Trajectory: I am one of those seeking a lower trajectory. I have used the trajectory software and read the articles in Gold Digest and other publications that advise higher loft and claim that it will go longer. However, personal experience and comparisons have proven the opposite for me at least. After reading the umpteenth article claiming higher loft (10-12 were the recommended lofts for my swing speed depending on which article), I shafted a 12 degree head and tried it at 46 inches. I had already used a 10 degree head. Maybe I should have tried an 11 degree, but I didn't have one handy. The result was disappointing skyballs that dropped short with no roll and also were at the mercy of the wind. Maybe they were a little more accurate but I don't have a problem with the 7.5 Bang P-3 and am now trying a 6 Dark Matter. What it makes me wonder is if it makes a difference how one swings. I have a friend for whom I shafted a 12 degree McHenry head, 45 inch shaft, and he hits it lower than I hit the 6 degree Dark Matter, 46 inch shaft. I just don't think that an article or a software program can determine loft and trajectory across the board without knowing the type of swing the golfer has. Some swing more upright, others more flat. Some stay nearly stationary, others shift slightly forward. I don't know what other things effect it, but I do know that I tend to be very stationary throughout the swing and my friend uses a definite shift of weight forward. It seems to me that this would tend to deloft the club being swung. What about a late release? Wouldn't that also deloft the clubhead? ED ----- Original Message ----- From: Mark A. Patton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 9:39 PM Subject: Re: ShopTalk:Now Traj was SRV-II Update
> didn't see this come through though I sent it first > > "Mark A. Patton" wrote: > > > You hit it dead on! Max's program (Many Thanks Max!) was the first that got me > > to break through the whole "trajectory" thought and work outside the box. As I > > didn't have a "high" lofted driver head, I pulled a 15* 250CC Ti 3 wood I had > > and shafted at a driver length. Even with my poor long game, I saw a benefit. > > > > Now extending this, why in having such much more of a minimal effect, why so > > much thought in shaft selection to lower trajectory? > > > > But back to the original thought: > > If nothing else, you CAN at times get a macho feeling with this. When you are > > say 5-10 yds in front and in the fairway vs your partner; and you notice they > > used their driver you can always comment: > > > > "Boy was that tight, glad I chose my 3 wd" :) > > > > Mark > > > > Dave Tutelman wrote: > > > > > 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 > > > > > >
