Just swapped out the R7 for a Burner driver ...

[dave s]

...and not feeling any love for the Burner after its first trip to the range. Is it my imagination or are just about ALL driver faces closed a bit to promote straight drives for those who SLICE everything?

First few drives were low 'duck hooks.' Nice to swing a brand new driver because I can see the ball marks on the face. Teed ball a bit lower ... then lower until I was in the neighborhood of the sweet spot from a vertical perspective. Still hitting on the heel half of driver ... and still hooking it.

Lined ball up nearer toe of driver, opened face up a bit at address and flushed a few. Quick check indicates hitting balls nearer sweet spot produced a fairly straight, but what I'd call a 'dying fade' toward the end of the ball flight. Straight and with good launch trajectory, but kind of ran out of gas on the way down and faded right for some reason. BTW, range has decent, newer Srixon balls so they're not junkers!

Distance. The local range my wife and I go to has a massive 80' tall oak tree out about 200-210 yards from our usual practice spot. The tree is so large (side to side) that I use it as an imaginary fairway target. If I'm within the the width of the tree, it's in the fairway on most courses.

I also try to HIT the tree with my driver. With the R7, I could hit the ball through the leaves and branches of the tree about half way up on total bomb (for me, anyway) drives. Hitting the tree anywhere half way up probably represents a 230-240 fly and roll drive.

Don't recall hitting the tree ONE TIME with the Burner. Too bad I didn't bring the R7 to the range to validate my assumption that: R7 is longer than the Burner for me right now.

Between now and Sunday, I need to hit some more balls with the Burner. Playing in a scramble outing where I probably won't need it anyway, but it would be nice to lead off with something 230 down the middle so the other guys can bomb away for us!

dave

[907golfer12]

The burner comes stock with a 46" shaft, that is only 50g's, so maybe if you get a heavier and shorter shaft you will hit it better.

[dave s]

The length difference was obvious. I'm a bit slow so it took more than a few swings to back away an inch or two from the ball! DOH!!!!

I'm lucky enough to be able to make adjustments so that any club will work. I was actually hoping for more distance with the Burner! Maybe it'll come with more solid contact.

dave

[Dent]

Why did you switch out the r7 anyways if you were doing so well with it?

[dave s]

Why did you switch out the r7 anyways if you were doing so well with it?

Primarily for comparative purposes. The plan is to get competent with both then keep the longer, more accurate driver of the two. Plus, I got a fall close-out price on the Burner from rockbottomgolf.com so it didn't hurt 'too' badly!

dave

[dave s]

I am finding the same thing with my Tour Burner. I was playing a Ping G10 10.5* stock stiff shaft and good drives were anywhere between 280 to a long drive of 307 yrds (all according to sky caddie).

The Burner appears to have a softer 'feel' to it than the R7. Doesn't 'clink' quite so loud, either.

I'll keep working with it (as others have mentioned) and see if I can get it into that mighty oak tree at the range on a regular basis. Several guys on my league have gone to the Burner with really good results. OTOH, the two guys who hit the longest both play Ping G5 or G10 drivers! Better stick with your ping! dave