Comments on: Callaway FT-i/FT-5 Driver Review

By: Ken Ika

Ken Ika — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:25:42 +0000

Just purchased the FT-i today for $150 and have only hit it at the range this afternoon. All I can say is WOW! If my game is even close to how I was hitting it at the range then my friends are going to hate me. I'm not so concerned with the distance as I'm not that good of a golfer and am only really concerned about loosing less balls with my wicked slice.

I hope that it plays like most of the reviews say. Most of my strokes come frm penalties by loosing balls due to my slice. My issue has always been slicing to the right...I really hope the DRAW series will help.

If you have suggestions or more to say about the FT-i...let me know.

PS. I'll keep you all posted.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:23:17 +0000

I bought the callaway Ft-i new for $140. I purchased the draw version because i slice my drives sometimes. Heres my review of the club. You can pull this driver back like a putter and blast it STRAIGHT down the middle like 210yrds. With a full swing i average about 250. If you are not careful you will still slice. However with square clubhead it's easier to feel when head is square, open, or close. I agree with alot of the other reviews about this ft-i ballooning the ball in the air. So I tee it a little lower and back a little in my stace and problem fixed. If you dont struggle with hitting fairways I would go with something else, because i know their are drivers that hit the ball further than the ft-i. However if cant fix your slice try the ft-i.

By: Kdig

Kdig — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:43:00 +0000

I bought the FT-i 9.5 - neutral - with the Graphite Design YSQ stiff shaft and I love this thing. I was playing an older 10.5 degree reg flex and I am now blowing drives 25-35 yards longer. The Ft-i is straight and long. I usually hit a small fade which was pulling 15 yards off my drive. I love the 9.5 degree. The guy I play with looked at it and laughed. The guys behind us on the tee pretty much dropped jaw when I hit it. I usually hit 250-260 along the right side of the rough. Try 305 up the middle. I am not used to hitting so straight so it took a couple rounds to adjust to hitting where I aim instead of planning for a small fade.

It is harder to work a draw with the FT-i and that was Phil's only complaint. Too straight. I'm not complaining.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:49:59 +0000

This club is amazing. The best driver you can buy, period. The ball is so hot of the face it is unreal. I just picked one up and I gained 25 yards carry. The sound isn't nearly as bad as bad as some say, and now with it on sale, it is probably the best thing for your game. It forgiving as well but you can tell when you miss. Great club, worth the money.

By: odysseyesm

odysseyesm — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:15:16 +0000

I'm a low handicap player (5 in Australia) and just got myself an iMix FTi Tour 9.5* with an iMix Prolaunch Platinum stiff. It's the same head that Ernie Els plays but I dunno bout the shaft? I'm extremely happy with the set-up, it has knocked my Hi-Bore XLS 9.5* (VS Proto) out of the bag. I can just rip it and as long I maintain a reasonable swing it's just down the middle. I can also fade and draw quite easily if needed although it does a bit more english if you want to shape it than most other clubs. It's longer than my Hi-Bore and doesn't sound anywhere near as loud. In fact it has a really meaty, solid sound at impact, I love it. As a 40 yr old golfer I get ribbed by the young guys I play with (half my age...) for using an "Old Mans" club, but that stops when they see the ballflight and distance. Most end wanting to hit it to see for themselves, they won't buy one though because they can't handle the ribbing.....Their Loss. I would reccomend trying out a Tour version if your in the market for a new driver - This thing is the bomb!

By: Frank Orbin

Frank Orbin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:26:42 +0000

i have an ft 1 and it is great and i changed shafts for a stiff tip, reg. shaft and i got better control . this club is the tour model draw and if you are not careful you will get a full blown hook. i am going to a ft 5 this week neutral and keep my same swing plane. hopefully without changing the shaft i'll hit the ball longer [as promised] and straiter. if you don't swing out of your socks the ft series is a great club. 10 to 12 handicap. Franko

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:33:02 +0000

As a better than average golger I gave the new Callaway a tryout. I wuld rate the driver as average at best. There was no significalnt increase in distance, and I quickly had buyers remorse for spending that much money on a driver that will do little to improve my game. I will trade this driver in for a loss I am afraid for something else. For a slicer or a golfer who has a probloem swing this may indeed help, but this driver is not for the better players.

By: Brent

Brent — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:13:05 +0000

I played a GBB 7.5 with a UST 65 Stiff before. I ordered an FT-3 with a UST 65v2 and I liked it but the look at address bothered me a bit and the sound wasn't pleasing to me, too much of a thud. I've always liked the more metallic ping sound of the callaway big bertha line compared to the thud's of other brands. Long story short I sent the FT-3 back and got an FT-5 Tour 8.5 with the E360 Stiff shaft. I'm seriously in love with it and their might be a marriage soon. You think it will say yes ? Its effortless I swing about 105mph (85% effort) and i'm hitting it 300+ average. I think that is a great shaft so you might want to consider it before trying any of the other more expensive shafts. It has a bit more kick to it but it is very easy to control and doesn't turn over too easy. I haven't hit any out of control hooks with it and its easy to hit little draws or little cuts with. I highly recommend that shaft if your in that speed range. Once i get a bit more use to it i'll have to see how it does when i try and step on a few going to 110-115mph. I have a strong feeling i'll like what i find. One other thing due to the wider shallower face you can tee it a bit lower and still hit it solid unlike some of the other big heads out there which I like alot.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:03:28 +0000

I just got my callaway ft-5 driver today and i went out golfing. This driver wants to hit the ball straight but if you dont put a good swing on it it will still slice or hook. My drives were at least 20 yards farther than with my old driver. But my old driver was also a regular flex srixon so... I would recomend this driver to anyone even a 20 handicapper. By the way i got my driver off of ebay for only 220 canadian! Make sure you try it before you buy it though.

By: AvidGolfer

AvidGolfer — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:27:02 +0000

I picked up the FTI today since golf galaxy has them at a whopping 168 dollars. My clubhead speed is about 108 so I bought the neutral stock stiff shafted club with matrix ozik xcon 6 shaft.

Once I got to the range I warmed up and then hit probably 20 balls all dead straight right to my target... BUT my ball flight was lower than I would of liked. If I wanted to get the ball up in the air I had to "force" a faster swing than I wanted. I did also notice that on mishits the ball was no where near as long a regular drives. I wasn't able to measure with a pinseeker or anything but it looked like mishits were at least 20 to 30 yards shorter.

So in the end I would recommend the FT-I to golfers looking for a straighter ball flight. But would suggest getting fit for the right shaft. I love the clubhead but hate the stock shaft.