Driver heads and shafts for Senior Golfers

[dssxxxx]

Be 63 in November.

 

Playing in NJ a Ping Rapture V2 10.5 in Stiff and a Mizuno 600 with Fukura in regular. Average between 225-245.

 

Playing in FL a Mizuno 600 with blueboard 63 (pulled from a Ping driver) in stiff with same yardage results.

 

Have found on all my Ping drivers (G2, G5 and Rapture V2) the stiff plays a little soft compared to other stiff shafts.

 

Changed to regular in my irons about 5 years ago but went with the '09 Burner irons in regular steel, in place of graphite that I have played for at least 20 years.

[Conrad1953]

[quote name='oldpalchamp' post='1533553' date='Mar 5 2009, 08:18 AM']I'm 57 and my swing speed is 100-102mph. I use the Adams A4 Tech with the stock Matrix (Stiff). It has a terrific feel and sound.[/quote]

+1. After reading the hype in another thread I picked up an A4 9015D with the stock Matrix 60 gram shaft in R, 10.5. Great feel and
sound and especially love that open face. I'm 56 with a driver SS avg of 90 so I'm not a big hitter by any means. I've been very
happy with the results but just to be sure I took the club onto the launch monitor at Golfsmith.

Results 89 avg SS....Avg ball speed 139 avg spin rate 2477 with Callaway HX Tour balls they supplied. No need to reshaft , as some
suggest with this driver head, in my case. Even so, I haven't ruled out sticking a 50 gram shaft in it later to get back that 1 mph!

There is a very long thread on this club in the equip section of this site. Happy fairway hunting!

[Conrad1953]

[quote name='oldpalchamp' post='1533553' date='Mar 5 2009, 08:18 AM']I'm 57 and my swing speed is 100-102mph. I use the Adams A4 Tech with the stock Matrix (Stiff). It has a terrific feel and sound.[/quote]

+1. After reading the hype in another thread I picked up an A4 9015D with the stock Matrix 60 gram shaft in R, 10.5. Great feel and
sound and especially love that open face. I'm 56 with a driver SS avg of 90 so I'm not a big hitter by any means. I've been very
happy with the results but just to be sure I took the club onto the launch monitor at Golfsmith.

Results 89 avg SS....Avg ball speed 139 avg spin rate 2477 with Callaway HX Tour balls they supplied. No need to reshaft , as some
suggest with this driver head, in my case. Even so, I haven't ruled out sticking a 50 gram shaft in it later to get back that 1 mph!

There is a very long thread on this club in the equip section of this site. Happy fairway hunting!

[SwingBlade]

I'm 61 and luckily still swing the driver about 105 on average. Probably being 6'3" and 210 pounds helps those numbers. Flexibility, relaxing, and optimum lag helps a lot with both speed and distance. My average is about 260. I just try to relax all tension, grip as light as possible, and swing smooth. I don't see 280+ much anymore and only one 300+ drive last year. Waiting for the distance door to slam shut one of these days.

[78blades]

[quote name='teespoon' post='1429835' date='Jan 17 2009, 02:55 AM']Past 65, I noticed a definate slowing of swingspeed that affected distance on the longer clubs, and primarily, with the Driver.
After trying a few combos, I got my best Driver distance (220), with a Nakashima NP1 head and a Fuji Vista Pro Sixty in A flex. I am 68.
What works for you?[/quote]


Its much more the shaft than the driver head. The only real difference is driver heads are conventional vs square. Square tend to be more stable. Other than that really no difference cuz the COR, in order to be "legal" can't be more than .83 I believe. With that said you may want to see what your numbers are on a launch monitor to see if you have the correct lofted driver and shaft for your swing. Oh, I'm 61 with a club head speed of 105-109, drives are 260+.

[petter7]

Find a head you like, and there are a number of very good ones out there to choose from,

and stick a X-CON 5 in it. For a sub 60g shaft it has the best high launch & low spin numbers

of anything I've hit. It has a terrific kick and feel, top ball speeds, optimum carry and plenty

of rollout. For sub 105 swing speeds, it's a shaft worth considering. Looks good too.

 

[teespoon]

Find a head you like, and there are a number of very good ones out there to choose from,

and stick a X-CON 5 in it. For a sub 60g shaft it has the best high launch & low spin numbers

of anything I've hit. It has a terrific kick and feel, top ball speeds, optimum carry and plenty

of rollout. For sub 105 swing speeds, it's a shaft worth considering. Looks good too.

 

 

 

Just bumping this thread back up! Lots of good info and the pic and info on the OZIK is worth a look!

 

teespoon

[ElGavilan]

[quote name='Denny62' post='1528538' date='Mar 3 2009, 09:03 AM']Interesting reading about what you other older more mature guys are using and how far you are hitting. I was hitting a Ping G10 with a UST Highlaunch Regular shaft and the head at 10.5 degrees. While I liked the club, I still felt like I could do better. I am 62 and have a rather slow swing speed of 80. Have a hard time making a turn sometimes with a stiff lower back. Yesterday I was fitted for a TM Burner 09 model. I hate to say this but I am moving to a HT with a M ( stands for mature not senior ha ) shaft. The launch monitor showed better numbers for me and I was turning over very shot that I made for extra distance.

I will be using the club later this week, if the snow melts! Man I hate winter. I will keep you informed.

Denny[/quote]

I'm 68 in somewhat decent shape ( I walk about 20 miles a week) and average about 220 with 230-240 yard drives about 10% of the time. I have tried many Driver combinations -- both stock and making several myself. I have also experimented with different lengths, swingweights, etc.

After all of that, the Driver that I like best and have been playing for almost a year is a TM 10.5* Burner with a stock M shaft right off the shelf (it took a while to find a 10.5* with an M shaft). It is exceptionally straight, and I can only put a little draw on it if I really work at it. With my SS of around 95 MPH I should be hitting a 12* HT with an M shaft, but I have one and it balloons if I'm not very careful, and it can also become a hook machine unless care is exercised. What (I think) makes the 10.5* work for me is that the TM stock M shaft has a soft tip. When this is combined with the 10.5* it gives a higher than normal ball flight that also rolls (some) when it lands and that is just right for me. I seldom miss a fairway by more than a couple of feet with it.

The 12* HT is languishing in my basement.

[AlohaJim]

I alternate between a Ping G-10 draw driver at 10.5 or 12 degrees depending on the course. Shaft is shortened to 45". About 190 carry and about a 3/4 swing. Draw most of the day with an occasional nasty hook. I find it works more dependably than a regular non draw face on the days that I have trouble turning around my bad back.

[I'm a lefty]

I am 62 fairly fit. Just moved from a Titleist 905R with YS6+ regular shaft to 07 Burner reg. shaft. Carry 235 yds. Went to the Burner because the 905R became to inconsistent.

[wrmiller]

Probably too young and big to be helpful (55 next month, just over 6'3" and about 270). 909D3 9.5 w/white board 73g stiff. SS ranges between 110 and 114 unless I really try to let one fly. Carry isn't going to mean much to most here, as I'm at 2000' here in Tucson.

[sharkiesj]

[quote name='AlohaJim' date='03 February 2010 - 01:53 AM' timestamp='1265180034' post='2224209']
I alternate between a Ping G-10 draw driver at 10.5 or 12 degrees depending on the course. Shaft is shortened to 45". About 190 carry and about a 3/4 swing. Draw most of the day with an occasional nasty hook. I find it works more dependably than a regular non draw face on the days that I have trouble turning around my bad back.
[/quote]

AlohaJim, I absolutely love your avatar. I would listen to that album every day after school back in the day, and my mom got us tickets to see him in concert once. Good times. I would stare at the album cover for hours just wanting to lick off all that whipped cream.

[retfr8flyr]

I am 64 with 90-95 SS just got the Ping G-15 10.5 with the Serrano R shaft and I like it but have not been able to play with it much with the weather. I hit it a little high and can't tell about the roll out with the wet conditions so will have to see how it works out when the weather clears up. I also have an Adams 1015D head that I am going to install a Harrison Mugen shaft in and try that this spring.


Earl

[ihatebogies]

I'm 60 with SS of 90-92 and have a Nakashima NP-1 11.5* driver shafted with a Fubuki stiff shaft. The course I play has a lot of elevated tees and uphill and downhill fairways but on average I'd say I'm in the 220-240 yard range. The Nakashima driver is a real sleeper.

[teespoon]

[quote name='fats' date='12 February 2010 - 12:05 AM' timestamp='1265951156' post='2245629']
I'm 74 and falling apart...but I still hit it fairly long even though my swing speed is slower. I bought a few of those discontinued Adams Insight Tech A4 Prototype 9015D heads...picked two I liked and will sell the rest cheap I like the 9.5* head...I like 3 shafts, all made by UST...I like the UST Black series in the 75 to 89 range depending on the weight of the head...that shaft is a hi launch shaft...the 9015D head low launches it...so the combo head and shaft create a very interesting and hot ball flight.

UST also makes an expensive ATTAS shaft which in a 80gram S kicks like a mule in the mid part of the shaft but the tip has very little tourque...this also zings it...I favor it quite frankly as I feel more powerful with it. If you go with a 10.5* head UST has a Green Series shaft that lowers the ball flight...no balloon shots...and this shaft gives you great feel...I use an X but the S is quite limber and would suit most people.

The whole darned thing now is matching shaft technology with head design technology...amazing extra distance is the result.

Fatso
[/quote]


Thanks Fats! Your post will help all of us who are also 'falling apart', but will never quit the game.

teespoon

[maverick]

I'm 63 and currently use a 12 degree G10, regular Ping shaft. I have tried "A" shafts and over the course of about two years I never hit one as far as a regular so I went back. I hit my drives about 200. Don't know my swing speed. =) maverick
BTW, I did have a 09 Burner but at 46.5 inches it was an D-8 swing weight.

[AlohaJim]

Past 55 and issues due to two spine surgeries. Found a good combination with a Ping G10 driver in 12 degrees with the ProLaunch Red shaft in regular flex. Shaft is at 45" and swingweighted to D-4. I also use a Ping G-10 driver in 10.5 ? degrees loft with the stock TFC Ping graphite shaft in regular flex. Depends which course I'm playing. I'll use the 10 degree on windy days when I want to keep it as low as I can. Carry is about 210 with my slow swing.

AlohaJim

[fats]

I found a great combo. A 9.5* Adams 9015D head and the UST ATTAS 86 gram "S"...Here's why...The head is very lively...people say it's a low spin low trajectory head I say medium trajectory and low spin head...big difference...next, the ATTAS shaft in 86g "S" actually feels like a soft ""S"...mid kick that kicks like a mule...the tip is fairly stiff but you only feel the middle kick...when you waggle it offers a feel of power (sorry, can't figure a better way of saying it) and it produces, with that head, a trajectory just above medium that has some fire on it after it reaches apex and starts down.

Something many of you who have tried this head should know...at address, the head design kind of leads you to the toe side of the center...you will achieve super results if you retrain your eyes and address the ball in the actual center of the sweetspot...it looks wrong at first but just check it out carefully...I get an easy extra 20 to 25 yards with that address change and get the trajectory I want...The beauty of this club is you CAN hit it on the toe side of center and get a very good drive...it's why I disagree with the general opinion it's not a forgiving head...it is THE most forgiving head I've ever used. The ATTAS shaft has a lot to do with that also as it doesn't torque like a lot of graphite shafts do that have such an impressive kick.

[Pingfitz]

I am 59, wasn't getting the distance and flight that I thought I should be getting with reg gold flex fugi. cleveland hi bore.

got a driver fitting at a local club, lauch moniter,ball speed, all the latest stuff. this is what i was fitted for

cobra S9-1 a flex 10.5* driver and 3 wood "A" flex aldila

also TWS baffler in "A" flex 20* & 23*

WOW! 20 yards on driver, get PGA fit to find what you need

[LCarrabine]

Am currently playing the Adams a4os driver 10.5 degrees and I'm well pleased. I am 75 years old and hit this driver on average 220 yards.

[falconjfs]

I'm 73 years old, and last year I also noticed some fatigue around the 12th or 13th hole. Took a page from my younger playing partners (63 years old) and started to munch on one of those energy bars. It worked!! Found myself getting thru 18, and in one instance was invited to continue playing, and finished the day with 27 holes and very little fatigue.

[Jim In SC]

67, have been gaming TM R9 460, Reax R 11.5* 220 carry. Just started playing a Cally Diablo Edge, Attas R, 11* and picked up 5 yards. have an FT-9 11* with Fuji Zcom 60 R2 on the UPS truck to try Friday.

I'm amazed at the forgiveness of all of these drivers. I tried an Ilima 60 R in my TM & that was a real solid shaft (smooth).

After I experiment with R2 flex, I may spring for an upgrade in my TM. The senior flex shafts certainly hit it further, but for me are not as forgiving if I get a little quick.

Even though I'm 30 yards shorter than I was 20 years ago, I consider myself a much stronger driver today.

Have all my drivers cut to 45".