Driver should be a weapon, not a liability!

**MSB256** · February 14, 2010

I understand the logic behind having YOUR putter... you use it at least twice (in most cases) on every hole. With that said, I get why some people think it's silly to ponder and ponder over a driver when you should be focused on your irons, your putters, your scoring clubs. But...

Call me aggressive if you want, but I'm tired of the logic that people are so afraid of the driver. I've finally got a nice set of clubs that I enjoy, but my goal is to find THAT driver, the one I feel confident with and have no fear of pulling it out when I'm tied with my playing partner and one in the woods could cost me the round, but one down the fairway further than his 3 wood could win it.

Now that I'm done with my rant... how many times can you reshaft a driver?

I used to like my '09 burner, but the stock shaft was too long and too light. So I used an SK Fiber shaft which some of you have probably never heard of. They have somewhat of a presence on the long drive circuits, but aren't well known other than that.

So this year, I'm looking for that one driver that I can call my own. I know the technology changes every year, or at least it seems so, but this year I'm looking at a model from last year - the FT-IQ. That or reshaft my burner again.

I have a high swing speed with my biggest problem being ballooning the ball. That's where this shaft came in - suppose to be very stiff and promote a lower trajectory. But, the brand name just doesn't give me confidence and I don't know the specs - I took a local guy's word on it.

In summary, who has experience with the FT-IQ? Should I look into that, or just reshaft my burner again? Does a high kick point = a lower trajectory? I've read that high kick point equates low trajectory and low torque is good. Has anyone ever tried the NV prototype? It seems hard to find. Without knowing my swing specs, what are your typical low trajectory, low spin shafts?

Also, is anyone else determined to find a driver that you are confident enough to use on every hole? I understand that they are harder to be accurate with, but I refuse to neglect it! Apologies for the novel and before you go there, I'm not sure of my handicap, hence the number you see there.

**Laxplayer201092** · February 14, 2010

do you mean the protopype or the vs proto? as the protopype would be a great shaft, whereas the vs proto isnt exactly a low launch shaft.

If you really wanna kill balloning, get a pm702, that is a spin killing shaft. Also try out a whiteboard, or F6M2.

Low toruqe basically means the clubface wont close as quickly through teh ball. so if you slice, a higher torque shaft will help you shut the clubface.

**MSB256** · February 14, 2010

This is the NV prototype I've heard good things about... http://www.victorycustomgolf.com/pro...prototype.aspx

So, reshafting my burner once again won't be bad for it right?

Is the whiteboard the head honcho of the low trajectory shafts? If I want low trajectory do I necessarily want low spin? I just want the ball to not go sky high and drop like a rock with no roll...

**Laxplayer201092** · February 14, 2010

This is the NV prototype I've heard good things about...

With the driver you want to hit it high with no spin. Some people just hit the ball high, others baloon the ball, because they are spinning it too much. So which are you? if you are balooning, the PM702 will absolutely kill your spin.

The whiteboard is love or hate... It has a different feel that some like, and others cant stand. I really liked it, but my buddys all hated it. another low launch shaft to look into is the new myazaki ( or however you spell that.. the one VJ uses) the black is supposed to be super tip stiff. The protopype should be a great shaft for you. Angel cabrera uses/d one. they will definetly bring your ball flight down. As for torque, i know the V2 has like 2.7 degrees of torque, and i never feel that club head exactly closing through impact. So i must respectfully disagree. Otherwise i have been giving incredibly wrong advice for a reaaallllly long time! lol

**Laxplayer201092** · February 14, 2010

and no, as long as you are re shafting properly, you should be able to reshaft a shaft and head a ton of times. I have reshafted my hybrid atleast 6 times and its just fine

**MSB256** · February 14, 2010

Thanks for you help Lacrosse man!

So I'm thinking I'll look into the Prototype and the PM702.

I'm still a little cloudy on trajectory vs spin. Is hitting it high but with no spin the ideal launch? Or low trajectory and low spin? Do I want low line drive or long and high? I know what I DON'T want is the ballooning...

The only problem is I can't even get out there and remember what my current shaft is like cuz of this weather! They're calling for snow tomorow night in North Alabama! I'm itching to play golf!

**Laxplayer201092** · February 14, 2010

Thanks for you help Lacrosse man!

Haha..the ideal thing is high launch with low spin. like sub 2600 if you can get it.. Hitting it low with no spin doesnt really do much, it seems like it will go a long way, but hitting it up in the air, and then getting it to land with no spin, means it will roll out as well. Some of the bombers on the PGA tour (Holmes, philly mick etc) hit the ball insanely high.. and still pound it out there past 300. So just because you hit the ball high, doesnt mean it cant be higher :)

For example, i dont hit the ball exactly high, nor with a ton of spin, but i create enough club head speed (114 or so) that i get away with it, plus it fits my style of play. So you have to decide what type of ball flight you are okay with seeing as well. Tell me about it! i have golfed literally once in the last three months! and i have this shiney new 7.5 975 sitting in the bag that is dying to get hit!

**jpalermo** · February 14, 2010

Proforce V2 will definately bring the ball down. I had the NV in my old driver, the ball flew like a hot air balloon, bought the 907D2 with the V2 and loved the shaft so much that put one in my old driver (the 905R) and just picked up a Cobra s9-1 Pro and will put it in that one too.

**etlreams** · February 14, 2010

I tried to give you a pretty thorough description of my opinion of the FTIQ in a different thread, but... in this one... I'll suggest that perhaps you want to look at a driver that you can interchange shafts. That way you can experiment until your hearts content and find "that" driver set up for you.

If you are thinking of the FTIQ, perhaps think about getting the I-Mix version. It allows you to interchange shafts. If you want a more "traditional" head, think about the FT9 I-Mix.

The other driver that seems to give you a lot of options is the new Nike Victory Red. I don't know if that has a quick interchange shaft system, or if it just has different face angle"settings." I just remember reading it had like 30 some "settings."

Anyways...Just a thought.

**Laxplayer201092** · February 14, 2010

I would have to disagree with the V2 as bringing the ball down, its not a huge high ball hitter, but it defenitly doesnt exactly promote a lower ball flight, atleast not for my swing. I agree however that the aldila NV (green) pretty much just sucks.

**Shanks A Million** · February 14, 2010

Aldilla has yet to make a shaft that really turns me on. I had an NV, and now I have a DVS. Both of them felt gummy. The torque was low, the flex (S) was a little too weak for me. UST and Diamana shafts to me feel much better, more boardy, not so whippy and gummy.

**MSB256** · February 14, 2010

I tried to give you a pretty thorough description of my opinion of the FTIQ in a different thread, but... in this one... I'll suggest that perhaps you want to look at a driver that you can interchange shafts. That way you can experiment until your hearts content and find "that" driver set up for you.

Yes you did and I really appreciate it. That is one thing that turns me on about the FT-IQ I have placed on hold - it is an imix. Being able to easily change shafts is a big bonus. It currently has the stock X stiff shaft in it.

I guess that's my main dilemma is replace my burner all together or just try a new shaft... it's just the shaft thing isn't easy to do when each one is roughly 100 bucks and you've gotta get someone to switch them out. I know you can get fitted, but there's nothing like seeing live and in person how a shaft will affect your ball flight with your driver. You've almost got to just learn as you go. I do like the 09 burner I have and I've heard that it's a low spin driver head which is nice... just can't figure this driver thing out ya know? Wish I had enough money to buy and try them all !

**etlreams** · February 14, 2010

I was at Golf Galaxy last night and was amazed and how many FTIQ drivers they had on the rack. My guess is they had a bunch due to the price drop. They are now $199.

Anyways....they probably had two dozen of them. And amongst that two dozen, there were atleast four different shafts (about half of them were the IMix version).

That would have been the ideal scenario for you. You could have A-B'd the different shaft's flight path affect in the simulator (though I am always suspicious of the acurracy of simulators).

Maybe you should call around the golf stores in your area and ask how many FTIQ they have on hand....or....if they have the FTIQ shafts on hand so you can interchange them.

I feel your pain about finding "the" ideal set up. I spent a month this summer researching and researching, thinking I could find the ideal set up. I guess I've come to the conclusion that there really has to be a significant trajectory difference (really hight or really low) for it to be a significant enough factor. And....I guess I've also concluded that I don't have a consistant enough swing to find a head and shaft set up that is ideal for forgiveness and trajectory. What works for me in April is probably going to be different than what work for me in August. I could go get "fitted" as every one always says is the answer. But again....it's the answer for how long?

I'm slowly accepting that new equipment is not the answer....it's trying to find the "right" swing and little quarks that that particular piece of equipment wants/needs. Personally, I'm going to try and committ myself to this driver set up, like I have with my putter, so I can know it and what works best with it.

**Dub** · February 14, 2010

Just for fun...try a demo Titleist D3 with the Voodoo shaft.

Sounds like a possible match for your swing speed and desire to keep it lower. Didn't mate up well for my slower swing but I know a couple of real players who game these really well.

Good luck.

**Titleist Man** · February 14, 2010

Try this http://www.ustmamiya.com/shaft_model...ct.aspx?id=106 . I have the blue version in my 909 d2 and it is an awesome feeling shaft..... just one you might want to try out. Also the idea of using something with an interchangable shaft thing is a VERY good idea for what you want.... IF you dont lik the ft iq/9 give the tm r9, r9 460, r9 supertri a try as they feature the same shaft change thing as callaway.

**EHSGolf1** · February 14, 2010

Is the Graphite Design Tour AD YSQst more of a modern version of the Graphite Design PM702?

**jpalermo** · February 14, 2010

I would have to disagree with the V2 as bringing the ball down, its not a huge high ball hitter, but it defenitly doesnt exactly promote a lower ball flight, atleast not for my swing. I agree however that the aldila NV (green) pretty much just sucks.

For my swing the V2 work well. I also would agree with the Avixcore lineup. Driver shafts are just as personal as putters, to each his own.

**Laxplayer201092** · February 15, 2010

For my swing the V2 work well. I also would agree with the Avixcore lineup. Driver shafts are just as personal as putters, to each his own.

haha and thats why finding a shaft over the internet is hard!

One note about the FTiQ.. its a pretty high launching head, so getting it in a lower loft couldnt hurt. The i mix deal is great, its alot easier to find i mix shafts then r9/str8fit shafts. Go check out Golfwrx.com they ahve tons of used shafts for really great deals, (whiteboards for 120 can be found! as well as imix shafts for alot cheaper than at your local golf smith. My personal advice? get an FT9 i mix.

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