Looking for a new shaft (Driver)

[tv23]

I need help/suggestions

Hi -

New to this website. Hoping someone out there can help me out. I play to about a 3 handicap. What's weird is I am technologically handicapped and don't know much about shafts.

Specs:
- Cleveland Launcher Comp. 9.5* (Grafalloy Blue - Stiff). Just bought it and love the head. Put a Grafalloy in it because I swapped it from my old driver and t's what I've been using for a while. It better than the stock shaft the Launcher came with.
- 6'2" 225lbs and I don't over swing. I try to emulate Ernie Els (so I can dream can't I?)
- Swing speed 115 MPH. (120-122 MPH if I jump on it, which is rarely).

Synopsis:
I golf with a couple of guys (who I beat regularely :) ) and feel I am hitting it just ok. Both of them (who know more about equipment) seem to think I need a new shaft in my driver. They maybe right as my ball tends to balloon and rises too high. They feel with a better trajectory I could be even longer and would get more role. My average drive is 285 and every once in a while I am up over 300. I am told I should be there all the time with the contact I make and swing I have, but the ball flight just isn't there. I am being realistic and know the guys aren't lying to me, because one of them is my brother.

Problems:
- Ball flight too high
- Not penetrating enough
- Tend to lose it left

Questions:
- Suggestions on shaft???
- I suppose it should be x-flex, high kick point, low torque?
- What weight should it be?
- Who makes a great shaft for a good price?
- I don't want to spend too much (so no Diamanas etc.)

Thanks for anyone's help.

Tony

[Dyno]

I will tell you that the most recent Cleve Comp in my shop is the 5th or 7th one in a row that I've measured MORE than 2* weak.

 

A shaft change won't be enough....get a new head. The excessive loft is causing spin that cannot be controlled by shaft alone.

[tv23]

thanks for the info Dyno. I am looking into this and visually it does seem a couple degrees out. I am taking it back to the retailer on Sunday to be measured properly. Spoke with the Cleveland rep locally and says if they find that it is out as bad as I say they will replace it at no cost. Also offered me a better shaft than the stock thing it came with....

 

do you know much about the Aldila NV 65 (green). I will be getting the x flex as my swing speed is about 115. Will this shaft out perform my Grafalloy blue (stiff)?

 

Thanks again.

Tony

[Dyno]

If it's not out, they need to check their gauge ;)

 

NV65 is ok but alittle light for you. NV75X would probably work better and will play noticeably stouter. I'm not sure how your Blue plays...some of them are very stiff while some are not.

[rpm900]

I'm in a similar situation with my 9.5 Cleveland Comp, I have the stock fujikura stiff shaft and I hit it much higher than i would like. I hit it fairly straight or with a high fade.

 

Now my specs are much diff. than yours, 5'11 170 - 105mph I am looking into the NV 65 or speeder 757, or any other suggestions someone might have.

[GTGolf99]

I just switched from a Graffaloy Ultra-lite(worst shaft I've ever had) to a Graphite Design Pershing TX75. You probably wont be able to get the TX75(Tour X Flex - 75 grams) but you will be able to get an X75 which is available to the public. I have a similar swing speed(120 mph) in a 905S 8.5 and its the most accurate, longest driver I've ever hit. Even on the stadium course, I can work the ball like never before. I have the three wood (TX75) and the five wood(TX85) in a couple of 904's. You have to check it out.

[DaveyH]

had exactly same problem as your with my driver.Our specs are exactly the same 6''2 im at 10 stone and swing around 110 115.I just flagged a diamana blueboard in it.Launches lower more boring penetrating flight,added a 1 inch extension so it plays at 46'' and this thing goes further than it did before by about 10-15 yards easily.

[Fore!!!]

Can someone explain to me like I'm a 7-year beginner...no wait... :drinks:

 

How does ball flight get influenced by the shaft?

 

Say my TM R7 460:

It's at 10.5* and has regular flex shaft by Fujikura.How would changing to a stiff flex affect ball flight and shot dispersion?

[geeza_1]

You might also want to try a Fujikura Vista Tour 70 in X. Super low spin shaft. Just a thought. Fujikura shafts are also amazingly smooth. Will feel like night and day compared to your garden post Grafalloy Blue.

[tv23]

geeza and others, thanks for the input.

 

how much does a diamana blueboard or a fuji vista tour cost? i'm not prepared to give big money.

 

also i hear the graman limey is a fantastic shaft at 1/4 the price. my brother plays it and swears by it. any thoughts on the ul780 in an x flex? it's around $105USD.

 

i'm getting frustrated as there's so much to choose from and all i know is that i'm not getting the most out of what i have. i am too good a player to be "popping it up" around 280 yds.

 

thanks again for all for your comments.

tv

[Dyno]

Can someone explain to me like I'm a 7-year beginner...no wait... :drinks:

 

How does ball flight get influenced by the shaft?

 

Say my TM R7 460:

It's at 10.5* and has regular flex shaft by Fujikura.How would changing to a stiff flex affect ball flight and shot dispersion?

 

 

A stiffer flex will knock some spin off, often enough to change flight from a peaked trajectory to a flatter planed-out flight. I will also drop the flight a tad....1-2*. Dispersion will become more consistent if you can handle the flex but if the flex is out, anything goes. Usually overstiff is lower right. Over flexible could be anything - left or right.

[Dyno]

geeza and others, thanks for the input.

 

how much does a diamana blueboard or a fuji vista tour cost? i'm not prepared to give big money.

 

also i hear the graman limey is a fantastic shaft at 1/4 the price. my brother plays it and swears by it. any thoughts on the ul780 in an x flex? it's around $105USD.

 

i'm getting frustrated as there's so much to choose from and all i know is that i'm not getting the most out of what i have. i am too good a player to be "popping it up" around 280 yds.

 

thanks again for all for your comments.

tv

 

Blueboard is large dollars unless you get a pullout. Frankly it won't be enough to compensate for loft issues. The Fuji may well help as it is very tip stiff....you'd be looking at about $150-170 cdn pesos for that one. If you go to Golftown (shudder) or some such, it may be in the high hundreds. They don't have great facilities to build though....I've fixed some of their work....ugh.

[hbear]

How does ball flight get influenced by the shaft?

 

In Tom Wishon's book he talks about the shaft changing the effective loft of the club at impact.

With a lower kick point shaft there is a greater deflection (not sure if that's the word he used) at impact which increases the loft (or effective loft) of the driver which then leads to higher launch angles.

A higher kickpoint shaft deflects but not to the same degree which will then launch lower relative to the lower kick shaft.

 

Not sure if that helps...

[geeza_1]

geeza and others, thanks for the input.

 

how much does a diamana blueboard or a fuji vista tour cost? i'm not prepared to give big money.

 

also i hear the graman limey is a fantastic shaft at 1/4 the price. my brother plays it and swears by it. any thoughts on the ul780 in an x flex? it's around $105USD.

 

i'm getting frustrated as there's so much to choose from and all i know is that i'm not getting the most out of what i have. i am too good a player to be "popping it up" around 280 yds.

 

thanks again for all for your comments.

tv

 

Promise you won't mention it to anyone (shhhhhhhhh), but Golfsmith have the fantastic Vista Tour 70 on offer at 79.99 per shaft. If that is not a good deal, I don't know what is!!! Never tried the Graman line of shafts, but oh my.....that color! If you can live with that, maybe give it a try. I would go with the Vista Tour though.