Difference between Two Clubs?

[David Hillman]

I have two Wishon 5 woods now, and I played the new one for the first time this past weekend. I don't understand why it feels so different from the other one, though.

One is a 17.5* 915cfe with a 73g Penley Graphite Light X, and the other is a 18* 949mc with a 70g Grafalloy Prolite Fairway stiff. Both have similar Winn grips. Both heads weigh 218g. They are the same length. I assembled both, so there's no extra weight in either.

Why does the 949 feel five pounds heavier, to the point that I have to consciously slow down my swing to prevent losing control of it? I can swing the 915 as hard or slow as I like, without that happening.

It must be the distribution of weight in the shaft, right? 'Course, I have a Prolite in my driver, and that doesn't feel like the 5 wood either. I have yet another Prolite Fairway that I'm going to put in my 3w, I think, so I guess that can be another test.

 

[SilverUberXeno]

It seems weird that the difference would be SO noticeable. You weighed these heads and such yourself?

 

[David Hillman]

It seems weird that the difference would be SO noticeable. You weighed these heads and such yourself?

No, I didn't verify the weights myself. 218g is the spec weight, though, and each came with a sticker indicating that was the weight. From what I understand, Wishon heads are normally very close to spec. Nor did I weigh the shafts.

That said, they'd have to be _way_ off the spec weights for it to be a simple static weight issue. The heavier-spec shaft ( the Penley in the 915 ) is in the lighter-feeling club, so that's 3g the wrong way.

 

[BrandonM7]

No, I didn't verify the weights myself. 218g is the spec weight, though, and each came with a sticker indicating that was the weight. From what I understand, Wishon heads are normally very close to spec. Nor did I weigh the shafts.

That said, they'd have to be _way_ off the spec weights for it to be a simple static weight issue. The heavier-spec shaft ( the Penley in the 915 ) is in the lighter-feeling club, so that's 3g the wrong way.

I wish I could help you, but I know how you feel with that heavy-feeling club throwing you off. I can't swing my L4V for shit. I haven't verified the swing or total weight (no scale at home - when I'm building I creep into the chemistry lab and weigh all the pieces) but it feels like swinging a brick stick. When I get a hold of it the thing feels like a rocket launcher, but most of the time it's slices because I can't get the monster to turn over :bang:

 

[David Hillman]

Ironically, I don't necessarily have a preference for one over the other. I hit them about the same distance, and the same accuracy. The trajectories are completely different, though. The 915/Penley launches low, ever-climbing missiles that eventually stall and fall. The 949/Prolite, contrary to my expectation and Grafalloy's specs, launches much higher with a more consistent arc.

That said, forcing me to slow my swing isn't the worst thing in the world, at least with a fairway. Wish I understood why it's like that, though.

 

[David Hillman]

What the hell, the more clubs I try, the more confused I get. Now I have an even worse difference with two drivers.

My gamer is an 11* Wishon 919ccg. I love it, but just bought another Wishon, a 10.5* 949G/Ti to try, out of curiosity. I played the 949 for the first time last Sunday, and it was an unmitigated disaster. Ruined my whole round. Now, for the record, the last time I played the 919ccg in February, I hit seven fairways in a row on the back and they were beautiful and as long as I can hit. And the only reason I missed some on the front was because I forgot over the winter that I need to hold it 5* closed in order to hit it straight.

So I started out hitting the 949 the same way... and hit nothing but dead-left yanks. I compensated by opening up the face until I was almost as open as I normally am closed with the other Wishon. I hit one good one down the middle like that, but then lost 'em right. Tried square again, and hit a couple ugly low hooks. Nothing remotely like the high power fades I hit the other one.

Now, here we go on the differences; the 919ccg is 380cc, the 949 is 390. Both are .5* closed. The 919 head is 196g, and the 949 is 200g. There's a ProLite 3.5 regular at 62g in the 919, and a Wishon ZT stiff at 74g in the 949. Same length. So the 949 is something like 16g heavier and stiffer, but I turn on it and pull it 20* left of target? Huh?

My response to heavier shafts in general seems to be exactly opposite of what I'd expect, but I should be able to hit both of these clubs.