Callaway FT Tour 2010 - My First Review

I wanted to post my first impressions of the FT Tour driver, as well as provide a comparison from my narrow lens and perspective of the FT Tour, FT-9 Tour and FT-9 Tour Authentic.

I played three rounds this past week and had the opportunity to hit these three drivers side by side. Just for knowledge base purposes, I am a 5 handicap with a driver swing speed of ~115-117 mph and I work hard to launch the ball with less spin, as my natural swing is more spin inducing. I played with the FT-9 Tour last season and hit it very well, so I already have an established opinion based on experience with this club. The only thing I would like to change about the FT-9 Tour is to get one with ashaft that promotes a lower ball flight because when I did have issues with it, the ball ballooned.

Club Configurationsthat I hit:

1. FT Tour, 10.5 degree, Voodoo X flex (real voodoo is stock for FT Tour and the real Ozik Xcon can be ordered for the same price if desired). According to a Callaway tour Van friend, they selected the Voodoo shaft because they felt it was thebest match for the head.

2. FT-9 Tour, 10.5degree, Stock ZCom Stiff flex

3. FT-9 Tour TA, 9.5 degree (10.2 actual), Fubuki Tour 73 X flex


Now for the Review:

The new FT Tour is the best retail driver I have ever hit, without exception. I enjoyed hitting the TA as well, but based on what I felt and witnessed first hand, the FT Tour was every bit the performer of the TA. Distance, control, consistency, large amounts of run and lower penetrating ball flight was very similar. In fact, and I know a lot of people who own the TA will find this hard to believe, I would select the FT Tour head to head simply because it performed that well for me and is that much cheaper than the TA. I love the head shape and it sits just perfectly at address (listed as 1.5 degrees open).

Distance:

The FT Tour is a bomber! Out hit the FT-9 Tour by a decent margin consistently, and also was very similar to the FT-9 TA. There was no difference between the two actually. Both the FT Tour and TA hit a lower, more penetrating trajectory than the FT-9 Tour, and while I am certain that some of that has to do with the shaft choice, the FT-9 Tour definitely flights higher to begin with.

I found that the FT Tour and TA had very significant amounts of roll after hitting the ground, and while the FT-9 Tour also does roll out, because of the higher ball flight, it does not roll out as much.

The course I played all three times in Las Vegas, Bali Hai, is conducive to extended run in the landing areas because of the fairly firm fairway conditions as well as some well placed slopes in those same areas. Regardless, it is quite clear that the FT Tour and TA are longer off the tee than any other driver I've hit. I have been lucky to hit some great bombers: Titleist 905R, 909 D2, Bridgestone J33, Cobra LV4, Adams Speedline, etc... The FT Tour is longer and feels like it has a larger sweetspot.

Accuracy:

I have found all three to be accurate, but as noted above, the FT Tour with the Voodoo shaft was even more accurate for me than the FT-9 Tour. I don't know if it's the hosel, the way the face squares at impact, or a combination of a variety of variables, but I basically hit the ball dead straight, and even with a slight draw or fade when desired, with the FT Tour and TA. These were my first rounds of the year and while I hit a few drives over the three days off the fairway, I never lost one drive of the 40 or so I hit off the tee. For me, this is pretty remarkable to have a tee shot in play on every single hole I played.

Summary:

I could go on and on, but obviously, I love this club. It is a significant upgrade over the FT-9 Tour if you are thinking about it. Also, I would strongly recommend getting it with the Voodoo shaft even though the temptation to get something else (upgrade perhaps) will most likely be strong. Callaway chose the Voodoo shaft for a reason and though I was skepticalat first, I can't imagine changing out this shaft for any reason. I have used the Matrix Xcon 6 X flex shaft extensively in other clubs (including my current 909 F2 3 wood) and I thought about getting that setup with the FT Tour, but I am really glad I just trusted it and got the Voodoo.

If you like the Callaway drivers, and have had success with them in the past, you will love this club. It is a huge upgrade overthe prior Callaway retail offerings. And, if you haven't, give it a shot.

Finally, not to change topic, but the Taylor Made Penta ball is going to change the game this year inthe way that the Pro VI did when it first came out. Deadly combination - FT Tour and Penta ball!

I feel and had the same results, except I got the stiff shaft. My swing speed is lower around 100, but I had the same results and I used the FT 9 in the same voodoo shaft last year. Loved it but would say that thus far in the limited time using it (in a golf range) for i am in Cleveland and snow is here!! But I feel this is the best retail head ever sold!

Played my first round with an FT Tour with 73x Whiteboard. Great stick. Bouncing between this and the i15. If you want a sub 460cc tour bomber. . .you won't be disappointed.

I agree for a sub 460 driver this is a bomber! Much better than the R9 offering from TM last year, yet I played it last year for most of the year, and found it very accurate this Cally is long and accurate, I really have had a hard time finding anything better thus far. The VR Tour is a close second, just a little to upright for me.

I have played about 10 rounds with the FT-Tour (voodoo shaft). It is comfortably the best driver I have hit. I have found it to be very straight, straighter than the FT-9 tour and the FT-iq tour. Obviously if you put a really bad swing on it, it will go sideways, but marginal bad swings are not punished. The only new driver that comes close is the Diablo Tour. If you buy either of these drivers you will not be disappointed.

GregP -- I appreciate the review. I've never been a Callaway guy (for a reason that I can't really explain), but I think that the FT Tour is one of the best looking drivers I've seen in a long time. I don't feel like I need a driver at the moment, but if I did, it would get a lot of consideration.

PS - You have a sticking space bar or something on your computer? I've never seen so many words stuck together as in your post. LOL Maybe you could edit the post and throw some spaces between the combined words, as it's a bit distracting from an otherwise good review.

Don't ignore the FT-iZ just because it was released a bit later.

Great post. I have the FT-iZ with Stock VOODOO and was very skeptical at first also. I wanted to go with a Matrix or WB but the Cally rep at the demo day said the VOODOO was made for the Iz head. He was right. Have not compared the FT-iZ with the FT Tour but am so impressed with the FT-iZ I may not bother. Cally is really making some great stuff this year!
Agree with you comments about the Penta! Loving it.

KMaloney, thanks for the editing idea. I posted this morning after creating it in another editor, and it obviously did not translate the same as when I created it. Anyway, should be fixed now!

[quote name='GregP' date='14 March 2010 - 06:57 PM' timestamp='1268614641' post='2315934']
I am a 5 handicap with a driver swing speed of ~115-117 mph and I work hard to launch the ball with less spin, as my natural swing is more spin inducing.

[b]Club Configurations that I hit:[/b]

1. FT Tour, 10.5 degree, Voodoo X flex (real voodoo is stock for FT Tour and the real Ozik Xcon can be ordered for the same price if desired). According to a Callaway tour Van friend, they selected the Voodoo shaft because they felt it was thebest match for the head.

2. FT-9 Tour, 10.5degree, Stock ZCom Stiff flex

3. FT-9 Tour TA, 9.5 degree (10.2 actual), Fubuki Tour 73 X flex
[/quote]

Greg,

At 115-117 swingspeed, it's no wonder to me you spin the FT-9 Tour more than the others with the stock S-flex ZCom. I would venture to guess that shaft is much too soft for you - plus the Fubuki and the Voodoo are a lot better at reducing the spin than the ZCom shaft is.

However, it's great you like the FT Tour...sounds like you've found a winner!

Excellent info...I'm finding similar results with my FT-Tour in comparison with my Adams 4250DF.

Rev.

Took out my 10.5* FT Tour with stock voodoo last night. Course is closed until Friday (season opening day), but took my dog for a walk on it last night with driver and shag bag in hand (live on 4th hole).

Hit about 50 drives on various holes.

Initial thoughts...

Still dislike the Voodoo. Just doesn't feel right for my swing. HOWEVER, the driver feels extremely solid. Not as demanding as I feared it would be but still can be penalizing. Distances very adequate with a rusty winter swing. Any concerns about the loft I had went out the window. You do need to tee this a bit lower then larger drivers. It hits flat and pretty low spinning. I actually need a touch more of each with it and picked up an Attas to see if it will fit the bill.

I could turn it over easier then with my I15. Just a nice tight draw or straight ball. The I15 I would fight a fade with at times.

Very optimistic that with this that right shaft this can be a bomber. I'll tell you one thing... when flushed, there is no better feeling driver. Just solid and pure!!

Hopefully get a chance to hit the FT tour some time soon, will like to try it against the VR tour to see which one will hopefully make it in the bag. I have heard lots of reports saying how good the VR feels bit not so many positive things on the FT tour feel