My driver decision... made for me

[ezra76]

I just sold the BurnerTP 10.5*. It was a good head but not good enough to go playing shaft roulette. The SQTP has had some very good rounds and has played a major part in my best rounds. Not only that but it's one of the longest drivers I've hit. The rear left weight port has a crack but it seems to be staying as is, not getting worse. I'm going to epoxy or JB weld that weight right in there for good.

I think my best bet to tighten it up is to just pull the shaft and tip 1/2". To make up the swing weight, which is already on the light side, I'm going to try an 8g weight in the front heel to promote a slight draw.

I've posted many times/threads about dumping driver for just my 3W but the advantage is undeniable. When the driver is on it gives my short irons and wedges a chance, that's when I start tearing it up with the birdies.

So I'm going to commit to this for now. It helps the decision that the SQTP is unsellable (well at least for me) with the crack and TM won't give me $hit for it. If I could dump it I'd be all over the FT-9 but that'll have to wait for now.

I actually have a shitload of $$ in Paypal right now so with my hoing skill could build pretty much anything I want. Problem is, there isn't anything I really want besides for a new hat, lol. Although, AP2's with S300's is a thought... nah, the 704's kick ass and at $75 they don't owe me a cent.

[warbirdlover]

The R9 460 is also unsellable...

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

The R9 460 is also unsellable...

Bullshit. Sell the head and the shaft with the adaptor seperately. Put the head on Ebay UK and the shaft with adaptor on WRX. I garauntee you get over $250 for everything.

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

The R9 460 is also unsellable...

Maybe it's because everyone knows how TM markets their clubs & within 6 months 2-3 more versions will come out & the price of the R9 will be in the basement along with the rest of their drivers.

It's a nice enough driver but for myself it's not nice enough to knock the Burner or the R7 425 TP out my hands.

[ezra76]

Can you get the adaptor off the shaft? I'd buy the head with the adaptor if you gave me a decent deal. I'd shim something into that thing. That head was great when with the one I demo'd.

[warbirdlover]

I'd be afraid to try to get the adapter off. I'll sell it to someone around here. The course I played today is going to look for a buyer (I told them I'd buy a new driver from them since their prices are better then Dick's).

Thanks for the offer though...

[SilverUberXeno]

Ezra, stop switching drivers until you're missing the exact same way every time. THEN it might be the club!

I look at drivers now and I have just accepted that it ain't the driver. In fact, technology wise, the driver I'm playing now is the best I've ever had. It's not fancy, quite bland looking, but there's just nothing better for what I want- a consistent launch angle.

It's not the club unless your miss is the same all the time. And even then, it only MIGHT be the club.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by SilverUberXeno

Ezra, stop switching drivers until you're missing the exact same way every time. THEN it might be the club!

I look at drivers now and I have just accepted that it ain't the driver. In fact, technology wise, the driver I'm playing now is the best I've ever had. It's not fancy, quite bland looking, but there's just nothing better for what I want- a consistent launch angle.

It's not the club unless your miss is the same all the time. And even then, it only MIGHT be the club.

Good point. My swingpath is and always will be slightly out to in. If I try to fight it, kiss it goodbye right. Now, what to do with that? The clubface must be slightly open at impact to my swingpath and I can cut it. That's where I've had my success. Just take it a little left and rip it, cuts every time. I should just ask Twofast "what should I do?", since he's very knowledgable, honest and knows my game. Problem is, I know what he'd say... something along the lines of "hit your damn 3W unless you really need the distance, then use the driver and cut the thing. Play the SQTP till it cracks in half". Actually, he might say get another QuadTP, lol.

[SilverUberXeno]

Well buddy, golf is a simple game, though it's certainly not easy. You CAN change your swing path-- you're not stuck with it. But that being said, it doesn't sound necessary. If I could hit a controlled cut all day long, why the hell wouldn't I? If I could hit anything long, consistently, all day, why wouldn't I? How often is that cut really undesirable? One to two holes a round? Play those for bogeys if you have to.

There's no way hitting a cut with the driver is keeping you from shooting par. Hitting the ball all over probably has something to do with it.

ABUSE the cut. It's a very forgiving shot shape. Maybe look for a steal on a Hibore XLS tour or something that actually sits 1-2* open so you don't tease yourself into trying to hit a different shot.

You can break par with one driver shot, brother. Especially as long as you can hit your other stuff. If for some reason you just CAN'T feather one out there left to right, hit it short off the tee and try to make your par. Stop ****ing around!

I was playing a course with TOOOUUUGGHH greens, and I was making par or bogey one very hole teeing off with a goddamn 4i or less, because I couldn't hit anything longer to save my life. Shooting a good score isn't hard if you keep the ball in play and hit it decently. A 260+ yard reliable cut is way, way better than decent.

You ass!

Pales in comparison to my butter draw, though

[ezra76]

No doubt man. My 5W is my "bail out" club when a cut absolutely will not work. I can hit that very straight and get a solid 225-230 out of it, carry. That works well because most of the time it stays short of the trouble so even if I miss it a little right or left it's getting to the fattest part of the fairway behind bunkers, grass mounds or other hazards.

I always play the back side of my course well. I think a 44 is the highest I've shot and low is 38. I've dedicated 3 holes to hitting my 5W off the tee and they are almost a lock for 3 pars.

There is no point in trying to change the swingpath. I've messed with it and I play worse. The little cut swing works for every club in the bag and makes the irons deadly.

I was watching the AT&T yesterday and they showed a lot of Davis Love. That guy hits a cut and my setup/posture is very similar. He was having a heck of a time and it was obvious he was trying too hard to move the ball right to left. If he can't do it, why would I think I can. It all really stems from playing the course I do. It's setup for a player that draws the ball and I haven't been able to attack it with a cut using driver. That's OK though because once I can reasonably go at a few of those holes with a very tight cut I'll be able to do it anywhere. Had success gripping down with the driver so that's why I think cutting it down will help. I just need to get some more range time and trust the cut. I get in trouble when I "try" to cut it. All I really need to do is setup slightly open to my target and hit it right at the target. When I do that, that's when I get the 2-3yd. cut, the one that'll work anywhere. That shot is mid-high with very low spin. I don't lose anything vs. a draw. It's much more reliable and I know for a fact my SS is a few MPH more out of the cut setup. My hip speed is greater.

[slickpitt]

How big is the crack? You could probably trade it in at GG and they'd never see it!

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by slickpitt

How big is the crack? You could probably trade it in at GG and they'd never see it!

Large enough to see, pretty obvious. It's not affecting the club at all other than that weight gets loose sometimes. I think it's probably from over-tightening that weight with just a regular T25 torx. I guess I should take it as a sign. I'm stuck with this driver now so must play it, no more hoing.

[slickpitt]

Originally Posted by ezra76

no more hoing.

BLASPHEMER!!!!!!!

[warbirdlover]

Don't put too much weld on it. It'll add weight.

[VtDivot]

I'd give the FT-i another shot if I were you... this thing is rediculously straight.

I took mine into Dicks today and got on the LM - and as I expected the spin and launch were a little high. They were lower than the R9 with the Motore by a considerable margin tho.