GolfWRX Interview - Tom Wishon

[taylormadefan]

Please ask all questions here

GOLFWRX is proud to announce an interview with Tom Wishon early next week.

Please ask any and all questions for Tom about club making, Tom Wishon Golf Technology products, his ideas on club making, or about his past work with many tour pros.

[RSchaffer29]

I like his "12 Myths," they are very true. Except the one about the sweetspots not being any larger today than they used to be. His argument is that the sweetspot is only the size of a pinhead and that it has remained that size for a while. I feel like this is confusing and misleading, because certainly the larger heads have a larger "sweet area," but I see what he is saying. Either way I'd still like him to give credit to the forgiveness of today's larger clubheads. I think it is myth number 6.

 

Besides that, I'm interested to hear what he has to say!

[chop180]

I would like to hear his opinion on the benefits of building custom clubs based on MOI with increasing swing weights, versus set makeups consisting of equal swingweights. And how OEM's are approaching this area of set makeup.

 

Thanks

[theinsider]

Tom,

 

At the PGA Merchandise show this year during the panel on the interchangeable club technology, you stood up and addressed a few points regarding this new trend that the panel did not mention. Can you explain the flaws and benefits you see in these systems related to fitting, in your opinion?

 

Thanks

[bogeypro]

why do clubheads get smaller as the shaft gets longer (ie - 3 iron is smaller than PW and the 3 is harder to hit)? why not make them the other way around? Would that not make more sense?

 

should the balance point the exact same distance from the end of the club on all clubs?

 

what would happen if all irons had the same length shaft?

[Chitwood The Great]

Tom,

Could you share any memories or stories of the great Ben Hogan you have either experinced first hand or heard from those who knew him?

Chitwood

[shoe295]

I'm curious what your thoughts are concerning shaft profiling. Is there any benefit or will it just result in information overload, and/or a bunch of meaningless numbers. My clubfitter is a big fan of this and it's possible uses.

 

Secondly; I'd like your thoughts on SST shaft puring.

 

thanks

 

shoe

[MR MIZUN0]

I read in a golf magazine (forgot which one) that the average player should be playing a driver with a higher loft (11*-13*), but with a lower MOI. Is this correct, why or why not?

 

What makes a good clubmaker, and a clubfitter?

 

If a junior is interested in the clubmaking field, what should he/she do to further their knowledge of the "art"?

 

Where is the actual kick point of a shaft located (high, med., and low kickpoints)

 

Down the road, do you think OEM's will match iron sets by MOI, rather than swingweight?

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Hi Tom,

 

I know that you are not really a proponent of the 44.75 inch drivers that all the OEMs offer now. I also know that increased length adds some clubhead speed. Do you feel that the amount of clubhead speed gained is only negligeable for an average golfer's ability to swing the driver consistently? Lets say someone in the low 90's swingspeed, how much extra clubhead speed will they generate at 44.75 inches versus say 44 inches in length for the driver. Finally, will the clubhead speed gained make up for the loss in yards due to shorter length?

[oregongolf]

Can you ask him if he'll be shutting down the Big Bozo about the tour vs. retail debate again anytime soon? :russian_roulette: :clapping:

 

Tom,

 

Where do you see driver clubhead technology heading in the next few years? Now that the C.O.R. and clubhead volume limits have been reached as far as USGA conforming rules are concerned, what frontiers are there left to explore?

 

Thanks!

 

Echo! This is something I'd hope gets answered first. Can you also add shaft technology to that question?

[kwantfm]

Hi and thanks for the opportunity to pose some questions.

The industry has been obsessed with increasing the moment of inertia of driver heads in recent times with many industry leaders recently promoting maximum MOI for their drivers. MOI is being used as a marketing proxy for forgiveness on off-centre strikes. I also understand that there are diminishing marginal returns in terms of forgiveness as MOI increases (i.e. there is a non-linear relationship between forgiveness and MOI). I was wondering if you would be able to provide some clarity on the actual relationship between forgiveness and MOI and where on this relationship the increase in forgiveness really starts to flatten out?

 

Thank you,

T

[Twoironblade]

Many LPGA players use low lofted drivers (7.5 to 9 degrees) with 45+ inch lengths. Yet, they're swingspeeds are likely to be in the 90-100 range. What is it that keeps them from using 10.5 degree and higher lofts?

[belligerentgene]

This is one interview that I am very much looking forward to.

 

My question would be:

 

In Tom's book "The search for the perfect club" Tom discussed that he felt one of his most successful design was that varying face thickness based on club head speed which he designed for his former company(Golfsmith I believe it was primarily he Fire forged line of wood heads but may have applied to other wood heads). This idea was eventually shot down by the former company(Golfsmith). Why hasn’t he introduced the same or similar design at TWG? I understand the cost implications of carrying that much stock but if he is really in search of the perfect club let them be ordered and don’t carry stock. If in fact he feels that the design may have become outdated or been surpassed by other designs(book was written in 2006 i believe) what would those designs be within the TWG line?

 

 

Thanks,

Gene

[drewspin]

Where is the interview transcript?

[taylormadefan]

Where is the interview transcript?

 

Still being transcribed . . . :D

 

I should have this up late next week. It's a really solid interview. Some really good questions were asked here.