R7 vs. Cleveland Launcher Comp 460

[TexasTitleistGuy]

Anyone tried out both the R7 and the Launcher Comp 460? What are your thoughts. How does the distance and accuaracy compare? And how do they compare with control(Shot shaping)?

[gas_can]

Anyone tried out both the R7 and the Launcher Comp 460? What are your thoughts. How does the distance and accuaracy compare? And how do they compare with control(Shot shaping)?

Distance wise, if you've got a good swing and the right shaft you'll be hitting the same distance with any modern driver head IMHO, it's all about how you want to get there.

Pretty much every comp driver I've tried (Wilson, Cleveland, Cobra) has such a low and deep center of gravity that the launch ends up being ridiculously high. If you can't get the ball up in the air, they're a good choice, but I'll be sticking with conventional all titanium drivers for now. One thing I do like about the Cleveland is that it sits nice and square at address, I've never seen one with a hook face. The R7's a great club head, I'm guessing you loved it since you seemed so set on getting a 905. The deep face is really low spin and once you find the center of the club face it's just going to explode. As far as working the ball, you've got to be an iron byron to effectively work a 460cc. Not even Tiger's got the repetitive swing to control his draws/fades with that big a club head (as his accuracy numbers have been showing). I may catch a lot of heat for this, but I really feel the days of workign the ball with the driver are pretty much dead as long as you've got decent distance. Just bomb it out there, and I bet you'll be doing that with the R7. Just out of curiosity, did you happen to get on teh launch monitor with the R7? I'm curious to see if it lowered your spin numbers any.

[iacas]

I may catch a lot of heat for this, but I really feel the days of workign the ball with the driver are pretty much dead as long as you've got decent distance. Just bomb it out there, and I bet you'll be doing that with the R7.

I never disagreed with you, but if I think about it, it seems right. It seems that whatever swing I put on my driver, I get a soft little fade...

If you want to work the ball, perhaps the play is to use your 3-wood and learn to hit it far by hooding it down to 13 degrees or so.

[gas_can]

I never disagreed with you, but if I think about it, it seems right. It seems that whatever swing I put on my driver, I get a soft little fade...

You definately weren't the one to disagree with me about working the ball iacas, there are a lot of members at my club who think that just because they get a hook out of a driver that's 3° closed, they're "working the ball."

From everything I've seen and read, it seems that the larger the headsize is, the harder it is to close the face and get a draw out of it. To combat this, manufacturers are starting to increase heel weighting and building drivers with shut faces to help higher handicappers close the face at impact and fight the slice. Of course, then there are guys like Vijay who plays with a driver that's 4° open.

[TexasTitleistGuy]

I love my R7. I got it last friday, and couldnt be happier. I have gone from an average of 276 off the tee with my 983E to 296 average with the R7. And am hitting it longer each time out. Today I played nine and went out off #1 cold. I hit it stiff 310 yards. No warm up other than some light stretching and a few practice swings. I hit 6 of 7 drives 300+, the 7th was a miss hit and still went 260 yards with a draw. Wow this thing is long. This thing is as accurate as it long. I am averaging 10 of 14 FIR with the r7 apposed to 6 of 14 FIR average with my 983E. 50% of my misses is my misalignment. This thing is great.

I have it setup with the slight draw bias. And hit it dead straight or a slight draw. Havent really messed with the weights. I am currently using the stock Taylor made stiff shaft, but have ordered a grafalloy blue stiff. I am going to wait to install the new shaft as the stock shaft is helping me smooth out my tempo. It has helped with all my clubs. I am hitting the ball better than ever.

I really am not sure what the deal is with this club and me on the launch monitor. According to it I shouldnt be hitting the r7 as well as I hit my 983E. But I am, I am killing it. I think alot of it may have been the fact that I was trying to hit it too hard in the shop on the monitor. Now that my tempo is getting more smooth I am going to go in and retest before and after reshafting. So we will see what the deal is then.

[gas_can]

Awesome to hear, I figured you'd be picking up a few extra yards with a S flex shaft. A lot of people think that since a stiffer shaft bends less more energy goes into the ball from the swing. It's actually the opposite - more like a spring, and the more bend you can have in the shaft the more energy goes into the ball. When John Daly competed against the long drive guys he switched out to an R flex. The problem is with very fast swings which can overpower R and S flex shafts, hence long drivers, but that's all changing now with shafts like Fujikura's Zcom which are superlight weight but still very low torque even with 130-140 mph swings.

Once again congrats on your new driver. You're putting up some awesome numbers. If you keep killing it like that, I say put that Grafalloy in the closet until needed.

[TexasTitleistGuy]

I appreciate it. I am going to put the grafalloy away for a good while until my swing speed comes up enough to really get the use out of it. Or I might just let the shop keep it. It depends on what they are willing to do. And again thanks for all the help in my search.

[TomG]

This thread started off by asking about the Cleveland Comp 460, and I tried that out at an indoor simulator at Golf Galaxy the other day. I hit it pretty good, but incredibly high, even with the crappy, stubby tee in the mat. The salesperson tried to explain that this driver is supposed to hit it higher than any of the others. When I asked him something about optimum launch angles, he didn't really have a response, I guess he was just feeding me the line he got from Cleveland. I agree, it looks good behind the ball.

In terms of being able to work the ball with the large drivers, I agree, it is next to impossible. Also, I was watching a "Playing Lessons from the Pros", months ago, with Paul Casey. He said that he recently began driving the ball much better because he had given up on working the ball with his driver and just bombing away.

[Rafcin]

I tried Cleveland 460 and I do have r7. What I hate about Cleveland is that "hollow" feel / sound on impact. It's just not solid enough for me. r7 is a great sounding club. As one of you mention before - with today's technology with a good swing you'll hit a good driver from any manufacturer. For me it's more about look, feel (and since I'm a gadget fan - the screws are awsome ) and r7 beats Clev hands down.

Of course it's just my opinion and I could be wrong

[TexasTitleistGuy]

SHot a 81 today with a new driver and going out stone cold. I feel pretty good about it considering that. I hit the launcher 460 comp, and loved it. Longest of all the clubs I tested. I hit it 3/4 speed cause it had a stiff nv and I need a X shaft. Even with the 75-80% swing I was carrying it 15 yards further than my 983, r7, or the 905. It is long and straight.

[TexasTitleistGuy]

Cant wait until I get the X shaft and i can really get at it. Should be awsome!!!