What should I do?

[SimpleSimon]

Just left my local golf shop, and had my irons adjusted to 2* flat. Not sure what this tells me about my golf swing. But while I was getting my irons adjusted, I wanted to know if I was using the right shafts. My swing speed was 94 mph on the head, 3 times in a row. The machine I was on compared my swing speed to Johnathon Byrd (Wish I could aim like him). It suggested a stiffer shaft than the ones I have.

Little bit of back story and my ball flight. 6 years ago I had enough with golf, I was tired of not improving and spending money on the game. After taking a year off and selling my bag, I decided to go to the driving range with my golfing buddies just to hang out and check out my friends new Victory Red blades. I hit them cleaner than anything I have ever hit in my life, so I rushed out and bought a set. At the time (2008) I was in the shooting high 90's on average. Since then I have put more practice into the hitting my clubs and really started paying attention to ball flight, and learning the golf swing, I got my game into the 80's.

The one thing that has always stood out to me is how how I would hit the ball. Even my group says I hit the ball higher than anybody they have ever seen. I really enjoy being able to have the ball come down and stop off of a 5 iron, But I am losing a ton of distance off the tee. My driver is 9.5*, and I would say I am losing 15-20 yards because the ball goes so high.

Now my questions are would I be better off selling my Nike VR's, and getting a new set of irons with the shafts I need? Should I just replace the shafts @ something like $34/club? Or am i over thinking this and its not that big of a deal? I like the Victory Red's but I have lost distance with them. I used to be the longest hitter out of my group, now I'm one of the shortest, (but shooting in 80's consistently when their in the 90's). But I am not sure if it is the combination of hitting blades with the wrong shafts, or just the blades. Like I said my buddy has the same exact irons, and him and I were very similar distance wise, now hes way ahead of me.

I am so confused on how to start to tackle this. Is it that big of a deal for me to have the correct shafts? Should I get all new irons? Just replace the shafts? I have posted a video under Member Swings, in the slow-mo you can see how whippy the club is. Anybody have any suggestions as the best way to approach this? I don;t want to go into the golf year not confident with whats in my bag. I was ready and craving the start of the year and feeling confident with everything in my bag, but since I left my golf shop I have been restless about this.

[WUTiger]

Get fit for your driver on a launch monitor. Shaft + head/loft are both critical.  You need to get the ball up to maximize carry, but too high will cost you distance. A launch monitor can tell you what {shaft + head} combo works best for your driver.

(Also can tell you about your irons.)

You never said what kind of shafts you have on the Victory Reds, and how far you hit the 7i and 5i. Also, you said you like being able to stop a high 5i (all of us want that!)  You don't want to hit the 7i 180 yds. if you can't spin it to a stop

[SimpleSimon]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

You never said what kind of shafts you have on the Victory Reds, and how far you hit the 7i and 5i. Also, you said you like being able to stop a high 5i (all of us want that!)  You don't want to hit the 7i 180 yds. if you can't spin it to a stop

The shafts on my Irons are Dynamic Gold S300. I am hitting my 7i 150-160, my 5i 170-185. I really enjoy being able to have my mid irons stop but its not the penetrating ball flight I seek. I can continue to play like this and be successful, but I look at it just like playing cavity back irons, not that there is anything wrong with that, but they mask some of your flaws. I want to fix my issues and not just put a band aid on them.

All of my clubs make the ball stop and spin back, besides my 3i, 4i, and 19*. Even the driver, I would say about half of the time there is a divot in the fairway and the ball is behind the mark, other half it lands bounces once and stops.

[thefootwedge]

Go to your local fitting store and try try try. There are many clubs out there but there are also a lot of shaft choices. Do some research into shafts and try figuring out what would best suit your swing. take a look at  golfclubshaftreview.com  this site will help point out shafts characteristics and playability.

good luck

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by SimpleSimon

... The one thing that has always stood out to me is how how I would hit the ball. Even my group says I hit the ball higher than anybody they have ever seen. I really enjoy being able to have the ball come down and stop off of a 5 iron, But I am losing a ton of distance off the tee. My driver is 9.5*, and I would say I am losing 15-20 yards because the ball goes so high. ...

From your earlier posts, I can tell that you're studying the game and equipment, and trying to make a "scientific" decision. So, why not go for a full fitting?

You are generating excellent clubhead speed, hitting high shots with those heavy, 130 gr. S300 shafts, especially if you can back up the long irons. Again, most of us wish we could do that. Now, what would penetrating ball flight do for your game? (I'm just asking to better  understand your objectives).

Not sure if you need stiffer shafts, or if a set-up adjustment could help bring down the ball a little. And, if you're on the line for stiffer shafts or not, talk to the fitter about hardstepping your current 6i - PW shafts. (It's tweak to stiffen the shafts about about a third of a flex - the fitter can explain the details).

As for your driver, it appears you want to find a shaft and loft combo which will lessen spin, and give  you the best balance between carry distance and run once the ball hits. (If the ball height on your drives gets too low, you start losing distance.)

(If you get a driver with better run-out, you may want to keep a spinny 19* in case you need to tuck a tee shot into a tight fairway.)

Let us know how things turn out.

[Pblock45]

I personally prefer A higher ball flight and i went from your shafts to a softer one so i could hit the ball higher. I think you should just change out your shafts sense you already have the feel down with your irons now. Beleive me it is such a pain to switch equipment i did it all last year and my game really suffered. I quikly learned that the shaft is more important than i thought. My  Advise go get fit for new shafts. A lower launching shaft in your driver and irons maybe  some lower launching project x steel shafts. Project x 5.5 is a lower launching steel shaft.Px black in your driver.  Below might help your out. Let me know what you think

www.shaftfit.com

[SimpleSimon]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

Now, what would penetrating ball flight do for your game?

To be honest, I am not sure. But I play in Chicago and the wind is constantly a factor. When I was playing my Callaway X20's, the ball would start off on a low penetrating flight, than climb at the end and drop. It was fun to watch. I just can't seem to get that flight out of my VR's.

It doesn't help that most of the year I had issues with flipping my hands way before contact. I thought that was why my balls were hit so high in the air, but after recording my swing I made a few drastic changes to keep my hands ahead of the club and I am still hitting the ball sky high. I am not sure if my swing changes have made a difference. I haven't been able to record my swing since June 2012. I will get a recording up asap.

I appreciate the input, I don't have too much income right now, I have been laid off since 2/10 (no help from the govt). Which has allowed me to get serious about my golf game :) being single with no kids helps too.

I have a question about my shafts though, would you call them standard as far as weight and flex?

[WUTiger]

From what you've said, it sounds like your swing has improved since the X20 days. The stock Callaway X20 had a 110-gram Uniflex shaft (between regular and stiff flex) and had a middle flex point = medium launch. (* I played X20s for two years. *)  So, if you're getting the ball higher with a 20-gram heavier, low-launch S300 shaft, sounds like your clubhead speed - and possibly ball-striking - have really improved.

I would say focus on the driver, maybe reshaft or replace if money is tight.

Also, what ball do you use? Here are three balls that promise lower ball flight and more roll on drives:

• Titleist NXT Tour S
• Titleist DT Solo (old standard)
• Nike Power Distance

And the super ball: Nike 20Xi-X .... "Steeper spin slope for lower driver spin and higher wedge spin..." (from Nike web site)

Of course, you want a ball that flies lower on drives (new shaft could help), but will still gets bite. You don't want to hit a ball into the green with a 7 iron and watch it roll off the back.

[SimpleSimon]

Summer of 2011 I tried a ton of balls. Everything you can name. When my dad and I walk 9 holes throughout the work week, if the course is empty he takes the right, I'll take the left and we scavenge balls out of bushes on every hole so we have a TON of different balls. I really enjoyed hitting the new Staffs. I grew up playing Pro Staffs as a kid and it was the only ball I would play. So naturally I like the Wilson. I am currently playing the 50 Elite ball. Their $26 for 24 balls. Since they are newer were not finding a ton of them in the bushes. But I shot my 2 lowest scores of my life hitting the Elite (83-84).

[SimpleSimon]

My swing has improved dramatically from the X20 days. I wasn't trying to improve, I wasn't practicing, I really was just happy to get out there and just have fun with my friends. But since this game has pretty much taken over my life. I am constantly doing half swings at home in the mirror, impact bag at home, chipping my wiffles into my chipping net. This is me 100% in the video.

[SimpleSimon]

So I just got back from a golf expo. It was ok. They had a ton of stuff and it wasn't as crowded as I thought. I got to meet the world's long drive champion, first name was Joe, can't remember his last name. He is a GIANT! Anyway, I went on their machines just for fun and my avg SS for my driver was 112. I was swinging the new Taylormade R1. It is a thing of beauty. I was never a huge fan of Taylormade, but this stick is nice!

I also wanted to take a look at the Wilson Staff FG62's. I was able to hit the 5i & 7i and they felt great. I have always been a big fan of Wilson golf, they have really stepped their game up in the last 7-8 years IMO.

Let me get to my point. I went to the Aldila shaft tent and was discussing shafts, ball flight, and SS. He put me on a machine to see what would be good for me. Now I know its like asking a shoe salesmen if he thinks I need new shoes, but he suggested I look into X stiff shafts. My iron club head speed is 94, driver is 112. What do you think an average player with a SS of 112 with the driver should average off of the tee?