Driving a hard bargain

During the last couple of weeks I’ve been comparing two of the latest budget drivers in an effort to recommend a club to those who may be a little strapped for cash.

I took the opportunity of matching the fresh and meaty Ram FX V series 450 Ti composite with the flash, blue V8 430 Hot Face from Benross.

Price

The FX 450 is one of the biggest drivers on the market and is a step up from the award-winning FX440 Ti. You get a lot of club for £99, together with a sturdy zip-up headcover. The big Benross is only slightly smaller in its head (430 cc) but possesses a Graffalloy Blue graphite shaft set into it. Cost is £159 (£10 less for a basic Graffaloy shaft).

Spec and looks

At address it’s a tough call. The shiny black Benross set off dramatically by the blue shaft or the subtle carbon graphite crown on the Ram head, held firmly by the Apollo FX HT Tour shaft.

Both clubs tested had non-conforming High COR faces with 10.5 degrees of loft and regular shafts.