Fitting Results - not what I expected

[ChristopherMcDonald]

hey Guys, had some interesting results from my first driver fitting. 

 

I got a dicey back that limits my swing speed a little, so I'm swinging it around 85-90mph. I've always played stiff shafts, sometimes regular if they play stout (Graffaloy Blue). We hit a lot of clubs, lots of shafts and what we settled on has me a little surprised. 

 

Some of the shafts I hit: Tensei Orange, Ping Alta, Mitsubishi MMT, HZRDUS Smoke RDX, Elements Chrome (my stock shaft)

 

The shaft we settled on:

HZRDUS Smoke RDX 70g 6.5

 

 

Fitter said this combo gave me the best results; EDIT FOR CLARITY: I did hit one driver significantly longer (35-40 yards longer) but that was not included in the data as it was considered an outlier. 

 

Does anyone else find it strange that I was fit into the 6.5 instead of say the 6.0? I'm just a little flabbergasted and am looking for some other uneducated opinions from you bunch.

Edited June 30, 2021 by ChristopherMcDonald

[liveagua]

Were you looking for distance or dispersion? Because if you were looking for dispersion, giving you something heavy and too stiff will accomplish that pretty quickly. 

[rsballer10]

48 minutes ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

hey Guys, had some interesting results from my first driver fitting. 

 

I got a dicey back that limits my swing speed a little, so I'm swinging it around 85-90mph. I've always played stiff shafts, sometimes regular if they play stout (Graffaloy Blue). We hit a lot of clubs, lots of shafts and what we settled on has me a little surprised. 

 

Some of the shafts I hit: Tensei Orange, Ping Alta, Mitsubishi MMT, HZRDUS Smoke RDX, Elements Chrome (my stock shaft)

 

The shaft we settled on:

HZRDUS Smoke RDX 70g 6.5

 

 

Fitter said this combo gave me the best results; also hit one about 255 on the fly with this setup, but it was not included in the data. 

 

Does anyone else find it strange that I was fit into the 6.5 instead of say the 6.0? I'm just a little flabbergasted and am looking for some other uneducated opinions from you bunch.

You could reach your clubhead speed with a very short backswing and a lot of acceleration. How the shaft is loaded is equally as important as clubhead speed in determining correct shaft stiffness.

[ChaosTheory]

^^^ that.

[ChristopherMcDonald]

1 hour ago, liveagua said:

Were you looking for distance or dispersion? Because if you were looking for dispersion, giving you something heavy and too stiff will accomplish that pretty quickly. 

I definitely was going for dispersion and I did relay that to the fitter. This theory makes a lot of sense. I would rather be 240-250 down the middle than spraying it all over the place and nutting one good one every 4 rounds 275. 

 

59 minutes ago, rsballer10 said:

You could reach your clubhead speed with a very short backswing and a lot of acceleration. How the shaft is loaded is equally as important as clubhead speed in determining correct shaft stiffness.

I do have a pretty abbreviated backswing, something like Jon Rahm but not nearly as much speed (obviously). Getting a full hip turn is tough for me so the swing is a bit of a result of that fact. 

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I already ordered the shaft to drop into my LTD just to see how it goes before splurging on the Sim2 Max head. Your added info makes me feel a bit better that I didn't make a complete mistake lol

 

[phizzy30]

Go with what the fitter recommends, but more importantly, the numbers because those don't lie.  Assuming the launch monitor isn't juiced. 

[jmorrow020]

Keep in mind too that most launch monitors measure tour club head speed about a foot before and after impact. So the shafts kick point and load point for you in your swing are in big effect when it measures that speed. 

 

I'm a very stout believer that more people should be playing stiffer shafts. The heaviness if yours is a little odd at that swing speed, but everyone's different. Trust your fitter and the data, and then validate it on course. If you see something different on the course than you did in your fitting, go back and say so. 

[seth514]

While you may be a big exception, I can't imagine someone with 85-90 mph club speed fitting well into RDX 6.5 70... but, anything is possible, I suppose. 

 

Seems way too heavy, and way too stout. Regardless of transition. But if the numbers are right, and the launch monitor is calibrated and correct, so be it. 

[ChristopherMcDonald]

33 minutes ago, seth514 said:

While you may be a big exception, I can't imagine someone with 85-90 mph club speed fitting well into RDX 6.5 70... but, anything is possible, I suppose. 

 

Seems way too heavy, and way too stout. Regardless of transition. But if the numbers are right, and the launch monitor is calibrated and correct, so be it. 

Yeah I mean from what I understand club Tec is pretty reputable, I’m installing Friday and have a round Saturday. We’ll see how it goes lol

[mgoblue83]

11 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

Go with what the fitter recommends, but more importantly, the numbers because those don't lie.  Assuming the launch monitor isn't juiced. 

 

 

Those numbers can't be optimal.

How does a ball even stay in the air at 2000spin and only 125mph ball speed? I'd think he should be 2500-3000 spin at his speed.

 

I'd think a lighter shaft (more speed) and more loft on the club head (higher launch and spin) would increase his carry distance significantly.

Edited June 30, 2021 by mgoblue83

[Nevek]

TBH this looks like to result of a fitter who has absolutely no clue of what he is doing and purely relying on the parameters set by the computer. SS of below 90MPH with 125 Ball speed should have no business using a such a heavy low launch and spin shaft. 

[skujan57]

Those numbers look good to me. Hope it goes as you expect on Saturday.

[NRJyzr]

When did 70 grams become a "heavy shaft?"

 

[ChristopherMcDonald]

5 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

When did 70 grams become a "heavy shaft?"

 

Beats me, I've played up to 80 grams in my driver before with good results. Distance hasn't always been a problem just more recently

[ChristopherMcDonald]

1 hour ago, mgoblue83 said:

 

 

Those numbers can't be optimal.

How does a ball even stay in the air at 2000spin and only 125mph ball speed? I'd think he should be 2500-3000 spin at his speed.

 

I'd think a lighter shaft (more speed) and more loft on the club head (higher launch and spin) would increase his carry distance significantly.

One thing noted in the fitting was that I was hitting the ball fairly high; the low launch/low loft helped bring that down. We had worse numbers with the type of setup you're referring to (that's where we started, 50 gram regular flex and the like)

 

20 minutes ago, Nevek said:

TBH this looks like to result of a fitter who has absolutely no clue of what he is doing and purely relying on the parameters set by the computer. SS of below 90MPH with 125 Ball speed should have no business using a such a heavy low launch and spin shaft. 

This is totally possible BUT we did try a pretty wide variety of weight and flex profiles before ending up where we did so I feel like he didn't rely entirely on the numbers but was certainly looking to get the best numbers out of my admittedly crummy swing. Took close to 300 swings

 

16 minutes ago, skujan57 said:

Those numbers look good to me. Hope it goes as you expect on Saturday.

Thank you man!

[NRJyzr]

4 minutes ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

Beats me, I've played up to 80 grams in my driver before with good results. Distance hasn't always been a problem just more recently

 

A 90mph swing is pretty normal.  It may not be for the WRX population, but it's not like you're on doctor ordered weight limits....

 

[ChristopherMcDonald]

1 minute ago, NRJyzr said:

 

A 90mph swing is pretty normal.  It may not be for the WRX population, but it's not like you're on doctor ordered weight limits....

 

LOL appreciate that! I hope that as the back improves, so will the hip turn and I'll get back to around 265-270

[NRJyzr]

1 minute ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

LOL appreciate that! I hope that as the back improves, so will the hip turn and I'll get back to around 265-270

 

I feel your pain, having a less than cooperative back.  Though, my own decrease is likely also age related....

 

If I could only find Ponce de Leon's map...

 

[mgoblue83]

20 minutes ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

Beats me, I've played up to 80 grams in my driver before with good results. Distance hasn't always been a problem just more recently

 

Did you hit these outside at all?

 

The launch monitor is showing the total distance number which is NOT the best thing to compare. Chances are you are only carrying this setup 170 yards vs. the 220+ you would be carrying something lighter with more loft. You simply don't have the speed to keep 2000 spin in the air and it's going to fall out of the sky well before it should.

[ChristopherMcDonald]

6 minutes ago, mgoblue83 said:

 

Did you hit these outside at all?

 

The launch monitor is showing the total distance number which is NOT the best thing to compare. Chances are you are only carrying this setup 170 yards vs. the 220+ you would be carrying something lighter with more loft. You simply don't have the speed to keep 2000 spin in the air and it's going to fall out of the sky well before it should.

Did not get to hit them outside unfortunately, indoor facility only. Had a gift certificate otherwise I would have chose an outdoor fitter. The numbers we focused on were dispersion and carry. This Sim2 Max was not the longest raw distance driver of the bunch, that award went to the Ping G425 but dispersion was worse. 

 

I picked up the shaft for $110 so if it really is a horrid fit I can toss back in the UST Elements and play that until I find an outdoor fitter to tackle this process again

Edited June 30, 2021 by ChristopherMcDonald

[sociojeje]

Isn't a heavy shaft bad for your "dicey" back? I hit heavy shafts well but it hurts my back a lot (had a back surgery years ago). It may give you better numbers but... 

[ChristopherMcDonald]

Just now, sociojeje said:

Isn't a heavy shaft bad for your "dicey" back? I hit heavy shafts well but it hurts my back a lot (had a back surgery years ago). It may give you better numbers but... 

it's only 9 grams so (to me, a total amateur) it's not THAT noticeable. I think it actually causes me to swing a bit more fluidly since I feel like the club is doing more of the work 

[sociojeje]

1 minute ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

it's only 9 grams so (to me, a total amateur) it's not THAT noticeable. I think it actually causes me to swing a bit more fluidly since I feel like the club is doing more of the work 

Good to know. Just be careful as it may take some toll on you when you actually play (and later). I hit 120g irons so much better in the beginning but it definitely takes a toll on me (I'm playing with 95g iron shafts). 70g driver shafts with 6.5 flex could do the same to you... 9g isn't just 9g if you think about the leverage and length... isn't 70g 6.5 more like tour guys' shafts? Anyway, good luck!!! 

[phizzy30]

2 hours ago, mgoblue83 said:

 

 

Those numbers can't be optimal.

How does a ball even stay in the air at 2000spin and only 125mph ball speed? I'd think he should be 2500-3000 spin at his speed.

 

I'd think a lighter shaft (more speed) and more loft on the club head (higher launch and spin) would increase his carry distance significantly.

I don't think I ever said his spin numbers were optimal.  I agree that at his ball speed his spin would have to be higher for best results.  A lighter shaft in theory would help him with max carry.  However, a heavier shaft can tighten up dispersion.  In an ideal world, we would all want the blend of good dispersion and high ball speeds but in reality that's not always the case. 

Edited June 30, 2021 by phizzy30

[I'_rather_be_golfing]

Also you need to trust yourself. If the shaft you was fitted into feels great and gives you great numbers in return. Then it’s a win. But if you have 2nd thoughts. It’s worth another visit.  I went through my driver fitting 3 times before settling on the Fujikura Ventus red stiff tipped 1in. My swing speed is around 105mph. And club champion kept giving me heavier stiffer shafts that didn’t feel good to me at all. 

RDX is a stout shaft for someone in that swing speed range. How does the shaft feel for you?

[ChristopherMcDonald]

4 minutes ago, I'_rather_be_golfing said:

Also you need to trust yourself. If the shaft you was fitted into feels great and gives you great numbers in return. Then it’s a win. But if you have 2nd thoughts. It’s worth another visit.  I went through my driver fitting 3 times before settling on the Fujikura Ventus red stiff tipped 1in. My swing speed is around 105mph. And club champion kept giving me heavier stiffer shafts that didn’t feel good to me at all. 

RDX is a stout shaft for someone in that swing speed range. How does the shaft feel for you?

I actually liked the feel quite a bit on the RDX. It felt stable, no more stout than my Elements Chrome Stiff. Felt like I was wielding a weapon. 

[liveagua]

22 hours ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

hey Guys, had some interesting results from my first driver fitting. 

 

I got a dicey back that limits my swing speed a little, so I'm swinging it around 85-90mph. I've always played stiff shafts, sometimes regular if they play stout (Graffaloy Blue). We hit a lot of clubs, lots of shafts and what we settled on has me a little surprised. 

 

Some of the shafts I hit: Tensei Orange, Ping Alta, Mitsubishi MMT, HZRDUS Smoke RDX, Elements Chrome (my stock shaft)

 

The shaft we settled on:

HZRDUS Smoke RDX 70g 6.5

 

 

Fitter said this combo gave me the best results; also hit one about 255 on the fly with this setup, but it was not included in the data. 

 

Does anyone else find it strange that I was fit into the 6.5 instead of say the 6.0? I'm just a little flabbergasted and am looking for some other uneducated opinions from you bunch.

Did your fitter tell you that this distance number is "carry" number or "total" distance?

[03trdblack]

1 hour ago, liveagua said:

Did your fitter tell you that this distance number is "carry" number or "total" distance?

 

You're not carrying 255 "on the fly" with an 85-90 mph swing speed. Can't happen. Even the graphic you shared shows 226y which is a stretch. I'd expect 220 at best. 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by 03trdblack

[ChristopherMcDonald]

1 hour ago, liveagua said:

Did your fitter tell you that this distance number is "carry" number or "total" distance?

given number is total but we discussed carry as well. 

[ChristopherMcDonald]

17 minutes ago, 03trdblack said:

 

You're not carrying 255 "on the fly" with an 85-90 mph swing speed. Can't happen. Even the graphic you shared shows 226y. 

Looks like you maybe misunderstood me, or perhaps are responding to someone else. The distance given in the graphic is total. 

 

Editing this for clarity: I had one, VERY GOOD drive, that flew 255 on the fly. Complete outlier that should/could basically be ignored. 

Edited June 30, 2021 by ChristopherMcDonald