New Trend - drivers with Low loft ?

[nsxguy]

So what does the launch monitor say about your Diablo ?

[evilelf]

I've never hit the Diablo with the monitor but I've been playing it for several years now. I went from a 200 carry falling straight out of the sky to a 230 carry without the ballooning trajectory. I expect to be out there 230-250 now and I am a short guy, only 5'7". I may have walked into a Golfsmith with the Diablo and checked the spin rates, but I truly can't remember. For some reason 2,000 to 3,000 sounds familiar. I know pros try to get their spin rates down to under 1,000, but I don't have that kind of money or time to experiment with shafts. We got a new PGA Superstore in Columbus, Ohio recently and they have been advertising free club fitting. I wonder if that includes driver fittings to optimize launch conditions. I would really LOVE to do that.

[nsxguy]

Carrying the ball 30 more yards is very unusual.

Rather than the loft decrease it is far more likely the shaft in the Diablo was a MUCH better fit for you.

Seems unlikely though that the R5 spun @ 6000. I have to wonder if that's even possible. Many years ago I was a "slider" with a negative AoA and, at 99 MPH spun the driver about 4000. But 6000 is roughly the spin rate of a 7 iron.

Not surprised that 6000(?) rpm drive fell out of the sky. Definitely a "balloon ball".

2,000-3,000 is a good range for most of us but I don't remember hearing of any pro trying to get down to 1000 rpm. I think there may be too little margin of error there for too little gain. If you notice, BDC is launching moon balls that I'm sure aren't spinning very much but they hardly ever have such numbers on TV. Once in a while they do but I haven't seen it in a long time.

Personally I'd love to see those numbers. Launch and spin rate for sure.

As for a free driver fitting goes, a driver IS a club, right ? LOL PGATSS salespeople near me will help someone as much as they like with many different combos. I DO expect the more they detect an interest in buying the more they help though. LOL

Lotsa guys will suggest the shaft may (or even IS) more important than the driver head so don't overlook the shaft.

Good luck.

[evilelf]

I actually still have that old TM driver. I could get on a monitor somewhere, but I question the accuracy of the ones setup at these box stores.

[jrice19]

Hi! My driver is a 9 but tune it down to 7.5. I launch the ball high and by tuning it down helps a lot.

[Pepperturbo]

People, it's not a new trend but an old one resurfacing. I have and old custom 8* driver in the garage. Play-ability of old low lofted drivers are similar to old blades, can't be compared to new low-lofted driver heads or new blades, as both are much easier to smack well than old predecessors. CAD at it's best.

[farmer]

What Pepper said. Years ago, a friend of mine got hold of long drive head, an SMT, I believe, at 6.5*, with some ultra stiff shaft that was red and white. At that time, I could probably hit 100-105 on a good day. I could hit that driver maybe 150 yds in the air and it was the worst feeling combo I have ever tried to hit.

[Trap]

I've tried going low, sub 9 and can't for the life of me generate enough spin for stable flight.

[Trap]

I've tried going low, sub 9 and can't for the life of my generate enough spin to have a manageable ball flight.

[jons1]

More speed = more opportunity for spin.

So you lower the loft to reduce spin and guess what... you're launch is too low.

So you learn to hit up on the ball to increase your launch angle. And the better you get at it, the less loft you need on the driver so you can bring down that spin.

So lower lofts isn't a trend, it's a fitting trick for those athletic enough to increase launch with their swing instead of the head loft.

But make no mistake, there is an optimal launch / spin combo for each player, and you have to work that out on a trackman not he range.

 

[Bobb3rdown]

put my 910d3 back in the bag. 8.5 turned down. to 7.75. hit some nice flat drives over the weekend. and not anymore punishing than other drivers ive played.

[Pepperturbo]

Low lofted 5-8* drivers were more common than you'd think 15-25yrs back, very difficult to hit though. Nothing like today's low lofted CAD designed 440-460cc heads. Yesterday found a small (maybe 350-400cc) "RL (Bob) Zeider" ABSOLUTE 8* driver. RL Zeider in middle CA, use to make low-lofted LD heads for competitors on the Long Drive competition, in early stages.

 

[GSDriver]

Having followed the trends (aka Marketing hype) in golf equipment for decades, I also find it interesting, almost amusing, how we went from loft up and back to lower lofts. Same with AoA, as a few years ago it was hit up on the ball, but now modern data shows pros actually hit slightly down on it.

Best thing about adjustable drivers, you can try different settings and find what works best for you.

[Pepperturbo]

You B spot on. What goes around comes around only youth doesn't know that, as they haven't been around long enough to see or maybe pay attention. LOL I am especially intrigued by the AoA switch from up to not so much; it was pushed really hard by all sorts of teachers. One thing that bothers me about that AoA switch is if teachers push a certain theory and a few years later learn that theory is wrong, what's that say about the quality of their actual subject education?

Agree on the adjustable drivers...

When I began using an adjustable sleeve, my settings were always either D2 & C2 and slightly upright. After years, recently, I bought the new Ventus 5 Red 59g "S" shaft. I, a 70yr old, have picked-up as much as 20yds by switching to A4 (1.5* added loft), standard lie and teeing the ball at max tee height and choking down 1". Still getting a mid-trajectory too. Not exactly sure whats happening, if anything, since I don't hover the head as Titleist suggests before starting the swing, but the setup is working amazingly well. Don't pinch me awake.

 

 

 

[Don Armstrong]

It is all about getting the right launch angle. People who swing down require more loft of driver, if your hitting up lower loft. 

[DaveDog]

Just keep in mind the lower you take down your loft, the harder it will be to hit it straight.