Driver woes

[Oxfordcomma]

As anyone who has played with me will know, the weakest part of my game has always been a twonky over the top swing with the big stick that delofts it horrendously and gives me a low slice. Well, I think I have fixed that. I've had a couple of lessons, put in some practice time, and generally I'm much happier with the swing path.

And then about 3 weeks ago, I had a revelation. I was still getting quite low ball flight so I got the old driver out (Wilson Dxi from about 2-3 years ago) and took it to the range to put side by side with the current driver. Wow - night and day. Identical swings, but a soaring ball flight, a few yards extra, generally producing drives to be proud of rather than satisfied with.

So the last 3 weeks I've been enjoying myself out on the course with the old/new driver, I obviously still don't hit every fairway and I can still produce the odd power fade or duck hook, but there has been a big improvement.

And then tonight. Oh dear. Waiting for my playing partner to drive on the third, I'm leaning gently on it and there's a tiny noise. A disconcerting noise, one that makes you look. And press gently again. And ... well, this is now what it looks like



Does that look like it's fixable? To my untrained eye that looks like the tip of the shaft has snapped, which I assume means a whole new shaft and I don't think I'm going to spend that money on a driver this old.

Assuming that's correct, I've got 24 hours to find a new driver, buy a new driver, and practice with a new driver before Sunday's board comp. I'd been starting to window shop a little anyway, but I'm gutted that after finally getting a driver and swing combination that works for me, I've bust the bloody thing after just three weeks.

 

[bobmac]

I'm afraid it's not fixable, it will have to be a new shaft.
As for the board comp tomorrow, why not just use your 3 wood, you might be surprised.

 

[virtuocity]

Exact same thing happened to my driver last year. Shaft is dead, but at least you have a new alignment stick!

You'll need to order a new one and I'd get a pro to fit it and gouge out the remnants of the shaft in the head.

If you do decide to hit 3 wood in the comp, remember it's a 3 wood, not a driver.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Hmm I don't think a lesson or alignment practice will fix that

 

[M1ke]

I've got a spare Ping i20 driver you can borrow, and I'm only up the road.

 

[Oxfordcomma]

Bob, I would have happily played with a 3-wood but unfortunately you need to own one first and I currently don't. My higher lofted fairway just doesn't go far enough, from the back tees there's at least one hole where it won't reach the fairway.

Thanks for the offer M1ke, that's very generous. Funnily enough I will be playing with a Ping tomorrow, but I won't need to take you up on the offer. Got myself over to AG today and hit a load of different drivers. I had the intention of buying something slightly cheaper like the JPX EZ but when I hit them all the G30 SF Tec was so obviously the one that I treated myself to it. :whoo:

I did make the mistake of explaining to my wife beforehand what I was thinking, it didn't actually go down too well. The conversation was something like:
"I think I'll get one of the lower models, I'm not sure at this point that I want to be spending three hund ..."
"HOW MUCH????? FOR A BAT????"

As per the other thread on spouses, I really do need to get her take up the game, don't I? It'll all get a lot easier to explain then.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Oh dear. Not good before a comp but hope you find a way to make a score

 

[Oxfordcomma]

Oh dear. Not good before a comp but hope you find a way to make a score

Slow down the swing, don't try and lash it! That's the philosophy for tomorrow. Starting to wonder tonight actually if a bigger issue than the change of club might be the 200 drives that I've hit today!