NEED HELP! Leaking driver distance and need help finding new shaft

Ok, so I have been probably a 112-114 swing speed guy for about 2-3 years, being a teenager, but I bought a Rapture driver looking for a nice, cheap upgrade, knowing that I would eventually put a nicer shaft in. I have looked around, but finding the right fit for my needs within a budget (at my age) is tough, and the distance that I have lost from this switch is demoralizing. The shaft is the stock TFC stiff that came with the driver. Here are my issues, I hope that someone can help!

Problems:

Last year i averaged about 280-285 with my driver, a Callaway X. Now, I am averaging about 245-255.

Currently, my ballflight is high to skyhigh at times, even when I pure the ball trying to hit it low.

I am obviously putting a ton of spin on the ball because the ball either rolls 4 feet or spins backwards (*sigh* it's a driver).

My budget is most likely $150.

What I have done:

I have researched the TFC to see if it launches high, and the use of such words as "optimal launch conditions" by PING leads me to believe it does.

Looked for lower launching shafts such as Aldila VS Proto and NV as well as the Diamana Whiteboard.



Does anyone have experience with any of these problems with the TFC? And if you have hit the Whiteboard or Aldila shafts in a driver and could make a recommendation, your help would be appreciated. If any more information is needed, I can happily cooperate.

I have the TFC regular flex in my Ping G10. I was told when I bought it that it is a high launch shaft, but at the time I hit everything pretty low - now that my swing has improved from taking lessons I hit the ball pretty high as well, but not as high as you.

I heard the Graffaloy ProLaunch Red is a low-mid launch shaft, I would suggest getting that - it could help you out a lot.

I feel you on the budget thing man, I have great clubs because my Dad knew I took the game serious enough worthy of getting a good set, but any modifications/new equipment I want to get I have to pay for on my own, or wait for a special occassion (b-day, x-mas, etc.)

Here is more info. on the shaft.....hope this helps.

http://www.grafalloy.com/grafalloy/prolaunchred.asp

Yea, I saw that you had high school golf as an occupation, looks like we're the young guns on the website. I'm 17 and I pay for about 20% of the equipment, usually replacement wedges and balls. I got the new irons for a Christmas present, the woods for my birthday, and bought the wedge and putter myself. Can't complain with anything except the driver shaft though. Bag's looking awfully PING-ish. If I try a PING wedge better than a Vokey Spin-milled, I might have to get sponsored!

As far as the shaft goes that looks like a great budget shaft and I have heard great things about it. I'll probably demo that and the whiteboard if I feel like going crazy with the money. Thanks for the help!

The shaft looks like it would really fit you well...there were times this year I was hitting my driver so high that I considered taht shaft as well...but then I realized i was hitting everything too high on the face just because I was tee'ing it too high, and my ball flight has come down a bit. still much higher than almost anyone else i play with, but not crazy high.

And, Yeah, PING makes some great products. My drivers the past 2 1/2 years have been a Ping G5 and Ping G10...I'll certainly consider the g15 and i15 when the come out soon for my next driver. Their wedges are alright. I played with a Ping Tour 56 degree and Ping Tour 60 for a while, they were just average though...I liked the feel of the Nike SV Tour and the Titleist, Callaway's, and almost any top brand other wedge though. I see your a 1.8 handicap, that's sick dude...are you playin somewhere in college or do you know yet

This may be irrelevant as you are a 1.8 handicap and likely would have already solved the problem if this indeed was your problem but here goes.

I was having an issue with loss of distance as well and I just figured out a couple of days ago that my hands/club werent flat enough at the top of my backswing. worked on it and got all my distance back (and then some)