At MyGolfSpy, we see and test a ridiculous amount of golf gear. It’s easy for things to get lost in the shuffle—hell, most of them do. We try damn near everything, but remember… really remember… almost nothing. But every once in a while, a club sticks. Not necessarily a Most Wanted winner. Maybe not even a top performer. Just a club that, despite the churn-and-burn life of a gear junkie, stays in the workbench drawer because you never know.
Even as technology has advanced—sometimes by more than a decade—these are the ones I’ve kept around (four of the five, anyway). And deep down, despite knowing better, a little part of me still believes that maybe, just maybe, I’ll put one of them back in the bag some day.
Before we get started …
This is my list. If you asked anyone else at MyGolfSpy (and maybe we should), their list of the most iconic drivers of the MyGolfSpy Era would probably look different. Frankly, my brain short-circuits at the thought of what my colleague John Barba might include (something absurd, no doubt).
With that out of the way, let’s get to it.
Adams 9064 LS
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 15 years since we tested the Adams 9064 LS and, honestly, it’s probably the first driver I ever truly fell for at MyGolfSpy. If I wanted to make a case for it being ahead of its time as a low-spin, aerodynamic design, I absolutely could. Whether that’s true or just me being nostalgic, I don’t really care.
For my money, the 9064 LS was the last great Adams driver.
Insert sad violin music
COBRA KING LTD (the original one)
For sure, the original COBRA KING LTD had some gimmicky elements. Chief among them: the removable “Space Port,” a literal porthole that let you see the inside of the driver. If you had the special tool (of course you needed a special tool), you could unscrew it and find what I can only describe as driver hieroglyphics—a bunch of tiny printed technology notes on the inside of the head.
Was any of it necessary? Absolutely not. But did it help create a low-spin driver with solid MOI? Yep.
Also, fun fact: the KING LTD Pro version remains one of the lowest CG drivers ever created.
Honorable Mention: The matching 3-wood. If you know, you know.
PING G400 LST
Pound for pound, the PING G400 LST might just be one of the best drivers ever made. It’s also the only Most Wanted winner on my list and, if memory serves, no driver has ever dominated testing quite like this one.
While I remember all the clubs on this list fondly, this is the one that was the hardest to take out of my bag. I mean, have you ever broken up with someone who’s never done anything wrong?
Sometimes, it still feels that way.
Titleist TSR3
The newest driver on the list, the TSR3, was the club that finally convinced me: Titleist isn’t just improving in the driver category, they’re as good as anyone.
A mid-low spin design (I guess I have a type), the TSR3 more than held its own in testing. And while looks don’t usually count for much around here, it obliterated the competition in tester rankings for looks, sound and feel.
You don’t always get the full package with a driver but when you do, it feels like winning the lottery and finding a $20 bill in your pocket on the same day.
TaylorMade SLDR C
WTF is a SLDR C?
You might be asking yourself that right now and, honestly, fair question. If you weren’t active in the MyGolfSpy Forum circa 2015, you probably missed this cult classic.
For context: Back in the day, it wasn’t uncommon for bigger brands to make retail-exclusive models for places like DICK’S Sporting Goods, kind of like how Best Buy has weirdly specific TV models you can’t find on Samsung’s website.
We’re pretty sure the SLDR C was one of those exclusives.
TaylorMade never really promoted it (there are probably some at TaylorMade who’ve never heard of it) but if you were on the MyGolfSpy Forum at the time, you might remember one guy (there’s always one) who would not shut up about the SLDR C. For what felt like months, he swore up and down that it was the greatest driver TaylorMade had ever produced.
Was he right? Who knows (probably not) but I bet it’s still in his bag.
Regardless, the SLDR C is an absolute MyGolfSpy Forum legend.
Have your say
Like I said, this is my list. What are the five drivers that stand out most to you over the last 15 years? Drop them into the comments because I’d love to hear them and I’ll probably argue with you about it.
The post The 5 Most Iconic Drivers Of The MyGolfSpy Era (According to Me) appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
