Any slower swingers benefit from going to a low spin driver?

garyt1957 · 2022-05-29T21:21:01+00:00

So the title is my question. Have any of you guys who aren't swinging the driver fast, say 85-90mph, ever benefitted from going to a low spin driver? Maybe...

Spuzz

garyt1957 While a lot of the claims are hype there's no doubt modern drivers are better than anything from 2002 or whatever it was.

Lots of doubt for sure, on the heads.
If you are talking about shafts, that's another story.

garyt1957

Spuzz I still say the heads are better. There's definitely been improvement in off center hit performance, launch, spin. I'm not saying it's 25 yards or earth shattering but it's there.

Spuzz

garyt1957 There's definitely been improvement in off center hit performance,

I am not real familiar with this.

I have tried lots of different sizes, shapes and weight configurations, even recently.
Until they change the CT or COR rules, I will always say newer isn't better.
In fact, with the amount of plastic in modern heads, plus the shitty adapters, I would say they aren't made better.
Of course, I am only comparing my component heads to OEM heads. YMMV

Maybe the newer OEM heads are better than the older OEM heads?
This I can believe, (except for the Titleist 975D, the best OEM head ever!)
😉

pellmell

garyt1957 I alternate between two lofts of an acclaimed driver, the Orlimar Hip-Ti 420, a 9.5° with Aldila NV 55 stiff and an 8.5° with Aldila NV 55 x-stiff. Of all the drivers in my current collection, these absolutely kill.

garyt1957

DonM Part of last year I put in play an 8* Wishon 919 on a 43" shaft and got about as much or more distance than anything else. Problem was, the 919 is open a tad and I could lose one right. I play all my OEM drivers wide open and never slice them but the two 919's that are open will go right on me. Just shows how much internal draw bias they put into OEM's. The 919's have no internal bias at all according to Wishon himself. Might just spring for a 919 that's square or even slightly closed.
No way I can judge the height of my drives but the younger big hitters I play with in tournaments hit way higher than I do. But like I said, more loft for me has always gone just higher and shorter.

garyt1957

This is a great thread BTW, if I do say so myself. Actually has me interested in trying some new stuff out.

Par4QC

Spuzz I've never had a problem with forgiveness with any of the SMT heads, of Geek heads for that matter. Not often I'm off center, but when I am, they have not shorted me much distance, if any, nor put me OB, in the trees or where I can't make a good play. I swear some toe hits on the 455's were going farther than normal!
I just don't swing wild enough any more to not be hitting near center face, I guess. Lucky me.

Eguller

Spuzz This I can believe, (except for the Titleist 975D, the best OEM head ever!)

One of the two best. The other one is the TM R510 TP DF. I should be mentally evaluated for
selling off both of them. 🙃

garyt1957

Spuzz You honestly don't think today's heads are more forgiving? Man, I hit some balls with my driver now that I know should be so far out of play and I look up and they catch the edge of the fairway or just off.
And as for CT and Cor they don't really come into play on off center hits. Center cut, sure .830 is .830. But I definitely would lose more on a mishit with older drivers than I do now.
I mean I know it's kinda hip to say the old's stuff's just as good and it's all marketing but they've got 20 years of research over the old heads. I think it's obvious there'd be some gains . Think of all the things that have improved over 20 years. Why would golf clubs be any different?

Spuzz

Par4QC SMT heads, of Geek heads

add Ashton X-1 and MS-5 to that list.

Spuzz

garyt1957

as i said, forgiving is not needed for me so i cannot compare.
i will say that i have a shaft i have used in various styles of heads and if i happen to toe one, it goes horribly...in every head.
it's the only shaft out of many varieties that has this result, for the same mishit.

to me, that is not head related.

and, i am already hip.
i dont need an audience to verify that
😉

DonM

garyt1957 I’m with you. The modern stuff is crazy good.

Eguller

Spuzz it's the only shaft out of many varieties that has this result, for the same mishit.

to me, that is not head related.

I'd be willing to bet that if you had a comprehensive fitting for an older, original SMT driver & a new PING driver,
they would be very close on center hits for distance. Off center hits would show some variance, favoring one
or the other - most likely the PING to some degree.

In 20+ years of research, product development, the 975D & TM R510TP still sound and feel as good as just about anything out there now - and in many cases, MUCH better. JMO

sdandrea1

Spuzz and, i am already SPUZZ
i dont need an audience to verify that

Fixed it. Lee wanted Dillhole there, but I went with Spuzz since it's already a noun, verb, adjective, etc.

garyt1957

Let's resurrect this thread. I don't think I hit a terribly high ball with the driver, in fact I think it's often kind of low to what I see others hit. But the other day I took out my Wishon 919 at 8* and hit it way farther than my 10.5* Cobra, or any of the 10.5and up degree drivers I've been using. Seems that would be counterintuitive to an older slower swinging senior, no?
I got one Wishon out to 240 which is really long for me and others in the 220 range, which again sadly, is above average. Maybe I flip and add loft/spin and the lower loft helps?
The Wishon is 1/2* open which minus all the internal draw bias of the OEM's can be a bit of a problem for my current swing. I can play my Cobra all the way open no problem but the Wishon can get away from me on less than perfect swings. I have to hold it a bit closed to get the good results.
I actually bought an Integra So Lond in 7.5* to see how that will work going forward.
Any other seniors besides Rex using lower lofted drivers than would be recommended and gaining distance?

scotts33

garyt1957 What shaft/flex/playing length/heft?

garyt1957

scotts33 What shaft/flex/playing length/heft?

For which driver? The Wishon is a Fujikura Fit On Max in A flex at 44.5" , the Cobra has a White Tie A flex at 46" but I choke up, and the new Integra has a 44.5" Integra I-Drive shaft in R flex. If the R seems too much I'll put the Fuji from the Wishon in it.

Par4QC

garyt1957 If the R seems too much I'll put the Fuji from the Wishon in it.

🤔Why would you tear apart a club you hit very well?

Don't go breaking any laws of nature. Or golf forums.

I would simply pull the shaft and add a 5 or 7g, tip weight, then reinstall. Soften the shaft a little. 😉

scotts33

garyt1957 The White Tie has a stiffer tip profile than the Fit-On. Since you are choking up you are controverting the heft but that may work for you but it's not a apples to apples comparison. I don't have much experience with I-Drive but most seem to like them.

To answer your question.....Any other seniors besides Rex using lower lofted drivers than would be recommended and gaining distance?

I am using a Honma XP-1 10.5 deg. where I normally use 12 deg. to 14 deg. Tee height for me is the #1 factor to getting the roll out I'd like and ball. The Honma head I believe is hot shaft is Vizard 43 R (54g weight) at S1 is neutral and face is neutral. I can hit it both ways. 10.5 deg. is about as low as I want to go loft wise. With the courses drying out (summer heat) the lower loft allows for much more run out. Secondly ball, switched from using low compression SuperSofts or Soft Feels to MG Senior (I don't post scores or play leagues) or Chromax both 90 compression both of these balls yield me an upper 80's swinger a lot more distance with dry fairways along with the Honma hot head and lower 10.5 deg. loft and medium height tee position. I am not a believer in teeing ball up and hitting up the on the driver especially in summer golf weather. That's my experience.

garyt1957

scotts33 MG Senior (I don't post scores or play leagues)

I tried those once but got nothing extra from them

scotts33

garyt1957 I tried those once but got nothing extra from them

I believe they aren't perfect and at 90 compression harder ie range ball feel so many don't think like they are catching them well and the sound/feel equation makes one think they are not performing well but I have found otherwise myself. On average summer drives now 90 compression balls fly a lot further than soft lower compression balls. In spring cooler weather maybe not so much. My experience.

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