Here is the latest chapter in my continuing search for the perfect combination of 14 clubs in my golf bag.  This has been a three year adventure with some success and some failure.  All has been well worth the while as I learn more about my game and what I need to improve.  I will keep make/model information out of this blog as best I can.  But if any of you wish to know any details on equipment, I will be glad to share.

I have struggled with too high a launch angle and excessive backspin.  I have a fairly slow swing speed of about 88mph.  My typical launch angle was about 15-17+ degrees, while my backspin numbers are well over 3700rpm.  This leads to a fairly short overall average driving distance of only about 220-240 yards - realistically. Luckily I am fairly straight with a spray of only about 20-30 yards each way, mostly left now.  Still the challenge of finding a few extra yards has led me to trying out all sorts of adjustments to my equipment.  I have tried a variety of different drivers.  I started with experimenting with different lofts. 

I started a 410 cc 10.5 degree driver with a stock regular flex shaft three years ago.   I went with a 400cc 12 degree loft  game improvement "knockoff" driver with a custom stiff flex shaft.  Obviously, this didn't work all too well for me when it came to distance, but it help me with hitting more fairways.  In my search for the magic super long driver, I possibly went too quickly to a much lower lofted 460cc high MOI 8.5 degree driver plus regular flex shaft to gain some additional yards of carry and roll.  The regular flex matched my slower swing speed but I had trouble squaring up the head.  That led to a downward spiral of rights and lefts as I pushed and pulled my tee shots every which way.  It was a frustrating experience where I lost all confidence in my swing off the tee.  I resorted to three woods and hybrids off the tee much of the time.  I almost took a long break from the game - I said almost. 

I found a new 460cc tall face and low/back CG 9.5 degree driver with regular flex shaft that had two weight ports late last year.   It really helped bring back my confidence as I found more fairways and got to a more acceptable driving distance.   In March, I was lucky to play Spyglass Hill in Monterey, California and found 10 fairways on this very challenging layout.  I was hooked.  I believe the weighting, MOI and face height fit my eye and swing best.  I still see bigger hitters in my foursomes, but I have resolved myself to knowing I won't be the longest ball out there.  The faster I try to swing, the more trouble I put myself into.  If I swing too hard, I get lazy hands and keep that face too open at impact, typically. 

For kicks this spring, I tried carrying a second driver - like Phil.  One for normal conditions and one for the windy days.  Number two was a traditional pear shaped 460 cc 9.5 degree driver with a custom lower launch regular flex shaft, but couldn't keep it straight.  So number two sits in my garage waiting for a better player to find it.  I even borrowed a 9.5 degree 425cc, 4 weight port version of the driver I was already using to see if I could get a more penetrating ball flight for better launch conditions and more roll.  That worked better, but not dramatically better than the trusted original.

So two weeks ago, I thought I would make the change in shafts to the driver head that I felt the most confidence with.  The shaft manufacturer boasts a lower launch angle with lower backspin tendancies.  The RSSR rating also matched my 85-90mph swingspeed in their regular flex model.  My hope is that this brings my launch angle to a 14-15 degrees and reduce backspin to less than 3300.  All else being equal, I suspect that this will add 5 - 10 yards with the same control right to left as before.  Let's hope it does. 

My next post will describe my equipment solution to a two year issue with the dreaded shanks.