Driver Heads

Full Monty · Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 1

Are today's driver heads (such as a Turner MT) adding more distance over heads such as a TR 460 Comp Vaulter? Or is it all in the shaft?

My 10.5 Degree 460 Comp (Cleveland® Launcher Comp 460 Clone) has a X-Stiff UST Proforce 65 Shaft that is +1".

According to 2 local teaching pros, with my 107mph swing speed (tested today) I should be hitting the ball 280+. But I have a low launch angle (that needs to increase) that cuts down on my distance. Kepping me at 260 or so on average. And I know my current shaft doesn't help my launch angle.

SO what do I do? Get a new driver with a better matched shaft? Or just get a better shaft for the club head I currently have?

Thanks for you assistance!

GotheProbe · Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Melbourne, Australia

Hi - I was just reading your post & a few suggestions come to mind. Different options could be:
1) See if your local driving range or club has some demo clubs & just try a few. You might find compared to your current driver others feel better/worse, hit longer/shorter, more consistently, etc.
2) With the above suggestion see if you can try different shafts & notice the difference they make. You have a very fast swing so I'd be looking at a stiff or extra stiff shaft.
3) Check out some demo days & your sure to get a hit with different clubs.
4) Do like I do - buy something new (clone so it doesn't cost the earth) & if it doesn't work; well you haven't lost out too badly.

Personally I think if people don't typically hit very far then they have the most to gain. If you're a reasonable hitter anyway (which sounds like you are) then I wouldn't expect a new driver to be crunching shots a lot further. You're always going to get 1 or 2 hits out of the screws & think "wow this thing's great", etc etc but all up it's more of a consistentcy thing & if you've got a driver that's producing a nice feel & is accurate, then you're doing ok.

Anyway good luck.

Pat8 · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 4

It sounds like you already hit your driver pretty well/solid, so i would suggest not messing with what isn't broken and just getting a new shaft in your current head. If you have confidence in your driver already, you're already doing pretty well, a new shaft (with a lower flex point, to increase launch angle) can only help. You hit the ball 260yards, so you are already doing a lot better than a whole lot of people who play golf; I just read somewhere that the average male golfer's drive is 200 yards, that seems a little low (stat might be old), but still, you're ahead.

GotheProbe · Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Melbourne, Australia

In my experience I would think that 260 yard average would still be pretty accurate...taking into account I assume the stat would include many varying people of different ages & abilities. 260 yards (238 metres) is not insignificant when you consider as roughies 200 yards for a 3 iron and then say 230-240 for a 3 wood. Makes sence to get around 260 for the driver. Sure you would have the odd 300 yard crush but probably (for most) not on average.