A pair of new drivers from Callaway Golf hit golf shops earlier this spring. Though they share the company’s Fusion multimaterial technology, the two 460cc big sticks couldn’t be much more different.
The FT-5 is a refined, evolutionary update to the FT-3 driver from mid-2005. Meanwhile, the FT-i (the i is for inertia) is something completely different, sporting the aggressively odd square shape that has, along with the Nike Sumo2 and Nickent’s 3DX Square, drawn so much attention to square-shaped drivers this year. The differences are more than cosmetic, as each driver will appeal to a certain type of player.
Read on to see which one might be best for you.
Construction
Let’s start with the similarities between these two drivers. Both are built on the Fusion Technology platform that begat the Fusion driver in 2003 and the Big Bertha Fusion FT-3 driver two years later. The Big Bertha name is gone from the FT-5 and FT-i (more on that bit of identity crisis later), but the design basics remain. A titanium cup-face area with VFT (Variable Face Thickness) technology is married to a lightweight composite body with epoxy, and a series of internal weights distribute mass to specific areas of the perimeter to increase the Moment of Inertia (MOI) to increase forgiveness, and also to create different types of ball flight. None of the past or current Fusion-based drivers use Callaway’s longstanding Bore-Thru technology. The design idea is to use lightweight materials in the face and body to allow for 50-plus grams of weight to be positioned around the perimeter for a more stable clubhead at impact.
What’s new? For the FT-5, there are some relatively minor tweaks. The amount of material used in the titanium cup-face area appears to have been reduced, as the cup area extends less into the sole and crown areas than it does on the FT-3. A small bit of aluminum is incorporated into the rear of the sole, probably to allow access to the inside of the clubhead during the production process – there’s also a small “mouse glue” hole in the heel area of the sole that wasn’t present on the FT-3. The FT-5 also has a wider, more symmetric face area and a sleeker profile. Though it is the same size (460cc) as the FT-3, the FT-5 looks bigger at address but less bulbous from the front and back.
The FT-i (left) has a slightly deeper and more narrow hitting area than the FT-5 (right).
The FT-i driver is quite different from the FT-3 and FT-5. The shape is almost square at address, with a crease down the top that gives the driver the look of a square pepper. The angles of the driver make alignment a snap. There is aluminum used in the sole of the FT-i, just as with the FT-5, and the neck of the driver sports a tiny hosel-like protrusion. The square shape is meant to help stabilize the driver both horizontally and vertically. In other words, it should be forgiving not just on balls hit left or right of center, but also high and low on the face, so you get good results no matter where you make contact with the ball. The face of the FT-i is deep, but not as wide as the FT-5.
Callaway has made a shaft switch with these new drivers, moving from the Aldila NVS that was the stock offering on the FT-3 to a pair of shafts from Fujikura. The FT-5 comes standard with a 45-inch, 60-gram Fujikura E-150 shaft that has mid torque and a mid kickpoint, available in light, regular and stiff flexes. The FT-i stock shaft is the Fujikura Speeder 586 shaft, a specially tuned version of the popular shaft with Triax stabilizing technology. The Speeder 586 is a 45.75-inch shaft – apparently Callaway designers thought the FT-i was so stable that they could afford to add an extra three-quarters of an inch to the shaft to squeeze some extra distance out of the design.
The square design of the FT-i (left) is unusual but conducive to an easy setup, while the FT-5 is clean and uncomplicated.
Both the FT-5 and FT-i drivers have a pair of available weight configurations – draw or neutral. The fade option that was available on the FT-3 has been relegated to the Tour versions of the new drivers.
Did someone say “Tour versions”? That’s right, there are specially tweaked versions of each new driver for lower handicappers as well that offer draw, neutral, or fade (as a custom order) options. The difference is a higher center of gravity, slightly open face angles and different stock shafts. The FT-5 Tour model comes with the Fujikura E-360, a low-torque 68-gram shaft available in regular, stiff and x-stiff, while the FT-i Tour model comes with the Speeder 686 in regular, stiff and x-stiff. Both Tour versions have a small Callaway chevron (the V-shaped logo) on the face to help set them apart from the standard versions.
Not enough options? In addition to a huge number of additional custom shaft options (including models from Aldila, Grafalloy, Graphite Design, UST and Mitsubishi), there’s also a women’s version of each FT driver with a 44-inch (44.5 in the FT-i) Fujikura Sakura driver in draw and neutral configurations.
The FT-i (left) looks unique from every angle, while the FT-5 (right) has a much more traditional profile.
The FT-5 drivers are part of Callaway’s great OptiFit custom fitting system, which allows clubfitters to screw different heads and shafts together for a quick and comprehensive fitting experience.
Two drivers, each with multiple weight configurations and Tour and women’s versions. That’s a lot of options to consider. I had the chance to test standard versions of the FT-5 and FT-i, and we’ll get to my on-course impressions in just a bit.
Esthetics
First, let’s talk looks. The FT-5 and FT-i again share several similar touches. First, the composite body on each has been painted glossy black to match the top of the cup face area, making it look like a traditional driver instead of a multi-material affair. This is similar to the FT-3, while the original Fusion driver had an exposed weave to its composite body (which I still think looks cool). Both clubs have the same rubber grips with subtle alignment aids and Callaway logos. The standard versions have the chevron alignment aid on the crown, the Tour versions don’t. And both clubs have the draw/
neutral/fade weighting designation on the heel of the club – oriented so you can read it while the club is in your bag or in a standing display rack, which is the opposite of how it was set up on the FT-3.
The FT-5 (right) looks larger at address than the FT-3 (left) despite having the same clubhead volume. The FT-5’s body is not as tall, and the face area is wider.
The headcovers are different. The FT-5 headcover is a traditional design with a long black sock area and a black-and-orange protective top. But the FT-i has a shorter, no-sock headcover with a magnetic closure system that also sports a black-and-orange color scheme. It takes a little getting used to, but the learning curve isn’t too steep.
A word about the color scheme: This is the identity crisis I alluded to above. The other woods and irons in the Fusion lineup sport a black-and-orange scheme, and the headcovers and grips for the new FT drivers adhere to that precedent. But for some reason the clubheads don’t. They sport a new deep red color on the sole which looks great, but is a bit out of leftfield. I wonder if it was a last-minute idea, and the headcovers and grips were already designed and ordered. Contributing to the Fusion confusion is the fact that the Fusion irons have gold as an accent color (they follow the lead of the original Fusion driver) and the Fusion Wide Sole irons introduced last year have grey as their accent color. So within the Fusion family, you have red, orange, yellow, and grey on different products. Since Callaway sticks to the color scheme with their other brands pretty tightly (X Series = blue, Big Bertha = bright red and white) I would imagine we’ll see a more unified aesthetic scheme the next time these products are refreshed.
As I mentioned above, the FT-5 manages to look both sleeker and larger than the FT-3. The face area is also larger, which contributes to the more substantial appearance. The black Fujikura shaft and understated rubber grip add to the non-flashy look. But at address, this driver is all business.
FT-i has a like it or hate it look, there’s no way around it. The square head and the channel that runs down the crown of the club don’t look like any other golf club you’ve ever hit. Traditionalists will likely not be enthused. Personally, I thought the design really helped me set up along my target line, and anything that works looks good to me. In addition to the tiny hosel-like neck, there’s a small silver ring around the bottom of the thermoplastic shaft sleeve on the FT-i. A little bit of flair for the square guy. The squat, square shape of the clubface reminds me a bit of the old Power Pod driver, if one had been squashed a bit.
Both drivers feature a flash of deep red on the sole, along with a bit of aluminum for durability.
Performance
I had the chance to test out 9° versions of the FT-5 and FT-i, both in neutral setups with the stiff version of the stock shafts. I’ve been playing an FT-3 for more than a year, so that made comparing the new drivers to the old pretty simple.
Compared to the FT-3, the FT-5 is an obvious, evolutionary next step. The sound at impact is better, with a louder metallic smack and only the slight hint of the plastic sound that plagued the original Fusion driver (and lingered a bit with the FT-3). Feel is very lively on center hits, and there’s plenty of feedback on off-center hits – not harsh feel, but you can tell how you missed it before you look at the clubface for evidence.
The ball flight of the FT-5 is hotter than its predecessor, starting out high but staying lower at its apex. This leads to a bit more roll and overall distance. Hitting the two drivers head-to-head, the FT-5 was consistently five yards longer than the FT-3 on center hits and misses. The ball flight and shot shape were very controllable, and it’s no surprise that this is the driver most Callaway Golf tour pros are using on a weekly basis.
The FT-i is the driver many people are curious about, and I was excited to give it a try. As advertised, it does want to hit a straight ball. Anything close to the center of the face is going to go where you aim it, and even extreme heel and toe hits still correct back toward the center line more than you’d expect. Will it cure your slice? Not exactly. If you put a big outside-in swing on it, the FT-i is still capable of peeling a nice banana for you. Where the driver is very corrective is on high and low misses. The center of gravity seems to have been tweaked to add backspin to shots hit off-center, which helps get the ball up in the air and cut down on the amount of slicing or hooking you’ll experience. So your misses are in better shape, if not necessarily in the middle of the fairway.
The Fujikura Speeder 586 (top) is the stock shaft for the standard FT-i driver, while the Fujikura E-150 (bottom) is the stock offering for the FT-5.
The tradeoff with the FT-i’s ability to translate nearly any type of contact into a decent-looking shot is distance. If you catch one flush with the driver, it is nearly as long as the FT-5, thanks to that extra three-quarters of an inch in shaft length. But while off-
center hits go generally in a good direction, they lose a fair bit of distance. For example, on one driving hole I hit two drives with the FT-i. The first was hit in the center and went 274 down the middle. I hit the second on the heel and the ball leaked a bit to the right. It still ended up in the fairway, but my driving distance was only 235 yards. That’s almost 40 yards of distance. This isn’t a bad thing; of course you lose distance on off-center hits. But know going in that the FT-i design will keep your ball in play, but not produce miraculous distance on bad swings.
The sound of the FT-i was loud but not offensive, and the feel was uniformly meaty on every shot no matter where on the face the ball was struck. This may bother some better players who want more feedback at impact. High handicappers might alternately be glad that every shot will feel good, even if their swing was bad.
Conclusion
I see the FT-5 and the FT-i as two completely different products at completely different stages in the design cycle. The FT-5 is a refined, third-generation product that has had any bad traits bred out. It has the performance you expect from a top-of-the-line driver, and has enough options to make it appeal to nearly any level of golfer. If I was in the market for a new driver and had resisted earlier Fusion drivers, the FT-5 would be the one to make me change my mind. As an FT-3 player, the FT-5 is a step forward, but probably not enough to justify buying a new driver if you still like the previous model (which I really do).
The FT-5 headcover (left) has a long sock attachment, while the FT-i headcover (right) is shorter and has a magnetic closure. Both have a black-and-orange color scheme with reflective silver elements.
The FT-i, on the other hand, is a concept with a ton of potential that I think Callaway’s designers will fully unlock in future versions. At this point, I would mainly recommend it to higher handicappers who really struggle off the tee, especially with getting their drives airborne. I’d say it is an ideal driver for seniors and women with slower swing speeds. I would be interested to see what a good clubfitter could do with the FT-i, though, for a better player. I think if you got the right shaft/loft/directional bias combination, the FT-i could be a great driver for smash-and-scrape, go-for-broke golf. You know you’re not going to hit it off the face of the earth, so why not give it a rip every time. If you can get fit into the right setup to eliminate some of the distance loss on off-center hits and get a hotter ball flight, the FT-i could be a real distance monster. That’s what I would hope for from version 2.0 down the road.
There’s a lot of promise in the FT-i concept, but at this point it’s hard to say it’s worth a $70 premium over the FT-5. The street price of the FT-5 starts at $429 (though upgrading to a Tour model with a different shaft will add at least $20 to the price), while the FT-i starts at $499. What I hear from retailers is that the FT-i gets a lot of interest, but that more golfers end up buying the FT-5 due to the price and performance. And that’s what I would do.
I’m not that bad at driving the ball, but -like 90% of golf players 🙂 – do tend to slice the ball a bit now and then. Distance isn’t a problem, and i never thought of it as one.
I gave the straight FT-i a try on a demo day a few weeks ago. My god, was i impressed. Not only was i hitting ’em straighter and with less effort, they were longer too.
It was strange however that, although i’ve been fitted for my previous driver with an Aldila NV stiff, the regular flex worked a lot better for me with this driver. My swing speed is about 95Mph.
The square form factor is weird, it felt like it guided me in a correct swing plane. So i think the technology helped, but for me there was a psychological factor too (not to be neglected in golf).
In the end i ended up replacing my r580XD with this one and i have to say won’t ever look back
This club is amazing. Heel, toe, or square, you always get a good piece and it goes a long way. I have always had trouble with my driver, to the point I played my long irons almost exclusively off the tee. This has totally changed my game. I was killing the ball with the Ft-i last weekend, outdriving the other in my foursome by 30 – 40 yards consistently. This club will make you very happy.
I never liked Callaway products until I tried this driver. I first had the 10 deg draw with stock stiff, but was hooking it way too much. Went to a 10 deg neutral and wow, is this thing forgiving and long. Not much distance loss on off center hits. Just aim and fire. The only thing that could be tweaked is the sound, too much like an aluminum baseball bat, but hey I can live with it based on the performance. Nice ball flight, does not balloon. Better than other drivers including hi-boreXL, titleist d series, nike sumo and Taylor made quad. This is a keeper.
I think the FTi is a great club. I think there is some negative bias toward this club because, frankly, pulling out a square driver is sort of like singing in the library. It will get you alot of attention, and not necessarily the good kind. Certainly tour pros seem unwilling to use it, which may hurt the club in the long run, but early returns suggest it’s selling very well compared to other Callaway offerings.
When I first tried this club, I was totally unimpressed. The sound, the feel, everything, seemed contrived and not much better than other modern drivers. I tried it a second time with a shaft better suited to me, and I absolutely loved it after playing one round with it. I find it to be about 5-10 yards longer than my old FT-3, and the ball flight is probably a bit straighter, although most of the 460cc drivers I’ve tried are pretty straight. The trajectory is perfect, which contrasts with the old ERC Fusion and the FT-3 I had, which I hit a bit too high.
What really impresses me about the club is that, around my home course, everyone from hackers to the head pro has very good things to say about it. Everyone seems almost shy to give this club an endorsement, as if they’re afraid of being ridiculed for liking something so unconventional. But there’s no doubt in my mind this is a fantastic golf club.
If a tour pro ever uses it, it may overcome the “weirdness” stigma and usher in a new era where we’re all using square drivers and fairway woods.
In responce to j, if u go to the callaway website you will find out that most tour pros consider using this club when their driving is a little off, and lefty carries a ft-5 and ft-i depending on the course with his 2 driver system so most tour pros consider/use it.
Well, I just got an FTi Tour Spec 9.5 with Fujikura 686 Speeder, I must say it is a great club, took a while to get used to he head shape, when I hit it right it is great, but being a high handicapper it is not the right spec for me so I will be getting a 10 or 11 degree with a reg shaft, even saying that I must say that even if it is not the right spec for me it is the best club I have ever owned I cannot wait to get the one that is a little better siutedto my swing speed.
Bought the FT-i 9 degree with a Graphite Design stiff shaft. Swing speed for me is around 105…peaking at 110 MPH. When you hit this club on the screws, it goes…and goes straight. But, when you miss the screws on the outer third of the face, you are going to lose significant distance. As in….eye popping loss of distance. Still forgiving with mishits, but lots lost in terms of yardage off the tee….as in 30+ yards. The square head seems to help start the backswing better, and it has a great feel to it.
That said, I returned my FTi immediately after one round, and requested trade for an FT-5….which I also hit well on the range. This one will have the upgraded Fujikura Speeder 757 shaft, which I’ve used previously with a KZG Gemini driver.
On order, so stay tuned for my review.
Regards,
R3Wood
I love this stick! Anything that helps make the game more enjoyable for the average higher handicap player has to be a good thing. Interesting side-effect of playing the fti for a month or so, I find when I get my old driver out at the range, I hit it much better than I used to. Probably just the improved confidence I guess.
A note on tour use:
Ernie Els has put the FT-i in his bag for the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond for the last few days. His driving looks pretty good so far.
They’re all going 320 plus obviously!
Saw him interviewed yesterday, and he’s talking about using it during The Open, which starts on the 19th of July.
Ok-
After trading in my FT-i driver for reasons mentioned above, my FT-5 Draw 9* with a Speeder 757 stiff shaft arrived. Played my first round with it, and I made the right decision. Hit it square and it goes, and with off center hits, less mileage lost as compared to the FT-i. Again, I swing about 105 MPH on the radar. My HCP is 11.7.
I hit a power fade….with a slight outside-in swing plane. With my swing, the ball off the FT-5 face just goes straight….with perhaps an ever so slight fade (i.e., 0-10 yards). If I turn on it some, I can end up with a pulled straight shot (i.e., left rough, but not OB or in the woods). The sound off the face makes you think you’re using a Fisher Price toy…but who cares.
Very forgiving club, and with my misses, I’d look up…and be surprised to see the path of the ball not being so bad. I’m keeping this one!
amazing, this club has changed the way i play golf. I shot a 78 one week ago, i now have chances at birdies as opposed to always being short off the tee and hoping for bogey, hands down the best club i have ever put in my bag, i am now a 10.2 index, love the guys at callaway.
How would you compare the FT-i driver to the Taylor Made R7 Draw? I’m debating between the two drivers and have a tendency of slicing a bit on my drive. Any feedback you can provide in regards to these two drivers would be great…
Thanks for another great review!!
I only had the FT-i driver for a day, before trading it in for an FT-5. With the FT-i….the one characteristic I did like was the balance, and how the club helped produce a better backswing. The FT-i should help with your swing plane in the back and forward swing. Thus, less side spin…or slice. However, the FT-i has a slightly longer shaft, which is not a good thing to have when one struggles with control. Callaway knows the FT-i is not a distance club….thus, the slightly longer shaft.
If I was going with a Taylormade, I’d look at the Quad version….and use the weights to create a draw bias when needed. Slicing the ball can come and go, and you can fiddle with the weights when you are hitting the ball straighter….or produce a draw bias during that stretch of time when you are slicing it more.
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned yet on this page is how the FT-i compares to the Nike SUMO2. Any thoughts? I have only swung each a few times, and have had better luck with the FT-i.
Besides the FT-i, I am also considering the TaylorMade r7 460 and the SuperQuad. The moveable weights seemed to help with my slice, but am concerned this is too “gimmicky”. The price is much more attractive vs. the FT-i though….
Various reviews in the golf literature have the FT-i as the better of the two clubs when compared to the Nike SUM02.
Find a place that will let you take the two demo versions of the clubs out on the course. Alternate the two clubs…and you will find your answer. Be assertive in this request. Too often, people make their choice based on performance on the driving range….but performance via hitting clubs on the range can be impacted by wind direction, and adjustments one typically makes when you hit any given club over and over from the same spot.
I think the worst idea is hitting a club into a net with a simulator. At Golfsmith one day, I was hitting Cobra drivers 320+ yards, and the salesperson said “opps”…..changed things on the simulator, and suddenly I was hitting my drives 190-200 and he was suggesting a regular or senior flex. That’s a dangerous process and purchase. Fancy technology, and stupid salespeople.
BTW- I typically hit my drives 250-260….with 280-300 being my best drive of the day.
I had purchased an FT-3 from ebay and received an FT-i by mistake. Wow, best mistake that could have happened. I’m a 22, with average driving distance of 230 yds. BC (Before Callaway), but after three rounds with the FTi, my drives have increased by 20 yards on average.
Benefits to the High Handicapper: 1. The square head is a great alignment aid; 2. the club design encourages a slower swing with more forgiveness, and counter-intuitively, more distance; 3. the biggest benefit for me is greater confidence.
Yes, the FTi is pricey, but there are good deals on ebay from reputable e-retailers.
I just put the FT I in my bag after playing the Ping G5. It’s straight, make no mistake, and it goes. I’m not a huge, long ball hitter…11.4 index, but I do need as much distance off the tee that I can muster. I have hit it only a few times, so I will have to return and give my on-course opinion.
However, I love how it feels off the tee at the range, and the direction I’m hitting the ball was nothing but straight…The shape of the club doesn’t bother me in the least…After one or two swings, it looks normal to me!
I think this is the shape of clubs to come or at least this will be more accepting. I remember the raised eyebrows when I bought my first Callaway GBB. People thought I was swinging a Volkswagon on a shaft and now that club looks so small…and the two ball putter was thought to be an odd looking club, too. Change is good..expecially if it leads to more yards and better direction off the tee.
Ernie Els can’t be wrong!
I have been using a stock TaylorMade Burner for the last 2 months, and even though when I nail one straight, I can get to 260-265 (maybe one or two every 5 drives), I find that I am nowhere near consistent enough or have the control at a faster swing to warrant using this – more than anything, the driver is killing my scores.
So, last night, I had a whole hour-long demo, maybe 120 balls, with a stock Callaway FT-i with regular shaft, 10° loft, Neutral-bias and my initial impressions are very positive.
With the FT-i, I found as the review points out, I personally got a consistent distance-loss of about 20-30 yards (but bear in mind I was hitting fairly used driving-range balls that don’t go as far as say, HX-Hot or NXT’s)…..but pretty much every ball ended up where I wanted it to go: Straight.
The looks don’t bother me, the sound didn’t bother me (well, okay, the sound was like a gunshot but bear in mind I wasn’t on the course but in an ‘echoy’, enclosed driving-bay), but the more balls I hit with this driver, the more I liked it and more consistency I got. Whenever I connected badly producing a poorly-hit drive that just crept past the 200yd marker – it didn’t dis-hearten me as I merely re-checked my stance, went for the rip on the next ball and I was rewarded with much longer drives.
I’m going for a custom-fitting/trade-in next week and with the highly unlikely secnarion of me picking up something that resembles ‘The Holy Grail of Drivers’, I shall buy and be using the FT-i from that point on.
I just picked up a 9.5 degree FT-5 driver (Draw) with the Fujikura E-360 stiff shaft last weekend. I’m planning on taking it to the course in a few weeks. What I can say about it right now is my grass driving range experience. I previously owned an FT-3 with the NV stiff shaft.
With the FT-3, I couldn’t reconcile the odd sound of the ball coming off the face. That said, clean shots travelled 260-280 yards for me. However, the height of the clubface bothered me. When I got my FT-5 I liked the lower and wider profile of the clubhead and face.
Onto the FT-5. All of my mishits off of the grass tees still travelled a considerable distance (~250) and the sound off the clubface is a bit more traditional than the FT-3. I can’t wait to take it out on the course and see what happens. 😎
How about a review on the Taylormade Superquad?
As of right now, I’d say the FT-5 and Superquad are the hottest driver on the market and on tour?
😆
I recently received an FT-i driver as a gift. All I can say is Wow! At first the shape was a little difficult to take, but after several pokes with this big boy it is easy to get used to. Hook and shank have officially been erased from my vocab!!!! Thanks Callaway.
I have had several combinations of the FT-I and the FT-5 and i like both of them. if you are considering giving either of them a go i would suggest really trying out different shafts. i was hitting the FT-5 with an Aldila Proto VS shaft about 15 yards further than the FT-I with Stock Shaft. I sent the FT-I back to Callaway and reshafted with Proto VS shaft and the distance difference disappeared. i traded in my Ft-5 as i can hit the FT-I much straighter with no distance loss now because of the shaft. i really did not like that stock shaft.
Hi All-
Since purchasing my FT-5 Callaway (see above), one disappointment this summer was the stock grip of the club. In wet conditions, or really humid conditions, the stock grip is no good. Bad. Hands tend to slide, and when you hold the club, it just doesn’t inspire confidence that you’re going to be able to hold onto the club….glove, or no glove.
So, put on a Winn grip, and much, much better. It may be psychological…but it seems as if my control now is even better.
I really prefer the added 3/4″ of club length in the FT-i model. I love to on occasion ram my drivers up my a@$, and that added length hits my spot just right. The square shape makes a great handle to hold the club while I work the shaft in and out of my pooper. The FT-5 is what I like to beat over my wife’s head when dinner is not ready on time or if my shirts aren’t ironed properly. They both come in handy in my household, so I’d say it’s a toss up. Both are well worth the hefty price-tags.
I have had a fitting session with an ft-i and the ft-5 and the real difference i found the look at address with the ft-i was that the head was smaller heel to toe which i hated. and was hitting shots well sometimes but badly on most.
I hate to be the resident dissident in this forum but..I bought an FT-5 and have not had the asstounding results perported here. I play to a 15 hdcp (mostly because of a substandard shortgame) but fight like many mid h’rs to straighten a fade that at times (mostly when I overswing) boomarangs. Ironically, the strongest part of my game was consistent and reasonably long drives (for a 5’8, buck 45 umm..older guy, 250 to 275 yds.) Alas, I became greedy and went in search of distance. Thinking that newer technology would produce more distance off the tee with less effort and less strain on my tired back, I took a shot at the FT-5 based on rave reviews all over the web. Regular Flex, 10* loft and draw biased. Results?? I get about the same distance with the same swing but with much less accuracy and always, a pronounced fade, regardless of my set up. The club was pricey which makes the results I am getting a bit saltier. Bottom line, I am putting the club up for sale and thank goodness, I still have my old driver. Of course, only an opinion; but consider saving 300 dollars of your money. If your looking for a forgiving draw biased driver that will produce distance and some slice curing weight distribution, buy the TaylorMade R5 Dual, set up for a draw. In the not too distant past, the R5 was the poop and retailed for around $300. Today, you can buy them just about anywhere for 149 bucks. Very forgiving along with distance comparitive to much higher priced and well advertised clubs.
I must retract my earlier comments about the newly purchased FT-5. A good ole fashion stubborn streak prompted me to either come to terms with the club or toss it into the desert and let it die a slow sunblistered death. However, a bucket of balls, changes to my set up, a few explatives and alas I began to see a flicker of light at the palatable end of the range. Previously, I wouldn’t have wished the FT-5 curse on anyone, but the first time I hit one on the screws, I stood and scratched my head. The drive was straight and long. The only thing I can deduce is that the lighter weight in comparison to my old driver was causing me to close the face of the FT at impact. I weakened my grip a bit and began to replicate some decent drives. On the course today, I hit some monster drives with seemingly minimal effort. Would have been a great day except for the rest of my game was poo. So….I stand corrected. The FT-5 is feeding me some crow…but it tastes good!!! 😉
What is the difference between an FT-5 tour and FT-5, besides the shaft weight and availability of 10.5 degrees vs not?
Went to a demo day today (4-26) and hit a Callaway FT-I, 9 degree, neutral w/aldila DV 65 S shaft. I guess that this is not a new 2008 club but an older model? What is the difference between the two years? I know that there is a new shaft but is there a new clubhead as well? Better?
Jon
Reply to Ken above-
The FT-5 Tour doesn’t have the closed face….whereas, the FT-5 does. The ~ 1* closed face reduces fades by about 5-15 yards at most. As I understand it, the closed face actually increases the loft degree a bit….so, a 10.5* is not really a 10.5*. Furthermore, to support our egos (and increase sales)…many companies label the club 9*….but you are really getting a 10* club. Most Joes out there probably get more distance with a 10* loft as compared to a 9* anyways.
Keep in mind folks that factory tolerances for loft can be as much as +/- 1*….so, when you purchase a 9* driver, and your true loft could be 8* or 10*. In sum, have it measured.
i have had 2 callway FT-i and both have shattered… they are the hottest clubs on the market but they dont hold up.. i dont know if i will try a third one or not it takes too long one the turn around to get a new one back…
I just picked up the FT-I and reshafted it with a regular flex Fujikura E-Fit shaft. I am not an avid golfer and have a swing speed of about 95.
I agree with the review above with a few exceptions. First, it is true that unless you hit this club in the sweet spot it seems to loose a little distance over other clubs I have hit. However that aside I have never in my life been able to push the 300 yard limit on my (sweet spot hit) drives. In my first two rounds of golf I have been able to hit a 280 and couple 290 yard drives. It hits straight, far and sounds like a car crash when you hit it. I love this thing.
I highly recommend it!
I’m struggling to come to a decision between the FT-5 or Adams Insight XTD A3. I’m a 16 HC and I was goin to get the FT-5 10* reg draw bias but after reading reviews i’m starting to think that the shaft isn’t to hot and the draw bias dosen’t work. A friend has the insight and i’ve hit it and liked it it has a nice ball flight good roll and the Aldila DVS shaft is very nice. It would also be a lot easier on my pocket. I’m really stuck for a decision any help would really be appreaciated. 😎 Hot Shot
I am 6’8″ and have been using a Taylor Made Burner. I switched to the FT-5 neutral face with a stiff shaft. I am consistently hitting 280 flight drives. It is a significant improvement over the Taylor.
If you like the “Wow’ reaction after your tee shots, this club is for you.
To really be a hot shot in golf, you need to take any two clubs under consideration out on the course. Go at 5pm when the course is clear, and hit a shot with each off the tee….rotating the Adams/FT-5 1st and 2nd with your shots.
To me, paying $200 or $500 for a driver doesn’t really matter to me. I know lots of folks who fork out $80 for a round, and proceed to play with cheap clubs. To me, I don’t get that one. Pay what it takes to play your best…and those $80 per round will feel a whole lot better.
Bought my FT-5 last season, and continue to like it. I got the high brow Fujukura 757 Speeder shaft. Less dispersion and side spin for me. And if I’m having a bad day….at least I can say I have the most expensive club on the course! Just don’t follow me out to the parking lot to see what I drive home in.
well after hearing all the good things on almost every website i checked out i decided what the heck so i went out to try the ft-i but then i discover that it does not come in 9 or 9.5 degree in left handed not that I’m a fast swinger just that the ball was launching very high with this club and i was using 10 degree with a stiff shaft so man was i mad cause its not like left handed players don’t exist look at Phil and hes one of there players. well one thing is for sure i wont be buying the ft-i unless it was the ball launch monitor that was bad.
I got the ft-5 10* draw driver about 2 weeks ago and after a week of frustration with many of the symtoms of byronm (reviewed above). With this club all you got to do is the basics. I had my grip, my stance and even my swing changed with my old driver but with the same setup i was hooking everything with the ft-5 so I just lined up straight and the first one i hit went dead straight i was still hitting the ball off the heel all the time but i lined up with the toe of the club and that fixed that. The FT-5 gave me a boost of confidence to my whole game and i’m already playing 2-3 strokes better, so good job callaway. Hot Shot 😎
I’m a 60 year old high handicapper (100-106 normally) playing 2-3 times a week in FL. I do the slice thing regularly. I tried out both the FT-5 (11% draw) and FTi (11% draw) for separate 18 hole play. I never hit so many fairways in all my life. I preferred the FTi as it was so forgiving. But the FT-5 was very nice as well. The distance I achieved was 5-10 yards longer than with my usual driver (7-10 years old Wilson with 10.5% loft). The lowest score I’ve ever had over 9 holes was 48. I shot a 41 for 9 holes with the FTi as I hit 6 of 9 fairways and had good fairway shots to the green. I didn’t do as well on the 2nd nine, but that was due to my poor iron shots from the fairways – ugg!!. Just thought I’d share my experience. I’m not buying just yet as the prices seem to be coming down on both models.
To Randy, and others-
Keep in mind that your slice may have been in remission for a day…
but if it was cured….it could be due to the draw bias of your new Callaway, or the shaft that came with the club. Too stiff a shaft on your old club, and your ball may have started right, and moved more right due to a misfitted shaft. So, it could be the new shaft you are using, the draw bias, or both.
One way of knowing which shaft is more stiff is to take both clubs and simply to push each club against your one foot, or a piece of stationary furniture. You’ll know which club has a more stiff shaft.
Keep keeping it in the short stuff!
I just got back from hitting the Callaway Big Bertha 454, FT-5, and FT-i. I have a wicked slice and have to close the club face and step forward with my left foot to keep the ball from slicing. The FT-i draw is absolutely amazing. I don’t have to step forward with my left foot and I don’t have to close the face anymore. It’s so forgiving all my shots but one went straight and over 225 every time. I would recommend this club to anyone who needs a little forgiveness off the tee and the draw edition will do wonders. It didn’t take long to get used to it either which is another thing I liked about it.
I bought a new FTi after demoing one during a scramble. By the 11th hole three of our foursome were hitting it. The draw bias allows me to really slug the ball and maintain great controll re-gaining the minimum loss of distance. The sound took a little getting used to , similar to whacking a 59 Buick hub-cap with a cresent wrench. I love the feel and the looks of it. A real keeper!
dude i just tested out the FT-5 yesterday and its great. i usually hit 220-225 with my driver if it is the sweet spot. my instructor had me hit off the toe with the ft-5 and i hit about 235-240. the sweet spot was so far i couldnt even guess the distance cuz ive never hit it that far before. its a superior driver from callaway, so check out the other clubs from the FT lineup cuz they work just as well
How about the workability difference between these two clubs? Which one is easier to shape the ball?
😀 I sell golf clubs for a living, so I’ve tested a heap of the 2007/early 2008 model drivers and these 2 models were in my top 3 (with the Ping Rapture). I went with the FT-i, because I just kept hitting it in the middle of the fairway so often. The FT-5 went longer, but I could really spray them wildly offline with a poor swing. Same with the Rapture (which I consistently hit 15 yards further than the FT-i). I’ve now used the FT-i for most of the year and have had probably my best year of driving ever (even though I don’t play as much as I used to anymore). If you don’t play frequently and practice much (if at all), this could be brilliant for you. I’ve played in some fairly big golf days (for me) this year and on little preparation have driven the ball brilliantly with this club. Hitting pretty much where I aimed it, time after time. Others in my group were often longer, but I was deadly accurate. If that’s what you’re after, this is great for that. It’s also just a great driver to hit. I feel confident with it most of the time. Other models may have higher MOI, but this one just works so well! I doubt I’d use the new model FT-IQ, just because it looks so closed and strange at address. the FT-i is closed enough!
To answer Kams question, the Ft-5 is certainly easier to work/shape the ball with. No doubt!
I just ordered an FT-5 9* Stiff shaft Neutral driver. I chose between the Wilson Spine/Smooth/Dd6 drivers versus the FT-5. Due to good reviews and the fact that I have been using my 2002 Big Bertha Driver for the past 6 years, I chose FT-5. I hope I made the right decision. Can you also do a review for the new Wilson drivers Smooth?
After playing my buddies FT I all last season I took the plunge and got the reg. shaft draw bias . Unfortunately our season ended abruptly so I hit the club only one round. But what a round. I am a slicer and had been playing Cobra off sets and Taylor Burner with a draw bias.
The FTI was stunning. I admit I am a sucker for a ” slice fixer” but this club was incredible. On EVERY hole I was either middle or middle left. And 5-10 yards further. I could not stop smiling. The price has now dropped due to the new IQ coming out but I will be thrilled to try my club in the spring.
I have always been a Callaway guy but can not decide between the FT5 or Cleveland XLS, everyone i talked to say that the XLS red is more forgiving and longer any advice out there will help…thanks
I picked up the FTI today since golf galaxy has them at a whopping 168 dollars. My clubhead speed is about 108 so I bought the neutral stock stiff shafted club with matrix ozik xcon 6 shaft.
Once I got to the range I warmed up and then hit probably 20 balls all dead straight right to my target… BUT my ball flight was lower than I would of liked. If I wanted to get the ball up in the air I had to “force” a faster swing than I wanted. I did also notice that on mishits the ball was no where near as long a regular drives. I wasn’t able to measure with a pinseeker or anything but it looked like mishits were at least 20 to 30 yards shorter.
So in the end I would recommend the FT-I to golfers looking for a straighter ball flight. But would suggest getting fit for the right shaft. I love the clubhead but hate the stock shaft.
I just got my callaway ft-5 driver today and i went out golfing. This driver wants to hit the ball straight but if you dont put a good swing on it it will still slice or hook. My drives were at least 20 yards farther than with my old driver. But my old driver was also a regular flex srixon so… I would recomend this driver to anyone even a 20 handicapper. By the way i got my driver off of ebay for only 220 canadian! Make sure you try it before you buy it though.
I played a GBB 7.5 with a UST 65 Stiff before. I ordered an FT-3 with a UST 65v2 and I liked it but the look at address bothered me a bit and the sound wasn’t pleasing to me, too much of a thud. I’ve always liked the more metallic ping sound of the callaway big bertha line compared to the thud’s of other brands. Long story short I sent the FT-3 back and got an FT-5 Tour 8.5 with the E360 Stiff shaft. I’m seriously in love with it and their might be a marriage soon. You think it will say yes ? Its effortless I swing about 105mph (85% effort) and i’m hitting it 300+ average. I think that is a great shaft so you might want to consider it before trying any of the other more expensive shafts. It has a bit more kick to it but it is very easy to control and doesn’t turn over too easy. I haven’t hit any out of control hooks with it and its easy to hit little draws or little cuts with. I highly recommend that shaft if your in that speed range. Once i get a bit more use to it i’ll have to see how it does when i try and step on a few going to 110-115mph. I have a strong feeling i’ll like what i find. One other thing due to the wider shallower face you can tee it a bit lower and still hit it solid unlike some of the other big heads out there which I like alot.
As a better than average golger I gave the new Callaway a tryout. I wuld rate the driver as average at best. There was no significalnt increase in distance, and I quickly had buyers remorse for spending that much money on a driver that will do little to improve my game. I will trade this driver in for a loss I am afraid for something else. For a slicer or a golfer who has a probloem swing this may indeed help, but this driver is not for the better players.
😎 i have an ft 1 and it is great and i changed shafts for a stiff tip, reg. shaft and i got better control . this club is the tour model draw and if you are not careful you will get a full blown hook. i am going to a ft 5 this week neutral and keep my same swing plane. hopefully without changing the shaft i’ll hit the ball longer [as promised] and straiter. if you don’t swing out of your socks the ft series is a great club. 10 to 12 handicap. Franko
I’m a low handicap player (5 in Australia) and just got myself an iMix FTi Tour 9.5* with an iMix Prolaunch Platinum stiff. It’s the same head that Ernie Els plays but I dunno bout the shaft?
I’m extremely happy with the set-up, it has knocked my Hi-Bore XLS 9.5* (VS Proto) out of the bag. I can just rip it and as long I maintain a reasonable swing it’s just down the middle. I can also fade and draw quite easily if needed although it does a bit more english if you want to shape it than most other clubs.
It’s longer than my Hi-Bore and doesn’t sound anywhere near as loud. In fact it has a really meaty, solid sound at impact, I love it.
As a 40 yr old golfer I get ribbed by the young guys I play with (half my age…) for using an “Old Mans” club, but that stops when they see the ballflight and distance. Most end wanting to hit it to see for themselves, they won’t buy one though because they can’t handle the ribbing…..Their Loss.
I would reccomend trying out a Tour version if your in the market for a new driver – This thing is the bomb!
This club is amazing. The best driver you can buy, period. The ball is so hot of the face it is unreal. I just picked one up and I gained 25 yards carry. The sound isn’t nearly as bad as bad as some say, and now with it on sale, it is probably the best thing for your game. It forgiving as well but you can tell when you miss. Great club, worth the money.
I bought the FT-i 9.5 – neutral – with the Graphite Design YSQ stiff shaft and I love this thing. I was playing an older 10.5 degree reg flex and I am now blowing drives 25-35 yards longer. The Ft-i is straight and long. I usually hit a small fade which was pulling 15 yards off my drive. I love the 9.5 degree. The guy I play with looked at it and laughed. The guys behind us on the tee pretty much dropped jaw when I hit it. I usually hit 250-260 along the right side of the rough. Try 305 up the middle. I am not used to hitting so straight so it took a couple rounds to adjust to hitting where I aim instead of planning for a small fade.
It is harder to work a draw with the FT-i and that was Phil’s only complaint. Too straight. I’m not complaining.
I bought the callaway Ft-i new for $140. I purchased the draw version because i slice my drives sometimes. Heres my review of the club. You can pull this driver back like a putter and blast it STRAIGHT down the middle like 210yrds. With a full swing i average about 250. If you are not careful you will still slice. However with square clubhead it’s easier to feel when head is square, open, or close. I agree with alot of the other reviews about this ft-i ballooning the ball in the air. So I tee it a little lower and back a little in my stace and problem fixed. If you dont struggle with hitting fairways I would go with something else, because i know their are drivers that hit the ball further than the ft-i. However if cant fix your slice try the ft-i.
Just purchased the FT-i today for $150 and have only hit it at the range this afternoon. All I can say is WOW! If my game is even close to how I was hitting it at the range then my friends are going to hate me. I’m not so concerned with the distance as I’m not that good of a golfer and am only really concerned about loosing less balls with my wicked slice.
I hope that it plays like most of the reviews say. Most of my strokes come frm penalties by loosing balls due to my slice. My issue has always been slicing to the right…I really hope the DRAW series will help.
If you have suggestions or more to say about the FT-i…let me know.
PS. I’ll keep you all posted.
So I bought this thing for about $45 at a pawn shop, pretty beat. Best driver I’ve ever hit. Good job Calloway.
58 year old play about a 15. I just picked up a new FTi 13 degree HT draw bias speeder 586 shaft. I had been using a Hibore 9.5 and just can’t hit it with a speed of 87. Switched back to my old soundless 11 degree Callaway Fusion and started to launch the ball again but my outside in swing sends many good hits to the right. Took the FTi from the store to the range and OMG- straight and true- some draw. I found I could really go after it and not worry about sending it OB right. Once I got the tee height fixed I found my hits were center high and it felt like butter and flew off the face. I can’t wait to play tomorrow. I know the course so well and where my tee balls land, I expect much more distance without the right bend and the fact that I can swing faster without worry. Wonderful golf club.
I’m a high handicap WE player. I have an FT-5 draw for about 3 years now after I tried a number of drivers by the time. I have tried other drivers since then, but kept this one. I’m not making miracles with it, but am straighter (more forgiving head?) and longer in dry weather conditions (rolls more?). I think it is forgiving but still efficient, like most of my clubs (nike sumo irons, mizuno mx700 hybrid..), so it brings me confidence. And we know how confidence is important in golf 😉
I had an ft3 draw last year and loved it but the club was in rough condition and the underbelly V symble had fallen off . so sold it and bought numerous clubs searching for a suitable replacement after trying ping cleveland then callaway fusion erc,, which was the pick of the bunch .
I purchased another ft3 draw but had lost my swing at the time so in a panic also bought an ft5 same spec and have been hitting them both at the range for the last couple of days and the conclusion is ,,,,,,,,they are both very good drivers there is no question about that.
Distance wise both similar maybe the ft5 has a slight edge ;
Ball does seem to explode more off the club face .
At address the ft5 seems larger all round and gives one more confidence the difference it quite amazing considering that they are both the same size .
Another thing I found is that since the ft5 is lower the tendency to tee it up to high is gone so less sky hits .
Two great clubs but for me the ft5 comes out on top as the one that I will be keeping It is a worthy up grade of an already very good club ,,
The ft5 is one very good driver and at last the serch is finially over ,,,,