New driver time I think.

[swanny32]

So, it's been a bit of a random year. Started out the year playing with the Cobra Amp and won an opportunity on here to get fitted at Wentworth for the new Big Bertha. Despite having a great day at Wentworth with the Callaway guys and forum members, the Big Bertha turned out to be a bit of a game wrecker. I'm not blaming it completely but after putting it in play, my level of golf rapidly went downhill. I just couldn't keep the thing on the fairway often finding myself in rather a lot of trouble and taking drops or reloading. My pro reckoned the shaft was far too stiff for me and that I should have been playing a regular flex rather than a stiff. I switched to a slightly softer stiff shaft but the problems continued.

I eventually ditched the Big Bertha (despite me really really trying to get on with it) and went back to my Amp which immediately helped my game but the damage was already done and my confidence was at an all time low, almost giving up the game completely as a result. Playing golf with zero confidence is horrible.

I had a few lessons and worked on a few things with my pro, the confidence is starting to return but after hitting my friends R11s last week, I think the Amp is too light in the head which is causing me problems in knowing what it's doing throughout my swing and more importantly where it's facing at point of impact. With a bit more weight it feels like the ball is attacked as well.

I've hit the R1 & X2 Hot, both of which I liked although would like some more time with them, I'm a big fan of Ping and love the look of Titleist clubs, but don't want to spend the earth so thinking the G25 or 913 d2.

My question to anyone who has maybe hit the majority of these clubs, do they all have a significant amount of weight in the head? I need to get to a shop and hit them really but I despise the shops in my area so want to load up on knowledge here first.

Many thanks as always.

 

[fundy]

When you say weight in the head do you mean the feeling of the head being heavy through the swing, if so think you need to look at swingweight more than actual weight (they will be broadly the same irrelevant of manufacturer). The other way to make it feel heavier/lighter is through the shaft. Worth going to a proper club fitter/builder if you are struggling to find one that "feels" the right weight to you imo, or get them to alter the swingweight so that it does

 

[swanny32]

Yeah, just a heavier head. When I hit my friends R11S it felt like I was really smashing the ball as it had a bit of weight and force behind it, I don't get that feeling with the Amp.

 

[sawtooth]

My advice would be to go to another coach and get fresh pair off eyes on your swing.

I dont think its worth tinkering with equipment until you have a sound, repeatable action and that starts with good basics. Grip, posture, stance, alignment, etc.

 

[fundy]

Yeah, just a heavier head. When I hit my friends R11S it felt like I was really smashing the ball as it had a bit of weight and force behind it, I don't get that feeling with the Amp.

Used to have similar problems, worth trying heavier and lighter shafts and seeing the effect is has on the feel of the weight of the swing to you

 

[Nosevi]

I've got a Ping G30 but went for a heavier shaft than standard (Projext X 6.5 Tour 52), just found the Ping shafts too light. Trust me, you can hit it as hard as you like

 

[swanny32]

My advice would be to go to another coach and get fresh pair off eyes on your swing.

I dont think its worth tinkering with equipment until you have a sound, repeatable action and that starts with good basics. Grip, posture, stance, alignment, etc.

Actually I did that this summer as I got a freebie lesson when i joined the new club. Old pro still as solid as ever and I'll continue to use him but the new pro said, and I quote, "You have a lovely swing, how are you only off 17? Shouldn't be that hard for you to get to single figures"

 

[shewy]

Don't discount Cleveland, I've tried tons of drivers and the Cleveland was miles better than most. Very consistent, It knocked out my mini driver, top shafts as well.

 

[ScienceBoy]

"You have a lovely swing, how are you only off 17? Shouldn't be that hard for you to get to single figures"

If you buy 12 more lessons?

This driver stuff always confuses me, I can understand big changes in a shaft having an effect, been there myself. Seems to me this is a mixture of "head stuff" and "shaft stuff". The brain is a powerful thing, if you convince it there is a problem then there will be one!

Do what you need to do with the "shaft stuff" so you can conquer the "head stuff", then you should be well on the way to a lower handicap.

 

[Dave B]

I bought a Titleist 910 D2 and was that impressed with it that I bought a 913 head which has just arrived. The beauty of the 910/913 is that they have a 45 inch shaft which is 1-1 3/4 inches shorter than many other drivers.

This combined with the large variety of shafts available, the sure fit adjustability and feel off the club face make it a very difficult driver to beat. It may not be the longest driver but if you combine distance with accuracy and dispersion there are very few drivers that come close.

I'll have two 910 heads 10.5 and 12 degree in addition to a regular kai'li shaft that will be going on ebay over the weekend.

 

[pokerjoke]

If you buy 12 more lessons?

This driver stuff always confuses me, I can understand big changes in a shaft having an effect, been there myself. Seems to me this is a mixture of "head stuff" and "shaft stuff". The brain is a powerful thing, if you convince it there is a problem then there will be one!

Do what you need to do with the "shaft stuff" so you can conquer the "head stuff", then you should be well on the way to a lower handicap.

Correct someones got some sense.

Most people advocate getting fitted which you did,cant then understand why that didn't work.
Your pro says you got fitted wrongly but then going to his suggestion was wrong also.

As you are probably aware changing again also wont work.
It really comes down to making it work and learning to hit it properly and building confidence.
Good luck

 

[Foxholer]

I had an email from CGDiscount offering X2Hot Driver at £149, along with other X2Hot kit reductions. So there will be other places discounting them if you liked the head and know what shaft you want - or can try one to check.

I was impressed with it at the Kings of Distance day (wasn't keen on either BB though).

 

[ScienceBoy]

Correct someones got some sense.

First time someone has said that 'bout me!

 

[Nosevi]

If you buy 12 more lessons?

This driver stuff always confuses me, I can understand big changes in a shaft having an effect, been there myself. Seems to me this is a mixture of "head stuff" and "shaft stuff". The brain is a powerful thing, if you convince it there is a problem then there will be one!

Do what you need to do with the "shaft stuff" so you can conquer the "head stuff", then you should be well on the way to a lower handicap.

Are you suggesting that the 'Turbulators' on top of my G30 do absolutely **** all? How dare you, sir!

 

[ScienceBoy]

Are you suggesting that the 'Turbulators' on top of my G30 do absolutely **** all? How dare you, sir!

Hey as long as you are scoring better and have gained confidence then all is good. I know when I changed my driver shaft and eventual the club I got a massive confidence boost each time. I grew out of the club each time and knowing it was hindering me was doing more damage than the club/shaft combo actually was. To free yourself from those worries you need to take action.

Now I know its not the club, its my technique as I was fitted for this head and shaft and I KNOW I CAM hit them well. Only a major change in my physical condition will change that.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Maybe have another lesson as suggested, maybe with a fresh pair of eyes. I did this and had a 30 minute assessment with a pro from another range (the normal teaching pro wasn't working because of half term) and he tweaked my posture and alignment and bingo. Once you get the technique and confidence back, you open up a world of opportunity. I love my G25 if that is a recommendation and know what you mean about Titleist clubs. They just ooze "hit me" although I've always struggled with them apart from the 910

 

[Nosevi]

Hey as long as you are scoring better and have gained confidence then all is good. I know when I changed my driver shaft and eventual the club I got a massive confidence boost each time. I grew out of the club each time and knowing it was hindering me was doing more damage than the club/shaft combo actually was. To free yourself from those worries you need to take action.

Now I know its not the club, its my technique as I was fitted for this head and shaft and I KNOW I CAM hit them well. Only a major change in my physical condition will change that.

I've got no worries or gremlins in my head, my friend, I was just messing with you. I changed my clubs primarily for the new shafts but the new kit does perform better than the old. 'Turbulators' are the newest innovation from Ping, they stop air from stalling over the upper surface of the club to reduce drag. The theory is sound (an air trafficer by trade and know a little about aero) but how much difference it makes is 'debatable' at best.

Not sure how much club heads make a difference as it's so nailed down in the regs now but they make some and shafts do make a measurable difference. Here's an example, with irons rather than driver admittedly but makes the point - Had Bob round mine the other day as some may know and he was hitting his clubs very consistently distance wise. Tried mine and he was noticeably longer, think it was about 7 yards longer with each iron. The interesting point though was that it wasn't due to a change in launch angle and it wasn't due to less spin, he was spot on the same with his and mine. The difference was that with mine he got a higher ball speed and that gave him the extra length. I know the reasons why and I won't bore you with them but it was interesting non-the-less

What I was taught was that, while the club heads have to be 'ok' it's really the shaft that is the 'engine' of the club and that needs to be right for you in order to get the most out of the kit. I went from a standard stiff shafts to X flex. I needed to in order to get the most from the kit. Trust me, it's not in my head, it makes a difference

 

[MadAdey]

If you want a bit of weight in your driver, have you tried the SLDR with a 7M3 Black Tie shaft? I prefer a heavier driver and this shaft makes the SLDR feel fantastic, several other forumers have the same shaft too in their SLDR. In January the R15 comes out so there might be some bargains to be had on the SLDR.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Actually I did that this summer as I got a freebie lesson when i joined the new club. Old pro still as solid as ever and I'll continue to use him but the new pro said, and I quote, "You have a lovely swing, how are you only off 17? Shouldn't be that hard for you to get to single figures"

Strangely enough I get that as well. On one hand it's a great complement and it makes me feel great. But on the other hand I realise that it's just a subtle way of them playing with you mind to get you to keep coming back to the pro. As he/she has set some mythical standard you should be at, and with their help you will get there.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I've got no worries or gremlins in my head, my friend, I was just messing with you. I changed my clubs primarily for the new shafts but the new kit does perform better than the old. 'Turbulators' are the newest innovation from Ping, they stop air from stalling over the upper surface of the club to reduce drag. The theory is sound (an air trafficer by trade and know a little about aero) but how much difference it makes is 'debatable' at best.

Not sure how much club heads make a difference as it's so nailed down in the regs now but they make some and shafts do make a measurable difference. Here's an example, with irons rather than driver admittedly but makes the point - Had Bob round mine the other day as some may know and he was hitting his clubs very consistently distance wise. Tried mine and he was noticeably longer, think it was about 7 yards longer with each iron. The interesting point though was that it wasn't due to a change in launch angle and it wasn't due to less spin, he was spot on the same with his and mine. The difference was that with mine he got a higher ball speed and that gave him the extra length. I know the reasons why and I won't bore you with them but it was interesting non-the-less

What I was taught was that, while the club heads have to be 'ok' it's really the shaft that is the 'engine' of the club and that needs to be right for you in order to get the most out of the kit. I went from a standard stiff shafts to X flex. I needed to in order to get the most from the kit. Trust me, it's not in my head, it makes a difference

But people need to remember the actual flex will make minimal difference to the shot, the vast majority of that is down to the strike. It's more the feel of a particular flex that will make people more confident and to some extent the weight of it.