Square or Traditional?

[kid2]

Been doing a little homework the past few nights on Drivers.
Are square drivers really more accurate than the Traditional shape drivers.
Im thinking of maybe giving one a few test runs as our pro shop on the course is selling off the MD Golf Ti square for 60€ new with a pro force V2 shaft.

 

[Imurg]

I think, when they first came out, lots of tests were done and they are more accurate than a traditional shaped club. They don't twist as much on off centre hits. But put a manky swing on a ball and you'll lose it just as easily.
Some of the tests, i believe, showed that the titanium versons were less accurate than the composite ones due to the lack of spare weight to position out to the corners of the club. With a carbon composite body/crown there is spare weight available to position at the corners to increase the MOI to make them better on the off-centre hits. If I remember rightly they decided that a titanium square head was not much better than a traditional one.

 

[kid2]

I think, when they first came out, lots of tests were done and they are more accurate than a traditional shaped club. They don't twist as much on off centre hits. But put a manky swing on a ball and you'll lose it just as easily.
Some of the tests, i believe, showed that the titanium versons were less accurate than the composite ones due to the lack of spare weight to position out to the corners of the club. With a carbon composite body/crown there is spare weight available to position at the corners to increase the MOI to make them better on the off-centre hits. If I remember rightly they decided that a titanium square head was not much better than a traditional one.

What makes would you recommend Imurg?

 

[Imurg]

Callaway and Nike are the only big names taht have gone square. I had a Cally FTi and it was long and straight - just a bloody awful noise when you hit it. The Nike's are even louder. I think the newer ones are quieter but they still look like a brick on the end of a pole!

 

[JustOne]

I have the FTiQ and it's awesome. Callaway says it has a 35% tighter dispersion and I believe them.

It's not so noisy as the FTi and it goes miles on a decent hit and miles on an off center hit. Probably the longest and most forgiving club i've ever hit.

If you buy the iMix version then you can unscrew the shaft and put a different one in. I bought one from a forum member for £45 and stuck it in there for a trial. If I don't like it I can take it out and whack it on eBay and get my money back

If you are not put off by looking at a square headed driver then I'd highly recommend it.

The Fubuki Regular flex will cope with most swings. something in the region of 10-10.5° gives an excellent launch height.

I can't see myself wanting to change drivers again unless they bring out a club that is literally out of this world.
Might try a few different shafts for a laugh though, to see what all the characterisitcs are like.

 

[JT77]

I have thought about getting an FT IQ but not sure if I beleive all the hype. I was glad to see a someone say it having a positive affect on their game, maybe head to Nevada bobs and get on the flight scope thing to see if it would help me.

I have an FT5 atm, and when it goes well, it is excellent, but I sometimes have a tendancy to block, I know its me and not the club, but I'd still like to give it a go!

 

[freddielong]

If you are blocking it the shape of the head wont help

 

[Ethan]

Never seen a square (or variant thereof) that didn't look absolutely horrible.

Also, they can be very straight, straight left, straight right, sometimes just straight.

 

[JustOne]

I have thought about getting an FT IQ but not sure if I beleive all the hype. I was glad to see a someone say it having a positive affect on their game, maybe head to Nevada bobs and get on the flight scope thing to see if it would help me.

I have an FT5 atm, and when it goes well, it is excellent, but I sometimes have a tendancy to block, I know its me and not the club, but I'd still like to give it a go!

I have the FTiQ tour 9.5°, it's a great club although I could probably have done with buying the 10 or 10.5° as now-a-days it's about hitting 'high launch, low spin'. The balls aren't made the same way as they used to be so it's actually better to hit the ball a tad higher.

I have the Fubuki Stiff 63 shaft, and also a Pro Launch Red stiff which is in there at the moment, little or no discernable difference to me.... maybe the Fubuki launches a fraction higher...it's hard to tell.

I have hit a lot of drivers over the years and for me this one is by FAR the best. I might literally never change.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Call me a traditionalist but I just hate the way they sit behind the ball from a visual point of view and the general shape. I tried the Nike one when it came out and apart from it deafeneing the poor guy 15 bays down I didn't think much of it. I was put off by it and so haven't tried any since. I have always liked Callaway drivers though and so I might be persuaded to swing a square one again and see what happens although I don't think whatever make or model I can be persuaded to get one

 

[RGDave]

Are square drivers really more accurate than the Traditional shape drivers.

Yes!! As Ethan says later on though, straight left, right, you name it.

I have a Wilson Spine waiting for the right moment to be unleashed again for the season. I'm not using it a.t.m. (prefer my benny) as it's just too long for my winter-ruined dodgy swing.

I don't know, the manufacturers invent a truly amazing club with technology that ought to be illegal and then mess it up with virtually unplayable-length shafts. As straight as they may be, you've still got to middle it (or close) and it won't improve a really terrible swing (slice!!) just has a magic effect on the 90-95% sort of shot.

 

[Region3]

I won an FTiQ on ebay last week, but I think I made a mistake because it's not the tour model and the normal model I've since read is a draw biased club.

I'll try it when it turns up but I fear it'll be back on ebay pretty sharpish.

 

[RGDave]

I won an FTiQ on ebay last week, but I think I made a mistake because it's not the tour model and the normal model I've since read is a draw biased club.

I'll try it when it turns up but I fear it'll be back on ebay pretty sharpish.

Might be alright you know.
I have a draw biased Callaway driver and it's not the work-of-the-devil everyone goes on about. Nowt wrong with it other than it's a bit low loft wise.

 

[Region3]

I should be ok with the loft as it's 11 degree. I need it since according to the launch monitor at Titleist I have a negative angle of attack with the driver, although I'm trying to change.

 

[Andy]

They look rank. Like swinging a brick.

Andy

 

[JustOne]

I won an FTiQ on ebay last week, but I think I made a mistake because it's not the tour model and the normal model I've since read is a draw biased club.

The Tour sits ½° open and the normal one is 1° closed.

I don't think it's draw biased with any extra/different weighting... just the clubface angle... but don't quote me on that

To me they both sit exactly the same on the deck too, I don't think my eye is trained to notice 1.5°

I hit both equally well and both the regular, stiff and X-flex shafts equally well too

Would be interested to know how you get on with it.

 

[Imurg]

Does the FTiQ sound better than the FTi did?
Main reason I stopped using it was the God-awful noise it made - got embarressed!

 

[Region3]

Does the FTiQ sound better than the FTi did?
Main reason I stopped using it was the God-awful noise it made - got embarressed!

I hope so! I had a Mizuno MP(?)560 and it sounded like hitting the ball with a baked bean tin. Horrible.

 

[JustOne]

The FtiQ isn't too embarrassing to use at the range

It's not the same thrashing sound of a Titleist (I always felt like that was the sound of the ball leaving the clubface with a billion revs of spin) but it's also not the tin can sound of the FTi.

I see they have the FTiZ out now for about £ £300-£350, might take one of those for a spin in 2 or 3 years! A triangular design.... Oval, square, triangle - I wish they'd make up their minds! I'm not totally sold on it as the new Polar Weighting is supposed to be better for off center hits however I'd rather it just went 15yds further

 

[Region3]

I won an FTiQ on ebay last week, but I think I made a mistake because it's not the tour model and the normal model I've since read is a draw biased club.

The Tour sits ½° open and the normal one is 1° closed.

I don't think it's draw biased with any extra/different weighting... just the clubface angle... but don't quote me on that

To me they both sit exactly the same on the deck too, I don't think my eye is trained to notice 1.5°

I hit both equally well and both the regular, stiff and X-flex shafts equally well too

Would be interested to know how you get on with it.

It turned up today, so I was off to the range as soon as my daughter was asleep.

First impressions was that it looks wayyyyyy closed to me at address, and swishing it without a ball there felt like there was more resistance from the air than my current driver.

On the range it felt fairly good, but no noticeable difference in distance to my 909. Most bounced just short of the fence and the better hit ones hitting the fence about halfway up.
Having said that though it's tough to follow a ball all the way in the floodlights.

I found myself trying to square the clubface up at address by pushing my hands forward. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing or even if it made a difference, it just 'looked' better.

The good shots had a gentle draw to them, but I never had any wild hooks with the bad ones. I never had any 'leak' to the right though which sometimes happens with the 909.

I'll take it out for a spin at the weekend and see how it goes.
As a slicer (in the same way as an alcoholic who hasn't had a drink for 5 years is still an alcoholic) it will be tough to aim down the right expecting the draw to bring it back, but we'll see.

50/50 whether or not it makes an appearance at the Addington meet.