Lets Talk Shaft Fitting

[RickPinewild]

Where would you start and how would you proceed? Lets assume 97 mph swing speed with medium tempo and medium release. Lets talk driver to start. Currently playing a 55 gram regular flex in a 10.5* head. Low to medium ball flight. Probably more of a hitter than swinger. Carries a 6-8 handicap. Carries a 6 iron 150 yds. A busted drive with some roll is 240 yards.

[Daryl]

Hmm? Do you walk or ride?

[hardpan]

If you like the 55 gram wt. and would like to have a slightly higher launch you might consider the Grafalloy Pro Launch in R

[Daryl]

Where would you start and how would you proceed? Lets assume 97 mph swing speed with medium tempo and medium release. Lets talk driver to start. Currently playing a 55 gram regular flex in a 10.5* head. Low to medium ball flight. Probably more of a hitter than swinger. Carries a 6-8 handicap. Carries a 6 iron 150 yds. A busted drive with some roll is 240 yards.

I would start by visiting a Golf Club Warehouse type Retail Store and try every driver they sell, with a launch monitor. I played Golf yesterday with a friend who did this. He has your Stats. He ended up with a Titleist Driver, 65 Gram R Aldila NV Shaft with 9.5 loft. He's 250+ now when he hits it. I didn't think it could happen. I didn't try it, but clubs can be a very individual thing. What works for one may not for another.

[golfgnome]

One thing to keep in mind when getting fit for a driver is that loft equals trajectory and shaft equals spin. A low loft driver with a soft shaft may not be as good as a higher lofted driver with a stiffer shaft.
Another point is clubhead speed vs. ball speed. I prefer to fit with ball speed because clubhead speed varies throughout the swing but ball speed is always measured after impact. I would assume that your ball speed at 97 mph clubhead speed would be in the upper 130's to lower 140's. At this speed the launch angle required to produce the maximum carry distance would be between 12 and 14 degrees with a spin rate of mid 3000 rpms.
So, in order to maintain a flat left wrist position, lag pressure and catch the ball slightly before low point or at low point your driver loft probably should be between 11.5 and 13 degrees of loft. I see many bent left wrists because they are trying to "get the ball up in the air" instead of driving the club "down plane". Just a thought.

[lagster]

One thing to keep in mind when getting fit for a driver is that loft equals trajectory and shaft equals spin. A low loft driver with a soft shaft may not be as good as a higher lofted driver with a stiffer shaft.
Another point is clubhead speed vs. ball speed. I prefer to fit with ball speed because clubhead speed varies throughout the swing but ball speed is always measured after impact. I would assume that your ball speed at 97 mph clubhead speed would be in the upper 130's to lower 140's. At this speed the launch angle required to produce the maximum carry distance would be between 12 and 14 degrees with a spin rate of mid 3000 rpms.
So, in order to maintain a flat left wrist position, lag pressure and catch the ball slightly before low point or at low point your driver loft probably should be between 11.5 and 13 degrees of loft. I see many bent left wrists because they are trying to "get the ball up in the air" instead of driving the club "down plane". Just a thought.

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This last information sounds very reasonable to me. Many people would probably do much better with more loft.

The SHAFT... as I understand it, is mostly a timing mechanism.
However, getting a good shaft for you, is fairly complicated now, because of all the choices out there.

With steel, it wasn't quite as tricky, but with all the graphite choices, it can take some time. It should be worth it to take the time to get it right.

When hitting the demos, it should not take but 2 or 3 balls to know if you like a club. If you have to hit 30 balls before you can TIME-IT-UP... that club(shaft) is probably not IT.

[RickPinewild]

Thanks, guys, this is great, keep it coming.