Will an adjustable driver hide my swing faults ?

[colint]

I'm drawing up a short list for a new driver, the adjustable models seems popular but I'm concerned that they'll just hide any problems with my swing. Any problems "cured" by adjusting the driver will still be there with my fairways, long irons etc. I may get better drives but a bit worried it's just going to be counter productive for the rest of my game

 

[Pinseeker]

hahahah no please take it from me these thing s are gimmicks. invest your well earned money in golf lessons with a decent pro! well worth the money

 

[haplesshacker]

Having tried a few. Nope. Get lessons first, and then find a driver that suits you. However there is an argument that one of the 'adjustable' drivers will meet your needs as you progress through the game. ie. you may tend to slice a bit now and therefore need a draw bias driver. As you progress, you might find that you need a more neutral biased driver.

But, by which point the shaft would have rubbed on the bag and you'll need a new driver anyway!

 

[Pinseeker]

However there is an argument that one of the 'adjustable' drivers will meet your needs as you progress through the game. ie. you may tend to slice a bit now and therefore need a draw bias driver.

problem with these things is it doesn't get rid of the problem! if you have a slice and continue to play with it but with a draw bias club how does that solve the underlying problem. unfortunately golf is not solved by the equipment but by hard work! and its very rewarding

 

[haplesshacker]

problem with these things is it doesn't get rid of the problem!

Wasn't aware I said that it did!

I'm not disagreeing with you. A bad swing is a bad swing. But at your level of ability I would have thought that you would appreciate that a draw bias club would assist a lesser able player to help square the clubface at impact. That is all. I never intamated that these things would cure a slice / hook or whatever.

 

[Handycap]

problem with these things is it doesn't get rid of the problem!

Wasn't aware I said that it did!

I'm not disagreeing with you. A bad swing is a bad swing. But at your level of ability I would have thought that you would appreciate that a draw bias club would assist a lesser able player to help square the clubface at impact. That is all. I never intamated that these things would cure a slice / hook or whatever.

I would take haplesshacker's advice. I am a mid handicap player and have been between 14 and 16 for many years. I realise that if I am to progress in this game I need to take lessons.

Before any lessons though, I started spending some money on clubs. All my golf equipment was at least 15 years old so I decided to get new irons and a driver. The first driver I got was an impulse buy Nike sumo squared which did help my game.

With the new confidence the Nike driver gave me, I decided I was as cured as I needed to be of my swing faults, and then bought a lovely looking Titleist 907 D2. A truly beautiful looking club, which when struck well was as impressive off the tee as it was to look at. However, once I opened my shoulders up a bit, I could slice a ball with this club as well or better than any club I ever owned! In fairness I could slice the Nike too if "push came to shove" for want of a better expression!

I now knew I needed lessons and was demoralised and cross with myself for spending money in the wrong direction on equipment, well the second driver, that impaired my game due to my own poor ability. An added complication was that although the Nike square driver was more suited to my inconsistancy, it was also damaging my hearing. This wasn't an excuse to go out and buy another club, I actually went to my local GP with the complaint, and was genuinely convinced the high pitched loud volume this club creates (130 decibels approx) was detrimental.

So I bought a Taylor Made R9 420cc sized head with 9.5 degrees loft. This club is adjustable in both the head to shaft and in weights located in the head. It was a toss up between the Nike str8 fit round, which I nearly bought the previous day but my pro didn't have the spec I wanted. In the end I tried both clubs and liked both, but the R9 for me was a better looking club, produced a much quieter noise at impact and what's more, seemed more forgiving.

I'm now safe in the knowledge that if my set up changes I can make subtle changes to the new club I own. Had I bought a draw bias driver for example, and have to make fundamental changes to my set up, I'm going to be constantly hooking the ball and will be forsed to spend more money on yet another driver.

In summary, I have had my first of five booked lesson, and as I hoped, a fundamental issue was spotted immediately; my left hand grip was quite weak (I am a right handed player). Correcting this by showing the first and second knuckle has forced me to turn the club over more at impact, and the first legitimate adjustment from full draw bias to a nearly neutral bias (the least amount of draw bias possible before neutral) has produced straight drives with a hint of draw.

Not everyone's the same, but for me as a seasoned mid handicapper wanting to progress, I couldn't recommend highly enough the investment of an adjustable driver alongside lessons from your local pro.

 

[colint]

thanks handycap, interesting answer. I hadn't really considered the opportunity to adjust the club as my swing improves. Part of my problem is that some days I'll drive straight, some days a predictable fade, and some days a wild "watch out 2 fairways away" slice. I'm worried that I'll end up adjusting the driver on a weekly basis depending on how I'm playing.

A good,forgiving club that works well when I swing well or something I can adjust as I improve ?

 

[Handycap]

Unfortunately Colin, there is no club in existence that can accommodate an inconsistent swing. The Nike square came closer than most, but as I said in my previous post, you can still hook and slice those too.
For less than an average round of golf, you should be able to get a couple of lessons which could save you money in the long run. Or as I have found, have enabled me to take full advantage of an adjustable club to suit the new changes.
Go for a fitting with Nike and Taylor Made and see if you like the clubs. Then make your decision as to whether you want/need to make a purchase.

 

[stevek1969]

I bought the TM R9 and haven't changed it in any way its set up is neutral , i bought because i liked the sound and the size of the club no doubt if i messed with it i would notice a difference but am hitting it well enough set up the way it is . My advice give it a go.

 

[haplesshacker]

I would take haplesshacker's advice.

Blimin' 'eck! I wouldn't. Have you not understood my user name!!

No really. I only offer opinion. I also think the only 'advice' I gave was to have lessons and then find a driver that suits! All the other stuff was just how an adjustable maybe useful as you progress. Not a cure for all ills.

Just to put the record straight!

Can't have folks thinking that I might contribute something useful golfing wise!!

 

[Handycap]

Having tried a few. Nope. Get lessons first, and then find a driver that suits you. However there is an argument that one of the 'adjustable' drivers will meet your needs as you progress through the game. ie. you may tend to slice a bit now and therefore need a draw bias driver. As you progress, you might find that you need a more neutral biased driver.

But, by which point the shaft would have rubbed on the bag and you'll need a new driver anyway!

OK then, I agree with haplesshackers opinion that there exists "an argument that one of the 'adjustable' drivers will meet your needs as you progress through the game."
I took this to mean that changes you make to better your game can be accommodated with an adjustable driver. I would qualify "progress" to be, amongst other things, pro lessons.

Perhaps you have otherwise hidden talents in the advice stakes hapless!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think a lesson would be a good starting point before going any further and spending too much money as it will reveal any major underlying faults which can be cured to at least produce a higher level of consistancy.

I'm actually with pinseeker on this and think that it will only mask problems which further down the line will creep into your other clubs which can't then be cured with the twist of a wrench. I think some of the draw bias clubs look and play better than others. The Lleveland Hi-Bore XLS for example doesn't look overly closed at address whereas the Cally Diable looks horrendous behind the ball. I had the Hi-Bore draw bias and it did keep it straighter but I was still able to miss fairways left (hooking with a draw bias is not good) and right (big old yahoos thinking the bias will save me).

In the end I got a lesson to sort my swing out and was fortunate that GM sorted me with an R7 Limited which has been a revelation to my driving in terms of distance and accuracy.

I'd think long and hard as its easy to have buyers remorse and these adjustable bats aren't cheap. At least I guess you do have the neutral option but personally I'm not sure they're for me.