 Ok,
Thanks to Mike and Shaun I am now the owner of one of the new Encores. Took delivery on Monday and had the chance to get the beast out on the course yesterday (Wed). Strewth! (and that is the polite version) - does this beast fly!!!
As those who have played with me know, I like to hit the ball. Well, The 8 degree head (custom painted by Mike's contacts to look the same as my Spectrum) dwarfs the ball and just seems to bully it into submission.
At address you know that the shot is going to be a good one even before you have started the backswing...
The Shaft. I opted for the Icon (good medium / heavyweight shaft with the playing characteristics I like) and I must commend Accuflex on this shaft (the first Accuflex I have ever played). For me (a faster tempo player) the shaft just feeds power into the ball.
The grip... SMT nor Midas had the grips that I wanted, so I had to go for the grips that Shaun had in - Midsize Torsion grips. Well, I am very impressed. No torque in the grip at all, excellent grip especially in the wet.
What else can I say about the club - well, I did not think that the Spectrum would be replaced in my bag so soon, but I am afraid it has. Now all I need to do is get the club cut down to 46" and I think that the little white ball will be smarting...
|
 |
 Now you wont be needing that Vista shafted J then Duncan, will you?!
Pop it in the post and I'll cross your palm with some gold coins.
|
|
 I don't know Dunc. You still trying to sort out your bag. :)
|
|
New Toys, Dan, new toys...
Creo - you're more than welcome to hit the beast but I am rather attached to it, you know...
|
|
Yes i know, new toys are great have just got some myself and am awaiting their arrival from the states.
|
|
nyuk nyuk nyuk... Gotta go see Shaun and get an inch lopped off the shaft. 47" is just too much for me - I can't get the clubhead speed up enough with it. Going to 46" and then we'll see...
|
|
Duncan - Maybe I could replace it with something else you could get attached to! :)
How about a set of lightly used TM LT2's, or one of John Daly's putters?
|
|
 Duncan,
Can you some up why the Encore is better than the Spectrum?
I went up to see Shaun last week and really fancied the look of the Encore. But my Spectrum is performing really well at the moment. I would take some swaying. If you can sell it to me I promise I won't mention your fetish for Pink Shafts and moisturising your balls ever again....
|
|
he he he...
Why? 20 yards, that's why...
I hit it about 20 yards further than my Spectrum. Consistently. No draw (hook) - perhaps that is down to the grip, but...?
It makes a little more noise at impact, but that isn't a problem - it's not at Cobra levels...!
P.S. Might be in the Huddersfield area on Saturday morning, if Shaun is in the unit to get it cut down a little if you want a look...
At the club, not the ... shaft or soft balls!
p.s. those pink Accuflex shafts might get a look in at some point...
|
|
Your coming oop north and I'm going darn sarth. I'm off to a track day in Leicestershire. I'm driving a Ferrari round a race track. Come on!!
That's really surprised me about the extra distance. I've genuinly gained a good 15-20 yards over the past couple of months after correcting a swing fault. The prospect of another 20 yards could be too much to resist.
We'll have to see if we can arrange a day, meet in the middle somewhere. Seeing at all the GM days seem to be round about the Isle of Wight!!
|
|
Bob - I live in Lincoln, so not too far away (Just down the A57), so if you wanna game, let me know.
|
|
Well you could always organise a day BOB.
|
|
Aw I just knew someone was gonna say that.
I have the organisational skills of a retarded wombat. (No offence to any retarded wombats out there). I'd be happy to hinder anyone willing to set one up though.
|
|
 Bob, you know you're not that good!!!
Little game would sound good though.
On the Encore/Spectrum front I had my Spectrum reshafted with a regular G Blue and it just doesn't feel right. Whereas I really liked Bob's Spectrum with the regular Evo when I hit it last year. Not sure whether it is my swing slowing down due to the elbow break or if the Evo and Blue just play that much different. I still have the blue in my old Cobra and, barring a little loss of distance, I seem to still hit it ok despite the break.
Bob, I seem to remember liking the swingweight on your Spectrum and that you'd had some heel? weighting added. Maybe I just need to mess about with some lead tape.
|
|
"dwarfs the ball and just seems to bully it into submission."
Having failed miserably to get to know and like a 460 cc head (Ping G2) that is one of the reasons I'm considering an Indio rather than an Encore.
[In truth I shouldn't be considering either because my SpEvo is a performer, but can you ever have enough drivers?]
|
|
Al, thanks for the vote of confidence ;-)
I did mess about with lead tape for a short whie, I then got Shaun to put a bit of lead powder down the shaft just to put a bit of weight (minimal) towards the heal.
Final stage was to cut an inch of the length of the shaft to stiffen it up that little bit. The flight is now long and powerful and arrow straight. It's a great feeling to stand there knowing your going to be hitting the fairway 7 or 8 times out of 10.
I would have thought the regular Evo would suit your swing though. What were the flight charachteristics when you hit it?
|
|
(do you mean tungsten powder BoB...?)
|
|
Yep, I think I did Duncan. Thanks.
I've slept since then.
|
|
I ll get back to you BOB may have a date in mind just need it confirming
|
|
Thanks Duncan,
Just yesterday, the Encore earned a Player's Choice Award from Golfing Magazine. It scored an 8.1 when the highest rating was an 8.2 ( R7 & Sasquatch )
SMT beat out offerings from...
Vulcan
Tour Edge
Adams
Bridgestone
Cleveland ( hiBore )
Dunlop
Mizuno
Nickent
Ping
Wilson
Yonex
KZG
Element 21
Hippo
This was SMT's TENTH Player's Choice Award in the past 4 years.
|
|
