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I still remember the joy when I took the TaylorMade R1 out of the clearance box during a clearance sale in my freshman year. This is the first driver I bought myself, and it has been in my bag ever since. At every stop of my career—Texas, Colorado, Wisconsin, New York, clubs are my loyal partners. I use it to find people from dilapidated city halls to top 100 country clubs. Fairway. R1 has always been with me.
Unfortunately, all good things must end-and so does my relationship with the trusted R1. As the technological advancement of equipment becomes more powerful, R1 cannot keep up with the shiny new drivers released every year.
I knew it was time for a change. In any case, I am not a long distance player. If I want to avoid further lagging behind my peers in the distance department, I need a driver who does not sacrifice power.
With just excellent technology, taking another drive from the rack might give me some much-needed yardages, but if I were to replace the old reliable one, I would do it right. So, I decided to call my friends at GOLFTEC to try them on.
Nick Schiavo, my coach in New Jersey, helped me ease my swing this season. He once again provided his services and got me the right stick. At this point, he knows my swing as much as I do, so I believe he can make me wear the right equipment.
We started the process by clicking on my R1 multiple times to get some specifications of my current gamers. I averaged 238 yards per tee, a ball speed of 134 mph, and an offline hitting distance of 11 yards. These numbers reflect my game-short and straight-but I yearn for more power.
In the next hour and a half, I ran into too many drivers, breaking into the pale white screen one by one. After a series of particularly bad shots, I started to lose hope.
"Maybe the new technology is not for me," I said.
"This is part of the whole process," Nick told me.
Nick took a Ping G425 Max from the shelf and things started to get better. We started with a hard shaft with a weight similar to my current swing, but then we adjusted it to a regular tour shaft. Nick made some adjustments to the specifications of the head, and I started to play the best drive of my life.
My average drive started to touch 260, and when I grabbed it with a screw, the ball touched 275. It's like magic.
"I think we found your new driver," Nick said.
After several swings with Ping G425 Max, we checked the numbers with my old players. The results are shocking. I gained a distance of 23 yards and a ball speed of 7 mph, and my shot was straighter.
The new device will not solve all the problems in your game, but if you use a somewhat outdated driver like me, it can provide you with some much-needed distance.
Watch the full video above about my fitting experience, then click below to register for your own fitting!
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Zephyr Melton is the assistant editor of GOLF.com, where he blogs, produces and edits every day. Before joining the GOLF.com team, he studied at the University of Texas and then participated in the United States, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists in all matters of coaching, including amateur and women's golf.
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