Hyper X versus Big Bertha 460 -- interesting launch monitor results

[e-man]

Man, I've had a busy weekend at Golfsmith on the launch monitor.

In another thread, I posted about the fact that I just returned a 2008 X fairway 3 wood in stiff flex for the same club in regular flex. The launch monitor had me maxing out the stiff flex between 205-210 yards, and the regular flex was consistently in the 225 range with a much better launch angle. There was literally no comparison.

Yesterday, I was busy deciding between the Big Bertha 460 driver in regular versus stiff flex, and ended up going with the stiff. The launch monitor numbers had me hitting both about the same, but the stiff was a tad more consistent. On average, I was hitting the stiff between 230-240 (240 being pretty much the max), with a launch angle of around 10-12 degrees (which is a little on the low side, in my opinion).

Anyway, after trading the X fairway wood for the one in regular flex, I got to thinking that I should really check out the Hyper X driver (10 degree, in regular flex). Who knows, if the shaft works well for me in the X 3 wood, maybe I'll get similar positive results with the driver.

After warming up, I began by hitting the BB 460, 10 stiff, and was getting pretty much the same good results as yesterday (on average, 235 total yards, 11-13 launch angle, 94-95 mph swing speed). Okay, time to hit the Hyper X. First swing, 255 total yards. Next shot, 249. Several more shots, more of the same. Launch angle between 13-15 degrees. Clearly, there's something about the regular flex shaft in that line of clubs that works for my swing. Any thoughts?

One last thing. The swingweight of the BB 460 is D2, and the swingweight of the Hyper X is D5. D5 seems kind of high to me. Isn't it?

e

[nykfan4life]

If I were a 7 handicap I would be looking at tour-styled drivers. I don't know much about hyper x but BB is for beginners who can't get the ball airborne

[e-man]

If I were a 7 handicap I would be looking at tour-styled drivers. I don't know much about hyper x but BB is for beginners who can't get the ball airborne

Funny you should say that because that was my initial impression as well (that the BB is for beginners). After doing a lot of research, though, I found that a lot of people (from single digits to those just starting out) are playing the club. It's super forgiving, but it's also very solid and fairly long, assuming you get fit with the right shaft.

e

[nykfan4life]

Funny you should say that because that was my initial impression as well (that the BB is for beginners). After doing a lot of research, though, I found that a lot of people (from single digits to those just starting out) are playing the club. It's super forgiving, but it's also very solid and fairly long, assuming you get fit with the right shaft.

Oh, okay. I always just assumed forgiveness and length were and inverse proportion, but if thats not the case, then go for it. watch out though, you may hit it to far to the left.

[e-man]

I called Callaway today and got the specs for the stock shafts in the Big Bertha 460 and Hyper X. I've always been on the cusp between regular and stiff, and now that I have the specs, this all kind of makes sense as to why I liked the Hyper X in a regular flex.

Big Bertha 460
Regular flex -- frequency 245, torque 6.8
Stiff flex -- frequency 260, torque 5.5

Hyper X
Regular flex -- frequency 251, torque 5.1
Stiff flex -- frequency 261, torque 5.2 (I think it's kind of odd that the torque on the stiff would be more than the torque on the regular)

Anyway, it seems that the regular flex in the Hyper X is just about perfect for my swing -- 93-95 mph with relatively quick tempo. I thought everyone might find these specs interesting.

e

[TourSpoon]

Funny you should say that because that was my initial impression as well (that the BB is for beginners). After doing a lot of research, though, I found that a lot of people (from single digits to those just starting out) are playing the club. It's super forgiving, but it's also very solid and fairly long, assuming you get fit with the right shaft.

My friend plays the BB 460 with stock stiff and he has been a club pro for 20 years. He busts that thing a mile. I hit another friend's BB454 with the NV 65 S in it and liked it so much I bought one. I took it back after 3 months to check it on the launch monitor and the guy told me you couldn't have done much better as the numbers where solid. While it is harder to work that's fine with me. If I need to bend it I hit my 3 wood.

[shortgame85]

e-man, your experience with the Callaway Hyper X is so interesting to me because it mirrors mine. I was in the Golfsmith in Memphis about three weeks ago, a little birthday money burning a hole in my pocket. I thought I would find my blueberry hill with the new Cobra LD4. I got on the launch monitor, without golf shoes or the benefit of a glove, hit the ball mostly straight but short with a 10 degree, regular flex. Now, I have a relatively slow swing, between 80 and 85 mph, as measured that day on the monitor.

The salesman suggested I try several other drivers, including the new TaylorMade CGB, with the triangular head and the redish top. I just couldn't get used to the shape and I never felt comfortable swinging it.

Then, for comparison purposes, I swung my then current driver, a Cobra LD F speed, 10 degree, regular flex.

After a few swings with the old reliable LD, the salesman put a Hyper X, 10 degree, regular flex in my hands. After swinging a Cobra LD for a season, the more traditional shaped Hyper looked a bit small. Also the shaft felt a little heavier to me. For some reason, I've never cottoned to Callaway drivers: I've owned the Hawkeye VFT ( my first driver ), the ERC and the FT-3. I expected mediocre results.

Lo and behold, according to the launch monitor, I blew my first drive 15 yards past my best with the other drivers. After two more average swings, I once again popped a doozy. In all, I hit about 12 balls with the Hyper X. Of course, some of my drives were average, none were poor and several were as far as I had ever hit the ball, and three were even farther.

I also noticed that the shaft felt a little stiffer than other "regular" shafts I had tried. I also wondered if the results would hold up in real life circumstances. In any event, I purchased the club.

I have played two rounds on my home course with it. During each round, once I started swinging well, I found that I hit the club well and as far and sometimes farther than any driver I've hit.

The Hyper X is in my bag. The moral of the story is this: trying out clubs on a launch monitor is a revelation. I would have bet I would not have walked out of that store with a Callaway driver in a million years, certainly not the Hyper X; but that is exactly what I did after trying it on the launch monitor. And, at least for now, I'm glad I've got the Hyper X.