Posted 13 September 2008 - 03:00 PM
I saw one of these in a used bin at a local store for under $100 so I picked it up without even swinging it. The sole reads "FT-3 Big Bertha Fusion Tour 8.5*" and is neutral. It has a orange/gold Aldila NVS 65-S 350 shaft that i only assume is stock. I took it out to the course today and used it exclusively.
It is very easy to look down at this driver. Alot of drivers I have seen lately just seem overwhelming, like swinging a 45" tennis racket. This driver seems to mask its size very well, maybe due to the black color. Who knows, but I like it. Looking at the club in the air gives me the impression that it has a slightly open face, but setting it on a hardwood floor makes it look slightly closed. The face appears to sit very square at address. This appearance is very important to me, I can't stand looking at a club that appears open or closed by default.
The sound is very unique, and tolerable. I agree with the comment above that it sounds similar to an aluminum bat, just without the reverb. Shots near the toe have a higher frequency "ping" sound, and center shots seem to make a very quiet "tfff" as the ball flies away. The only other modern driver I've had in my hands to compare it to is the FT-I square thing. The FT-I makes a sound that resembles "i-have-an-expensive-driver" or "TIIINK" that won't stop echoing.
I was impressed with how well I was able to control the trajectory of my shots. I was playing in some pretty intense wind (Catching some of hurricane Ike near Dallas, TX), and had plenty of chances to hit it high with the wind or low into it (23mph steady, gusts up to 45).
One hole in particular pretty much sealed the deal. It was a short par 4 playing 327 from the back tees, playing dead into this wind. The folks in front of us were walking to the green for their putts/chips. I hit a low drive with about a 10 yard draw that would not come down, it just kept sailing and I didn't see where it came down. When we drove up to hit our second shots, I saw that the folks ahead of us were working on their putting, but there was a ball still sitting just short of the green. No way.... After we located my partner's ball, I drove toward the group ahead of us who were now walking off the green. They still didn't pick up the ball. I waved at one of them and he pointed at my ball, asking me "Is that yours?" I explained that it was, and started to apologize for almost hitting into them. The man said "Don't worry about it. That drive deserved to hit into us." The rest of them agreed and just told me what a great shot it was. I had about a 20 foot chip left for eagle and missed it right by about 3 inches. 310-320 into wind like that? I haven't done that since high school.
I get great feedback with the shaft that is in it, and could tell immediately whether I had toe'd a shot or hit it low on the clubface. Looking at the ball mark on the face verified what I had felt.
My only complaint is that the shaft feels very sloppy coming down into the swing. I would say I have a slower backswing but really come down fast into the downswing. Holding the grip and head in my hands allows me to twist the shaft an uncomfortable amount.
I'm a bit out of the loop when it comes to new equipment (New meaning anything made after 2000). I've been playing a set of 1982? Hogan Medallions, Biggest Big Bertha 7*, Cleveland BeCu wedges, and an Odyssey DF990 since high school in '99 (I think). The shaft in the BBB is a ProForce 65 Gold Low Torque S-Flex (also says "Tip Stiff" near the tip). This shaft was installed simply because I needed to replace the broken stock shaft, and my golf coach at the time suggested it. I know nothing about it really, just that it has worked well for me. When I try to twist this shaft by hand, it hardly budges. I'm interested in replacing the shaft in this new driver, but have no clue what to look for. I'd probably be happy to have my old shaft in this new driver, but I don't know if they are made anymore, or have been made obsolete.
The only other driver I tried before that was a 10* BBB and I could not keep it down, trading it for the 7*. I've always been a fan of Callaway design, with the exception of the FT-I drivers I have seen in the stores, so it seemed natural to me to pick this club up and give it a shot. I have nothing against other manufactuers, and couldn't care less about what is the latest rage or what the guys on tour are using. If it is quality equipment and suits my game, I'm all for it.
I'd give this club a 9/10, though I have nothing since 2000 to compare it to other than my trusty BBB and the FT-I. Now that I'm getting back into the game, maybe I'll be able to take a look at some other options.
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