Desired ball flight w/ Driver?

jportz · April 2, 2006

I have always played a lower lofted driver. My current setup is an R7 Quad, 8.5 degree with X-stiff Adila NV shaft. My launch angle is around 10-12 degrees...I carry it around 245 but get a lot of roll with it, usually 25-30 yards or so. My drives average around 270 with this driver.

Yesterday I was hitting the new R7 460, 9.5 degree, with S REAX shaft. First of all, a much more forgiving club...mishits still went pretty straight but my ball flight was much higher. Didn't have a launch monitor but I'd guess it would be more like 15 degree launch angle....and it would carry around 260ish and maybe roll another 10 to 15 yards.

So basically the end result was the same with each club, about 270-280 distance but which is better? The new 460 seemed very fogiving which was nice but I'm concerned about the higher ball flight, I'm not used to it so it makes me worry about playing it in windy conditions.

Advice?

pnomm · April 2, 2006

I would suggest this largely depends upon your preferences and the type of golf you play. What I mean by your preference is on a windy day, are you more comfortable keeping the ball down with your old driver, or, if you had a higher launch, would you then feel the need to force it lower? The second part deals with courses you play. For example, if you live in Arizona and play a lot of forced carry shots with little wind on average, go with the higher launch to carry bunkers and hazards and not worry about the wind. However, if you regularly play out in Texas or the plains, keep the lower launch in the bag because the low ball will be your friend. Personally, I try everything I can to get a driver to keep the ball low. I find it easier to tee it high and try to "force" a high-ball instead of taking a high driver and try to force a low-flight.

Your call coach!

Triple-Double · April 2, 2006

This is a great question. I typically hit a mid-high flat trajectory with my driver. I can pretty much hit any trajectory I feel, but if I really tag one hard it will go pretty high and flat. I would suggest that your consider the r7 460 after hearing the yardage increase, but check your spin rates and see if they are desireable. The ultimate trajectory would be fairly high with pretty low spin.

jportz · April 2, 2006

They're having a demo day next weekend so I can check out all of the different loft / shaft combinations but they won't have a launch monitor there to check spin rates or anything. It'll all be based off of how I hit them at the range that day.

I guess I'm leaning toward the higher ball flight because I don't like trying to force it high....I probably need the higher ball flight more than I need the lower flight but I thought I'd see what some of the better players and pro's say.

Anybody else hit the new R7 460, what do you think?

Texsport · April 2, 2006

Another thing to consider is the ball you're playing.

When I switched from a high launch/high spin driver to a low spin driver and shaft, I changed from the low spin PRO V1X back to the PRO V1.

Texsport

peteman29 · April 3, 2006

You should definately go for the higher shot.

When the ball is in the air you know where it's going. When the ball is rolling your are at risk of a perfectly good shot rolling anywhere the ground takes it.

Basically the higher shot should give you more accuracy than the rolling shot. Plus you will have the added bonus of being able to carry obstacles that are 260 away that you wouldn't have been able to carry before.

jportz · April 3, 2006

Yeah, being able to carry farther will be nice on a few holes at my home course. There's a dogleg par 4 that is about 240 to cut off some of the dogleg and I have to hit a low draw around the corner but others can go right over it. With the higher lofted club I would be able to go over it....probably a much easier shot to pull off.

I guess I'm leaning towards a new driver with more loft, thanks. Now I need to talk my wife into giving me $400.

peteman29 · April 3, 2006

Yeah, being able to carry farther will be nice on a few holes at my home course. There's a dogleg par 4 that is about 240 to cut off some of the dogleg and I have to hit a low draw around the corner but others can go right over it. With the higher lofted club I would be able to go over it....probably a much easier shot to pull off.

I guess I'm leaning towards a new driver with more loft, thanks. Now I need to talk my wife into giving me $400.

Ouch! I'd rather go to the bank manager, it would be easier to get money from the bank than the wife! lol

Your next post: "How can I get my wife to give me $400?"

jportz · April 3, 2006

Yeah...anyone know any tips for that? Luckily I've got a few dollars on the books from some tournaments this year....now I only need $300. Oh wait...that's not really any better.