Callaway Drivers?

[Kcas77]

Im not looking to buy one but acording to golf.com club test the FT-IQ was a 10 in forgiveness and a 8 in workablity. How can this be when it hits everything dead striaght The Diablo was the most workable out of the 3 new callaway drivers which doesnt make sense because the FT-9 was built for workablity.

[Big_M]

don't believe everything you read in golf magazines... go hit the clubs and decide for yourself.

for what it's worth... I can work my FT-i, but it is very straight in general.

[Kcas77]

Like I said before Im not looking to buy one. Im just wondering how they came up with these stats. To me it seems like BS but I may be wrong.

[Big_M]

sorry... missed the part about not wanting to buy. Anyway, just checked my Golf magazine... they list the the following...
FT-iQ 10/8
Diablo 8/8
FT-9 9/9
1st # being forgiveness, 2nd workability...

I think you need to look at it again.

However, I would still say they pulled these numbers out of a hat or printed what the companies told them to.

I thought it was pretty lame the way they did a buyers guide this year instead of a "club test".

[Kcas77]

Oops my bad but the other two still seem to have a high workablity

[RocketSauce]

even though STRAIGHT is what the FT-iQ is known for, you can still work the ball with it. i have an FT-i and i have no problem drawing or cutting the ball with that. and a buddy i play with has the FT-iQ and can work the ball with the best of them without a problem when he wants to... like Big_M said, dont believe everything you read

[Magnus]

Golf and Golf Digest "club tests" are glorified commercials for the manufacturers. Try clubs yourself or ask for opinions here for those who have tried them. Thats what I do.

[flap]

I played the FT-3 for 3 seasons and now have the Ft-9 and it is much easierto work than the 3.

[Muttface]

for you guys hitting the older FT-i's (i.e. not the iQ's), have you found the distance satisfactory compared to other drivers you may have tried?

[Big_M]

for you guys hitting the older FT-i's (i.e. not the iQ's), have you found the distance satisfactory compared to other drivers you may have tried?

yes BUT... I have the LCG version, which has the Xcon shaft which is a low spin shaft, plus they've shifted weight around to reduce spin. My spin numbers are too high with the non-LCG version, causing about 10 yards loss in distance compared to this one. As far as my LCG... I am a solid 5 yards longer than my Nike Sasquatch.

When I bought this I hit the Hyper X, the FT-5, the Adams A3 XTD, and a Tour Edge Exotics... and nothing was significantly different length wise for me, except, the non-LCG version as mentioned above.

[RocketSauce]

for you guys hitting the older FT-i's (i.e. not the iQ's), have you found the distance satisfactory compared to other drivers you may have tried?

i JUST switched to a Mizuno MX-700 after using the FT-i for about 2 years. although the MX-700 is about 10 yards longer than the FT-i, the FT-i was a little easier to keep in the fairway. the FT-i is an EXTREMELY accurate driver and i would highly recommend it. 10 yards is really not that much. ESPECIALLY when your drives are in the fairway

[Muttface]

yes BUT... I have the LCG version, which has the Xcon shaft which is a low spin shaft, plus they've shifted weight around to reduce spin. My spin numbers are too high with the non-LCG version, causing about 10 yards loss in distance compared to this one. As far as my LCG... I am a solid 5 yards longer than my Nike Sasquatch.

i JUST switched to a Mizuno MX-700 after using the FT-i for about 2 years. although the MX-700 is about 10 yards longer than the FT-i, the FT-i was a little easier to keep in the fairway. the FT-i is an EXTREMELY accurate driver and i would highly recommend it. 10 yards is really not that much. ESPECIALLY when your drives are in the fairway

Thanks for the feedback. Not my intent to divert the thread but it seemed relevant to the original question. I recently upgraded to a Hyper-X from an old Steelhead III, but can't keep it from going right. Callaway Pre-Owned has decent prices on FT-i's and they offer trade-in credit on the Hyper so the FT-i draw seemed like a logical investment. I've hit one on a simulator at Golf Galaxy and liked the feel but don't trust the distance readouts. Some of the feedback and reviews floating around out there about the FT-i claim that distance may be compromised but as you mentioned, remaining in the fairway with confidence is worth a bit of distance.

[RocketSauce]

Thanks for the feedback. Not my intent to divert the thread but it seemed relevant to the original question. I recently upgraded to a Hyper-X from an old Steelhead III, but can't keep it from going right. Callaway Pre-Owned has decent prices on FT-i's and they offer trade-in credit on the Hyper so the FT-i draw seemed like a logical investment. I've hit one on a simulator at Golf Galaxy and liked the feel but don't trust the distance readouts. Some of the feedback and reviews floating around out there about the FT-i claim that distance may be compromised but as you mentioned, remaining in the fairway with confidence is worth a bit of distance.

and the distance lost (in my case anyway) was minimal. id go for it. you will like the FT-i

[stinkerface]

Definitely check out the FT-9 and not just the FT-IQ if you have the ability to hit both demos and are not the hugest fan of square drivers. The FT-9 hits just as straight for me, but has a nicer feel, more workability and makes the perfect sound (yes, I know this is a preference thing).

[flopdarock]

my brother has the fti and is thinking about upgrading to the fti-q... he has no problems working his fti... that club is money... i fell in love with it the first time i hit it... but the price tag at the time was ridiculous

[Power_fade]

I just read that new "buyer's guide" on Golf magazine's site. They grouped the callaway x22 tour in the low handicap category and the x-forged in the low to mid handicap. Um...isn't it the other way around?

[FRANKO_LOCO]

I've been pretty partial to Callaway for the better part of 15 years. I have owned the original S2H2 irons, the Big Berthas and now the VFTs. I absolutely love the feel...I am in the market for some newer irons in maybe a tour version as I don't need or like the offset anymore as I am improving. As far as drivers go, I have owned and used Big Bertha, Steelhead, ERC Fusion, I even have a Titleist I used, FT-3, FT-5 and I now use the FT-9...I know you're thinking...why so many drivers? The funny thing is...I have more used wedges than drivers...irons I'm funny about though....but that something totally different. As far as drivers are concerned, I loved my FT-3...more than FT-5. As a matter of fact, the 5 stayed at home until I traded it in on my FT-9. I think you need to try before you buy. That was the mistake I made with the FT-5. I thought, "it's newer, it must be better!" Boy was I wrong! Also, I would you to know, the FT-9 is the FIRST NEW driver I've ever owned. All the others were demos, preowned or gimmes. I highly recommend you try the drivers. I bought this one with an open mind. I tried several other brands and models. The FT-9 felt the best and was giving me great results and has on the course. I highy recommend you get fitted. shaft kickpoint, stifness, weight and length make a BIG...HUGE difference. What one person hits well you might hit GREAT and vice versa. I love to talk golf and equipment so excuse the lengthy reply. I enjoy writing, too.

[Muttface]

I owe all of you gents a thank-you. The used FT-i arrived from Callaway Pre-owned last week and I was finally able to get to the range and air it out last evening. The first thing that popped into my mind was that line from Woody Harrelson's bowling movie "Kingpin": "Sweeter than YooHoo...". Nothing went right unintentionally as the Hyper X had been doing but instead straight or slight draw. Looked like decent distance but was not able to compare hard numbers yet as the range is poorly marked. I did find that by purposely slashing at the ball it would fade or slice so there is some workability there if I ever get good enough to control it.

Had a guy do a driver fitting a few weeks ago and he was steering me towards the Nike products (ostensibly because I was hitting my wife's Sasquatch at the time but also possibly because it was a day before their big "buy a driver get a free fairway wood" deal commenced. What came out of the fitting was that I needed the senior flex with a higher loft due to a slow swing. The "new" FT-i is the light regular flex, 13°, stock shaft with low kickpoint and is going to provide a lot of confidence. I think I'll be happy with it, thanks again for the recommendations.