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From: "JC" tullyhubbert on 7 May 2007 17:32
In a never ending quest to find the longest and most forgiving (Probably
even more important for this 14 HC golfer) driver I am considering making a
change.

I bought a Cobra SZ 440 two years ago and still hit it well (Using my usual
standards as a guide). It has 9 degree of loft and a regular shaft. It sits
pretty square behind the ball and my stock shot is straight, small draw or
big draw. Unfortunately the further right I aim the bigger the draw :o) I
also hit it high, very high in fact which is obviously a problem in my
swing. Part of the reason I'm considering the change is I'd like a driver
with a bigger hitting face. I'm one of thse who inspect the driver face
after every shot to see where I hit it out off. Its no coincidence that the
shots that go furthest come off the central area of the club, sadly thats
not always where I hit it from! Bearing my shot shape in mind offset drivers
and heavily draw biased drivers are out. I know my swing isn't strong enough
for a stiff shaft which may of helped with the elevation.

I like my Cobra and would like to buy another but the follow up club to the
SZ 440 was an SZ 460 which didn't have a regular shaft in 9 degree. Anyway
it was basically the same club and I wasn't ready for a change then. Next
Cobra offering was the "F Speed" However it had a closed club face to
encourage a draw so is out. Next up the "HS9". I really like the look of it,
square address, deep face and a larger hitting area than my club. However
again the 9 degree version isn't made with a regular shaft option. There is
a new Cobra this year, the "Speed LD/F" Thing is it looks terrible and
apparently sounds even worse. On the plus side it seems to sit pretty square
behind the ball and the 9 degree model has a regular shaft option, however I
won't buy something I hate the look of.

So then, if I can get my hands on an HS9 (Ebay or online shops) should I get
a 9 degree with a stiff shaft or a 10 degree regular. I know I ought to try
them both but the local golf shops no longer have any in stock due to them
being discontinued.

Your thoughts please.

John


From: david s-a on 7 May 2007 19:00
JC wrote:

>
> Your thoughts please.
>


If your only problem is hitting the ball off centre then the first thing
I would look at is the length of the driver. Most people these days are
hitting drivers that are far too long for them.....generally as a result
of the marketing hype that demands that 'my driver is longer than
yours'. In the competent clubfitting arena there is a definite move to
shorter drivers.......the majority of pros these days prefering clubs at
44.5" or less. Might I suggest that before you go out and spend
unnecessarily on the latest and longest, that you try and experiment
with shortening your club. You can use impact labels on the face of your
driver at a practice facility, grip down by a 1/4" in progressive steps,
hitting ten or more drives at each reduction in length. You are looking
for the least scatter of the impact marks....that will give you the
ideal length for your driver. Even if you have to reduce the club length
by as much as 1" you will still get a satisfactory result. Once you
arrive at a suitable length take the club to a clubmaker/fitter and have
him shorten it for you. He will need to add a small amount of weight to
the head to restore the 'feel' through either MOI matching or
Swingweight matching, and this will also compensate for the club
stiffening up with the length reduction.

The shorter optimised driver length will not only improve your accuracy,
but will probably improve your distance as well, given the improved
impact conditions and swingspeed that it enables. BTW, you need to be
swinging that club at 100mph plus in order to optimise the launch angle
from a 9� lofted clubhead!

Remember, Tiger Woods appeared on the professional scene with a steel
shafted 43.5" driver and look what happened to him when he first moved
to longer graphite shafted drivers.....even Nike have recognised they
were too long and their stock clubs are now less than 45".His fitting is
even shorter than that!

Try shortening your driver...you will be pleasantly surprised at the
result....and the money you save!

cheers
david
From: John van der Pflum on 8 May 2007 09:03
On Mon, 7 May 2007 22:32:12 +0100, "JC" <tullyhubbert@ (Spam Trap)
yahoo.com> wrote:


>So then, if I can get my hands on an HS9 (Ebay or online shops) should I get
>a 9 degree with a stiff shaft or a 10 degree regular. I know I ought to try
>them both but the local golf shops no longer have any in stock due to them
>being discontinued.
>
>Your thoughts please.
>
>John

Why not get an HS9 and have it reshafted with the shaft from your
other driver, or some other regular shaft? I am not a "darksider"[1]
but I would definitely consult with someone who is well versed in
different shafts and configurations before you go about making a shaft
change.

PS -- I have an HS9 with a stiff shaft and it's a cannon.

[1] One of those people who have vast knowledge about club specs,
shafts, etc.
--
jvdp
RSG Cincinnati July 13-15, 2007
http://www.rsgcincinnati.com
From: "JC" tullyhubbert on 8 May 2007 13:48

"Benway" wrote in message

> What interested me in the post was:
>
> >Unfortunately the further right I aim the bigger the draw :o)
>
> This makes me think you aren't really aiming further right. If you really
> are just picking a target further right and hit your normal small draw
> swing you would hit it further right. Simple physics. So it sounds like
> you are changing your swing. Or arent really thinking of your new target
> to the right and subconciously closing up to compensate for the new
> alignment that mentally feels wrong. See if you can get it on video or get
> a playing partner to watch so you can work out what you are doing.

Its something I've always struggled with. I tend only to be able to hit
"Square" off the tee box with confidence. When I used to be a fader/slicer
the further left I aimed the further right I hit it. Now that I have a
little draw its the opposite. All I seem to do is take a closed or open
stance (But shoulders stay square) and exaggerate the problem. I know this,
I just have to play around it somehow.

> >I'm one of these who inspect the driver face after every shot to
> >see where I hit it out off. Its no coincidence that the shots
> >that go furthest come off the central area of the club, sadly
> >that's not always where I hit it from!
>
>
> Either way i would keep the driver and work with a teaching pro on your
> swing. A 2 year old cobra that you "still hit well" sounds like a good
> club to keep.

I haven't had a lesson for many years. I know the basics and have to
struggle on by my self, time and money does not allow for such luxuries I'm
afraid.

> I've just changed from a Cobra SS (non-conforming) to a Taylor Made R7
> Quad. I used to hit nice draws (bad shot - big high fade) with the cobra
> but the R7 changed all that as it is nowhere near as forgiving. My stock
> drive now is a fade that can develop into a huge slice. To compensate my
> pro has me grip down on the R7 an inch when it is a tight drive and get
> much more control. And recently he is trying to get me to hit draws (big
> or small) like you when the course demands. Of course it is early days and
> I can hit it a long way left (those at HP2007 who played with me can
> verify that) but if i come out of the season with a driver i can safely
> draw or fade i'll be a very happy man.

Two of my playing partners are using TM's. They aren't hitting them as well
as their previous Callaways but to be fair with H/C golfers this can be put
down more to a lack of form than equipment.

John



From: Demetri (Durram) on 8 May 2007 14:09
JC wrote:
> "Benway" wrote in message
>
>> What interested me in the post was:
>>
>>> Unfortunately the further right I aim the bigger the draw :o)
>> This makes me think you aren't really aiming further right. If you really
>> are just picking a target further right and hit your normal small draw
>> swing you would hit it further right. Simple physics. So it sounds like
>> you are changing your swing. Or arent really thinking of your new target
>> to the right and subconciously closing up to compensate for the new
>> alignment that mentally feels wrong. See if you can get it on video or get
>> a playing partner to watch so you can work out what you are doing.
>
> Its something I've always struggled with. I tend only to be able to hit
> "Square" off the tee box with confidence. When I used to be a fader/slicer
> the further left I aimed the further right I hit it. Now that I have a
> little draw its the opposite. All I seem to do is take a closed or open
> stance (But shoulders stay square) and exaggerate the problem. I know this,
> I just have to play around it somehow.
>
>>> I'm one of these who inspect the driver face after every shot to
>>> see where I hit it out off. Its no coincidence that the shots
>>> that go furthest come off the central area of the club, sadly
>>> that's not always where I hit it from!
>>
>> Either way i would keep the driver and work with a teaching pro on your
>> swing. A 2 year old cobra that you "still hit well" sounds like a good
>> club to keep.
>
> I haven't had a lesson for many years. I know the basics and have to
> struggle on by my self, time and money does not allow for such luxuries I'm
> afraid.
>
> > I've just changed from a Cobra SS (non-conforming) to a Taylor Made R7
>> Quad. I used to hit nice draws (bad shot - big high fade) with the cobra
>> but the R7 changed all that as it is nowhere near as forgiving. My stock
>> drive now is a fade that can develop into a huge slice. To compensate my
>> pro has me grip down on the R7 an inch when it is a tight drive and get
>> much more control. And recently he is trying to get me to hit draws (big
>> or small) like you when the course demands. Of course it is early days and
>> I can hit it a long way left (those at HP2007 who played with me can
>> verify that) but if i come out of the season with a driver i can safely
>> draw or fade i'll be a very happy man.
>
> Two of my playing partners are using TM's. They aren't hitting them as well
> as their previous Callaways but to be fair with H/C golfers this can be put
> down more to a lack of form than equipment.
>
> John
>
>
>

ADR buying a swing by having lessons with a golf pro as opposed to
spending more money on a new driver will save both money and time! It's
got to be worth a try first but I appreciate the psychological side of
being confident one is using the right equipment.

I have been having *serious* problems with putting and my first stop was
at the pro shop, not to buy a new one but to get back in touch with the
basics and learn a few drills.

HTH
--
Durram
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