Driver shaft, iron question, etc

Hey guys,

Im a newbie. Im 21 and have been playing for 8 years or so, competitively in HS and then fell off a bit as college started.

When i was 15, I bought some Cleveland TA3s R-flex. Ive got a wilson fairway wood in stiff flex and then last year i bought a used 983e graffaloy blue-R.

I decided after playing around that I've 'outgrown my clubs'. I hit 15+ sets of irons and decided that 695.CB's are the ones for me.

So then I was playing today with a friend who knows more of the technical stuff about clubs and he started analyzing my swing, equipment, etc. So I went to a simulator and found I was hitting the 983E 8.5* at a 17* launch angle + a cut---theres where all my distance is! My swing was 98-102 mph.

So I need a new driver + irons. A lot more money than I wanted to spend, but on the simulator it was evident that I'm handicapping myself.

1) With a 100 mph swing, would S300 shafts in the irons be right for me? (just double checking)
2) I need a mid-high kickpoint shaft for the driver. What should I get?


The main problem is that I've been out of golf equipment for ~5 years. It was just last year that I moved up from a 975D with a USP proforce 65, which is positively ancient.

I appreciate the help,
Michael K

Michael,

Low lofted low spinning driver + uber-high launch angle = big swing mechanics issues Do you know what your spin numbers were? There's no way you should be making a flat approach into the ball with that low a loft on a 983E and be hitting the ball that high without a steep descending blow. The Graffaloy Blue, even in an R flex is not at all a high launching shaft. At this point there's not much a new driver will be doing for you. My best advice to you is save the driver money for another day and get a lesson or two or three from a good reliable PGA pro. Then it will be far easier to get fit about six months down the road for the proper driver and shaft. Also, with your irons, a 100mph swing speed with the driver is usually somewhere between an R and an S flex. However, most people swing their woods differently from their irons, so I would suggest you get fit for those separately from your driver.

they were 4000-4200 rpm.

Up until now, I had just played 'adaptive' golf based on feel. But now I would like to be more technically correct.

I hit the green Aldilla shaft in S flex and picked up 20 yards instantly on the sim, with a 12.7* launch angle.

i think that is a high spin rate. i believe i was around 2000-2300 with my current driver when i was fit for it.

Michael K,

I'm almost positive you're hitting down on the ball with such a high launch angle and spin rate. You'll see much more distance improvements in the real world from a few lessons than any equipment change. Good luck.