580XD Tour Try-out Result

[Rafcin]

Oh well... I finally got my fingers on a "real" tour stick. Got the 580XD shafted with Aldila NVS S-75. Looks great... but I don't have the swing for it :~(
One of the characteristics of a tour club vs. retail is the fact, that the clubhead is setup square to slightly open. I found out, that if I don't jump out of my shoes to come around with it - the best ball flight I can achieve is a fade. If I only take a bit off the swing - I create a slice you won't belive... The bottom line is, that if you have the swing - it's a sweet club. Looks great at setup, weight (a bit more than retail) feel good, trajectory is very, very nice - a "slow-riser" - drilling line. Unfortunatelly it's not a straight line. It's long. Very long. But not working for me :-(
I'm back to my 510TP Retail.

[gas_can]

You have a very good driver in the 510 TP, I still haven't found anything better than that to date. I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the 580XD. The good thing is that you can always have it closed a degree or two to help achieve that straight flight you've become accustomed to.

I'd reccomend trying your 580XD at the driving range a bit more, I think that you can figure out a way to adapt your swing to it. However, if you're more than happy with your 510, then by all means stick with it.

I think you've stumbled onto one of the really great things about tour equipment. I don't know if it's becaue of manufacturing tolerances, materials used, or weighting, but tour equipment is long, very, very long. I think everyone should try it just to see what a .83 COR can really do for a golfer.

[bobkin]

I'm sorry if i didnt understand correctly. Are you saying that you have to play tour equipment to get to the .83 core limit?

[iacas]

I'm sorry if i didnt understand correctly. Are you saying that you have to play tour equipment to get to the .83 core limit?
Yeah, clarify if you would Kiran?

[gas_can]

As far as most of the Taylor Made products I've used are concerned. I really feel that tour drivers have hotter faces than retail drivers. It'd be interesting to test them to see just what the difference really is or if there even is one. I'm not saying it's a huge difference, but it's a difference none the less. Same thing with lofts on retail drivers, often times they're off by .5deg or so.

[bobkin]

Thanks for clearing that up. I think maybe the tour equip. might meet specs on a more consistant basis, however i dont think core is one of them. All companies, taylor made included, want to put out to the public the hottest face that they can. Most manufacturors have a plus or minus of 1* tolerance on loft, though i have found as much as 2* on some. I think that they might be tighter on this and as to wether the face angle is as advertized etc. ie if they say its square it very well maybe. In other words, i always check specs on clubs no matter what the manufacturers say it is. I think maybe tour equip. might hold specs a bit better, but would be very surprised if core is one of them. You might be getting better feel and distance just because of the face design matching up with your prime ball spin charachteristics and giving you prime trajectory and feel. For what its worth.....I love the 580XD ;-)