The Retro Review series gives me a chance to head back in time and rediscover some classic equipment, and this time the Titleist 975D driver is on the retro radar. This driver was a phenomenon back in 1998 when it was released and led the driver counts on almost every major tour. David Duval became world number one using the 975D, and Tiger Woods was arguably at his very best with this driver, wielding it throughout the ‘Tiger Slam’ which saw him hold all four majors at the same time.
WATCH: Joe Ferguson puts the Titleist 975D up against the 2024 Titleist GT3 driver
Original launch date: 1998
Price we paid: £38.99 from GolfClubs4Cash
Who used it on tour: Tiger Woods, David Duval, Sergio Garcia.
How did it perform?
To see if the 975D was still equipped to compete with today’s technology I pitted it up against the newly released Titleist GT3 driver, one of the best golf drivers this year, for a launch monitor head-to-head.
The first thing I noticed when placing these drivers beside one another was the sheer size difference. The 460cc head of the GT3 dwarfs the more modest 260cc the 975D has to offer, but it should be noted that both heads look extremely premium and sophisticated.
To quantify performance, I tested both drivers outside alongside one another using my Full Swing KIT launch monitor. Starting with the 975D, the feel at impact was nothing short of sensational. Markedly softer and more subdued than any modern driver, it was a real pleasure to strike. Disappointingly, however, the data did not necessarily live up to the quality of the feel.
The spin rate was significantly higher than I expected, averaging around the 3200rpm mark, and the average ball speed of 159.7 mph was somewhat lower than my clubhead speed input warranted, resulting in a fairly modest average carry of 251 yards into a fairly stiff breeze. The GT3 performed notably better across the board. Spin rates were down, ball speeds and efficiency were up, and as such the carry and total distance numbers were significantly superior at 272 and 287 yards respectively. Interestingly, however, if I take my science hat off and think about some of the less quantifiable markers, I found the 975D much easier to shape both ways and as I have already alluded to, I much preferred the feel and acoustics of the older driver.
Conclusion
As a former long-time user of the Titleist 975D, I was seriously looking forward to this particular Retro Review, and I must confess to being slightly disappointed. I was hoping to report that the old classic still had the magic and could absolutely compete with any modern-day equivalent. However, the data is irrefutable. In almost every key parameter the GT3 outperformed it and not by particularly small margins. That said, as always we need to keep perspective here.
I picked up the Titleist 975D for £38.99 from golfclubs4cash, whereas the GT3 in the specification I have, retails for over £700. Furthermore, some of the less measurable parameters such as feel and workability were right out of the top drawer with the 975D. So, if you are a player on a budget, who likes to work the ball a little, and maybe could do with a boost in spin, then a speculative purchase of the 975D could bring you as much fun as it brought me.
