New Driver? No

alexthegrrr8 · April 5, 2006

Opted to re-shaft with new engine

Well I was out here a while ago stating that I was more than likely going to be yanking my Cobra 460SZ out of my bag to replace it with a Nike SQ or a Wilson Staff Pd6. From the beginning I had a hard time thinking about taking out the Cobra in the first place just beacuse I liked the feel and sound of the head. So I played my first official round of the year last week. I only played nine holes and was 5 of 6 fairways hit. That was the good news, the bad was it was ballooning like you wouldn't believe. This was a problem when I first got my driver back in November. When I hit it well it was a cannon, however it would balloon or go left as a snap hook or a little right. Really it was like a SCUD missile...unpredictable. But the ballooning the other day was the last straw. So I went right to a clubfitter. He told me what I was going to tell him after one sentence. He did say that the Cobra head is a great head. Of course I'm inclined to agree. He throws it on the frequency tester and at 45" it was an A-flex. I booked a fitting for this past Monday.

I went in and I have never seen so much technology in one place. I took a few swings with mine, then a couple with a sensored driver. It measured swing plane and all that. So we sat down and from a selection of 30 shafts we narrowed it down to 5 including two Accra shafts and a couple of Accuflex. My sidespin and backspin was best with the Accuflex shafts and in particular the AccuLAUNCH 80. My swing speed at impact was only 105 mph that day but I was releasing too early. I reached a max of 117 mph just prior to impact. My wrist set wasn't quite right which caused my early release and my clubhead speed to bleed a tad. The AccuLAUNCH 80 WILL make my Cobra a beast. I find no reason to shelve it. It's going to be 44.75" long in an S-flex. I did learn that my spine angles/posture are very much like Grant Waite(yeah I know he's not Tiger et al). I should be picking it up any time now...can't wait.

Hit'em Pure,

Alex

littlepoison · April 6, 2006

Very informative! And it gives me hope that proper fitting of my equipment will allow me to play my best, as well :stop:

mr_divots · April 6, 2006

Alx,

The more clubs I test, the more I find the manufacturer specs to be nowhere near the stated flex. Pretty much every club I've hit of late has played WAY softer than the stated flex. Even the "upgraded" shafts. It's a good idea to at least get a club checked if it doesn't feel right. I pretty much plan on reshafting most of the time. I only require about an S100 flex for my 108 mPH swing, but it's shocking how much stiffer an actual S100 is comapred to what manufacturers are calling a "stiff" flex these days.

Post back when you're hit it!! :stop:

alexthegrrr8 · April 6, 2006

Hey There Divots:

Well, I called the fitter where my new shaft was installed. When asked if it was ready he said it was, so I went and picked it up. I swiftly got to the driving range and hit it. My King Cobra 460SZ is exactly that. The thing is a king. The shaft that I had installed (the AccuLAUNCH 80 S) is a great shaft and partnered with the 460SZ head it is a real winning combination. The shaft is mostly silver with black and the lettering is in green. So with the black head it looks like a real classy driver. Maybe it was the fitting (44.75") but the thing is deadly accurate. Toatally straight unless I was playing a draw or fade. As far as launch goes it has a great launch angle with a moderate/high ball flight. This type of flight is something that I prefer. The ball carries with good hangtime and of course there is no ballooning. If I were asked if I was happy with the decision I made, it would be a definite yes. I already can safely say that when I hold it and look down at address the confidence is there and then some. I'm glad that spending $180 CDN was a better choice than $600 CDN (new SQ).

Hit'em Pure,

Alex

Eesh · April 6, 2006

I've always been pretty curious about cutting the length of a shaft down. Just Curious as to how tall you are?

alexthegrrr8 · April 7, 2006

Hey There Eesh:

Well I'm just a touch over 6'..we'll say 6'1/2". Let me just say that I think the length of driver really depends on how tall your posture is at address. For me it looks like that this shaft length has really paid off. Not only in accuracy, but perhaps it's playing a tad stiffer than listed on the shaft. I believe it's labeled as stiff at 46" (it's at 44.75"). I'm going to be out for a while starting the 13th, I'm going in for a hernia surgery so I'm likely going to get a re-grip and get my irons adjusted...maybe. I'm just hitting them so well I don't really know if I want to tweak them. After this I highly recommend going to a clubfitter to help you out. I'll never go without again. I may get my Wilson Staff FwC 15*re-shafted with the same shaft. Take care.

Hit'em Pure,

Alex