WHICH IS LONGEST?! 2024 LOW SPIN DRIVERS - Qi10 LS vs DarkSpeed LS vs Ai Smoke Triple Diamond

[@calebpenney4311]

Look at the dispersion on the Paradym though. Fit that one, adjust the weighting to get swing speed up for similar distance and it could easily be the winner. Might need a different shaft in that head also. I'm (finally) seeking dispersion instead of 5 more yards myself this year. 15 yards is a different story, but I bet a good fitter like yourself could make those all comparable distsnce wise. Super interesting, great video!

[@TheStoneyYoshi]

I was quite surprised in the swing speed loss in the Paradym. I got fit for the AI Smoke and I tried both the Max and the Triple Daimond and had no difference at all in my swing speed until the fitter had me try a noticeably heavier shaft than I was used to. I agree with what you said, a shaft change may resolve that slower speed.

[@JayJay-jx3zg]

Yup, match the swing weight to the cobras. Counterbalance or change up the weights.

[@terrymoore6784]

I have the LTD LS and am switching to the Qi10 LS . Both 9 degrees. Interestingly I did my own testing on the LTD and took the weights off the head, gained 9 yards with little dispersion change for me and I am commonly a solid fairway hitter of the tee. Currently just starting to hit the QI10 without the 19 gram weight. Seeing now real change in outcomes yet but that is only on the simulator. Thanks for the videos.

[@discr1709]

If you’re not making a living golfing, there’s no reason to change unless you simply like having the latest equipment. Love these videos, by the way!

[@Station2Station-du2gh]

Says whom? I play in the club championship each year at my golf club. If something fits me better than what I have, I change. Whether that be shaft, head, etc.. Didn't see it last year - we'll see this year. Early testing has the Qi10 LS being significantly more forgiving than my SIM2 with about 3mph more ball speed.

[@JayJay-jx3zg]

So you don’t want better dispersion and better ball speeds of the heel and toe for your misses?

[@HiiPeRxViiPeR]

unless you crack your driver face due to old age….

[@windyknot2094]

Great stuff. Especially for all of us with a club speed of 110 MPH +

[@johnweber6249]

I loved it…. I swing 115-120

[@lewisworley7830]

Fantastic insight to these drivers. I tried all 3 of these (the Max versions) and I couldnt hit the TM to save my life, really wanted the cobra but it didnt perform as good as the Smoke for me. As some other comments mentioned seeing a fitting for all 3 to tweak and improve each would be awesome to see. Liked, subscribed and looking forward to what else you do great stuff.

[@GolfRx]

COR limit has entered the chat! .. LTDx LS with tensei white is a beast for me! Not changing for another 3 years (I hope)

[@roondoggers87]

Got the same setup and it bombs

[@mattlee1071]

Same here but the top of the driver flew off at a simulator over the weekend. Waiting on the claim to get a new one.

[@tomtulach7977]

I would like to see the same video with you fitting him with shafts and then see the data do you think you can do that to see what difference between the two videos are then

[@epgolfstudios]

I'll ask him and see if he fancies a fitting video 👍

[@richdarlowgolf]

Exactly what i was thinking!

[@Ryglado]

Great video. It would be interesting to do a fitting with TJ to see if he can surpass his own driver.

[@golfnut6129]

Great comparison and interesting stats / results. I can see why some people shy away from the price point but a properly fitted driver that you know the history of (as opposed to second hand), provides confidence and consistency off the tee. I know a few people that change their driver more often than they change their underwear because they refuse to get fitted and buy new🤦‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️

[@AlexJonesInfo]

Great information excellent.Ltdx Ls going to swapped out for the Darkspeed LS

[@DavidSmith-ud8kd]

Great insight as going for a fitting Monday for a new driver. Currently using the LTDx. Would really be interesting to see improvements you would see if you fitted the Qi10 and changed the swing weight etc.

[@isthereanavailable]

I seen similar results, using same shaft, with AI Smoke that my swing speed was down, but I did like the Qi10 LS the most out of those 3 heads, just felt more comfortable with the head shape. It was a little bit better than my gamer, Stealth 2 +.

[@timmyinMB]

Love the video. Great work in comparing his original to the new models. He clearly liked the Qi10 more but didn’t gain on his original. Now do a follow up video where you take the Qi10 and Cobra LTDX and do an actual fitting video where you get the swing weight down. He clearly is impacted by SW.

[@epgolfstudios]

Yeah I have chatted to TJ about doing a fitting vid, we are both insanely busy but will see if we can get it done 👊 and that's the one negative to TM drivers not having adjustable weights, well I'm sure they do/will but TM won't send me any 🤷 so if someone does do better with a lighter swingweight I generally don't end up fitting them with the TM 😂

[@boston86fj60]

Very interesting presentation - I very much appreciate using the person's original driver LTDX LS as a comparison. I have that exact driver but replaced it with a TSR2 last year and generally have been very happy with the Titleist but recently observed while playing indoor winter golf that my spin rate was jumping up into the high 2000s. The next time I went I grabbed the LTDX LS from the garage and boom the spin rate dropped to sub 2500 and ball speed jumped 4 MPH consistently. The only caveat was Cobra was cutting much more than the Titleist. I remember this channel did an AeroJet LS vs. LTDX LS comparison and the Aerojet flew straighter whereas the LTDX LS had a "fade" bias. I much prefer the opposite flight - if I buy an AeroJet LS or even perhaps the DArkSpeed will I maintain the gains in ball speed and reduced spin as the LTDX LS?

[@ITS_BOBBY47]

Darkspeed...place the 12g toe weight in the heel to eliminate the high right spinny shots.

[@MrEasyaloha]

Exactly. Or take the backweight out, Swingweigth and maybe spin goes down

[@timbynum]

Doesn't it just become an X instead of LS at that point?

[@krismclinden4243]

The take away is the LTDx is the best driver of 2024, sweet, glad I have one!

[@colecole4774]

Got fit couple days ago for a new driver fitting and ended up not buying anything. Currently gaming G425 LST. Only the QiLS provided any distance improvement and lowered the spin. But it was only 3 yards average and dispersion wasn’t any better… even the fitter said it’s not worth the money. lol

[@flopshotking]

Looking at the end of this year to get fitted. End of year because I'm starting lessons in February, would it be OK to get fitted if my handicap is around 12 to 18? I will be coming to you at e.p golf studio

[@daverimmer271]

Great insight! Thank you

[@SvingitGolf]

I noticed that Qi10 LS was fast to. Also the Callaway I felt slow compared to Cobra, Taylormade and Titleist. Could you do a head two head with the Titleist TSr2 9* and the new drivers. I noticed that the TSr2 is really low spinning driver to be a forgiving driver. It also a fade machine in standard settings and the Tensei 1K Black 65X.

[@brendanstephens9581]

My question is, why is the efficiency so low with such centered strikes? Just got fitted into a smoke ◇◇◇ from my epic max ls. The epic was consistently 1.45 as long as Ihave had it. ◇◇◇ was instantly 1.47-1.49. Why is the ball speed so low with that club speed?

[@JFK1able]

All nice drivers but prefer the TSR3 you fitted me into, it seemed to have a little extra sauce to it .

[@quikcolin]

Something you need to consider is blasting driver for an hour straight is exhausting. When you're comparing his gamer to the Qi10 LS for example, his gamer was hit when he was fresh. The Qi10 LS was hit when he had like 45 swings into him already. I would be very curious what his swing speed/ball speed numbers would be if he went back with the Qi10 LS and the LTD gamer but hit the Taylormade first. Could be all the difference potentially. But like others have said, we're splitting hairs here.

[@mvansb23]

I wish the swing weights and total weights were matched so we could get a better idea whether aerodynamics get any credit for the difference in swing weights. I usually find head mass is a trade off. Lower swing speed but slightly better smash factor.

[@jergernice1]

question the toe weight on the darkspeed. especially since strikes were healy and all misses right??

[@epgolfstudios]

Yeah if it were a fitting video we certainly would have been playing around with that. For this video it was to directly compare against the set up he had. You kinda have to define the video before you start out or it gets too messy. We could have started playing with those weights, but could have done the same with the Qi10, put lighter weights in the Callaway ect ect, before you know it the video is an hour long.

[@jergernice1]

ive got popcorn @@epgolfstudios

[@SDGolfGuy]

Thought it was interesting that the ballspeed argument actually was influenced heavily by the change in paradym clubhead speed. He was nearly 3mph clubhead speed difference with it. Would've been interesting to see the numbers if CHS was the same.

[@epgolfstudios]

That's why I talk about efficiency so much. The efficency was the same with the newer clubs, which means if they all had the samw swing speed, the ball speeds would be the same.

[@SDGolfGuy]

@@epgolfstudios yep - it was interesting to see that only 2 swing weights caused a feel diff.

[@billburbank4314]

Great vid mate, as always. Marketing drives our need for the newest and best...and so many fitters out there to just book a sale. Wish Ping would work with you. Wonder what they are fearful of.

[@epgolfstudios]

Thanks Bill. Well we have a meeting with them soon so we will see how it goes 👀👀

[@billburbank4314]

@@epgolfstudios I have booked a swing eval session for next week, and go in much more educated thanks to your channel. He will perform a TPI first...which only now learned abt. Interesting. Then off to Trackman or whichever device he uses. Then a lesson plan, or nine hole on course session.

[@epgolfstudios]

@@billburbank4314 sounds great! Hope it gives you some great feedback 👍👍

[@jimwocha4949]

​@@epgolfstudioswaiting for Ping too. Currently gaming a 400 max and want to see if there's any point in changing. The 430 is in my radar.

[@golffreak68]

@@jimwocha4949 thats what i had and went to the 430 LST and its been the best driver iver ever had and way more forgiving than you might think, i did have the Stealth in between because i couldnt stand noise of the 425

[@zittyrrrs7082]

Interesting, but assuming his driver was fitted for him, surely you could play with the TaylorMade and get that swingweight down and maybe improve that short miss - because the potential of the the TM looked to me like it exceeded even his current driver...🤔

[@cameronloveless1751]

Any chance of a follow up video: LTDx vs Qi10 LS with the TM having D0 or D1 swing weight to match the Cobra ?

[@epgolfstudios]

That's one of the issues with the Qi10. I don't have adjustable weights. And even though I'm sure TM will have some they won't give them to me. So I can't reduce the head weight to match the Cobra. Which ultimately does put them at a bit of a disadvantage for a lot of players and essentially means I sell a lot less Taylormade drivers

[@cameronloveless1751]

@@epgolfstudios smart business decision by TaylorMade…. Not!

[@epgolfstudios]

@@cameronloveless1751 the logic of big brands mate 🤦😂

[@SweenBeanUK]

In terms of him hitting the Pro V1x. Does GC Quad read true ball data or is it generalised? And you can enter say a high spin or low spin ball on the program?

[@epgolfstudios]

Yeah GC Quad measures true spin based on what ball you are using. You cant manipulate the software, not as far as I know anyway

[@Erictheking66]

Was the weight in the heel in the Darkspeed?... looked like he was tracking the cog. Weight in the toe would would probably have been better

[@JC-zq8vk]

Love when these videos prove buying a new $600 driver is a waste of money and how there really is no benefit to buy a new driver.

[@juggernaut0629]

Been that way for years now.

[@adupuy]

Good stuff. Let's please get an average-speed golfer in the same kind of test, i.e., driver swing speeds of 95-105. I would happily volunteer, but Ohio is a bit too far down the road ;->

[@lkae4]

The LTD was the best a few years ago. Seems like it's still pretty good for you. But ball speed was higher with Darkspeed. Very interesting.

[@epgolfstudios]

That was mainly strike in all honesty. He just hit the LTD X higher in the face on average and that would be where the lack of ball speed would be coming from. Out the middle they would be the same.

[@kellycoates5027]

Everyone Ive seen on You Tube is saying that the Ping g430 10k max driver is a really low spin bomb as we'll. Through that in the mix and see what it'll do.

[@epgolfstudios]

Unfortunately we don't do Ping

[@CarlosSaintPatrick]

Swingweight matters people and very surprising to see Callaway so slow in the results.

[@SeanSimmons-c8h]

I've had the Ltdx LS for years now and nothing for me compared, ball speed, low spin and carry great.

[@pbcunha1]

I have 110+ ball speed and ordered a Qi10 core. Should I have ordered the LS?

[@epgolfstudios]

I'm assuming you mean swing speed? And I'm afraid I can't really help you there. Which model you need isn't really linked to swing speed, it's about how you actually deliver the club into impact. Only way to really know which is best is get fitted and get proper numbers on a Quad 👌

[@pbcunha1]

I typically struggle with adding too much dynamic loft and come in a little steeper

[@epgolfstudios]

@@pbcunha1 then yes LS would be better

[@rgrpncs]

Dispersion comparison?

[@terrykay7709]

I couldn't believe it. I thought my tsr2 was the holy grail. Tried Darkspeed LS , 7.5 STIFF , drives were 295 to 333, carry 278 to 295. Ball speed 162, smash factor 1.52, it not only kicked tsr2 out of my bag it body slammed it out , I'm 64 years old. 😊😊😊

[@paulsbox67]

Lofting down the ltdx probably be the best over all.

[@nealfreeman01]

With Callaway, you never see counter-balenced shafts put in them. Majority is Ventus or 1k.

[@will.m1110]

I need more spin

[@ccarlock8537]

That guys needs the left dash ball or 2023 prov1x or vice oro plus ball

[@epgolfstudios]

Really makes very little difference when it comes to driver in terms of initial spin rates. Maybe aero outside might be different but would need extensive testing

[@GRIFF22]

Good review. But it highlights that new releases are now just marketing hype. Driver heads have been maxed out for 3/4 years now.

[@Brooks_Cupcake]

No. It highlights that the gamer shaft for buddy isn’t a good fit, and he’s incredibly inefficient with driver

[@epgolfstudios]

Yes out the middle they haven't been quicker for a long time. But now they are also close to max forgiveness I believe too. Where do they go from here 👀👀

[@epgolfstudios]

@@Brooks_Cupcake TJ has always had a tendency to hit it high in the face which is why he lacks efficiency. Even when testing other stuff so it's a swing thing more than a club thing

[@henrymonster9926]

I think the nuance is that the newer drivers are more forgiving, to an extent. I think everyone’s LS driver is not extreme anymore, more like 22-2300 spin versus having a driver at 1900-2000 spin. These driver are stable low spin, if that isn’t an oxymoron.

[@ohkayw]

Why is his efficiency so low? Is it because he hits it too heely? If he hits it more center or slightly toe, hes carry 300 with that swing speed, no?

[@ccarlock8537]

The swing speed slow cause high contact on any Callaway is worse then a center shot slowing swing speed down upon hitting the stationary ball

[@epgolfstudios]

Absolutely no idea what this means 😂

[@MrAndyPhoenix]

No G430 or Stealth which is a shame

[@epgolfstudios]

We were testing the 2024 LS drivers. Stealth is the old model and we don't do Ping, but their new one wouldn't be in this category anyway.

[@patricktimlin6688]

Swing speed will be higher with the LTDX at D 0 116 mph why’s he fitted with a 60 tx at such a low swing weight 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@TenPester]

Giving golfers machines to let them see numbers will end up flooring new equipment sales. In the last few years, people have been commenting that the new X driver wasn't any better for numbers than their 3-4 year old one. It's no longer a new thing emotional purchase based on feel. People are genuinely holding back, hence why club pros and shops have less stock and a handful of demo clubs. For companies like TM, Cobra and Callaway on yearly release cycles, it's got to be hurting. Marketing machines only get you so far I guess.

[@epgolfstudios]

Yeah I can't say I disagree. It's almost certainly hurting from a mass market perspective. People go watch Rick Shiels (or me! 🤣) Show that there isn't much distance difference in new Vs old and that may well put them off. And rightly so. I only do these videos to be honest and transparent about the performance of clubs to try and help people. People's expectations are high and although I sell clubs for a living I also charge for my time so I can be honest and not need to sell clubs if it isn't going to benefit the player. But ultimately it does come down to fitting now. If you have a modern driver that is badly fitted, or not fitted at all, likely the performance numbers will be sub optimal and therefore not getting what you should out of it. Especially at most amateurs believe they need a 10.5* and I actually fit wayyyy more people into an 8* than I do 10.5* 👀👀

[@jesusortiz9100]

Drivers across all the manufacturers have reached their limits on how fast the ball can come off the face. We need to be having more conversations about the golf ball rollback. We amateurs make up the majority of the golf world/sales. WHY AREN'T THE PROFESIONAL TOURS ASKING GOLG BALL MANUFACTURERS TO CREATE A BALL SPECIFICALLY FOR TOUR PROS and leave the rest of to enjoy the game?

[@brandonresnick4118]

Tsr3 best head

[@wessims3412]

This is the only channel that gets this kind of weird results. Somethings certainly is not right. Part of the truth is the newer drivers are focussing on forgiveness therefore the spin on some of them is a bit higher, sacrificing distance. We can’t make excuses and say we could tweak this and tweak that, it’s a matter of out of the gate performance which this truly shows that newest is not necessarily longest and best. But it certainly does break the bank account. I think people need to just leave these drivers sit on the shelf, for the ridiculous price and go to a secondhand used club up to seven or eight years old right back to 2017 when the clubs performed almost as good for a lot less money and actually went longer. These new clubs are just a hyped up joke

[@epgolfstudios]

Not sure what you mean by weird results, all we do is hit drivers and show the data and be as honest and open as we can about what we see 🤷

[@lkae4]

Why is it weird? And the manufacturing did change a few years ago. Used to be that drivers were made with variance built in so that none would violate limits. That meant some were hotter and others were unnecessarily slow. A few years ago, companies like Titleist and TaylorMade started testing heads and tuning during manufacturing to ensure they were all maxed out. There's always a trade-off to everything in life but tech does matter. That's why no pros play steel shafts in their driver today. It matters. How much is another question. And it's not up to you to manage the spending of others. I'm sure if we inspected your spending habits, we'd find many inefficiencies.

[@bamabama7938]

The smoke is poo 💩

[@NetoperekMordulec]

Why Cally head speed is so low?!!!!!!

[@ablazer4551]

A word of wisdom, Unless you can hit a shorter iron into the green, Save yourself 600+ dollars an keep what you have !!!🏌🏌

[@gregidour7315]

mate down here in New Zealand they are 1300 of our bucks! Crazy

[@ablazer4551]

1300 Wow, The taxes in your country must be off the charts For a golf club to cost That much. Hello from GEORGIA USA ! 🏌🏌