Problems with Hibore XLS / Ozik Xcon Combo

[Seim1978]

OK, after the honeymoon ended, I've been having some issues with the Hibore/Ozik combo. It's a regular 9.5 XLS, with a Ozik Xcon 6 strong shaft, cut to 44" (I've been playing this driver length for years). Now, I KILL this driver when everything aligns, but I tend to miss a lot of shots right. Not slices, just slight pushes. I really like the set-up, but it's been getting me into trouble lately.

 

I hit the ball pretty hard, have a smooth takeaway, but fire through pretty hard at the top. I suppose average drive is 280-300 or something like that. My last combo was the R7 quad with a stiff Speeder 757, cut to 44". I hit that combo really well, but just wanted something a little more forgiving.

 

I've actually had the driver closed a degree (shimmed it shut), and that helped a little but I think I need it closed a little more.

 

Any thoughts on the shaft combo, etc? I really like the Hi-bore, but I'm starting to think the shaft may not be ideal for me.

[BluesDrive]

I play the Hibore XL with the stock red fuji shaft. 10.5 degrees and a stiff flex. I usually hit it straight or with a fade, but I do push it sometimes.

 

I dunno if it's your swing or not, that's usually my problem. If I push it, I slow down and hit 5 balls until I find the speed where I pure it the most. Then I go faster and faster attempting to feel that swing but faster.

 

Personally, I like Fuji shafts on the Hibore, but I use the XL. Haven't tried the XLS yet.

[Seim1978]

I play the Hibore XL with the stock red fuji shaft. 10.5 degrees and a stiff flex. I usually hit it straight or with a fade, but I do push it sometimes.

 

I dunno if it's your swing or not, that's usually my problem. If I push it, I slow down and hit 5 balls until I find the speed where I pure it the most. Then I go faster and faster attempting to feel that swing but faster.

 

Personally, I like Fuji shafts on the Hibore, but I use the XL. Haven't tried the XLS yet.

 

I was thinking it's my swing too, but I've been hitting my irons like butter. Usually if I'm off, I'm very inconsistent with my irons as well. But no go. I'm scoring really well still (shooting consistently around par or better), but my driver is honestly costing me 2-4 shots per round. I've been thinking about putting a Speeder 757 in there, but I'm not going to do so until I check everything out. With the x-con shaft, I feel like I hit the driver best when I swing REALLY hard. I dunno, maybe I'll put the old R7 back in play.

[hmx3]

I´ve got my XLS from tour van with a Blueboard, with a light fade bias. Had the same problem-slight pushes. Cost me some range

sessions to "learn" this driver, but now I´ve got my draw back. May be your XLS is also fade biased?

[jtbinnyc]

The Highbore line are very anti hook clubs. They all want to fase for me and I fight a hook. The speeder will make it worse than the ozik as the speeder is more tip stiff. If your going to change the combo I would opt for something with a soft tip.

[titleister]

It's amazing you posted this topic - I've been searching the archives for someone with similar issues. About a week ago I hit a demo XLS (9.5º, Stiff, yellow Fuji) at my local course. Ugliest driver on the planet BUT it flat out performed the few times I hit it. So I began looking for a cheap one as a backup. I ended up finding a new XL (9.5º, Stiff, red Fuji) for $149. Even though the shaft profile was a little much for me, I decided to give it a shot.

 

When I took it to the course I figured it would take some "seat time" to get it dialed in. I hit it O.K. for the first 3 holes....then EVERYTHING started going to the right. It was weird. I employed a bunch of quick fixes and limped thru the round but it still puzzled me. Well, I ended up playing 2 days later and right out of the box I was pealing everything right.....fade.....push....SLICE! Needless to say the 'HiB' was getting close to ridin' the eBay train. I decided to try it again and if things didn't tighten up then I would either reshaft or sell. The third time out was the charm. I spent a little extra time checking my grip and alignment on the range prior to teeing off and it seemed to straighten things out. I hit more fairways than I missed and pushed only one shot. I was able to draw it a little towards the end of the round as well. Although I was hitting it straighter, I did struggle with a few 'low-runner' shots (I liked the yellow shaft in the XLS demo much better) but I was MUCH happier with my purchase after this round.

 

I'm unsure whether it was the odd-looking satin crown (the XLS was easier to line up IMO), my poor swing mechanics or adjusting to the "better player" shaft that was causing my problems but all in all things are looking up now. I'll continue to game it even with a few setbacks because when I'm on it's a beast of a driver! And although some of my playing partners might disagree, it's loud, screaming sound at impact is awesome!!

[gjf007]

i use the xl tour with diamana redboard flowerband in stiff and it is an absolute bomb, any poor shots are slight fades, nothing too erratic, this shaft is very easy to load and really does the business for me!

[Seim1978]

The Highbore line are very anti hook clubs. They all want to fase for me and I fight a hook. The speeder will make it worse than the ozik as the speeder is more tip stiff. If your going to change the combo I would opt for something with a soft tip.

 

Good advice, thanks for the post. I'm thinking maybe a blue board? I dunno, I'll look around. I still love the driver, but I don't want to change my swing for a driver. That would cause issues with everything else then.

[Seim1978]

I´ve got my XLS from tour van with a Blueboard, with a light fade bias. Had the same problem-slight pushes. Cost me some range

sessions to "learn" this driver, but now I´ve got my draw back. May be your XLS is also fade biased?

 

I'm actually going to have it shimmed shut another degree or so.....we'll see if that helps. I just really don't want to change my swing for a driver.....something might carry over to my irons or something. I figure there's a driver out there that will work, I'd rather find that driver than change my swing.

[jsundet]

Seim1978:

 

Talk to your brother and have him find you an older XL 9.5 (Like his 10.5). His honeymoon ended with his XLS as well. BTW I know your older brother very well. He tells me you have quite the game. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to meet you soon and maybe we can work something out and find a time that works will all of us to play if your up in the Central MN area or we get down in your neck of the woods. Take care and by all means call him and tell him you need a 9.5 XL...actually next time he is around hit his Tour Issue XL...no matter what else he tries he hasn't found a combo to top that one yet.

 

Take care!

[pinknv]

My honeymoon hasn't ended, I just haven't had the time to dial in the XLS like my XL. When I shut the face on my XLS, I started hitting fairways, but I lost some distance because, like a moron, I added too much loft, therefore too much spin. The XLS is a great club and it is indeed an anti-hook, pro-right type of club, but will rival the XL in all aspects when fit correctly. Face angle is everything boys.

 

Hey Seim1978, leave the clubfitting and building to me...ha ha. After all the irons you are hitting like butter were built by me.

[Seim1978]

Seim1978:

 

Talk to your brother and have him find you an older XL 9.5 (Like his 10.5). His honeymoon ended with his XLS as well. BTW I know your older brother very well. He tells me you have quite the game. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to meet you soon and maybe we can work something out and find a time that works will all of us to play if your up in the Central MN area or we get down in your neck of the woods. Take care and by all means call him and tell him you need a 9.5 XL...actually next time he is around hit his Tour Issue XL...no matter what else he tries he hasn't found a combo to top that one yet.

 

Take care!

 

Funny stuff, small world eh? Ya, he's going to try a few more things with the XLS to get it to work, but I've been looking for a replacement because I have some pro shop credit to burn as well. I like the look of the XL too, maybe I'll take a stab at that if nothing else pans out.....we'll see. I'm always open to play golf!

 

Later!

[Husky18]

I found the XLS to be much more netural over the XL--which I could hook much easier. To me, the XLS is a straigther hitting driver, I can hit the draw without the hook