REVIEW: Sub 70 849 Pro Driver

The Sub 70 Golf 849 Pro driver.

Designed for players of any skill level, the Sub 70 849 Pro driver features many of the technologies and design from higher priced competitors. Featuring Sub 70's aesthetic of clean, classic lines, dark colors, and performance driven shapes, the 849 Pro driver delivers on almost all qualities you need from this spot in your bag.

Sub 70 849 Pro Driver Tech

The 450cc 849 Pro includes state of the art carbon fiber weight reduction technologies that permit the movement of weight to specific regions of the head in the heel, toe, and rear sections. This decreases backspin and optimizes launch angle. It also equates to a lighter-feeling clubhead throughout the swing, which promotes faster swing speeds and confidence off the tee.

Lower spin rates and fast ball speeds are what all driver brands marketing constantly, and for good reason. Speed and spin are king, and players want to unlock those qualities for their game. The 849 Pro's ability to reduce spin and optimize speed and flight off the face coupled with up to 20 grams of weight adjustability in the heel, toe, and rear section of the head results in an absolute rocket launcher that is workable in both directions.

Sub 70 849 Pro driver specifications.

Feel and Performance

Sub 70 loves a dark, minimalistic color palette on their golf clubs and the 849 Pro driver is no exception. Right out of the box this driver looks clean, classic, and powerful. The carbon fiber upper crown blends nicely with the sleek clubhead sole, and the weight ports blend nicely into the overall design.

At address, the driver appears to be more square-faced than other modern designs. The toe of the driver is almost pointed, which was noticeable without being too distracting. If anything, this design quality allows you to square the face more consistently as opposed to a more rounded toe. A slight adjustment of my grip set me in the correct head position every time.

At impact, the 849 Pro sounds crisp and powerful. It exudes a “crack” sound that feels great in your hands and is pleasing to the ear. Unlike other drivers in this category, the 849 Pro falls somewhere in the middle of the loudness spectrum, providing a confidence-inspiring sound without being too harsh or sharp.

In terms of distance, this driver is a powerful, powerful club.

I routinely saw ball speeds consistent with or slightly higher than usual, especially on pured drives. The driver I tested for this review was equipped with the same golf shaft I use every round, and ball flight trajectory was mid-launch every time.

The biggest difference I noticed was how high the golf ball jumped upon landing for the first time. Typically, my drives will land and shoot forward on a low bounce due to my current driver’s spin rate output. With the 849 Pro, I noticed the golf balls making a much higher “bounce” upon landing, vaulting them forward with more overall distance. This could have been a combination of wind, turf, and tech, but it was definitely noticable.

Overall Impression

Sub 70 Golf continues to please with affordable equipment via their direct-to-consumer model without compromising performance. At $299, the 849 Pro driver is still on the lower end of the cost spectrum when compared to competitors, yet produces distances that outperforms competitors in many instances. While you won’t find proven technology like artificial intelligence designs or head-stabilizing modifications here, the 849 Pro simply performs in the categories that matter most for a fraction of the cost.

The 849 Pro driver is available for purchase in November 2021 from the Sub 70 Golf website.