Possible silly question here...

[BigJim13]

Is there much difference between a 9.5* driver and a 10.5* driver? I can't imagine there is as its only 1*. I know with a higher loft you get less sidespin so in theory it would go straighter...but I wanted to get thoughts from everyone here...Thanks!

[mddubya]

Originally Posted by BigJim13

Is there much difference between a 9.5* driver and a 10.5* driver? I can't imagine there is as its only 1*. I know with a higher loft you get less sidespin so in theory it would go straighter...but I wanted to get thoughts from everyone here...Thanks!

There are no silly questions, just silly answers, and this is probably going to be one. I've played eveything from a 10.5 to a 8.5. The 10.5 went WAY to high, and the 8.5 barely left the ground. I play a 9.5 and get a nice mid trajectory. I find it hard to believe 1º makes that much difference, but it does for me at least?

[West Coast Duffer]

you wouldn't think 1* would be much, I have a 9.5 and thinking of getting a 10.5*. I have hit a 10.5 further but wasn't sure on total distance due to a net at the back of the range. I was playing yesterday and bombed a drive and it went right into a creek because I didn't have the height or distance to carry it, I think I could have cleared it with some more loft.

[Rockford35]

Generally speaking, a 10.5* driver head will have a more closed face than that of a 9.5* driver. And less on an 8.5* face.

Many players have trouble getting loft on their drives, so a higher lofted club will enable better carry and more distance.

It's not a hard fast rule, but it's generally the case.

If you fight a slice/fade, and don't carry the ball a long way, consider going up 1* in loft. It often (not always) does wonders.

R35

[JEFF4i]

If I'm not mistaken, higher lofts get more backspin as well.

[Eracer]

Loft is just one variable, but an important one. Considering that loft ranges from 8.5º to 12º (there are of course fringe drivers that have lower or higher loft, and why do I have to spell that out? Because sure as shit someone will say, "But Eraaaaaacer, some of the companies make drivers with moooore loft or lessssss loft than that...arrrgggghhhh, I need my medication!)

Anyway, assuming that normal loft range is 8.5º to 12º, a 1º loft difference represents a 28% change. That's pretty significant.

Other factors, like CG location, are important as well. I know my Renegade, with its 12º head (and higher CG,) does not hit the ball on a really high trajectory at all.

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by mddubya

There are no silly questions, just silly answers,

Well you almost answered that correctly, there are no silly questions, just silly people asking them

My own personal belief is & I have nothing to go except experience with numerous drivers of various lofts is, the shaft makes all the difference in the world. I had a 9.5º FT-3 with an NVS shaft that I could launch to the moon. But my current 9.5º R7 425 with the Pro-Launch red I have never got to launch very high. Had a 10º Burner with an NVS which I launched higher than my current Burner which is a 13º that's been delofted to 11.5º & has the Proto By You in it.

I could be totally off base & incorrect on all of this, but these are my own discoveries based on my clubs.

[Bakemono36]

A 1 degree difference isnt going to be a night and day difference, but you will notice it.
A driver with higher loft will typically allow you to hit the ball farther because the ball will carry farther and a driver with higher loft will give you more control because it will counteract sidespin.

[JEFF4i]

Originally Posted by Bakemono36

A 1 degree difference isnt going to be a night and day difference, but you will notice it.
A driver with higher loft will typically allow you to hit the ball farther because the ball will carry farther and a driver with higher loft will give you more control because it will counteract sidespin.

Not really. It all comes down to launch angle. You wnat between 12 and 15 degrees usually. Its an inverse relationship between roll and carry, where with the aforementioned degrees, the two factors are in the most harmony.

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by JEFF4i

Not really. It all comes down to launch angle. You wnat between 12 and 15 degrees usually. Its an inverse relationship between roll and carry, where with the aforementioned degrees, the two factors are in the most harmony.

Exactly, if I were to hit both of my drivers as best I could. The 425 gets more distance every single time. I am not wasting energy by hitting the ball way up with that club, it just goes forward at a low angle & when the ball hits the ground it rolls a decent distance.

[xamilo]

So, a different shaft could cause the same change as a 1º loft difference?

[rubber314chicken]

yes that is totally possible, but if you kept flex equal and just changed the launch of the shaft then I have no clue how much difference you would get. Probably a little less than 1*, but I"m not sure.

[ezra76]

It makes more difference than you'd think. In my experience anyway. 10.5's I hit straighter and tend to draw but lose distance from spin and ballooning. 9.5's are dead on, hit the them mid/high but they carry and roll out a little usually. 8.5's I've not had luck with. Too little spin and they drop like a rock. It's not that they are launching a whole lot less than the 9.5's, they just don't carry.

Just for an example
I'd hit a 10.5* about 260carry with like no roll, giving a total distance of 261-262.

9.5* looking at about 265 carry with lower spin, slightly lower trajectory and rolling out to 275.

8.5* I'd get about 245 carry and roll out to around 255.

That's pretty close to results I've gotten out of a ton of different drivers with different shafts. I'd hit more fairways with a 10.5* but the distance loss puts it less than 20yds. ahead of my 13* 3W. 8.5* is just too low a loft. I've tried many including higher spin heads like the FTi and R5TP but they still fell like someone shot them out of the air.

[BigJim13]

I guess what I keep coming back to in my head is this. Vijay Singh has a 115-120mph swing and uses a 9.5*. Jim Furyk comes in somewhere around 110 for ss and uses 10.5* w/ V2 shaft. Why would I, with my max 105 maybe 110 when the stars align use anything lower than a 10* driver?

I hit the R5 TP that I had in 10.5* really well, it had a Blueboard. My only complaint was that it could get real high, not ballooning-just high. If I pick up an R5 TP in 9.5* would I get my desired result of bringing down the flight just a tad or would my results be worse due to increased sidespin....

I think I will have to just try it out...

[mddubya]

Personally I don't think there is a science to it all. It's all about what works for each individual golfer. I had a HiBore XL 10.5º with a Prolaunch Red stiff. I ballooned the ball with it. But I sold it to another ShotTalker and it's the majic club for him. I have 2 9.5º HiBore XL 's now, a tour and regular version and get a nice mid-high trajectory but no ballooning. It has to all boil down to angle of attack and all. I'm sure the only way to know for sure which one would be right for you would be to get on a launch monitor with someone who knows how to read the info supplied. That or just ho several versions of the same driver and see which works for you best. We all know which is more fun,

And having said that, there are days I wish I had the 10.5º back because some days I can't get my 9.5º off the ground!