Had two custom fitting sessions and none the wiser!!

[Slugsy]

Would appreciate advice on driver shafts from the experts

Dear all

I am currently looking at drivers and trying to get fitted correctly and have been to two sperate people to get fitted with unsatisfactory results.

I am a 4 handicap (UK) and my swingspeed on both sessions ranged between 103-105mph. My normal ballflight with my Mizuno Mp-001 (with Adila NV 65 shaft) is high with lots of spin making it stop pretty much dead when it hits the ground. I am trying to find a head and shaft that will help me lower the launch and spin of my drives (granted I am also in the process of improving my technique).

On the first session the guy suggested the Taylormade Burner TP with the stock RE*AX 65 TP shaft. To be honest, this was poor, launch stats were 16-17 degrees with spin in the 4,000's. He said that there wasn't a shaft on the market that could help me lower my ball flight and launch anymore than that and I should take some lessons with him to get it down (I am in the process of doing that).

So I went to another guy, who was slightly more helpful but only had certain shafts and heads and the best he suggested was using a Graffaloy Pro Launch Blue Shaft, which he was going to happily charge me £100 for, despite the stats showing way too much spin using it on both a Titleist D2 and a Taylormade TP Burner.

Now, I am not an expert but have read enough on here to know that there are other options out there and while I am working on my technique, there are other shaft options.

I thought about the Graffaloy Pro Lauch Red or the Diamana Whiteboard as options after reading some of the threads on here but would appreciate anyone's input and thoughts as there are not a lot of places where I can test these shafts out and will probably have to buy it untested from the net, so all good advice would be appreciated.

(as a side, I am considering the Bridgestone J33R, Titleist 905R and Ping G10 heads)

Thanks in advance

Dave

[jowwy]

PM me i may have some options for you

[jgpl]

Hi

 

For info my swing speed with a driver is 115 to 118 mph and I have gone through a least 20 combinations and 2 custom fitting sessions in the past 2 years.

 

Firstly all TM REAX stock shafts are totally unsuitable for you. I have played all the TP versions (R5, R7 and TP Burner) and only had success with a R5TP with and 83g Diamana shaft combination. You may find one of these on ebay and is certainly worth picking one up.

 

I have had no success with any Alidila shaft, they seem to be totally unsuited to my game. I have played the 905R with the Proforce V2 shaft, 76g x-flex and it will certainly get your spin rate down significantly and give very good roll, but it is not a forgiving combination and you need to nail it every time

 

Recently I changed to a Ping G10 9.5deg with the new Red Pro launch shaft, but I personally found it a little soft and did not get as much roll. This new shaft is not nearly as good as is suggested or comparable to the old Grafalloy Blue or Prolite Red. I have shelved the G10 for now.

 

My last fitting session reccommended a FT5 tour with the Fujikura 360 fit on in s or x flex. I went with the x flex and it give a very boring and long flight with minimal spin and excellent roll. However, it sounds awful and I have now gone full circle and reverted back to my old faithful 905R with a Speeder 757, 76g stiff shaft, still the best shaft by a mile over the past 5 years. The only other driver I have had with low spin was a 905T with Grafalloy Blue shaft in s flex

 

If I were in your shoes I would wait (and I am going to do so myself) and try the new 909 D2 or D3 with the new V2 Axix core shaft. On paper it looks a very good combination to keep spin rate down

[Slugsy]

If I were in your shoes I would wait (and I am going to do so myself) and try the new 909 D2 or D3 with the new V2 Axix core shaft. On paper it looks a very good combination to keep spin rate down

 

This has been in the back of my mind - good advice and confirms my nagging thoughts

[jtbinnyc]

The best way to bring your launch angle down is to go with a lower lofted driver. Once you get good launch angle you can lock in a shaft that will help reduce spin (I like Matrix, Accra and UST for this). You dont want either of the shafts they tried to sell you on as they are both high launch high spin shafts.

[Tomba29]

Slugsy, where in the UK are you?

 

Sounds like the two fitters were trying to rip you off. The TM guy probably had surplus stock to get rid of and the other guy was shafting you for that shaft.

 

I might know some places for unbiased fitting if I knew where you are.

[wildwilly911]

what lofts were you trying

[Slugsy]

Slugsy, where in the UK are you?

 

Sounds like the two fitters were trying to rip you off. The TM guy probably had surplus stock to get rid of and the other guy was shafting you for that shaft.

 

I might know some places for unbiased fitting if I knew where you are.

 

Newcastle mate?

[Slugsy]

what lofts were you trying

 

9.5 - which is did think was a bit high

[Jimbo999]

Aldila protopype? I hear they're both low launch and low spin, may work well for you.

[skinny99]

I am certainly no expert on shaft fitting but I would think that if you go with a heavier weight shaft with a stiff tip it will certainly bring your spin and launch down. Examples:PM702,73g or 83g Whiteboard, 70g Protopype. JGPL is correct there are very few stock shafts that keep the ball down,I dont swing as hard as you but I hit the ball plenty high and I can never get a stock shaft to stay down and roll. If you pair one of these shafts with a 8.5* or 9.0* head you should be good. If you wanted to spend a little money maybe the new Adams 9015D with a stiff 73g Wb tipped about 1/2" I bet it would be a BOMBER and feel great!! Just my thoughts. Todd

[Asleep]

Bridgestone J33R is lowest spinning head.

 

Grafalloy Blue (not Prolaunch) is a good inexpensive mid launch/lower spin shaft. Axis even moreso, but costs more.

 

If your launch angles are 16*/17* you need to drop down one degree in loft.

 

Lowering loft will lower your spin more than anything.

 

In shafts like Prolaunch & Reax 65 you'll need X-flex, imo.