New Shaft On My Driver - Worth it?

[mb22]

So I have a question about ball flight with my driver and I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience. I have a 9* with a stiff shaft/mid kick point and I hit the ball high... ridiculously high. To make matters worse, I also slice (only with this club). It's gotten to the point where i don't even bother pulling out my driver, even on wide open par 5's because i hit my 5 wood almost as far and pretty straight (most of the time). I recently hit in front of the launch monitor at Golf Galaxy, and I'm thinking of buying one of the shafts I tried (my swing speed is 115, so they suggested an X-stiff with a mid kick point) which reduced my launch angle from 18* to 14* and felt easier to control. My question is: has anyone experienced anything similar and have any advice? Is it a good idea to buy a shaft without testing outside on the range? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[bengals/redsox]

IMO at 115 mph driver swing speed I wouldn't go to x stiff it most likely will feel "boardy" to you i'm not sure that you will be able to fire an x stiff a low launching stiff is what I would be leaning towards but again IMO

[LPHSGolfPhil]

Does your ping have a stock shaft?
Because its 3/4" longer than the "norm" it's a little harder to control consistently
I had the same experience with the new G10 and couldn't stand it anymore
It would definately be worth it to go with a new shaft and get it cut down to a more manageable length, i mean, unless you totally hate it hahaha

[mb22]

IMO at 115 mph driver swing speed I wouldn't go to x stiff it most likely will feel "boardy" to you i'm not sure that you will be able to fire an x stiff a low launching stiff is what I would be leaning towards but again IMO

That's where I'm torn. I tried a couple regular flex/high kick point but I was still at a 15* degree launch. But I don't want to buy a x stiff and realize a month from now that I wasted money.

Does your ping have a stock shaft?

Not sure if it's a stock shaft, as I bought the club used. I'll definitely have it fit to my length (I'm tall, so I need it to be a little longer)

[BGPro]

With a clubhead speed of 115, yes, and X-stiff is what you need. I also agree that an X-stiff may not give you all the benefits you need. Here's what I suggest... Find a shaft you like in stiff flex. Go to your local golf repair shop and ask them if they will install it for you. Have them take 1" off the tip of the shaft, as this will make it stiffer and perform like a "soft X" shaft. As for the trajectory, it does have something to do with the shaft, but also with the clubhead. All these new clubs are designed to have a higher ball flight in order to get maximum distance, but are horrible to use in wind. I would suggest taking a piece or two or three of lead tape and tape the sole of the driver close to the face. This will now move the center of gravity lower and more forward on the club, resulting in a lower ball flight. I know this because I just went through the same thing you are going through. If I may make a shaft suggestion, I just switched to the Aldila DVS 70X, which I tipped 1" to make it XX. I would try the DVS in stiff first, and if it still isn't stiff enough, pull it apart and tip it 1" and see how that works. I used to use the VS PROTO, but the DVS is a much better shaft.

[DJYoshi]

With a clubhead speed of 115, yes, and X-stiff is what you need. I also agree that an X-stiff may not give you all the benefits you need. Here's what I suggest... Find a shaft you like in stiff flex. Go to your local golf repair shop and ask them if they will install it for you. Have them take 1" off the tip of the shaft, as this will make it stiffer and perform like a "soft X" shaft.

I agree with this. Also, they can change the characteristics of the shaft depending on how the shaft is tipped.

I would think if y ou're getting it way too high, then a shaft with a high kickpoint might be the way to go. Try the Diamana line. I always suggest it...it's expensive..but definitely worth it. i'm 100% in love with my driver after I reshafted

[beung]

A few things to consider....

1) Numbers are just that, numbers. Use them to help you with your selection but don't get fooled into thinking that just because you have certain numbers you "have" to use shaft XYZ.

2) I have very little faith in the retail stores when it comes to getting fitted or getting clubs customized. They are in the business of selling you clubs and other material goods not services.

My last experience with a "retailer" was the last strew, I got my driver reshafted and although the shaft was a great shaft and it probably was something that I could live with but the knowledge level and care and attention just wasn't there.

They sold me the shaft, they put it in without Spining and only alignment they did was to make sure the lable on the shaft was at 12 o'clock. The shaft started to come out of the head because they never bothered to sand the paint of the tip of the shaft. If they couldn't be bothered to do that do you think they are going to check the frequencey to make sure it's true, spine, align and tip it to make sure that it really matches your average SS?

I took the club to a clubmaker, who's business is putting clubs together, they do sell clubs but mostly in pieces and they work with you to get the right pieces. Anyways, he helped me pick a shaft and I was able to hit the same head with different shafts. I picked the one that I was the most comfortable with and the numbers were still good, not much better then what I had but more consistent. He spined the shaft and double checked it even though the shaft comes with the spine mark on it but he checked it himself just in case, frequencey checked it and tipped it to get the frequencey that he thought it would work best for me. The install was free because I bought the shaft from him, the retailer charged me for the shaft and the install. So basically the better service was free while the crappy service I was charged for.

Simply put get a clubmaker to help you pick your shaft, leave the retail store to do what they do best, selling you clothes, accessories and OEM equipment. It's worth the extra time and even the money to get it done right because you're going to hit better drives and probably more fairways.

[iacas]

If you're slicing the ball, you're likely adding a heckuva lot of loft. Perhaps that's part of the reason for your high launch angle. It may not be all about the shaft.

[obsessedgolfer]

if you still carry a ping g5 as said in your signature is not worth the 60$ to 70$ when you can buy a new driver with your desired flex for about 200$ (tm burner, callaway x 460 only 150$, cobra x speed 200$)

[Stacey_E]

A lot of great suggestions by lower handicaps than myself. I play a Ping driver and I am here to testify....their shafts are too damn long, period. But they are far from being the only company guilty of this. Whatever you do, at least think about a shorter shaft.

[DDBowdoin]

I cut my shaft down to 44 1/5 inches and not only gained accuracy but also yardage... the shorter shaft allows me to make better contact

its almost like when high handicap golfers buy the burner... yes, the longer shaft will create more clubhead speed but it also makes it harder to make solid and consistent contact... especially if you are the average height of 5'9

[mb22]

Thank you for the advice everyone. I think I'm either going to go to try some new shafts or wait until fall and buy a new driver. In terms of length, a shorter shaft would help. I'm 6'4", but I do choke up a couple of inches.

[mb22]

Well, I haven't pulled out my driver in 30 holes, and that's just not a fun way to play golf. I decided to switch out my pro launch blue for a pro launch red (tipped an inch to make it a bit more stiff). I'll let you know how it goes.

[ks8829]

I would try to find a demo driver with your driver and the shaft you want to have installed and hit it on the range, launch monitor or the golf simulator driving range.

I would not change the shaft without test hitting it unless of course they guarantee your satisfaction.

[mb22]

I would try to find a demo driver with your driver and the shaft you want to have installed and hit it on the range, launch monitor or the golf simulator driving range.

I agree. I was able to test about 8 shafts in the launch monitor and this was my top choice (along with the Fujikara 360).

[Stacey_E]

I see now that you were on the ProLaunch Blue which is in fact a low kick (high launch) shaft. All things equal, those hit quite high. I've seen many fade driver shots turn into bananna balls where they hang in the air soooo long. I don't have that problem. I'm launching my 12* G5 at what I guess would be about 11 or 12*, which is really too low for my 95 MPH swing. But I hit more fairways because the ball gets down before it gets outside the fairway lines. I bet you will see the same thing with a higher kick shaft and lower launch angle.

[dkinser86]

I recently hit in front of the launch monitor at Golf Galaxy, and I'm thinking of buying one of the shafts I tried (my swing speed is 115, so they suggested an X-stiff with a mid kick point) which reduced my launch angle from 18* to 14* and felt easier to control. My question is: has anyone experienced anything similar and have any advice? Is it a good idea to buy a shaft without testing outside on the range? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

That's where I'm torn. I tried a couple regular flex/high kick point but I was still at a 15* degree launch. But I don't want to buy a x stiff and realize a month from now that I wasted money.

I took the club to a clubmaker, who's business is putting clubs together, they do sell clubs but mostly in pieces and they work with you to get the right pieces. Anyways, he helped me pick a shaft and I was able to hit the same head with different shafts. I picked the one that I was the most comfortable with and the numbers were still good, not much better then what I had but more consistent. He spined the shaft and double checked it even though the shaft comes with the spine mark on it but he checked it himself just in case, frequencey checked it and tipped it to get the frequencey that he thought it would work best for me. The install was free because I bought the shaft from him, the retailer charged me for the shaft and the install. So basically the better service was free while the crappy service I was charged for.

What is the easiest way to find a clubmaker like this? I can't seem to find this type of service as far as getting help in choosing a shaft.

[bruce]

Try this site out, http://www.thomasgolf.com and click on fitting.