High Lofted Drivers
Hello Six-t, welcome aboard Shot Talk.
Like you I tried a 10.5 degree driver late last season and was amazed at how much further I hit it compared to my 9.5
Now I did switch from a steel Rifle Shaft to a ***ikuri G60 graphite shaft, so that might have helped. However I noticed the ball carried further in the air, which was easy to tell due to wet fairways. I could see the ballmarks where the ball landed so I knew the carry distance.
I have hit a 12 degree driver and was amazed at how far I hit the ball with that thing. High and long. I have also hit my friend's Nike 460CC 13 degree driver and again I was amazed at the distance. That one I hit on the course so it was easy to tell how far the ball went as I had to pick it up while going down the fairway.
I was told by the pro at the golf store I deal with that higher lofted drivers are the way to go for slower swing speeds. Softer shafts sometimes help too.
The best thing to do if you have this option is get on a launch monitor and hit different drivers and see what the machine and the person doing the testing tell you. I do not have that option here, but if I did I would be on it trying different drivers.
Now this was not a lot of technical help, but after 23 years of golfing I know what happened when I went to the higher lofted driver. My next driver will not be under 10.5.
A friend of mine went through the fitting process last year, his clubs were stolen. He had been using a 9.5 degree TM420 with a stiff graphite shaft. His new driver is a Titleist 10.5 with a regular shaft and he is easily 20-25 yards longer now. He feels the regular shaft helps as does the extra loft. Either way it is working!
Good Luck, demo all the drivers you can get your hands on, different lofts and shaft flexes. Let us know how you make out.