Advise on equipment please

[Libre]

I'm new around here, but not new to golf. That is, I'm a returning fanatic. After a lay off of 4-5 years, I've been playing again and I'm starting to get the bug again. Now, my woods are Taylor Bubble Burners - the originals. My irons are Titlist DCI's. While I've been doing other things, there has been a dramatic change in club design, at least as far as the woods are concerned. Last week I was paired with some young players who were were making remarks about my quaint, antique equipment. The heads on their drivers were all about 3x the size of my bubble driver.
What is everyone playing with these days? Are these huge drivers really an improvement over what I have? Should I think about plopping down $300-$400 on a new driver? And if so, which one in particular? I'm not a big man or a big hitter, and I favor conrol over distance - but I can crank one out every so often. I tell you, the heads these days are so huge they look to me like a half a cantaloupe at the end of a stick. Do they really make you hit any further or straighter?
And, while we're on the topic of equipment, I find my most difficult shot is with a fairway wood, sitting in the middle of the fairway in a tight lie. It's an almost guaranteed duff. I'd rather be in the first cut of rough with a little springyness under my ball any day of the week than in the center of the fairway. With a little cushion under the ball I can put my fairway wood on it and hit it 180 - 200. But from a tight lie, I know I'm just going to hit it on the ground. So, are these new hybrids any better at getting the ball in the air from a tight lie. The Adams clubs, or ones like them?
Any advise would be appreciated.

[SilverUberXeno]

To answer in order, or at least make an attempt:

Yes, the new 460CC drivers DO allow you to hit straighter on mis-hits, and farther. Buying a new driver, and getting a shaft that is appropriate for your swing, could add 20+ yards to your drive. The Cleveland Launcher (which I currently play) can be had for 150$ brand new with a very solid and well-respected shaft (Aldila NV). The Taylormade R580XD is another great driver for that price. You should head to somewhere that you can demo some drivers (Dicks Sporting Goods) and try a few out. They have quite a selection.

Fairway woods off the tight lies are tough. However, newer fairway woods have different head designs to make these shots less difficult. Adams, as you mention later, is renowned for their shallow-faced fairway woods that make it MUCH easier to take it off the fairway. Dick's actually has the Adams Ovation fairway woods for 49.99 right now, with a good shaft in it. As for hybrids, these generally replace long irons (3,4), and not USUALLY fairway woods. However, you CAN get a 2-iron hyrbid, and even a 1-iron hybrid, that would replace your fairway woods if need be.

Also just came to mind- The Titleist 905 R/S drivers are allegedly very good clubs, and made for a better swing. These can be had for 199$ with, yet again, a very good shaft (UST Proforce V2 at Dick's).

Go to Dick's and hit some drivers to see if you think it's worth the investment. The Launcher is pretty good, the 580XD is well respected, and everybody loves a Titleist.

[warbirdlover]

And don't worry about your irons. They just don't improve that much...

[Libre]

Hey, thanks fellas.
I don't know of Dicks - but as I said I've been out of the game for awhile. I'm playing the Bethpage Yellow tomorrow - they have a very well stocked pro shop - so I'll probably nose around there before the round, at least to get an idea of what's out there nowadays. Thanks for mentioning the clubs and prices so I can at least see if they are competitve at the pro shop.
Dicks sporting goods, eh? I'll have to google it.

[SilverUberXeno]

Check your private messages, Libre. Top right of the screen.

[ezra76]

Check out the Pro Shop link up top or the banner ad for Global Golf. They have great deals and tons of Taylormade stuff. The Rescue Mid is great hybrid. The "TP" model sit more square and is really nice club. They will be more like hitting an iron than a wood.. hence the name "hybrid", part wood, part iron.

I recommend buying a few used clubs in good condtion. I bought a new driver this year and really regretted it. I lost a lot of money when I decided to go with a different one. Every used driver I've ever bought, I made money on when I sold it.

[Libre]

Before my round today, I picked up a Taylor rescue 4. It doesn't say "mid" on it. I made a few nice shots with it, and muffed a few too. Overall, I like the feel and I was able to hit it off the short grass. I actually had worse results trying to hit it from the light rough, where I usually can hit a regular fairway wood better. My swing felt a little off kilter though. A beautiful day, however. I feel like I'm "coming over the top" on a good many of my shots - I need to work on that.
As far as a driver, I think I'll wait awhile and look around. I'd rather buy new equipment, even though it costs more. The Taylor R580XD sounds like a sweet club.

[JEFF4i]

Anything TaylorMade is good equipment.

Honestly, hit everything at least twice. Then, make a choice. See what fits ya best.