Weird driver issue

[blackxpress]

I came back to the game this year after several years of being an occasional hacker. I'm really working hard on my game and am making fast progress. I began the season with my old Taylor Made Burner 9.5* S90 Plus Bubble Shaft (stiff flex). In the beginning I couldn't hit it worth a flip and decided to pull the trigger on a more modern driver. Wound up with a Tour Edge Bazooka JMax QL 10.5* Regular Flex. At first it made a big difference. I hit it longer and straighter than my old Burner. Now that my swing is improving I'm hitting all my clubs a whole lot better (they're all stiff shaft except that Bazooka driver). The one exception is I started slicing with my new driver. Not all that bad but it was getting harder and harder to control. Just for giggles and grins I broke out my old Burner and, lo and behold, I'm hitting that thing really good now. Much longer, straighter and more consistent than I ever hit it before. What's more I can actually hit that driver longer than the Bazooka. I haven't had my swing speed measured but I wouldn't think it's high enough for 1* of loft to make that much difference. I'd be surprised if it was more than 100 mph. The Burner's lighter than the Bazooka (smaller head, less wind resistance). Plus, I'm guessing the regular flex shaft tends to exaggerate whatever swing flaws I do have. So, what do you guys think? Any other theories?

[Avid Golfer]

I haven't had my swing speed measured but I wouldn't think it's high enough for 1* of loft to make that much difference. I'd be surprised if it was more than 100 mph. The Burner's lighter than the Bazooka (smaller head, less wind resistance). Plus, I'm guessing the regular flex shaft tends to exaggerate whatever swing flaws I do have. So, what do you guys think? Any other theories?

When club companies use launch monitors for fitting players they have a range for the optimal launch angle and many things, not just loft, factor into it. Therefore in your 1* of loft hypothesis you may be correct, but these days because of changes in sweet spots, head weighting, face thinkness and center of gravity a 9.5* head from ten to fifteen years ago will not produce the same launch conditions as a 9.5* head built in the last 5 years. Loft, shaft flex, angle of attack, spin, clubhead speed, and area of contact on the clubface all factor in.

According to Frank Thomas (former technical director for the USGA and inventor of the graphite shaft) has said that shaft weight can account for ~ 5 yards in distance. Club companies have found that driver head size has little to no correlation to how much drag is produced by the air during the downswing, and what little effect their might be is countered by the added shaft bend/flex that it would create. Having a more flexible shaft doesn't mean your swing flaws will be exagerated. Things like shaft kickpoint are often more important than the general flex designation when it comes to launch conditions, and things like shaft torque are more of a factor to hitting shots off line. http://www.franklygolf.com/Speak/Article4_16.asp There is a lot of misinformation floating out there on golf clubs, and what effect (if any) certain features will have on your shots. If you have questions and want a technically correct answer (instead of opinions like you are likely to find on message boards) then you may want to direct your questions to Frank Thomas, and see what he has to say on the subject. inquiries@franklygolf.com

[iWALK18]

I think that a shaft with more flex tends to help avoid slices because the head has more time to square up since it lags a bit more... this is what i've read anyways.

But serriously, with your driver i would say just remind yourself to swing fluidly with good tempo, and don't try to avoid hitting it right... you will only come even more from the outside as you try to get the ball going left. Line up, trust your aim, and put a nice solid swing on the ball.

I can hit my girlfriend's ladies flex clubs perfectly fine (and plenty long) if I just take it easy and have a good rhythm...

[Dub]

Perhaps the lighter flex shaft on your newer driver has more torque.

This combined with the "whippier" effect may leave the club head in strange locations at impact.

The stiffer and possibly lower torque of your older driver shaft may be yeilding a more consistent impact position.

Could just be a better quality shaft.

I remember when several of the guys in my fathers group of players had the stock shafts taken out of their Great Big Berthas and went to aftermarket shafts. Even though they mostly went with the same flex as the stock shaft, they seriously improved their accuracay. I suspect the reduced torque and better quality materials really helped them.