Mark, Good post, as always. You ask if anyone has done testing/demos. Well, obviously you have. But how about simulations? They can also make the same point you do. In fact, for many mid-to-high handicap golfers, the higher loft is not only more accurate but longer as well.
I did some simulations using Max Dupilka's "Trajectory" program. The results are a graph in my club design notes at http://www.clubmaker-online.com/physics3.html. I'm sure they won't be a big surprise to most experienced clubfitters. Cheers! DaveT ----- Original Message ----- From: Mark A. Patton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 8:48 PM Subject: ShopTalk:Now Traj was SRV-II Update > Thanks for the review. Some of your comments as well as others from other > threads leads me to this: > > I see many references to people wanting to keep trajectory down (for the > driver). I know this is desired as while I play, I know I hear it enough. My > question is, has anyone done any testing/demos regarding this? > > Most any customer I solicit has this desire, but many times what they want is > their own destruction (I guess). For my feeble game right now, my best "driver" > is a 15* 3 wood with a 45" shaft. While certainly no monster on the swingspeed, > last weekend it allowed me to out drive my competitor 4X, but also hit 7X more > fairways. On average we are talking 250 yds on the fly. Before I racked my spine > (snap crackle pop for those of the ST Open) I had a 7 hcp (with 32 putts avg :( > ) and a avg driver distance of 275. > > In a nutshell, there are advantages of a higher lofted club when accuracy is > needed (please review earlier post regarding tests on distance vs accuracy off > the tee as well as any major book regarding loft and fitting). How many have > tested a longer and higher lofted "driver". I know as time/money allows, a 12* > Bang may become a test subject. > > Sad part is, evidently testosterone wins occasionally. I had a customer a couple > months ago who wanted a driver. I observed and demoed him. Though not needing a > lower trajectory driver, he wanted one. I built it for him cash on the barrel) > as well as allowed him to demo a higher lofted driver. Even though he posted a 5 > stroke lower score with the "high" lofted driver, the "lower" was it. He > accredited this to, "bad swing" (hmm only with the lower driver) as well as > other astronomical anomalies. My practical "test"did not succeed here as > planned. > > Fact of the matter is: We as club fitters CAN build a better club. We CAN (at > times) build a better game. We CAN build what the customer needs. We CAN build > what the customer wants. We CAN have a satisfied customer, it just takes us > realizing that w/o the help of a shrink, these items will not always align. > > Mark >
