J33R 460 Driver with PM702 Shaft

[Shibumi]

Question on tipping?

Recently reshafted a new J33R 460 8.5 degree driver with a Graphite Design PM702 shaft (~70grams). Normally play a heavier Fuji 757 shaft (stiff, tipped 1/2"). Bought the PM702 because I wanted to keep my ball flight down, and several had recommended this as low-launch shaft.

Wasn't sure whether to go Stiff or X-Stiff (SS currently ~115). Ended up going with a Stiff, tipped 1/2", but left the shaft at 45 3/4", in case I wanted to tip it more.

This is an incredible combination. I've been hitting some of my best drives ever. But still launching very high, though it's really cut down on my spin. I'm carrying my better drives ~275-280, which is for me. Gettting a nice, consistent high draw. Still adjusting to the lower shaft weight (although swingweight is D6). But find that I can get the same distance with much less effort than before.

In retrospect, wish that I had gone with X-Stiff, cause I think it would have given be better launch angle and lower dispersion. Also, want to get driver length back down to ~45". Thinking about pulling shaft and tipping another 1/2" (1" total). Question is this, would this lower my ballflight another degree or so, and will this end up playing about the same as an X-Stiff?

Appeciate any help.

Thanks, Rob

[Shibumi]

Any thoughts on this?

[Shibumi]

Anybody?

[Dyno]

Tipping a Stiff a full flex tends to kill any feel in the shaft. Another 1/2" might be ok but if you are borderline may be a little too much....one of those things best tried in moderation.

 

BBGM on the J33R is 2" so you needed that first 1/2" to get the shaft to play to flex anyways. Another 1/2"....should be ok. You can pull it back out alittle if it ends up too stiff.

[Shibumi]

Thanks Dyno.

 

It's not a flimsy shaft, but do find it very easy to load and to turn over. When I step on it, a slight draw sometimes turns into a 15-20 yard draw (ver few fades). Plus still launching slightly higher than I want.

 

Do you think another 1/2" might help both issues? Or do I really need a heavier shaft with lower torque?

 

BTW, what is BBGM?

[Dyno]

BBGM is the relation of shaft tip to the groundline. If you stuck the shaft in 1" and the insertion depth was 1.5"....you'd be an additional 0.5" from the groundline. Which makes it theoretically play about 1/2 flex softer. Standard BBGM is around 1.25" to 1.5"....J33R is longer and thus softens shafts. Your S is basically playing like S or alittle stiffer due to lopping off the tip.

 

You can never change a S to X by tipping and expect the same feel...the character of the shaft changes. That being said, you might like the result regardless. 1/2" more should be ok but might overcook by a smidge. However you can simply pull the shaft and reinsert a bit shallower.

 

I have the same issue with 757.....big draw comes out of nowhere.

[Shibumi]

Thanks again, Dyno, for the great explanation. Hard to believe just another 1/2" could potentially have that much impact? You seem to be very knowledgeable, so I'll ask some more questions, if you don't mind.

 

Just wondering how/why a Stiff tipped 1" differs from an X-Stiff untipped? Does the feel change because it is relatively more tip stiff, but less butt stiff than the X-Stiff shaft. And if I were to move to an X-Stiff shaft untipped, might it be that it would not lower the launch angle for that reason?

 

Also, my biggest question is regarding launch. My launch angle is just slightly higher than I want with the 1/2" tip. Do you think that another 1/2" might lower the launch angle a little more? Or would I be better off going to another shaft, perhaps heavier (e.g., the 902 Proto, which is their 90g version)?

 

Finally, you may not have the same isue with launch. But just wondering how you like the Accra and if you have tried any other shafts in the J33R?

[Dyno]

Your welcome. It's kind of my business to know :golfer: Not off the internet though....I only serve locals and even then have to refuse and refer jobs elsewhere.

 

Whether 1/2" makes a large difference depends on the shaft's sensitivity to tipping and your own sense of feel along with your swing style. Some people just don't feel flex changes like others. As I mentioned, 1/2" should be ok.

 

It's not exact....1/2" is a ballpark generalization for 1/2 a flex. You can measure the butt freq with a meter and it usually will read a 2-4cpm change with that much trim but it doesn't necessarily translate into flex feel.

 

You've basically figured it out. As you tip a shaft, you lose parallel tip section and the shaft becomes more and more boardy feeling as a relatively higher percentage of the stiffest parts of the shaft dominate the shaft makeup. If X flex was simply a S flex with less tip section, then you'd be home free. But it's not. Higher flexes are usually heavier due to more fiber layup on all portions of the shaft from butt to tip. Even if you hit the X flex frequency with S flex, it won't be nearly the same. Essentially that is how Flighted Rifles are made. TFR 5.5's are simply normal 5.5's for the middle irons, undertipped 6.0's for long irons and overtipped 5.0's for short irons.....I think. I ain't taken the Certified Rifle Course (cool) but essentially that's how it works to make low flexpoint long irons and high flexpoint short irons.

 

Just try it tipped 1/2" more....should be fine. If you overcook it, you can pull it out alittle. If it's not enough, tip it a bit more.

 

I've used primarily Accra in the J33 and it's a great match. It's a softer tip shaft so I wouldn't recommend it for you.

[2over]

Rob:

 

I played the proto PM702x a couple years ago in a Cally BB II tour head (x-flex was all the protos came in). Contrary to the buzz on this shaft, I found it to be a very high launching shaft. It is very, very stiff tip and butt sections, but still launched it a mile high for me. Low spin, but high. I put a ProLite 35-x in the head and low bullets... Just my $.02. I'd get a different shaft, like ProLite 35-x, if you want lower launch

[Shibumi]

Thanks 2over.

 

I have to agree that the launch angle is higher than I had expected, after reading a number of posts. I replaced a NV75 stiff shaft that came standard. I like the feel of the PM702 better but have to say I don't see any lower ballflight than I did with the NV75.

 

Normally prefer a slightly heavier shaft. Only reason I went with a 70g shaft was because of the supposed low-launch of the PM702. Appreciate your suggestion on the Prolite, but think my next stop might be to look at something around 80 grams or higher. That might also help lower ballflight with the right shaft.

 

Any other suggestions in that weight range?