New Driver Setup Discovery

[A.Princey]

I am just pounding lighter drivers lately, smash and dispersion. I play them at 43.5-44.0", 50-60 gram x-shaft, and usually take all additional weight out of the head(ie. weight kits etc.) Also, have a very light Winn Xcel midsize grip on all of them. Drivers must weight around 300-310, and be C4 or less, but I cannot explain how well I am hitting them. I used to think heavier was the key!

[cardoustie]

Nice find

[A.Princey]

Thanks. I'm truly not here to brag, but the fact this setup feels so natural, it sort of sent me reeling. Its got me completely rethinking the top end of my bag.

[Valtiel]

Hah, thats wild! I would be so helplessly lost with a driver like that. How would you describe the type of swing that makes that work?

[Stuart_G]

Just a guess, but someone who depends more in internal feedback cues to the control the swing then external (two aspects of proprioception). Some people rely on the weight of the club to help tell them or give them feedback about what they are doing with the body during the swing. Others can rely more on an internal sense of what their body is doing instead. Ones not necessary better or worse than the other, just different. Those people can likely get by with a lot less weight to control the swing.

[trhode]

Didn’t Cleveland make a series of drivers that were lighter? 270, 290, & 310 if memory serves me correctly. Definitely not for me, but if it works for you , then that’s awesome!

[A.Princey]

Very aggressive, but also less mechanically sound than desired. Early release with a lot of hit, been that way most of my playing life, and I've gotten somewhat decent with it, despite the swing speed limitations it creates. I say this quite often, but my release is more in my shoulders than hands, opposite what's taught, and also opposite what creates effortless clubhead speed. My lateral hand speed at impact probably rivals long-drive champs, but my clubhead lag is almost non-existent.

 

I should also state that I use a double overlap Vardon-ish grip, so my low hand is just 3 fingers on the grip.

 

2016 M2 10.5 Fuji Pro 63TS-X, Ping G LST 9 Aldila Xtorsion Copper 60-TX both at 43.5" with Winn Excel Midsize.

[Sean2]

It's great when you find something in this game that really works. :-)

[Valtiel]

Interesting, I most certainly fall into the former category. Ah that makes sense! Double overlap a'la Jim Furyk then. That combined with your description of your release makes perfect sense as to why the lighter weight would work well for you and why it would NOT for me. I am a high speed, later release type of player and long time bass/guitar player with large hands, long fingers, and high grip strength. I desperately need weight to keep all of that in check and I sacrifice some distance for that.

[j.a.]

Yes, Cleveland made them. I still have a 290 somewhere

[rgk5]

The Titleist TS1 weighs only 275 grams. No need to mess around with weight reductions that could throw off the balance.

[cardoustie]

I’m an ex super heavy guy myself .. 95g shafts etc ... see sig now

love the 50-60x shafts ... i go 46 inches though

 

[Stehal]

I remember trying a driver in a hitting bay last year. It felt so good and on the screen the dispersion looked great. The guy working there figured I should try the regular stiff as opposed to the upgraded tour shaft that was in it and they didn't have one so I left it and went to look elsewhere, but couldn't find the club/shaft combo to try. I ended up buying a different driver that I hit very well and was always in the fairway. 3 months later I started hooking it and barely use it now. Maybe I should have bought it but my SS was 105 and they figured the upgraded shaft was for higher speeds.

[braincramp52]

Thanks for the post. I'm going to have to try this since my swing mirrors yours. I've always just assumed less mass would decrease distance.

[wobgon]

Light drivers and heavy irons has always been my key.

[A.Princey]

Heavier drivers always got me too extended, consistent heel side and low. I'm pretty sure the fact I use a double overlap, with less trail hand grip pressure helps a lot too with the lighter setup.

Just for sh!ts and giggles I should try the lightest combo I can find at 44" and see how it performs!