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Originally Posted by Redlegs23
And to join in the club discussion, I have a couple of questions. Before I ask my questions I will just say that I recently bought a 19 degree hybrid and absolutely love it. I've always struggled with my 3 and 4 irons but the hybrid is so dang easy to it.
OK, two questions, first my driver. I bought a used Taylor Made 320 Ti 9.5 degree back when I was in high school, over 10 years ago. Obviously technology has changed a lot, but I am still using this driver. I really don't know where to start when it comes to looking for new ones. I think I probably should have a stiff shaft, but not positive. I also read that a 10 or 10.5 degree would be more appropriate for my skill set. Any advice on what to look for? Any specific drivers you recommend?
Second, my irons are almost as old, I'm using Calloway X-16's that I bought 9 or 10 years ago. I've always liked them fine, but the other day at Golfsmith I picked up a Nike blade and hit a few balls, and wow, I have never hit a ball in my life that felt as good as it did coming off that club. I probably am not ready for blades because I still mis-hit my fair share of balls, but are there irons in between game improvement irons like the X-16's and blade irons? Would they really be something that could help my game and be worth the investment. Any advice at all? Thanks guys!
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A new driver will definitely help you. Driver technology has grown leaps and bounds since then, although that particular driver was the cream of the crop at the time.
One thing to keep in mind is that the driver head you're playing now is a 320cc head, while most new drivers these days are 460cc. The head will be much larger and it will likely take you a little time to adjust to that. Some players are fine right from the beginning but most need a few range sessions or rounds to adjust. If you're going to go demo the new drivers, just remember that if you have a hard time hitting them at first. Don't give up and say you'll stick with your current one.
The shaft is going to be more important than the driver head, so I'd focus mostly on that. And R-flex versus S-flex most likely won't make all that much difference, but the launch and spin profile will. Shaft technology has advanced much more than head technology and there are shaft options to fit just about anyone. Chances are, unless you're a really good golfer or a really big hitter, you should not be playing less than a 10.5* driver. You may even benefit from going to a 12* driver like I have, but some guys are too macho do consider that. When I first started playing with mine, I got a little ribbing from my buddies asking me if I just retired or if I started getting social security. But then they played a few rounds with me and saw how much longer I was and how much more control I had and I didn't hear another word.
Also, and this is probably the most important thing, your current driver is probably no more than 45" while most new ones are 45.5" to even 46". These are way too long for almost all golfers. If you get a new one, you should probably have it cut down to at least 45", and 44.5" would probably be even better....that is unless you're like 6'3" or taller.
What kind of ball flight do you have now? What shaft are you playing now? How far does your average drive fly, and how much is carry vs roll? Do you draw, fade, slice, hook, etc...?These questions should give you a pretty good idea what will most likely work best for you. There's no substitute for getting fitted or at least hitting several combinations, but if you can't do that or if you want to at least have a good starting point, answer these questions.
Height can be driven by either loft of the face, the shaft, or the swing. Most of the time, it has more to do with shaft than face. But to go along with height there's also spin. A high ball that spins too much is not combination. Every swing speed has an optimal launch angle and spin rate to get you the most distance. Knowing what your ball does now with your current setup can give you a good indication of what you may need.