Heavier shafts...

[Chief Broom]

I just purchased a new driver. I did it primarily because a buddy was regaling me with the deal he got trading in a couple of clubs just to change things up a bit. So I went out the next day and was pleasently surprised by how much credit I received for my old driver (Sumo2 5900) and a Vokey lob wedge I never used ($115 total). The wedge was practically brand new (last year's model) but the driver while in good shape had been gamed considerably (at least half the paint was worn off the bottom). So I used my credit and less than $100 to buy a new Dymo and a copy of Hogen's 5 lessons. I went with the Dymo because I really like the stock shaft in my 3 wood and I was fairly happy with the Sumo2 I'd been gaming for almost a year. One thing I wonder about though is the shaft weight. The UST Axiv core shaft in the driver is 55 grams. The 3W is 70g. Why the difference? Is it to maintain equal or appropriate weight (the driver being longer, different head, etc.)? I wound up getting the stiff flex but I wanted the X stiff, they didn't have it in stock. One thing I like about my 3W is that that shaft feels stiffer than my old Sumo2. While that one was stiff too (it was the stock stiff shaft) it began to feel rather whippy. And contrasting the two clubs the dymo 3W felt more solid. I'm hoping the UST shaft in the Dymo driver will be more like the one in my 3W. What are the advantages going with a heavier shaft in a driver? They put those lite weight shafts in them these days to improve club head speed but I'm a pretty strong guy and I can't imagine that plus or minus 20 some odd grams is going to make much of a difference?

[DavidFehertysBike]

They say heavier shafts for stronger players, but i have yet to really determine what shaft weight means in terms of your ballflight and swing. Ive hit my 3 wood head with the 73g shaft i have in it now, and a 96 or 97g shaft of the same make and noticed absolutley no difference..

[enis750]

shaft weight can make a difference
FW metals are almost always heavier than a driver as you stated above
lighter weight in a driver to get clubhead speed moving

now if you swing harder and have a faster clubhead speed, than you could benefit from a heavier shaft
if you are missing right, maybe its because your hands are beating your clubhead and causing a slight push or fade

most tour guys use a pretty heavy shaft w a stiff tip in an X-Flex
now you could use a Stiff shaft, w a stiffer tip and heavier weight and it will play like an X flex shaft EX. UST Pro Force 77g, 2.1º torque in Stiff flex

i gamed this for a while, but found that the stiffer tip was TOO stiff for me
really good shaft, very resposive but not right for me
that AND the douche installed a .350 tip in my .335 hosel (not suppose to do this)
so i dont think it was playing right
the .350 tip being bigger will play slightly stiffer as well

[Chief Broom]

I just got back from playing 9 with the new driver and a bucket at the range. This driver is definitely straighter than my old driver. Whick leads me to wonder if graphite shafts get "weaker" with use? Sort of like metal fatigue. This driver feels firmer than my old Sumo2 with it's stock stiff shaft. It could just be because of different shafts, but whatever the case I'm happy with the upgrade.

[atrapasuenos]

shaft weight can make a difference

I'm interested on this. I'm using the UST Proforce V2 75g Stiff and for my fairway wood I'm using the UST Proforce V2 85g (in the shaft it says, weight: 90g) and I rather hit the 3w than the driver. With the 3w my ball goes straight and the hooks a bit, ending like 6 - 7 yards of the line it started (I don't have a natural draw/fade, I hit the ball straight).

With the driver the trajectory can be both a hook or a slice and it goes way up in the air, so I play it a bit back in my stance to lower the trajectory. I've tried some lighter shafts and the trajectory is a big hook... a heavier shaft will give me a more controlled shot? CHeers!

[enis750]

I'm interested on this. I'm using the UST Proforce V2 75g Stiff and for my fairway wood I'm using the UST Proforce V2 85g (in the shaft it says, weight: 90g) and I rather hit the 3w than the driver. With the 3w my ball goes straight and the hooks a bit, ending like 6 - 7 yards of the line it started (I don't have a natural draw/fade, I hit the ball straight).

hmmm....possibly?

i dont know if you would want anything that is much more heavy than what you play now maybe like an 85g MAX i would say... i think PF makes the V2 in a shaft up to 95g could always try it out?? sorry, i can only give you advice based on what i have played

[bioman]

Well heavier shafts in fairway woods are the norm. I think they promote making a better tempo swing and solid contact. And iron shafts are heavier than fairway woods.

Try adding some lead tape to your driver if you want to get a heavier swing weight. It will let you feel the club head more and should help with your tempo.

[Dub]

Chief Broom.....if you hit that new driver even close to how well you hit the 3-wood....then it may be "Hello World" time....get yourself on the tour.

You put that 3-wood dead on the lines and targets you were gunning for.

I suspect you are gonna love that new driver. I think the UST shafts are really nice.


I've also noticed a difference in weight between the driver (~60-65 grams) vs. some of the same manfs. fairway woods (~70-85 grams).


Good luck with the new driver.