Jimmy Walker - Playing X100 Shafts in TS3 Driver/Fairway Woods @ Colonial

[Valtiel]

I'm pretty Matt was just trying to maintain his speed to a certain extent to show how difficult actually doing that is/was.

And yeah, total static weight is one thing, but obviously total MOI and how length factors in is the important part. If you were to use that logic, a 380g 9-iron @36" would feel that same as a 380g 9-iron @39", which obviously is not the case.

[MattyO1984]

Well, ok then, thanks for the input.

[Red4282]

absolutely, but total heft matters too. They didnt make any attempt to lighten the swingweight either, (other than chopping it down 1.5 inches) it was like a predetermined outcome from the beginning. Just wasn’t a fan of their “test” and was hardly scientific.

[J13]

To be honest I'm not sure of his current name, lose track lol.

[QuigleyDU]

Hey, no problem!! Glad to help. haha.

[AdExec]

X100 driver shafts basically do not exist anymore except a vault at True Temper. I sent them an email a while back trying to find some. They have “a few” left in stock “somewhere” at the factory.

Ive found x200, s400, and s300 sensicore shafts in .335 and 45” uncut on eBay off and on.

I’ve got a 975D 7.5 and a 970 fairway wood that are going steel this week as part of a Tiger Slam bag build

 

 

[jmck]

I have an OG HeavenWood with an X100 that still sneaks back into the bag every once in a while. Great combo. Probably first put it in the bag sometime back around '97 or so?

Still have a Ram Mrs. Watson/Freddie 3w, also with an X100, but can't remember the last time that thing has hit a ball. NOT a forgiving club, but pretty good when you button it haha.

[dan250yds]

Wonder if he might start a little trend here?

[EaglesGolf99]

More likely to be an anomaly.

 

Maaaaybe, Hybrids. But Fairways and Drivers tough to see.

[Old Tom Morris]

He will give up too much distance. Too many courses are just too long. He might do well with this strategy at Colonial because distance isn’t as much of a premium there.

[dan250yds]

Agreed. Still pretty cool to see a guy on tour throw some X100s in a driver and three wood, talk about a TBT for the opening round lol

[dan250yds]

This is very true. Good point

[EaglesGolf99]

Yup! Not hating here at all. I would love to be able to build a retro set with a steel shafted Driver.

[dan250yds]

Would be pretty cool and a good experiment no doubt

[slicktry]

I've used DGSL X100 off and on in the driver and three wood. When tipped properly, it doesn't feel much different then the Diamana BB103X. Played at 43.5" and 44". Still have a few shafts laying around just in case...

God Bless

Jer

[grm24]

Per the article I linked Walker was getting ball speeds in the high 170's with spin rates between 2,200-2,300 with the driver. In case you didn't read the article here is the text of it.

According to Titleist, Walker’s Trackman numbers with the new driver show ball speeds in the “high 170’s” and spin rates between 2,220 and 2,300 rpm. It’s also reported that his fairway wood is going slightly shorter than with a graphite shaft, but that’s no worry for Walker.

If those numbers are accurate is Walker really giving up too much distance for his swing speed versus him playing graphite? Walker is averaging 298 yards off the tee this season.

[J13]

No need for us to hypothesize anymore. Round 1 is set to begin and I for one am looking forward to see how this experiment pans out.

[Old Tom Morris]

No way will he have the same swing speed with a 30+ gram heavier shaft.

[tthomasgolfer605]

He's ripping driver at Colonial right now. His putter? That's a whole other story.

[hollabachgt]

 

Based upon his radar number with the steel driver vs. his numbers from last year, he's actually saying that he's picked up 5 mph of swing speed! Interestingly his smash factor has dropped with the steel, I would have thought that would have been an area the steel could have helped optimize, but at 1.505 last year that was maxed out already.

2019 Radar stats / 2020 Steel

Club Head Speed: 114.34 /119.4 (+5.06)

Ball Speed: 172.19 / 174.8 (+2.61)

Smash Factor: 1.505 / 1.464 (-0.041)

Spin: 2,460.3 / 2478 (+17.7)

Carry: 282.4 / 303.1 (+20.7)

Total: 302.704 / 326.4 (+23.7)

 

[hollabachgt]

Averaged 323 off the tee today, hit 50% of his fairways. So his accuracy didn't improve, but he has gained about 25 yards since before the break.

[Old Tom Morris]

It doesn't add up with everything we know about shaft weights and clubhead speed. I'm baffled.

[MountainGoat]

Maybe, just maybe, everything we’ve been told about graphite is nonsense.

[kmay__]

^ Or maybe hes just achieved his desired feel, and that's allowing him to open it up a bit.

[Old Tom Morris]

But it's still a huge weight difference. Not just a few grams, but over 30 grams.

[hollabachgt]

Some guys use 60g shafts, others use 90g shafts and no one seems to bat an eye at the difference.

[achappy]

Actually for players that utilize the weight of the club (either on purpose or naturally) then the weight of the shaft may not make a big difference. I could throw a 16lb bowling ball much faster (up to 22mph) than a 14lb. Why? Because I learned to use the weight of the ball and the timing of the backswing to naturally build up speed. When I switched to a lighter ball, I had to use more muscle and my timing was off.

I see the same with iron shafts. I hit 130g shafts farther than 100g because I learned to let the weight of the head “drop” into the slot naturally so it led to more natural club head speed.

[grm24]

30 grams is barely more than an ounce. Not like it's a pound difference.

[MBBG]

Sounds like jimmy has been hitting the gym

[Red4282]

As ive been saying, its not such a crazy concept..