 When you try out a new driver and it seems to be the best driver you have ever hit and you are convinced that you must trade in your old driver and pay whatever it takes to get hold of the new driver and then after all you have gone through the new driver feel worse than the old driver - what do you feel? What do you think? What do you put it all down to? I have one theory and I have to say it is not the thread title. I don't think it has anything to do with the paying for of the club or the receipt of the credit card statement. Do you want to know what I think it is - really? Well, for the last 2 weeks I have been trialling a new driver - again. It was flyin beautiful on a nice flat flight with a nice finish with plenty of roll - even into the wind I was producing a penetrating flight. I bought it. I traded in my old driver and I bought it! I stripped all the tape off that the pro insisted on strapping round the face and crown and sole to prevent me from scratching it and I took it out on the course for it's first outing. To my total dismay I could not reproduce the flat flight, I could not reproduce the penetrating flight. Instead I hit it high, no roll, no extra length - pig sick! My conclusions? The tape alters the spin characteristic which alters the flight pattern of the ball. It makes sense. I has to be that. Strapping all of that plastic over the face alters the way the ball impacts on the face. If the spin rate is lower then the ball will fly lower surely. If the ball is spinning then it goes higher. I noticed a difference in the way I could keep it straight with the tape on too. Less spin it has to be the answer. Next time I go for a driver, I will insist on NO TAPE!
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| Edited: 29/06/08 16:59 |
 You could test your theory by taping it up again and taking it out for a round. If there seems to be something in it apply for a reasearch grant.
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I sometimes think it's the balls you try out the clubs with. Like you when I tried out my driver (and bought it!) i've never hit anything so good or straight, on the course a totally different story.
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I've *seen* American Golf fiddling with the computer they use that measures your speed etc. They add distance, decrease the slice/hook effect, and all sorts.
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It could be that you have warmed up with loads of balls and got your swing grooved, plus your range mindset is different to the course. I mean you don't usually hit loads of driver shots on the course, the most I play is 8 - 10 a round. I recently went to American golf and had a go on the launch monitor, I was sceptical about the monitor at first. I was looking at the Ben sayers benny, which recently won best on test, and a Nicklaus fast back, I also had a go with the G10 and a cleveland. My driver an R5 produced too much spin etc. which I thought it did anyway. At the end of it the overall scores were 76 for the nicklaus, 77.9 for the G10 and 77.7 for the Ben Sayers. I bought the Ben Sayers with a price match of £79.99, at least a £100 less than the G10. I then went to the course and could not hit the thing. Thank god I did't buy the G10, I would have been gutted. Anyway after a bit of practice in the nets, I realised what I had been doing differently and it works a treat. I dont know what the answer is for you but I ensure that I am fully warmed up and check I am hitting the middle of the face before I start a round.
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Hi Dapps, I am hitting out of the middle. Of course now I'm getting all sorts of advice and suggestions from the guys I'm playing with which is probably only serving to scramble my already poached brains even more! It has been suggested to me that my angle of attack may be out. I've been out again today on the practice ground. I warmed up with a 9 Iron and then a 6 and then I hit a few 3 irons. Then I got the big dog out and got the same old elephant's arse shots, (high and stinky!). It's got to be the spin rate - it never did this the whole time I was trialling it. I tried it in cross winds from both directions and straight into the teeth - when that tape was on the flight was flat and medium to low. Now I've took it off it's going high and the ball is at the mercy of the wind. I play a links course and with out doubt and disregarding all the bullshine about optimum trajectory and launch monitors, the ball needs to be kept down. I'm in for a lesson tomorrow off the pro who sold me the driver. He even watched me when I was trialling it and saw the shots I was making, so we'll see what he has to say when I show him my lack of progress. I'll let you know what transpires.
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 Bought new fti last year. Range play = perfect. Bought in and went straight to the course next door... Didn't hit a good shot all round! However it is now awesome and works great for me. Keep practising!
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 I bought a new Taylormade Tour burner approx 2 months a go now, loved it on the range, wasn't even interested in buying a new driver until I hit it and it blew me away. Now I love it even more on the course can easily shape the ball, never been able to do that up until now, I hit it loads further than my old FT-i, I have since hit a par 5 in 2 at my local course the last 3 times I have played there and before I got this new driver I had never hit a par 5 in 2 in my life. Long may this honeymoon period continue!
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Well the latest news is I have now had my lesson and I have cured most of my problem. I have strengthened my left hand grip. I was very weak evidently, although this didn't really explain why I was hitting the new driver well on trial. I daren't go out on the course for a few days at least - with this new grip, I'm not confident that there is enough room on the practice ground, lt alone the narrow alley ways we call fairways that the greenstaff have mown out of our rough! The flight is better and I'm getting a little draw with some of the shots and a tad more on the length when I middle it.
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oli, I have hit a few shots with an fti draw (10 degree) and got on pretty well .... am thinking about going to a demo and having a proper session. My usual shot is a bit left to right and my bad shots are a lot left to right. How is the distance with your club considering your swing speed and distance with old driver etc?
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I have now practiced for the best part of 2 weeks with the new grip, (apart from when it as been pissing down with rain!). Beween showers, downpours, deluges and storm force winds, I have almost got it sorted. I took it out on the course yesterday for 10 holes, (our loops are 10 and 8). I would have carried on but, you guessed it, it started pouring down with rain again, so 10 had to be sufficient! I am now keeping the ball fairly straight and on a reasonably low/medium trajectory. On occasion I draw the ball a bit more than I want and I end up searching for it in the knee high rough. A week ago I would not have ventured out - there wasn't enough room on the golf course for the new grip, but it is starting to settle down now! I should have gone for a lesson ages ago - only stupid pride prevented me. I thought I could sort it out myself! The only problem is now is my sore back from hitting hundreds of practice balls!
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 I trialled 3 differently set up Ping g10's at the range using Srixon balls and no tape on the clubface. The 10.5 stiff was magnificent, hitting consistently 275+ yards down the middle. After parting with £179 I later joined 3 mates for our Friday knock. "Not another new driver?" I was asked, "Yes, but watch this one" I said, "I've finally found the answer to all my problems" as I confidently teed up and took a practice swing. Five minutes later I exited the trees on the left and declared my ball lost. I then proceeded to play my provisional out of the heavy rough on the right. And so continued my short lived love affair with the new club until I finally hit a belter down the middle on the 14th. By the 18th I had hit two decent drives and would gladly have accepted £100 off one of my playing partners for the club. Fortunately I perservered with the club and a fortnight later I have found a way to hit it consistently straight; Take it down to the driving range and stay well clear of the course! (Bloody useless club!) 
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