Callaway FT-i: distance-loss?!

[RichF]

Not really a 'what-is-the-better-driver' type of thread, but I notice that when I rip my stock TaylorMade Burner , I can reach 260-270, but it's 50-50 whether I stay on the fairway or not. (last week on a deserted Par5, me and my partner measured one particularly cracking drive!).

So, as a test to try and iron-out some wayward driving, last night I went to my local club and the shop guys let me demo the, Callway FT-i (regular Fujikura Speeder shaft, 10° loft and the Draw-face version). Anyway, after 15-20mins, I was really surprised..... at the lack of distance I got.
I found it easy to swing and pretty much everything went straight, but noticed that my drives either maxed-out at around 210-220 or even worse, some just dipped and died before the 200yard mark.

Thing is, I found it as easy to swing than my stock Taylor-Made Burner.

Is it my swing or the club, that's impacting on my performance here? I actually liked the FT-i - didnt mind it's looks or the sound it makes, either.

[supercow]

The Burner encompasses "Superfast Technology" (i.e. a really long and light golf shaft which makes it easier to hit it further but as you've discovered can make you rather wonky). Based on test results I've seen the FT-i basically spins a heck of a lot more than the average driver of the same loft (which therefore makes it easier to hit straight but at the expense of distance (as you've discovered)). So, its a combination of both factors at play here, both club and your golf swing as well.

[aidanmcg33]

Seen Ernie playing with it today in the HSBC and he looked awesome with it. Nailed every drive, and it's his home course yet on one of the holes he took the driver and hit it over 330 and into the water it suprised him how far he hit it. I think id sacrifice a bit of a distance loss from my driver if they all went straight but yours does seem like a big jump.

[TD22057]

I'd say you need to get fitted for the FT-i (and ANY driver). Your loss of distance could be from the wrong shaft (flex, spin, launch angle, etc). After I went to the FT-i, my longest drives are definitely shorter by 5-10 yards. BUT - my average drive is definitely longer and straighter.

I think comparing driver distances is very difficult for most people since it's easy to just remember your best hits (or mis-estimate distances) and so it's hard to know your average drive. I started GPS'ing all my drives earlier this year and it was really an eye opener what I was doing on average (i.e. shorter than I thought).

[RichF]

The FT-i that I sed was an off-the-shelf job, regular flex, draw....but then so was my Burner.

However, the longer drives that I did hit with the FT-i impressed me some, so I'm going to be further demo-ing that driver.

At the end of the day, I've only been playing golf a matter of months and the fact that I can hit a golf-ball 250+ at this stage is encouraging to say the least....my swing can only get better.

[golfergal]

I am having the opposite results...best drives I've had in a long time...straight, pure, and a great result. This club is staying put in my bag...Love it!

[atrapasuenos]

I'd say you need to get fitted for the FT-i (and ANY driver). Your loss of distance could be from the wrong shaft (flex, spin, launch angle, etc).

I'm agree with this post. When I get fitted for the FT-5 I tried the FT-i first but I was hitting like 200 yards or less and with terrible slice. (I remember it was 10° Neutral). I tried a lot more when finally I tried the FT-5 Tour and I was hitting 280 yards srtaight. So TD22057 is right, you need to get fitted to see if it works for you.

Cheers

[J_Bone]

Ya, it has to be your swing in relation to the shaft. From your description, your are getting too much spin to have it die on you like that.

The FT-i I used was unbelievable. I hit it just as far as my driver but much straiter.

[RichF]

Well, I had a full-test with the FT-i tonight on the driving range and when I nailed it clean, I was hitting 230-240. Ones I didn't connect with clean, maybe 20 yards less.
(now I must point out, this range isn't very accurate in it's yardage markers due to the balls being fairly soft and to even the distances out, i.e. 200 yards is more like 175-185yards, etc),
So, theoretically, I would be getting 255-265 on the fairway given my current swing, using proper golf-balls.

The version was a stock, off-the shelf job: Draw model, Fujikura 568 Speeder regular flex shaft, 10° loft.

Compared with my off-the-shelf TM Burner, I was more than impressed: don't get me wrong, this driver feels great when I nail it.....but nailing it straight is something like 3 in every 5 attempts.

Anyway, bottom-line: I'm sold. I'm trading in my TM Burner and going for custom-fitting next week.

[iacas]

The general rub on the "geometric" drivers is that they're shorter - but straighter - than their more traditional cousins. The FT-i, the Sumo2... even (though to much less extent) the 907D1 and the TaylorMade rip-off of the 907D1.

We said as much in our FT-i/FT-5 review .