high lofted driver for high handicapper myth

[garyinderry]

I'm not disputing what some of the videos say, but when you consider most high handicapper swings, OTT, steep etc, I would suggest lower loft wouldn't help.

All I have done is highlighted the problem with recommending anyone a 12 degree driver without first looking at their swing. I am also not recommending all high handicaps play an 8 degree driver. I am just recommending finding the best that their swing.

When I was playing off about 14 I went in search of extra length and experimented with a 10.5 degree r9. I had heard and read about loft giving extra distance but all it did was launch the ball even higher robbing distance.

I just thought it was worth pointing out. Rob who swings at 90mph should use a lower loft than quite a number of pros. this goes against the common thought of only fast club head speeds using such lofts.

Another thing is he was fitted for a stiff shaft when his swing speed would suggest regular. He has no problem hitting it at all. I hear many people say, I don't have the swing speed for stiff etc. The fitter goes on to say he himself plays x-stiff even though he is in the low 100mph range. Around 110 is the usual recommendation for xflex. He says its due to his quick transition. Again he has no problem hitting a shaft that wouldn't normally be selected for his club head speed.

 

[Markw]

I am a lower handicapper(6) 96mph 6 iron, 115mph driver swing speed and use a 13 degree FTIZ imix with xs fubuki tour shaft at 44" length. Distance isn't a problem and in the weather conditions now I'm getting 260-270yds with very little roll! If I screw the 11 degree FTIZ imix head on same shaft I spray it everywhere!

 

[garyinderry]

You know you aren't getting anywhere near your best distance from that speed?

Have you been on a launch monitor? any idea of you numbers. Got to be massively hitting down on the ball.

 

[bobmac]

What loft was your old 2 wood? I have a strong 3 wood @ 13.5 degrees.

What loft?
No idea.
It was wooden and the size of a match box and it was late 70s.

When I bought my present 3 wood (Ping TiSI Tec), I had the choice between 12 and 14 deg. The 14 went too high so went for the 12. I also got the matching 5 wood at 17 deg

 

[One Planer]

All I have done is highlighted the problem with recommending anyone a 12 degree driver without first looking at their swing. I am also not recommending all high handicaps play an 8 degree driver. I am just recommending finding the best that their swing.

When I was playing off about 14 I went in search of extra length and experimented with a 10.5 degree r9. I had heard and read about loft giving extra distance but all it did was launch the ball even higher robbing distance.

I just thought it was worth pointing out. Rob who swings at 90mph should use a lower loft than quite a number of pros. this goes against the common thought of only fast club head speeds using such lofts.

Another thing is he was fitted for a stiff shaft when his swing speed would suggest regular. He has no problem hitting it at all. I hear many people say, I don't have the swing speed for stiff etc. The fitter goes on to say he himself plays x-stiff even though he is in the low 100mph range. Around 110 is the usual recommendation for xflex. He says its due to his quick transition. Again he has no problem hitting a shaft that wouldn't normally be selected for his club head speed.

As I said pal, I don't dispute much of what you said.

When it comes to fittings there is a myriad of data that the fitter has to take into account and offer the best, most consistent fit, based on that data.

Using myself as an example. When I was fitted for my MP63's in 2013, the fitter said that my swing speed would put me in the bracket for regular flex shafts, but my transition and move into the ball warranted a stiffer shaft.

After much playing around a heavy regular shaft gave the best results and still does.

Now.

After 2 years of lessons, my swing has changed dramatically!

My swing now has a much better sequence to it and I have a much smoother transition and move into the ball. The nett result is I have gained additional speed into the ball with a much smoother transition. My pro suggests (.... He's also an accredited fitter) that I would be better suited to a stiff(...er) shaft.

I still hit the R300 really well so I'm reluctant to change.

Fitting can be very hit and miss depending on how you interpret any data given.

 

[duncan mackie]

You know you aren't getting anywhere near your best distance from that speed?

Have you been on a launch monitor? any idea of you numbers. Got to be massively hitting down on the ball.

you seem to have some interesting views on this...

"in the weather conditions now I'm getting 260-270yds with very little roll!"

would be entirely consistent with what I would expect from someone playing in an average of 5 degree C, the average roll out of 1yd (if lucky) and 115 club head speed. All round an optimal performance.

 

[Markw]

You know you aren't getting anywhere near your best distance from that speed?

Have you been on a launch monitor? any idea of you numbers. Got to be massively hitting down on the ball.

I'm not sure I can improve my distance without completely changing my swing, I have experimented with shafts and tried new drivers for a few years now and nothing comes close to my current set up.
My 13 degree driver with x flex shaft has a nice ball flight and is similar to playing partners using a 10.5 driver. At the moment I am getting 240-260 yds of carry with the softer ground with some drives the ball is 2-3 ft away from the pitch mark, in the summer I regularly hit straight 300 yd drives but if I put the 11 degree ftiz imix head on, dispersion suffers and I don't get any distance gain, it feels like I have a 8 degree head attached! I am not going to change at my age, straight and reasonably long and I guess it works for me!

 

[garyinderry]

you seem to have some interesting views on this...

"in the weather conditions now I'm getting 260-270yds with very little roll!"

would be entirely consistent with what I would expect from someone playing in an average of 5 degree C, the average roll out of 1yd (if lucky) and 115 club head speed. All round an optimal performance.

Goes on to say pitching some at 240. Should easily be clearing that with 115mph. getting zero run also is a symptom of too backspin. if you are happy then that's fine. I would certainly try and eek some more of out of that swing.

 

[Markw]

Goes on to say pitching some at 240. Should easily be clearing that with 115mph. getting zero run also is a symptom of too backspin. if you are happy then that's fine. I would certainly try and eek some more of out of that swing.

A lot of variables to consider, ground conditions, wind, temperature, not so perfect swing! etc I wouldn't like to put a average on it! Last weekend I was on the fringe of a 287yd par 4 with my drive and later in the round recorded a 240yd drive, both with little roll, last weekend I drove a 305yd par 4 at my home course and also recorded a 230-240yd drive with wind against me! All I can say is that it gives me a nice ball flight and good distance in normal conditions.

 

[duncan mackie]

Goes on to say pitching some at 240. Should easily be clearing that with 115mph. getting zero run also is a symptom of too backspin. if you are happy then that's fine. I would certainly try and eek some more of out of that swing.

strange I read it as "pitching at 240-260"....

zero run is more associated with having to repair the hole on the fairway on most inland courses in this part of the world at the moment - ball flight/trajectory is an indicator of spin, roll out isn't.

 

[garyinderry]

Last weekend I was on the fringe of a 287yd par 4 with my drive and later in the round recorded a 240yd drive, both with little roll, last weekend I drove a 305yd par 4 at my home course and also recorded a 230-240yd drive with wind against me!

This does seem to suggest there is a spin issue. Hitting into the wind the spin is exaggerated even more. It would need to be a serious head wind to stop a 115mph swing speed clearing 230-240 in the air. I have no doubt you knock it a long way in normal conditions.

This is pro swing speed we are talking about here.

 

[garyinderry]

Listen lads, I don't mind being wrong but id love to see some numbers. Pretty sure with a fitting and a slight change in technique you could definitely push these drives out a brave bit more.

 

[garyinderry]

What loft?
No idea.
It was wooden and the size of a match box and it was late 70s.

Was it much smaller than this? actually not as hard to hit as it looks. No choice but to hit the middle of the bat. :rofl:

 

[Markw]

Listen lads, I don't mind being wrong but id love to see some numbers. Pretty sure with a fitting and a slight change in technique you could definitely push these drives out a brave bit more.

I do have a negative aoa but never had a fitting, always fitted myself by trial and error and reading lots of material from Tom wishon etc and when compared against new drivers tested nothing can get near and trust me I have. I did the Mizuno fitting and numbers were speeds as above and 9-1-5-1 and my swing runs against the grain of normal, to soft a shaft and get high fade, too stiff gets low draw.
I do believe everyone is unique and should have a fitting, I used high loft low spin drivers for around 4 years now and it would take a lot to make me change, in fact quite happy with it and my issues are elsewhere!

 

[garyinderry]

Really recommend you try the new Mizuno driver when they get the shafts in. Adjustable from 7.5 up to 11.5 . With even a level hit and the weights moved into low spin settings I'm sure you would bomb that out there.

I had ignored a proper custom fit until it kind of fell in my lap with that new driver. Its completely opened my eyes to what can be achieved with the correct set up and shaft. I can't get down there quick enough to get the shafts when they are available.