Driver shaft options

awatt · Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 2

I'll preface this by saying that I have a Grand Hawk XP 21 deg. hybrid with a stiff Graffaloy Prolaunch Red shaft that I love. Another mainstay in my bag is a Nessie 4-wood with an Accuflex VS02 x-stiff. I also have a Grand Hawk XP 3-wood with a Graffaloy NT Prototype x-stiff. I only carry the 3 wood on courses where I think that I may need it, but I do like the club. In fact, I carried the 3-wood instead of my driver recently at a shorter course, and I hit it so well that I never used my 4-wood.

This leads to my question/topic:

I have been considering trying something different for a driver. My swing speed and ball carry put me in the x-stiff range. (275-300 yards and I live/play in the Pacific Northwest) Currently I have a 9.5 degree Snake Eyes (Golfsmith) driver head with an x-stiff Graffaloy Prolaunch Red shaft. At first I liked the club, but I've come to a few conclusions about the club:
1. I would like a heavier shaft. (70+ grams)
2. I would like to have a higher ball flight (But I do not want to "balloon the ball")
3. Although my driver is a square face angle (according to specs), I still have a hard time hitting a fade (which would be my desired shot)
4. Lastly, I would like to build a driver that I might me more comfortable taking an easier swing with. (Graffaloy shafts seem to be stiffer than other companies....does anyone think the same?)

I am simply looking for control. And here's my question:

I am looking at the Graffaloy Prolaunch Platinum 75 shaft. Keeping swing weight and shaft flex in mind, how much would making the shaft 1/2 inch shorter than standard affect weight and flex? How about a full inch? The thought that I have is to get a stiff flex and take some length off of it to stiffen it with the goal of having more control with a shorter club.

Or would I be better off getting the standard length with an x-stiff shaft? When I do measurments on myself, I usually get fitted as standard length...5'10'', and 36.5" wrist to floor. However, I feel that I'd be more comfortable with a club that is closer to the length of an old steel-shafted driver than today's 46 inch clubs. (which is why I'm considering shaving off a stiff flex shaft)

I have been looking over the Turner clone to the R-9 driver head. I'm thinking that perhaps the weight options might help me find the fade that I desire. I'm thinking 10.5 degrees....again, I am looking for control.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Andrew

DTG Jeff · DTG Customer Service Joined: 07 Nov 2008 Posts: 264

There are several questions here I am going to try and answer for you. The first is going with a higher loft and yet not having it balloon. This would be obtained by going with a shaft with a very low torque (under 3.0) for your club hear head speed. However if you want a shaft that is a little on the softer side so you can swing it easier this is going to bring the ball flight up slightly and increase the chance of you ballooning the ball.
I think you had the correct idea going with the T9 because this is going to give you several ways to adjust and fine tune the ball flight. The grafalloy Prolaunch Platinum 75 isn't a bad choice but if your looking for something that wont balloon and and doesn't feel as rigid as a grafalloy I would look at the UST profroce v2 75. This shaft has incredibly low torque but a butt section that isn't going to feel as stiff as the grafalloy's

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Jeff