Loss of Distance

[Doucer]

Turned 59 this year and seem to have lost about 20 yards off the tee. Not sure why the distance loss. I moved up to a Ping G425 SFT to help with my fade. I put in a Speeder Daytona R flex. My dispersion is fantastic and I have never hit this many fairways but I wonder why the distance loss? The Daytona is a low torque shaft (3.9) and low spin. Do I need a higher torque shaft? Do I need more spin perhaps (eg mid spin vs low spin?). I was playing a Ping G410 SFT with a Speeder Evo 5 last year in regular flex. Or maybe it's simply age?

 

Any suggestions or advice? My swing speed is around 95. Lat year I was able to get it out there around 260 and now around 240 with a good hit. Does any one have any other shaft suggestions that they have been happy with at this swing speed in a regular flex?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Dale

Edited June 6, 2021 by Doucer

[Jeff58]

At 95mph, you should be achieving about 240 yards. To get to 260 reliably, you need at least 100mph typically.

That said, the function of the SFT is to promote additional/quicker closing of the club face. If your fade/push was producing optimal launch angles and spin, the same swing with SFT will go lower, spin less, and at 95mph, likely loose distance.

My typical shot shape is a high push. My best solution to that has been a counter balanced shaft. The action seems more that it’s easier to release the entire club, rather than allowing an easier unhinging of the wrists. Perhaps try a standard g425 with the Alta CB as a comparison to your current model.

[Doucer]

8 hours ago, Jeff58 said:

At 95mph, you should be achieving about 240 yards. To get to 260 reliably, you need at least 100mph typically.

That said, the function of the SFT is to promote additional/quicker closing of the club face. If your fade/push was producing optimal launch angles and spin, the same swing with SFT will go lower, spin less, and at 95mph, likely loose distance.

My typical shot shape is a high push. My best solution to that has been a counter balanced shaft. The action seems more that it’s easier to release the entire club, rather than allowing an easier unhinging of the wrists. Perhaps try a standard g425 with the Alta CB as a comparison to your current model.

Awesome. Thanks so much for the advice Jeff. I really appreciate it.

[sfdoddsy]

I’d suggest getting on a launch monitor.

 

I’m the same age with about the same swing speed on a good day.

 

I’ve certainly lost 20-30 yards from what I fondly remember as my prime 25 years ago. As compensation I am much straiter.

 

But I haven’t lost any distance since I first tried to optimise my swing on a launch monitor 6-7 years ago.

 

I still pointlessly try new heads and shafts, but I know the numbers I need in terms of launch and spin for my swing (4% up AOA). So I test every new buy against them.

 

For me, maximum carry needs 17* launch and 1700 spin. Spin that low can be hard to handle. Maximum distance needs 15* launch and 2200 spin.

 

If your launch is high enough and the G425 is indeed lower spin it should go further than the G410. 
 

But without going on a LM, you don’t know what the spin is, or what the launch is, or what your ball speed is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Doucer]

On 6/16/2021 at 5:09 AM, sfdoddsy said:

I’d suggest getting on a launch monitor.

 

I’m the same age with about the same swing speed on a good day.

 

I’ve certainly lost 20-30 yards from what I fondly remember as my prime 25 years ago. As compensation I am much straiter.

 

But I haven’t lost any distance since I first tried to optimise my swing on a launch monitor 6-7 years ago.

 

I still pointlessly try new heads and shafts, but I know the numbers I need in terms of launch and spin for my swing (4% up AOA). So I test every new buy against them.

 

For me, maximum carry needs 17* launch and 1700 spin. Spin that low can be hard to handle. Maximum distance needs 15* launch and 2200 spin.

 

If your launch is high enough and the G425 is indeed lower spin it should go further than the G410. 
 

But without going on a LM, you don’t know what the spin is, or what the launch is, or what your ball speed is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great advice. Thanks so much. I am getting on a launch monitor on Thursday. 

 

[Pepperturbo]

On 6/6/2021 at 4:08 PM, Doucer said:

Not sure why the distance loss

At 59 your muscle mass is atrophying, it happens fast too.  It can't be prevented, just drastically slowed.  As we age, and play golf, flexibility is very important.  The other factor from atrophy is ball striking worsens which affects distance. 

 

Boy, did I hate Covid shutting down my gym for a year.  At 70 yrs, I vigorously fight muscle atrophy by going to the gym 1.5 hrs of weight lifting and cardio.  For me, it became noticeable about 3yrs back.  So I started looking at lighter weight composite shafts.  I went from 67g to 59g in driver, 71g in wood, and 108g to 90g "S" in LW-2 iron.  As a result I regained some distance. 

[Doucer]

On 6/22/2021 at 11:51 AM, Pepperturbo said:

At 59 your muscle mass is atrophying, it happens fast too.  It can't be prevented, just drastically slowed.  As we age, and play golf, flexibility is very important.  The other factor from atrophy is ball striking worsens which affects distance. 

 

Boy, did I hate Covid shutting down my gym for a year.  At 70 yrs, I vigorously fight muscle atrophy by going to the gym 1.5 hrs of weight lifting and cardio.  For me, it became noticeable about 3yrs back.  So I started looking at lighter weight composite shafts.  I went from 67g to 59g in driver, 71g in wood, and 108g to 90g "S" in LW-2 iron.  As a result I regained some distance. 

Thanks very much for your thoughts. Guess I need to hit the gym!