Can't I believe in both guys?
A little hard to argue the fact that most golfers can handle a
shorter driver better than a longer driver.
As I sell nearly everything online, I figured early on (late 90's)
that I would specialize in something and get really good at it. I
don't build irons (except for myself), impossible to do online. But I
am good at building/reshafting with lightweight components and that
is my niche. Not many were doing it and there is a substantial group
of golfers that really like lightweight/long drivers and I'm happy to
leave the shorter/straighter market to others.
The shaft manufacturers are slowly starting to catch up with the king
of micro (AJ Tech) and are making some really nice shafts that are
priced right (still not as good as AJ's stuff, but pretty decent). I
learned most of what I know about lightweight stuff from spending an
unbelievable number of hours on the phone with AJ over the years.
The new grips that are 50% lighter have been a big help, so the
technology is there that wasn't available a very short time ago to do
some interesting things with a driver.
I'll be polite and not comment on your approaching birthday...
Thanks for all the great points in your note. I should note that I
have paid a LOT of attention to the things that you and Tom have
written and really appreciate the learning opportunities you guys
have provided.
John
Interesting observations, John.
I mostly agree.
Comments below...
At 07:31 AM 5/5/2011, [email protected] wrote:
I think the lighter drivers (I'm in the 190g head/55g shaft/25g
grip/46-46/5" crowd) are easier to hit for many golfers (especially
seniors). More distance,too, but shaving 50-60g just feels easier
to hit for me and I don't have to swing as hard to keep control and
distance (and the testimonials that are starting to roll in
confirm). Standard weight drivers start to feel like a sledge
hammer on the 17th tee.
This is mostly a plug (IMHO) for getting the weight out of shafts. I
definitely believe in that. But getting the weight out of the
clubhead? It may do for some people and some design approaches.
Definitely not all.
Hey, I turn 70 next month, and have been losing distance since I was
65. But my #1 driver has a very light shaft (49g) and a heavier than
average head (206g). (Those are from David Dugally's Golf Coast: a
Vector TourSpec head and Fierce FullForce shaft. Outstanding
components.)
It all boils down to whether you believe Bernie Baymiller or Tom
Wishon. I believe that either one might be right for any given
golfer. But I have done better with the Wishon philosophy:
Off-the-shelf brand-name drivers are too long. BTW, nobody seems to
think off-the-shelf brand-name drivers are the right length; Bernie
thinks they're too short. :)
Anyway, until the past year or so, the shaft has been the "coarse
tuning dial" for club weight. Shafts were available over a 70g
range, while heads maybe 15g at most. If I wanted light weight, I
would get a light shaft. In order to maintain the club's heft, I'd
need to either build it longer or get extra weight. I do better with
the Wishon philosophy, so the heavy Vector TourSpec head is called
for.
Now lightweight heads are also available. As for whether I could be
helped by a lightweight head... The driver's heft (swingweight/MOI)
would be too small. Actually, I just tried that very exercise two
days ago, swinging a 5-iron that was 6-8 swingweight points lighter
than my own. Sure, it swung very easy. But I HAD TO SWING EASY. If I
turned it loose, there was no hint of control; the ball went all
over the lot. And the easy swing didn't give me enough distance,
even with the lighter club -- and very little increase in control.
BOTTOM LINE:
* Lightweight shafts make sense.
* Lightweight heads only make sense if you want to build the
club longer, or if you're dealing with someone who has almost no
swing speed at all. But it does make sense in those cases.
One bad thing I noticed yesterday on the range. After flailing away
with my lightweight driver for 1/2 hour, my steel shafted iron felt
really heavy. Jumping back and forth from superlight to heavy might
cause problems.
Excellent point!
That comes back to my point about club heft. Much of the problem is
the lack of HEFT (not overall weight), unless you built the club
long enough to make up for the ultralight components.
If you just went ultralight and lived with the reduced heft, then it
DEFINITELY swings differently. "Jumping back and forth" would be a
real problem.
And if you did make it long enough to keep the heft up, then re-read
Bernie's "instruction manual" for long drivers. It does take a
different swing. That means "jumping back and forth" requires
switching swings each time you jump.
Cheers!
DaveT
--
By the way, I send out weekly information on new golf equipment
called The Clubmaker Report and a new golf equipment clearance
supplement called The Cheapo Depot, would you like me to add your
email address to it? Send me a quick note if yes.
Thanks!
John Muir
skype: jhmuir
AIM: [email protected]
810.923.7396
http://clubmaker-online.com
http://gripscience.com
http://clubmaker.mobi
http://thedriverstudio.com
Golf equipment updates at http://twitter.com/golfcast
Facebook--
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clubmaker-Online/181867993392?v=wall&mid=20b6914G6046d421G0G66
sponsored by Aldila Voodoo
http://aldilavoodoo.com
