What will the difference in shaft weights do to my flight?
I find I have a better feel for the driver with a heavier shaft. Better feel, better control. Make sure your kickpoint is right as well. Another thing most people don't seem to talk about much is length of the shaft. (Okay, quit giggling) The average length of the driver on the PGA tour is 44" but in most stores you and I go to it's 45". Doesn't sound like much, but in a driver shorter is straighter. Frankly, if you can afford a new driver or even a new shaft, you can't afford not to have a fitting. It's money well spent.
Another thing most people don't seem to talk about much is length of the shaft. (Okay, quit giggling) The average length of the driver on the PGA tour is 44" but in most stores you and I go to it's 45". Doesn't sound like much, but in a driver shorter is straighter.
Interesting point. When I've attended demo days here in the UK (with major brands) the reps will not discuss shortening the shaft of the driver. Their stock answer is 'you can get your club pro to do it after you've bought it'.
What will the difference in shaft weights do to my flight?
It really depends on your swing. Having spent the last six years playing steel shafted drivers the switch to graphite was tough. The lighter weight left me feeling like I had less control over the club throughout the swing. With the steel I had very good control of the ball and my swing. I started with the 65g shaft and have moved up to one that comes in at 78g for the added "feel" and control.
It really didn't change the ball flight in terms of trajectory at all because I have a very high kick point to keep the ball flight down.
It really depends on your swing. Having spent the last six years playing steel shafted drivers the switch to graphite was tough. The lighter weight left me feeling like I had less control over the club throughout the swing. With the steel I had very good control of the ball and my swing. I started with the 65g shaft and have moved up to one that comes in at 78g for the added "feel" and control.
It really didn't change the ball flight in terms of trajectory at all because I have a very high kick point to keep the ball flight down.
I know what you mean...I've recently gone back to carrying an older Taylor Made Burner (Bubble Shaft) that I haven't used for sone time and it took me a while to decide I needed more weight in the shaft. I wasn't feeling the clubhead like I'm used to and because of that I wasn't getting the release I normally do. I read (I think it was in Golf Magazine) that when Tiger was trying out four different Nike prototype drivers he said "I like the heavier one best" They all looked at each other funny because they thought they were all the same weight but when they checked again they found that the one he liked best was heavier than the others by the weight of 2 cotton balls. No that's "Feel".
Tiger was trying out four different Nike prototype drivers he said "I like the heavier one best" They all looked at each other funny because they thought they were all the same weight but when they checked again they found that the one he liked best was heavier than the others by the weight of 2 cotton balls. No that's "Feel".
Incredible! He's talking feel in terms of half ounce increments and I'm talking about it in terms of 20 to 40 gram increments. Amazing!
Okay guys, someone is pulling someones leg here. After reading about the 2 cotton ball weight making a difference, I had to check. So I stole 2 cotton balls from my wife and weighed them, and they only weigh 1/2 gram. Now if you really think Tiger could feel a difference between a driver that weighs about 320 grams and one that weighs 320.5 grams, you need to stop smoking what ever it is you're smoking.
And for the record, a 1/2 ounce is a little over 14 grams, so those 2 cotton balls don't come close to being a half ounce. I don't know where these figures came from, but they just don't add up. Sorry Guys.
There are 454 grams to a pound, and 16 ounces to a pound, so you can do the math yourself if you want. Driver heads weight 190-200 grams, shafts 65-85 grams, grips around 50 grams. My guess is Tiger has a fairly heavy shaft in his driver for better control, so I'm thinking his driver is heavier than mine. I just weights my G2 and it weights 322.5 grams. It has a 65 gram shaft in it, so I'm pretty sure Tiger's drivers is closer to 340-350 grams.
Okay guys, someone is pulling someones leg here. After reading about the 2 cotton ball weight making a difference, I had to check. So I stole 2 cotton balls from my wife and weighed them, and they only weigh 1/2 gram. Now if you really think Tiger could feel a difference between a driver that weighs about 320 grams and one that weighs 320.5 grams, you need to stop smoking what ever it is you're smoking.
And for the record, a 1/2 ounce is a little over 14 grams, so those 2 cotton balls don't come close to being a half ounce. I don't know where these figures came from, but they just don't add up. Sorry Guys.
There are 454 grams to a pound, and 16 ounces to a pound, so you can do the math yourself if you want. Driver heads weight 190-200 grams, shafts 65-85 grams, grips around 50 grams. My guess is Tiger has a fairly heavy shaft in his driver for better control, so I'm thinking his driver is heavier than mine. I just weights my G2 and it weights 322.5 grams. It has a 65 gram shaft in it, so I'm pretty sure Tiger's drivers is closer to 340-350 grams.
Not making it up...I'll look it up tonight and give you the magazine it was in...It was either Golf Magazine or Golf Digest, and that was the whole point of the story...He's feeling differences in weight that are so minute that the normal golfer would never feel them.
Okay guys, someone is pulling someones leg here. After reading about the 2 cotton ball weight making a difference, I had to check. So I stole 2 cotton balls from my wife and weighed them, and they only weigh 1/2 gram. Now if you really think Tiger could feel a difference between a driver that weighs about 320 grams and one that weighs 320.5 grams, you need to stop smoking what ever it is you're smoking.
And for the record, a 1/2 ounce is a little over 14 grams, so those 2 cotton balls don't come close to being a half ounce. I don't know where these figures came from, but they just don't add up. Sorry Guys.
There are 454 grams to a pound, and 16 ounces to a pound, so you can do the math yourself if you want. Driver heads weight 190-200 grams, shafts 65-85 grams, grips around 50 grams. My guess is Tiger has a fairly heavy shaft in his driver for better control, so I'm thinking his driver is heavier than mine. I just weights my G2 and it weights 322.5 grams. It has a 65 gram shaft in it, so I'm pretty sure Tiger's drivers is closer to 340-350 grams.
I think you misunderstood. The other poster said two cotton balls and I said 1/2 an ounce (not being too literal with the statement). It wasn't that one person said two cotton balls equal 1/2 an ounce. On a side note...Tiger's not the only guy who can tell a gram or two difference in their clubs. Go to any Tour event and hang out near the equipment trailers and listen to the caddies talk to the clubmakers in the trailer.
A lot of Tour players can feel the difference in a wedge, iron, or driver down to a few passes on the grinder. How much weight does a pass on the grinding wheel take off? Not much I am guessing.
Tiger's spent a tremendous amount of time over the last ten years working with both Nike and Titleist (before Nike) on club development and balls. He's got incredible feel and in most cases can tell you the spin numbers launch angles, etc. for a specific shot he hit (without looking at the monitor). I am guessing his feel for the clubs is no different and is equally precise.
September 7th, 2006, 02:31 PM
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