My driver from Precision Golf - first update

[Piece]

At the beginning of the year I went to the specialist club fitters Precision Golf in Egham. See my original write up here: http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?35653-Precision-Golf-in-Egham. I said I would update on how it's been once I've had sufficient rounds under my belt to foster a proper opinion. Plus some forumers have been asking too . So here's the latest...

Short answer: it's brilliant.
Long answer: read on...

Firstly, some context. Putting the ball on the fairway has always been a weak part of my game. I'm a decently long hitter but its no good if the ball is going further into the cabbage! Like most of us, I've bought numerous drivers over the years hoping this was 'the one'. After a brief love affair, each one has bit the dust as they were revealed to be nothing more than just another notch on the tee peg. Frustrating. Over the last few years I parked the driver and made do with the 3w. However, it always felt like, to coin a Clarkson phrase, "I'd gone driving in the BMW when there's a Ferrari in the garage". Simply, I wanted to use the driver properly.

Rather than just spend yet more cash on the latest TM R11, Callaway or any other big stick that just happened to the flavour of the day at the range, I learnt from my specialist Mizuno fit to go and get a proper driving fitting; I've had more than a few local and shop fitting to know that's not where I was going...

The original review fitted me for a Titleist D3 910 with a direct-from Aldila RIP 60 Alpha X-stiff, with a shorter shaft than standard (note that I'm 6-2). The reasons for this fit are in the link given.

Initially I felt it hard to get used to the new driver. Different length, feel, etc. However, I felt from day one that I was confident with it. So I perservered and played more with it by not taking a 3w or hybrid. It's right now that I'm seeking the benefits as I am very comfortable and confident off the tee. To give you an example is that when I played on Sat I hit around 90% of the fairway when I used this club; this has never happened to me before. With all my previous big dogs I always tended to hit out of the heel producing a fade or destructive slice: I now hit the middle of club with a slight draw or straight. I'll add a caveat by saying if I put a bad swing on it, I'll get a bad result!

Then, in summary, was it worth the significant outlay? Most definitely. The most importance benefit it has given me is confidence off tee where it never existed before. I know now that the driver is setup perfectly for me and then if I put in a decent swing I will get a good result. I can't now say that the shaft is too weak, strong or any other excuse when you hit a bad shot. The other benefit is that I have absolute peace of mind that I am off the 'false economy' conveyor belt. Put simply, I won't be buying 300 quid drivers every season for the next X years, hoping in vain that something works off the mass market shelf. And lastly, the club was made exactly for me and not just for a market group; is a personal feeling thing, just like when you get a new car that has all your specs on it - it's yours and no-one has anything else the same.

This type of fitting won't be for everyone, but it will be for the majority. Go in with an open mind and if you're are prepared to look beyond the outlay, then this could be the answer for alot of people.

Thanks for reading this far

 

[thecraw]

Good stuff!

Glad to read and hear that a proper C/F is reaping rewards.

:thup:

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Just read the original thread, did you pay the optional 50 quid for puring the shaft? If so, does this mean that you now can't adjust the hosel setting?

 

[USER1999]

Just read the original thread, did you pay the optional 50 quid for puring the shaft? If so, does this mean that you now can't adjust the hosel setting?

If he has been fit properly fitted, and is now hitting 90% of fairways, why would the op want to change anything?

 

[Piece]

If he has been fit properly fitted, and is now hitting 90% of fairways, why would the op want to change anything?

If I wanted I could adjust within one of my current setting. Anything more, then the Pureing gets less effective.

And no, I don't want to adjust at the moment as the Murph says!

 

[DaveM]

Great tread. Have been thinking of going down this path with the driver. Just need to save up the money and get my swing a bit more consistent. Think this has made my mind up. Thanks.

 

[Alex1975]

Thanks for the read, I guess I missed the original thread and enjoyed it. Its great to have something that you can rely on for the foreseeable future.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

So how much did the driver cost ?

 

[Piece]

So how much did the driver cost ?

As a close guide, cost of a new R11s TP + two ok wedges.

 

[Alex1975]

So how much did the driver cost ?

Have a read through the original post, it is covered in detail. After reading the OP I was picking up the phone to book myself in as it was so appealing, I then got to the cost and it actually freaked me out... One day ill do things like this but wow... As Piece says though, its worth it for him as he has hunter for the best big dog for him many times and spent more than that along the way. I would love to go the whole hog and would spend the money if I had it spare too. It still freaked me out though....

 

[Piece]

Yes, the outlay is not cheap and I did raise a couple of eyebrows (!) at the time.

But do I regret it? Not a chance. Small price to pay to get golf confidence off the tee!!!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

If he has been fit properly fitted, and is now hitting 90% of fairways, why would the op want to change anything?

He may go to play a different type of course and want to alter the ball flight? After all, that is the point of adjustable drivers, change the settings to adjust for different conditions/courses.

 

[Alex1975]

He may go to play a different type of course and want to alter the ball flight? After all, that is the point of adjustable drivers, change the settings to adjust for different conditions/courses.

I am not sure that that is the point, I think it's more of a fitting thing.

 

[Foxholer]

I am not sure that that is the point, I think it's more of a fitting thing.

Actually, that's what I see as the greatest 'benefit' of adjustment. A mate plays at 2 courses - one heath/parkland[ one links. The ability to simply knock a couple of degrees of loft off the driver for when it's appropriate on the links course work wonderfully. Likewise, breezy days at the heathland course are simply 'managed'.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I am not sure that that is the point, I think it's more of a fitting thing.

Maybe I haven't made my point clear. The purpose of pure'ing a shaft is to align the spine to get the maximum benefit for an individual's swing. If the OP has paid £50 to get this done and he then changes the settings, it becomes a complete waste of money.

I was just wondering if he had paid out for this as from what he has posted, it would appear he has.

 

[Alex1975]

Actually, that's what I see as the greatest 'benefit' of adjustment. A mate plays at 2 courses - one heath/parkland[ one links. The ability to simply knock a couple of degrees of loft off the driver for when it's appropriate on the links course work wonderfully. Likewise, breezy days at the heathland course are simply 'managed'.

Ye you know what, I think I had not really thought my comments through. It is clearly both, on a windy day you would/could knock the lofts down although maybe more so with a diver than woods maybe.

Last week I played a course that was trying its hardest to make me play a fade off the tee, I really did not want to. I wonder if a simple change of the club head would have done it for me. In the end I just made a different stroke and I think maybe I would rather that, though I do not like having to fade the ball after spending a year learning to draw it. Ye I am losing myself here, a fade is a totally different stroke for me. Ok loft adjust is doable but I cant see changing the face angle being sensible for anyone other than for fitting.

 

[USER1999]

He may go to play a different type of course and want to alter the ball flight? After all, that is the point of adjustable drivers, change the settings to adjust for different conditions/courses.

I have thought about this in the past, but then decided not to. Unless I practice alot with the club set up differently, I am not going to be that familiar with the results. In most (all) cases, I would leave my driver set up neutral, 9.5 degree, and play my normal game. Unless the wind is stupid strong (in which case I would not expect to score well anyway) I can't see why my normal shot would not be ok. If I want to keep it low, I can change the ball position, instead of the club head.

To me, the adjustabiliy is to get the club set up right for the average me, and then it should be left alone. too many people make the game too complicated, and to me, messing about with the driver set up is doing exactly that.

What ever happened to shot making?

 

[bobmac]

What ever happened to shot making?

Hallelujah

 

[Alex1975]

OK I reinstate my earlier comment. Lets be honest, if the wind blows down the first it will blow up the ninth so I shall want to hit the ball high and long when it is with me.

 

[Piece]

All good points here. For me, I have absolutely no intention of altering the face as it is set up for my swing. If I really want to hit a low or high shot with the driver, then I can alter ball/hand position, swing length, etc.

The only time I will adjust is if my swing changes over time and I notice a consistently bad ball flight - then I take it back to Precision and have it readjusted (free of charge I may add).

For me adjusting driver head to suit conditions is a game best left to top Tour pros.