Bi-Matrix Questions

[scotte]

So I understand that the bi matrix allows a player to play 30% higher lofted clubs and get the same distance as the correct loft.

 

 

 

Is this true? So could I take a 5 wood and put a Bi-Matrix shaft in it cut to 3 wood length, and would the distance be the same as the 3 wood?

 

 

 

Would this really work?

 

 

 

Thanks for any help.

 

 

 

Scott

[lysaght68]

Scotte,

It is my understanding that the 30% claim is referring to spin and not distance = you can play a club with 30% more loft and keep the spin lower than most other graphite shafts. The shaft is designed for high swingspeed / high spin players, so a very high spin player might see a distance increase with a higher lofted club = higher launch angle and lower spin for more carry and better roll. A lower to moderate swingspeed/spin player would almost certainly loose distance with a shaft like the BiMatrix compared to lighter, higher launching and higher spin graphite shafts.

[sfdoddsy]

The theory is that most golfers are playing drivers that launch the ball too low, and which are harder to hit straight than necessary.

 

Increasing the loft is the easiest way to increase launch angle, but it can also increase spin too much so instead of having low-runner drives, you now have high dropping drives.

 

The BiMatrx is designed to let you keep the better launch angle of higher lofted drivers, but lower the backspin so your drives don't balloon and you get more roll.

 

This doesn't mean we should all go to 13 degree drivers (even though many of us should) because you should still hit the loft that produces the best launch angle for you. What it does mean, to me, is that those who hit 7,8,9 degree drivers now need to have a good reason for doing so. The pros are hitting higher lofts these days (Tiger plays a 9.5 and a Bimatrx) because of the new technology and so should we.

 

I play with very good players who still hit their drivers in that kind of cool low and rising trajectory, but even with my slower and aging swingspeed I can keep up by launching high.

 

As for the original question, if you took a 5 wood head and shafted it with a 3 wood Bimatrx shaft, it would still go higher and shorter than a 3 wood head with a normal shaft. The 3-4 degrees of loft is much more than a shaft could overcome.

 

On the other hand, a strong 4 wood (16.5) might be pretty much the same.

 

Certainly when I replaced the MAS shaft in my R5 3 wood with a Bimatrx the trajectory became much lower. It's also a bit shorter but I wanted that trade off because the 3 wood is my into the wind club.

 

Having said all that, the BiMatrx is getting all the hype because it plays like a steel shaft with the weight of a graphite shaft. If distance isn't your main concern you can get the same accuracy from a steel shaft for $20.

 

I like my fairway one enough that I've just bought the driver shaft to try against the Diamana Blueboard I currently use, but which for me is too low launching. But be warned, if you get the pink, it is very very pink.

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[Huskypride28]

Are you sure Tiger's playing a 9.5*? He's listed on his website as still playing an 8.5*. Saw a few pics from this past weekend and it still looks like an 8.5* to me.

[sfdoddsy]

Could be wrong, but I thought it was mentioned somewhere here.

 

Cheers

 

Steve