I can't believe I did this... - Shot Talk

**Bravo** · iTrader: (0) #1 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 04:52 PM

Last week, I get an email from 3balls.com about a TM r7 driver sale they are having...I love 3balls and have ordered quite a few items from them and each has been in superb shape. (For those of you unfamiliar with 3balls, they are located in Boston, Massachusetts USA and specialize in used/blemished golf equipment).

One of my friends got an r7 two years ago and it just transformed his tee game. I hit his a few times and loved it. For the past three years, my driver has been a TM R540 9.5 with the stock regular shaft. I hit it prettty well but would like to have more control with it...I have Penley Tour Lite regular graphite shafts in my Sonartec 3 and 5 woods and a Aldila NV regular graphite shaft in my TM Rescue Mid 24...so I feel pretty confident that a regular shaft is right for me. The last time I got on a monitor my swing speed with driver was 95-96 mph...I can generate 100+ but with no degree of control. I don't think a stiff shaft is right for my speed.

So I open the email and it says they have r7's in 'like new' condition. Well folks, when 3balls says it's "like new" its literally true. I bought a 'like new' driver for my dad from them two years ago and I couldn't locate even a scratch on it....

Last week, my wife is in the kitchen when I see that the r7's are going for $224.50 including shipping. (This is the original r7 version, not the newest/latest one on the market now). Well crap...on impulse, I go ahead and order one with a regular shaft.

So today here comes the UPS man with my club. I open it up and it looks like it just came from the factory. Its a beauty. Flawless. (Where do they get this stuff in this condition??)

Then I notice that it is a 10.5 - not a 9.5 like my current R540....so here we go - I am wondering what to do. I want increased control from my tee game anyway and am wondering....

1) Should I return it to 3balls and get a 9.5 like my current driver?

2) Should I keep it because 10.5 should give me better accuracy?

3) Should I take it down to Golfsmith, put it on the launch monitor and check it out for possible reshafting with a shaft similar to the ones I have now in my fairway woods and hybrid?

I just love the look of the club...what a beaut.

I am undoubtedly a big sucker though...

Ho Ho Ho.

What do you think?

**ManchesterGolfer** · iTrader: (0) #2 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 05:03 PM

Get it taped up and on the launch monitor, compare it to your current driver. If you like the results keep it, maybe think about a reshaft. If not send it back and get the 9.5 you ordered and there non the wiser.

Rockford35 · iTrader: (5) #3 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 05:13 PM

What's 3balls like for "try it out" returns if you exchange it for a 9.5* later? Would they do that, especially if you're a longstanding customer?

Personally, I don't really know how much you'd notice 1* of loft change, althought I'm not sure what TM's "accuracy" of their stated lofts in in comparison to what they really are. Ping is notoriously higher than stated, same with Callaway in their higher lofted drivers. Not sure about TM tho...

It would probably be a mental thing more than anything. Althought, 270 and straight is better than 280 and in the rough.

R35

**Bravo** · iTrader: (0) #4 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockford35

What's 3balls like for "try it out" returns if you exchange it for a 9.5* later? Would they do that, especially if you're a longstanding customer?R35

Great idea...I will contact them and ask...

ManGolfer: I like the idea of taping it up and putting it on the monitor. That way I could do a direct comparo between my existing driver and the new one...

**DaveE** · iTrader: (0) #5 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 05:37 PM

Don't know if this will help but when I switched drivers last year I went from 9.5 to 10.5 and really didn't notice a difference. I even tried an 11.5 at the demo day I went to and hit it pretty well too.

If you think it would help you to hit more fairways I'd go for it. But taping it up like MG suggested is a very good idea.

**Bravo** · iTrader: (0) #6 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveE

Don't know if this will help but when I switched drivers last year I went from 9.5 to 10.5 and really didn't notice a difference. I even tried an 11.5 at the demo day I went to and hit it pretty well too.

If you think it would help you to hit more fairways I'd go for it. But taping it up like MG suggested is a very good idea.

I think that a higher loft with a stiffer tip may be a good combination for me.

To Golfsmith tomorrow...

**VtDivot** · iTrader: (0) #7 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bravo

I think that a higher loft with a stiffer tip may be a good combination for me.

To Golfsmith tomorrow...

10.5 with Blue R would be perfect for you

obagain · iTrader: (0) #8 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 06:27 PM

Sorry to hear this but I believe they were just bought out by another company, a company you banned from this site last year.

**Bravo** · iTrader: (0) #9 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obagain

Sorry to hear this but I believe they were just bought out by another company, a company you banned from this site last year.

??????????

**ezra76** · iTrader: (4) #10 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 07:50 PM

I have the quad in 9.5* stiff MAS2. It is a low, low trajectory driver. You will also be able to change the weights to get it higher or lower. If I put the 10's up front I literally cannot get the ball more than 2ft. off the ground. Ever see a 270yd. drive 2ft. off the ground?

I sometimes wish I had gone with a 10.5 myself. With the 10's in back I still only get it maybe 15ft. off the ground but it pretty much is the definition of "penetrating".

Rockford35 · iTrader: (5) #11 (**permalink**) 05-22-2006, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obagain

Sorry to hear this but I believe they were just bought out by another company, a company you banned from this site last year.

You're going to have to be more specific.

R35

obagain · iTrader: (0) #12 (**permalink**) 05-23-2006, 12:44 PM

They were bought or are in the process of selling out to dallas golf.
The guys that posed as regular golfers and started talking up their company and they were all banned for it.

Highdraw34 · iTrader: (0) #13 (**permalink**) 05-23-2006, 12:50 PM

I went from a 9.5 to a 10.5 and the extra loft gave me more control. The lower the loft the more roll you are going to get. The big difference with my 10.5 is now I hit the fairway and hold, I used to hit the fairway and roll off. I would try it out and I bet 10.5 will work for you.

**Eracer** · iTrader: (7) #14 (**permalink**) 05-24-2006, 07:45 AM

My 9.5 driver with a regular shaft has a higher launch angle than my 10.5 driver with a stiff shaft. Different shaft manufacturers.

The problem with re-shafting is that it's hit or miss. I love Callaway's new system. They have a rack full of about 20 different shafts, along with a set of heads. They attach a head to a shaft, let you swing away, then move onto the next combo, until you find what you like. Why, oh why can't all manufacturers do this?

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