another successful nine with the DCT, still hitting it longer than I ever have.

Interestingly enough when I was researching drivers and shafts, with my carry with my old driver of 200 yards, most recommended a regular shaft

however based on my "iron that I hit 150 yards" (for me a 6 or 7) I was on the cusp of a stiff.

 Now with the DCT my carry is more like 220 which takes me into stiff territory.

 The shaft I have with my 12 degree DCT is a stiff aldila vs proto which is not I gather the same sort of stiffness as say a UST V2

 The flight with this combo is perfect for me off a tee height of 1/2 a ball over the head.

Hatstand, I think the ONLY way of deciding what shaft is right, is to simply get out there on the course and try it. I'm going to try a Harrison Pro 2.5 stiff, which apparently plays a little softer, whereas the Creation I went for plays stout, it would be a lot easier if there was the same flex unification by all the shaft makers, but there isn't so its a case of trial and error it seems. I have always had a stiff shaft, I once tried a regular in a TM bubble shaft and if I'd carried on with that I might have killed someone two fairways away. I hit my eight iron 148yds (carry) so I was a little disappointed finding the Creation too stiff.

Don't get me wrong Hatstand, some might say I'm being a little fussy after hitting one about 270yds right down the middle, but as Boas said, this game is all about feel.

You can never be too fussy Gypsy, I just happed to be lucky first time around, although I had played around with all the other drivers with various shafts and having a nvs in my rescue and a fuji in my 3 wood, I was able to compare specs, so I would be too far out.

150 with an eight definitely puts you in stiff territory

Have been mapping out my drives using google earth after my round and managed 280 on Monday (carry plus roll) on one hole

Hatstand and Gypsy Rico

When I was a really good golfer-about 100 years ago! my brilliant teacher advised me strongly to use the SOFTEST shafts I could without losing accuracy. I got down to +1 on his advice  and kept it for some 12 years and now use regular graphite(Srixon XX10s) with which I hit my 7 iron 150 yards and just as accurately as ever I did with steel.

You would be surprised how many good professionals play with regular shafts. They definitely promote swinging through the ball rather than thrashing AT it!

I can only manage 240/250 from the tee these days but our fairways are waterlogged so that distance is ALL CARRY!

Good advice Boa which I will definately take on board, in my irons I have already found out that DG R300, suit me far better than DG S300, now does that mean I should be using a regular flex in my woods, I don't know? I mean Boa, it's ok hitting the ball a long way, but it's also very important to keep it pretty straight.

I am very accurate with my irons, but one time when I tried the S300, I found it hard with my long to mid irons to get the ball on a good trajectory, rising high and landing soft. I'm still using my Mizuno Pro's, and would find it hard to get a set to beat them.

Gypsy Rico

I should have added that many good players use a stiffer DRIVER than other woods because great distance is the norm on the various tours and the best players-amateur and pro- usually have excellent short games too. Tiger's driver has an XX shaft which would be ideal for pulling a a trolley!!But then his muscles have muscles!

Even that smooth swinger Erie Els hits his driver deceptively hard

OK, re-review of the Geek DCT 3 wood.  Still haven't had chance to play a full round with it but am much more pleased than I was and fully acknowledge that the problems that I was having were in fact down to my sprained wrist rather than the club.

First, kudos to Geoff at Bighit for once again pushing me in the direction of the right shaft. The Aldila NV75 is spot on and even in a regular flex is firm enough to give me accuracy whilst being flexible enough to help me to get some lift on shots.  Having said that, this club gives the same powerful, penetrating flight as the driver.  That's not to say that you can't hit it high - I can when I need to - but the ball does power through the wind in a way that makes it an ideal club for a links course, or a heathland course like mine that is open to the prevailing wind. I'm still discovering just how scrappy a lie I can take this club to before resorting to the rescue club; but right now it's in the bag and I'm developing confidence with it before the season starts.

Just to add a little more from my round at the weekend with the DCT.The bad news that I hit one bad slice OB but it was a scramble and I would admit to being careless with that one.But on three or four driving holes on a very windy day I put out some very long drives.Fully 70 yards in front of the other three on one hole into the teeth of the wind.Not 100 per cent reliable yet but that is down to me to sort in the next few weeks and I'm looking forward to it.

I've been harping on about my Creation shaft being a little too stiff for me, but in our scramble yesterday I hit the DCT as good as I probably ever will, even a couple of draws. I got an eagle two on my own on the par four second, so I'm going to give it a little longer before I start changing shafts etc. I also got a Bang 4 wood with a TT lite stiff  shaft from Geoff, and that went well also, so things are starting to look up, and I am gearing myself up to be a catorgory one golfer this year for the first time. My lowest handicap was in 2006 and it was 5.6, and I had a few chances to reduce it, but unfortunately I made the mistake of working it out with about four holes to go and blew it every time. I won't fall for that one again though, as my course management is far better now. We'll see eh?

Boanerges, a gentleman of exactly the same years of age as myself (i.e. 57), has views which have to be carefully considered and respected as these are based on many years of experience. Having said that he gives no indication of having experimented with custom made drivers. (Apologies if he did. I have not read this entire thread as it is enormous!)

Fundamentally I agree with him insofar as most golf players  can secure quite a good return from an off the shelf driver, provided of course the recommended swing speed for any such a fitted off the shelf shaft broadly equates   with their swing speed and the player does not set himself too difficult a clubhead loft  - say below 8 degrees. 

However, I can only agree up to a point, namely one should not expect to secure more than 90% of distance potential with an off the shelf driver. And, with a driver (more than with any other club) distance is a very important element when evaluating performance. 

A year ago I was hitting 300-320 yards with my collection of six off the shelf drivers. I then got into custom made drivers and hit 345 yards in Sweden (www.longdrivers-eu.com) and now that I have much better suited and refined equipment I have recently hit considerably further on several occasions and in adverse winter conditions.

It all depends how many yards one wants, and more importantly needs.

It is however, in my humble opinion, totally wrong to dismiss custom made equipment. All of the world's top 100 players have it and that surely speaks for itself. 

Respectfully,

the Viper

Gypsy

 Can you tell me swing speed.  I have a Creation shaft here and am wondering what you swing speed is and if it would suit.

Daniel

Daniel, like I said in a previous post, I haven't a clue what my swing speed is, should I be embarassed about this?  I'll have to get it sorted mate, as I really should know a lot more about my swing, but until I joined this forum it never concerned me, as I've always judged my swing on how the ball reacts, and altered it accordingly.

The Creation I have is the 65 in a stiff flex. 

why not try a longdrive whuppn shaft for real distance?

pm me or drop me and email

extremeld@yahoo.co.uk

Gypsy Rico

When you reach my age as a golfer you tend to do two things: Firstly thank God that you are still alive and healthy, and as a still extremely keen and competitive golfer look for ultimate length in a driver. There IS a third but I can only tell you about that if you email me!! 

So, today I took my Geek DCT, 10.5 degree, 75 grammes, Grafalloy Prolite Regular shaft to American Golf at Watford to try a Taylormade Burner and a brand new Yonex CB-their longest driver they claimed. I hit 20 balls with each after warming up with some iron shots.

NO CONTEST-the five only with my GEEK PITCHED a good fifteen yards past the others not even giving it the full treatment. The flight was better and I doubt if the five balls differed in dispersion by five yards. THis GEEK is quite simply the finest driver I have owned

Interesting stuff Boa.I am still getting the same results with the DCT very very  long but just a couple of poor drives each round which must be down to me.I think there is a tendancy to try and hit it too hard on account of the length anticipated.For some reason I am hitting  3w very sweet though.8 weeks to get it right.

I hit some drives today further than I have for a long time, but the better news is, they were all down the track, maybe one or two on the first cut but I'll definately settle for that. I turned a few heads on Sunday with it as well, so yes Boa, I'll say it's the best driver I've ever owned, one thing though is, I had mine cut to play at 46 1/2", but for what you gain, I don't think it's worth it. When I can be bothered I'll take it down to 45"

One thing worth mentioning is, I find it so good playing into a gale, it seems to just bore through it, I guess that might be the low spin on the head and shaft.

Gypsy Rico

46 1/2 is VERY long these days! I realise that Jarmo Sandelin had a 49" !! driver but even he has seen the light and his is now same as mine at 1" shorter than yours. By the way, I am EXTREMELY glad that we are obviously discussing DRIVERS

The Geek DCT 10.5* with stiff rocket shaft flies like a rocket.

It crunches the ball on a nice penetrating path landing out at the 230 yard mark and kicking on big time.

A 300 yard plus driver in the summer.

Golf Machine wrote (see)

The Geek DCT 10.5* with stiff rocket shaft flies like a rocket.

It crunches the ball on a nice penetrating path landing out at the 230 yard mark and kicking on big time.

A 300 yard plus driver in the summer.