After reading about the Vertical Groove driver on this forum and other forums, not to mention the fact that Kenny Perry is playing it without endorsement money, I decided what the hell and bought a used one on eBay for about $50.
I bought a 10.5 degree with a stiff flex Aldila NV2KXV green shaft. I'm kinda in between a regular and stiff flex now (64 years young) but decided to try the stiff.
I took it to the range today and hit about 35-40 nasty range balls.
I have to say that I am very impressed. The head is smaller (440?) and feels super solid. I really like the smaller head compared to so many modern heads that look like watermelons on a stick. The sound is a bit loud for me but that quickly was of no concern when ball after ball went straight and long. The ball flight was medium high and penetrating. The ball jumped off the face and just soared. Out of all of those balls I hit, I'd say about 85% were either straight or with a baby fade.
The fence at the end of the range is about 250 and I was hitting it on a regular basis, and a few even flew over it.
I know many (most?) think the "vertical groove" thing is a bunch of marketing BS and it might very well be, but it doesn't matter to me. The driver felt great, the shaft is really nice and the results (at least on the range) were impressive.
I'm going out for 18 on Thursday to see how it plays on a course. Me likey (so far)...
