R7460 & Graffalloy NTProto

[JEFF4i]

Just like Ezra's, but in the 460 instead.

Exact same shaft, 65g X-Stiff. I absolutely love it...

When I first hit the range the first thing I noticed is it was so much more consistant and tighter than my RE*AX. I was impressed by the ball flight, the tip is a bit stiffer than most shafts. Yet, this is what I wanted, I was noticing with the V2 I was getting it pretty high with no distance gap, in fact I was putting the Proto out a bit further. It's a great angle of decent giving me roll without sacraficing in flight distance.

On the note of how tight it is, I was suprised. Whereas the RE*AX was good for keeping it in the fairway, this is keeping it within circles. There's a fence around a shed near the end of the range which measures about 275. At the corner of the fence there were probably about 20 or 30 balls sitting there. One thing I like about an Extra Stiff shaft is it feels great, and even when I try to just slam the ball, putting every ounce of strength in it, it still holds true.

So I went to play with it Sunday morning, got to golf with my mum. Now she was bombing her driver about 100, so I had some trouble keeping up. I was proud of her though, I tought her my bump and run and the first time she tried it she holed out getting a birdie, and did so again for a par later, made me feel....inadequate(and angry I tought her the shot). Anyway, the game. First driving hole is about a 400 par 4 with a drop at the beginning, and then at about 200 out the hole starts to rise up again. I stick it about 110-115 out on the center-right-center of the fairway, hit a great sw and tap-in birdie. Second driving hole is the one I was excited about. It measures about 340, but it's a dogleg left so with a good shot you can catch the green, even though it's a blind shot. I hit a dead square great shot over this huge tree that blocks the greens and walk up, bam, dead center. Next driving hole is 320 par 4, great drive on the left side, where I wanted it, and I leave myself an easy approach. The next hole was a big test for the shaft, it's a dogleg right hole that is dangerous on the left, but not terribly long. If you can, the best shot is to shape it around with a fade. The shaft is tight, and strong, but still leaves the club easy to shape. I hit a nice high fade and brought it down in the fairway, was soooooo happy. Two holes later you find yourself at a dogleg left par 5 that isn't too long, measuring at 450, but tough if you can't get it around the corner. So I find myself trying to work a draw, and good golly molly, that did it too. Needless to say, great driver, great round.

So, compared to the RE*AX this shaft is so much better. Whereas I could work the RE*AX, it got hard to predict just how far and how much it might go. Also, the Stiff shaft of the RE*AX just wasn't enough. With this club it is much tighter and predictable. I can be confident where my draws are going to land, and same with fades. If I want a straight ball, with minimal side-movement, I can count on that too. All in all it's just a more consistant shaft.

Compared to the Blue Tour, it serves it's purpose perfectly. My Tour is intended to be a wind club, with the weights set forward in the 425 and a stiffer tip for a lower ballflight, it works well. The Proto is easier to work than the Tour, but not to the point of craziness. Also the Proto is higher taking a more "ideal" ballflight. The Tour is lower and straighter, and about 10 shorter, but it's also made for that.

Compared to the V2 I demoed, I liked this better. The V2 felt quite stiff, yet, for some reason I still got that thing really high. Compared to the VS Proto, I loved that shaft as well. However, I believe the kickpoint is lower in the VS giving it a slightly lower ballflight than mine, which was nice, but not quite what I wanted. I hit the NVS 65 in the Rapture which went well, but that just isn't the shaft for me, or the club for that matter. Lastly I tried the Blue in a SMT and it was okay, but I prefer my Blue Tour.

As Ezra said, this shaft loves to be loaded. It takes a strong swing to exploit this shaft to it's maximum capability, but once you do, it is soooooooo worth it. It rewards a smooth swing, a confident swing, but it doesn't really punish you when you want to be aggresive.

Frame of reference:

Shaft stiffness: X-Stiff
Weight: 65g
Length: 45.25"
Tip: Stiff
Swing Speed: 116 average

[warbirdlover]

However, I believe the kickpoint is lower in the VS giving it a slightly lower ballflight than mine

JEFF4i

Great stuff Jeff!! (but lower kickpoint = higher ballflight, higher kickpoint = lower ballflight)

[JEFF4i]

My bad, that's what I meant, silly me trying to take Chemistry notes at the same time.

[atlgolfer]

JEFF,

is this the regular 460 ? if so, don't you find that the face is closed? I tried it but couldn't not get over the amount of the closed face, same for the r7425.

[JEFF4i]

Yeah, it's the regular 460. However the degree of how closed it is varies I believe. Mine's sitting just past 1*, but it's also an 8.5*. I find it tolerable, anything more and I'd question though. Same for my 425.

[SiberianDVM]

Jeff, I think it's great that you let your mom beat you like that.
Trying to get her to buy you a new set of clubs, huh?

[warbirdlover]

Jeff, I think it's great that you let your mom beat you like that.

SiberianDVM

(I don't think he LET her!!)

[JEFF4i]

You guys would be suprised, her short game is killer!

I mean, I've never seen someone putt so well and the chip shots are great. Makes me feel like I could learn something or two.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by atlgolfer

JEFF,

is this the regular 460 ? if so, don't you find that the face is closed? I tried it but couldn't not get over the amount of the closed face, same for the r7425.

Maybe you looked at one that was out of spec or something. My 10.5 425 might be 1/2* shut compared to the R5TP which is square. I put the heel against the door and it was against it heel to toe. Defintely less noticible than my old 9.5* Quad, in fact I was hoping it would be more shut than it is.