Shaft question

[umpiremark]

This is probably on here a bazillion times, but I'm too lazy to look, so I'll start (perhaps) another thread on this subject. I'm hoping that someone with club building knowledge or shaft changes experience can guide me down the path, here.

I build my own clubs; I am 54, about an 12 or 14 handicap. I built a driver to D0, 44-3/8" long, 65 g Aldila NV shaft, regular flex. The NV shaft has a high bend, low kick point, torque (I belive) is 3.5 degrees. The 460 cc head at 203 g is 10.5 degrees of loft. My issue is with ball flight with this driver, no other club.

I play the ball with my driver, a bit forward or I'll slice. The ball is about on my left heel to left instep. I am definately hitting the ball on the upswing; I have a long sweeping path, not a downward blow "trapping" swing.

My issue: I hit the ball very high. The ball goes about 220-225 (most times) and just falls to the earth; I get very little - if any - roll. The same brand 3-wood, Aldila shaft, high bend point, I hit a more boring shot, with roll after it lands. I hit the 3-wood (off the deck or off the tee) about 200-210.

My question: I know I'm playing the ball forward because I just cannot get my hands to square at address, therefore I know I'm hitting the ball on the upswing. If I switched to a similar shaft - high bend point, same torque - only in a stiffer shaft, would my driver ball flight be more flat and roll farther?

Any information from an experienced club builder or a golfer who has had success with subtle shaft changes in their game, would be superb. Thank you!

[RC]

Get your body more forward on the downswing. You can hit a low, knock down driver with the ball teed off your left toe if you are shifting weight well. It's body, not head... the head still stays in place.

[RC]

Actually I should apologize for not addressing your question directly. Shaft flex and flex points as well as loft of face do have major impact on the height of your drives -- and I'm sure you know that. I played a Matric Ozik XX shaft with an 8.5 907 D2 head until recently and that was a great choice for the windy springtime. I could hit low spin, lower launch shots pretty easily. But I could hit that combination very high if needed. Now I play a shaft that has a very stiff bottom section and only S flex higher up, with a 9.5 face. Still, the height of shots is a function of the swing more than the shaft and face angle. I like to tee the ball off my left toe and can still hit the softer shaft and higher loft club low. Over the years, I've come to think that getting to know your club and shaft well and then swinging for the shot shape you want is not that difficult -- once you really know your driver. I play with a guy who hits a 10 degree driver and he hits long drives quite low. He really shifts forward well.

Most do not realize we normally do not hit drivers with upswings, or if you do you are probably losing distance. Typically there is a very slight amount of down angle at impact. The problem is a steep downward angle and too much spin on the launch -- normally. You can be fitted to lower launch spin and that is a key number to have optimized for your swing speed, whatever it is.