Titleist D3/Voodoo - what is ballooning?

[flanagan]

First, I love the feel of this club, did lots of research, hit it (but unfortunately at a time when my swing was a little out of whack) and bought it.

Second, it is 1/2 inch shorter than my G10, which I like, and I have found a significant difference in finding fairways with the Titleist, for whatever reason. I have found on average, however, my distance is less and not attributable to the shorter shaft.

Third, I seem to hit the ball very high, but no roll. In looking back at the review here, I see that was a concern. Obviously, there is no valid apples to apples way of translating someone else's experience as related in print, and I did not have the option of testing an alternate shaft.

What is "ballooning" in a shaft as those of you who use and understand that term would define it? Don't know if that's what is going on, but am curious how I would recognize it as an issue, if that makes sense. Thanks.

[iacas]

The review here on the site was done with a D2 with a Voodoo. My driver's a D3 with a V2.

Ballooning is too much backspin. It causes the ball to rise up or balloon, particularly into a headwind.

A high ball flight is not "ballooning" if it doesn't have that "backspin-driven rise up."

[golf_junkie27]

What is "ballooning" in a shaft as those of you who use and understand that term would define it? Don't know if that's what is going on, but am curious how I would recognize it as an issue, if that makes sense. Thanks.

What type of swing do you have? Is it steep or are you more of a slider/sweeper? This might be why you're ballooning the ball.

The Voodoo series of shaft are all mid launch angle so depending on your swing your going to get a higher ball flight. From reading, I know the D3 is the lower spinning of the new series heads so it is probably a shaft/swing issue. Have you hit a lower launch angle shaft with this head? It might be something you can look into that will help lower your ball flight and the ballooning you are experiencing.

[flanagan]

The review here on the site was done with a D2 with a Voodoo. My driver's a D3 with a V2.

My recollection is the v2 vs. the Voodoo was more the answer to the ballooning issue, as opposed to the D2 vs. D3. Great review by the way, nothing about my post is intended to suggest otherwise, quite the opposite.

I hear what you are saying about ballooning, the question is, I guess, how would I distinguish/recognize its effects? It's a term I see used often.

[flanagan]

What type of swing do you have? Is it steep or are you more of a slider/sweeper? This might be why you're ballooning the ball.

I'd fall into the "steep" category, loft is 9.5 on my D3.

If I'm understanding you, and perhaps what I may hear back from our intrepid leader, I may be experiencing higher ball flight vs. whatever "ballooning" is, and my lots of carry, no roll may be tweaked with a different shaft and/or addressing a swing issue. No doubt that's the case, had seen "ballooning" in reference to the Voodoo and was trying to get a handle on what that meant and how to recognize it. Thanks for the reply.

[iacas]

My recollection is the v2 vs. the Voodoo was more the answer to the ballooning issue, as opposed to the D2 vs. D3.

I never really used the term "balloon" in the review, though. The Voodoo, to be clear, had a higher ball flight for me than the V2, and a ball flight that tended to be more to the left. I hit a lot of high pulls with the Voodoo/D2 than with the V2/D3. But they didn't balloon.

One time I used the word it was "balloon on a stick" referring to head size. The only other time I used it was with the 907D2, which could balloon a touch if I wasn't careful.

I hear what you are saying about ballooning, the question is, I guess, how would I distinguish/recognize its effects? It's a term I see used often.

A high ball flight is not ballooning. A ball that starts out lower and then noticeably rises up is ballooning. Sometimes it helps to have a touch of headwind, but most properly fit, decent golfers don't balloon the ball into even a good headwind.

If I'm understanding you, and perhaps what I may hear back from our intrepid leader, I may be experiencing higher ball flight vs. whatever "ballooning" is, and my lots of carry, no roll may be tweaked with a different shaft and/or addressing a swing issue.

I don't know what you're experiencing. I can only tell you about mine. The Voodoo's not a high-spin shaft, but it sounds like you are hitting it high. If you're ballooning it, you probably need to tweak your swing, because that shaft isn't exactly the ballooning type.

If you're just hitting it high, without ballooning, then what's to worry about? The ideal launch angle is a lot higher than some people would guess, and if you can carry the ball to your target that's great. Too many people prefer to roll the ball on the ground - if you've not lost distance over your previous driver, you should be fine. Ballooning indicates you're losing distance. A high ballflight doesn't necessarily mean ballooning, though - it has to rise up for me to call it that. Otherwise it's just a "high ballflight" or "high launch." So there you go, relative to each other, "high ballflight" is high launch with a high peak height, while "ballooning" is a relatively lower launch angle with a still high peak height.

[Hokie2k5]

First, I love the feel of this club, did lots of research, hit it (but unfortunately at a time when my swing was a little out of whack) and bought it.

You shouldn't suffer any distance loss with the D3 vs. a G10. It sounds like the Voodoo isn't right for your swing. I had the same problem with a fairway wood, I bought the stock Voodoo and liked the way it felt but it was ballooning on me and spinning way too much. You can also get the factory to tip the stock Voodoo 1/2" and it plays more like the aftermarket Voodoo and should cut down on the ballooning.

I would recommend trying as many shafts as you can with the D3 head, most big golf stores having the 909 fitting cart where you can hit a lot of different options. Shafts make a giant difference in a perfect driver fit. I just went and got professionally fitted with my driver (after I had been fitted for a 909D3 with V2 by Titleist demo day guys) and it's made all the difference in the world. I'm hitting the ball on a better trajectory, more accurately, and consistently 15+ yards farther than with the V2 setup. Good luck.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I play a D3 with the stock voodoo right now. I have a similar complaint that many people have had with. It is much too whippy and the high ball flight. Too high for a club with 9.5 degrees of loft. Im not a big hitter so i depend on some rollout to get decent distance off the tee. The ball shoots up high right off of the race and it stays up there until it comes down at about 240-245. In wet conditions it was costing me up to 2 clubs a hole. I hit my 905R 270-280 with rollout. I will be switching to a V2 shaft when i go on vacation in a couple of weeks. The V2 is a whippy shaft too, but i didnt hit moon balls with it like i do with the voodoo.

[flanagan]

Appreciate very much all of the above responses and the explanations. Thanks.

[anthonykim3]

I play a D3 with the stock voodoo right now. I have a similar complaint that many people have had with. It is much too whippy and the high ball flight. Too high for a club with 9.5 degrees of loft. Im not a big hitter so i depend on some rollout to get decent distance off the tee. The ball shoots up high right off of the race and it stays up there until it comes down at about 240-245. In wet conditions it was costing me up to 2 clubs a hole. I hit my 905R 270-280 with rollout. I will be switching to a V2 shaft when i go on vacation in a couple of weeks. The V2 is a whippy shaft too, but i didnt hit moon balls with it like i do with the voodoo.

your v2 was whippy what model

[bflat450]

Seems weird because the VooDoo shaft should keep the ball a little lower especially with the D3.