Adjustable drivers don't work!

[chrisd]

I did a gapping session last week using GC2 and asked the pro to look at the readings with my newly acquired XHot 2 driver as it was set on neutral and I was getting some fade. He looked at the readings, knocked the loft down to 9.5* and went to draw bias and, after a few hits, pronounced himself happy with the results. On the course, on the decent hits I'm now straight with just a hint of fade at times. I couldn't have done that with a non adjustable driver but I guess I would have got used to the shape of shot until it was time for a new driver, which in my case, has been pretty often!

 

[Jensen]

Have always been reluctant to invest in a fully adjustable driver. My G25 can go 0.5 degree either way (10.5 to 10 or 11) but apart from that nothing. I'm far too much of a tinkerer and as soon as things start to go awry then I'd get the wrench out and start adjusting.

Is exactly the reason why I'm not tempted

 

[DaveM]

Set mine up when I first got it, never touched it since.

 

[harpo_72]

I have adjusted mine simply because I have improved my impact position and speed. But now I think I may have moved more to a stiff with the SS increase... Time will tell.
I wonder if the tip stiffness is the issue for man in black, perhaps the weights are not significant enough to cause the tip to react. Especially if the SS is in the lower part of the shafts window of operation... See if you can get heavier weights.

 

[Hendo007]

The last 3 drivers I have owned have all been adjustable and lasted me about 5 years in total between them.

They have all been set to neutral.

If I slice it or hook it I've hit a poor shot and changing the club head to suit the bad shots is not a great idea in my opinion.

I don't acutally know if you can by a driver these days that is not adjustable? well a new one anyway.

 

[CMAC]

I also like the fact if I get a new shaft that matches my swing better its a quick swap, the old way was painful or buy a new driver

 

[ManinBlack]

I have adjusted mine simply because I have improved my impact position and speed. But now I think I may have moved more to a stiff with the SS increase... Time will tell.
I wonder if the tip stiffness is the issue for man in black, perhaps the weights are not significant enough to cause the tip to react. Especially if the SS is in the lower part of the shafts window of operation... See if you can get heavier weights.

You might have a point there, since the Black Tie has a stiffer lower section than most X stiff shafts

 

[JamPal]

A few issues here, of course, the plural of anecdote is not data. We are all so susceptible to physiological and psychological influences it's impossible to really tell what made the change. Simply standing over the ball and feeling more confident than you did a moment ago can have a massive effect on your swing and therefore the result.

As has been mentioned the only reliable tests are performed by machines. Rory McIlroy might be able to swing his driver well enough to emulate a machine. As for the rest of us, dream on.

 

[gdc]

I think the ability to adjust the loft can be useful, although I've not done it this year.
As far as draw/fade adjustment I always play neutral - if I am slicing it I have a swing flaw which will affect every club - better to fix the swing flaw than hit one club well with a bad swing and struggle with the rest of the bag.
If every club in the bag was adjustable then there would be an argument to set them all up the same to suit your swing.

 

[JamPal]

I think the ability to adjust the loft can be useful, although I've not done it this year.
As far as draw/fade adjustment I always play neutral - if I am slicing it I have a swing flaw which will affect every club - better to fix the swing flaw than hit one club well with a bad swing and struggle with the rest of the bag.
If every club in the bag was adjustable then there would be an argument to set them all up the same to suit your swing.

Absolutely. I have changed loft, but messing with weights and lie angles to fix a swing problem is folly IMHO/.