Long distance driver for compromised senior

[Hacker James]

8 hours ago, Covert said:

What do you mean by "deep?"

 

I don't have much time left, as age really takes one down, so I am putting my all into distance drives this coming year. I'll take a couple of lessons by a couple of different pros in Florida to see if maybe I can learn an additional "trick" or two.

Since you have mentioned square to square, you undoubtedly have a notion of width or as I refer to as arc of the swing, whether it be "hands" arc, or club head arc. Depth is a measurement of how far the grip end of the club is from the ball at the top of the backswing. Typically thought of as a diagonal line from ball to that club end. It is the combination of the two that you should be striving, getting the maximum distance, but not going past a vertical line from your trail heel.

One way to achieve this, is to ensure your trail elbow does not get behind the side seam of your shirt. If the top of the backswing ends up with the club end beyond this line, it will actually be closer to the ball (over your head).  Hard to explain in words alone.  As for "tricks", I am not sure I would be looking for any. Perhaps a few "keys" might be a better way of stating it.  I do understand your description of "whipping", but is not what I would use to describe the same. It does sound as if you are doing something very similar.  Age...I am 74 and have lost some degree of flexibility. Wrist hinge helps, but one has to be careful with that as well.

Others may disagree with my assessments. That's perfectly okay, I probably lack expertise in explanation, but it is merely my way of understanding in a way that makes sense (to me).

Best of luck to you.

[Covert]

Thanks a lot for the advice, Hacker. Best of luck to you, too. Unfortunately at 73 and 74 we need it.

Covert

 

[Patch]

On 11/19/2016 at 11:51 AM, Lagavulin62 said:

I'm not understanding the 25" part. You mean 45?  

There are a lot of component heads from decent manufactures that are not in compliance if you want to go that route. Then you can just buy the lightweight shaft and have your local shop put it together at the correct length. 

I think that would make more sense than trying to find your specs and psying a gazillion dollars for it. You have already hit and know what works so just match that man's driver. 

 

What Lagaulin62 said. That's the easiest way to go. I might add that maybe one of those low profile driver heads might give you a few extra yards too. 

[Covert]

Lagavulin62 and Patch, thanks, I meant 45“and by mistake typed 25”.

Do you know what companies make noncompliant drivers? I’ll Google the question, too. I would be fine with totally cheating (again, while practicing and playing for recreation, not in competition play, which I only do very occasionally) if it could produce boomer drives. I strive for competent play all around, but I love long drives best.

 

[Hatchman]

FYI - Krank hand made heads can be machined thinner for spring effect.  Standard length Senior shafts installed.  Unlikely amateur senior can deform so Krank does it.  I picked one up when they changed models.  

[WUTiger]

On 11/19/2016 at 10:23 PM, 70sSanO said:

Or you can get the Cleveland driver.  But you do need to know the driver XL270, XL290 and the shaft used.  eBay or other internet sources can supply the driver head (but complete driver) then get the same shaft, even if used, and build the same driver.  It was released in 2010 so it isn't that old.

I got some quality time trying out the Cle XL family of drivers circa 2011. Got my best numbers with the XL290, sporting one of the lighter weight Miyazaki shafts of the time (C. Kua model, weight in the sub-50 grams, stiff). One of the available shafts came in as low as 39 grams.

I think the superlight Miyazaki shafts may have just got lost in the shuffle at the time. The XL290 with the Miya-shaft had excellent balance, and overcame that feathery "non-feel" of the most early sub-50 gram shafts.

(I did a side-by-side review of the XL and a TM driver, but it ended up in cyber never-land when the TST browser got redone the last time.)

If you can find an XL with the lighter shaft, give it a try.

* I did not buy an XL driver, as it has similar performance numbers to the Callaway HyperX Tour (R-flex) which I was using at the time.

[Covert]

I have to admit that straying too far afield is probably not a good idea for me at my age. I extended my older Covert II driver three inches to try before looking for a higher COR head, and I couldn’t control it. The Nike Vapor Fly driver that I just bought, with a senior flex shaft extended an extra inch, seems to work about as well as anything will for me. I am going to have to accept that I won’t be wedging onto most par four holes with my second shot. I do appreciate the comments here offering advice.  

[Index95]

Diamond tour golf on internet sells Felon balls

non conforming

I bought a dozen for fun & like them...

might help you out too

I mostly have to play from geezer front tees but with these and a decent swing I play from members tees again when I feel lucky

[Covert]

1 hour ago, Index95 said:

Diamond tour golf on internet sells Felon balls

non conforming

I bought a dozen for fun & like them...

might help you out too

I mostly have to play from geezer front tees but with these and a decent swing I play from members tees again when I feel lucky

Thanks, Index, for the additional tip. I hit Wilson Ultra 500 distance golf balls off the tees, which carry maybe 10 yards further than softer balls. Then I drop a Pro V1, or equivalent, for my approach shot, which allows for spin. Of course that’s cheating, but I’m not playing in tournaments.

I play from the gold geezer tees, too, unless I’m playing with younger sticks, then I play from the white tees with them, and try my best to keep up.

It sounds like we’re on a similar wavelength in our approach to the game. Too bad we’re not in proximity to swap notes on the links. Are you in Alabama, like your avatar suggests? If so, you must frequent the RTJ Trail. I hope to get there some day.

[Index95]

Hattiesburg MS

RTJ trail would be nice (may try the one in Mobile someday). but I have three decent public courses  very close by so I don't travel the 100 + miles and spend the extra $$$ .  Some very nice casino courses much closer on MS coast like  Golden Bear and Fallen Oak, or Dancing Rabbit near Meridian, but with my game , laziness, and budget, haven't splurged on them, yet...

Would be great to golf with you anytime you come this way 

Cellular 7082677137

UofA class of 68

Edited December 21, 2016 by Index95
Adding on

[Covert]

13 hours ago, Index95 said:

Hattiesburg MS

RTJ trail would be nice (may try the one in Mobile someday). but I have three decent public courses  very close by so I don't travel the 100 + miles and spend the extra $$$ .  Some very nice casino courses much closer on MS coast like  Golden Bear and Fallen Oak, or Dancing Rabbit near Meridian, but with my game , laziness, and budget, haven't splurged on them, yet...

Would be great to golf with you anytime you come this way 

Cellular 7082677137

UofA class of 68

Thanks, Index, I put your phone number in my directory, and I will try to get out that way sometime in my trip back and forth south in the winters. We're on no schedule.

We have a weekend lake house in the Adirondack Mountains, and the courses among the High Peaks are spectacular. You don't even need a tee time to get on them. Would you ever have a reason to be that far up north? If so, I will post my cell number, too.

OSU class of 68. I spent seven years in undergraduate school because I couldn't decide on a major.

[Provisional]

Thank you 

The mountains sound wonderful, in the summertime, for golfing even better!

But sorry to say I think most of my long distance traveling days are past, although we'll drive up to Indy in February for arrival of our first grand child and I force a trip now and then to Memphis TN for some consulting I still do. I look forward to hearing from you anytime you come by our area jusr got Christmas present: 2 dozen Callaway SuperSofts I need to try to lose...no problem...

Merry Christmas y'all 

 

[jamesdav12]

I would check out ALDILA light weight shafts! Also, if you want easy distance, consider some long drive heads like GRENADE.

[Covert]

15 hours ago, jamesdav12 said:

I would check out ALDILA light weight shafts! Also, if you want easy distance, consider some long drive heads like GRENADE.

I wrote these names into my notebook, too. Thanks!

My first priority is for my back to get over its issue. Then this winter in Florida, I will work with my two extended shaft drivers to see if I can get them under control. If I have worked through these two prerequisites, when I return to New York in the spring, I will work with a local golf center to put together a couple of clubs with light weight shafts and long-drive heads.

Planning yesterday for some new courses in Florida, I checked out the TPC Blue Monster in Miami. Some of the par four holes are over 500 yards. My wife told me to forget it, and I think I probably should. But the course looks beautiful on the website.

[parman]

I am 69 and will be 70 in a few months. I am a 100% disabled veteran from the Vietnam War with a liver transplant 17+ years ago. My swing speed is slow compared to most golfers. However I have found over the years a senior shaft is not always best for me. I just went back to a regular flex driver and gained about 20-30 yds. As we all know shafts can be very inconsistent as far as flex. I know it sounds weird but for a decade people have been trying to get me into a senior shaft and I almost always hit them shorter than a regular flex. A soft reg is the absolute best for my swing which gives me approx 190-210 drive. If I don't make a hole in regulation I just chip and one putt, hopefully. That's one reason I concentrate on putting so much. Jack Nicholas says hit the softest shaft you can. Greg Norman sys hit the stiffest shaft you can. Who's right? Conrats. to the OP for finding a good driver for him.

[arturo28mx]

I really recommend you try a 12 degree driver head. For us older guys they help A LOT. 

 

[Covert]

On ‎12‎/‎26‎/‎2016 at 4:28 PM, parman said:

I am 69 and will be 70 in a few months. I am a 100% disabled veteran from the Vietnam War with a liver transplant 17+ years ago. My swing speed is slow compared to most golfers. However I have found over the years a senior shaft is not always best for me. I just went back to a regular flex driver and gained about 20-30 yds. As we all know shafts can be very inconsistent as far as flex. I know it sounds weird but for a decade people have been trying to get me into a senior shaft and I almost always hit them shorter than a regular flex. A soft reg is the absolute best for my swing which gives me approx 190-210 drive. If I don't make a hole in regulation I just chip and one putt, hopefully. That's one reason I concentrate on putting so much. Jack Nicholas says hit the softest shaft you can. Greg Norman sys hit the stiffest shaft you can. Who's right? Conrats. to the OP for finding a good driver for him.

I agree, there is a lot of directly conflicting advice. I will try to find a good teaching pro in Florida and try this and then that at his or her suggestion, until I find an optimal swing and optimal equipment. My intense wrist snapping technique is already proving to be out of control, even though I gained a lot of distance. I just need to keep working on it and never accept the "You should be happy just hitting straight, even if short." mantra. 

9 hours ago, arturo28mx said:

I really recommend you try a 12 degree driver head. For us older guys they help A LOT. 

 

Yes, thanks, I have found 11.5 to be optimal. My Nike heads are adjustable, so I can try various lofts.

[parman]

I hope it works for you.

 

Edited December 29, 2016 by parman