35 Yards Longer with New Shaft

[bamadoc]

I purchased a G15 driver earlier this year from a local shop.  The guy put me on the monitor and I hit 6-7 drivers and picked the best one.  I came on here starting a thread about how important it was to be properly fitted.

Well, six months later, I went to a custom golf shop that is close to where I work.  I took my what I thought to be perfectly fitted driver and hit some balls on the monitor.  My swing speed average was around 108.  Out of 10 shots, 7 would carry 275ish.  The problem was 3 of 10 would only go 240ish due to a pretty bad hook.  Well, then we experimented with several different shafts.   We found 2 shafts that I was just killing the ball with and I wasn't snapping any of shots with the new shafts.  I was also carrying it around 300 with a swing speed of around 114-116.  Finally, he said let me see that shaft.  He put it on this meter that measured the stiffness or lack there of.  It measured a 257, which is way too flexible for my swing speed.  This is what was causing me to snap it, and it was keeping my swing speed down.  I just figured my swing speed was around 108.  So, we kept fine tuning what shaft we wanted and how stiff we wanted it.  We ended up around getting it at 272.

The final differences were as follows:  My G15 with what I thought was a perfect shaft was giving me a swing speed of 108ish, carry 275ish,launch angle 15 degrees, maximum height 60 yards.  My same G15 with the newer, stiffer and perfectly fitted shaft gave me a swing speed of 114ish, carry 300, launch angle 13 degrees, and maximum height to around 50 yards.

I am curious to see if the launch monitor is actually accurate when it tells me I am hitting it 35 yards longer.  I am of those people that laugh at how many people say they hit it 300, including myself.  The main advantage to the new shaft is even when I miss it left, it goes 12 yards left, not 30 yards left.

Finally, I will say again to make sure you are being properly fitted when purchasing a driver.  Take your time and hit as much as you can.  You will be amazed at what a difference it can make.  Another thing is to watch out for shops like my original one that sold me a G15 for a great price, but they put a crappy $20 shaft in it.  My new shaft is $100, but it makes a huge difference.

[mvmac]

I agree,the shaft is just as important as the club head, maybe more so.  I'm a little surprised your speed increased by 6mph, that's huge.  Is the shaft lighter?  But I can see how, with your swing speed, you have an opportunity to gain that kind of distance getting the spin and launch in order.  Most stock shafts, even "tour" stock shafts at 108-110 there is a good chance the ball was spinning way too much.  Thanks for the update!

[bamadoc]

I was shocked at the swing speed change as well.  I really was trying to swing both shafts with the same swing speed.  Maybe the stiffer and properly fitted shaft was allowing me to let it go a little more than I was before.  I really don't know.  I am going to stay skeptical at the numbers until I take it out on the range this weekend.  One thing I am confident is how much straighter I am hitting the driver with this new shaft.  I am still shocked they would put such a cheap shaft in a nice driver like the G15.

[Spyder]

This is why I need to locate a hosel for the Nickent 4DX Evolver on ebay as soon as possible. I really need to upgrade to a Stiff flex shaft as all I was able to purchase was a UST V2 R-Flex and it is extremely whippy. I almost feel too "contained" with it when I'm hitting tight fairways. In the open, I'm still comfortable really nutting up and giving it my all with a slight fade.

Congratulations on your revelation though - It's a really nice feeling to be comfortable, accurate and gain both distance and confidence. Two very important things in this crazy game.

[bamadoc]

Thanks, Spyder.  I am now getting my dad and brother to go and get my guys to get them dialed in since they also bought a driver off of the shelf.  The problem is if you are a solid golfer you can alter your swing and still get what you think is a great result.  I was just playing the hard draw with a 270 carry.  I finally started wondering what was going on because the rest of my clubs are pretty much dead straight to maybe a 2-3yard draw.  You don't know what you don't know. I can't wait to go out to the range and then to the course to see how legit the launch monitor numbers truly are.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by bamadoc

I am still shocked they would put such a cheap shaft in a nice driver like the G15.

Yeah Aldila has been losing money even though all the companies put their shaft in a variety of clubs.  Very small margins.  OEM's want to hit that $300 price point, helps by using a cheaper shaft, just the reality of the business.  Like when Titleist has shafts with the same graphics as the premium shafts but adds a little "Made for Tiltleist" just a dumbed down version of the real thing.

[mlf16507]

http://my.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MyEbayBeta&MyEbay;=&CurrentPage;=MyeBayWatching&ssPageName;=STRK%3AME%3ALNLK%3AMEWAX&gbh;=1&guest;=1

Link for Nickent 4SX evolver

[Beachcomber]

What shaft did you end up going with?

[bamadoc]

It is a ProLaunch Red by Grafalloy.