My new driver

[Johnny Par]

Golfsmith has the TM R7 460 driver on sale for $299.99. I noticed that other places were charging $249.99. I walk over to Gofsmith (2 blocks from my office) and ask if they will price match.

Not only do they price match, they have a policy where they will also give you an additional discount equal to 15% of the price match difference. SWEET!!! so I paid 242.99 plus tax for the driver.

On top of that, TM has a promotion going on right now. If you buy anything over 149 ( i think ), you get a free dozen of TM Black or Red golf balls. SWEET!!!

Granted, the driver might have been cheaper on eBay but I'm all about instant gratification.

Question for the R7 owners out there, is the driver supposed to come with the wrench? or just headcover?

[footballking732]

nice purchase!! r7 460's run about $150 on ebay, maybe cheaper on some auctions... but you also got the bals, so it's not too bad of a deal...

and time to update the sig!!

[Johnny Par]

So I went to the range yesterday to try out the new driver. The ball was launching very high, not something I expected with a stiff flex stock shaft and 90-99 swing speed.

Anyone have any ideas? or is this shaft a high launching shaft?
Could also be that earlier in the week, I took a lesson and the instructor said my swing was way too flat, so he had me swinging more vertial (which actually looks normal now, not jim furyk vertical).

[chemboy2]

Originally Posted by Johnny Par

So I went to the range yesterday to try out the new driver. The ball was launching very high, not something I expected with a stiff flex stock shaft and 90-99 swing speed.

Anyone have any ideas? or is this shaft a high launching shaft?
Could also be that earlier in the week, I took a lesson and the instructor said my swing was way too flat, so he had me swinging more vertial (which actually looks normal now, not jim furyk vertical).

Congrats on the new driver and I hear you about the instant gratification. I'll spend more in a local shop so I don't have to a) wait and b) deal with ebay.

Anyway, the ball flight is influenced by a myriad of factors. I believe the shaft is a higher launch shaft so that is certainly playing a part. Also, you mention a steeper plane, that would add backspin and backspin would add elevation. Then there's ball position and the 10.5* of loft (which may or may not be a true 10.5*).

From the folks I play with and my own experience, I find technique has a bigger influence than anything else. You can tweak with shafts and lofts but your personal technique is what really dictates flight. I play a 8.5* SasQuatch Tour with a stiff NV65 and I hit the ball higher than just about everyone I play with. The only exception is a buddy of mine that plays a 8.5* J33R with a Diamana Blueboard (X flex). Based solely on set-up, neither of us should hit the ball as high as we do; but we do...

[Johnny Par]

Originally Posted by chemboy2

Congrats on the new driver and I hear you about the instant gratification. I'll spend more in a local shop so I don't have to a) wait and b) deal with ebay.

Anyway, the ball flight is influenced by a myriad of factors. I believe the shaft is a higher launch shaft so that is certainly playing a part. Also, you mention a steeper plane, that would add backspin and backspin would add elevation. Then there's ball position and the 10.5* of loft (which may or may not be a true 10.5*).

From the folks I play with and my own experience, I find technique has a bigger influence than anything else. You can tweak with shafts and lofts but your personal technique is what really dictates flight. I play a 8.5* SasQuatch Tour with a stiff NV65 and I hit the ball higher than just about everyone I play with. The only exception is a buddy of mine that plays a 8.5* J33R with a Diamana Blueboard (X flex). Based solely on set-up, neither of us should hit the ball as high as we do; but we do...

Thanks for the suggestions. I agree completely with the swing technique. I am scheduled for another lesson next week. I think I will have the pro look at my driver swing. Maybe I am thinking too much about this vertical swing and overdoing it. (currently, my driver swing is just as vertical as my iron swing, this could be a factor, maybe I can get away with flattening my driver swing a bit).

Thanks again.

[chemboy2]

Originally Posted by Johnny Par

(currently, my driver swing is just as vertical as my iron swing, this could be a factor, maybe I can get away with flattening my driver swing a bit).

You're driver swing plane should be much flatter than you iron swing. Do you get much roll?

It wasn't that long ago that I was going through this same thing. I was much to vertical with the driver and would hit these really high shots. I tried to compensate by moving the ball back in my stance but that just caused me to get even more vertical and hit the ball even higher, and I almost never saw much roll out(if any). I would carry the ball about 230 but then my overall distance would be like 231... My pro flattened my swing a bit and had me move the ball forward (which subconsciously flattened my plane even more). I now catch the ball on the upswing and hit it damn near as high as I used to although I carry it about 15yds further and I get plenty of roll out so I've gained a boat load of total yardage.

Good luck!

[Johnny Par]

Hard to tell if I get much roll. Only hit the driver at the range and I lose sight after 300 yds. j/k

I will definitely give it a shot, flattening out my swing with the driver.

[Sandy]

Originally Posted by Johnny Par

So I went to the range yesterday to try out the new driver. The ball was launching very high, not something I expected with a stiff flex stock shaft and 90-99 swing speed.

The only TM driver I've ever had did exactly the same thing - in the launch monitor it showed that the same swing with the TM put about 4* extra on the launch than any other driver I tried, and that was my TM with a low-launch shaft on it...