Right, well here are my first impressions. One thing that should be taken into account is that I'm not hitting my long clubs off the fairway particularly well at the moment - I sprained my wrist at the beginning of December and over the Xmas/New Year period, I wasn't hitting anything much longer than a 7 iron. I still seem to be flinching a little at impact which doesn't help when you want to smash a 3 wood out of a crummy lie!
Anyway, I have done a straight A vs B against my TaylorMade R5 which I reviewed on this board as being "everything that a fairway wood should be". The TM is great off the tee but I am much less consistent with it off the deck and it doesn't always go well out of the rough or dodgy lies. It has a deep-faced titanium head that is larger than that of the Geek.
The Geek looks very good, though is noticeably smaller headed. It also sets up square, as opposed to the toe'd in TM. Geoff advised me on the shaft - well, he was right about the driver - so when I went to the range on Friday, I was interested to see the difference between the two. I alternated 5 balls with each club (Srixon range balls) into a left -to-right crosswind, first tee, then mat.
TMR5 - held its line well in the wind, mini rainbow flight that was occasionally pushed off line by the wind. As expected, better off the tee than the deck.
GeekDCT - slightly shorter off the tee, penetrating flight, consistent fade, good grouping and stopping within 5-7 yards of where it landed. Much easier to pick up off the deck than the TMR5 - in fact, no mishits off the mat. I can trade losing the yards off the tee for the consistency off the deck. As with the driver, there's a "cut-through" the wind that make it very playable, so it's as long off the mat as off the tee. And it makes a really nice sound when you've caught it - may not be important to some, but can make a difference. I used to hate the noise that my old Nike SQ made, no matter how good it was.
Today, I took the DCT out on the course. It was a blowy day with the course wet and muddy but still playable. First tee shot - 3 wood into a strong wind. A little pushy (no warmup!) but good distance into the wind. Next hole, par 5, wind hard from the left, bad lie from which I wouldn't normally use a 3 wood. Tried it anyway, scuffed it through trying to lash it. Dropped another ball into a similar lie, swung smooth but solid. Up, up and away and decent distance if a little high because of the crosswind.
That was the story of the day really, If I try to lash at it, I spoil the shot. I have to put a good swing on it to get good results but also hit the ball solidly or it doesn't go. And that involves a certain element of trust, which at the moment is difficult 'cos I can't help thinking "this is going to hurt". To be honest, I was hoping that it was going to be as easy to use as the Driver which was a real plug-in-and-play job. It isn't, but the good shots that I hit were about as good as any that I've ever hit with a fairway wood.
SO - a qualified success and I'm certainly going to persevere. Once I'm fully recovered from the injury (these things take time at my age!) I should be able to have a proper crack at it. A few more sessions down the range will give a clearer picture and I will report back again in a while.
I have a couple of the DCT fairways (no.3 & no.5) for sale if anyone is interested.
Can do them as heads only, with Graphite Design shafts, even have one steel shaft somewhere if you want to go retro. They are in 9/10 condition with correct headcover.
Mail me if you want info'.
Also have a FailSafe 2 driver head (12deg) on ebay (item no.320209630704 )
I am sure that you will come round to loving the Geek 3 wood.
As I had an hour to spare from my labours today and with a heavy Seniors golf tournament/competition year coming up I felt that I should just make doubly certain that MY Geek DCT driver of five months use is still as great as I believe it to be against ALL competition.
Assisted by my good friend, Peter Cherry, the recently appointed Head Pro at lovely Ashridge GC where I was a Member for many years I tested the latest drivers from Ping, Titleist and Taylormade. The range balls were excellent and the weather was beautiful with a slight left to right cross-wind. Anyway, to cut a long story short I was almost 20 yards longer with the Geek than ANYTHING else and consistently straight with a much more penetrating flight! Value for ANY money the Geek is one remarkable weapon!
I have not tried a Geek 3 wood for a very obvious reason. I have three Callaway Steelhead 111 fairway woods -3,5 and 7. Why would I want to change after 4 years? I wouldn't! These are the finest fairway woods I have ever hit. they have small,shallow heads which not only get the ball out of difficult lies but go incredibly straight and LONG. They are also incredibly easy to hit. Callaway have brought out several newer models but those I know with the Steelheads would only change if they were stolen!
Interesting that you say it's impossible to hook, I've been out with it today and tried to draw the ball with everything I know, but I think I managed it only once. I thought it was the Creation shaft, but maybe not, mind you who cares when it goes as far as it does with a slight fade. It will get better when I can force myself to aim left of middle instead of after years of going down the right and drawing it back.
I cannot sing the praises of my Geek DCT too highly.
Today in our Winter Medal at Stockwood Park I managed to beat my age(72) with a gross 71(SSS =69) off a 6 handicap - now 5 and not far off 4!
My driving was as long as it was ten years ago -and straighter- and I can draw or fade my drives and hit the ball high or low depending on the direction of the wind.
Our greens are superb considering the weather we have had but slower than normal obviously so I have abandoned my beautiful Fisher Touch blade putter for my Bettinardi Ben Hogan "The Hawk" It is sad but true that I putt better with it than my hero Ben Hogan used to with his blade. Anything under 6/7 feet today was a gimme!
Glad to hear that you're happy. The only times that I have managed to hook my DCT were the first 2 rounds that I used it, morning and afternoon at Royal Porthcawl. 6th hole, OB left, strong wind into. Morning round - 'bye, ball. Afternoon round - same hole, aimed further right, managed to keep it in play but lost it in the gorse. again.
Of course, both times my provisional ball was a corker - dagnabbit!
Boa - had Steelhead III's as hire clubs once and didn't get on with the Uniflex steel shaft. Prefer the look of this Geek but now I need to be able to hit it! As I hope I made clear in my previous post, the problem is with the archer not the arrow! It's probably the wrong time to be testing a new club, when you have a wrist injury, but I wanted to take advantage of Geoff's sale and then when it arrived, I couldn't wait to give it a go...maybe I should have held on but I think that everyone on this board will know what I mean when I say it was too much temptation not to have a crack. Anyway, after being signed off by the physio today, will have another go at the weekend and report further.
On the subject of putters, can't believe that you've benched your Fisher for the Hogan Branding Iron. Having said that, last week I fancied a change and took out the Ping Sedona. 2 birdies, 2 unbelieveable par saves, no 3 putts. So it's back in the bag for the time being........
That's good golf, especially at this time of the year, even allowing for the winter tees Boa. I won't beat my age for a while, as I'm only 61. I'll give my creation shaft a good go, but if I can't work the ball left with it, it will have to go, as some courses I play on, demand you to shape the ball, if you are to compete that is.
MY Steelhead 111s have super GRAPHITE regular shafts and the ball flies off them like the proverbial off a shovel. The FEEL off the face of the Bettinardi is almost like the Fisher Touch except that you can putt the same distance with less force!
Boa, question for you, my old man who lives in Oz is 72 in March. Thought about getting a DCT for his birthday. He is a straight hitter but not long so I am guessing a senior flex. Just wondered what loft/shaft you have?
Good work and congratulations Boa.That is a fairly exclusive group you have joined.
Rico I too have tried very hard to draw the ball and managed just one at the weekend on the 18th off a temporary tee where the ground was sloping towards me thus helping.I assume it is the lack of spin imparted .texas scramble this weekend which should allow me to have a rip.
I congratulate your father not only for loving his golf at OUR age but for moving to a country which is much more like the GREAT Britain I grew up in than just BRITAIN is now
Unless your dad is not particularly strong I would not recommend a Senior shaft but a regular regular(some regulars are almost stiff and vice versa)
I reckon your best bet -if you know your dad's game well- is to 'phone Geoff Dale of Big Hit Golf on 07816 493760. Geoff is great on shafts and even with a great head like the Geek it is ALWAYS choosing the correct shaft for the individual which is vital IMO.
Scuba, an apology to you mate as I can't shape the ball with my DCT, no matter how I try.
Dyna I should have realised it's probably the lack of spin coming from the head that makes it hard to shape either way, I'm not sure though. Strangely enough our comp on Sunday is a TS, not one of my favourites as our four ball are long hitters and it can get me slashing at the ball, if I don't get on the tee first that is. I very much like this club though.
Boa, what loft do you have on your DCT please? I have a 12* and thought that would make it a easier to draw than say a 9.5* or 10.5*.
I would strongly suggest that if you just cannot SHAPE the ball thre are TWO reasons for this IMO. The first is your set up and swing plane but more likely that the shaft in your Geek is TOO STIFF for you. Even a slightly softer shaft with a little more torque should give you the ability to move the ball either way AND add to the length of your drives.
As I have advised Hatstand above you may care to give Geoff Dale of BigHitGolf a call?!
Boa, I think you are spot on. although I really like this set up I feel I can get even more with a shaft that suits me. Without question the Creation is one hell of a shaft, but might be a little too much for me. It's no big deal trying different set ups as it takes no time at all to be up and running again, one thing for sure is I won't be swapping the DCT. I might have a change at some point with a 10.5* head though. I feel a little embarrassed to say that I've no idea of my swingspeed, as I've never had a lesson or been on a monitor at all, I've been playing golf for around eight years now, and I'm down to six. I'm a little frightened of going to a pro, and him finding all sorts of swing faults that might be a little late for me to change. I usually learn things off my playing partners from time to time. Mind you I play plenty of rep golf, so I must be doing something right.
I reckon that you are right at the limit of loft that is reasonable for a driver! Many pros have 3 woods or utility woods that are only 13 degrees to enable them to reach the 600 plus yard par 5s on so many Tour courses. One at Dubai is 639 yards-generally into a fairly strong prevailing wind. Ridiculous IMO!
Again, that much loft will enable you to move the ball more so I believe that you really do need to change your shaft to a softer one. Mine is a regular regular fitted by Geoff Dale and it really goes and is SO easy to hit! Another recommendation. Go for a heavier shaft, 65 or 75 grammes. I think you will find it's a better balanced club then.
Personally, I dont hold with all this modern technology. I suppose I wouldn't agreeing with much that Creo believes in! To me the only way a golfer can truly tell if the club is right for him/her is the flight and shape of the shot and the FEEL of the ball off the clubface. Even with a driver I believe that it should feel SOFT provided you are not using a ball like a rock!
! 
Afternoon round - same hole, aimed further right, managed to keep it in play but lost it in the gorse. 
