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AverageGolfer
377 Posts |
 Posted - 11/14/2007 : 12:21:19
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I have been taking lessons from a Moe afficianado, Jim Webster, (On the Tee Golf Academy) here in Western WA area, and I finally think I have the swing down reasonably well, although what I now need is lots of reps. But, as I practice, one thing that has come up with Jim and I, is perhaps a lower lofted driver, or re-shafting the one I have.
I have an 11.5 degree Adams Redline driver, with standard flex shaft. I am hitting it about 240 on the average, with a very high ball flight. I actually like the driver a lot, but am wondering if a firmer shaft will do me more good for distance and accuracy, or perhaps move on to a 9-9.5 degree driver. Your thoughts Tim, (or anyone else) would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Marty
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HeyMoe
USA
316 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 14:27:25
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Marty,
You do not say where your kickpoint is on the shaft you have butyou could try a shaft with the same flex and a higher kickpoint. Just a thought because you seem to get plenty of distance right now. Also, you might want to think about how much roll you get versus the amount of hang time. If you play in wet and soft fairways, I would opt for the hang time versus the roll.
HeyMoe
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AverageGolfer
377 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 16:00:36
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quote:
Originally posted by HeyMoe
Marty,
You do not say where your kickpoint is on the shaft you have butyou could try a shaft with the same flex and a higher kickpoint. Just a thought because you seem to get plenty of distance right now. Also, you might want to think about how much roll you get versus the amount of hang time. If you play in wet and soft fairways, I would opt for the hang time versus the roll.
HeyMoe
I don't know anything about kickpoints.
And, I do play in soft, wet fairways often. I guess what I was wondering was would a stiffer shaft make me more accurate? I am not really looking for longer distance, but longer is always better.
Marty |
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rustyredcab
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 16:15:06
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It is all about launch angle, ball speed (club speed) and spin rate. The lower the swing speed, the higher you need to launch it and the more spin you need to keep it in the air and maximize distance. All other things being equal, a higher launch angle would allow for less spin. It is the combination that matters. The head (and your swing) will have a lot to say about launch angle. The shaft can really impact spin. Custom shafts can make a big difference in the numbers. Don't give that 11.5* head away yet. Get a fitting to really know your numbers and try shaft/head combinations that will be right for you. Even if you just use the bays at Golfsmith, you'd have some idea. A real fitting could get your numbers tuned in.
As for high: For me, what looks very high is longest. I was amazed at how high Tim and Todd wanted me to hit it. When fitted by HotStix, they agreed that my optimal ball flight is the same high ball TnT wanted from me. Compared to most guys I play with, it is very high -- it is also longer than most I play with. |
Build Your Game Camp 2005
2-Day Alumni school 2006 & 2007
5-day Alumni Camp 2008 (The MOEniacs) |
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gkyle
Moderator
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2007 : 06:42:19
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I think it your decision depends on how much lower you need to go with your launch angle. I'm a club builder and have a launch monitor, frequency analyzer, and all that - after trying probably 20 shafts this year, in my experience the shaft choice can lower your launch angle maybe 1-2 degrees. If you need more than that you should probably drop to a 10 or 10.5 head. Estimating from your driver distance, I'd guess your speed is in the 95-100 MPH range - have you had this tested? My swing speed is close to 110 right now, and I get max distance in wet conditions with a 9.5 driver. It's definitely true that what looks like a really high ball flight is probably going to be your longest ball. The exception for me is when playing in wind or during the dry hot months, when I play an 8.5 driver to maximize roll.
If you look at aftermarket shafts on Golfsmith, they show a "Profile" rating, which is actually trajectory: LO-MID-HI. For a lower trajectory, the Grafalloy Prolaunch Red (LO), Aldila VS, and Aldila VS Proto all do a good job and feel pretty good. My current favorite is the VS Proto, but it's well above $100.
If you do choose a different head and/or shaft, you can tell quite a bit with a fitting. Not all heads of the same loft are equal. First, they don't always measure to the stated loft, and the construction of the head also affects launch and spin.
Spin is real important, but impossible to measure without a launch monitor. Spin is what causes lift on the ball and can add considerable distance for slower swing speeds. Higher backspin numbers also reduce the impact of sidespin, resulting in less slice for example. Note how much less slice you get with a PW versus a driver. However,if the spin is too high for your swing speed, the ball will balloon and kill your overall diatance. A clubfitter can tell you what the right spin numbers are for your swing, and help you dial-in the best driver loft and shaft you need to get your maximum.
As for accuracy and shaft flex, most would advise that you use the lowest flex you can while still having some control. If you look at the recommendations on many sites, they would put you squarely in the S-Flex range, which is probably a good call for many. The flex ratings on the shafts mean little though, as I've tested S-Flex shafts that were actually L-Flex. The more expensive shafts tend to be very close to their stated flex, but the ultralight shafts (less than 60g) are almost always weaker than their marking.
A shaft can affect accuracy in two ways; torque and flex. A higher torque shaft (4 degrees and above) will feel nice, but an off-center hit may cause the head to twist off-line. Really low torque shafts (2.5 degrees and below) feel a bit too "boardy" more many. Flex is a measure of how far a shaft will deflect under load and how quickly it will rebound. During the swing, the shaft deflects such that the head lags behind the butt end of the shaft by quite a bit, but then it rebounds back to square (and actually past it) somewhere near the impact zone. A stiff shaft has less overall deflection, and will therefore tend to be closer to square at impact. When I'm striking the ball really well, I hit a very soft shaft just as straight as an X-stiff. When my swing is on vacation though, the stiffer shaft is more accurate. Flex is actually quite complicated though, and every shaft has it's own profile. My suggestion is to try as many as you can at a golf store with a launch monitor if that's possible. Get the one that feels right to you and produces the best numbers for spin, launch angle, and distance. Some stores (like Golfsmith) can let you try many different shafts on the very same head (like with the Callaway fitting system). That's a nice advantage if you can get it. What you're really trying to do is find as shaft that gets back to square when you want it to, considering the load you put on it and your individual timing. If you have a smooth swing, your shaft might be just fine. If you have a very aggressive swing, you might like the stiffer shaft better. |
Greg
Hdcp: 5.2
BYGC, August 2007
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New shaft or new driver?
