Need Driver Shaft Help

[glovepuppy]

For the past few years I had been hitting an 8.5* TM R510 with an Aldila TGW 90 x-stiff shaft in it. I would normally hit this driver around 255-275 with a power fade. The club head started separating from the shaft so instead of fixing it I decided it would be better to upgrade to something a bit newer.

For the last two months I have been hitting a 9* Callaway FT-5 with a stiff flex Aldila MOI Proto 65-S. The trajectory with this club is way too high and my power fade has morphed into a big banana causing me to lose around 15-25 yards on average.

I am guessing this shaft is no good for me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[ControlJunkie]

Are you wanting to stay with Aldila, or are you looking for suggestions from any manufacturer?

[glovepuppy]

Are you wanting to stay with Aldila, or are you looking for suggestions from any manufacturer?

Looking for anything that could help. I am not married to Aldila - just happens that both drivers had that brand of shaft on them.

[ControlJunkie]

Looking for anything that could help. I am not married to Aldila - just happens that both drivers had that brand of shaft on them.

Cool, then I recommend the UST ProForce V2. I picked my 3W up today from getting that shaft installed. Got out to the range with it, and it felt very nice. I went from a Reg. flex stock UST to the Stiff flex V2, so it's not exactly a perfect comparison, but still, I left the range very happy with it. It's a mid launch shaft, so it should bring your shot down some.

I'm also wanting to try the UST AXIVCore Tour Red in my driver, since it's a mid to high launch vs. the AXIVCore Blue that's in there now, which is a high launch shaft. I havent made that jump yet, but I hope to be comparing it against the V2 in my driver at some point in the near future.

[enis750]

READ THIS - one word TORQUE

i was having some of the same issues as you
switched to the UST Pro Force V2 S Shaft
it is actually a more low to mid shaft - comparible to the Diamana White Board X-Stiff (which is like $400)

after watching the RBC tourney today, there seems to be quite a few guys playin this similar shaft in the show

there is a good link to a Golf Digest write up that will open your eyes - dit for me anyways

[ControlJunkie]

READ THIS

Definitely check that link that enis750 referenced in the thread he linked to. It's very informative, and makes a lot of sense.

And btw, enis, thanks for the recommendation on the V2 the other day. I really do like that shaft in my 3W. I felt a slightly rusty and tight today, as I hadnt swung a club since Monday, but once I got warmed up, and took a few swings with the 3W, I was convinced that shaft is the real deal. I ended up with the Stiff, 66 gram, 3.0 torque. This isnt really a complaint against it, because right now, I have none, but out of curiosity, I'd really like to feel the difference between the one I got, and the stiff 76 gram. I wish it wasnt as much of a PITA to get clubs reshafted... Again, thanks for the recommendation!

[glovepuppy]

Thanks for the info guys. I've definitely decided the shaft is to blame - now to decide if I get a new shaft in the FT-5 or look for a whole new club with the right shaft - decisions, decisions, decisions.

[umpiremark]

You've totally changed the dynamic between both of those clubs; they are very dissimilar.
Your first driver had a 95 gram, 3-degree torque shaft, with a low bend point. The driver was 8.5 degrees of loft. This heavier shaft was extra stiff.
The second driver has a 65 gram, 2.8-degrees of torque with a mid-kick point. The additional half-degree of loft shouldn't matter a whole lot. This lighter shaft was stiff, compared to extra stiff.
They are two different set ups. Assuming the heads weighed the same (broad assumption), just changing that shaft component from 95 to 65 grams, you decreased the SW by 4 points. That's A LOT. The new driver should feel waaaaay different as well, and be less forgiving.

[glovepuppy]

Actually, the FT-5 feels heavier to me when swinging it. Not sure if this is just an illusion created by the bigger head of the FT-5 or there is actually a noticible difference in the weight of the two heads. I'll have to look into that further.

I had been comtemplating throwing the TGW 90 shaft on the FT-5 and see if that works but maybe that would create an extremely heavy club.

[umpiremark]

The "head" feels heavier because the shaft is 30 grams lighter. You're feeling the weight of the head not the weight of the head plus the shaft. That's not an all bad thing. I'm merely pointing out that there was considerable dynamic- and swing- weight changes between the two clubs. The expectation that a 4-point change in SW should feel and act the same, just ain't true. That's all. I'm not saying one is right or one is wrong; just that they are two distinctly different clubs.

[glovepuppy]

The "head" feels heavier because the shaft is 30 grams lighter. You're feeling the weight of the head not the weight of the head plus the shaft. That's not an all bad thing. I'm merely pointing out that there was considerable dynamic- and swing- weight changes between the two clubs. The expectation that a 4-point change in SW should feel and act the same, just ain't true. That's all. I'm not saying one is right or one is wrong; just that they are two distinctly different clubs.

Gotcha - good point. I've got an appointment with my club pro tomorrow to see what I should do.