USGA approves Phil's driver

[BigLeftyinAZ]

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February 03, 2009

Mickelson's new driver approved by the USGA

 

Posted at 5:29 PM by David Dusek

 

Phil_mickelson_fbr_open_driver Phil Mickelson played last week's FBR Open using a Callaway FT-5 driver (right), the same model he used for most of the 2008 season. That's because the driver he wanted to use, a modified Callaway FT-9, had yet to be approved for play by the USGA.

 

“It got approved yesterday,” Mickelson said.

 

Maybe that's why Phil hit just 28.6% of the fairways at TPC Scottsdale and missed the cut by seven shots. “I hit it hard,” Lefty said of his Callaway FT-5, “but I was missing it to the right with some draws, and on those fairways [my tee shots] all bounded into unplayable lies.”

 

Unlike the FT-9s that are available in pro shops nationwide, Mickelson's has a hosel. That slight alteration — created by Callaway specifically for his driver — necessitated the game's governing body to examine it, like any other new club, to ensure it conformed with the Rules of Golf.

 

The verdict: It does.

 

So this week at Torrey Pines, where Mickelson chose to play last season's U.S. Open without a driver, Lefty will try to win with a unique driver.

 

"My misses are better with this club than they've ever have been,” he said. :fool: :crazy: :wacko:

[ngrigsby]

"My misses are better with this club than they've ever have been,” he said.

Hmmm...I wonder how far left this driver will go?

[rmauritz]

any idea which shaft he will be plaing in the new driver?

[produffer]

the fact that it has a hosel... what does that mean or do to the club?

[ifixclubs]

any idea which shaft he will be plaing in the new driver?

pretty sure its gonna be the Accra XE80

[sharkhark]

just another sign of how we all want the pro's stuff...and it is altered in a way that makes it difficult for us to get..we get off the rack, they get specially built clubs. I tried in vain to find a ft5 with TH on the bay last yr and they were almost unheard of. Why not play exactly what the oem offers us?

[robb01]

the fact that it has a hosel... what does that mean or do to the club?

 

Could it be for aesthetics?

[jwbartelt]

Does this mean Phil can't hit a regular driver the average Joe hits or maybe the Callaway drivers

he hit before are no good. Ernie is not hitting it too good, either.

[SoonerChris]

any idea which shaft he will be plaing in the new driver?

pretty sure its gonna be the Accra XE80

 

I know that Accura now has a relationship with FST and thus FST with Phil but man, he sure was hitting the D a lot straighter with the Fubuki proto last year.

[drgolfaholic]

the fact that it has a hosel... what does that mean or do to the club?

 

Could it be for aesthetics?

 

To make it looks like a Titleist , maybe?

[jaskanski]

Does this mean Phil can't hit a regular driver the average Joe hits or maybe the Callaway drivers

he hit before are no good. Ernie is not hitting it too good, either.

 

I thought they were both holding out for the Air Force 1 to get approval - could be a long wait. :black eye:

[exodonter]

the fact that it has a hosel... what does that mean or do to the club?

 

Could it be for aesthetics?

 

 

Tweaking lie angle?

[MiffWildCat]

Maybe he should look at the indian instead of the arrow for once...

[sandy]

The i-Mix version simulates a hosel just as well. The engagement of the shaft is very very close in terms of area.

 

Any bets that Phil will crack 30% fairways with his new magic club? Or if he does for how long this arrow will fly straight for this indian.

[Cally4life]

he defiently needs unique...... Give him an Ftiq!!! :help:

[bambooluv]

Well I was curious if the usga had updated their website with the new driver and I think I found something. Not sure if this is the right one, or if its old, but its the only left handed ft-9 with a hosel and it is also the only one denoted as "tour authentic" of the ft-9's.

Here is the info from the usga site,

 

FT-9 Tour Authentic (LH)

 

7.5

 

SOLE: Callaway, (Chevron logo), (loft), TOUR AUTHENTIC, FT 9

HEEL: (weight bias)

 

Wow, only made a 7.5 huh, guess phil can have it bent if needed but wow 7.5

 

 

[celts5407]

"My misses are better with this club than they've ever have been," he said.

Hmmm...I wonder how far left this driver will go?

 

 

i'll believe it when he pulls it on the 18th tee on the final day of a major with a 1 shot lead. if he ever gets there again.

[Paul Stewart Jones]

Having the hossel on the driver add more weight to the heal of the club. There fore squaring off the face at impact rather than coming in closed, if this is one of your faults. The hosel makes the face sit slightly open at address (1.5 degrees open) which should suit the player who really likes to turn through the ball.

[BigLeftyinAZ]

Through 9 today,phils Fw's are only 33%. he just missed left slightly on the 9th hole

[ghromas]

phil is still terrible off the tee. he should just stick with one driver and fix his swing. that being said, did you see his 2nd shot on the south course 17? uphill bunker lie to an elevated green and back pin! he's still got game.

[celts5407]

anybody know what shaft he is playing? it almost looks orange. i havent gotten a long enough look at it to be able to have any idea what it is.

[racmbs]

anybody know what shaft he is playing? it almost looks orange. i havent gotten a long enough look at it to be able to have any idea what it is.

 

Accra XE80

[ghromas]

+1 racmbs

[celts5407]

ahhhh that makes sense. thanks guys.

[Samsquanch]

He hit it pretty good today, 329 average and 50% of the fairways.

[Jer-Jer]

Well I was curious if the usga had updated their website with the new driver and I think I found something. Not sure if this is the right one, or if its old, but its the only left handed ft-9 with a hosel and it is also the only one denoted as "tour authentic" of the ft-9's.

Here is the info from the usga site,

 

FT-9 Tour Authentic (LH)

 

7.5

 

SOLE: Callaway, (Chevron logo), (loft), TOUR AUTHENTIC, FT 9

HEEL: (weight bias)

 

Wow, only made a 7.5 huh, guess phil can have it bent if needed but wow 7.5

 

 

Draw version too!!! Just for Phil!!! Hahaha

[Johnny]

I play a 7.5 LCG FT-i... and I can launch it like a 9.5 at will.

[Cub]

You can pre order the ft-9 tour from callaway now. $877.50 for the fubuki 63 (No 73) and $729 for the voodoo.

 

As a side question anyone know why callaway charges so much for custom shafts. The ft-iq tour comes stock with the fubuki 63 for $530 but they put a 447.50 upcharge for it on the ft-9 tour. For 447.50 you could buy and install a fubuki and still have $200 leftover.

[Forged in Japan]

I have an FTIQ at my custom fitting facility and it isn't a real fubuki. It is the one with the red lining which is a "fake" one. I"m assuming that is the one that is $500.

 

If it's too good to be true then it is. Rarely can you find a driver in todays market from a major OEM that has a "real" shaft in it.

 

they are charging more for the FT9 fubuki because it's a real one and the real one costs $400 bucks or so.

[Cub]

I have an FTIQ at my custom fitting facility and it isn't a real fubuki. It is the one with the red lining which is a "fake" one. I"m assuming that is the one that is $500.

 

If it's too good to be true then it is. Rarely can you find a driver in todays market from a major OEM that has a "real" shaft in it.

 

they are charging more for the FT9 fubuki because it's a real one and the real one costs $400 bucks or so.

 

$275 is the highest price I've seen so far.