How do you go about testing all the best drivers on the market?
Well, this year we decided to do things a bit differently.
We wanted to cover a range of abilities so the testing team comprised of myself, an 18 handicapper, and NCG editor Dan Murphy who plays off four.
We also thought it created a fairer test if myself and Dan were custom fit by each company so we could be put into the driver which worked best for us.
If me and Dan ended up in the same driver, that was no problem.
The last thing we wanted was me saying I couldn’t get on with a product because it’s aimed at a better players and Dan testing a product which clearly is not going to suit a 4 handicapper.
The custom-fit process also meant we had shafts, lofts and grips all tailored to our individual requirements.
After our custom-fit marathon, we tested the drivers on the excellent practice facilities at Moor Allerton in Leeds under the guidance of head pro James Whitaker.
We also used a Foresight GC2 launch monitor to help asses the performance of each product.
Here are the results. Click on each product for a detailed video review
JAMES SAVAGE’S GOLD MEDAL WINNER
Titleist 915 D2 – Video review
Dan Murphy’s GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Ping G30/G30 LS Tec – Video review
Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 – Video review
The (though not custom-fit for me) was already in the bag so it was going to take something special to replace it. After having my fitting, it just got even better. The good hits were as good as anything, it’s forgiving and is the best-sounding driver out there for me.
I immediately took to the . Great looks, feel and distance. And it’s nice when a product does exactly what it says on the tin. If it sounded as sweet as the 915 I’d really struggle to split them because these two are quite similar for me.
It was hard to only pick out three others but the super-fast is a product that everyone will enjoy hitting.
The was probably the longest on test for me and looks and feels superb.
