HZRDUS Smoke Green Hulk v Atmos Black - anything lower?

[jkim27]

I play an Atmos Black 7x in an EF SZ head cranked to 8* - still get about 13-14* of launch and 2-2.3k rpm at 170mph ball speed. This combo is a bomber but I'm looking for the lowest launching shaft I can find for windy conditions.

Anyone compare Atmos Black to the Hzrdus Smoke Green? Wondering if the Hulk will launch any lower since it's fairly expensive and hard to find.

[Valtiel]

The Smoke Green in TX and the T1100 are probably going to be the two technically stiffest shafts out there, but I would not expect them to lower your launch much. Your launch is likely higher due to either your AoA, strike location, or likely a bit of both. Altering your mechanics would be necessary to lower your flight for windy conditions, I wouldn't chase equipment for that one.

[DFS PFD]

OG T1100 will launch lower add tipping if needed

[Z1ggy16]

Not to be that guy:

Using the same head but trying to change your launch and spin by increasing the shaft stiffness in the tip, etc probably won't change much... might make things worse. You obviously swing up on the ball... this is good. If you end up changing your set up by teeing it lower to keep it "under the wind" you risk losing tons of distance if you hit it low in the face with your positive AoA. If you change your swing to hit less up on the ball... you'll also probably lose distance too with less carry and possibly less spin, too.

From actual data I've seen, the best way to play driver into wind or cross wind is actually teeing it up a little higher and making sure you make contact higher up on the face to knock off as much spin as possible off the ball. It sounds totally wrong and against everything we'd heard, but when you do this on GCQ, the numbers don't lie.

Data below is from hitting into a simulated wind on GCQ... Forget how fast the wind was coming (probably 10-15mph). But you can see how much better performing the higher launching, lower spinning flight is.

Credit goes to TXG.

[jkim27]

Stop trying to prevent me from buying golf gear that I don't need. Jeez!

[Howard_Jones]

NOT a shaft suggestion, just some tech info....

As average we can use the formula launch angle = 0.85 of dynamic loft or loft at impact. (for a driver)

Your LA is 13.5* according to your own numbers, who gives a Dynamic loft of 15.9*

Your static loft (if its correct), is 8.0*, so you are adding 7.9* of loft either by forward shaft bending or positive angle of attack, most likely a combination, but the shafts you play dont add much....

Suggestion, if the shaft you play feels good on weight and feel of flex, and dispersion is good, look for a head made for Long driving with 5.5 to 6.0 Loft, depending on how much lower you want launch to be.

It will be silly hard to find a shaft who can take off 2 to 2.5 of loft at impact, and still feel good, so this is easier done by changing the head to one with lower static loft.

(have actual loft measured, higher loft than stated might be part for your issues)

If you had a LM report, it would be easier to see if your delivery of the club added more loft than wanted, without we can only assume.

[cradd10]

go pick up a 5* Callaway Epic long drive head. keep the same shaft and you will hit bullets. I picked up an old X Hot Pro 5* for a trip to Scotland years back. You make the same swing and ball goes 25' max in the air. game changer in windy conditions for me.

[Z1ggy16]

Hahaha OHhhh I get it brother believe me, but I'm just letting you know... trying to lower your flight to play in wind isn't really the right way to play in the wind if your goal off the tee is to still get max distance. If you're playing on bowling alley lanes for fairways then maaaaaybe then you can get away with hitting stingers and whatnot and still get the same outcome, but the reality is high launch low spin is pretty much always the way to optimized max distance.

BUT if you must buy something, listen to Howard. Shaft is not your solution here if what you're already playing feels good and you like it as is.

[jkim27]

Great info, my stated numbers are a bit of an estimate - last time I was on a LM I was hitting the same Atmos 7x shaft but in a 9* Rogue (non-sub zero) head. Launch was a bit lower (~12*) and around +5* AOA (which seems correct according to your estimate calc). Rogue was kind of spinny (~2500) which is why I switched to the EF Sub-zero and was surprised by how much higher it was launching than my non-sub zero rogue. Unfortunately haven't been able to get on a LM with the new club and I have been making some swing changes so it's possible I'm just hitting up on it more... I guess it's back to the driving range :/