Driver Shaft Too Stiff?

[ryan.pager]

So about a year ago I was fit into the following,

(All Paradym TD)
Ventus TR Blue 6X - D
Ventus TR Blue 7X - 3w & 5w

 

I used to be on the steeper side, but I have gone through lessons this year to really shallow everything out (and a bunch of other stuff). It seems like I am struggling to get the driver airborn with enough spin / launch. I've even tried moving it up a couple degrees on the head, but the problem with that is it closes the face, so then I struggle with hooks. Id almost rather play an open club face and a whippier shaft.

Some numbers from today (GCQuad),

- CHS 110-112 AVG, Ball Speed ~160-164
- Spin ~1500-2000rpm average (low is 1200, high is 2400)
- Launch is between 9-11*
- Strike location is between dead center & 2mm toe side; all 5-12 yard draws.

My question -- would a shaft being to stiff cause this issue, or what would do this?

I have a Ventus TR 5S lying around, as well as a couple Ventus Reds; I just didnt know if it was worth trying them, or if its a swing issue at this point.

I play 105X Axioms in my T150's, and spin is great (90mph 7i; ~6200rpm), so I'm really stumped here.

Edited March 28 by ryan.pager

[Cwebb]

It could help for sure, but you really may need to got to a different head where you can get the actual loft and face angle you need

[Pepperturbo]

Sounds like you almost did yourself an injustice by shallowing out your swing, lowering spin.  When I read that, I thought, your swing speed isn't fast enough now with those shafts to create spin.  Consider looking into shafts that have more spin, maybe stiff, and for sh** and giggles, dig out the 5S see how you do with it.  Make sure to be patient with it, too, may take time to jell.

 

I play 44.75" Ventus Velo TR Blue 5 series 58g "S" in TSR2 10', sleeve at D1 (standard lie, -.75') and still getting good distance.  Could play ultra-light weight X flex too, but a few yards isn't worth it. 

Edited March 28 by Pepperturbo

[grochol17]

4 hours ago, ryan.pager said:

So about a year ago I was fit into the following,

(All Paradym TD)
Ventus TR Blue 6X - D
Ventus TR Blue 7X - 3w & 5w

 

I used to be on the steeper side, but I have gone through lessons this year to really shallow everything out (and a bunch of other stuff). It seems like I am struggling to get the driver airborn with enough spin / launch. I've even tried moving it up a couple degrees on the head, but the problem with that is it closes the face, so then I struggle with hooks. Id almost rather play an open club face and a whippier shaft.

Some numbers from today (GCQuad),

- CHS 110-112 AVG, Ball Speed ~160-164
- Spin ~1500-2000rpm average (low is 1200, high is 2400)
- Launch is between 9-11*
- Strike location is between dead center & 2mm toe side; all 5-12 yard draws.

My question -- would a shaft being to stiff cause this issue, or what would do this?

I have a Ventus TR 5S lying around, as well as a couple Ventus Reds; I just didnt know if it was worth trying them, or if its a swing issue at this point.

I play 105X Axioms in my T150's, and spin is great (90mph 7i; ~6200rpm), so I'm really stumped here.

 

Changing shafts may or may not do what you need it to do and switching to a "high spin" shaft won't necessarily produce more spin, depending on your your swing responds to the feel of the new shaft. 

 

You're playing a triple diamond head for your driver and your spin is too low, so you should try a different clubhead that produces more launch and spin.  If you like the TD and want to stick with it, try a higher lofted version of your current driver (so you don't have to worry about the face angle issue) to see what happens.

[zrheisler22]

Shaft isn’t the issue, need to find a head that has two things.

 

1 - A more rearward CG (think TD vs TSR2)

2 - More loft on said driver.

 

 

[ryan.pager]

Yea, unfortunately I'm trying to bandaid something until the new titleist drivers come out (want to have all releases out). I was planning on switching to a 4W-7W setup anyhow for better gapping, so I was planning to get fit again anyhow. I tried lofting up the driver to 9* + moving the weight back and that helped some, but just for s*** and giggles, I grabbed my 5S TR and will try throwing that in tomorrow on the Quad to see what happens.

 

Appreciate y'all!

[Stuart_G]

14 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

 I thought, your swing speed isn't fast enough now with those shafts to create spin.

 

Sorry but it has nothing to do with swing speed, he's got plenty.   There is no requirement for any particular amount of swing speed for any shaft to "create spin" and anyways it's not the shaft that creates the spin in the first place.  It might add a little in some cases but not anything that's necessary for good ball flight and results.

 

 

16 hours ago, ryan.pager said:

- CHS 110-112 AVG, Ball Speed ~160-164

- Spin ~1500-2000rpm average (low is 1200, high is 2400)
- Launch is between 9-11*
- Strike location is between dead center & 2mm toe side; all 5-12 yard draws.

My question -- would a shaft being to stiff cause this issue, or what would do this?

 

If the impact location is good (verify with foot powder spray), the problem is the amount of shaft lean at impact.  Or another way to look at it is the hand position relative to the ball position at impact or release timing.  Basically the dynamic loft delivered.  The driver is the only club where we expect the swing to add loft at impact and you're not adding as much as is needed for optimal flight (at least for that head).

 

Don't get the idea that it's "wrong" to have less forward shaft lean, it's not.  In fact in some cases it's very good swing trait because it allows higher AoA w/o the dynamic loft getting too high.  It's much more common problem among am's to have too much reverse shaft lean - which can cause too much dynamic loft and high spin problems.    It's just that now the match between the base head loft and the swing is less than ideal.  Or maybe you took the swing change it tiny bit farther than you should have.   It's never a bad idea to check in with your pro about the work you've been doing.

 

Other than going to a head with a higher base loft, a couple things you can experiment with:

1) try choking up 1/2" or even 1" - the lighter swing weight might help speed up the release timing.

2) play with tee height and ball position - more forward in the stance and maybe higher.  You want impact with the ball  to be a tiny bit later in the swing then it currently is.   

3) a little bit more secondary tilt in the upper body might add a bit of dynamic loft. This is one of the rare cases where I might actually encourage a person to try and hit up more on the ball to increase AoA.

 

As others have said it's possible that a shaft change can add some - but that's not a very reliable approach and could just as likely end up as wild goose chase.   If you're happy with the way the shaft feels now - I'd leave it alone.

Edited March 29 by Stuart_G