Love it.
So why are we paying $550 in the states for the latest and greatest drivers from the BIG 3? Let me get this straight it's 2 yards behind one of the best drivers of 2019, more accurate, and looks oh so good. Oh my. More fairways > bad sound.
@@dick4412 Wow did not know that! Just assumed because of the mark up in price they had to be made in the US, had to look it up. It looks like they export parts to the US and assemble, so most of the price added on is just for a 'brand name'. I guess that you're paying for a service as well if you go into the shop and test things out and get fitted/clubs adjusted etc. It might also be that it helps keep people with 'money' in golf while excluding those who don't, because let's be honest it's not a cheap sport to get into and once you are it doesn't get cheaper with memberships.
Because we are paying $100 for the club, $200 for the reputation, and the other $250 for the pro sponsors that make us really want it. Mazel doesn't have the reputation or pro sponsorships.
Vick Braden's comment about tennis rackets comes to mind when trying to answer your question about the choice of drivers. "Good players can hit the ball with a spoon." He also used to say, tongue in cheek, that "this racket has no backhand" :-).
I just started golfing this year, I have a set of clubs from 1998, and a 2007 Tour Edge 460 driver. I had a TERRIBLE slice, but your videos (and some practice) straightened me out and I drive the ball about 250-270 now. 80% fairways the last time i played! Now if I could stop 3 putting i would be tearing up the course!
The only thing I would have done differently, is I would have had the other golfers hit the club a few times BEFORE I asked them what they thought it cost. Otherwise honestly that driver doesn't seem that bad really.
I actually have that same exact watch, except that mine is an INVICTA and was only $120. Same blue dial with gold down the center of the band. 6 years later and it still looks brand new and works fantastically.
Rick, love the content! Had to go on Amazon to take a look and couldn't help but laugh when I noted the company is using screenshots from your video in the product gallery!
Finally a video that got me to subscribed. Not everyone plays enough or has enough money to spend on a premium club. Don’t always bash cheap clubs. Some people can only afford the cheap club but they enjoy the game
I would be interested in seeing you review Pine Meadows irons and drivers. I bought some of their chipping wedges off of Amazon for $30 a piece and was fairly impressed. I'm wondering how they would stack up for entry level players.
Rick i absolutely love videos like this that you do like the gimmick golf tech and cool finds like this they are some of your best videos thanks keep it up
Rick, lots of tools have a gold color titanium coating that looks just like this. Very smart, they use this on drillbits etc, very durable. Cool to see it on a driver. Great video
I've been using an old cobra you can get for 10 quid at the moment. I regularly hit 300+ with it. Price is irrelevant if you're shit at using the thing.
Taylormade has made the longest drivers for years, but fragile. I've been caving in faces on TM clubs since the SuperSteel models. Recently broke M1 & M2 ( same day!!) and now I'm hitting the Cobra F8 with no problems. Love the channel Rick....would like to see a video on the effects of Guinness on the golf swing.
The club really doesn't make that much of a difference, it's how good you are as a player. A pro like you with a $20 club will outplay a casual like me with a $2000 club
As a non golfer (me), that dude didn’t want to hit it cause it was cheap? What’s his problem? I think it makes him look worse turning his nose up at something rather than having a good time... guess we’ll have to remember him as the guy who thought the club was 10 times more expensive and had a one size too small jacket.
Interesting discussion about how hard it is to buy clubs from a golf shop. It takes me weeks of using clubs to really get to know them and learn to use them to the best of my (limited) abilities. That makes it really difficult to choose anything with any confidence, even with a fitting. That driver though, for £90 is worth a punt either way!!
That’s what happened to Nike golf clubs. They paid some pro 300 Million! How they can justify that is beyond me. According to the video, they quit the market 3 years later...
A few years back I bought a driver for my daughter. Gold face ibella bellisima driver. The most beautiful woman’s driver I had ever seen. Candy apple red with the gold face and roses on it. My daughter used to crush this driver too. Got it thru Hireko golf. I checked the website but now I think they just make a pink one now. But do some digging around and look for this driver. It’s absolutely beautiful.
Was amazed the other day. One of my mates offered me a shot of some Taylormade R9 irons. Really liked the clubs but noticed theres a misprint on the 9 iron. Taylormad. It’s etched into the club with the ‘e’ missing. Wonder if they’re worth more or less because of that.
In fishing and golfing and any sport people think if they spend more money they’ll play better but no. You have to get better yourself that’s how it always it and will stay that way
This reminds me of the Cleveland Classic driver introduced maybe ten years ago to mimic the looks of a persimmon driver. The middle area of the face was a copper color. I have one in 9*, 43 gram Miyazaki shaft.
I’ve watched a lot of your videos Rick and my primary takeaway has been “the clubs don’t really matter at the beginning, you need to learn how to swing and control your swing first” then buy clubs that help improve your game after that.
It’s a great driver head. I bought it! Yes grip smells. Gold looks like one Cleveland made few years back. The shaft is shorter and more controllable. But is it conforming ??
Who do you think makes the *BEST* drivers?
Cobra
Every company has it's pros and cons in regards to drivers
Rick Shiels Golf Cobra !! Come from Instagram Rick, love your videos, keep up the amazing work !!
Love you rick
Ping
You should have let them hit it before telling them the price to rid any placebo effect.
True!
Was looking for this comment specifically. I double down with you VL. Totally should've let these guys have a go at it first.
Aside from the teaching videos, the equipment tests are my favorite because it spares people from making purchases based solely on what they see advertised. So many new clubs on the market, I appreciate you Rick for the tests on the so-called "latest and greatest" equipment.
Everyone is online buying gold drivers and balls that only go straight now 😂😂😂
😂 imagine!
@@RickShielsPGA can't wait find a straight ball in the trees at my course lol. That gold driver tho 😂 could you not brought this out b4 I got the F9 lol I'd of been quids in lol
@Jim Watson oh Jim......😆😆😆😆
Haha. I nearly bought the golf balls the other day but after reading some inconsistent reviews I thought I better just learn to drive better. I see they're all out of stock now so must have had a surge. I heard the company filed for bankruptcy anyway so aren't making anymore.🤔
sjmgolf_ break80 I googled both 😂
My golf partner saw your video some time ago and bought one he plays off 15. He's gained 30yrds on his drive. He showed our other partner who plays off 6. He tried it and gained 40yds. Now are both proud owners of a new drivers. I'm sticking to my ping . As I still out hit the 15 handicapper and I'm off 15.7 and 75yrs old. Love your videos. Dave B . Chichester West Sussex
Surprised how close it got to the Cobra, would be interesting to see how long it would last at high performance levels or would cheaper materials fade quickly.
I'd like to see if it was still gold with 1000 shots put through it
Even if it did break down after some time you could go buy another and still be cheaper than the Cobra, hell you could buy 3.
It will burst much faster than the cobra
Everyone who bought the $400 Cobra says this club won't last. Lol.
Either way its the entry cost that beginning golfers would be interested in. Any cost savings just to find out if you even like the game, every penny is worth it.
Hey my name is Joe and been playing golf for 5 years now. Ive had not had any hands on lessons but ive been watching you since the day I started. Watching reviews and lessons on how to hit drivers, long irons and wedges. I'm now a single diget handicapper. So thanks for all of your tips and insight. I owe alot of my golf game to your youtube swinging lessons. So once again thank you. Now on another note, I hope big named golf brands see videos like this one and start to lower their price point on their clubs. They are charging way to much for their clubs and there are clubs that perform just as well for a much lower price. Id like to see if I can get my handicap to lower just a little more but I cant afford to upgrade my clubs due to cost... Keep helping to get the cost down. Thanks sir and best wishes
I would have like to see you tell the guys the specs, have them drive a few, guess the price, and then the Big Price Reveal! Great video as always! Cheers From Vancouver, WA.!
Golf club prices are one of the biggest marketing scams of all sports equipment.
Anything with the word golf in.... Under armour sell a golf polo shirt about 70 quid. The exact same polo in Costco without the word golf is 22.99
@Truth That's the Truth
When I’m in Ross checking out the discount UA/PGA/Nike golf apparel I find a nice color scheme and along comes my S.O. with “is that your little golf costume” and I immediately put it back. Apparently salmon pink and sky blue don’t look great on a 300lb Hawaiian lmao
hockey sticks too
Still playing 2004 Big Bertha Titanium woods and driver, I have yet to find anything better. No need to spend the money.
Rick once again proves it ain't the arrow it's the Indian. I think he could hit 300-yard drives with a mop
Absolutely correct. I know a guy that can make a Ukulele sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan. When I played it, it sounded like a Ukulele! Probably would get the same results with the gold driver!
So true - the fact that he could adjust to that whippy shaft so quickly just proves his swing does the work - not the club!
Brian Smith with a mop lmao 🤣
Something tells me Rick has hit a 300 yard bomb with a mop. LOL
True, but the interesting thing was the consistency of the cheap one. Are some of the big name drivers now getting too technical to set themselves apart, and inconsistency that the player needs to overcome🤔
I retired 3 years ago and this spring started playing golf after a 20 year absence... My arms were like spaghetti... I'd hit the ground 6" behind the ball or maybe completely miss over the ball... I'd start playing
about 6"30am because I didn't want anyone to see me... I've averaged 5 times per week since April... I'm finally getting some consistency and watch a lot of golf videos trying to learn... I wish I had your smooth swing..... thanks for the video
Would love to see you and a few other pro’s do a round with a budget set of clubs each. This was another great video from you!
I bought this driver a few months ago. I'm pretty new to the sport and thought that £87 for a driver was really expensive! Glad to see it get a decent review
if you think a 87 driver is expensive, you are in for a shock of golf clubs
Wrong sport for you then mate 😂
That guy that wouldn’t even hit a club priced under $100 sounds like a massive tool
He's afraid to shoot that thing further than his 600$ driver.
He also wears shorts with leggings ! What is the point ?
Why not wear trousers 🤔
Guy with the pineapple t shirt has a $20k rolex on (or a knock off i suppose), I wouldn't use cheap shit either ;)
Exactly the kind of guy companies like PXG cater to lol
@@Chadltodd not a rolex...glass is too reflective.
Rick
Just bought it from Amazon. I believe at my current golf game I'm not ready to spend $400 - $500 fir a driver.
I kept in mind that this driver is not a branded club...but per your video gave me hope I can be effective on my drives...and didn't cost me a third of a branded club.
I will follow up when I receive the club to let you know how it help or not on my drives.
Great video as always. I’m just getting into golf and golf shops are very confusing and intimidating. Your videos have helped me make a few buying decisions though - picked up some second hand clubs and taking some lessons now. Keep up the good content!
Just bought the Gold Driver from Amazon last week Rick, just took it to the driving range today. Felt kinda funky for a bit. Finally found my stride with it and WOW! My last drives went right down the pipe, straight as an arrow!!! Where I golf, the putting green is behind the driving range and I could hear folks saying "OH WOW"! Never had that happen before. Can't wait to try the irons!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man your, content, editing, flow of your vids recently have been stratospheric. You have taken every aspect of your vids to a whole new level. I’m hooked. Very well done.
Thanks Stu
As someone getting BACK into golf after 10 years.. I have both the PGX Offset and now this Mazel titanium driver.. and the Mazel is by far superior, titanium head (not alloy) still has the offset head (which i like).. was able to get a stiff shaft (PGX only available in R) and it does come with a headcover now!
A Chinese business man in the export trade , playing on the West Links at Northberwick (tourist golfer) assured me that the factory out the door price for a M2 tailormade driver would be the equivalent of around $28 in Guangdong china
Guandong for holiday this year then
There’s no doubt. They could have a “sale” and give you a three wood and hybrid of the same model for 499.99 and make a killing still.
@@BrandonGavin_EDC The mark up on golf equipment is ridiculous and keeps going higher because people will pay it. Supply and demand.
I got told by a man once , who was in the golf trade that the Odyssey 2 ball putter cost about 28 quid to make , that was a few years ago , but it does make you wonder ??
Then you realize the brand on the club says "Tailermaid."
Lol. I saw that club and thought it looked familiar. It is the same brand driver I just replaced in my bag.
Just checked the model. Mine is also a Z35, 9.5 degree loft. It is the exact same club.
It is not a bad club, but I have had it for a couple years and decided to upgrade to Callaway.
you know when you're down the driving range and you see a random broken driver shaft in the bin.......
Literally every time I go
Enjoyed this one a lot. As a young boy and man I never bought the best equipment. My 3 and 5 wood are Tour Edge titanium with Aldila Rogue shafts. Saw the shafts on Hireko Golf for $285.00 each. Bought both clubs for $49.00 each. Amazing what you can get on sale.
Reminds me of the Goldwin drivers. I recall some of their drivers were almost all gold. I remember a friend having one in the early 2000's.
Man I loved goldwin woods back in the late 90s. All aluminum head. They felt so nice.
When I was younger I had a gold driver. Don't know what brand it was or what angle or anything, but the whole head aside from the face was gold including the whole shaft. Even had a gold and black twisting grip.
The amazon club doesn’t sponsor a top touring pro....that is the difference.
You brought up one of my main painpoints with golfing right around the 8:00 mark. I did a few golfing camps with range clubs back in my high school days, and I noticed a huge difference between manufacturers, heads, sizes, etc... I noticed ridiculously dramatic result differences between clubs. But then once I began researching... it's just not only such an expensive, subjective preference, but also can make or break you're entire game as a new golfer, I knew my preferences would change, but then potentially require an absolutely new set of clubs.
No idea why golfing is even in my home page, but this is incredibly interesting, and glad to join your sub base... Subs are free, your passionate, the videos are well done, you deserve more!
This would be a perfect entry level driver for most. Rick, I feel that if this had a shaft more suited to your swing speed, it would totally outperform your Cobra. It was keeping up, as it turned out. I guess that we don’t need to be spending over 3 times the cost for major brands.
Definitely not, you have to factor in: warranty, not name brand, a second hand driver would be so much better.
@@jonbrollinsface2420 Agreed. I think big names are more worthwhile because of warranty && sizing at this point. The biggest issue with something like this - in my opinion - is that you don't have the option to get it fitted for you. A properly fitted club in terms of loft, lie, length, flex, and grip is what gives the biggest perfomance boosts when you look at a lot of modern clubs. If you look at the Stealth vs SIM 2, or LTDx vs F9, the distance gaIns aren't really massive. Buying new lets you get it tuned for you though, which helps a ton with consistency. Of course you could get a used club sized in, but when you add up the cost of the club, shaft, grips, and fitting, it ends up getting closer to the cost of a new club. The difference in price can be viewed as the warranty/service costs for a new club I suppose.
Anywho, thats a longwinded explanation. I think new, fitted clubs are a great idea for most people, but there's no need to do it every year. I plan on getting a Rogue or LTDx soon, and expcet it to be my main driver for probably 3-5+ years (unless there's some groundbreaking technology that boosts distance or forgiveness). This golden club is definitely a great starter club in my eyes, as it'll still perform plenty well when hit right, and it'd make for a great tool until someone can afford to get a proper fitting.
@@williamturner9450 I’ve been using an r9 for a few years (driver and 5 wood) and some burner irons. I will probably be getting a stealth, sim 2, or a ping fitted in the next month or 2 because I stopped playing baseball and football. Golf is the only sport left and I didn’t think of it as more of hobby until now. Fitted clubs definitely matter when competition is there, thank you for the insight.
This driver is now $290 in Canada. The main problem with this stuff is that there is no trustable history to back it up. I'd rather buy locally...even if buying outside of the major brands, as you are more likely to at least get a very durable product...and a fitted product. I use Founders Club stuff...from Golftown...at just over $500 for the set when I bought them...and the clubs are all pretty decent...nothing to complain about...and it's not like taking a shot in the dark with clubs from some place in China that has no corporate presence at all in the golf scene here in either North America or Europe.
Bought a brand new TaylorMade SLDR "C" (non-adjustable) for about those prices ($105 & £85) here in South Africa about 2 years ago.
Hit a 306metre drive just this past weekend (hard winter fairways helped, lol).
But for the most part I keep it straight - 250m - 260m drives on average and I didn't have to break the bank!
I do think golf club prices are heavily overpriced and for all the improved tech and innovation - it doesn't result in much greater results as advertised..
Thanks as always for the video and great content Rick!! 👊🏼
Bought a Bozily rangefinder from Amazon & I was impressed so far, saved myself about $200 compared to the big boys
My Honma broke in fall and my mom just got me this until I find another driver. This thing might just be my go to for the next couple seasons! Can’t wait to hit it!
I’d love to see the results of a higher handicap golfer putting these side by side as well. Rick, you were smashing these way out there with both, but is the Cobra substantially more forgiving, or is this really a situation where us more amateur players are far better saving some money on the clubs, and putting that into green fees and lessons?
Great video. Seeing the difference (or lack thereof) in premium clubs and off-the-shelf clubs will lead novice golfers to trust their ability to play instead of relying on expensive clubs. I for one will play more golf now.
Is it legal for play in R&A and USGA events? If so I'm somewhat impressed
@Flatus Antiquitous he is probably not headed out to the tour. But if you start outdriving your buddies then they are gonna ask. Soon your longer drives will be accompanied by, it's a cheater club by your buddies.
As ever Rick, a great video proving what most here have said.. it's the swing, not what is being swung... but what I don't get is why the world thinks an expensive club MUST be made with more expensive materials than a cheaper one.. Price is what people will pay, its NOT a calculation based on cost, so as long as you guys keep buying $500 drivers, big brands will sell them to you for $500, whether it cost them $20 or $200 to make... most of your money goes into sponsorship/ marketing not exotic materials... or making gold putters for pro's if you buy Ping...
I'm impressed that a stock £90 driver matched your custom fit cobra but would the £90 one out perform the cobra if it custom fitted?
Not only that - try adding a decent grip and experiment with different weights on the gold club
All I can say is Rick. You are an excellent golfer. And you are one of the best ball strikers I've ever seen.
It’s not the bow it’s the archer...Work on your swing folks and it doesn’t matter what driver you buy
RIDINPINESHOW well I mean to an extent, I’m not gonna be smashing 300 yard drives with a set of woodies.
Totally baffled me that video. Your enthusiasm and honesty made it such a great video.i would buy one just to get noticed all for the wrong reasons. If I could put ear defenders on that would solve any noise issues. Thoroughly enjoyable.
U where my inspiration to play golf and now I love golf. Thank you.
I love that you aren't bias. You play with hundreds of clubs and aren't afraid to speak up for some off brand product. Thanks!
I miss seeing the numbers on the Quad. because at the end of the day when you buy a driver you test it indoors on a launch monitor
yesss...thats what I am saying since I ve started golfing. As a mechanical engineer I always look for fir clubs after study particular technical characteristics...I have a Taylormade SIM, I love the way it feels and sound...but a few days ago I bought an Acer XV brand new driver from a local clubs assembler (Argentina), this driver was made in 2017 by an american golf club maker in USA (Hireko Golf) and it is amazing for only U$S 80 !! I am literally smashing it in the southest golf course of south america
I love when you involve local golfers
Thanks!
So fun, I don't care about golf more than mayve 2% but i found your channel and just bingewatch your stuff.
So Rick, are you telling us that the $100 driver performed as well as your $400 driver with a $300 shaft that was fitted for you🤣🤣🤣....Hello Amazon
Skip Pruitt You’d be surprised generally how little difference there is in driver performance across the board.
Yep! That is exactly what he's saying!
@@Jride247 Really goes to show how important testing is, not just buying the top of the line equipment
Go fishing for Carp.
Wow. I don't even play golf and I'm now addicted to *your* golf review and comparison vids.
Nice job. Says *a lot* about your content. 👍
When's the next match with Finch? Love those vids
I brought a Mazel driver (black rather than gold) last year and have loved it, hit some of my best drives with it and miss it since switching to a callaway x hot.. just goes to show doesn’t it!
I remember when I first started playing golf aged 15, I bought a set of golf clubs with some money i'd inherited. It was my grandmother's wishes that I should spend it on something I enjoyed, and id been 'playing' golf for a year with a set bought at a bootfair.
I remember spending all of the money on the irons , the putter and the bag (not that it was a great deal of money anyway) but i neglected the driver, solely because it was something id never really used at that age.
After a search online for an affordable driver to complete my bag, I bought a RAM driver (much to the consternation of my friends). I can distinctly remember a friend of mine (who is now a club pro and a scratch golfer) hitting a ghastly shot off of the tee with his driver, which i'm sure was' top notch'. He saw me hit a shot down the fairway with my tiny headed RAM driver and asked to borrow it for a swing. I obliged of course, he then found the green of a par four. He was surprised, I wasn't.
For me this driver worked and for him this driver worked (he hit it sweetly a couple more times over the course of the same round). Sometimes its not about investment, its about buying a driver that will do the job. No extra yardage, no adjustable weights or angles, just a driver that will put you further down there than your irons do.
I played with a $45 driver I got at Walmart when I was in my 'I Hate Drivers' phase and played it for 4 years. Hit it just as well as my partners hit their $400+ drivers. I've played Calloways, Lynx, Ping before I bought the cheap one and finally settled on a TaylorMade M3. Love it.
So why are we paying $550 in the states for the latest and greatest drivers from the BIG 3? Let me get this straight it's 2 yards behind one of the best drivers of 2019, more accurate, and looks oh so good. Oh my. More fairways > bad sound.
Because the cost of labour is crazy cheap in China. Cost nothing to make because people are paid practically nothing to make it.
@@BRITAN21stGUY All the OEM products are made in China so what's ur point? Callaway, Taylor made, Titlist etc, all made in China.
@@dick4412 Wow did not know that! Just assumed because of the mark up in price they had to be made in the US, had to look it up. It looks like they export parts to the US and assemble, so most of the price added on is just for a 'brand name'. I guess that you're paying for a service as well if you go into the shop and test things out and get fitted/clubs adjusted etc. It might also be that it helps keep people with 'money' in golf while excluding those who don't, because let's be honest it's not a cheap sport to get into and once you are it doesn't get cheaper with memberships.
He hit 4 shots, the 80 dollar club may crack after 20. It may also be a hidden gem
Because we are paying $100 for the club, $200 for the reputation, and the other $250 for the pro sponsors that make us really want it. Mazel doesn't have the reputation or pro sponsorships.
Vick Braden's comment about tennis rackets comes to mind when trying to answer your question about the choice of drivers. "Good players can hit the ball with a spoon." He also used to say, tongue in cheek, that "this racket has no backhand" :-).
You should test the 2019 HAMMER 500 Z DRIVER. Apparently it will add 60 yards to your drive
I just started golfing this year, I have a set of clubs from 1998, and a 2007 Tour Edge 460 driver. I had a TERRIBLE slice, but your videos (and some practice) straightened me out and I drive the ball about 250-270 now. 80% fairways the last time i played! Now if I could stop 3 putting i would be tearing up the course!
I don't even really like golf but i respect the sport but ive been binge watching alot of your vids 😂😂 you might of brung in someone new to the sport
He definitely brought me into the sport. I’ve been going to the driving range for the past few weekends with my super cheap second hand clubs
I don't know if they have improved on them in the three since you reviewed this, but I just bought an all black one. I love your UA-cam content.
How is it?
The only thing I would have done differently, is I would have had the other golfers hit the club a few times BEFORE I asked them what they thought it cost. Otherwise honestly that driver doesn't seem that bad really.
Great review Rick. I am a firm believer that my technique has a much greater influence over my shots (both good and bad) than the equipment I use.
"is that too flash?"
He asks the man wearing a Rolex Submariner.
ikr, no taste
@@milkman3213 well that was uncalled for...
Griffin Heaps wasnt very clear?? Watching in 144 p my guy
I actually have that same exact watch, except that mine is an INVICTA and was only $120. Same blue dial with gold down the center of the band. 6 years later and it still looks brand new and works fantastically.
He probably doesn't even dive, like most guys wearing Sumbariners.
Rick, love the content! Had to go on Amazon to take a look and couldn't help but laugh when I noted the company is using screenshots from your video in the product gallery!
If you get a chance you should test the Oncore Metal Core golf ball... would be interesting I think.
Finally a video that got me to subscribed. Not everyone plays enough or has enough money to spend on a premium club. Don’t always bash cheap clubs. Some people can only afford the cheap club but they enjoy the game
I would be interested in seeing you review Pine Meadows irons and drivers. I bought some of their chipping wedges off of Amazon for $30 a piece and was fairly impressed. I'm wondering how they would stack up for entry level players.
don't ask this guy then, he can really only evaluate from a pro's perspective... which is probably why everything comes out so similar
Haven't played golf for 20 years but can't stop watching your videos. Might just have to play a round again, I'll bet I'm not as good as I used to be!
Hey rick love the content , please post more, (course vlogs)!!!
Rick i absolutely love videos like this that you do like the gimmick golf tech and cool finds like this they are some of your best videos thanks keep it up
7:46 I bet that blue and red top went straight in the bin after this was uploaded! 😂
Totally surprised Rik great demonstration. No gimmicks from you as usual. Thank you
I think you just sold a lot of gold drivers on Amazon I might be looking for one LOL
😂
I think they sold out, I can't even find it!
I'm not seeing this driver on Amazon in the U.S. but I do like the looks of it. Most average golfers could play this driver and be happy.
There's some on eBay.... Quick.....
Out of stock in Spain
Rick, lots of tools have a gold color titanium coating that looks just like this. Very smart, they use this on drillbits etc, very durable. Cool to see it on a driver. Great video
I've been using an old cobra you can get for 10 quid at the moment. I regularly hit 300+ with it. Price is irrelevant if you're shit at using the thing.
Taylormade has made the longest drivers for years, but fragile. I've been caving in faces on TM clubs since the SuperSteel models. Recently broke M1 & M2 ( same day!!) and now I'm hitting the Cobra F8 with no problems. Love the channel Rick....would like to see a video on the effects of Guinness on the golf swing.
The club really doesn't make that much of a difference, it's how good you are as a player. A pro like you with a $20 club will outplay a casual like me with a $2000 club
But two peeps with rhe same skills, but one of them have 2000$ equipment and one has 200$ equipment, the 2000$ guy would perform better
@@valpstik I'd actually doubt that, it'd make such a small difference that it wouldn't outweigh the difference due to human error
Rick, good to see the unknown brands.
Looks flash, I'm only interested in it doing the job.
Looks like a job well done.
Excellent review.
As a non golfer (me), that dude didn’t want to hit it cause it was cheap? What’s his problem? I think it makes him look worse turning his nose up at something rather than having a good time... guess we’ll have to remember him as the guy who thought the club was 10 times more expensive and had a one size too small jacket.
I thought the same as you, made himself look a bit of a dick there don't you think.
Didn't want to come to the realization he spent way too much money on his driver. Like most all of us have.....
Interesting discussion about how hard it is to buy clubs from a golf shop. It takes me weeks of using clubs to really get to know them and learn to use them to the best of my (limited) abilities. That makes it really difficult to choose anything with any confidence, even with a fitting.
That driver though, for £90 is worth a punt either way!!
All drivers should cost $100 the only reason why big name golf companies charge so much $$$ is to able to pay pro golfers millions of $$$
They all are, just have to wait 3 years and buy used.
That’s what happened to Nike golf clubs. They paid some pro 300 Million! How they can justify that is beyond me. According to the video, they quit the market 3 years later...
Just bought one! Hope it works as well as it did for you. Thanks for your honest appraisal.
A few years back I bought a driver for my daughter. Gold face ibella bellisima driver. The most beautiful woman’s driver I had ever seen. Candy apple red with the gold face and roses on it. My daughter used to crush this driver too. Got it thru Hireko golf. I checked the website but now I think they just make a pink one now. But do some digging around and look for this driver. It’s absolutely beautiful.
Joe Garza from the sounds of that color scheme, put an Ironman arc reactor on the back of that thing and I’d buy the hell out of it lol
Tim Lol. I think everyone would buy it if it looked like that. 😂
I havent touched a golf club in over 5 years and this guy has still drawn me in to watching majority of his videos...
Gold driver:
Sorry this item is out of stock 😂
Was amazed the other day. One of my mates offered me a shot of some Taylormade R9 irons.
Really liked the clubs but noticed theres a misprint on the 9 iron. Taylormad.
It’s etched into the club with the ‘e’ missing.
Wonder if they’re worth more or less because of that.
I bought a fleshlight online. It's pretty good
🤣😂
Do you have to squeeze KY or Vaseline into those things?
How bright is it?
What shaft, stiff ?
In fishing and golfing and any sport people think if they spend more money they’ll play better but no. You have to get better yourself that’s how it always it and will stay that way
Can’t really call it entry level when it’s as good as the Cobra driver!!
lol this just goes to show that you are a better golfer than most of us out here! That thing sounds louder/higher pitched than the old square drivers!
Another great video Rick! Thanks for reviewing all these lesser known products that most of us are curious about. 👍
Thanks so much for watching!
This reminds me of the Cleveland Classic driver introduced maybe ten years ago to mimic the looks of a persimmon driver. The middle area of the face was a copper color. I have one in 9*, 43 gram Miyazaki shaft.
Did you know that in the Amazon listing is using images of you from this video? Lol
It's good to see stills from this video on Amazon. Almost like Rick's become a spokesperson for Mazel.
Need to start putting referral links to amazon in the description. Get those $$$
Very surprised with the gold driver !!! I enjoy watching all your helping and teaching videos , thank you !!!
Next year Rick, you and Pete, “Amazon Challenge”. Who can win with the cheapest on line clubs. And balls! Cheers.
I’ve watched a lot of your videos Rick and my primary takeaway has been “the clubs don’t really matter at the beginning, you need to learn how to swing and control your swing first” then buy clubs that help improve your game after that.
Made for the Middle East players where everything is at least gold in color.
I wish Rick did more simulator tests. Would be great to see a larger sample size with all the stats
"I like gooooooollllllllllld"
It’s a great driver head. I bought it! Yes grip smells. Gold looks like one Cleveland made few years back. The shaft is shorter and more controllable. But is it conforming ??
I think you should have let them hit it, before you told them the price. Some people only think that something is good if its expensive. 😊
Totally agree: I was posting the same...