The Tinkerman..

[kp17]

Haven’t technically tinkered yet but very tempted to switch up to mallet putter, played the same Newport blade since about 2005.

 

[harpo_72]

I was tinkering with the “ottoflex” shaft after I broke the Autoflex and was waiting for a replacement. The replacement came and I never really used it as my “ottoflex “ was performing. I was using a Callaway head but the titleist TSR1 was better and I have been using that and it’s the same principle of light weight and reduced flex.
The other tinkering I have been doing is my width of stance .. it’s paying off, a few hiccups as I forget some stuff but I am working them out.

 

[Slab]

I had Dan Grieve on the telly for a couple of hours just cycling through his vids and one talked about the putting grip (not the putter grip) & he mentioned the overlap grip
I’ve always used ‘traditional grip when putting but without the overlap. I guess because my grip for the rest of the bag is interlock so it never occurred to me to overlap forefinger/pinkie with the putter

Anyway standing in the lounge watching the vid with putter in hand it felt quite different but even just swinging the club back/forth the improvement in backswing stability was noticeable, so used it at the weekend for practice and a social round and very pleased with the amount of added control it gave

I think I’ll be using that grip for the foreseeable…
(p.s I'm not using reverse overlap, using index finger on top of pinkie)

 

[sjw]

I've borrowed a driver shaft off a guy at the course and while I'm not sure it's much longer, it feels much more stable during my swing and the ball trajectory is awesome, just drives straight off the face and pierces through the air, nice high launch. I'm not sure if he's planning on selling it or what... But if I wanted to buy a new one it's about 250-300 quid! Might have to try and find some more details and find one with a similar profile

 

[Orikoru]

I've borrowed a driver shaft off a guy at the course and while I'm not sure it's much longer, it feels much more stable during my swing and the ball trajectory is awesome, just drives straight off the face and pierces through the air, nice high launch. I'm not sure if he's planning on selling it or what... But if I wanted to buy a new one it's about 250-300 quid! Might have to try and find some more details and find one with a similar profile

Shafts are one thing I have absolutely no clue about and would never tinker with. I get fitted for driver and the shaft he gives me is fine by me until the next time.

 

[MACM85]

Shafts are one thing I have absolutely no clue about and would never tinker with. I get fitted for driver and the shaft he gives me is fine by me until the next time.

That is where I agree. Get fitted and trust the fitting process that you're getting the best shaft for you. However depending on how good the fitter is and shaft options available are you might just get the best of what is available with the stock options

 

[harpo_72]

I've borrowed a driver shaft off a guy at the course and while I'm not sure it's much longer, it feels much more stable during my swing and the ball trajectory is awesome, just drives straight off the face and pierces through the air, nice high launch. I'm not sure if he's planning on selling it or what... But if I wanted to buy a new one it's about 250-300 quid! Might have to try and find some more details and find one with a similar profile

There are lots of stuff that is very similar. Check the shaft length, weight, torque … then if possible your swingweight with installed shaft and the head weight of the club alone.
You can impact the shaft by varying the head weight (not talking about position- but make a note of that if you have that option).
In the end though it could be a bit of trial and error, hence going to a fitter that can do all that and has all the possible shaft variants.
But I would say that the premium shaft won’t give you as big a benefit as it will cost extra ..

 

[sjw]

That is where I agree. Get fitted and trust the fitting process that you're getting the best shaft for you. However depending on how good the fitter is and shaft options available are you might just get the best of what is available with the stock options

Exactly that. I don't mind mine at all but this other one just feels better. When I got fitted it was a indoor sim fitting and I never swing as well indoors, so there's always been that teeny tiny bit of doubt. The reason I tried this shaft was because I was playing with this guy and he saw a couple of my drives fly a little right (like a bit blocked) and on seeing the shaft I had he said, "oh I had that shaft and that happened to me as well, try this one." Otherwise I would have just stuck.

 

[sjw]

There are lots of stuff that is very similar. Check the shaft length, weight, torque … then if possible your swingweight with installed shaft and the head weight of the club alone.
You can impact the shaft by varying the head weight (not talking about position- but make a note of that if you have that option).
In the end though it could be a bit of trial and error, hence going to a fitter that can do all that and has all the possible shaft variants.
But I would say that the premium shaft won’t give you as big a benefit as it will cost extra ..

Yeah there's got to be a cheaper option that performs in a similar fashion. It just creates such a lovely ball flight. I didn't tell my playing partners on Sunday that I had a different shaft, specifically to see if they commented on my driving, and all three of them independently said that I was driving the ball better than usual. Combine that with the feel that I like and I think it's safe to say it's a good option.

 

[MACM85]

Exactly that. I don't mind mine at all but this other one just feels better. When I got fitted it was a indoor sim fitting and I never swing as well indoors, so there's always been that teeny tiny bit of doubt. The reason I tried this shaft was because I was playing with this guy and he saw a couple of my drives fly a little right (like a bit blocked) and on seeing the shaft I had he said, "oh I had that shaft and that happened to me as well, try this one." Otherwise I would have just stuck.

What is the shaft you tried and what is the current gamer shaft?

 

[sjw]

What is the shaft you tried and what is the current gamer shaft?

My current shaft is a Project X Denali Blue 50g stiff. The one I'm trying at the moment is a Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-6 stiff

 

[MACM85]

My current shaft is a Project X Denali Blue 50g stiff. The one I'm trying at the moment is a Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-6 stiff

Two very different shafts not just in the profile but the one you tried is 10g heavier.

Might find the borrowed shaft doesn't kick as much which means your usual miss is reduced. The Tour AD will have better materials and is a high end shaft which to some makes a world of difference.

I use a Tour AD shaft and think they're pretty decent for the cost.

 

[JonnyGutteridge]

I’m going to tinker with the bag this year.

d/3w/3h/3i-PW/52/58 is my current bag

3 wood, 3 iron and 3 hybrid is strange. 3 iron is likely to be dropped.

I need to find space for an extra wedge, ideally I want a 50/54/58.

My 3w is rarely used and is getting replaced. Maybe for a 4 wood.
My 3h goes miles and is staying.

I do like having a 3 iron in my bag though and I’ll miss it.

 

[sjw]

Two very different shafts not just in the profile but the one you tried is 10g heavier.

Might find the borrowed shaft doesn't kick as much which means your usual miss is reduced. The Tour AD will have better materials and is a high end shaft which to some makes a world of difference.

I use a Tour AD shaft and think they're pretty decent for the cost.

Yes the kick is the exact thing that's changed.

In the fitting I was having a real tough time hitting anything left, so the fitter put me in a shaft that had a softer tip section. What that means in reality is that I can hit it well, but now I'm swinging freer outside, it can sometimes feel like I'm leaving the tip behind. The only time I really feel that trampoline, out the middle feel is when I've blocked it right. Otherwise, the down-the-middle good just feel like they might be 90-95% what I could be getting. I also feel like I have to hit the ball upwards as opposed to hitting through it. I especially notice this on an indoor Trackman sim as well, when in order to get a good spin loft I'm feeling like I really have to close everything down.

As soon as I picked the Tour AD up, I could feel the weight difference, so I was nervous at first, but I just whacked it and got a lovely high draw and at impact it was like the ball was just gone. Like as I looked around it was further away than it had any right to be.

 

[MACM85]

Yes the kick is the exact thing that's changed.

In the fitting I was having a real tough time hitting anything left, so the fitter put me in a shaft that had a softer tip section. What that means in reality is that I can hit it well, but now I'm swinging freer outside, it can sometimes feel like I'm leaving the tip behind. The only time I really feel that trampoline, out the middle feel is when I've blocked it right. Otherwise, the down-the-middle good just feel like they might be 90-95% what I could be getting. I also feel like I have to hit the ball upwards as opposed to hitting through it. I especially notice this on an indoor Trackman sim as well, when in order to get a good spin loft I'm feeling like I really have to close everything down.

As soon as I picked the Tour AD up, I could feel the weight difference, so I was nervous at first, but I just whacked it and got a lovely high draw and at impact it was like the ball was just gone. Like as I looked around it was further away than it had any right to be.

Depending where you're based it might be worth going to a fitter that has every shaft possible and see what works best.

 

[sjw]

Depending where you're based it might be worth going to a fitter that has every shaft possible and see what works best.

PXG driver head, unfortunately, which a lot of people don't have, I don't think. And I believe the head married to the shaft is a key point. Will have a look around though.

 

[harpo_72]

My current shaft is a Project X Denali Blue 50g stiff. The one I'm trying at the moment is a Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-6 stiff

Is the project x a 6.0 stiff or 5.5 slightly stiffer than regular?
The difference in height is possibly due to kick point as GD is a high launch option.
Torque values are similar 3.2-4.1 (project x 6.0)
Lower torque value from my experience means the head is more stable on miss hits.
I think there is UST green or black with similar numbers as the GD (off the top of my head)
I used to judge my shafts purely on torque alone and that was just impact feel. But you can make some adjustments with club head weight to activate or deactivate the torque reaction .. the bend profile is as it is and I suppose loft is your only variable to help.
Spin profile is with the amateur a bit hard to pin down .. you can add or take away as much as possible with your strike on the face ( a set up procedure and using a castle tee could help to minimise variation and then it’s just all the other random inputs you have to offer )

 

[harpo_72]

Yes the kick is the exact thing that's changed.

In the fitting I was having a real tough time hitting anything left, so the fitter put me in a shaft that had a softer tip section. What that means in reality is that I can hit it well, but now I'm swinging freer outside, it can sometimes feel like I'm leaving the tip behind. The only time I really feel that trampoline, out the middle feel is when I've blocked it right. Otherwise, the down-the-middle good just feel like they might be 90-95% what I could be getting. I also feel like I have to hit the ball upwards as opposed to hitting through it. I especially notice this on an indoor Trackman sim as well, when in order to get a good spin loft I'm feeling like I really have to close everything down.

As soon as I picked the Tour AD up, I could feel the weight difference, so I was nervous at first, but I just whacked it and got a lovely high draw and at impact it was like the ball was just gone. Like as I looked around it was further away than it had any right to be.

Can you loft up on the head for the project x shaft? It will close the face as well and just take a stronger grip ( ie top hand more rotated with thumb nail pointing more rearward and lower hand tucked in underneath?)

Interesting side note is TaylorMade have fitted shafts based on closure rate for the new driver .. which might be an interesting investigation and could indicate torque differences.

 

[sjw]

Can you loft up on the head for the project x shaft? It will close the face as well and just take a stronger grip ( ie top hand more rotated with thumb nail pointing more rearward and lower hand tucked in underneath?)

Interesting side note is TaylorMade have fitted shafts based on closure rate for the new driver .. which might be an interesting investigation and could indicate torque differences.

I don't want to set the current shaft up to go any more left - on the course it's my more likely miss. (Which is what I told the fitter and then promptly blasted everything right!) It's just that occasionally I will block one out right but they feel really fired out there.

I've never been convinced by the fitting. I want to really be fitted with proper balls on an outdoor range with a Trackman. But I don't want to buy a new driver, and nowhere near me stocks PXG stuff (Cambridgeshire) so it's not really feasible.

If someone said I had to play this year with the Project X shaft, I'd be more than happy to. This is just the first time I've tried something that makes me think, huh, maybe I could do better. I'd hate to be leaving distance on the table due to something easily changed (and according to the simulator, I am - spin is way too high, too much spin loft)

 

[clubchamp98]

Yeah there's got to be a cheaper option that performs in a similar fashion. It just creates such a lovely ball flight. I didn't tell my playing partners on Sunday that I had a different shaft, specifically to see if they commented on my driving, and all three of them independently said that I was driving the ball better than usual. Combine that with the feel that I like and I think it's safe to say it's a good option.

Make him an offer you can afford.
At worst he will say “no”

If he’s letting people borrow it ,it can’t be his no 1 shaft.