Why we might start seeing smaller driver models

In this week's episode of the Fully Equipped Podcast with Johnny Wunder, we talked about the prospect of the LS model coming out and the questions its release might raise. Let's examine the theory and implications.

There are several factors at play here.

1.) Death of the LS driver

Johnny and I talked about this last week. Jack has also written well on the subject which you can read here. The theory is that we are starting to see less use of LS style drivers like the TaylorMade Qi4D LS, Cobra OPTM LS, and Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond. Players choose Qi4D Core, Cobra OPTM X, or Callaway Triple Diamond Max profiles.

The main reason is that 'core' style heads, those that sit in the center of the forest line, have become more flexible. With any of the 'main' style heads I mentioned, I was able to match them to the same numbers I would get out of their LS counterparts but with a lot more forgiveness. The appearance has also been greatly improved. The idea of ​​sporting small, pear-shaped LS-style heads never caught on, but that's not as much of a thing as it used to be. In fact, many LS-style heads are getting larger to increase forgiveness, such as the Cobra OPTM LS. The new Titleist GTS 4 is also said to be larger than it has traditionally been.

One category that I believe is being overlooked, however, is high-spin slice golf. This is the golfer who tends to stay away from LS head models because they worry about being unforgiving. But with modern heads that is no longer such a problem. I've put a few high handicap golfers on forgiving LS models, like the OPTM LS models or the Wilson DYNAPWR LS models, and it's gone very well. The biggest advantage is that you can take the 9-degree head and turn it up the sleeve to add loft and, more importantly, cover the face. A closed face with low spin results in a very friendly ball flight.

Is the LS head dead? No. Could it be on its way out, or find itself in a growing market? I think it already is.

2.) Triple Diamond Max Breeding

The main reason why the lines between driver models started to blur was the evolution of the Callaway Triple Diamond Max driver model, which debuted in 2024 with the Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max. As a special release item, the Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max gave players the Triple-Diamond feel and flight bias but with a larger head for more forgiveness, a touch more spin to match the lower inclination of the standard Triple Diamond head, and an easier time to turn the ball. It did all that without losing the speed that Triple Diamond is known for. The setup was the same as it was with the Three Diamonds: one weight in front of the head, and one weight in the back of the head. This helps control not only turning and starting, but also starting the line.

Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Max Custom Driver

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The typical head on the Triple Diamond line has always had a right-hand initial bias that has a tendency to favor the right-handed golfer's fade. By adding more weight to the front of the head, that feeling was reinforced, and by adding weight to the back, the first lines would be more neutral and the face was easier to close so the player could make a draw. Ai Smoke Max was a monster. Non-contract athletes like Justin Rose and Sepp Straka have won multiple times with this model. Fast forward to the new Quantum Triple Diamond Max, and many golf writers and equipment reviewers are wondering why the rest of the heads in the Callaway lineup need to exist. I said the same in my presentation video. I don't think there is any reason for partners to take a second look at Triple Diamond or the standard Max heads. Just go straight to Triple Diamond Max for nine out of 10 players. That's my opinion.

What makes the Triple Diamond Max so great is its versatility. You can add front weight or back weight, the head starts neutral and can be useful for players to work the ball in any way, and the spin is incredibly controllable for mis-hits on the face. If you look at the market over the last three years, you can see the answer to the success of Triple Diamond Max. TaylorMade's new Qi4D head shares many similarities. The OPTM X is an amazing head that can change the characteristics when you move the weights and play with the settings of the FF33 adapter. There were others. Wilson released its DYNAPWR MAX+ as a direct competitor to the Triple Diamond Max, and Ping's new G440 K entered the fray as the new 900-pound gorilla in the room. All of these designs had a common goal: To make the platform as versatile and “appropriate” as possible without sacrificing any of the forgiveness. Each company has also done this without sacrificing speed. Which is one of the real winners we found for the new G440 K when we first tested the product.

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Right now, we live in the best driver's market imaginable for consumers. Having layers or types of heads that overlap or blur the lines only means more opportunities for incredibly detailed fits. Each one will perform differently, and because no two swings are the same, that can only be a good thing. I think we will start to see models being removed from the list? No. But I think the models will be more specific. There will be a 'core' style head in each range that will work for 90% of golfers, something that wasn't true even five years ago. Then you will have niche heads that are specific to the needs of golfers in certain areas. Which is just fun, useful, and inspiring for the future of golf equipment.