Shafts, Stiff, Reg? High Kick, Low Kick, Now I'm Confused!!

[montru]

Hi All

I currently have a Cobra M speed 9* stiff shaft with a low kick, even with a
9* I hit a very high ball.
Twelve months ago I had a swing speed of 95-100 but for some reason when I checked it over the weekend at Golf USA I'm down to 85-90.
My swing coach said that the shaft being a stiff low kick is not helping me to keep it low and I should maybe change to a Reg medium kick, but I have read that stiff shaft low kick helps a low ball flight, is this correct? any suggestions?

[TomDonS]

No that is incorrect. The higher the kick the lower the trajectory. and vice versa.

If you look at the specs of shafts online they will put both kickpoint and launch.

[grantc79]

All kick points being equal.......

The weaker the shaft the higher it will fly. The stiffer the lower.

All stiffness being equal...........

The lower the kick point the more spin and the higher it will fly. The higher the kick point the less spin and the lower it will fly.

[montru]

All kick points being equal.......

So, as I have said, I have a 9* stiff low kick and hit a high ball (higher than most with a 10.5*) If I can get a 10.5 or lower reg flex Med kick driver (9* reg flex med kick are hard to find) it should give me a lower trajectory?

[TomDonS]

If you like the stiff flex i would stick with that and go with a Mid/High Kick Mid/ Low launch shaft.

[grantc79]

So, as I have said, I have a 9* stiff low kick and hit a high ball (higher than most with a 10.5*) If I can get a 10.5 or lower reg flex Med kick driver

Not necessarily.

Regular flex will bend a lot more during your swing and due to excessive torque being put on it it will spin the ball more which will also lead to a higher shot. In all honesty, this might not be what you want to hear but at an 18 handicap you probably don't have a repeatable driver swing so there are any of a number of issues that could be going on here. You could have a reverse pivot causing you to sky the ball. You might bend your wrist at impact causing you to flip the ball upwards. 200 dollar clubs and 1000 dollar lessons are better than 1200 dollar clubs. A good player can adapt and hit anything to some degree. Until you reach single digits handicap wise I really wouldn't worry about your clubs.

[montru]

Not necessarily.

I can apreciate what you are saying but I would say (and so would my swing coach) that although my swing is not perfect I am able to repeat it.

The trouble I have is that I stuggle to reach long par 4's and my short game is a bit suspect and that is why I am an 18 handicapper. I am trying to find a way of just lowering my ball flight to give me an extra 20-30 yards.

[grantc79]

I can apreciate what you are saying but I would say (and so would my swing coach) that although my swing is not perfect I am able to repeat it.

Good

Well you have the basic information, its just a question of which way you want to go. Best of luck to ya.

[JackLee]

I can apreciate what you are saying but I would say (and so would my swing coach) that although my swing is not perfect I am able to repeat it.

Get fitted. Go to someone who has the equipment to check your swing specs and tell you what club specs you need. You don't have to buy any clubs from the fitter, but if you don't, you may have to pay for the fitting. Ask about that.

[jambalaya]

Are you skying the ball or popping it up? If not, lowering your ball flight is not necessarily going to help you hit it further. There is usually an optimum ball flight for how you hit the ball. I would go for a better swing, more solid contact to get more distance.

[montru]

Are you skying the ball or popping it up? If not, lowering your ball flight is not necessarily going to help you hit it further. There is usually an optimum ball flight for how you hit the ball. I would go for a better swing, more solid contact to get more distance.

I get good solid contact probably 95% of the time and the ball flight goes on a steady straight line going up at (I'm guessing) maybe a 30* angle, I get around 210 carry but not much roll due to the almost vertical drop when it runs out of forward motion and drops like a stone.

I have been working with my club pro and we have been trying to get me to keep my weight going a little longer through the finish to get the ball a little lower, a few drives last week out on the course absolutely flew, huge drives (for me anyway) around 265 & 275 (measured with SkyCaddie) but the pro said with a lower ball flight I could add another 20-30 yds.

[Kcas77]

First of all why cant your pro answer this.
Secondly your swing is probably causing a high ball flight, not the club.
Finally stiffer shaft=lower ball flight Higher the kick point= lower ball flight.

[flanagan]

Get fitted. By the way, lowering your ball flight doesn't necessarily mean you will be gaining any yards, let alone 20 - 30, unless you are just plain ballooning the ball, which it doesn't sound like you are.

Get fitted. Or trust your pro, but we haven't seen your swing.

[Dave]

My experience has been that the Cobra drivers hit a high ball. I have a LD F Speed that I re-shafted to try and bring it down a bit. Not much luck. The Cleveland XL Hibore gave me a flatter trajectory.

On the other hand, many folks think they hit their driver too high when they actually need that height to get the best distance.