Fitting questions and Spin Numbers of an Old Driver Head Vs Current

[Pingman222]

Kind of a tough situation to try and estimate, but here's basically what I'm going through at the moment.

 

Was a typical equipment tinkerer for a long time, but have settled down and played the same set for many seasons now. Even took 2 years off but got back in hard last year and will continue on now.  

 

Current driver setup is a ping anser 8.5* with a GD TP-6X.  I hit it decently out on the course but ended up in a demo test/fitting with ping at my club out of curiosity and now am stuck with what to do.  

 

On trackman my average launch conditions are not bad, 111-112SS, 167-168 ball speed, 12-13 launch, but with the anser my spin is quite high, ranging anywhere from 2800-3400 on some hits.   Launch conditions with a g425 LST 9* w/ a rogue white 70TX were about the same but spin was more optimal closer to that 2000 range, and the results were staggering  with massive increases on carry and total yardage, basically +20.

 

My issue here is that I went back to my club yesterday after thinking about that fitting, and demoing the g425 again, but without the fitter there, only the rogue white 70X was available, and not the TX, and my spin numbers were back up around 25-2600.  Reading a bunch on here, I now understand that the rogue TX is a completely different profile than the regular X, and it definitely shows in my findings.

 

Knowing this now, I'm pretty conflicted with the fitters session.  It was pretty apparent that an upgrade would be welcomed after this much time, and that the 425LST with the 70TX rogue white was the move. I had slightly better numbers with the Ventus black, but even the fitter noted that it probably wouldnt be worth the upcharge when the rogue was working pretty nicely for me too.  My problem now is finding out that the rogue TX is not a stock offering in the 425, only the regular X...and I really hope that the fitter wasn't trying to pull a fast one on me to get me to order. I've emailed my club to get some clarification on that.

 

It was already tough enough for me to convince myself that the $700cad for the driver would be worth it, but now it's looking like this would venture into the $1100+ range, and as much as I'd like to, that's just not feasible for me right now.  

 

With knowing that most of the better results are coming from a reduction in spin, and not really any other factors (and more forgiving mishits), does anyone know if the GD TP-6X that I already have, can hold its own spin-rate wise against the rogue white TX or even the Ventus black?  Some of my ideas to get the cost of a new driver back into my wheelhouse would be to grab maybe a 410LST head or something and then throw my TP6X in it, I just don't know if the heads over the years have really been able to shave that much spin.

 

 

Sorry for the long winded post, I'm just lost with the knowing the gains being left on the table, but just not being in the ballpark money wise....

[kcowgolf]

G410LST with shafts you can buy from here will put you in the mix.  I have both 410 LST and 425 LST and the numbers are pretty close.  Nice to have the latest but from a performance standpoint not sure the extra $$ is justified unless you just want the newer club.  I will say the 425 might be a touch more forgiving and definitely sounds better or at least mine does.

[Valtiel]

It sounds like you've done some solid research there and your testing would seem to support that the Rogue White TX was a really good fit. The White TX is indeed a tour only part (or at least limited availability) so it seems likely they were trying to get you into something that you could only get from them. The potential loophole is that the 130MSI Rogue Silver TX is extremely similar and more readily available for much cheaper on eBay. Still the same premium shaft with the same basic profile, whereas the Rogue White 70X that you tested is completely different. Paired with the same G425 I would be surprised if the results were any different. 

[Pingman222]

27 minutes ago, kcowgolf said:

G410LST with shafts you can buy from here will put you in the mix.  I have both 410 LST and 425 LST and the numbers are pretty close.  Nice to have the latest but from a performance standpoint not sure the extra $$ is justified unless you just want the newer club.  I will say the 425 might be a touch more forgiving and definitely sounds better or at least mine does.

I have already been offered a Ventus black and think that could be a pretty deadly low spin combo with a 410LST, and the total cost of that setup would still be cheaper than a stock 425LST, and i could still sell the tp6X pull to offset the cost a bit too.  I know ping advertises the 425 spinning ~200 less than the 410, but also not sure what shafts those claims are based on either.  I do know that either of them would give me way better numbers outside of the center of the face compared to my anser, but am I right in assuming that a decade is enough technology time to have evolved the spin in these heads (shafts aside) to make a 1000rpm difference? For instance, being totally hypothetical, GD TP-6X in an 8.5 anser spinning 2900, what would it spin in a 400/410/425 LST?

[Pingman222]

28 minutes ago, Valtiel said:

It sounds like you've done some solid research there and your testing would seem to support that the Rogue White TX was a really good fit. The White TX is indeed a tour only part (or at least limited availability) so it seems likely they were trying to get you into something that you could only get from them. The potential loophole is that the 130MSI Rogue Silver TX is extremely similar and more readily available for much cheaper on eBay. Still the same premium shaft with the same basic profile, whereas the Rogue White 70X that you tested is completely different. Paired with the same G425 I would be surprised if the results were any different. 

Yeah the issue I have with that fitting/fitter was the whole time he seemed to be playing it off that the white 70TX WAS the shaft I'd be getting for the standard retail shelf price.  He was basically already writing up the order.  I got the quote back from the club showing it with a white 70X, but at the fitting, distinctly remember checking the shaft and it definitely said 70TX, and would also support why my 2nd demo of the club of my own with the X was spinning up on me.  I don't want to be accusing anyone of anything, but it feels a little "bait and switch" to me right now.

[kcowgolf]

Good point on contact, center face hits probably won't spin a great deal less.  The main thing you will gain is that both the 410 & 425 are a lot more forgiving, not even close.  I used to play the anser and when hit center it was as long as anything but not super forgiving.  Ventus Black with a 410 should be a combo.

[Valtiel]

3 minutes ago, Pingman222 said:

Yeah the issue I have with that fitting/fitter was the whole time he seemed to be playing it off that the white 70TX WAS the shaft I'd be getting for the standard retail shelf price.  He was basically already writing up the order.  I got the quote back from the club showing it with a white 70X, but at the fitting, distinctly remember checking the shaft and it definitely said 70TX, and would also support why my 2nd demo of the club of my own with the X was spinning up on me.  I don't want to be accusing anyone of anything, but it feels a little "bait and switch" to me right now.

It could just as easily be ignorance though, this whole "TX" flex thing has morphed into its own obnoxious animal with the designation meaning three or four completely different things based on which company is using it. 

[Pingman222]

48 minutes ago, kcowgolf said:

Good point on contact, center face hits probably won't spin a great deal less.  The main thing you will gain is that both the 410 & 425 are a lot more forgiving, not even close.  I used to play the anser and when hit center it was as long as anything but not super forgiving.  Ventus Black with a 410 should be a combo.

You know it, I've gamed this driver long enough to hit some impressive drives still, but the high toe and low heels are just not even close to what something from this decade is pumping out lol

[Red4282]

Just remember that the way a shaft influences spin is by way of moving strike. If one has more lead deflection than another, it could potentially move strike down a bit causing a spike in spin. Usually, its minimal, and can be adjusted for. Id select a shaft based on timing and dispersion for you, and whats best. Then use heads, lofts, or even tee height to control spin.