Driver fitting with bad swing?

coolmonk · February 27, 2012

A little bit about myself:

I started playing golf not even a year ago last May 2011. Started shooting in the 120s and gradually worked my way down to 85-90 consistently as of the last 2-3 months. I'm 5'5" and have a driver SS of 100mph and my current drive distances are out of whack ranging from 200-240 yards carry. I started out being a pretty okay driver usually hitting 7-8 fairways per round when I had my TM Burner 2.0 with stock regular flex shaft trimmed 1". That club has a very closed face as I'm sure you're all aware. My SS then was closer to 85-90mph and once I started working on rotation and lag, my SS went up and missed quite a few drives way left. I worked on my irons and short game religiously and it's what has helped me shoot below 90. Problem is, I now have consistency issues with my new driver (R11S TP with RIP Phenom 65 stiff). I've tweaked the settings to no avail...only reason I bought it was because I bombed a few drives at GG's juiced up simulator and it felt good then.

So...my thing is, with my iron play pretty solid now and my driver swing very inconsistent (I hit my 3 wood further than my driver half the time), does it make sense to get a driver fitting? Or would it benefit me more to get driver swing lessons? Again, my iron ball striking is pretty solid (as well as hybrids/woods)...I can usually get on the green from 160 yards out and I almost always hit it dead center on the club face. It's just my driver that I hit it all over the club face.

myspinonit · February 27, 2012

[quote name='coolmonk' timestamp='1330352367' post='4386995']
A little bit about myself:
I started playing golf not even a year ago last May 2011. Started shooting in the 120s and gradually worked my way down to 85-90 consistently as of the last 2-3 months. I'm 5'5" and have a driver SS of 100mph and my current drive distances are out of whack ranging from 200-240 yards carry. I started out being a pretty okay driver usually hitting 7-8 fairways per round when I had my TM Burner 2.0 with stock regular flex shaft trimmed 1". That club has a very closed face as I'm sure you're all aware. My SS then was closer to 85-90mph and once I started working on rotation and lag, my SS went up and missed quite a few drives way left. I worked on my irons and short game religiously and it's what has helped me shoot below 90. Problem is, I now have consistency issues with my new driver (R11S TP with RIP Phenom 65 stiff). I've tweaked the settings to no avail...only reason I bought it was because I bombed a few drives at GG's juiced up simulator and it felt good then.

So...my thing is, with my iron play pretty solid now and my driver swing very inconsistent (I hit my 3 wood further than my driver half the time), does it make sense to get a driver fitting? Or would it benefit me more to get driver swing lessons? Again, my iron ball striking is pretty solid (as well as hybrids/woods)...I can usually get on the green from 160 yards out and I almost always hit it dead center on the club face. It's just my driver that I hit it all over the club face.
[/quote]

I suggest taking advantage of the Taylormade 30 day return policy on the R11s now while you can. A lesson/ swing analysis with a pro that is recommended in your area would perhaps be beneficial before throwing out more cash on the driver.

sdrem · February 27, 2012

Lessons. If you are all over the clubface, it's not the equipment. If you have been playing less than a year, it sounds like you are making good progress. Cutting the length down to 45" might help (most drivers these days are too long for the average golfer). Buy some impact tape and find the center of the clubface.

coolmonk · February 27, 2012

[quote name='sdrem' timestamp='1330356839' post='4387469']
Lessons. If you are all over the clubface, it's not the equipment. If you have been playing less than a year, it sounds like you are making good progress. Cutting the length down to 45" might help (most drivers these days are too long for the average golfer). Buy some impact tape and find the center of the clubface.
[/quote]

Thanks I'll definitely test it with impact tape first and see what's going on although from memory most of my drives are on the heel. Guess I'll save the fitting and do that next year or so.

rocker40 · February 28, 2012

[quote name='sdrem' timestamp='1330356839' post='4387469']
Lessons. If you are all over the clubface, it's not the equipment. If you have been playing less than a year, it sounds like you are making good progress. Cutting the length down to 45" might help (most drivers these days are too long for the average golfer). Buy some impact tape and find the center of the clubface.
[/quote]

+1 Lessons and shortening the shaft. But do you think maybe the RIP Phenom 65 TP shaft is a bit too stiff for your swing?
I have a similar ss and have problems loading shafts with 3.1 range torque. I normally stick with shafts at the 3.4 - 3.5 range in stiff. Did you try the RIP Phenom 60 Shaft in the R11S?

Also, I wouldnt shorten the R11S Shaft. I would pick up an aftermarket shaft for about 50 bucks and throw a R11 tip on it.
Then shorten it to 45 and if your still not consistent then go down to 44.5.

coolmonk · February 28, 2012

+1 Lessons and shortening the shaft. But do you think maybe the RIP Phenom 65 TP shaft is a bit too stiff for your swing?
I have a similar ss and have problems loading shafts with 3.1 range torque. I normally stick with shafts at the 3.4 - 3.5 range in stiff. Did you try the RIP Phenom 60 Shaft in the R11S?

Also, I wouldnt shorten the R11S Shaft. I would pick up an aftermarket shaft for about 50 bucks and throw a R11 tip on it.
Then shorten it to 45 and if your still not consistent then go down to 44.5.

I tried the R11S 60 stiff shaft and it just didn't feel as solid as the TP Phenom 65. It's hard to explain but when I demoed them the TP shaft just felt like it exploded balls off the face of the club (on clean hits). LM readings were a bit better too...slightly lower spin and better total yardage overall.

Anyway, being the "spur of the moment" kinda guy I couldn't wait to change things up so instead of doing the fitting like I was scheduled to, I went to the range this morning to hit some balls using impact tape. I then trimmed the shaft by 1", added some lead tape and headed over to a driving range simulator (which isn't juiced up like GG and GS btw). Results were VERY good....it's amazing what an inch does! Guess I saved $150 by not doing the driver fitting and listening to you guys. Do I still need swing lessons? Ehhh....I suppose everything helps but like I said I strike my irons pretty solid already it was just frustrating to not be able to control my driver. Hope the results are permanent lol.

The simulator was showing a consistent 98-102mph SS and 230-240 yards carry. I managed to get a good one in and registered 106mph SS and 250 yards carry. Oh yeah and ball flight was pretty straight overall too...I couldn't be happier.

First pic was taken this morning BEFORE I had the shaft trimmed:

And the results after making the shaft 44.5":

On both tests I hit about 6-7 balls each to ensure consistency.

rocker40 · February 28, 2012

What is the total length of the club now?
How much lead tape did you add? lenghts?

Whats the swingweight of the club now?

Congrats on the improvement and is that a RBZ 3 wood in the bag?

coolmonk · February 28, 2012

[quote name='rocker40' timestamp='1330483854' post='4399573']
What is the total length of the club now?
How much lead tape did you add? lenghts?

Whats the swingweight of the club now?

Congrats on the improvement and is that a RBZ 3 wood in the bag?
[/quote]

I didn't measure it personally but the shop took off 1" so I was told the club is now 44.75" to be exact. Not sure about swing weight...just that the shaft felt stiffer and seemed to launch lower after trimming but it didn't feel any lighter. While I was at the simulator I sort of just added a bit here and there until it felt right and ended up adding six 1" strips of 1/4" lead tape. Results are very acceptable so I'm gonna leave it for now.

And yes, that is an RBZ 3 wood...also trimmed down to 42.5" with five 1" strips of 1/4" lead tape. Only used off the tee for short par 4s though as my RBZ 3 hybrid carries 200 yards and has much better dispersion vs the wood off the deck (3 wood carries about 220 yds off the tee for me).

The Golfing Boy · February 29, 2012

I did not read any of the comments before mine because then i might be biased to what anyone else has said. You are just using the wrong driver you should not be using a Stiff TP at an 85-90 MPH SS.

hpw · March 5, 2012

[quote name='The Golfing Boy' timestamp='1330559347' post='4406213']
I did not read any of the comments before mine because then i might be biased to what anyone else has said. You are just using the wrong driver you should not be using a Stiff TP at an 85-90 MPH SS.
[/quote]

you misread - the OP has a SS of 100mph, currently shooting in the 85-90 range.

rockinar · March 10, 2012

[quote name='coolmonk' timestamp='1330352367' post='4386995']
l...only reason I bought it was because I bombed a few drives at GG's juiced up simulator and it felt good then.

So...my thing is, with my iron play pretty solid now and my driver swing very inconsistent (I hit my 3 wood further than my driver half the time), does it make sense to get a driver fitting? Or would it benefit me more to get driver swing lessons? Again, my iron ball striking is pretty solid (as well as hybrids/woods)...I can usually get on the green from 160 yards out and I almost always hit it dead center on the club face. It's just my driver that I hit it all over the club face.
[/quote]

#1 rule of golf. NEVER buy anything based upon what Golf Galaxy's crappy simulator told you while you "bombed" it into a net. Go to a real fitter that does fittings outdoors on a range or outdoor hitting bay using a Trackman or Flightscope. Nothing else.