What driver?

[mizunotpz]

Im hitting slighly down on driver so I heard there are some driver heads thats more suitable for this kind of pattern. What models from the last 2-5 years should I be looking at? (Cant afford this years model) I heard the Radspeed could be an option (the standard, not xb or xd) but not sure if thats true?

TIA!

[MattM97]

More loft or get a lesson, both will be cheaper and easier. 

 

I've been hitting down recently myself and it was a swing flaw that I fixed. 

[mizunotpz]

1 minute ago, MattM97 said:

More loft or get a lesson, both will be cheaper and easier. 

 

I've been hitting down recently myself and it was a swing flaw that I fixed. 

Yes I know Im working on it but its a well known fact that players that are good at compressing their irons (me) struggle with hitting up. I have reduced the negative aoa but a driver thats more suited to my needs would help!

[MattM97]

Just now, mizunotpz said:

Yes I know Im working on it but its a well known fact that players that are good at compressing their irons (me) struggle with hitting up. I have reduced the negative aoa but a driver thats more suited to my needs would help!

 

Gotcha, that was my issue too my AoA on my irons changed like 5-6° total and that transferred over to my driver AoA. Before the changes my driver was set to 8° with an AoA of like +3 but recently it was changed to 10.5° and that cured my issue. So maybe crank up your current driver if you can but hopefully others can comment on ones better for hitting down on the ball. 

[mizunotpz]

6 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

Gotcha, that was my issue too my AoA on my irons changed like 5-6° total and that transferred over to my driver AoA. Before the changes my driver was set to 8° with an AoA of like +3 but recently it was changed to 10.5° and that cured my issue. So maybe crank up your current driver if you can but hopefully others can comment on ones better for hitting down on the ball. 

Yes, I dont struggle with launch, its the spin thats killing distance right now. 

[sir_mike]

I just seen a review of some drivers a few days ago or so and it called out the Cobra LTDx as being one of the best for forgiveness, performance vs cost!

 

[mizunotpz]

2 minutes ago, sir_mike said:

I just seen a review of some drivers a few days ago or so and it called out the Cobra LTDx as being one of the best for forgiveness, performance vs cost!

 

Thanks, will take a look!

[mizunotpz]

1 hour ago, MattM97 said:

More loft or get a lesson, both will be cheaper and easier. 

 

I've been hitting down recently myself and it was a swing flaw that I fixed. 

What swing flaw was it that stopped you from hitting up btw?

[MattM97]

6 minutes ago, mizunotpz said:

What swing flaw was it that stopped you from hitting up btw?

 

Just mechanics from changing my swing, like hundreds of irons swings hitting down on the ball just carried over to driver. Other issue was casting over the top which caused other nasty issues but lessons recently thinking of more a "flat swing" with the driver and will have to see on simulator if anything changed. 

[Phabs]

Radspeed XD or LTDX standard head are two good options.  Both are about the same price which tells you how good the Radspeed head is….

[mizunotpz]

17 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

Just mechanics from changing my swing, like hundreds of irons swings hitting down on the ball just carried over to driver. Other issue was casting over the top which caused other nasty issues but lessons recently thinking of more a "flat swing" with the driver and will have to see on simulator if anything changed. 

More flat swing into the ball?

[mizunotpz]

7 minutes ago, Phabs said:

Radspeed XD or LTDX standard head are two good options.  Both are about the same price which tells you how good the Radspeed head is….

You dont like the radspeed standard?

[MattM97]

Just now, mizunotpz said:

More flat swing into the ball?

 

Flat feel to me but correct in theory. Feels odd and a little uncomfortable at times but coach showing me pics and videos it's correct. 

[Phabs]

1 minute ago, mizunotpz said:

You dont like the radspeed standard?

I like the forgiveness of the XD and the slight draw bias.   Fit my buddy into one and he's absolutely demolishing the thing 

[mizunotpz]

28 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

Flat feel to me but correct in theory. Feels odd and a little uncomfortable at times but coach showing me pics and videos it's correct. 

Getring the backswing more upright, like slightly above plan can help encouriging a more shallow under plane into the ball.

[mizunotpz]

28 minutes ago, Phabs said:

I like the forgiveness of the XD and the slight draw bias.   Fit my buddy into one and he's absolutely demolishing the thing 

But with weight in the back on the radspeed it should have plenty forgiveness? What about the F3 shaft, should I go stiff or regular with my ss 84-85 with 7 irons. 

[Phabs]

17 minutes ago, mizunotpz said:

But with weight in the back on the radspeed it should have plenty forgiveness? What about the F3 shaft, should I go stiff or regular with my ss 84-85 with 7 irons. 

The F3 plays pretty soft to flex I think.  The friend I fitted went with the F1 in a X and it's awesome.    I wouldn't be afraid of the XD head either - it's a monster 

 

I'd say try the stiff depending on what you're looking for ball flight wise - best advice I could give would be to go through the driver DIY fitting on here that Howard has.  It'll seriously clean up your strike and have you hitting the middle more often than not.   

 

Once you go through the DIY you'll prob end up in a shorter length driver than 45.5 which will make the stiff play a little softer if you butt trim it... 

Edited September 11, 2023 by Phabs

[mizunotpz]

11 minutes ago, Phabs said:

The F3 plays pretty soft to flex I think.  The friend I fitted went with the F1 in a X and it's awesome.    I wouldn't be afraid of the XD head either - it's a monster 

 

I'd say try the stiff depending on what you're looking for ball flight wise - best advice I could give would be to go through the driver DIY fitting on here that Howard has.  It'll seriously clean up your strike and have you hitting the middle more often than not.   

 

Once you go through the DIY you'll prob end up in a shorter length driver than 45.5 which will make the stiff play a little softer if you butt trim it... 

thanks! Very good point! I was thinking of buying the tour length actually but been curious about Howards method! Just havent gotten around to it with earlier drivers.

[MattM97]

35 minutes ago, mizunotpz said:

Getring the backswing more upright, like slightly above plan can help encouriging a more shallow under plane into the ball.

 

Not for me, I cast the club forward and basically heel the ball 150 yards that way, the way we're working the swing double that.

[Valtiel]

I'd be really curious to know club delivery numbers because not all negative AoA's are created equal with the driver. Normally an excessively negative AoA is merely a symptom of other swing issues, like being OTT and/or coming from the outside excessively, but based on our convo in your swing thread you don't really have that problem. For launch to actually be fine as you said but to struggle with spin means there is an additional variable, because in a vacuum launch and spin are always coupled. It takes strike problems to decouple launch and spin, low strikes raising spin and lower launch and vice versa for high strikes. Basically it's virtually impossible to have a spin problem if you're striking the ball well AND it's launching within the correct window for your speed. The only way to do that is to be excessively delofting the club and hitting high on the face or hitting WAY up on the ball while hitting it low. Parsing all these variables gives you a picture of what can be tweaked with equipment and what needs swing attention. It then would be great to know:

- Current driver specs
- Swing speed
- Ball speed
- Launch angle
- Spin
- AoA
- Club path
- Strike location tendencies

The more of these bits you have, the more accurate a recommendation will be. The fewer, the less.

[mizunotpz]

17 minutes ago, Valtiel said:

I'd be really curious to know club delivery numbers because not all negative AoA's are created equal with the driver. Normally an excessively negative AoA is merely a symptom of other swing issues, like being OTT and/or coming from the outside excessively, but based on our convo in your swing thread you don't really have that problem. For launch to actually be fine as you said but to struggle with spin means there is an additional variable, because in a vacuum launch and spin are always coupled. It takes strike problems to decouple launch and spin, low strikes raising spin and lower launch and vice versa for high strikes. Basically it's virtually impossible to have a spin problem if you're striking the ball well AND it's launching within the correct window for your speed. The only way to do that is to be excessively delofting the club and hitting high on the face or hitting WAY up on the ball while hitting it low. Parsing all these variables gives you a picture of what can be tweaked with equipment and what needs swing attention. It then would be great to know:

- Current driver specs
- Swing speed
- Ball speed
- Launch angle
- Spin
- AoA
- Club path
- Strike location tendencies

The more of these bits you have, the more accurate a recommendation will be. The fewer, the less.

Yes, very good questions as always from you, thank you. 
the thing is Im a little in the dark here when it comes to numbers. Havent been on an LM for long time, except with irons.

Im pretty straight with my drives, my miss is low hooks. But I have a 12 degree Ping G410+ and when I hit it normal I feel the launch is high so that might not be spin but loft. Also Ping drivers are heavy and Ive had success in the past with lighter heads. Strike locations are not the most consistent many hit high on the face, thats why Im thinking going shorter shaft. 45.5 right now.

Edited September 11, 2023 by mizunotpz
Added info

[Valtiel]

6 minutes ago, mizunotpz said:

Yes, very good questions as always from you, thank you. 
the thing is Im a little in the dark here when it comes to numbers. Havent been on an LM for long time, except with irons.

Im pretty straight with my drives, my miss is low hooks. But I have a 12 degree Ping G410+ and when I hit it normal I feel the launch is high so that might not be spin but loft. Also Ping drivers are heavy and Ive had success in the past with lighter heads. Strike locations are not the most consistent many hit high on the face, thats why Im thinking going shorter shaft. 45.5 right now.

Gotcha, yeah that is where the launch monitor stuff can really help out. 12* + high on the face is going to send the ball straight up unless you're delofting the club a ton, so it definitely sounds like there are a number of areas that could be improved upon optimization wise. Shortening the club is often beneficial as well, stock driver lengths these days are far less manageable for most of us and strike is one of the areas that suffers the most. 

Any big box golf retailer near you should have some form of launch monitor access. PGA Superstore has their "Tour Van Fitting" area that you can reserve which usually has a GCQuad and premium balls. It pays for itself the moment it saves you from one purchase made otherwise through guesswork and I highly recommend it. 

[Cwebb]

Tee height, ball position, and foot powder spray for impact pattern.  Have you checked all these?

[mizunotpz]

12 minutes ago, Valtiel said:

Gotcha, yeah that is where the launch monitor stuff can really help out. 12* + high on the face is going to send the ball straight up unless you're delofting the club a ton, so it definitely sounds like there are a number of areas that could be improved upon optimization wise. Shortening the club is often beneficial as well, stock driver lengths these days are far less manageable for most of us and strike is one of the areas that suffers the most. 

Any big box golf retailer near you should have some form of launch monitor access. PGA Superstore has their "Tour Van Fitting" area that you can reserve which usually has a GCQuad and premium balls. It pays for itself the moment it saves you from one purchase made otherwise through guesswork and I highly recommend it. 

Yes very true. But here in Scandinavia were I live the options are limited. But thats also why Im going with cheaper option. I wont have to pay much between a newer cobra and my Ping since second hand value here is really high on Ping. Im thinking going 10.5 and then check out Howards fitting guide to dial it in. I can see from driver swings that my hands come before the clubhead but at the same time I also see the clubhead moving up some so not sure about exact aoa but its deffo better aoa than 2 years ago.

[Strategery]

Swing change. Nothing else matters.

[Valtiel]

1 minute ago, mizunotpz said:

Im thinking going 10.5 and then check out Howards fitting guide to dial it in.

That would be the next best thing then! And don't be afraid to experiment with weight as well when shortening. That guide can be followed closely and Howard is active to field questions about it. 

[mizunotpz]

26 minutes ago, Strategery said:

Swing change. Nothing else matters.

Not hitting bad shots. Just want to see if I can get more distance by changing loft and going lighter.

[Phabs]

10.5 will definitely help. 

[kthomas]

Mini driver.

 

But I agree, a different (new) driver is a poor bandaid for such a swing flaw. Money better spent on lessons and practice.

[mizunotpz]

2 hours ago, kthomas said:

Mini driver.

 

But I agree, a different (new) driver is a poor bandaid for such a swing flaw. Money better spent on lessons and practice.

Even tour players hit down on their driver. Dont think swing flaw is the correct word.