Nike Sasquatch (SQ) Driver - Initial Impressions

[iacas]

I played with the Nike SasQuatch (Tour model, 9.5, stiff, std length) today. I may be biased by hitting 8 fairways and missing all but one by the slimmest of margins, but the club is pretty solid. Once you get past the looks (which doesn't take long when smooth swings begin throwing the ball out there pretty well), the club is fairly easy to set up and swing.

On one hole, a 295-yard uphill par 4, I normally just make about a 60% swing with a driver to keep the ball in play and leave myself about 70 yards to the hole. I call it "bunting" the ball, and it beats hitting a 3W that I sometimes hook or cut into trees or bunkers. Darn if my 60% swing didn't get the ball out there nearly to the green!

This club reportedly has one of the highest MOIs, and it seemed to be almost too much. I hit a ball on one hole a bit too far towards the toe - maybe half an inch or 3/4 or so - and instead of starting right before hooking back (the ol' toe-hook), the ball started straight and then hooked. I was a few yards into the left rough when, on most other drivers, I feel like the ball would have started further right and come back to the fairway.

Still, I'm currently fairly impressed with the driver. Spin stayed down, the club felt good, and the trajectory was boring without being too low or too high.

[HSGolfer0105]

Can't wait to see the full review of this club, even though its the Tour model and not the normal one. I've pretty much narrowed my new driver choices down to the FT-3/FT-3 Tour, the SQ, the MacTech/Tour and the HiBore. Gonna have to schedule a date with a launch monitor soon.

[iacas]

I've pretty much narrowed my new driver choices down to the FT-3, the SQ, the MacTech and the HiBore. Gonna have to schedule a date with a launch monitor soon.

Sounds like it!

Why did you rule out the Tour version? Seems like you had by what you said about "even if it is the Tour"...

[HSGolfer0105]

Tour version isn't totally ruled out, but I feel like the shape of the normal one would be more forgiving on off center hits. I have no trouble getting a driver into the air, but i need a club that is more designed for forgiveness on toe and heel mishits than workability, at least at this point in my game.

When I get to a shop with a launch monitor, I'll hit pretty much everything they have, I don't care about brand name, as long as the club works for me.

[iacas]

Tour version isn't totally ruled out, but I feel like the shape of the normal one would be more forgiving on off center hits. I have no trouble getting a driver into the air, but i need a club that is more designed for forgiveness on toe and heel mishits than workability, at least at this point in my game.

The Tour version is pretty darn forgiving from what I can tell... and has a square face. If you fight going left, that may win out over a slight forgiveness edge.

[Sanjuro82]

What is the sound like at impact? Call me weird, but the sound plays a big part in my confidence at set up.

[iacas]

What is the sound like at impact? Call me weird, but the sound plays a big part in my confidence at set up.

Better than the 905R (not as tinny or dead). Not as high-pitched as the r7. Not as dull as the HiBore. Not like a fungo bat like the FT-3.

[jeffgladchun]

Better than the 905R (not as tinny or dead). Not as high-pitched as the r7. Not as dull as the HiBore. Not like a fungo bat like the FT-3.

Nice descriptions of all those sounds, they're all dead on. I could hear them in my head as I read that sentence.

[Rafcin]

That thing is huge... I can't imagine getting over the look of that UFO thingy attached to the shaft... but then again - I couldn't imagine myself getting over the sound of FT-3 and now I've one in the mail. If it's THAT good... will have to try it

[SheriffBooth]

Man, I had one coming off eBay about 3 weeks ago but the guy stiffed me and now I'm in a Paypal dispute. With this review I'm wishing the deal hadn't gone south, although I'm hitting my 905t pretty well these days and had resigned myself to stick with it for the summer.

Damn you, Iacas, and your positive reviews of things I want to try!

[ttee9]

.... The best way to find out if you like a club, is to play it ......


You can "rent" them at Golf Galaxy, you can buy them with a 30 day return from other internet sites and there seem's to be enough around at places like "Second Swing" if you really look .......



whats in the bag.??

Driver: Tour Edge Jmax 460 Carbon with the Fuji Vista Pro 50 shaft.
Woods: only one left after switching to hybrids - Adams ST #7 22*.
Hybrids: Tour Edge 21*, 24*, 30*, 41* and the 50* Attack Wedge with the Fuji graphite shafts.
Wedges: Warrior 56*, 60*, 64* with the Harrison Shafts.
Putter: Ping Anser 2F.
Balls: Dunlop Super Loco, Maxfli Noodles - or any "good" ball when it goes on sale ...



Home course: Grey Hawk.
travel course: Tobacco Road (Pinehurst).

[Sanjuro82]

So I take it a full review is on the way in the near future?

[iacas]

So I take it a full review is on the way in the near future?

whenever it's scheduled, yeah... which is... July 28.

[Seven Lakes]

I read Iacas's review and that got me intrigued so I went to EBAY and placed a bid on a SQ Tour 9.5 X-Stiff knowing that 200 bucks will never win, well I won so im getting it on Wed like it or not.....Good deal though and if I don’t like the Adilia NV 65, with al the money I saved I can get my Mitsu or Fuji later on I suppose....How’s everyone who has a 115+MPH club head speed like the Adilia shaft?

[flap]

Leave My Fungo Bat Out Of This!!!!!!b-)

[iacas]

Leave My Fungo Bat Out Of This!!!!!!b-)

I used a fungo bat today to shoot 71 - the first time I've broken par on my home course in a decade. Admittedly, that was with seven years off in the middle there (college, Florida), but still...

[Seven Lakes]

Hit the new Tour SQ 9.5 this weekend at the range only..(low on fundage) and W/ range balls I was easily 20 yards past my 975J but more importantly I was hitting them all straight or w/ a slight fade. I tried to hit a few subtle hooks/draws..nope Straight as an arrow.. Driver feels great, sets up square and the Adila NV is a great shaft....So initially I love this club and would def recommend it...

[TheShanks]

I was at Golfsmith hitting clubs i hit the SQ i liked the sound of it when I hit it and it felt like a solid hit. They have a computer thing next to it to show how far your hit would of gone and where it would land. I hit it about 250 or something but i can't hit far im only a freshman but it had a fade.